UE Power Saving via Empty Symbol Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

User equipment (UE) in wireless communication systems faces challenges in conserving power, particularly due to delays in determining whether downlink data channels are allocated, which reduces the time available for sleep mode and subsequent power savings.

Innovation Solution

The UE measures beam energy from the serving base station and determines if a beam is directed to it, entering a sleep mode if no allocation is detected, allowing for earlier power conservation by deactivating RF components without demodulating and decoding control channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE demodulates and decodes control channels to determine data channel allocation, then the reliability of resource allocation detection is improved, but the time available for sleep mode is reduced and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation detection accuracyVSAvoidsleep mode duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs preliminary detection of control channel energy before full demodulation and decoding. By measuring the energy of control channel symbols in advance, the UE can determine whether data channel allocation is likely present, allowing it to enter sleep mode earlier when no allocation is detected, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable detection and sleep duration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential energy measurement function from the complete control channel processing chain. Instead of requiring full demodulation and decoding, the UE extracts energy information from control channel symbols to make allocation decisions, reducing processing time while maintaining sufficient detection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the UE enters sleep mode earlier without demodulating control channels, then power consumption is reduced and sleep duration is improved, but the reliability of detecting data channel allocation may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata channel allocation detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs preliminary energy measurement of control channel symbols before entering sleep mode. This preliminary action provides sufficient information to detect data channel allocation with acceptable reliability while enabling earlier sleep entry, thus reducing power consumption without significantly compromising detection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE performs partial processing (energy measurement only) instead of complete processing (demodulation and decoding) of control channels. This partial action is sufficient for detection purposes in many cases, allowing earlier sleep mode entry and reduced power consumption while maintaining adequate detection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11265815B2Methods and apparatuses for power saving by detecting empty symbols

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Method and apparatus are provided for power saving by detecting empty symbols. In accordance with some implementation, a UE may determine that a data channel is not allocated to it by determining that there is no beam directed to it and there was no prior resource allocation to it. The UE upon such determination may enter sleep mode until the start of the next scheduling unit. This may result in reduction in power consumption compared to entering sleep mode after demodulating and decoding the control channel.