UE Power Saving Mode Coordination with MME Timers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current power management solutions in cellular mobile communication systems, particularly for Machine Type Communications (MTC), face challenges in managing power consumption and latency, leading to inefficiencies and increased battery drain in devices that use power saving functions, which can result in devices becoming unreachable for extended periods, disrupting network performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an infrastructure node that sets relevant Mobility Management Entity (MME)/Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) parameters and timers based on the maximum acceptable response time indicated by user equipment (UE), instructing the UE to use specific power saving functions like Power Saving Mode (PSM) or Enhanced UE Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) to ensure optimal power management and minimize latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If extended DRX cycles are used to reduce power consumption, then battery life is improved, but device reachability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddevice reachability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between normal DRX and extended DRX cycles based on application requirements. The UE determines whether to use extended DRX by evaluating application-specific latency tolerances, allowing the system to adaptively adjust power saving aggressiveness to maintain reachability when needed while maximizing battery life when acceptable latency is tolerable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the DRX cycle parameter dynamically based on application characteristics. By modifying the DRX cycle length parameter according to application-specific requirements (latency tolerance, data priority), the system optimizes the balance between power consumption and device reachability for different service types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If longer DRX cycles are implemented to save battery, then battery life is improved, but response time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the DRX cycle parameter based on application-specific response time requirements. Applications with strict latency requirements use normal DRX cycles for fast response, while applications with relaxed latency tolerances utilize extended DRX cycles for maximum battery savings, thereby optimizing the response time parameter according to service needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects between normal and extended DRX cycles based on real-time evaluation of application requirements and network conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the UE to switch between aggressive power saving (longer cycles, slower response) and responsive operation (shorter cycles, faster response) as needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If power saving functions are activated to reduce energy consumption, then battery life is improved, but network coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidnetwork coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE autonomously determines whether to use extended DRX by evaluating its own application requirements and capability, without requiring complex network coordination or signaling. The network simply provides the extended DRX parameter, and the UE independently makes the decision based on its local knowledge of application latency tolerances, significantly reducing network coordination complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the decision-making logic for DRX cycle selection from the network and places it in the UE. By moving the intelligence to the device side, the network infrastructure remains simple while the UE independently optimizes its power saving behavior based on application requirements, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10306552B2Coordination using the UE application

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in cellular/wireless mobile communication systems, in particular for handling latency issues in a wireless network and power saving features in user equipment. This is provided in methods and nodes for handling communication in a wireless communication network. The solution involves receiving from a user equipment (UE) an indication of maximum acceptable response time for an application, setting relevant Mobility Management Entity/Serving GPRS Support Node (MME/SGSN) parameters and timers accordingly, where the parameters/timers are set in such a way that the maximum response time is not exceeded if power saving functions are active, and sending from the node an instruction to the UE about which power saving function(s) the UE preferably should use.