UE Power Saving Signals for Selective PDCCH Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in power consumption due to unnecessary monitoring of the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) during Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycles, leading to increased power consumption when no data is being transmitted, especially in RRC_CONNECTED mode, and inefficient transitions between RRC states.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a Wake Up Signal (WUS) and Go To Sleep (GTS) signal to manage PDCCH monitoring, along with PDCCH adaptation signaling, allowing the UE to skip monitoring during DRX cycles based on signal indications, and adapt monitoring strategies for uplink traffic and RRC state transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE monitors PDCCH continuously during DRX cycles, then data reception reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reception reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network sends a Wake-Up Signal (WUS) before the DRX on-duration to preliminarily indicate whether downlink data will be transmitted. Based on this advance information, the UE decides whether to wake up and monitor PDCCH, avoiding unnecessary power consumption while ensuring data is not missed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A Wake-Up Signal (WUS) is introduced as an intermediary between the network's data transmission decision and the UE's PDCCH monitoring action. The WUS acts as a go/no-go indicator that mediates whether the UE should activate its receiver for the upcoming DRX cycle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the UE transitions to RRC_IDLE mode quickly, then power consumption is reduced, but data transmission latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UE dynamically adjusts its RRC state and PDCCH monitoring behavior based on real-time network indications. Through adaptive DRX configuration and WUS-based wake-up decisions, the UE optimizes the balance between staying in RRC_CONNECTED for low latency and transitioning to RRC_IDLE for power saving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the UE monitors PDCCH during active time, then uplink scheduling responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink scheduling responsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The UE employs periodic DRX cycles with configurable on-duration and off-duration periods. During on-duration, the UE monitors PDCCH for uplink scheduling opportunities; during off-duration, the UE enters sleep mode. This periodic pattern balances uplink scheduling responsiveness with power conservation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3963960B1Method for handling power saving signals to improve power saving performance of ue
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3963960B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3963960B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3963960B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Methods and systems for handling power saving signals to improve power saving performance of UE. A method disclosed herein includes enabling, a User Equipment (UE), to monitor a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for downlink control information based on a reception of power saving signals from a Base Station with respect to a discontinuous-reception (DRX) cycle. The power saving signals include a Wake Up Signal (WUS), Go To Sleep (GTS) signal and PDCCH adaptation signal. The method further includes enabling the UE to monitor the PDCCH, if the WUS indicates presence of the PDCCH and enables the UE to skip the monitoring of the PDCCH during an On-duration of the DRX cycle, if the WUS indicates absence of the PDCCH. The method further includes enabling the UE to skip the monitoring of the PDCCH in an active time of the DRX cycle, on receiving the GTS signal.