UE Transmission Mode Switching for Energy Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE systems, switching from an idle state to a connected state for small data transmissions results in high signaling overheads and energy consumption due to the need for dedicated resource allocation and continuous dynamic control channel monitoring.

Innovation Solution

Introducing an 'ecology conservation optimization' state that allows UE to switch from an uplink scheduling-based transmission mode to an uplink contention-based transmission mode when the uplink service volume is below a threshold, reducing the need for continuous dynamic control channel monitoring and utilizing shared resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE switches from idle state to connected state for small data transmission, then data transmission capability is improved, but signaling overhead and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connected state is segmented into two sub-states: RRC_CONNECTED with uplink scheduling-based transmission mode (full functionality) and RRC_CONNECTED with uplink contention-based transmission mode (energy-saving mode). This segmentation allows the UE to operate in a simplified mode for small data transmissions while maintaining connection, reducing signaling overhead and energy consumption compared to full connected state transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between uplink scheduling-based transmission mode and uplink contention-based transmission mode based on uplink service volume thresholds. When uplink service volume is below the threshold, the UE transitions to contention-based mode to save energy; when above, it switches to scheduling-based mode for full performance. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between energy efficiency and transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the UE switches from idle state to connected state for small data transmission, then data transmission capability is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The connected state is divided into two operational modes with different signaling requirements. The uplink contention-based transmission mode uses simplified signaling procedures compared to the full uplink scheduling-based mode, reducing signaling overhead for small data transmissions while maintaining data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission mode parameter (from scheduling-based to contention-based) based on uplink service volume conditions. This parameter change enables the UE to use a transmission mode with lower signaling overhead characteristics when appropriate, resolving the contradiction between maintaining transmission capability and reducing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the UE uses uplink scheduling-based transmission mode, then transmission performance is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous dynamic control channel monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission mode is made dynamic, switching between uplink scheduling-based mode (high performance, high energy) and uplink contention-based mode (lower performance, low energy) based on real-time uplink service volume conditions. This dynamic switching allows the system to optimize the trade-off between transmission performance and energy consumption adaptively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission mode parameter based on service volume thresholds. When uplink service volume is low, it switches to contention-based mode to reduce energy consumption by eliminating continuous dynamic control channel monitoring. When service volume is high, it switches to scheduling-based mode to maximize transmission performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If the UE remains in connected state, then data transmission capability is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidenergy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The connected state is segmented into two operational modes: one with full functionality (uplink scheduling-based) and one with energy-saving characteristics (uplink contention-based). This segmentation allows the UE to maintain connection and data transmission capability while switching to a lower-power operational mode when full functionality is not required, reducing energy waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The UE autonomously monitors its own uplink service volume and decides when to switch between transmission modes based on predefined thresholds. This self-service mechanism allows the UE to automatically adjust its operational state to minimize energy consumption while maintaining necessary data transmission capability, without requiring continuous network control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3468292B1Transition state methods, devices and products
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3468292B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3468292B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3468292B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides a transmission mode switching method and an apparatus. When UE is in a connected state, if an uplink service volume of the UE within a first detection time is less than a first threshold, the UE switches a state from the connected state to an ecology conservation optimization; or switches, in the connected state, a transmission mode from an uplink scheduling-based transmission mode to an uplink contention-based transmission mode, so that the transmission mode of the UE can be adapted to a change of a service volume of the UE, to effectively use a transmission resource, and energy consumption of the UE can be reduced because the UE does not need to detect a dynamic control channel.