UE Warm-Up via Off-Duration Reference Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in performing warm-up procedures when transitioning from an OFF duration to an ON duration due to the lack of access to regular, periodic reference signals, especially in systems where network access devices transmit reference signals 'on demand', leading to impaired synchronization and performance.

Innovation Solution

A network access device and UE agree on a transmission time for an 'on demand' control reference signal, allowing the UE to perform a warm-up procedure by coordinating the OFF and ON durations, ensuring the UE receives necessary reference signals like CSI-RS and SRS at specific times during the transition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the network access device transmits reference signals only 'on demand' instead of regularly periodic, then the system can reduce unnecessary signal transmissions and save energy, but the UE cannot perform proper warm-up procedures when transitioning from OFF to ON duration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption of reference signal transmissionVSAvoidUE warm-up procedure reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network access device transmits a control reference signal during the OFF duration, before the UE transitions to ON duration. This preliminary transmission allows the UE to perform warm-up procedures (synchronization, channel estimation) in advance, ensuring reliable communication when the UE becomes active, while avoiding continuous periodic transmissions that would waste energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the UE enters sleep state during OFF duration of DRX cycle, then power consumption is reduced, but the UE's synchronization loops and channel estimation become impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE power consumptionVSAvoidsynchronization and channel estimation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The UE utilizes the control reference signal transmitted during the OFF duration to perform warm-up procedures before transitioning to ON duration. This allows the UE to maintain synchronization and channel estimation quality without remaining fully active throughout the OFF duration, thus preserving power savings while ensuring communication reliability upon wake-up.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the UE performs warm-up procedure without access to reference signals during OFF duration, then the system maintains simplicity in reference signal management, but the UE transition reliability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal management complexityVSAvoidUE transition reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network access device transmits a control reference signal specifically timed during the OFF duration before UE transition. This simple timing arrangement enables the UE to perform necessary warm-up procedures without requiring complex reference signal management schemes, maintaining system simplicity while improving transition reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3520487B1Use of reference signals to improve user equipment (UE) warm-up before transitioning from an off duration of the UE to an on duration of the UE with respect to a radio frequency spectrum band
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3520487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3520487B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3520487B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques are described for wireless communication. A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) includes identifying a transmission timing of a control reference signal transmitted over a radio frequency spectrum band during an OFF duration of the UE with respect to the radio frequency spectrum band, in which the identified transmission timing is relative to a transition from the OFF duration to an ON duration of the UE with respect to the radio frequency spectrum band; receiving the control reference signal at the identified transmission timing; and performing a warm-up procedure, before the ON duration, based at least in part on the identified transmission timing of the control reference signal. A method for wireless communication at a wireless network includes indicating, to the UE, the transmission timing of the control reference signal; and transmitting the control reference signal at the indicated transmission timing. The OFF duration and the ON duration are coordinated with a wireless network.