Uplink Channel Prioritization During DRX Inactive Periods

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies have not defined a procedure for processing uplink channels when there is an overlap between inactive periods due to discontinuous reception and uplink channels in base stations, which is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality and Sustainable Development Goals.

Innovation Solution

A terminal is equipped with a control unit to manage uplink channel transmission based on the base station's discontinuous reception function, determining execution order and prioritization between channels or dropping transmissions during inactive periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the base station performs discontinuous reception to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but overlap occurs between inactive periods and uplink channels causing transmission processing uncertainty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase station energy consumptionVSAvoidtransmission processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs multiplexing and prioritization of uplink channels in advance before the inactive period occurs. The control unit determines the execution order between multiplexing process and dropping process based on pre-configured rules, so that when the inactive period arrives, the terminal already knows which channel to transmit and which to drop, eliminating processing uncertainty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the terminal performs multiplexing and prioritization of uplink channels, then transmission efficiency is improved, but processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink channel transmission efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal pre-determines the execution order between multiplexing and dropping processes based on configured rules before the actual transmission time. This preliminary determination allows the terminal to quickly execute the correct operation without time-consuming real-time decision-making, thus reducing processing time while maintaining transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of execution order based on the relationship between uplink channels and inactive periods. When an uplink channel overlaps with an inactive period, the control unit changes the processing sequence to first determine multiplexing priority and then execute dropping if necessary, optimizing both efficiency and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4701278A1Terminal and communication method
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4701278A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4701278A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4701278A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal includes: a control unit configured to expect that a base station performs a discontinuous reception function for enabling or disabling a receiver unit; a communication unit configured to perform transmission to the base station, based on the expected discontinuous reception function; and a reception unit configured to receive control information related to the discontinuous reception function from the base station. In a case where there is an overlap in time domain between at least two uplink channels that are overlapped in the time domain and an inactive period of the discontinuous reception function, the control unit determines an execution order between: a process of multiplexing and prioritization with respect to the two uplink channels in the terminal; and a process of dropping transmission during the inactive period.