Uplink DPCCH Gating Signaling for WCDMA Resource Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP specifications do not enable the execution of uplink DPCCH gating feature due to limitations in Iub/Iur signaling, which affects the efficient management of uplink resources and battery consumption in wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A signaling scheme is introduced that enables uplink DPCCH gating by defining parameters such as Uplink DPCCH Gating Capability, Activation Indicator, Gating Period, Burst Length, Preamble Length, Pattern Offset, and Power Offset, allowing network elements to support and control the feature through Iub and Iur interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DPCCH transmission is continuously maintained to ensure uplink synchronization and quality monitoring, then connection reliability is improved, but uplink resource consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic DPCCH transmission through gating patterns where the DPCCH is transmitted only during specific intervals (e.g., every N radio frames) rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains uplink synchronization and quality monitoring capability while significantly reducing uplink resource consumption and battery power usage during packet data inactivity periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic DPCCH gating control where the transmission behavior adapts based on packet data activity status. During active data transmission, DPCCH is transmitted continuously; during inactivity, it switches to periodic gating. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the balance between maintaining connection reliability and reducing energy consumption based on actual network conditions.
2Productivity
If DPCCH gating period is extended to reduce overhead, then resource efficiency is improved, but synchronization monitoring capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network monitors the periodic DPCCH transmissions to assess uplink synchronization status and channel quality. Based on this feedback, the network can adjust gating parameters or trigger continuous transmission when needed, ensuring synchronization monitoring capability is maintained even during extended gating periods for resource efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If DPCCH is gated during inactivity to reduce overhead, then uplink resource consumption is reduced, but node B's ability to perform SIR estimation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary actions by maintaining periodic DPCCH transmissions at configured intervals even during inactivity. These periodic transmissions provide the Node B with sufficient information to perform SIR estimation and maintain power control algorithms, preventing complete loss of uplink channel quality information while still achieving significant resource consumption reduction compared to continuous transmission.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
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AI summary
The exemplary embodiments of this invention include apparatus, methods and computer program products that provide a signaling scheme that enables the execution of an uplink gating feature. In one non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the signaling scheme is an Iub/Iur signaling scheme and the uplink gating feature is an uplink dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH) gating feature, for example, as may be utilized within a wideband code divisional multiple access (WCDMA) communication network. In one non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, a method includes: sending a first message from a base station towards a network element in a communications network (71), wherein the first message includes a first parameter that is indicative of a capability for supporting uplink gating in a cell under the base station; and sending a second message from the network element towards the base station (72), wherein the second message includes an instruction for uplink gating in the cell.