Uplink Reference Signal Repetition for On-Demand Network Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in reducing network power consumption while maintaining reliable uplink reference signal detection for on-demand SSB, RMSI, and paging transmissions.
Innovation Solution
The system configures a UE to transmit repetitions of uplink reference signals in uplink occasions associated with different transmission beams of a base station, allowing for improved signal reliability and network energy savings by activating SSB, RMSI, or paging transmissions only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the base station transmits SSB, RMSI, or paging messages periodically, then network coverage and reliability are improved, but network power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station transitions from continuous periodic transmission of SSB/RMSI/paging messages to on-demand transmission triggered by uplink reference signals from UEs. The base station activates these messages only when needed (when UEs transmit reference signals) and deactivates them when no UEs are present, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining coverage reliability.
2Reliability
If the base station transmits multiple downlink reference signals via different beams, then uplink reference signal detection reliability is improved, but network power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station dynamically adjusts its transmission behavior based on UE presence and beam conditions. Instead of continuously transmitting multiple downlink reference signals across all beams, the base station activates transmission only in response to uplink reference signals from UEs and only in the specific beams where UEs are detected, optimizing power consumption while maintaining detection reliability.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the base station activates SSB, RMSI, or paging transmissions on-demand, then network power consumption is reduced, but uplink reference signal detection reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The base station transmits downlink reference signals via multiple different transmission beams as preliminary action to enable UEs to detect and select appropriate beams for uplink transmission. This preliminary beam sweeping ensures that when UEs transmit uplink reference signals, the base station can reliably detect them across different beams, thereby maintaining detection reliability while enabling on-demand activation of SSB/RMSI/paging messages.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects are provided allowing a UE to transmit repetitions of an ULT, PEI-R, or other uplink reference signal for on-demand SSB, RMSI, or paging transmissions. A base station initially transmits an indication of a configured uplink repetition mode, which may comprise a first, second, or third mode in which a one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many mapping exists between downlink reference signals and uplink occasions, respectively. Afterwards, the UE receives downlink reference signals via different transmission beams of the base station. In response to the downlink reference signals, the UE transmits an uplink reference signal repetition in one or more uplink occasions associated with one or more of the downlink reference signals according to the configured uplink repetition mode. In response to the uplink reference signal repetition, the base station may transmit a SSB, RMSI, or paging message. Thus, a balance between network energy savings and uplink signal reliability may be achieved.