Variable-Length DCI Information Blocks for Low-Power PDCCH Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR systems, user equipment (UE) experiences high power consumption due to frequent blind detection of scheduling DCI during the wake-up mode of the DRX mechanism, as the base station often does not send scheduling DCI, leading to inefficient power usage.
Innovation Solution
A DCI sending method that includes varying the length of information blocks for different terminal devices, indicated by energy-saving information, allowing UE to adaptively monitor the PDCCH based on specific energy-saving configurations, reducing the need for blind detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE performs blind detection on scheduling DCI during wake-up mode, then the UE can detect scheduling information, but power consumption of the UE increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network device sends a wake-up indication signal to the UE before the actual scheduling DCI transmission. This preliminary signal prepares the UE in advance, allowing it to enter a low-power state during the interval between the wake-up indication and the actual data transmission, thereby reducing blind detection operations and power consumption while maintaining reliable detection capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE uses the wake-up indication signal to autonomously control its own power state transitions. Upon receiving the wake-up indication, the UE activates its receiver, and upon detecting the indication without subsequent scheduling DCI, the UE automatically transitions to sleep mode without requiring continuous blind detection, thus serving its own power management needs efficiently.
2Reliability
If the UE continuously performs blind detection during wake-up mode, then the UE can detect scheduling DCI, but the efficiency of power usage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wake-up indication signal serves as a preliminary notification that allows the UE to prepare for potential scheduling DCI reception. If no scheduling DCI follows within a predetermined time window after the wake-up indication, the UE stops blind detection and returns to sleep mode, thereby significantly improving power usage efficiency while maintaining detection reliability through the preliminary warning mechanism.
3Productivity
If the base station does not send scheduling DCI to the UE during wake-up mode, then data transmission efficiency is maintained, but power consumption of the UE remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of wake-up notification from the full scheduling DCI message. By sending a simplified wake-up indication signal separately, the system allows the UE to activate its receiver without requiring the complete scheduling DCI, enabling the UE to return to sleep mode faster and reducing power consumption while the base station maintains its data transmission efficiency by sending scheduling DCI only when actually needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a DCI sending method, a DCI receiving method, and a related apparatus. The receiving method includes: A network device determines DCI. The DCI includes indication information and m information blocks, the indication information is used to indicate b terminal devices, a first information block in the m information blocks corresponds to a first terminal device in the b terminal devices, the first information block is used to indicate energy-saving information of the first terminal device, a second information block in the m information blocks corresponds to a second terminal device in the b terminal devices, the second information block is used to indicate energy-saving information of the second terminal device, a length of the first information block is different from a length of the second information block, and m ≤ b. The network device sends the DCI. The terminal device can monitor a downlink control channel PDCCH based on the energy-saving information indicated by the corresponding information block in the DCI. This reduces power consumption of the terminal device.