VoLTE Audio Layer DRX Synchronization Power Conservation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in power conservation when using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) due to the need to frequently wake up the packet layer from low power mode to transmit voice information, leading to excess power usage and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The audio layer synchronizes its encoding and decoding operations with the wake period of the discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, allowing the packet layer to transmit voice packets during the wake period and enter low power mode without additional wake-ups, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the packet layer operates according to a DRX cycle with sleep periods to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but voice encoding in the audio layer may trigger unnecessary wake-ups of the packet layer, leading to increased power usage
Solution Approach 1:
The audio layer performs voice encoding in advance during the DRX active period and stores the encoded voice data in a buffer before the packet layer enters sleep mode. This preliminary encoding ensures that when the packet layer wakes up, the voice data is already prepared and can be transmitted immediately without requiring another wake-up, thus maintaining reliable voice transmission while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
A shared memory buffer acts as an intermediary between the audio layer and the packet layer. The audio layer writes encoded voice data to this buffer during active periods, and the packet layer retrieves data from this buffer during wake periods. This intermediary mechanism decouples the operation of the two layers, allowing the audio layer to work continuously while the packet layer maintains its power-saving DRX cycle, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and transmission reliability.
2Speed
If the packet layer remains awake to transmit voice packets immediately when encoded, then voice transmission is timely, but time spent in low power mode is reduced, resulting in excess power usage
Solution Approach 1:
The audio layer encodes voice data in advance during the DRX active period and stores it in a buffer. This preliminary encoding action ensures that when the packet layer wakes up, the data is ready for immediate transmission, maintaining high transmission speed without requiring the packet layer to stay awake or wake up multiple times, thus avoiding excess power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio layer maintains continuous encoding operation during the DRX active period, producing voice data that is stored in the buffer. This continuous useful action ensures that voice data is always ready when the packet layer wakes up, eliminating gaps in the transmission process and maintaining high transmission speed while allowing the packet layer to spend maximum time in low power mode.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the audio layer encodes voice information during the DRX sleep period, then encoding can proceed continuously, but the packet layer must wake up to transmit the encoded information, reducing time in low power mode
Solution Approach 1:
The audio layer performs voice encoding in advance during the DRX active period and stores the encoded data in a buffer before the packet layer enters sleep mode. This preliminary encoding action allows the audio layer to maintain continuous operation while the packet layer spends maximum time in low power mode, eliminating the need for additional wake-ups and thus reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adopts periodic encoding during DRX active periods, where the audio layer encodes voice data in batches that align with the DRX cycle. This periodic action ensures that encoding is performed continuously over time while concentrating the transmission activity into specific wake periods, allowing the packet layer to return to sleep mode promptly and maintain low power consumption.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may be enabled for voice over long term evolution (VoLTE). The UE may include an audio layer to encode and decode voice information and a packet layer to transmit voice packets. The packet layer may store parameters related to a discontinuous reception (DRX) in a shared memory. The audio layer may obtain the DRX parameters and encode voice information based on the parameters. For example, the audio layer coding may be synchronized with the wake period of the DRX cycle. The audio layer may encode voice information during a wake up period of the packet layer DRX cycle, and the packet layer may transmit the voice packets while awake. The audio layer may perform back to back encodings at the beginning of the DRX cycle. The packet layer may extend the wake period to transmit the voice packets.