Wake-Up Signal Structure Using Muted Resource Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption, particularly in low-power devices, due to the need for continuous monitoring of downlink control channels, which leads to high energy consumption and is unsuitable for latency-critical applications.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a wake-up signal (WUS) that includes muted resource elements, allowing devices to detect the presence of control signals only when necessary, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption by minimizing unnecessary PDCCH monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous monitoring of downlink control channels is implemented, then control signals are reliably received, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol signal reception reliabilityVSAvoiddevice power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where the device alternates between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During DRX cycles, the device monitors PDCCH only at specific intervals rather than continuously, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable control signal reception. The network schedules control signals to align with these periodic monitoring windows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a wake-up signal (WUS) transmitted before the actual PDCCH monitoring occasion. This preliminary signal prepares the device by indicating whether control signals are upcoming, allowing the device to remain in low-power state longer and only activate its full receiver when necessary, thus reducing unnecessary power consumption while ensuring reliable reception when control signals are present.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If wake-up signal with muted resource elements is implemented, then power consumption is reduced, but signal detection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsignal detection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct regions in the time-frequency resource grid: muted resource elements (where no signal is transmitted) and non-muted resource elements (where signal is transmitted). The device detects the WUS by examining specific local patterns of muted elements, while the network controls which local regions are muted based on the wake-up indication. This localized differentiation enables simple detection mechanisms that focus only on specific resource elements rather than processing the entire signal, reducing overall complexity while achieving power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20260067813A1Wake up signal structure

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

Provided are a communication device, a base station, and methods for a communication device and a base station. The communication device comprises a transceiver which, in operation, receives a wireless signal; and circuitry which, in operation, detects, in the received wireless signal, whether or not a pre-configured wake-up signal, WUS, is present, wherein the WUS includes one or more of muted resource elements, and in case WUS is detected as present, determines that the user equipment is to receive control signals different from WUS.