Wake-up Signal and Receiver for IoT Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in minimizing resource usage for machine-type-communication (MTC) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, where devices often require frequent wake-ups to monitor control channels, leading to increased power consumption and overhead.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to periodically awaken and monitor for a wake-up signal (WUS) of shorter length than control channel communications, allowing it to determine whether to fully awaken for control channel monitoring, utilizing a wake-up receiver (WUR) to reduce power consumption and overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a UE frequently wakes up to monitor control channels, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring function is segmented into two stages: a brief wake-up signal detection phase (shortened PDCCH monitoring) and a full control channel monitoring phase. The UE only performs the shortened monitoring when wake-up signals are detected, avoiding full monitoring during periods without data, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by sending wake-up signals before requiring full control channel monitoring. The UE detects these preliminary wake-up signals during shortened monitoring periods, and only proceeds to full monitoring when necessary, preventing unnecessary power consumption while ensuring reliable communication when data is present.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a UE monitors control channels frequently, then data transmission reliability is improved, but resource usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidresource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The control channel monitoring resource is segmented into a minimal wake-up signal monitoring phase and a full control channel monitoring phase. The UE allocates monitoring resources dynamically based on wake-up signal detection, using minimal resources during idle periods and full resources only when data transmission is anticipated, thus optimizing resource usage while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by performing only shortened PDCCH monitoring (partial monitoring) when wake-up signals are not detected, and full monitoring (excessive action relative to minimum needed) only when wake-up signals indicate potential data transmission. This dynamic adjustment optimizes resource usage while ensuring data transmission reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the PDCCH monitoring duration is shortened, then power consumption is reduced, but detection capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddetection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection process is segmented into two levels: a first level of shortened PDCCH monitoring with reduced time duration for basic wake-up signal detection, and a second level of full PDCCH monitoring for comprehensive data detection. This segmentation allows the system to use minimal detection capability when idle (saving power) while maintaining full detection capability when data transmission is indicated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shortened PDCCH monitoring serves as a preliminary detection stage to identify potential wake-up events. When wake-up signals are detected in this preliminary stage, the system then performs full PDCCH monitoring to confirm and process the actual data transmission, ensuring detection capability is fully applied only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3625997B1Wake-up signal (WUS) and wake-up receiver (WUR) in a communication device
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3625997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3625997B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3625997B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for communication includes a user equipment (UE) periodically awakening to monitor for a wake-up signal (WUS) in a wake-up signal search space, the wake-up signal having a shorter length than a length of a control channel communication to allow the UE to determine whether the UE should monitor for the control channel communication.