Wireless Communication Device WiFi Duration Decoding Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) mechanisms in wireless communications, such as those used in 3GPP Release 13, require continuous energy detection and PDCCH monitoring by eNBs and UEs, leading to high power consumption when coexisting with WiFi in unlicensed spectrum, as they cannot accurately determine the duration of WiFi transmissions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a carrier sensing module at both UEs and eNBs to decode WiFi packets and extract duration information from Network Allocation Vector (NAV) fields, allowing for the suspension of PDCCH monitoring and energy detection during WiFi transmission periods, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous energy detection and PDCCH monitoring are performed, then reliable downlink control information reception is ensured, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic PDCCH monitoring instead of continuous monitoring by using discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles. The UE monitors PDCCH only during specific periodic intervals defined by DRX parameters, allowing the receiver to be turned off during non-monitoring periods. This periodic action maintains reliable control information reception during active periods while significantly reducing average power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the UE to autonomously determine monitoring opportunities based on pre-configured downlink assignment indicators (DAI) and DRX parameters received from the eNB. The UE self-manages its monitoring schedule without requiring continuous eNB coordination, making efficient use of its own resources to reduce power consumption while maintaining communication reliability.
2Reliability
If continuous PDCCH monitoring is performed, then downlink control information is reliably received, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses discontinuous reception (DRX) to create periodic monitoring intervals where the UE activates its receiver only during designated PDCCH monitoring occasions and remains in low-power state during idle periods. This periodic operation extends battery life by reducing the average power consumption while ensuring reliable DCI reception during active monitoring windows.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pre-configured DAI and DRX parameters that are established in advance through RRC signaling. These preliminary configurations allow the UE to autonomously determine its monitoring schedule without real-time coordination, enabling efficient battery management while maintaining reliable communication throughout the configured monitoring periods.
3Reliability
If energy detection is continuously performed at eNB, then channel coexistence with WiFi is maintained, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic energy detection and LBT procedures at the eNB side, where the eNB performs channel sensing only at specific intervals rather than continuously. This periodic approach maintains reliable coexistence with WiFi networks by periodically checking for channel availability while significantly reducing the eNB's power consumption and operational costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device and a method to suspend monitoring of a first radio access network (RAN) on a frequency band shared with a second RAN, comprising receiving a signal from the second RAN on the frequency band; decoding the received signal; identifying a duration during which the second RAN occupies the frequency band based on the decoded signal; and suspending monitoring of the control channel of the first RAN on the frequency band for at least the identified duration.