Wireless Wake-Up Signaling for Low-Power PDCCH Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face high power consumption in user equipment (UE) due to continuous monitoring of physical downlink control channels, which affects user experience and system performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing power-saving techniques through discontinuous reception (DRX) and utilizing wake-up indications, bandwidth part (BWP) switching, and MIMO layer adaptation to reduce UE power consumption while maintaining system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a wireless device frequently wakes up to monitor PDCCH for downlink data, then downlink data can be received promptly, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownlink data reception speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network device sends wake-up signals periodically before actual downlink data transmission. The wireless device wakes up periodically to monitor the PDCCH for wake-up signals, and only fully activates to receive downlink data when a wake-up signal is detected. This periodic wake-up mechanism reduces power consumption compared to continuous monitoring, while still enabling timely downlink data reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If a wireless device monitors PDCCH continuously, then downlink data can be received without delay, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownlink data reception reliabilityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic wake-up signals that trigger the wireless device to monitor PDCCH only at specific intervals. During non-active periods, the device remains in a low-power state. This periodic monitoring approach maintains reliable downlink data reception when needed while significantly extending battery life compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of energy

If wake-up signals are transmitted frequently, then power-saving opportunities increase, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower-saving efficiencyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts wake-up signal transmission parameters including time intervals, frequency, and resource allocation based on traffic patterns and device states. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves effective power-saving opportunities while minimizing signaling overhead. The network can configure different wake-up signal periodicities for different devices or traffic conditions to balance power-saving efficiency and signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4014583B1Signaling methods for reducing power consumption of wireless devices in power-saving modes

Publication Date: 2026.04.29 ZTE CORP

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AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for signaling to reduce power consumption of wireless devices in power saving modes are described. An example method for wireless communication includes transmitting, by a network node to a wireless device in communication with the network node, a control information that is based on the wireless device being in a power-saving state that is different from a power-normal state. Another example method for wireless communication includes receiving, by a wireless device from a network node, a control information that is based on the wireless device being in a power-saving state that is different from a power-normal state.