Wake-Up Signal Detection for Low-Power PDCCH Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

High power consumption in user equipment due to complex processing and large bandwidth operations in wireless communication systems, particularly when monitoring physical downlink control channels, is a significant challenge.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a wake-up mechanism where a base station sends a wake-up signal (WUS) to indicate whether a terminal needs to monitor the physical downlink control channel, allowing the terminal to skip unnecessary monitoring and reduce power consumption by using narrower frequency ranges and lower complexity detection methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal monitors the physical downlink control channel continuously, then the control information reception reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol information reception reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) where the terminal alternates between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. During active periods, the terminal monitors the physical downlink control channel; during sleep periods, monitoring is suspended to save power. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by providing reliability during active periods while reducing power consumption during sleep periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station sends a wake-up signal before the terminal's active monitoring period to prepare the terminal for upcoming control channel monitoring. This preliminary action allows the terminal to wake up only when necessary, avoiding unnecessary power consumption while ensuring reliable reception when control information is actually transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the terminal uses large bandwidth for high data rate transmission, then the productivity is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs bandwidth adaptation where the terminal dynamically adjusts its operating bandwidth based on traffic requirements and channel conditions. When high data rates are needed, the terminal uses larger bandwidth; when traffic is light, the terminal reduces bandwidth to save power. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the terminal performs complex signal processing for high performance, then the productivity is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes processing complexity adaptation where the terminal adjusts signal processing parameters such as modulation order, coding rate, and antenna ports based on channel quality and traffic requirements. When channel conditions are good and traffic demands high performance, complex processing is applied; when conditions are poor or traffic is light, processing complexity is reduced to save power, resolving the contradiction between productivity and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3818757B1Method and apparatus for signal transmission and reception
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 ZTE CORP
  • EP3818757B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3818757B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3818757B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A wireless communication method includes receiving, by a communication node, a first signal. The method further includes determining quasi co-location (QCL) information for the first signal based on at least one of a predefined rule and a configuration information from a base station, and performing a selective monitoring of a control channel based on information received in the first signal.