FLEXIBLE DTX AND DRX IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20080186892A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Damnjanovic, Aleksandar
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/44 in connection with interruption of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A data traffic responsive battery-saving approach for a wireless user equipment (UE) device such as an data packet capable cellphone incorporates flexible discontinuous transmission and reception (DTX-DRX) when in Long Term Evolution (LTE) active mode as dictated by an evolved radio access network (RAN) such as an evolved base node (eNode B). A UE device requests are made on unsynchronized random access channel (RACH). Lengthening a duration of DRX and reducing requirements for synchronization uplink transmissions results in power savings of up to 75%, as well as creating opportunities for reducing interference and for allocating additional time slots for data. This power savings is compatible with other downlink scheduling proposals, with control channel-less Voice-over-IP (VoIP), and need not target those UE devices in bad radio conditions. Legacy UE devices that can interact with the eNode B by being capable of radio resource control (RRC) signaling continue to be compatible.

Claims

10. At least one processor configured to reduce power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

a first module for specifying on a downlink channel a changed interval for a discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment;

a second module for scheduling uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval; and

a third module for participating in communication with the user equipment following the changed interval at a nominal interval automatically reverted to by the user equipment.

11. A computer program product for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

a first set of codes configured to cause a computer to specify on a downlink channel a changed interval for a discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment;

a second set of codes configured to cause the computer to schedule uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval; and

a third set of codes configured to cause the computer to participate in communication with the user equipment following the changed interval at a nominal interval automatically reverted to by the user equipment.

12. An apparatus for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

means for specifying on a downlink channel a changed interval for a discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment;

means for scheduling uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval; and

means for participating in communication with the user equipment following the changed interval at a nominal interval automatically reverted to by the user equipment.

13. An apparatus for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

a downlink radio transmitter;

an uplink radio receiver; and

a scheduling component for specifying on a downlink channel a changed interval for a discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment, for scheduling uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval, and for participating in communication with the user equipment following the changed interval at a nominal interval automatically reverted to by the user equipment.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the changed interval is a longer interval than a nominal discontinuous reception cycle.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the changed interval is a multiple of the nominal discontinuous reception cycle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein discontinuous transmission by the user equipment is changed in alignment with discontinuous reception.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

the scheduling component utilizing the downlink radio transmitter to command extended microsleep in response to a low data rate downlink data transmission allowing the user equipment to enter extended microsleep upon decoding a data transmission without receiving a redundant retransmission; and

sending a interleaved sequence of hybrid automatic repeat request downlink transmissions and retransmission to the user equipment.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scheduling component recognizes ongoing nominal DRX by monitoring radio resource control (RRC) signaling on the uplink radio receiver from a user equipment that is not configured for flexible DRX.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the downlink radio transmitter transits the flexible DRX interval to the user equipment over a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scheduling components defines a flexible DRX interval in terms of an upload reference signal interval and offset for paging indication channel (PICH) interval and Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) interval.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a transmit power control configured for performing open loop power control on downlink transmission on the downlink radio transmitter to the user equipment that is infrequently reporting channel quality indications during flexible DRX.

22. A method for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

receiving on a downlink channel a changed interval for a discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment;

scheduling uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval; and

automatically reverting to a nominal communication interval following the changed interval.

1. A method for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

specifying on a downlink channel a changed interval for discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment;

scheduling uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval; and

participating in communication with the user equipment following the changed interval at a nominal interval automatically reverted to by the user equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed interval is a longer interval than a nominal discontinuous reception cycle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the changed interval is a multiple of the nominal discontinuous reception cycle;

4. The method of claim 3, wherein discontinuous transmission by the user equipment is changed in alignment with discontinuous reception.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

commanding extended microsleep in response to a low data rate downlink data transmission allowing the user equipment to enter extended microsleep upon decoding a data transmission without receiving a redundant retransmission; and

sending a interleaved sequence of hybrid automatic repeat request downlink transmissions and retransmission to the user equipment.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising recognizing ongoing nominal DRX by monitoring radio resource control (RRC) signaling from a user equipment that is not configured for flexible DRX.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the flexible DRX interval to the user equipment over a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a flexible DRX interval in terms of an upload reference signal interval and offset for paging indication channel (PICH) interval and Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) interval.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing open loop power control on downlink transmission to the user equipment that is infrequently reporting channel quality indications during flexible DRX.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the changed interval is a longer interval than a nominal discontinuous reception cycle.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the changed interval is a multiple of the nominal discontinuous reception cycle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein discontinuous transmission by the user equipment is changed in alignment with discontinuous reception.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a command for extended microsleep in response to a low data rate downlink data transmission;

receiving an interleaved sequence of hybrid automatic repeat request downlink transmissions and retransmission by the user equipment; and

entering extended microsleep upon decoding a data transmission without receiving a redundant retransmission.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising utilizing radio resource control (RRC) signaling to indicate noncompliance with the commanded changed interval when not configured for flexible DRX.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving the flexible DRX interval to the user equipment over a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving a definition for a flexible DRX interval in terms of an upload reference signal interval and offset for paging indication channel (PICH) interval and Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) interval.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving open loop power control on downlink transmission to the user equipment that is infrequently reporting channel quality indications during flexible DRX.

30-1. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising the downlink radio receiver for receiving open loop power control on downlink transmission to the user equipment whose scheduling component is utilizing the uplink radio transmitter for infrequently reporting channel quality indications during flexible DRX.

31. At least one processor configured to reduce power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

a first module for receiving on a downlink channel a changed interval for a discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment;

a second module for scheduling uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval; and

a third module for automatically reverting to a nominal communication interval following the changed interval.

32. A computer program product for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

a first set of codes configured to cause a computer to receive on a downlink channel a changed interval for a discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment;

a second set of codes configured to cause the computer to schedule uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval; and

a third set of codes configured to cause the computer to automatically reverting to a nominal communication interval following the changed interval.

33. An apparatus for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

means for receiving on a downlink channel a changed interval for a discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment;

means for scheduling uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval; and

means for automatically reverting to a nominal communication interval following the changed interval.

34. An apparatus for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication of reception on a downlink channel or transmission on an uplink channel with a base node, comprising:

an uplink radio transmitter;

a downlink radio receiver; and

a scheduling component for receiving a specification on a downlink channel for a changed interval for discontinuous communication scheduling for a user equipment, for scheduling uplink channel resources in accordance with the changed interval, and for participating in communication with the base node following the, changed interval at a nominal interval automatically reverted to by the user equipment.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the changed interval is a longer interval than a nominal discontinuous reception cycle.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the changed interval is a multiple of the nominal discontinuous reception cycle.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein discontinuous transmission by the user equipment is changed in alignment with discontinuous reception.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

the downlink radio receiver for receiving a command for extended microsleep in response to a low data rate downlink data transmission and for receiving an interleaved sequence of hybrid automatic repeat request downlink transmissions and retransmission by the user equipment; and

the scheduling component for entering extended microsleep upon decoding a data transmission without receiving a redundant retransmission.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising utilizing radio resource control (RRC) signaling to indicate noncompliance with changed interval when not configured for flexible DRX.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising the downlink radio receiver for receiving the flexible DRX interval to the user equipment over a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

41. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising the downlink radio receiver for receiving a definition for a flexible DRX interval in terms of an upload reference signal interval and offset for paging indication channel (PICH) interval and Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) interval.