FLEXIBLE DTX AND DRX IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20130258919A1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Damnjanovic, Aleksandar
• Application Number:
  US13/421,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20130258919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• 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 had 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

1. A method for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication, comprising:

transmitting a first time interval for microsleep scheduling to a user equipment, from a base station;

commanding the user equipment to enter microsleep;

communicating with the user equipment at a second time interval, the second time interval being reverted to by the user equipment following the first time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time interval is shorter than the second interval.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising scheduling channel resources in accordance with the first time interval.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising scheduling channel resources in accordance with the second time interval, following the first time interval.

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

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing open loop power control on downlink transmission to the user equipment, the user equipment reporting channel quality indications at a reduced rate during discontinuous transmission.

7. A computer program product for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication, including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising code for:

transmitting a first time interval for microsleep scheduling to a user equipment, from a base station;

commanding the user equipment to enter microsleep;

communicating with the user equipment at a second time interval, the second time interval being reverted to by the user equipment following the first time interval.

8. An apparatus for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication, comprising a processing system configured to:

transmit a first time interval for microsleep scheduling to a user equipment, from a base station;

command the user equipment to enter microsleep; and

communicate with the user equipment at a second time interval, the second time interval being reverted to by the user equipment following the first time interval.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing system is further configured to schedule channel resources in accordance with the second time interval, following the first time interval.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing system is further configured to transmit the first time interval to the user equipment over a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing system is further configured to

perform open loop power control on downlink transmission to user equipment, and

received reporting channel quality indications from the user equipment at a reduced rate during discontinuous transmission.

12. An apparatus for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication, comprising:

means for transmitting a first time interval for microsleep scheduling to a user equipment, from a base station;

means for commanding the user equipment to enter microsleep; and

means for communicating with the user equipment at a second time interval, the second time interval being reverted to by the user equipment following the first time interval.

13. A method for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication, comprising:

receiving a first time interval for microsleep scheduling at a user equipment;

entering a first microsleep interval in accordance with the first time interval in response to one of a low data rate or receipt of a command to enter microsleep from a base station;

entering a second microsleep interval in accordance with a second time interval, following the first microsleep interval.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein entering the second microsleep interval is done automatically, following the first microsleep interval.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first interval is shorter than the second interval.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring channel resources in accordance with the first interval.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring channel resources in accordance with the second interval, following the first interval.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising reducing the rate of channel quality reporting during discontinuous transmission.

19. A computer program product for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication, including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising code for:

receiving a first time interval for microsleep scheduling at a user equipment;

entering a first microsleep interval in accordance with e first time interval based on a data condition in response to one of a condition, the condition being one of a low data rate or receipt of a command to enter microsleep;

entering a second microsleep interval in accordance with a second time interval following the first microsleep interval.

20. An apparatus for reducing power consumption by varying user equipment discontinuous communication, comprising a processing system configured to:

receive a first time interval for microsleep scheduling at a user equipment;

enter a first microsleep interval in accordance with the first time interval based on a data condition in response to one of a condition, the condition being one of a low data rate or receipt of a command to enter microsleep;

enter a second microsleep interval in accordance with a second time interval owing the first microsleep interval.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus enters the second microsleep interval automatically, following the first microsleep interval.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to monitor channel resources in accordance with the second interval, following the first interval.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to reduce the rate of channel quality reporting during discontinuous transmission.

24. An apparatus for reducing power consumption varying user equipment discontinuous communication, comprising:

means for receiving a first time interval for microsleep scheduling at a user equipment;

means for entering a first microsleep interval in accordance with the first time interval based on a data condition in response to one of a condition, the condition being one of a low data rate or receipt of a command to enter microsleep;

means for entering a second microsleep interval in accordance with a second time interval following the first microsleep interval.