Method and System for Providing Reply-Controlled Discontinuous Reception

• US 20070291729A1
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Dalsgaard, Lars, Ranta, Jukka, Pirskanen, Juho, Nielsen, Sari, Koskela, Jarkko
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/347
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, receiving device, network element, system and computer program product for controlling discontinuous reception at a receiving device of a communication network are disclosed. A regular discontinuous reception cycle of a discontinuous reception scheme is set, and this regular discontinuous reception cycle is switched to a shorter temporary discontinuous reception cycle or is switched off, in response to an event which triggers a reply of the communication network to the receiving device. Thereby, delays of network replies can be shortened or controlled in case discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles are implemented at the receiving device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

setting a regular discontinuous reception cycle of a discontinuous reception scheme within a device; and

switching from said regular discontinuous reception cycle to a shorter temporary discontinuous reception cycle or switching off said discontinuous reception scheme, in response to an event which triggers a reply of a communication network to said receiving device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving device is a mobile terminal and said switching step is performed when said mobile terminal has sent a mobility measurement report to said communication network.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said expected reply is a handover command.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising switching back to said regular discontinuous reception cycle when no reply has been received from said communication network within a predetermined time period after said switching step.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining the temporary or switched-off discontinuous reception until a new discontinuous reception configuration is signaled by said communication network.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising switching back to said regular discontinuous reception cycle in response to the receipt of a reply from said communication network.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said switching step is performed in response to a predetermined type of report transmitted by said receiving device to said communication network.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising indicating said predetermined type of report to said receiving device by a system or control information.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said switching step comprises setting an interval of a cycle timer to a first predetermined value and setting a lifetime of said cycle timer to a second predetermined value.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising controlling said first and second values by said network.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said controlling is performed based on a measurement report sent from said receiving device to said network.

26. A computer program product comprising code means for generating the steps of claim 1 when run on a computer device.

12. A device comprising:

timer means for timing a regular discontinuous reception cycle of a discontinuous reception scheme; and

switching means for switching said timer means from said regular discontinuous reception cycle to a shorter temporary discontinuous reception cycle or for switching off said timer means, in response to an event which triggers a reply of a communication network to said device.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said switching means is configured to perform said switching in response to a transmission of a mobility measurement report by said device to said communication network.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein said reply is a handover command.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein said switching means is configured to switch back to said regular discontinuous reception cycle when no reply has been received from said communication network within a predetermined time period after said switching.

16. A device according to claim 12, wherein said switching means is configured to maintain the temporary or switched-off discontinuous reception until a new discontinuous reception configuration is signaled by said communication network.

17. A device according to claim 12, wherein said switching means is configured to switch back to said regular discontinuous reception cycle in response to the receipt of a reply from said communication network.

18. A device according to claim 12, wherein said switching means is configured to perform said switching in response to a predetermined type of report transmitted by said device to said communication network.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said predetermined type of report is derived by said device from a system or control information.

20. A device according to claim 12, wherein said switching means is configured to set an interval of a cycle timer to a first predetermined value and to set a lifetime of said cycle timer to a second predetermined value.

21. A mobile terminal comprising a device according to claim 12.

22. A network element for controlling a device of a communication network, said network element comprising signaling means for signaling to said device a control information used for setting a temporary shortened discontinuous reception cycle, wherein said control information is determined based on a measurement report received from said device.

23. A network element according to claim 22, wherein said control information defines an interval and lifetime of said temporary shortened discontinuous reception cycle.

24. A network element according to claim 22, wherein said network element is a base station device.

25. A system for controlling discontinuous reception in a communication network, said system comprising a device according to a network element according to claim 22.

27. A device comprising:

a timer for timing a regular discontinuous reception cycle of a discontinuous reception scheme; and

a switching unit for switching said timer from said regular discontinuous reception cycle to a shorter temporary discontinuous reception cycle or for switching off said timer, in response to an event which triggers a reply of a communication network to said device.

28. A network element for controlling a device of a communication network, said network element comprising a signaling unit for signaling to said device a control information used for setting a temporary shortened discontinuous reception cycle, wherein said control information is determined based on a measurement report received from said device.