Patent Description:
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment for being operated with a radio access network of a mobile communication network, wherein the user equipment is configured to connect to or be served by at least one base station entity as part of the radio access network,
wherein, in case that the user equipment is in connected mode, the user equipment is configured to apply or to use a connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a base station entity for being operated as part of a radio access network of a mobile communication network and with at least one user equipment, the user equipment being connected with, or served by, the base station entity,
wherein, in case that the user equipment is in connected mode, both the base station entity and the user equipment are configured to apply or to use a connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system or to a telecommunications network for operating a radio access network of the mobile communication network with at least one user equipment, the radio access network comprising at least one base station entity and the at least one user equipment being connected with, or served by, the at least one base station entity,
wherein, in case that the user equipment is in connected mode, both the base station entity and the user equipment are configured to apply or to use a connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program and to a computer-readable medium for operating a radio access network of a mobile communication network with at least one user equipment according to the inventive method.

The present invention relates to the area of telecommunications networks, especially wireless telecommunications networks or mobile communication networks. In such conventionally known telecommunications networks or mobile communication networks, the network nodes or components of the radio access network that are used to provide communication services to a plurality of user equipments typically require a considerable amount of energy in order to be able to provide the required communication services to the user equipments located in the geographical coverage area of the considered mobile communication network.

In order to reduce such power consumption needs, it is conventionally known to use discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, i.e. within a repeating time interval or cycle of time intervals, during some parts of such time intervals, the respective parts or network nodes or components of the radio access network are - at least partly - powered off (or, at least, powered-down) such as to be able to save energy, and during some other parts of such time intervals, the respective parts or network nodes or components of the radio access network are powered on in order to be able to provide the required communication services to the respective user equipments.

Especially, it is known that - within a radio cell being served by a base station entity - the base station entity enters a discontinuous transmission-reception pattern such as to be able to reduce its needs in energy consumption, while still being able to provide the required communication services requested from the user equipments; of course, this is typically only possible in situations of off-peak demand of communication services (within the considered radio cell). However, in case that - within the considered radio cell - one user equipment or a plurality of user equipments is/are located that are served by that considered base station entity, some kind of coordination is required between the base station entity on the one hand and the respective user equipments on the other hand in order to be able to apply a discontinuous transmission-reception pattern within the considered radio cell and involving such user equipments.

Especially in case of different communication needs of such a plurality of user equipments within a radio cell (or served by a base station entity), it might well be the case that a first kind of discontinuous transmission-reception pattern might be most adapted (or sufficient) regarding a first user equipment (or a first group of user equipments) while a second discontinuous transmission-reception pattern might be most adapted (or required) regarding a second user equipment (or a second group of user equipments). In such situations, it might be challenging not only to provide for the mentioned coordination when applying discontinuous transmission-reception pattern involving a plurality of user equipments but also to provide for corresponding signaling procedures.

Especially it is also known that different communications service might have different requirements in terms of communication needs, typically resulting in periodic communication opportunities between the network and the user equipments. Hence the is no "one fits all" communication opportunity pattern which can be realized by a single discontinuous transmission-reception pattern. The document <CIT> describes data transmission using shared uplink control channel resource. The document <CIT> describes methods and devices for radio communications.

An object of the present invention is to provide an effective and simple approach for operating a radio access network of a mobile communication network with at least one user equipment, wherein both the base station entity and the user equipment are configured to apply or to use the most appropriate discontinuous transmission-reception pattern in a flexible manner and with reduced signaling requirements. A further object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding user equipment, a corresponding base station entity, a corresponding system or a telecommunications network, and a corresponding program and computer-readable medium.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for operating a radio access network of a mobile communication network with at least one user equipment, the radio access network comprising at least one base station entity and the at least one user equipment being connected with, or served by, the at least one base station entity,.

It is thereby advantageously possible, according to the present invention, that it is easily possible to provide for the use of a better or more optimally adapted discontinuous transmission-reception pattern between the base station entity on the one hand and the user equipments (within the radio coverage area of the considered base station entity) on the other hand; especially it is advantageously possible to apply different kinds of discontinuous transmission-reception pattern regarding different user equipments or groups of user equipments in a comparatively easy manner and without requiring huge signaling efforts. This is especially relevant if voice-related communication services (or voice-centric communication services) are involved: Typically, voice-related or voice-centric communication or communication services require active time intervals (i.e. time intervals during which the respective base station entity is able to transmit and receive data, especially user plane data) at least every <NUM> to <NUM>; in contrast, other communication services are able to be provided while applying a more relaxed discontinuous transmission-reception pattern between the base station entity and the user equipments concerned (with off-times possibly exceeding <NUM>, <NUM> or even <NUM>). Hence, in case that, in a radio cell or in a radio coverage area served by a base station entity, there are <NUM> user equipments (especially in connected mode) that only require (for their communication needs or the requested communication services) a relaxed discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, and one specific user equipment of these user equipments needs to be provided with voice-related or voice-centric communication services (typically a voice call, either mobile originated or mobile terminated), there is potentially the need to change (or to adapt) the discontinuous transmission-reception pattern (applied prior to the voice-related or voice-centric communication need) not only for the specific user equipment but also for the other <NUM> user equipments as well. Likewise, this might involve signaling procedures to be conducted not only for the specific user equipment but also for the other <NUM> user equipment as well. The same might also be required (in opposite direction) after termination of the voice-related or voice-centric communication need. This is especially the case that for base station implementation simplicity reasons only one discontinuous transmission-reception pattern should be active at a given time instance, especially if this single discontinuous transmission-reception pattern is applied on a single frequency of the radio access network of a mobile communication network.

According to the present invention, such a scenario is advantageously able to be avoided, and, hence, not only the change of the applied discontinuous transmission-reception pattern (regarding the other <NUM> user equipments) avoided but also the associated signaling procedures (regarding the other <NUM> user equipments) avoided. Additionally, it is avoided to operate a base station entity of a radio access network of a mobile communication network with more than a single discontinuous transmission-reception pattern. However, it might be beneficial to allow the other <NUM> (or at least part thereof) user equipments to use the increased communication possibilities provided by the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern; this might might, e.g., be indicated, by the base station entity, via a signaling procedure (e.g. via broadcast or dedicated signaling); in such a situation, of course, upon termination of the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, this termination also needs to be signaled accordingly.

According to the present invention, this is able to be achieved by means of, in case that a considered user equipment is in connected mode, both the base station entity and the user equipment being configured to apply or to use a connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern that has repeatedly occurring active time intervals. In case that the considered user equipment needs (due to its communication needs, especially in case of voice-centric communication services being requested) a less relaxed (connected mode) discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern is used which provides, besides the repeatedly occurring active time intervals, repeatedly occurring additional active time intervals. Hence, according to the present invention the (repeatedly occurring) active time intervals (of or provided by the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern) are identically reused when applying the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, but in addition to those active time intervals, the additional active time intervals are able to be used for data transmission and/or reception, in uplink and/or in downlink direction, between the base station entity on the one hand and the user equipment on the other hand.

Especially, by means of providing the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern and the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern according to the present invention, it is furthermore advantageously possible to save energy not only on the side of the base station entity, but - perhaps even more importantly as the user equipments are typically realized as battery powered devices - also on the side of the user equipments: In the scenario described, it is, hence, advantageously possible to avoid any modification of the applied connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern (and also any additional active time periods) regarding the <NUM> user equipments that are not involved in higher-demand (e.g. less-latency) communication services (such as voice-centric communication services); additionally, any associated signaling effort is able to be avoided, likewise reducing energy consumption needs - both on the side of those user equipments and on the side of the base station entity.

According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible and preferred that data transmission and/or reception, especially user plane data transmission and/or reception, in uplink and/or in downlink direction and between the base station entity and the user equipment, occurs.

wherein especially the active time intervals, while the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern is applied, correspond to a proper subset of the active time intervals while the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern is applied.

By means of being able to deactivate, at least partly, the base station entity during the off-time periods (i.e. outside of the active time intervals and/or outside the additional active time intervals), it is advantageously possible to save significant energy at the base station entity as well as on the side of the involved user equipments.

According to the present invention, it is furthermore advantageously possible and preferred that the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern is used in order to provide the user equipment with one or a plurality of voice-centric communication services,.

According to the present invention, it is thereby advantageously possible that the inventive method is able to be performed in a flexible and efficient manner.

According to the present invention, it is furthermore advantageously possible and preferred that the control signaling, transmitted to the user equipment, comprises the definition of the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, wherein especially, by means of the control signaling, the previously applied configuration regarding the application of the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern is overwritten or deleted.

According to the present invention, it is furthermore advantageously possible and preferred that the user equipment - while being connected with, or served by, the base station entity - is configured such as to comprise configuration information regarding both the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern and the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, wherein the user equipment is able to alternatively be operated either in a first mode of operation or in a second mode of operation,
wherein, in the first mode of operation, the user equipment applies or uses the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern and wherein, in the second mode of operation, the user equipment applies or uses the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, wherein the control signaling, transmitted to the user equipment comprises the information to apply or use the second mode of operation rather than the first mode of operation.

According to the present invention, it is thereby advantageously possible that the inventive method is able to be performed in a flexible and efficient manner. Especially, by means of the user equipment comprising configuration information regarding both the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern and the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, it is advantageously possible to even further reduce the signaling efforts in order to change the applied connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, as the respective connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern only needs to be indicated (and not necessarily its definition to be transmitted).

According to the present invention, it is furthermore advantageously possible and preferred that - besides the user equipment - at least a further user equipment is connected with, or served by, the base station entity,.

According to the present invention, it is furthermore advantageously possible and preferred that both the base station entity and the user equipment are configured to apply or to use a second further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, wherein according to the second further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern repeatedly occurring further additional active time intervals are defined - in addition to the active time intervals - such that data transmission and/or reception occurs, in uplink and/or in downlink direction and between the base station entity on the one hand and the user equipment on the other hand, during either the active time intervals or the further additional active time intervals,
wherein especially the further additional active time intervals is a proper subset of the additional active time intervals.

According to the present invention, it is furthermore advantageously possible and preferred that the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern is defined by means of indicating at least one of the following:.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment for being operated with a radio access network of a mobile communication network, wherein the user equipment is configured to connect to or be served by at least one base station entity as part of the radio access network,.

Additionally, the present invention relates to a base station entity for being operated as part of a radio access network of a mobile communication network and with at least one user equipment, the user equipment being connected with, or served by, the base station entity,.

Additionally, the present invention relates to a system or to a mobile communication network for operating a radio access network of the mobile communication network with at least one user equipment, the radio access network comprising at least one base station entity and the at least one user equipment being connected with, or served by, the at least one base station entity,.

Additionally, the present invention relates to a program comprising a computer readable program code which, when executed on a computer or on a user equipment or on a base station entity, or in part on the user equipment and/or in part on the base station entity, causes the computer or the user equipment or the base station entity, to perform the inventive method.

Still additionally, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer or on a user equipment or on a base station entity, or in part on the user equipment and/or in part on the base station entity, causes the computer or the user equipment or the base station entity, to perform the inventive method.

The drawings described are only schematic and are nonlimiting.

In <FIG>, a telecommunications network <NUM> comprising an access network <NUM>, and a core network <NUM> is schematically shown. The telecommunications network <NUM> or also mobile communication network <NUM> is typically realized as a cellular network or cellular mobile communication network <NUM>. The mobile communication network <NUM>, especially the core network <NUM>, typically comprises a number of network functions or services that are not specifically indicated by means of a reference sign. Examples of such network functions or services include, e.g., an access and mobility management function, AMF, and/or a user plane function, UPF - especially in case of a <NUM> mobile communication network. The access network <NUM> or radio access network <NUM> comprises a plurality of radio cells <NUM>, <NUM>, i.e. geographical areas served, respectively, by base station entities. In the exemplary situation or scenario shown in <FIG>, a first base station entity <NUM> generates or is associated with or spans the first radio cell <NUM>, and a second base station entity <NUM> generates or is associated with or spans the second radio cell <NUM>. The base station entities <NUM>, <NUM> typically realize gNB functionality or next-generation gNB functionality. The mobile communication network <NUM> is typically connected to a plurality of user equipments (or, rather, the user equipments are connected to the telecommunications network <NUM>). <FIG> schematically shows a user equipment <NUM> and a further user equipment <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, according to the present invention, the user equipment <NUM> is connected with, or served by, the base station entity <NUM>. in case that the user equipment <NUM> is in connected mode, both the base station entity <NUM> and the user equipment <NUM> are configured to apply or to use a connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern.

The connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM> is schematically shown in <FIG> - together with the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM>:.

According to the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM>, repeatedly occurring (i.e. having a repetition time interval <NUM>) active time intervals <NUM> are defined such that data transmission and/or reception is able to occur, in uplink and/or in downlink direction and between the base station entity <NUM> on the one hand and the user equipment <NUM> on the other hand.

<FIG> schematically and exemplarily shows - by means of a horizontal arrow regarding the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM> - a time evolution. During the time evolution represented, four occasions of active time intervals <NUM> are schematically shown (but only three of which are indicated by means of reference sign <NUM>).

Furthermore, <FIG> represents the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM>; according to the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM>, repeatedly occurring active time intervals <NUM> and (likewise repeatedly occurring) additional active time intervals <NUM> - both kinds of active time intervals <NUM>, <NUM> having, collectively, a further repetition time interval <NUM> - are defined such that data transmission and/or reception is able to occur, in uplink and/or in downlink direction and between the base station entity <NUM> on the one hand and the user equipment <NUM> on the other hand.

As well regarding the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM>, <FIG> schematically and exemplarily shows - likewise by means of a horizontal arrow - a time evolution. During the time evolution represented, likewise four occasions of active time intervals <NUM> are schematically shown (but only three of which are indicated by means of reference sign <NUM>); furthermore, the time evolution shows the additional active time intervals <NUM> - represented between the active time intervals <NUM>, wherein, exemplarily, in-between two succeeding active time intervals <NUM> three additional time intervals <NUM> are located, respectively (but only fourth of which are indicated by means of reference sign <NUM>).

The connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM> is defined by means of the respective active time intervals, especially by means of indicating at least one of the following:.

The further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM> is likewise defined by means of its respective active time intervals, especially by means of indicating at least one of the following:.

Especially the point or points in time indicating the beginning of one or a plurality of the active time intervals <NUM>, <NUM> or of the additional active time intervals <NUM> is/are defined using an offset time interval (not shown in <FIG>), wherein the offset time interval is defined with regard to a point in time or with regard to a plurality of points in time corresponding to the system frame number being equal to zero or an offset to zero.

According to the present invention, in case that the user equipment <NUM> requires the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern to be changed (especially towards a less relaxed discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, i.e. having a reduced repetition time interval such as the further repetition time interval <NUM> compared to the repetition time interval <NUM>), the user equipment <NUM> transmits a scheduling request indication <NUM> to the base station entity <NUM>. This is schematically shown in <FIG> by means of an arrow directing from the user equipment <NUM> towards the base station entity <NUM>.

As a result, the base station entity <NUM> transmits a control signaling <NUM>' to the user equipment <NUM> (schematically represented, in <FIG>, by means of an arrow directing from the base station entity <NUM> towards the user equipment <NUM>).

The transmission of the control signaling <NUM>' results in the base station entity <NUM> and the user equipment <NUM> being configured to apply or to use the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM>, wherein, according to the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern <NUM>, besides the repeatedly occurring active time intervals <NUM> (or <NUM>), the repeatedly occurring additional active time intervals <NUM> are defined and are used (or able to be used) for data transmission and/or reception, in uplink and/or in downlink direction, between the base station entity <NUM> on the one hand and the user equipment <NUM> on the other hand.

An event of the user equipment <NUM> requiring the (hitherto applied) connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern to be changed (towards a less relaxed discontinuous transmission-reception pattern, having a reduced further repetition time interval <NUM>) is exemplarily shown in <FIG>: the user equipment <NUM> transmits, to the base station entity <NUM>, the scheduling request indication <NUM> which results in the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern to be changed; especially the scheduling request indication <NUM> is required to be sent, by the user equipment <NUM>, during a random access occasion (such as a random access channel (RACH) occasion) time period; such a random access occasion is schematically designated, in <FIG>, by means of reference sign <NUM>.

In the example shown, the repetition time interval <NUM> corresponds to four times the further repetition time interval <NUM> (i.e. <NUM>:<NUM>) - of course, other ratios are possible and preferred according to the present invention, especially <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>. Especially the further repetition time interval <NUM> might correspond, e.g., to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, whereas the repetition time interval <NUM> might correspond to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, or to <NUM>, or to <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Method for operating a radio access network (<NUM>) of a mobile communication network (<NUM>) with at least one user equipment (<NUM>), the radio access network (<NUM>) comprising at least one base station entity (<NUM>) and the at least one user equipment (<NUM>) being connected with, or served by, the at least one base station entity (<NUM>),
wherein, in case that the user equipment (<NUM>) is in connected mode, both the base station entity (<NUM>) and the user equipment (<NUM>) are configured to apply or to use a connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern (<NUM>),
wherein, according to the connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern (<NUM>), repeatedly occurring active time intervals (<NUM>) are defined such that data transmission and/or reception occurs, in uplink and/or in downlink direction and between the base station entity (<NUM>) on the one hand and the user equipment (<NUM>) on the other hand,
wherein, in order to operate the base station entity (<NUM>) with the user equipment (<NUM>), the method comprises the following steps:
-- in a first step, the user equipment (<NUM>) transmits a scheduling request indication (<NUM>) to the base station entity (<NUM>),
-- in a second step, the base station entity (<NUM>) transmits a control signaling (<NUM>') to the user equipment (<NUM>), the transmission of the control signaling (<NUM>') resulting in the base station entity (<NUM>) and the user equipment (<NUM>) being configured to apply or to use a further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern (<NUM>), wherein, according to the further connected mode discontinuous transmission-reception pattern (<NUM>), besides the repeatedly occurring active time intervals (<NUM>), repeatedly occurring additional active time intervals (<NUM>) are defined and used for data transmission and/or reception, in uplink and/or in downlink direction, between the base station entity (<NUM>) on the one hand and the user equipment (<NUM>) on the other hand.