Radio Resource Control Technique

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016157181-A1
Application number	US-201214408764-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 20, 2012
Priority date	Jun 20, 2012
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A technique for controlling a duty cycle of a transmitter ( 124 ) in a mobile device ( 120 ) is provided. When the mobile device is wirelessly connected to a telecommunications network ( 100 ), discontinuous reception and transmission is provided by a duty cycle including an active state and an inactive state. As to a method aspect of the technique, a switching option for initiating the inactive state after the active state is determined. It is assessed whether a timer ( 126 ) of the mobile device triggers a future transmission at a corresponding transmission time. If a time difference between the switching option and the transmission timer exceed a predefined minimum duration, the inactive state is initiated.

First claim

1 . A method of controlling a duty cycle of a transmitter of a mobile device wirelessly connected to a telecommunications network, the duty cycle including an active state and an inactive state, the method comprising:
determining a switching option for initiating the inactive state after the active state; assessing whether at least one timer of the mobile device triggers a future transmission at a transmission time; and initiating the inactive state in response to determining that a time difference between the switching option and the transmission time exceeds a predefined minimum duration.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
returning to the active state on or before the transmission time.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
extending the active state in response to determining that the time difference between the switching option and the transmission time does not exceed the predefined minimum duration.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined minimum duration is determined by one or more processes involved in at least one of initiating the inactive state and returning to the active state.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined minimum duration is tabulated in the mobile device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether uplink data is pending for transmission, wherein initiating the inactive state is further subject to the condition that no uplink data is pending.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the future transmission transmits control data or retransmits user data.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one timer is started in response to detecting a loss of a data unit, and the transmission time is indicated by an expiry of the at least one timer.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one timer excludes an outstanding transmission, and the transmission time is indicated by an expiry of the at least one timer.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one timer includes a timer of a Radio Link Control sublayer of the mobile device.

11 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising program code to perform the method of claim 1 .

12 . (canceled)

13 . An apparatus for controlling a duty cycle of a transmitter of a mobile device configured to be wirelessly connected to a telecommunications network, the duty cycle including an active state and an inactive state, the apparatus comprising:
a determining unit configured to determine a switching option for initiating the inactive state after the active state; an assessing unit configured to assess whether at least one timer of the mobile device triggers a future transmission at a transmission time; and an initiating unit configured to initiate the inactive state in response to determining that a time difference between the switching option and the transmission time exceeds a predefined minimum duration.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the initiating unit is further configured to return to the active state on or before the transmission time.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the initiating unit is further configured to extend the active state, if the time difference between the switching option and the transmission time does not exceed the predefined minimum duration.

Assignees

• Leicht Hans Juergen
• Hierl Gerhard
• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Leicht Hans Juergen
• Hierl Gerhard

Classifications

• H04W52/0267 Primary

  by controlling user interface components · CPC title

• Y02D30/70

  in wireless communication networks · CPC title

• H04W52/0251 Primary

  using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity · CPC title