Method for reducing power consumption of a terminal in cellular system

Abstract

Provided is a method and apparatus for discontinuously transmitting/receiving packets for low-power consumption of a terminal in a cellular system for packet transmission. The present invention provides a method and apparatus that can perform a low-power consuming operation when a terminal is in active state in a cellular system. The method for discontinuously transmitting/receiving packet data to reduce power consumption of a terminal in a cellular system, including the steps of: a) establishing discontinuous transmission/reception (DTX/DRX) parameters including discontinuous DTX/DRX cycle information for terminals operating in a transmission suspension mode, which is a sub-state of an active state; and b) performing DTX/DRX based on the DTX/DRX parameters in the terminals operating in the transmission suspension mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication method for a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation of by a terminal in wireless communication system, the method comprising of:
 transmitting preferred, by the terminal, a first message comprising first information for low power-consuming operation to a base station on a preference of the terminal about implementing low power consumption; 
 receiving parameters for performing the discontinuous reception operation, at the terminal, a second message comprising a first parameter from the base station; and 
 performing, in an active state at the terminal, the discontinuous reception DRX operation for the terminal based on the received parameters first parameter in an active state, 
 wherein messages from the base station are monitored discontinuously according to a discontinuous reception cycle, 
 wherein uplink synchronization is sustained until a predetermined time is expired and the uplink synchronization is not sustained after the predetermined time is expired in the active state, 
 wherein the parameters are configured by the base station based on the preferred information 
 wherein the active state is maintained until a predetermined length of time lapses without receiving user data from the base station or transmitting user data to the base station. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the parameters include information of the predetermined time. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the preferred information is a low power-consuming operation indicator preferred by the terminal. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous reception operation is initiated when a discontinuous reception operation initiation message is received from the base station. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the parameters are received through a broadcasting channel from the base station. 
     
     
       6. A method for supporting discontinuous reception operation of a terminal in a base station in wireless communication system, comprising of:
 receiving preferred information for low power-consuming operation from the terminal;   configuring parameters for performing the discontinuous reception operation of the terminal which is capable of transmitting/receiving data to/from the base station;   transmitting the configured parameters to the terminal; and   transmitting messages to the terminal,   wherein the parameters are configured to support discontinuous reception operation by the terminal in an active state,   wherein the messages are discontinuously monitored according to a discontinuous reception cycle by the terminal,   wherein uplink synchronization is sustained until a predetermined timer is expired and the uplink synchronization is not sustained after the predetermined timer is expired in the active state being capable of transmitting/receiving data to/from the base station,   wherein the parameters are configured by the base station based on the preferred information.   
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the parameters include information of the predetermined timer. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the preferred information is a low power-consuming operation indicator preferred by the terminal. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the discontinuous reception operation is initiated when a discontinuous reception operation initiation message is received by the terminal. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the parameters are received through a broadcasting channel from the base station. 
     
     
       11. A method for discontinuous reception operation of a terminal in wireless communication system, comprising of:
 transmitting preferred information for low power-consuming operation to a base station;   receiving performing information of whether performing the discontinuous reception operation from the base station; and   performing, in an active state, the discontinuous reception operation based on the performing information,   wherein messages from the base station are monitored discontinuously according to a discontinuous reception cycle,   wherein uplink synchronization is sustained until a predetermined time is expired and the uplink synchronization is not sustained after the predetermined time is expired in the active state,   wherein the performing information is configured by the base station based on the preferred information.   
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the preferred information is a low power-consuming operation indicator preferred by the terminal. 
     
     
       13. A method for supporting discontinuous reception operation of a terminal in a base station in wireless communication system, comprising of:
 receiving preferred information for low power-consuming operation from the terminal;   configuring performing information of whether performing the discontinuous reception operation of the terminal which is capable of transmitting/receiving data to/from the base station;   transmitting the configured performing information to the terminal; and   transmitting messages to the terminal,   wherein the performing information is configured to support discontinuous reception operation by the terminal in an active state,   wherein the messages are discontinuously monitored according to a discontinuous reception cycle by the terminal,   wherein uplink synchronization is sustained until a predetermined timer is expired and the uplink synchronization is not sustained after the predetermined timer is expired in the active state being capable of transmitting/receiving data to/from the base station,   wherein the performing information is configured by the base station based on the preferred information.   
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the preferred information is a low power-consuming operation indicator preferred by the terminal. 
     
     
       15. The communication method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first parameter comprises a first DRX cycle and a first period of time, and the DRX operation is performed based on the first DRX cycle during the first period of time. 
     
     
       16. The communication method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first parameter is determined based on the first information. 
     
     
       17. The communication method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
 receiving a third message from the base station, wherein the DRX operation is performed in response to the third message.   
     
     
       18. The communication method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first parameter further comprises a second period of time, and, after the first period of time, the DRX operation is performed based on a second DRX cycle during the second period of time, the second DRX cycle longer than the first DRX cycle. 
     
     
       19. The communication method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, before transmitting the first message, establishing connection with a base station so that the DRX operation is performed in the active state. 
     
     
       20. A communication apparatus, comprising:
 a circuitry configured to:
 cause the communication apparatus to transmit, to a base station, a first message comprising first information on a preference of the communication apparatus about implementing low power consumption; 
 cause the communication apparatus to receive, from the base station, a second message comprising a first parameter; and 
 cause the communication apparatus to perform a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation based on the first parameter in an active state, 
   wherein the active state is maintained until a predetermined length of time lapses without receiving user data from the base station or transmitting user data to the base station.   
     
     
       21. The communication apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the first parameter comprises a first DRX cycle and a first period of time, and the DRX operation is performed based on the first DRX cycle during the first period of time. 
     
     
       22. The communication apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the first parameter is determined based on the first information. 
     
     
       23. The communication apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause the communication apparatus to receive a third message from the base station, and the DRX operation is performed in response to the third message. 
     
     
       24. The communication apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the first parameter further comprises a second period of time, and, after the first period of time, the DRX operation is performed based on a second DRX cycle during the second period of time, the second DRX cycle longer than the first DRX cycle. 
     
     
       25. The communication apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause the communication apparatus to establish connection with a base station so that the DRX operation is performed in the active state. 
     
     
       26. A communication device in a terminal, the communication device comprising:
 a circuitry configured to:
 cause the terminal to transmit, to a base station, a first message comprising first information on a preference of the terminal about implementing low power consumption; 
 cause the terminal to receive, from the base station, a second message comprising a first parameter; and 
 cause the terminal to perform a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation based on the first parameters in an active state, 
   wherein the active state is maintained until a predetermined length of time lapses without receiving user data from the base station or transmitting user data to the base station.   
     
     
       27. The communication device as recited in claim 26, wherein the first parameter comprises a first DRX cycle and a first period of time, and the DRX operation is performed based on the first DRX cycle during the first period of time. 
     
     
       28. The communication device as recited in claim 26, wherein the first parameter is determined based on the first information. 
     
     
       29. The communication device as recited in claim 26, wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause the terminal to receive a third message from the base station, and the DRX operation is performed in response to the third message. 
     
     
       30. The communication device as recited in claim 27, wherein the first parameter further comprises a second period of time, and, after the first period of time, the DRX operation is performed based on a second DRX cycle during the second period of time, the second DRX cycle longer than the first DRX cycle. 
     
     
       31. The communication device as recited in claim 26, wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause the terminal to establish connection with a base station so that the DRX operation is performed in the active state.