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 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 parameters for performing the discontinuous reception operation from the base station; and   performing, in an active state, the discontinuous reception operation based on the received parameters,   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.   
     
     
         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. A communication method by a terminal, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the terminal, a first message comprising a first parameter from a base station;   determining, at the terminal, that a first period of time has passed without receiving a downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, wherein the first period of time is determined based on the first parameter; and   in response to the determination that the first period of time has passed without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, initiating, at the terminal, a first discontinuous reception (DRX) operation,   wherein the first DRX operation comprises monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a first duration of time and not monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a second duration of time.    
     
     
       16. The communication method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first message comprises a second parameter relating to the first duration of time, and a third parameter relating to the second duration of time.  
     
     
       17. The communication method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 repeatedly performing, at the terminal, the first DRX operation;   determining, at the terminal, that a second period of time has passed after initiating the first DRX operation without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station; and   in response to the determination that the second period of time has passed without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, initiating, at the terminal, a second discontinuous reception (DRX) operation,   wherein the second DRX operation comprises monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a third duration of time and not monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a fourth duration of time,   wherein a sum of the first duration of time and the second duration of time is shorter than a sum of the third duration of time and the fourth duration of time.    
     
     
       18. The communication method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first message comprises a second parameter relating to the first duration of time, a third parameter relating to the second duration of time, and a fourth parameter relating to the fourth duration of time.  
     
     
       19. The communication method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein a length of the first duration of time is same as a length of the third duration of time.  
     
     
       20. The communication method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the terminal, a second message comprising first information on a preference of the terminal about low power consumption before receiving the first message.    
     
     
       21. A terminal, comprising:
 a circuitry which is configured to:
 cause the terminal to receive a first message comprising a first parameter from a base station; 
 determine that a first period of time has passed without receiving a downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, wherein the first period of time is determined based on the first parameter; and 
 cause the terminal to, in response to the determination that the first period of time has passed without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, initiate a first discontinuous reception (DRX) operation, 
   wherein the first DRX operation comprises monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a first duration of time and not monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a second duration of time.    
     
     
       22. The terminal as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first message comprises a second parameter relating to the first duration of time, and a third parameter relating to the second duration of time.  
     
     
       23. The terminal as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 cause the terminal to repeatedly perform the first DRX operation;   determine that a second period of time has passed after initiating the first DRX operation without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station; and   cause the terminal to, in response to the determination that the second period of time has passed without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, initiate a second discontinuous reception (DRX) operation,   wherein the second DRX operation comprises monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a third duration of time and not monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a fourth duration of time, and   wherein a sum of the first duration of time and the second duration of time is shorter than a sum of the third duration of time and the fourth duration of time.    
     
     
       24. The terminal as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the first message comprises a second parameter relating to the first duration of time, a third parameter relating to the second duration of time, and a fourth parameter relating to the fourth duration of time.  
     
     
       25. The terminal as recited in  claim 23 , wherein a length of the first duration of time is same as a length of the third duration of time.  
     
     
       26. The terminal as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 cause the terminal to transmit a second message comprising first information on a preference of the terminal about low power consumption before receiving the first message.    
     
     
       27. A communication device for a terminal, the communication device comprising:
 a circuitry which is configured to:
 cause the terminal to receive a first message comprising a first parameter from a base station; 
 determine that a first period of time has passed without receiving a downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, wherein the first period of time is determined based on the first parameter; and 
 cause the terminal to, in response to the determination that the first period of time has passed without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, initiate a first discontinuous reception (DRX) operation, 
   wherein the first DRX operation comprises monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a first duration of time and not monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a second duration of time.    
     
     
       28. The communication device as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the first message comprises a second parameter relating to the first duration of time, and a third parameter relating to the second duration of time.  
     
     
       29. The communication device as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 cause the terminal to repeatedly perform the first DRX operation;   determine that a second period of time has passed after initiating the first DRX operation without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station; and   cause the terminal to, in response to the determination that the second period of time has passed without receiving the downlink control channel for the terminal from the base station, initiate a second discontinuous reception (DRX) operation,   wherein the second DRX operation comprises monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a third duration of time and not monitoring the downlink control channel for the terminal during a fourth duration of time, and   wherein a sum of the first duration of time and the second duration of time is shorter than a sum of the third duration of time and the fourth duration of time.    
     
     
       30. The communication device as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the first message comprises a second parameter relating to the first duration of time, a third parameter relating to the second duration of time, and a fourth parameter relating to the fourth duration of time.  
     
     
       31. The communication device as recited in  claim 29 , wherein a length of the first duration of time is same as a length of the third duration of time.  
     
     
       32. The communication device as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 cause the terminal to transmit a second message comprising first information on a preference of the terminal about low power consumption before receiving the first message.    
     
     
       33. The communication method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the terminal, allocation information of radio resources to the terminal from the base station during the first DRX operation; and   in response to the reception of the allocation information, terminating the first DRX operation.