Methods and apparatuses for transmitting a power saving signal

Abstract

A technique for transmitting and receiving data from a node of a radio access network, RAN, to a radio device is described. The radio device is configured for discontinuous reception, DRX, according to a DRX configuration. As to a method aspect of the technique, it is determined whether data is available for transmission to the radio device. A power saving signal is selectively transmitted to the radio device depending on the DRX configuration. If the data is available, at least one of the data and a scheduling assignment for the transmission of the data is transmitted to the radio device on a radio resource according to the DRX configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of transmitting data from a node of a radio access network, RAN, to a radio device that is configured for discontinuous reception, DRX, according to a DRX configuration, the method comprising or triggering the steps of:
 indicating, via broadcasting system information, whether a wake-up signal, WUS, is to be transmitted in a selective transmission to the radio device;   determining whether data is available for transmission to the radio device;   selectively transmitting the WUS to the radio device depending on the DRX configuration and the indication via the system information; and   if the data is available, transmitting to the radio device on a radio resource according to the DRX configuration at least one of the data and a scheduling assignment for the transmission of the data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radio resource according to the DRX configuration comprises an active interval of the radio device according to the DRX configuration and wherein the WUS is transmitted at or before the beginning of the active interval according to the DRX configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the DRX configuration of the radio device defines DRX cycles, each of the DRX cycles comprising the radio resource according to the DRX configuration for transmitting to the radio device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the selective transmission of the WUS depends on a usage of the radio resources for transmitting to the radio device in previous of the DRX cycles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the selective transmission of the WUS depends on a length of the DRX cycles configured for the radio device according to the DRX configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the WUS is selectively transmitted to the radio device if the length of the DRX cycle for the radio device is equal to or less than a length threshold value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
 broadcasting the length threshold value in system information.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the WUS is selectively transmitted to the radio device if a quality of service, QoS, requirement or a QoS class identifier, QCI, for the radio device is equal to or greater than a quality threshold value. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the WUS is selectively transmitted to the radio device depending on at least one of:
 a history of data transmission to the radio device;   a reference signal received power, RSRP, reported by the radio device to the node;   a reference signal received quality, RSRQ, reported by the radio device to the node;   a maximum coupling loss, MCL, supported by the node;   a length of the WUS; and   a length of downlink control information, DCI, including the scheduling assignment.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the length of the WUS depends on the MCL supported by the node. 
     
     
         11 . A method of receiving data from a node of a radio access network, RAN, at a radio device that is configured for discontinuous reception, DRX, according to a DRX configuration, the method comprising or triggering the steps of:
 receiving an indication via broadcasted system information, whether a wake-up signal, WUS, will be transmitted in a selective transmission to the radio device;   selectively enabling, depending on the DRX configuration and the indication via the system information, a receiver for receiving the WUS from the node;   determining ( 404 ), based on the receiver enabled for receiving the WUS, whether data is available for reception from the node; and   if the data is available, receiving from the node on a radio resource according to the DRX configuration at least one of the data and a scheduling assignment for the transmission of the data.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the radio resource according to the DRX configuration comprises an active interval of the radio device according to the DRX configuration and wherein the WUS is transmitted at or before the beginning of the active interval according to the DRX configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the DRX configuration of the radio device defines DRX cycles, each of the DRX cycles comprising the radio resource according to the DRX configuration for transmitting to the radio device. 
     
     
         14 . A device for transmitting data from a node of a radio access network, RAN, to a radio device that is configured for discontinuous reception, DRX, according to a DRX configuration, the device being configured to perform or trigger the steps of:
 indicating, via broadcasting system information, whether a wake-up signal, WUS, is to be transmitted in a selective transmission to the radio device;   determining whether data is available for transmission to the radio device;   selectively transmitting the WUS to the radio device depending on the DRX configuration and the indication via the system information; and   if the data is available, transmitting to the radio device on a radio resource according to the DRX configuration at least one of the data and a scheduling assignment for the transmission of the data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the radio resource according to the DRX configuration comprises an active interval of the radio device according to the DRX configuration and wherein the WUS is transmitted at or before the beginning of the active interval according to the DRX configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the DRX configuration of the radio device defines DRX cycles, each of the DRX cycles comprising the radio resource according to the DRX configuration for transmitting to the radio device. 
     
     
         17 . A device for receiving data from a node of a radio access network, RAN, at a radio device that is configured for discontinuous reception, DRX, according to a DRX configuration, the device being configured to perform or trigger the steps of:
 receiving an indication via broadcasted system information, whether a wake-up signal, WUS, will be transmitted in a selective transmission to the radio device;   selectively enabling, depending on the DRX configuration and the indication via the system information, a receiver for receiving the WUS from the node;   determining, based on the receiver enabled for receiving the WUS, whether data is available for reception from the node; and   if the data is available, receiving from the node on a radio resource according to the DRX configuration at least one of the data and a scheduling assignment for the transmission of the data.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the radio resource according to the DRX configuration comprises an active interval of the radio device according to the DRX configuration and wherein the WUS is transmitted at or before the beginning of the active interval according to the DRX configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the DRX configuration of the radio device defines DRX cycles, each of the DRX cycles comprising the radio resource according to the DRX configuration for transmitting to the radio device.