# US 12,010,623 B2 · Discontinuous reception in a wireless communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,623 B2 - Document ID: US12010623B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/293,612 - Filed: 2019-11-12 - Published: 2022-01-20 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-13 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Björn Hofström; Helka-Liina Määttänen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010623B2 ## CPC - H04W 52/0232: {according to average transmission signal activity} - H04L 1/1812: Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ] - H04W 76/28: Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX] - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A wireless device (14) is configured for use in a wireless communication system (10). The wireless device (14) configures a number of parallel hybrid automatic repeat request, HARQ, processes (18) as being available for use. The wireless device (14) discontinuously monitors a downlink control channel (20), including monitoring the downlink control channel (20) during an active time (24) that is based on how many of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes (18) are used. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method performed by a wireless device configured for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: configuring a number of parallel hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes as being available for use; discontinuously monitoring a downlink control channel, including monitoring the downlink control channel during an active time that is based on how many of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are used; responsive to a last available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes being put into use, starting a HARQ stall timer; and monitoring the downlink control channel responsive to expiration of the HARQ stall timer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the active time includes times while one or more timers are running, and wherein the method further comprises controlling at least one of the one or more timers based on how many of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are being used. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the one or more timers includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactivity timer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said controlling comprises stopping, or refraining from starting, the at least one of the one or more timers, responsive to a last available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes being put to use. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said controlling comprises: while the HARQ stall timer is running, controlling the at least one of the one or more timers to not be running; and responsive to expiration of the HARQ stall timer, starting or re-starting the at least one of the one or more timers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the HARQ stall timer is started with a value that is a function of: a time elapsed between when a first available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes was put into use and when the last available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ process is put into use; and a round-trip time or round-trip delay in the wireless communication system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the active time is based on whether all of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are used. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication system is a non-terrestrial wireless communication system. ### Claim 9 A method performed by a network node configured for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: transmitting, to a wireless device, control signaling that configures the wireless device to: discontinuously monitor a downlink control channel by monitoring the downlink control channel during an active time that is based on how many of a number of configured parallel hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes are used; responsive to a last available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes being put into use, start a HARQ stall timer; and monitor the downlink control channel responsive to expiration of the HARQ stall timer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the active time includes times while one or more timers at the wireless device are running, wherein the control signaling configures the wireless device to control at least one of the one or more timers based on how many of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are being used. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the one or more timers includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactivity timer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the active time is based on whether all of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are used. ### Claim 13 A wireless device configured for use in a wireless communication system, the wireless device comprising: communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to: configure a number of parallel hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes as being available for use; discontinuously monitor a downlink control channel, including monitoring the downlink control channel during an active time that is based on how many of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are used; responsive to a last available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes being put into use, start a HARQ stall timer; and monitor the downlink control channel responsive to expiration of the HARQ stall timer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the active time includes times while one or more timers are running, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control at least one of the one or more timers based on how many of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are being used. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the one or more timers includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactivity timer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the at least one of the one or more timers by stopping, or refraining from starting, the at least one of the one or more timers, responsive to a last available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes being put to use. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the at least one of the one or more timers by: while the HARQ stall timer is running, controlling the at least one of the one or more timers to not be running; and responsive to expiration of the HARQ stall timer, starting or re-starting the at least one of the one or more timers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the HARQ stall timer is started with a value that is a function of: a time elapsed between when a first available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes was put into use and when the last available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ process is put into use; and a round-trip time or round-trip delay in the wireless communication system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the active time is based on whether all of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are used. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication system is a non-terrestrial wireless communication system. ### Claim 21 A network node configured for use in a wireless communication system, the network node comprising: communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to transmit, to a wireless device, control signaling that configures the wireless device to: discontinuously monitor a downlink control channel by monitoring the downlink control channel during an active time that is based on how many of a number of configured parallel hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes are used; responsive to a last available one of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes being put into use, start a HARQ stall timer; and monitor the downlink control channel responsive to expiration of the HARQ stall timer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The network node of claim 21, wherein the active time includes times while one or more timers at the wireless device are running, wherein the control signaling configures the wireless device to control at least one of the one or more timers based on how many of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are being used. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The network node of claim 22, wherein the at least one of the one or more timers includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactivity timer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The network node of claim 21, wherein the active time is based on whether all of the configured number of parallel HARQ processes are used.