DIRECT CONTROL SIGNALING IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

摘要

A first wireless communication device (14-1)belongs to a first (12-1) of multiple groups (12) of wireless communication devices(14). Devices (14) in any given group (12) are synchronized to the same timing reference and devices (14) in different groups (12) are not synchronized to the same timing reference. The first device (14-1) receives a message that indicates, for each of one or more of the groups (12), a range of possible values for misalignment between the timing reference of that group (12) and a common timing reference. The range accounts for uncertainty in that misalignment. The first device (14-1) determines, based on the one or more ranges, intervals of times during which direct control signaling is expected to be received at the first device (14-1) from one or more devices (14) in one or more other groups (12-2, 12-3). The first device (14-1) then adjusts intervals of times during which it is configured to operate in an awake state to narrowly encompass the intervals of times during which the direct control signaling is expected to be received.