According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 1.6 million patents to analyze innovation intensity for the technology industry, there are 185+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

LTE discontinuous reception (DRX) is a key innovation area in 5G

LTE discontinuous reception (DRX) is an energy-conserving method implemented in LTE networks, enabling user devices to enter a low-power state when there’s no data communication from the base station, effectively lowering energy usage.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 340+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of LTE discontinuous reception (DRX).

Key players in LTE discontinuous reception (DRX) – a disruptive innovation in the technology industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.  

Patent volumes related to LTE discontinuous reception (DRX)

Among the companies innovating in LTE discontinuous reception (DRX), Intel is one of the leading patents filers. The company’s patent pertains to legally intercepting a proximity service, such as device-to-device (D2D) communication, provided to user equipment (UEs). For instance, a method involves an evolved Node B (eNB) sending a proximity service setup message to a first UE to establish D2D communication with a second UE. Subsequently, the eNB transmits a lawful interception message to either the first UE or the second UE to facilitate legal interception of the D2D communication. The eNB then receives packets related to the D2D communication from the first UE or the second UE and conveys these received packets from both UEs to the core network (CN) for duplication. Other prominent patent filers in the space include Qualcomm and Huawei.

In terms of application diversity, Intel leads the pack, while Apple and Qualcomm stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Sun Patent Trust held the top position, followed by Network-1 Technologies and Intel.

 LTE discontinuous reception (DRX) plays a crucial role in power efficiency within 5G technology. By allowing user devices to periodically enter a low-power sleep mode when there is no data transmission, it significantly extends battery life, making it especially important for IoT devices and mobile devices striving for optimal power management. 

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the technology industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on 5G.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.