5G IoT RAN Connection Suspension for Fast Uplink Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G Cellular Internet of Things (IoT) devices with limited power sources face challenges in maintaining radio transmitters and receivers when not in use, leading to reduced battery life due to inefficient power management during single or dual packet transmissions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method in the radio access network (RAN) to quickly switch off the radio transmitter after uplink data transmission by utilizing Release Assistance Information (RAI) or Expected UE Behavior, allowing immediate suspension or release of the RRC connection based on network-available information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the network releases the connection for power saving, then power consumption is reduced, but uplink data cannot be transmitted without connection re-establishment delay
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by keeping the connection suspended in an inactive state rather than fully releasing it. This allows the terminal to quickly resume the connection when uplink data arrives, avoiding full re-establishment delay while still achieving power savings during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection state is made dynamic, transitioning between active, suspended, and released states based on traffic patterns. The suspended state serves as an intermediate condition that balances power consumption and reconnection speed, allowing the system to adapt to varying uplink traffic requirements.
2Speed
If the connection is maintained for immediate uplink transmission, then transmission delay is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining continuous connection, the system uses periodic suspension and resumption based on traffic patterns. The connection is suspended during idle periods to save power and resumed when uplink data is detected, creating a periodic pattern that balances speed and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal autonomously detects uplink data and triggers connection resumption without network intervention. This self-service mechanism allows the terminal to maintain low power consumption during idle states while ensuring rapid connection restoration when transmission is needed.
3Device complexity
If the network suspends the connection without release information, then connection state tracking complexity is reduced, but the terminal cannot determine when to release the connection
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides feedback to the terminal through release information that indicates when a suspended connection should be released. This feedback mechanism maintains simple state tracking at both ends while enabling the terminal to make informed decisions about connection release timing based on network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Release information acts as an intermediary signal between the network and terminal regarding connection state transitions. This intermediary provides clear guidance to the terminal about when to transition from suspended to released state, simplifying the terminal's decision-making process while maintaining network control.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method of operating a RAN node 203 of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: receiving a connection resume request message from a wireless terminal 201 at the RAN node instructing the RAN node to establish a connection with the wireless terminal; providing release information for the wireless terminal at the RAN node; receiving uplink data from the wireless terminal at the RAN node, wherein the uplink data is associated with the connection resume request message; and transmitting a connection release message to the wireless terminal after receiving the uplink data responsive to the release information for the wireless terminal, wherein the connection release message instructs the wireless terminal to release and/or suspend the connection.