Ambient IoT Communication Using Detection Windows in RRC Inactive States

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing telecommunication technologies face challenges in supporting battery-less or low-energy storage A-IoT devices by enabling efficient communication in RRC inactive states, particularly in 5G ecosystems, due to the need for reduced power consumption and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A user device determines a detection window to detect A-IoT device replies within a reduced time frame, allowing it to participate in A-IoT sessions as a reader even when in an inactive state, reducing complexity by optimizing convolution operations and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the apparatus operates in RRC inactive state to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the capability to participate in A-IoT sessions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcapability to participate in A-IoT sessions
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus dynamically transitions between RRC inactive and connected states based on A-IoT session requirements. The device can operate in inactive state to save power, but quickly switch to connected state when triggered by a network node to participate in A-IoT sessions, then return to inactive state after completion. This dynamic state management resolves the contradiction between power savings and session participation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If the apparatus determines a detection window for A-IoT replies, then detection timing is optimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection timingVSAvoidcomplexity of detection mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus pre-determines a detection window for A-IoT replies before actually needing to detect them. By calculating and storing the detection window parameters in advance, the device avoids complex real-time calculations when a reply needs to be detected. This preliminary action reduces the operational complexity while maintaining optimized detection timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the apparatus performs convolution operations for reply detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus performs convolution operations selectively rather than continuously. It only executes the computationally intensive convolution when triggered to participate in an A-IoT session and a detection window is active. This partial action approach maintains detection accuracy when needed while significantly reducing average computational complexity and power consumption during inactive periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4590002A1Ambient internet of things communication for user devices
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4590002A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4590002A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4590002A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and a computer readable storage medium for ambient internet of things (A-IoT) communication for user device in radio resource control (RRC) inactive state. The method comprises: determining, at the user device, a detection window for the apparatus to detect a reply from an A-IoT device in an A-IoT session; and in accordance with a determination that the apparatus not being in a connected state is triggered, by a network node, to participate in the A-IoT session as a reader, detecting the reply from the A-IoT device within the detection window.