Base Station Early Data Transfer Across RRC State Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in managing data communication effectively when a user equipment (UE) transitions from an inactive or idle state to a connected state, particularly in scenarios where the UE has only a small amount of data to transmit, as the transition process is unclear and can lead to inefficiencies and latency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing methods and systems in the central and distributed units of a base station to manage data communication during state transitions by performing early data transmission procedures, including communicating data packets and handling retransmissions if necessary, to ensure seamless transitions between RRC_INACTIVE and RRC_CONNECTED states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE transitions to RRC_CONNECTED state for data transmission, then the data communication reliability is improved, but the transition latency and network resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing early data transmission procedures while the UE is still in inactive state, allowing data packets to be communicated before the formal connection is established. This reduces the need for complete state transitions and minimizes transition latency while maintaining communication reliability through proactive data handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data transmission process into multiple phases: early data transmission in inactive state, and subsequent data transmission after transitioning to connected state. This segmentation allows small data packets to be handled efficiently without full connection establishment, reducing overall latency while maintaining reliability for larger or more critical data transmissions.
2Loss of energy
If the UE remains in inactive state for small data transmission, then the network resource consumption is reduced, but the data communication completeness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic state management where the UE can operate in inactive state for initial data transmission, then transition to connected state for subsequent communications. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt resource consumption to actual communication needs, maintaining low power mode for small data while ensuring completeness through state transition when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by establishing early data transmission capabilities in inactive state, allowing the system to handle small data packets with minimal resource consumption. The infrastructure is prepared in advance to support this mode, enabling efficient handling of small data while preserving the option to transition to connected state for more demanding communication requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the UE transitions from inactive to connected state, then the data communication capability is improved, but the protocol complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the protocol processing into two distinct modes: simplified early data transmission procedures in inactive state, and full protocol processing after transitioning to connected state. This segmentation reduces protocol complexity for small data transmissions while maintaining full communication capability when needed, allowing the system to adapt processing overhead to actual communication requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
To manage communications from a UE during a state transition, a central unit (CU) of a base station performs, by processing hardware, an early data transmission procedure with the UE while the UE is in an inactive state, including transmitting at least one data packet of a sequence of data packets to the UE (802). The CU determines to transition the UE from the inactive state to a connected state (808). In response to transitioning the UE to the connected state, the CU transmits, by the processing hardware, a next data packet in the sequence of data packets to the UE, or retransmits, by the processing hardware, the at least one data packet to the UE in response to determining the at least one data packet has not been received (812).