Retaining Bandwidth Part Configurations for Wireless Device State Transitions

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless network communications, user equipment (UE) discards dedicated bandwidth part (BWP) configurations when entering Idle or Inactive states, leading to high overhead in re-transmitting these configurations upon re-entering Connected mode, which is frequent and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The UE retains the physical layer configuration of the active BWP when switching to an inactive RRC state, allowing it to reuse this configuration upon re-entering Connected mode without needing to re-transmit dedicated BWP configurations via RRC signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE discards dedicated BWP configurations when entering Idle or Inactive states, then the system ensures clean state transitions and proper resource management, but the overhead of re-transmitting these configurations upon re-entering Connected mode increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate transition managementVSAvoidconfiguration signaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary action by transmitting and storing dedicated BWP configurations in the Inactive state. When the UE transitions back to Connected mode, these pre-stored configurations are immediately available for activation, eliminating the need for re-transmission and reducing signaling overhead while ensuring proper state transition management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the network re-transmits dedicated BWP configurations via RRC signaling each time the UE re-enters Connected mode, then the UE ensures proper configuration for current network conditions, but the transition time and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidUE transition time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary action by transmitting and storing dedicated BWP configurations in the Inactive state. When the UE transitions back to Connected mode, these pre-stored configurations are immediately available for activation, eliminating the need for re-transmission and reducing signaling overhead while ensuring proper state transition management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE maintains a copy of the dedicated BWP configuration in its memory during the Inactive state. This copying mechanism allows the UE to quickly restore the configuration when transitioning to Connected mode without waiting for network re-transmission, thereby reducing transition time while maintaining configuration accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the UE frequently transitions between Connected and Inactive states, then the system enables flexible mobility and power management, but the cumulative overhead of repeated configuration signaling increases power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobility management flexibilityVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary action by transmitting and storing dedicated BWP configurations in the Inactive state. When the UE transitions back to Connected mode, these pre-stored configurations are immediately available for activation, eliminating the need for re-transmission and reducing signaling overhead while ensuring proper state transition management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE maintains a copy of the dedicated BWP configuration in its memory during the Inactive state. This copying mechanism allows the UE to quickly restore the configuration when transitioning to Connected mode without waiting for network re-transmission, thereby reducing transition time while maintaining configuration accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11791972B2Bandwidth part operations for idle and inactive states

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

According to an aspect, a wireless device is configured to selectively operate in one of two or more previously configured bandwidth parts (BWPs), each BWP being a different subset of an available bandwidth for uplink and/or downlink operation. The wireless device switches from an active RRC state to an inactive RRC state, and, after the switching, retains a physical layer configuration corresponding to the BWP active just prior to the switching.