Communications Device Power Saving State Context Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communications networks face inefficiencies in power consumption and resource usage, particularly for simpler devices like MTC-type communications devices that require lower bandwidth and less complex processing, as they often rely on conventional power-saving techniques like discontinuous reception.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a new power-saving state in communications devices that allows them to transition from connected or idle states to a reduced power state, where the context information is stored, enabling efficient power management and reduced resource consumption without the need for full re-establishment of EPS bearers when returning to active states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional discontinuous reception techniques are used for MTC devices, then power consumption is reduced, but resource usage efficiency deteriorates due to frequent connection re-establishment
Solution Approach 1:
The network stores context information (bearer parameters, security keys, QoS settings) in advance before the device enters idle mode. When the device needs to re-connect, this pre-stored context is retrieved and reused, eliminating the need for full re-establishment procedures and reducing both power consumption and resource usage overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The network creates and stores a copy of the device's context information in the core network entities (MME, serving gateway) when the device transitions to idle mode. This copy contains all necessary parameters to quickly re-establish the connection without requiring the device to re-negotiate these parameters, thus improving resource efficiency while maintaining power savings.
2Device complexity
If MTC devices use lower bandwidth and simpler processing, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but network resource efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection management is segmented into two parts: the simple radio access part handled by the MTC device with lower bandwidth, and the complex context management part handled by the network infrastructure. This segmentation allows simple devices to operate efficiently while the network handles the computational burden of context storage and retrieval, improving overall network resource efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The core network entities (MME, serving gateway) act as intermediaries that store and manage device context information. This intermediary layer enables simple MTC devices to efficiently re-connect by having the network mediate the context retrieval and re-establishment process, thus improving network resource efficiency without increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If full EPS bearer re-establishment is performed upon connection resumption, then connection reliability is ensured, but power consumption and time delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary storage of context information when the device is still active. This pre-prepared context includes all necessary parameters for connection re-establishment, allowing the device to quickly resume connections without performing full re-establishment procedures, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining connection reliability through the use of pre-validated context data.
4Reliability
If full EPS bearer re-establishment is performed upon connection resumption, then connection reliability is ensured, but time delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network stores context information in advance before the device needs to re-connect. This preliminary action of context preservation allows for rapid connection resumption by simply retrieving and reusing the stored context, eliminating time-consuming re-negotiation and re-establishment procedures while ensuring connection reliability through the use of previously validated context parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communications device establishes a communications context for communicating data packets using a packet communications bearer from the communications device via the mobile communications network in a connected state and releases communications context when in an idle state. A controller of the communications device is configured in combination with a receiver to receive signalling information providing an indication of one or more functions performed by at least one of the receiver, a transmitter or the controller which can be changed in a power saving state, and when in either the idle state or the connected state, to enter the power saving state in which the one or more of the operations performed by at least one of the receiver, the transmitter or the controller are changed in accordance with the indication of the changed functions received in the signalling information from the mobile communications network. In one example the mobile communications network also transmits second signalling information providing an indication of predetermined conditions for entering a power saving state from either the idle state or the connected state. Accordingly the mobile communications network can control the operations of a communications device so that it can be arranged to enter a power saving state, for each communications device and for each connection. As such a communications device can be configured to enter a power saving state in accordance with its capabilities and its function.