Configured Grant Timer Logic for 5G Terminal Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communications systems, particularly in 5G NR systems, configured grant resources are not fully utilized due to the configured grant timer mechanism, which restricts the terminal device's ability to send data using the same HARQ process, leading to increased latency and reduced efficiency in handling emergency services like URLLC and eMBB data.

Innovation Solution

A data sending method that allows the terminal device to ignore or stop the configured grant timer when higher priority data arrives, enabling the use of configured grant resources for urgent data transmission, thereby improving resource utilization and reducing latency for latency-sensitive services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the configured grant timer is enforced to ensure HARQ process integrity, then data transmission reliability is improved, but configured grant resource utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidconfigured grant resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of the configured grant timer based on data priority. High-priority data (e.g., URLLC) can stop or ignore the timer to access configured grant resources immediately, while low-priority data (e.g., eMBB) follows the conventional timer mechanism. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt timer enforcement to actual transmission needs, resolving the contradiction between reliability and resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the timer parameter state based on data priority and HARQ process status. When high-priority data arrives and needs to use the same HARQ process, the timer parameter is adjusted (stopped or ignored) to allow immediate transmission. This parameter change enables high-priority traffic to bypass the conventional timer restriction, improving both resource utilization and maintaining reliability through priority-based differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the configured grant timer restricts access to ensure proper HARQ process management, then HARQ process management accuracy is improved, but transmission latency worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ process management accuracyVSAvoidtransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the configured grant timer behavior dynamic based on data priority. For high-priority data, the timer is stopped or ignored, allowing immediate transmission and reducing latency. For low-priority data, the timer continues to enforce proper HARQ process management. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by allowing latency-critical traffic to bypass timer restrictions while maintaining management accuracy for other traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the timer parameter state (running, stopped, or ignored) based on the priority of arriving data and the current HARQ process status. When high-priority data arrives that needs to use the same HARQ process, the timer parameter is changed to stopped or ignored, eliminating the latency penalty. This parameter change mechanism maintains HARQ management accuracy while reducing latency for time-sensitive transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the terminal device waits for the configured grant timer to complete before using the same HARQ process, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission accuracyVSAvoidresource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic behavior where the terminal device decides whether to wait for the configured grant timer based on data priority. High-priority data can immediately use the configured grant resource by stopping or ignoring the timer, while low-priority data waits for timer completion. This dynamic decision-making resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to prioritize resource efficiency for time-critical traffic while maintaining transmission accuracy for less urgent traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the timer enforcement parameter based on data priority and HARQ process availability. When high-priority data arrives and the configured grant resource is available, the timer parameter is changed to stopped or ignored, allowing immediate transmission and improving resource efficiency. This parameter change maintains transmission accuracy through priority-based differentiation while enabling more efficient resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3866364B1Method for sending data, apparatus for sending data, and terminal device
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3866364B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3866364B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3866364B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a data sending method, a data sending apparatus, and a terminal device, to improve utilization of a configured grant resource. The method includes: A terminal device receives a configuration message from a network device. The configuration message is used to indicate a configured grant, and the configuration message includes information about a timer corresponding to the configured grant. The terminal device determines that the configured grant is used for a HARQ process, and starts the timer for the HARQ process. To-be-sent data in the HARQ process is data on a first logical channel. During running of the timer, when there is to-be-newly-transmitted data on a second logical channel, the timer stops running, or a running state of the timer is ignored, that is, during running of the timer, when there is to-be-newly-transmitted data on the second logical channel, the configured grant of the HARQ process and information about the HARQ process to a HARQ entity are sent. The data on the second logical channel is sent by using the configured grant.