Connected-Terminal Multicast Updates With State-Based Message Selection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Terminal devices in connected mode perform unnecessary receiving behaviors and experience high power consumption when obtaining configuration update information for multicast services, as they may receive repeated updates via both common and dedicated messages.

Innovation Solution

The terminal device determines, based on indication information or RRC mode, to use either a common message or a dedicated message to obtain configuration update information, avoiding redundant reception and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal device receives configuration update information through both common messages and dedicated messages, then the terminal device can obtain updates reliably, but the terminal device performs unnecessary receiving behaviors and consumes high power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration update reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the message reception mode adaptable rather than fixed. The terminal device dynamically switches between receiving configuration updates via common messages (when in idle or inactive state) and dedicated messages (when in connected state), based on its current RRC state. This dynamic adaptation eliminates unnecessary receiving operations while maintaining reliable updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by tailoring the reception mechanism to the specific RRC state of the terminal device. Different reception strategies are applied locally according to the device's state: common messages for idle/inactive states and dedicated messages for connected states. This localized optimization ensures reliable updates while minimizing power consumption for each specific operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If the terminal device monitors both common and dedicated messages for configuration updates, then no updates are missed, but the receiving behavior becomes redundant and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration update informationVSAvoidupdate acquisition efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the message monitoring strategy state-dependent. The terminal device dynamically adjusts which message type to monitor based on its RRC state, switching between common message monitoring (idle/inactive) and dedicated message monitoring (connected). This dynamic approach ensures complete information acquisition while maximizing update acquisition efficiency by eliminating redundant monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional approach of always monitoring both message types. Instead, it inverts the logic to monitor only the appropriate message type based on state, thereby eliminating redundancy while ensuring no information is lost. This inverted strategy improves productivity by making the monitoring process selective rather than exhaustive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the terminal device uses a fixed message type for configuration updates, then the implementation is simple, but it cannot adapt to different RRC states and causes unnecessary power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate mechanism complexityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed message type approach to a state-adaptive approach. The terminal device dynamically selects the message type (common or dedicated) based on its current RRC state, enabling adaptation to different operational contexts while maintaining reasonable implementation complexity through state-based decision logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by making the message reception parameter (message type) variable rather than fixed. The terminal device changes the reception parameter according to its RRC state, allowing adaptation to different states while avoiding unnecessary power consumption. This parameter-based adaptation resolves the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4231670B1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4231670B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4231670B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4231670B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6a

AI summary

This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and discloses a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: A terminal device obtains configuration information of a multicast service, and receives first indication information from an access network device. The first indication information indicates a manner of obtaining configuration update information of the multicast service by the terminal device. The manner is a first manner (that is, obtaining the configuration update information of the multicast service by receiving a common message) or a second manner (that is, obtaining the configuration update information of the multicast service by receiving a dedicated message). The terminal device herein may be in connected mode. In this way, the terminal device in connected mode may determine, based on the first indication information, which of the first manner and the second manner is used to obtain the configuration update information of the multicast service, to avoid using both the first manner and the second manner to obtain repeated configuration update information, so that unnecessary receiving behavior is effectively avoided, and power consumption of the terminal device is reduced.