Context Retention for Mobile Communication Signaling Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE systems, a significant amount of signaling is required when user equipment (UE) transitions between RRC idle and connected states, and when UE moves between cells, the existing methods do not effectively reduce signaling by reusing context information.
Innovation Solution
The UE and base station implement a method to retain and reuse context information by transmitting identifying information to establish connections efficiently, even when the UE is not in a connected state, using a transmitter to send identifying information and a connector to establish connections using the retained context information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE transitions between RRC idle state and RRC connected state using conventional signaling procedures, then the connection can be established and released, but a large amount of signaling occurs involving core network entities (MME, S-GW)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the context information retention function from the core network (MME) and places it at the access network side (eNB). The eNB autonomously retains UE context information including bearer information, security information, and radio resource configuration, eliminating the need for core network involvement in context retention during RRC state transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The eNB performs preliminary retention of UE context information before the UE transitions to RRC idle state. When the UE later transitions back to RRC connected state, the eNB can immediately reuse the retained context without requiring new signaling with the core network, thus reducing signaling overhead.
2Productivity
If the UE context is released when transitioning to RRC idle state, then the system follows conventional procedures, but the UE context cannot be reused when transitioning back to connected state
Solution Approach 1:
The eNB maintains continuous retention of UE context information across RRC state transitions. The context information remains valid and reusable when the UE transitions from RRC idle state back to RRC connected state, enabling continuous reuse without interruption or additional core network signaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The eNB creates and maintains a copy of the UE context information locally. This copied context includes bearer information, security information, and radio resource configuration, which can be reused when the UE reconnects, avoiding the need to retrieve original context from the core network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the UE moves to a different cell while in RRC idle state, then the UE can access new coverage areas, but the existing context retention method within the same eNB does not apply
Solution Approach 1:
The eNB context retention mechanism is designed to be universally applicable across cell boundaries. When a UE moves to a different cell controlled by the same eNB or a neighboring eNB, the context information can be retrieved and reused, making the system adaptable to mobility scenarios while maintaining low signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
User equipment of a mobile communication system supporting a function for establishing a connection by reusing context information retained in each of the user equipment and a base station includes a transmitter that transmits, to the base station, first identifying information for identifying a retaining base station that retains base station side context information for the user equipment and second identifying information for identifying the base station side context information when the user equipment retains user equipment side context information; and a connector that establishes the connection with the base station by using the user equipment side context information after the base station obtains the base station side context information from the retaining base station.