Early Data Transmission with RNA Update in Random Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile communication technologies face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption and signaling load while maintaining low-latency data transmission and mobility management for UEs operating in sleep modes, particularly in scenarios involving random access procedures and paging area updates.

Innovation Solution

Implementing techniques that facilitate early-data-transmission (EDT) and notification area updates (RNA-U) during random access procedures by using combined RRC_Resume cause values, RA preamble partitioning, and context information to determine the need for RNA updates, allowing simultaneous execution of EDT and RNA-U, thereby reducing signaling overhead and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a UE operates in sleep mode (RRC_Inactive) to reduce power consumption and signaling load, then power efficiency is improved, but mobility management and data transmission capabilities deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption at UEVSAvoidmobility management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary actions by determining context information and preparing update information elements before the UE initiates random access. The access node has the update information element ready in advance, so when the UE wakes up and initiates EDT, the mobility management update can be seamlessly integrated without requiring separate signaling exchanges, thus maintaining low power consumption while enabling mobility management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the data transmission procedure (EDT) with the mobility management procedure (RNA update) into a single integrated random access procedure. By combining these two functions that were previously separate, the UE can simultaneously perform data transmission and mobility management updates, improving adaptability while maintaining power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Speed

If early-data-transmission (EDT) is implemented during random access procedure to reduce latency, then data transmission speed is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission latencyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the EDT procedure with the RNA update procedure into a single integrated random access process. The UE includes both data transmission and mobility management update requests in the same random access messaging sequence, particularly utilizing the RRCResumeRequest message to convey both purposes. This merging eliminates the need for separate signaling exchanges, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining low latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The random access procedure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: data transmission (EDT), mobility management (RNA update), and context restoration. By making the random access procedure multi-functional, the system avoids the need for separate dedicated procedures for each function, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining fast data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If notification area update (RNA-U) is performed separately from data transmission, then mobility management accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobility management accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the RNA update procedure with the data transmission procedure by integrating the mobility management update request into the EDT random access messaging sequence. The UE includes the cause value indicating both data transmission and RNA update needs in the same RRCResumeRequest message, allowing the network to handle both functions in a single interaction, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining mobility management accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The network performs preliminary determination of whether an RNA update is needed based on context information before the UE completes the random access procedure. This preliminary action allows the network to prepare the update information element in advance and include it efficiently in the random access response, maintaining accurate mobility management while minimizing additional signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3845030B1Early-data-transmission and radio access network notification area update

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SONY GROUP CORP

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AI summary

A method of operating an access node of a radio access network of a cellular network includes participating in an early-data-transmission of a random access procedure of a UE. The method further includes, in response to said participating in the early-data- transmission: determining whether or not the UE requires an update information element of a notification area of the radio access network. The method further includes selectively transmitting the update information element if the UE requires the update information element.