Immediate MDT Configuration Handover Across UE RRC State Changes

Solution Overview

Problem

In existing systems, continuous measurement data collection for user equipment (UE) across radio resource control (RRC) states is disrupted when the UE transitions between RRC connected, idle, and inactive states, leading to gaps in data collection and hindering AI model training or inference accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A communication method and apparatus that enables a network device to send and store immediate MDT configuration information across RRC states, ensuring continuous data collection by indicating network devices to retain and transmit this information when UE transitions, thereby improving data continuity and AI model performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the UE transitions between RRC connected, idle, and inactive states, then the network releases immediate MDT configuration to save resources, but continuous measurement data collection is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource consumptionVSAvoidcontinuous measurement data

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The core network device stores the immediate MDT configuration information in advance before the UE transitions to idle state. When the UE re-enters connected or inactive state, the stored configuration is quickly retrieved and delivered, eliminating the need to re-send the configuration and ensuring continuous measurement data collection without interrupting the measurement process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The core network device acts as an intermediary that retains the immediate MDT configuration information during UE state transitions. This intermediary storage mechanism allows the configuration to be preserved and efficiently transferred when needed, bridging the gap between network resource saving and continuous measurement requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If the OAM does not sense the RRC state of the UE, then signaling overhead is reduced, but the OAM cannot send immediate MDT configuration to the gNB when needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidconfiguration delivery reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The core network device proactively stores the immediate MDT configuration information in advance, so when the UE needs to re-enter connected or inactive state, the configuration is already available for immediate delivery without requiring OAM to sense the UE's current RRC state, thus maintaining reliable configuration delivery while keeping signaling overhead low

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the gNB cannot deliver immediate MDT configuration to the UE after state transition, then memory resources are saved, but measurement data collection becomes discontinuous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory resourcesVSAvoidmeasurement data collection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The core network device stores the immediate MDT configuration information in advance before the UE transitions to idle state. When the UE re-enters connected or inactive state, the stored configuration is quickly retrieved and delivered, eliminating the need to re-send the configuration and ensuring continuous measurement data collection without interrupting the measurement process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The core network device acts as an intermediary that retains the immediate MDT configuration information during UE state transitions. This intermediary storage mechanism allows the configuration to be preserved and efficiently transferred when needed, bridging the gap between network resource saving and continuous measurement requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260067192A1Communication method and communication apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A method is applied to a first network device, and the method includes: sending first indication information to a second network device, where the first indication information indicates the second network device to store immediate MDT configuration information of at least one UE, and the immediate MDT configuration information is used by the at least one UE to perform measurement for MDT data; receiving immediate MDT configuration information of a target UE sent by the second network device; sending the immediate MDT configuration information of the target UE to the target UE; and receiving first data sent by the target UE, and obtaining target MDT measurement data of the target UE based on the first data.