Inactive-State DCI Scheduling for UE Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks lack a control signaling mechanism to support data transmission to or from a user equipment (UE) in the RRC_INACTIVE state, limiting data exchange and efficiency in this power-saving mode.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and system that allows a UE in an inactive state to receive downlink control information (DCI) with a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) specific to a group of UEs, enabling data transmission scheduling through a physical shared channel, including resource assignments, short messages, HARQ processes, and measurement requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a UE operates in RRC_INACTIVE state to save power and network resources, then power consumption and network resource usage are reduced, but data transmission capability is limited or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic data transmission capability in RRC_INACTIVE state by introducing DCI monitoring and scheduling mechanisms. The UE can transition between power-saving mode and active data transmission mode dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to varying traffic conditions while maintaining the power-saving benefits of the inactive state when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the UE in RRC_INACTIVE state by enabling DCI reception and processing capabilities. This includes configuring the UE to monitor PDCCH for DCI formats with specific RNTI scrambling, allowing resource assignments, and enabling data reception on PDSCH/PSSCH, thereby transforming the UE from a purely passive state to an actively transmissible state.
2Productivity
If control signaling mechanisms are added to support data transmission in inactive state, then data transmission capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reuses existing DCI formats, RNTI types, and physical channel structures already defined for connected state operations. By applying these existing mechanisms to the inactive state with appropriate configuration, the patent avoids creating entirely new complex signaling protocols, instead leveraging universal components across different UE states to reduce overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If DCI with group-specific RNTI is used for scheduling, then resource assignment efficiency is improved, but identification and detection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The group-specific RNTI acts as an intermediary identifier that bridges the UE and the scheduling mechanism. Instead of requiring direct UE identification in every DCI message, the group RNTI serves as a mediator that the UE can use to efficiently filter and identify relevant DCI messages on the PDCCH, reducing the detection burden while maintaining efficient resource assignment.
Data Source
AI summary
Control signaling mechanisms are provided to support data transmissions to or from a user equipment (UE) in an inactive state. In some embodiments, a UE in an inactive state receives DCI including: a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that is specific to a group of UEs, the group of UEs including the UE; and a resource assignment for a data transmission to the UE. The data transmission is then received on a physical shared channel. In further embodiments, a UE in an inactive state receives DCI including: a CRC scrambled by a paging RNTI; and a resource assignment for a paging message to the UE. A data transmission is received by the UE in the paging message or in a further transmission that is scheduled by the paging message.