Inactive Mode Configuration for Dual Connectivity Wireless Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dual connectivity solutions do not support inactive mode for bearers involving the secondary eNodeB, requiring unnecessary signaling for bearer release and reconfiguration when entering and exiting inactive mode.

Innovation Solution

Implement methods in network nodes to detect when a secondary network node has no data to transmit, allowing configuration of a wireless terminal into inactive mode by messaging between primary and secondary network nodes, enabling efficient signaling reduction and rapid recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If dual connectivity is maintained with secondary eNodeB for inactive mode, then connection recovery speed is improved, but signaling overhead increases due to bearer release and reconfiguration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection recovery speedVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The network nodes perform preliminary actions by storing context information and configuring inactive mode before actual bearer release occurs. This allows the wireless terminal to rapidly resume connection by retrieving pre-stored context, avoiding the need for complete bearer reconfiguration and reducing signaling overhead while maintaining fast recovery capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If bearers are released before entering inactive mode, then signaling resources are conserved, but connection resumption latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling resourcesVSAvoidconnection resumption latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Context information is preliminarily stored and prepared before the wireless terminal actually needs to resume connection. This preliminary preparation allows the system to conserve signaling resources during inactive mode while enabling rapid connection resumption by simply retrieving the pre-stored context, thus resolving the contradiction between resource conservation and fast recovery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If secondary eNodeB continues data transmission in inactive mode, then service continuity is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the state of bearers based on data activity. When no data is pending, bearers are released to conserve resources; when data arrives, the stored context enables rapid bearer reactivation. This dynamic state transition allows the system to optimize between service continuity and resource consumption based on actual traffic conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11778550B2Methods and apparatus relating to inactive mode in a wireless communications network

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

The disclosure provides methods in a network node for a telecommunications network. In one method, the network node operates as a primary network node for a wireless terminal configured with dual connectivity, and the method comprises: receiving a message indicating that a secondary network node, which provides user plane connectivity for the wireless terminal, has no data to transmit to the wireless terminal; and based at least in part on the received message, configuring the wireless terminal in an inactive mode.