Inactive State Small Data Transmission via Timer Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the context of radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment and small data transmission in new radio (NR) systems, there is a challenge in realizing continuous small data transmission in an inactive state without changing the RRC state of the terminal device.
Innovation Solution
A data transmission method and terminal device configuration that utilize timers to manage RRC connection establishment resume and scheduling of uplink and downlink data transmission, allowing for continuous small data transmission in an inactive state by restarting timers upon receipt of scheduling information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal device enters idle state when timer T319 times out, then connection establishment resume failure is recorded, but continuous small data transmission in inactive state cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second timer that can be started or restarted independently of the first timer when scheduling information is received. This dynamic timer management allows the system to adapt between connection establishment mode and continuous small data transmission mode, resolving the contradiction between reliable connection establishment and continuous transmission productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by introducing a second timer with different functionality from the first timer. When the second timer is started or restarted upon receiving scheduling information, it enables continuous small data transmission without requiring the terminal to enter idle state, thus maintaining both reliability and productivity.
2Productivity
If the terminal device changes RRC state to achieve small data transmission, then data transmission is enabled, but power consumption and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timer functionality into two distinct timers: the first timer for connection establishment resume and the second timer for small data transmission scheduling. This segmentation allows the terminal to maintain inactive RRC state while enabling small data transmission through the second timer mechanism, avoiding the energy consumption associated with state changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The second timer acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables small data transmission without requiring RRC state changes. By introducing this intermediate timer management layer, the system can achieve data transmission productivity while avoiding the energy consumption and signaling overhead that would result from transitioning to connected state.
3Productivity
If the terminal device changes RRC state to achieve small data transmission, then data transmission is enabled, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments timer management into two independent timers, allowing small data transmission to be handled by the second timer without triggering RRC state changes. This segmentation eliminates the signaling overhead associated with state transition procedures while maintaining data transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second timer serves as an intermediary that enables small data transmission through a lighter signaling path. By using the second timer mechanism instead of RRC state changes, the system reduces signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to perform small data transmissions efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present application provide a data transmission method and a terminal device, which can realize continuous inactive-state small data transmission. The data transmission method includes: sending, by a terminal device, first information during running of a first timer, where the terminal device is in an inactive state, the first timer is used to represent a time window of RRC connection establishment resume and/or to represent a time window for monitoring information for scheduling uplink data and/or downlink data transmission, and the first information includes user data; and restarting, by the terminal device, the first timer in a case that the terminal device receives second information, where the second information is used to schedule the terminal device to transmit uplink data and/or receive downlink data in the inactive state.