Inactive UE Uplink Transfer via Serving Base Station Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G New Radio (NR), there is a delay associated with the Radio Resource Control (RRC) Resume procedure when a user equipment (UE) transitions from an inactive state to a connected state for small data transfers, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The method involves coordinating between the last serving base station and the new base station to facilitate data transfer while the UE is in the inactive state, allowing the last serving base station to forward user plane uplink data to the core network on behalf of the UE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE performs the RRC Resume procedure to transition from inactive state to connected state for data transfer, then full data transmission capability is achieved, but time delay is incurred due to the procedure completion requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the user plane data transfer function from the complete RRC Resume procedure. The UE can send uplink data directly to the new gNB while in inactive state, separating the data transfer function from the full state transition requirement, thereby eliminating the procedure delay while maintaining transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The new gNB acts as an intermediary that receives user plane data from the UE in inactive state and forwards it to the last serving gNB, which then relays it to the core network. This intermediary mechanism enables data transfer without requiring the UE to complete the full RRC Resume procedure
2Loss of time
If the UE remains in inactive state to avoid RRC Resume procedure delay, then time delay is reduced, but data transmission capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial data transmission capability in the inactive state. Instead of requiring full connected state functionality, the UE can perform partial user plane data transfer directly in inactive state, which is sufficient for small data transfers and eliminates the need for complete state transition
3Reliability
If the UE frequently transitions to connected state for small data transfers, then data transmission is achieved, but overhead and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the UE context to be available at the new gNB before data transfer is needed. The last serving gNB provides the UE context to potential new gNBs in advance, so when the UE needs to transfer data, the new gNB already has the necessary context information and can immediately forward data without requiring full state transition
Solution Approach 2:
The UE serves itself by maintaining its context information and being able to directly send data to the new gNB while in inactive state. The network infrastructure (last serving gNB and new gNB) handles the context management and data routing automatically, eliminating the need for the UE to perform complex state transition procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus of a device that communicates data between a user equipment (UE) device and a base station when the user equipment is in the inactive state is described. In some embodiments, the last serving base station of the UE and the new base station of the UE coordinate with each other to complete the transfer of data while the UE is in the inactive state.