MAC Control Element for Small Data Transmission in Inactive State

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Solution Overview

Problem

In telecommunications, terminal devices in an inactive state face inefficiencies due to unnecessary power consumption and signaling overhead from frequent connection setups and releases for small and infrequent data transmissions, which are not supported until 3GPP Release 16, and further exacerbated by the need for radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating a media access control layer (MAC) control element with a terminal device's identity for small data transmission in an inactive state, allowing uplink data to be transmitted without RRC signaling through a 4-step or 2-step random access channel (RACH) procedure, reducing signaling overhead by using a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and eliminating the need for contention resolution timers or RAR windows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If connection setup and release happens for each small data transmission, then data transmission can be performed, but power consumption increases and signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs small data transmission while remaining in the inactive state without resuming the connection. The MAC CE is prepared and transmitted in advance during the inactive state, allowing data to be sent before connection setup would normally occur, thus avoiding the energy cost of connection establishment for each small transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the identity information and small data from the traditional RRC signaling path and transmits them through the MAC CE in the physical uplink shared channel instead. This separation allows small data transmission to occur independently of connection setup, reducing the frequency of connection states and associated power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If connection setup and release happens for each small data transmission, then data transmission can be performed, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the identity information (I-RNTI) and small data into a single MAC CE structure that is transmitted together in the physical uplink shared channel. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate RRC signaling messages, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining complete information for data transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The MAC CE serves as an intermediary structure that carries both the terminal device identity and small data between the terminal and network. This intermediary mechanism replaces the traditional RRC signaling path, enabling data transmission with reduced signaling overhead by using a more efficient transport layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If RRC signaling is used for small data transmission, then data can be transmitted, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidsignaling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the RRC signaling mechanism (which operates at the control plane) with a MAC CE transmission mechanism (which operates at the user plane/physical layer). This substitution replaces a complex higher-layer signaling system with a simpler physical layer transmission, reducing signaling complexity while maintaining data transmission capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20230058706A1Method, device and computer storage medium of communication

Publication Date: 2023.02.23 NEC CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices and computer readable media of communication. A method of communication implemented by a terminal device comprises generating, in an inactive state, a first control element of a media access control layer, the first control element carrying a first identity of the terminal device; and transmitting, to a network device, the first control element and uplink data. The method of communication implemented by a network device comprises receiving the first control element and uplink data from the terminal device; and transmitting the uplink data to a core network element. In this way, small data transmission can be achieved in an inactive state of the terminal device with reduced signaling overhead.