MBS Polling via PDCCH Order for UE Status Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G wireless systems, the network lacks effective methods to determine whether INACTIVE or IDLE user equipment (UEs) are receiving multimedia broadcast multicast services, making it difficult to allocate downlink resources efficiently, as the location and service reception status of these UEs are unknown.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a polling procedure using a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order addressed to a group-common RNTI (G-RNTI) allows the network to assess the number of UEs receiving MBS services through energy detection and periodic preamble transmissions, enabling the network to decide on maintaining or disabling the service based on UE responses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the network uses traditional methods to monitor MBS service reception, then the service can be maintained, but the network cannot determine whether INACTIVE or IDLE UEs are receiving the service, leading to inefficient resource allocation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice reception status detectionVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where INACTIVE or IDLE UEs periodically transmit keep-alive signals (preambles) on the physical uplink shared channel to notify the network of their continued interest in MBS services. The network detects these signals and uses the feedback information to accurately determine service reception status, enabling efficient resource allocation decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the network implements continuous monitoring of all UEs, then service reception status can be accurately determined, but uplink power usage increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE service status detectionVSAvoiduplink power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the patent employs periodic action by configuring UEs to transmit keep-alive signals at predetermined intervals. The network monitors for these periodic signals rather than continuously, significantly reducing uplink power consumption while maintaining accurate service status detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables UEs to self-manage their service status by autonomously transmitting keep-alive signals when they wish to maintain MBS service reception. This self-service approach allows UEs to control their own visibility to the network, reducing unnecessary uplink transmissions and power consumption for UEs that have ceased service interest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the network disables MBS service when no UEs are detected, then resource allocation is optimized, but the network cannot distinguish between UEs that have ceased service and those that are temporarily unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidservice availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic service status management where the network transitions between active and inactive states based on real-time UE presence detection. The network dynamically adjusts service availability by disabling MBS when no UEs transmit keep-alive signals for a predetermined period, while maintaining the ability to quickly reactivate service when UEs return, thus balancing resource efficiency with service reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4068894B1Polling and keep-alive signals for multimedia broadcast multicast service
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4068894B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4068894B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4068894B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for polling and keep-alive signals for multimedia broadcast multicast service. The method may include receiving a physical downlink control channel order addressed to a group-radio network temporary identifier. The method may also include performing uplink transmission of a signal in response to the physical downlink control channel order.