Multicast Control Channel Configuration for RRC Inactive State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in enabling user equipment (UE) to receive multicast/broadcast services (MBS) while in an RRC inactive state, leading to service interruptions and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The proposed communication method involves the user equipment receiving a multicast control channel (MCCH) from the network, which includes configurations for both broadcast and multicast sessions. The UE can transition to an RRC inactive state and continue receiving multicast sessions using the provided MBS configuration until it receives the MCCH.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the user equipment transitions to RRC inactive state to save resources, then energy consumption is reduced and network resources are optimized, but multicast service continuity is interrupted and service reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides the MCCH configuration information in advance to the user equipment before transitioning to RRC inactive state. This preliminary action enables the UE to retain the capability to receive multicast services without requiring continuous RRC connected state, thus maintaining service continuity while allowing energy-saving state transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The MCCH (Multicast Control Channel) acts as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the RRC connected and RRC inactive states. By configuring the UE with MCCH information during the connected state, the system enables seamless transition to inactive state while preserving multicast reception capability through this intermediary configuration.
2Reliability
If the user equipment continuously monitors the multicast control channel to ensure service availability, then service reliability is maintained, but network resources are wasted and system efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring continuous full monitoring of the MCCH in RRC connected state, the system provides sufficient configuration information (partial action) during the transition to RRC inactive state. This partial configuration enables the UE to maintain service availability without the excessive resource consumption of continuous active monitoring, thus improving network efficiency while preserving reliability.
3Productivity
If the user equipment receives MBS configuration in RRC connected state and then transitions to inactive state, then resource efficiency is improved, but configuration validity is uncertain and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides feedback mechanisms through the MCCH configuration that includes timing information and validity parameters. This feedback enables the user equipment to accurately determine when the configuration is valid and when updates are required, maintaining measurement precision regarding configuration validity while operating in resource-efficient RRC inactive state.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method used in a mobile communication system that provides a multicast/broadcast service (MBS) includes receiving, by a user equipment, a multicast control channel (MCCH) from a network, the multicast control channel including a plurality of MBS configurations of a plurality of MBS sessions. The plurality of MBS configurations include a broadcast configuration for a broadcast session and a multicast configuration for a multicast session.