Multicast Configuration Updates for Power-Efficient RRC Inactive UEs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3GPP technical specifications limit multicast reception in user equipment (UE) to the RRC connected state, which can lead to inefficient resource utilization and increased power consumption when the UE transitions to RRC inactive or idle states.
Innovation Solution
A communication method that allows UE to receive multicast configurations in both RRC connected and inactive states by using a dedicated RRC message for fixed parameters and a multicast control channel (MCCH) for variable parameters, enabling efficient multicast reception in RRC inactive states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multicast reception is limited to RRC connected state, then security is maintained, but power consumption increases and resource utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The multicast configuration parameters are segmented into two categories: secure parameters (received in dedicated RRC messages during connected state) and updateable parameters (received in MCCH during inactive state). This segmentation allows the UE to maintain security for critical parameters while enabling power-efficient reception by updating only specific parameters in inactive state without requiring full security verification.
2Use of energy by moving object
If UE transitions to RRC inactive state for multicast reception, then power consumption is reduced, but configuration update capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the configuration update mechanism based on UE state. In RRC connected state, full configuration is provided through dedicated RRC messages. In RRC inactive state, the system uses a dynamic update mechanism where the network can send parameter updates via MCCH, and the UE can selectively apply updates based on state indicators, enabling flexible adaptation without full reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter update approach from static (full reconfiguration in connected state) to dynamic (selective parameter updates in inactive state). The network can indicate which parameters are updated using state indicators, and the UE applies only the necessary parameter changes, reducing signaling overhead and power consumption while maintaining configuration adaptability.
3Loss of information
If full multicast configuration is provided in dedicated RRC message, then configuration completeness is ensured, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential secure parameters from the full multicast configuration and provides them in dedicated RRC messages during connected state. The remaining updateable parameters are then provided separately through MCCH in inactive state. This extraction reduces signaling overhead in dedicated messages while ensuring configuration completeness through the combination of both channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by providing the core multicast configuration parameters in dedicated RRC messages during connected state before the UE transitions to inactive state. This preliminary configuration ensures that essential parameters are established with full security, and subsequent updates in inactive state only involve incremental changes, reducing overall signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method includes the steps of: receiving, by a user equipment in a radio resource control (RRC) connected state, a first multicast configuration from a network node in a dedicated RRC message, the first multicast configuration including a reference identifier, a fixed parameter value, and a variable parameter value; receiving, by the user equipment having transitioned from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, a second multicast configuration from the network node on a multicast control channel (MCCH), the second multicast configuration including the reference identifier and a new variable parameter value; and updating, by the user equipment in the RRC inactive state, the variable parameter value received in the dedicated RRC message to the new variable parameter value received on the MCCH, based on the reference identifier.