NR-MBS Multicast Inactivity Timer for RRC Inactive UEs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems lack a method to manage inactivity for UEs receiving multicast sessions in the RRC_INACTIVE state, leading to unnecessary power consumption and potential missed notifications, as there is no signaling to inform UEs about session deactivation or suspension in this state.
Innovation Solution
Implement a multicast-inactivity timer configuration for UEs in the RRC_INACTIVE state, allowing them to monitor for multicast data or group notifications, start/restart the timer upon session activation, stop/reset upon deactivation, transition to RRC_IDLE if no data is received, and resume RRC connection based on network congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UEs continuously monitor multicast sessions in RRC_INACTIVE state without inactivity management, then multicast reception reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring through the multicast-inactivityTimer, where UEs monitor multicast sessions at intervals rather than continuously. The timer is restarted periodically when data is received, creating a periodic monitoring cycle that maintains reliability while reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously manages its own monitoring behavior by self-starting and self-restarting the multicast-inactivityTimer based on received data. This self-service mechanism allows the UE to adjust its monitoring activity without network intervention, optimizing power consumption while maintaining session awareness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If UEs transition to RRC_IDLE state on timer expiry to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but session management efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures the multicast-inactivityTimer value and transition behavior before the UE enters RRC_INACTIVE state. This preliminary configuration enables the UE to autonomously make state transition decisions based on timer expiry, improving session management efficiency by avoiding unnecessary RRC resume procedures while still achieving power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the timer mechanism where the UE monitors for a predetermined period and transitions states based on whether data is received during this period. This feedback-based approach balances power consumption and session management efficiency by only transitioning when appropriate.
3Reliability
If UEs monitor for group notifications in RRC_INACTIVE state, then session deactivation detection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multicast-inactivityTimer mechanism serves multiple functions: it monitors for data reception, detects session deactivation through lack of data, and triggers state transitions. This multi-functional timer reduces the need for separate monitoring mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable session deactivation detection.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. Embodiments herein provide methods for managing inactivity for multicast UE (100) for NR-MBS in wireless network (1000) by UE (100). The method includes monitoring, based on a multicast-inactivity timer configuration, whether the UE receives in a RRC inactive state at least one of multicast data and a group notification or a group paging message indicating “activation” or “deactivation” of multicast session. In an embodiment, the method includes starting a multicast-inactivity timer or restarting a multicast-inactivity timer in the RRC inactive state when the UE receives at least one of the multicast data and the group notification or the group paging message indicating “activation” of the multicast session.