Multicast Broadcast Paging for RRC_INACTIVE UE State Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular communication networks face challenges in efficiently supporting multicast and broadcast services, particularly in maintaining optimal resource control states for user equipments (UEs) to enhance scalability and power savings, especially for privileged UEs in RRC_INACTIVE state.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves an apparatus and method that allows UEs to determine whether they belong to a subset of privileged UEs, enabling them to initiate or maintain a radio resource control connection based on indications received in messages, thereby optimizing the RRC state for multicast-broadcast service sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If all UEs are moved to RRC_INACTIVE state for multicast-broadcast services, then power consumption is reduced and scalability is improved, but service delivery reliability deteriorates because the network cannot efficiently manage and reach all UEs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments UEs into two distinct groups: privileged UEs (first subset) and non-privileged UEs (second subset). Privileged UEs are configured to remain in RRC_INACTIVE state and wake up based on paging messages, while non-privileged UEs are moved to RRC_IDLE state. This segmentation allows the network to apply different management strategies to different UE groups, reducing power consumption for the majority of UEs while maintaining reliable service delivery for all through selective connection management.
2Device complexity
If privileged UEs remain in RRC_INACTIVE state, then device complexity is reduced and battery life is extended, but network control capability deteriorates due to limited ability to initiate communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces paging messages as an intermediary mechanism between the network and privileged UEs in RRC_INACTIVE state. The network can send paging messages to trigger privileged UEs to resume their RRC connections when service is needed, while the UEs remain in the low-power state otherwise. This intermediary mechanism maintains network control capability without requiring privileged UEs to continuously maintain active connections, thus reducing device complexity and power consumption.
3Productivity
If non-privileged UEs are moved to RRC_IDLE state, then network resource management is improved and scalability is enhanced, but connection establishment time increases when UEs need to transition back to active state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring privileged UEs with the necessary RRC configuration information while they are in RRC_INACTIVE state. When these UEs need to resume service, they can quickly re-establish connections using the pre-configured information, reducing connection establishment time. For non-privileged UEs in RRC_IDLE state, the network maintains their configuration information, enabling efficient connection resumption when needed, thus balancing network resource management with connection establishment speed.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising receiving, by an apparatus, a message while the apparatus is in a radio resource control inactive state, wherein the message comprises a first indication indicating a multicast-broadcast service session to which the apparatus has joined and a second indication indicating to remain in the radio resource control inactive state and in response to receiving the message: in case determining based at least on information received in a radio resource control message that the apparatus belongs to a subset of user equipments, initiating a resumption of a radio resource control connection, and in case not determining that the apparatus belongs to the subset, remaining in the radio resource control inactive state.