Multicast Network Node RRC Release for Uplink Congestion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, multicast transmission in RRC Connected mode can lead to congestion due to insufficient uplink capacity for user equipment (UE) feedback, particularly in scenarios like Mission Critical Push-to-Talk, where many UEs require high-quality service, leading to reduced QoS or blocked services.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism that monitors congestion levels and releases UEs from RRC Connected mode to RRC Idle or Inactive mode, disabling re-transmission requests while maintaining multicast reception, allowing UEs to switch back based on reception quality and network conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UEs remain in RRC Connected mode to receive multicast transmission, then QoS can be guaranteed, but uplink congestion occurs when the number of UEs exceeds network capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UE population into two groups: UEs that remain in RRC Connected mode (receiving multicast with QoS guarantee) and UEs that are released to RRC Idle mode (receiving multicast without QoS guarantee). This segmentation allows the network to handle a larger total number of UEs by accepting that only a subset will receive guaranteed QoS, thereby resolving the contradiction between QoS guarantee and supporting large numbers of UEs.
2Productivity
If UEs are released to RRC Idle mode to reduce uplink congestion, then network capacity increases, but the ability to provide re-transmission requests is disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the re-transmission request capability from the RRC Idle mode operation. By releasing UEs to Idle mode, the system removes the overhead of maintaining RRC connections and associated feedback mechanisms, thereby increasing network capacity. The acceptance that re-transmission requests cannot be provided in Idle mode is the trade-off that enables the capacity increase.
3Quantity of substance
If the network lowers QoS or blocks UEs to handle congestion, then uplink capacity is preserved, but service performance is reduced or limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different service levels to different UE groups based on their RRC state. UEs in Connected mode receive high-quality service with QoS guarantees, while UEs in Idle mode receive lower-quality service without QoS guarantees. This differentiated approach allows the network to preserve uplink capacity while still providing service to all UEs, avoiding the need to uniformly lower QoS or block UEs.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a network node in a telecommunication network providing a multicast transmission to a group of devices residing in a cell of the telecommunication network. The network node monitors a congestion level for communication, and, if the congestion level reaches a first threshold, the network node orders for at least one device in a RRC connected mode to be released from the RRC connected mode to an RRC idle mode or an RRC inactive mode, thereby disabling a capability of the at least one device to provide one or more re-transmission requests while keeping an ability of the at least one device to further receive the multicast transmission.