Overlapping Uplink Grants for Flexible Early Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for early data transmission in LTE and NB-IoT systems waste network resources due to the inability of the eNB to determine whether a UE supports early data transmission capabilities, leading to inefficient allocation of uplink grants.
Innovation Solution
Providing multiple uplink resource grants with different sizes for UEs, allowing them to select an appropriate grant based on their capabilities and transmission size, thereby optimizing resource usage and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a single uplink grant is provided to all UEs, then the allocation process is simple, but network resources are wasted when UEs transmit more data than the grant size allows
Solution Approach 1:
The uplink grant allocation is segmented into multiple size categories (first size for small transmissions, second size for large transmissions). The network node provides different grant sizes based on the UE's transmission needs, preventing resource waste while maintaining manageable complexity through structured categorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The grant size is made dynamic rather than fixed. The network node determines the appropriate grant size based on UE capabilities and transmission requirements, allowing the system to adapt to different scenarios. UEs can indicate their preferred grant size, and the network can adjust allocations in real-time.
2Productivity
If multiple uplink grants of different sizes are provided, then network resource efficiency improves, but downlink system overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different grant sizes are provided based on local conditions - specifically, the UE's transmission requirements and capabilities. The network node applies different grant size qualities to different UEs or different transmission scenarios, optimizing resource efficiency without uniformly increasing overhead for all UEs.
Solution Approach 2:
The grant size parameter is changed based on transmission needs. The network node modifies the grant size parameter dynamically, providing larger grants when needed and smaller grants when sufficient, thereby improving productivity while controlling overhead through parameter optimization rather than structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the eNB provides a fixed grant size, then the allocation process is simple, but UEs cannot efficiently transmit variable sized data packets
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs self-service by indicating its own capabilities and transmission requirements to the network node. The UE can signal whether it supports early data transmission and what grant size is needed, allowing the network to make informed allocation decisions without complex eNB-side analysis of each UE's capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE performs preliminary action by indicating its capabilities and transmission needs before the actual data transmission. This advance information allows the network node to pre-determine the appropriate grant size, ensuring adaptability while keeping the allocation process simple through prior information gathering.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for allocating a resource grant at a network node comprises receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a preamble message; providing, to the UE, at least two uplink resource grants in a system information message, wherein the at least two uplink resource grants have different sizes and are overlapping; and receiving, from the UE, a transmission via a first uplink resource grant selected from the at least two uplink resource grants. The method provides multiple and flexible grants for the UE to select a corresponding grant to perform an uplink transmission.