Paging Cause Signaling for Small Data in RRC Inactive UEs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telecommunication systems do not effectively utilize Small Data Transmission (SDT) procedures for Mobile Terminating (MT) UEs in the RRC Inactive state, leading to inefficient power consumption, high latency, and excessive signaling due to the inability to determine when small data payloads are available.
Innovation Solution
A base station sends a paging message to an MT UE in the RRC Inactive state with an MT-SDT paging cause, indicating the availability of a small data payload, allowing the UE to respond using SDT procedures without transitioning to the RRC Connected state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MT UE transitions to RRC Connected state to receive small data payload, then data transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the RRC connection into two parts: the RRC signaling connection and the data transmission connection. The RRC connection can be suspended (RRC Inactive state) while allowing small data transmissions to proceed through SDT procedures without requiring full RRC connection resumption, thus maintaining reliability for small data while saving power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic state management where the UE can transition between RRC Inactive and RRC Connected states based on data payload size. For small data payloads, the UE remains in RRC Inactive state and uses SDT procedures. For larger payloads, the UE transitions to RRC Connected state, creating a dynamic adaptation mechanism that optimizes power consumption while maintaining transmission reliability.
2Reliability
If MT UE transitions to RRC Connected state to receive small data payload, then data transmission reliability is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the connection establishment process, the patent allows small data transmissions to occur without full RRC connection setup. The SDT procedures enable direct data transmission while maintaining RRC Inactive state, eliminating the latency associated with complete connection resumption while preserving transmission reliability for small payloads.
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary actions by establishing the RRC connection in advance and maintaining it in a suspended state. When small data needs to be transmitted, the connection is already in place and can be activated quickly through SDT procedures without requiring full connection establishment, thus reducing latency.
3Reliability
If MT UE uses conventional paging procedures, then paging reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential paging function from the full RRC connection establishment procedure. The paging message includes a compact indicator (SDT indicator) that triggers SDT procedures, separating the paging function from the complete connection setup. This reduces signaling overhead while maintaining paging reliability for small data transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the UE to transition to RRC Connected state to receive data, the patent inverts the approach by allowing the UE to remain in RRC Inactive state and use SDT procedures for data reception. This inversion eliminates unnecessary signaling and reduces overhead while maintaining reliable data delivery for small payloads.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) can be a mobile terminating (MT) device that may receive data from another UE or other network element via a telecommunication network. When a small data payload is available for an MT UE, a base station of the telecommunication network can send a paging message to the UE that includes a Mobile Terminating Small Data Transmission (MT-SDT) paging cause. Based on the MT-SDT paging cause in the paging message, the UE can use Small Data Transmission (SDT) procedures to respond to the paging message. The SDT procedures can allow the UE to obtain the small data payload while the UE remains in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Inactive state.