Pre-Configured Dedicated Resources for Energy-Saving Idle Transmissions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in conserving energy during the transmission of small data packets, particularly in the RRC idle state, leading to high power consumption in devices like smartphones and IoT devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing pre-configured dedicated resources for UE-specific communication in the RRC idle mode, including UE-specific search spaces and uplink channels, to reduce the PRACH process duration and enhance small data transmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If pre-configured dedicated resources are implemented for RRC idle mode transmissions, then power consumption is reduced and small data transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional search spaces and channel configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring dedicated search spaces and uplink channels during RRC connection establishment. These resources are allocated and configured in advance before the device enters idle mode, allowing the device to use dedicated resources for small data transmissions without requiring full RRC connection re-establishment. This pre-configuration reduces the need for complex resource allocation procedures during idle mode operations, thereby reducing power consumption while managing device complexity through advance preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication resources by creating separate dedicated search spaces (e.g., USS-Idle) and uplink channels specifically for idle mode small data transmissions. This segmentation isolates the resource allocation and management for idle mode operations from the full RRC connection procedures, allowing simplified handling of small data packets. By dividing the communication resource management into separate functional areas, the system reduces the complexity of idle mode operations while maintaining efficient power consumption characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If RRC connection establishment phase is shortened, then small data transmission efficiency is improved, but connection reliability may be compromised due to reduced setup time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmall data transmission efficiencyVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing and pre-configuring dedicated search spaces and uplink channels during the initial RRC connection setup. These resources are allocated in advance and maintained for idle mode operations, allowing the device to transmit small data packets without undergoing complete RRC connection re-establishment. This advance preparation shortens the effective connection establishment time for subsequent small data transmissions while maintaining connection reliability through the persistence of configured resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining the configured dedicated search spaces and uplink channels across idle mode transitions. Instead of completely establishing new connections for each small data transmission, the system preserves the previously configured resources and reuses them. This continuous maintenance of communication resources eliminates the need for repeated full connection setup procedures, thereby improving transmission efficiency while sustaining connection reliability through resource persistence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3834532B1Pre-configured dedicated resource for idle mode transmissions
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 ZTE CORP
  • EP3834532B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3834532B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3834532B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for providing pre-configured dedicated resources for communications during the RRC (radio resource control) idle state, thereby enabling significant energy savings during the communication of small data packets, are described. One exemplary method for wireless communication includes transmitting a first message comprising an indication of pre-configured terminal-specific dedicated resources for a communication between the network device and a terminal, and receiving information from the terminal over the pre-configured terminal-specific dedicated resources, wherein the terminal is in an idle mode and is without an established RRC connection. Another exemplary method for wireless communication includes receiving a first message comprising an indication of pre-configured terminal-specific dedicated resources for a communication between a network device and the terminal, and transmitting, while in the idle mode and without an established RRC connection, information over the pre-configured terminal-specific dedicated resources.