Preconfigured Uplink Resources for Small Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face inefficiencies in handling small data transmissions, as they require significant signaling overhead to establish a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection, which is cumbersome and resource-intensive, especially with the rise of machine-type communications like narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT).
Innovation Solution
The implementation of preconfigured uplink resources (PUR) for user terminals in idle or connected mode, allowing for dedicated, shared, or contention-based transmission, reducing the need for extensive signaling by enabling early data transmission and resource management across neighboring cells, thereby optimizing resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional RRC connection setup procedure is used for small data transmission, then reliable connection establishment is achieved, but signaling overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring uplink resources and establishing RRC inactive state before actual data transmission is needed. This allows the terminal to skip the full RRC connection setup procedure and directly use the pre-configured resources for small data transmission, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection state is segmented into distinct states (RRC idle, RRC inactive, RRC connected) with the RRC inactive state serving as an intermediate state for small data transmission. This segmentation allows the system to optimize resource allocation and signaling procedures for different transmission scenarios, reducing overhead for small data while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If RRC connection setup procedure is performed for each small data transmission, then connection reliability is ensured, but transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring uplink resources and establishing RRC inactive state before actual data transmission is needed. This allows the terminal to skip the full RRC connection setup procedure and directly use the pre-configured resources for small data transmission, thereby reducing both signaling overhead and setup time while maintaining connection reliability.
3Loss of energy
If preconfigured uplink resources are used for small data transmission, then signaling overhead is reduced, but resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-configured uplink resources are designed to serve multiple functions: they can be used for small data transmission, for triggering RRC connection setup when needed, and for maintaining terminal reachability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate resource allocation procedures while managing complexity through unified resource management.
4Productivity
If dedicated preconfigured uplink resources are allocated to each terminal, then transmission efficiency is improved, but resource utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges dedicated and shared resource approaches by allowing terminals to share pre-configured uplink resources when in RRC inactive state. Multiple terminals can utilize the same pool of pre-configured resources, improving overall resource utilization while maintaining transmission efficiency through proper resource allocation and conflict resolution mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for data transmission are presented. The method in a base station comprises broadcasting (200) information on one or more neighboring cells supporting preconfigured uplink resources and information on request types supported by the one or more cells; receiving (202) a user terminal which performs a cell reselection to the base station; receiving (204) from a user terminal a request to utilize dedicated preconfigured uplink resources, the request comprising Physical Cell Identity of the previous base station with which the user terminal utilized dedicated preconfigured uplink resources prior camping on the base station and the User Equipment Identification of the user terminal in the previous base station; transmitting (206) to the previous base station a message requesting configuration data related to dedicated preconfigured uplink resources of the user terminal and an indication that the previous base station may release the resources; receiving (208) from the previous base station the configuration data; and restoring (210) dedicated preconfigured uplink resources for the user terminal.