Radio Network Node Inactive State Uplink Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, particularly in LTE and 5G, there is an inefficiency in handling state transitions of wireless devices from connected to inactive/idle states and back, leading to unnecessary signaling overhead and increased latency due to the network's inability to efficiently manage small uplink data transmissions in the inactive state.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism where a radio network node releases a wireless device from a connected state to an inactive state with an indication of available resources for uplink transmissions, allowing the device to transmit data without full state transitions, thereby reducing signaling overhead and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the network releases the wireless device from connected state to inactive state, then signaling overhead is reduced and power consumption is saved, but uplink data transmission capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The network node provides an uplink grant in advance when releasing the device to inactive state, enabling the device to transmit uplink data immediately upon returning to connected state without waiting for additional scheduling requests. This preliminary allocation of resources resolves the contradiction by preserving transmission capability while maintaining power savings during inactive periods.
2Productivity
If the wireless device performs full state transition from inactive back to connected state for small data transmission, then data transmission is enabled, but latency increases due to complete state transition overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential uplink grant information from the full state transition procedure, allowing the device to resume connected state with pre-configured uplink resources. This selective extraction of necessary resources (uplink grant) while omitting unnecessary full state transition steps reduces latency while maintaining transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By providing the uplink grant in advance during the release to inactive state, the network prepares the device for potential small data transmissions. When data needs to be sent, the device can quickly resume with pre-allocated resources rather than going through complete state transition and resource allocation procedures, thereby reducing latency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the network maintains wireless device in connected state for potential uplink transmission, then uplink data transmission capability is preserved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining full connected state with all its signaling overhead, the network applies partial action by providing only the essential uplink grant information when releasing to inactive state. This partial provision of resources (just the uplink grant without full connection maintenance) enables uplink transmission capability while minimizing signaling overhead during the inactive period.
Data Source
AI summary
It is herein e.g. disclosed a method performed by a radio network node for handling communication of a wireless device in a wireless communication network. The radio network node determines to release the wireless device from a first state, wherein the wireless device is with an active connection for communicating data, to a second state. The radio network node further transmits to the wireless device, a release message to suspend or release the wireless device from the first state to the second state, and along with the release message, an indication of one or more resources for UL transmissions for the wireless device.