RAN Inactive Mode Downlink Delivery via Target Node Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for downlink data transmission to user equipment (UE) in inactive mode in radio access networks result in significant battery power consumption due to high latency and signaling overheads, especially for machine-type communications devices that sporadically transmit small amounts of data.
Innovation Solution
A method at a network node for delivering downlink data to a UE in inactive mode by identifying target nodes within a RAN notification area using stored UE context information, transmitting cryptographically secured data to these nodes, and instructing them to transmit the data to the UE without requiring the UE to transition to a connected mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE transitions from inactive mode to connected mode to receive downlink data, then the data can be delivered to the UE, but the battery power consumption increases significantly due to signaling overheads and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary actions by identifying target nodes and preparing downlink data transmission before the UE transitions to connected mode. The network node sends a paging message to the UE in inactive mode with an indication that downlink data is available, allowing the UE to remain in low-power state while the network prepares the data delivery path through identified target nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network node acts as a mediator between the core network and the UE in inactive mode. The network node receives downlink data from the core network, identifies appropriate target nodes within the RAN notification area, and coordinates the data delivery without requiring the UE to be in connected mode, thereby reducing signaling overhead and power consumption.
2Productivity
If the UE transitions to connected mode to receive small amounts of data, then the data transmission can be completed, but the latency increases due to context movement and security association setup
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary identification of target nodes and prepares the data transmission path before the UE needs to receive the data. By having target nodes pre-identified and data ready at the network node, the system avoids the time-consuming processes of context movement and security association setup that would otherwise be required when the UE transitions to connected mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential functions needed for data delivery (target node identification, data routing) from the connected mode transition process. By separating these functions from the mode transition, the system can deliver data to UEs in inactive mode without requiring the full overhead of connected mode establishment, thereby reducing latency.
3Productivity
If the network delivers downlink data to UE in inactive mode using conventional methods, then data transmission can occur, but the signaling overheads become much larger than the actual user data
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes unnecessary signaling overhead from the data transmission process. By identifying target nodes in advance and using a streamlined paging-based approach, the system delivers data with minimal signaling compared to conventional methods that require full connected mode establishment, making the signaling overhead much smaller than the actual user data.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node performs preliminary target node identification and data preparation before initiating data transmission. This preliminary action allows the system to use efficient, minimal signaling for data delivery rather than requiring extensive signaling sequences, thereby reducing signaling overhead to be much smaller than the actual user data being transmitted.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network node of a Radio Access network (RAN) is configured for delivering downlink data to a user equipment (UE) operating in an inactive mode. The network node receives, via a network interface, downlink data destined for the UE and constructs a downlink protocol data unit (PDU) comprising the downlink data. The network node identifies a set of one or more target nodes within a RAN notification area, and transmits the downlink PDU and an inactive mode identifier associated with the UE to the identified set of target nodes using UE context information associated with the UE. One or more of the target nodes forwards the downlink PDU to the UE using delivery information provided by the network node.