RRC Configuration Application Timing in Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications, there is an ambiguity between base stations and user equipment (UE) regarding when an updated radio resource control (RRC) configuration is applied, leading to reduced throughput and increased latency, especially in non-terrestrial networks with significant propagation delays.
Innovation Solution
The UE delays applying the updated RRC configuration until after transmitting a reconfiguration complete message, allowing time for the base station to receive the message and synchronize the configuration, thus minimizing ambiguity and ensuring both parties use the same configuration simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the UE applies the updated RRC configuration immediately upon receiving it, then the configuration update speed is improved, but ambiguity arises between the UE and base station about when the configuration is applied, leading to reduced throughput and increased latency
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary validation of the RRC configuration message before applying it. The device checks whether the configuration is compliant with its capabilities and requirements, and only applies the configuration after receiving explicit indication from the base station. This preliminary action prevents premature application that would cause synchronization ambiguity, while still enabling fast configuration updates when the base station confirms readiness.
2Reliability
If the UE waits for base station confirmation before applying configuration, then configuration synchronization reliability is improved, but configuration update latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UE autonomously validates the RRC configuration message against its own capabilities and requirements without requiring base station intervention. This self-service validation allows the UE to quickly determine configuration compliance and readiness, reducing waiting time while maintaining synchronization reliability through the subsequent indication-based application mechanism.
3Productivity
If the UE applies configuration before transmitting reconfiguration complete message, then throughput is improved through faster configuration adoption, but communication failures occur due to configuration mismatch between UE and base station
Solution Approach 1:
The base station provides feedback through an explicit indication message that informs the UE when it is safe to apply the configuration. This feedback mechanism ensures that the base station has processed the reconfiguration complete message and is ready to use the new configuration, eliminating the risk of configuration mismatch while still enabling fast configuration adoption through the indication-based triggering.
4Manufacturing precision
If the base station sends detailed configuration messages, then configuration precision is improved, but message size and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the configuration application trigger from the configuration message itself. The base station sends the detailed configuration in the RRC reconfiguration message, but the actual application trigger is a separate indication message. This extraction allows detailed configuration to be transmitted without increasing the complexity of the application process, as the UE only needs to wait for and process the simple indication signal before applying the pre-received configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message from a base station including a configuration for communicating with the base station, and the base station may transmit an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the base station (e.g., in response to the RRC reconfiguration message). The UE may then apply the configuration in the RRC reconfiguration message for communicating with the base station after transmitting the RRC reconfiguration complete message. That is, the UE may delay application of the configuration in the RRC reconfiguration message until after the UE transmits the RRC reconfiguration complete message. Using these techniques, ambiguity between the base station and the UE on when the configuration is applied by the UE may be minimized, resulting in improved throughput and reduced latency in a wireless communications system.