RRC Inactive Terminal Access Barring Check and State Transition

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE and 5G networks, terminals in the RRC_INACTIVE state face challenges when access to a cell is barred due to network overload or congestion, leading to unnecessary signaling overhead and inefficiencies, as they either remain in the RRC_INACTIVE state attempting reconnections or transition directly to RRC_IDLE, causing inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for a terminal to perform access barring checks by entering an RRC_INACTIVE state, retrying access as many times as a configured maximum number of attempts or within a specified time, and transitioning to RRC_IDLE state if access is barred, thereby preventing unnecessary signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal remains in the RRC_INACTIVE state to continuously attempt access to the cell, then the terminal maintains connection readiness, but unnecessary signaling overhead is caused and network resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection readinessVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs access barring check before attempting access to the cell. If access is barred, the terminal proactively transitions to RRC_IDLE state in advance, preventing unnecessary reconnection attempts and signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to reconnect when access becomes available

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal dynamically transitions between RRC_INACTIVE and RRC_IDLE states based on access barring conditions. When access is barred, the terminal transitions to RRC_IDLE; when access is available, the terminal can transition back to RRC_INACTIVE, creating an adaptive state management mechanism that responds to network conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If the terminal directly transitions to the RRC_IDLE state when access is barred, then signaling overhead is reduced, but the terminal loses connection readiness and must re-establish connection from idle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidconnection re-establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs access barring check before attempting access to the cell. If access is barred, the terminal proactively transitions to RRC_IDLE state in advance, preventing unnecessary reconnection attempts and signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to reconnect when access becomes available

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal dynamically transitions between RRC_INACTIVE and RRC_IDLE states based on access barring conditions. When access is barred, the terminal transitions to RRC_IDLE; when access is available, the terminal can transition back to RRC_INACTIVE, creating an adaptive state management mechanism that responds to network conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10805860B2Method and device for performing access barring check

Publication Date: 2020.10.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Provided are a method by which a terminal performs an access barring check in a wireless communication system and a device for supporting the same. The method may include: a step for entering an RRC_INACTIVE state; a step for performing the access barring check on a cell; a step for checking that access to the cell is prevented as many times as the maximum number of access attempts; and a step for transitioning from the RRC_INACTIVE state to an RRC_IDLE state.