RRC-Inactive UE Location Updates During Small Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently managing location updates for user equipment (UE) in radio resource control (RRC) inactive states, especially when small data transmissions (SDT) are ongoing, leading to inefficiencies and potential interruptions.

Innovation Solution

A method is provided for UE to determine if a small data transmission (SDT) procedure is ongoing and initiate a location update only if it is not, thereby optimizing procedures like RNAU and TAU, and managing timers and parameters to ensure seamless transitions between RRC states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the UE initiates a location update procedure when an SDT procedure is ongoing, then the location update can be performed timely, but it may interrupt or disrupt the ongoing SDT procedure and reduce transmission efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation update delayVSAvoidSDT procedure efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE checks whether an SDT procedure is ongoing before initiating a location update procedure. This preliminary check prevents the location update from interrupting the SDT procedure, thereby maintaining transmission efficiency while still enabling timely location updates when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the location update behavior based on the SDT procedure state. When SDT is ongoing, location updates are deferred; when SDT is not ongoing, location updates can proceed. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both location update timeliness and SDT efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the UE performs RNAU procedure frequently to update location, then location accuracy is maintained, but it increases signaling overhead and network congestion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The UE uses a timer-based mechanism to periodically update its location through RNAU procedures rather than updating continuously or on every movement. The timer is started or restarted upon receiving RRC release messages with RNAU timer values, and the UE performs RNAU when the timer expires, balancing location accuracy with reduced signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The network configures different RNAU timer values through RRC release messages to adjust the frequency of location updates based on UE mobility patterns and network conditions. This parameter adjustment allows optimization of both location accuracy and signaling overhead for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12457576B2Method of updating location of user equipment and related device

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 SHARP KK

AI summary

A method performed by a user equipment (UE) for updating a location of the UE in a radio resource control (RRC) inactive state is provided. The method includes determining whether a small data transmission (SDT) procedure is ongoing in a case that an event for triggering a location update procedure occurs; and initiating the location update procedure in a case that the SDT procedure is not ongoing.