RRC_INACTIVE Paging Cycle Determination Without PTW or PH

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing LTE and NR standards do not clearly define how user equipment (UE) in the RRC_INACTIVE state determines its paging cycle when the extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) cycle is greater than or equal to 10.24s, particularly regarding the use of paging time windows (PTW) and paging hyperframes (PH), which affects paging performance and energy efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method for determining a paging cycle for UE in the RRC_INACTIVE state by considering the shortest cycle among configured CN eDRX, RAN eDRX, and default paging cycles, excluding the use of PTW and PH, ensuring clear paging behavior and energy savings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If eDRX cycle is configured as 5.12s with PTW, then paging performance is improved, but device complexity increases due to unclear monitoring behavior in RRC_INACTIVE state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging performanceVSAvoidmonitoring behavior complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the paging cycle determination parameters for RRC_INACTIVE state. Specifically, it introduces a new parameter T that is determined based on the eDRX cycle configuration, and changes the monitoring behavior from using PTW to using a simplified cycle-based approach. This resolves the contradiction by making the monitoring behavior clear and simple while maintaining paging performance through proper parameter selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the PTW (paging time window) mechanism from the RRC_INACTIVE state monitoring process. By removing the PTW requirement for RRC_INACTIVE state and using only the eDRX cycle-based monitoring, it simplifies the monitoring behavior while maintaining paging performance. This extraction resolves the complexity issue while preserving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Use of energy by moving object

If eDRX cycle is set to large values (>=10.24s), then energy saving is improved, but paging performance deteriorates due to lack of PTW usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy savingVSAvoidpaging performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a new paging cycle parameter T that is specifically determined for RRC_INACTIVE state based on eDRX cycle configuration. When eDRX cycle is large (>=10.24s), the patent sets T accordingly to ensure proper paging monitoring without requiring PTW. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining paging performance through appropriate parameter selection while enabling energy saving through large eDRX cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If UE monitors paging in RRC_INACTIVE state with clear behavior, then paging performance is ensured, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging performanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the paging monitoring behavior adaptive to the eDRX cycle configuration. The monitoring cycle T is dynamically determined based on the configured eDRX cycle value, allowing the system to adjust between more frequent monitoring (for reliability) and less frequent monitoring (for energy saving) based on the specific configuration. This resolves the contradiction by providing a balanced, adaptive approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4243524B1Method for determining paging cycle, and terminal device
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4243524B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4243524B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP4243524B1 patent drawingFigure 3D~5

AI summary

Provided are a method for determining a paging cycle, and terminal device and a computer-readable storage medium. For a UE which is in an RRC_INACTIVE state, is configured with an eDRX cycle, and does not use a PTW and/or a paging hyperframe (PH) in the configuration of the eDRX cycle, a paging monitoring behavior of the UE is specified, such that the paging performance can be ensured, and requirements of a terminal for energy conservation can also be well taken into consideration. The method in the embodiments of the present invention may comprise: for a terminal device in a radio resource control inactive (RRC_INACTIVE) state, if the terminal device does not use, in the configuration of a first cycle parameter, a paging time window (PTW) and/or a paging hyperframe (PH) for paging monitoring, then the terminal device determining a paging monitoring cycle according to the first cycle parameter, wherein the first cycle parameter comprises at least one of a CN eDRX cycle, an RAN eDRX cycle, a CN DRX cycle, an RAN DRX cycle, and a cell default paging cycle which is indicated by a system message.