RRC Inactive State Management for Wireless Network Resource Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in managing User Equipment (UE) states, particularly in transitioning UEs from RRC INACTIVE to RRC IDLE or RRC CONNECTED, due to limitations in memory usage and the inability to accurately track the duration of UEs in inactive states without data transmission, leading to potential network overload and inefficient resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving an indication from the network for a UE to operate in an inactive state and determining criteria such as timer expiry or data transfer patterns, allowing the UE to provide information to the network about its inactive state, enabling the network to make informed decisions about transitioning UEs to RRC IDLE or RRC CONNECTED states, thereby optimizing resource management and reducing network load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the network maintains UEs in RRC INACTIVE state to reduce power consumption and network load, then energy efficiency improves, but the network cannot accurately track the duration of inactive states leading to suboptimal state transition decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures the UE with criteria for state transitions (timer values, data transfer patterns) before the UE enters inactive state. The UE proactively monitors these criteria and prepares transition information, enabling the network to make informed decisions without continuously tracking the UE, thus saving energy while maintaining tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE provides feedback information to the network about its inactive state duration and data transmission expectations based on pre-configured criteria. This feedback mechanism allows the network to accurately track UE state without continuous monitoring, resolving the contradiction between energy saving and tracking accuracy.
2Quantity of substance
If the network transitions UEs to RRC IDLE state to free up memory resources, then network capacity improves, but connectivity potential decreases requiring frequent reconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic state management where the network can transition UEs between RRC INACTIVE and RRC IDLE states based on real-time criteria such as inactive duration thresholds and data transfer patterns. This dynamic approach allows the network to optimize memory usage while maintaining connectivity potential by keeping UEs in INACTIVE state when appropriate, rather than forcing transitions to IDLE state.
Solution Approach 2:
The network changes the operational parameters of the RRC INACTIVE state (timer values, data transfer patterns, state duration thresholds) to optimize the balance between memory resource utilization and connectivity maintenance. By adjusting these parameters, the network can retain more UEs in INACTIVE state, preserving connectivity while managing memory resources effectively.
3Measurement precision
If the network maintains detailed tracking of all UE inactive state information, then state transition decisions improve, but network complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously tracking all UE parameters, the network applies partial monitoring by only tracking specific criteria when UEs are in inactive state (timer expiry, data transfer patterns, state duration). This partial action approach provides sufficient information for state transition decisions without the excessive processing overhead of complete continuous tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for state transition decisions (inactive duration, data transfer patterns, timer status) from the complete UE state information. By taking out only the critical parameters and ignoring unnecessary details, the network achieves accurate transition decisions with reduced processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus, said apparatus including circuitry configured for receiving an indication, at a user equipment from a network, to operate in an inactive state, receiving a criteria related to the inactive state, and in response to the criteria being met, performing one or more actions.