RRC Connection Release Assistance for IoT Signaling Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The frequent release and re-establishment of RRC connections in wireless communication systems, particularly for IoT devices, lead to excessive signaling traffic due to the inability to predict upcoming data transmissions, resulting in inefficient battery usage and increased network load.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a prohibition timer that prevents IoT devices from re-establishing RRC connections for a predefined period after a release assistance indication, allowing only exception or emergency reports during this time, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling and promoting more efficient power management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the network releases the RRC connection based on the UE's signalling release assistance indication, then power consumption is reduced, but excessive signalling traffic increases due to frequent re-establishment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsignalling traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs a preliminary check to determine whether uplink or downlink data is scheduled for the UE within a predefined time window before releasing the RRC connection. This advance planning prevents frequent connection re-establishment by ensuring the connection is only released when no data transmission is imminent, thereby reducing signaling traffic while maintaining power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the RRC connection is released frequently to optimize battery life, then power consumption decreases, but connection establishment signaling increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidsignalling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network checks in advance whether data transmission is scheduled within a predefined time period before releasing the RRC connection. This preliminary verification ensures that connections are maintained when data activity is expected, preventing unnecessary release and re-establishment cycles, thereby reducing signaling overhead while optimizing battery life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the UE enters IDLE state to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but data transmission latency increases when data needs to be sent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoiddata transmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs advance scheduling verification to determine if data transmission is planned within a predefined time window before allowing transition to IDLE state. This preliminary check ensures that UEs only enter low-power states when no data transmission is imminent, thereby maintaining energy efficiency while preventing transmission latency by keeping connections active when data activity is expected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3574707B1Connection release assistance information
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3574707B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3574707B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3574707B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment transmission of at least a first type of traffic to or from a user equipment (UE) is temporarily prohibited in response to an indication from the UE to release a radio connection. Throughout the temporary prohibition, the UE and/or network refrain from running any connection establishment procedure that involves the UE, except to establish a connection for transmission of a different second type of traffic to or from the UE. In specific examples the indication can be RRC connection release assistance information, or it can be implicit such as in an empty buffer status report or a UE request for a battery efficient configuration. The temporary prohibition may hold until expiry of a timer that is initiated when the UE sends the indication or when the RRC connection is released in reply. The first/second types may be normal/high priority and/or normal/exception reporting.