5G Small Data Transmission Indication for New Buffer Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing small data transmission (SDT) procedures in the RRC inactive state of 5G NR systems are inefficient due to the inability of user equipment (UE) to indicate additional data in the buffer after initiating a first transmission, leading to resource wastage and increased latency, especially when transitioning to a new serving gNB.

Innovation Solution

The UE is enabled to transmit an indication for new data during an ongoing SDT procedure, allowing simultaneous transmission of additional data without transitioning to the RRC connected state, using mechanisms like scheduling requests or buffer status reports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UE transmits only the first data in the initial SDT procedure, then the transmission procedure is simple and completes quickly, but additional data becoming available after transmission leads to resource waste and requires initiating a new SDT procedure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoiddelay for new data transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous data transmission by allowing the UE to indicate additional data availability during the ongoing SDT procedure. The network can then allocate resources for transmitting this additional data without terminating the current SDT procedure, thus maintaining continuous useful action and avoiding the need to start a new procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a preliminary indication mechanism where the UE signals the availability of additional data before the network allocates resources for its transmission. This preliminary action (sending the indication) allows the network to prepare and allocate resources in advance, preventing resource waste and reducing delay when the additional data becomes ready for transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the UE initiates a new SDT procedure for additional data, then complete data can be transmitted, but PRACH preamble resources are wasted and collision probability increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission completenessVSAvoidPRACH preamble resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the transmission of additional data with the ongoing SDT procedure by allowing the UE to indicate additional data availability and the network to allocate resources within the same procedure. This combines what would otherwise be separate transmission events into a single unified procedure, eliminating the need for a new PRACH preamble and reducing collision probability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the SDT procedure includes UE context retrieval at a new serving gNB, then data transmission can proceed in a different cell, but transmission delay increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility support for SDTVSAvoidSDT procedure latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE indicate additional data availability early in the SDT procedure, before the network completes context retrieval. This allows the network to plan resource allocation and potentially optimize the timing of context retrieval operations, reducing the overall impact of mobility-related delays on the SDT procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3989670B1Indication for small data transmission
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3989670B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3989670B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3989670B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2c

AI summary

The invention inter alia relates to a user equipment comprising means configured to transmit, to the network, first data in a small data transmission procedure in a non-connected state; and during said small data transmission procedure in the non-connected state, transmit, to the network, an indication for transmission of second data, the second data becoming available for transmission after said first data having been transmitted.