Small Data Transmission Measurement Management in RAN
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies when a user equipment (UE) in the RRC_INACTIVE state needs to transmit small amounts of data, requiring unnecessary transitions between RRC states and resource reconfigurations.
Innovation Solution
The UE refrains from transmitting measurement reports during RRC_INACTIVE state with Small Data Transmission (SDT) enabled, and the RAN configures or reconfigures radio resources for the UE while it is in this state, using RRC resume or release messages to manage the transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE transitions to RRC_CONNECTED state to transmit small data, then reliable data communication is ensured, but state transition overhead and communication delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential data transmission function from the complete RRC connection establishment procedure. By allowing data transmission in RRC_INACTIVE state through SDT, it separates the data transmission capability from the full connection setup, enabling small data to be sent without completing the entire RRC connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional state transition logic. Instead of requiring RRC_INACTIVE → RRC_CONNECTED transition for data transmission, it enables direct data transmission in RRC_INACTIVE state, and only transitions to connected state when necessary (e.g., for large data or when SDT fails).
2Loss of information
If the UE performs measurement reporting in RRC_INACTIVE state, then network can make informed decisions, but measurement configuration complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial measurement reporting in RRC_INACTIVE state. Instead of implementing full measurement configuration and reporting procedures, it enables selective measurement reporting only when needed for SDT decisions, reducing the complexity while providing sufficient information for network decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously performs measurements and determines whether to report them based on configured criteria, rather than requiring continuous network-controlled measurement procedures. This self-service approach reduces signaling overhead while maintaining measurement information availability.
3Productivity
If the UE frequently transitions between RRC states for small data transmissions, then data can be transmitted reliably, but system efficiency and energy consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent configures SDT resources and measurement parameters in advance while the UE is in RRC_CONNECTED state, before transitioning to RRC_INACTIVE. This preliminary configuration enables the UE to perform small data transmissions directly in inactive state without needing to re-establish connections, reducing frequent state transitions and energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more nodes of a radio access network (RAN) perform a method of configuring or reconfiguring a user equipment (UE). The method includes communicating (802) data with the UE while the UE is in an inactive state and configured for small data transmission (SDT) operation, and determining (804) to configure or reconfigure one or more radio resources for the UE while the UE is in the inactive state and configured for SDT operation. The method also includes, transmitting (810), in response to the determining and while the UE is in the inactive state and configured for SDT operation, a message to the UE to configure or reconfigure the one or more radio resources for the UE.