Small Data Transmission Configurations for IoT Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face inefficiencies in handling small data transmissions from IoT devices, particularly in low power mode, due to high signaling overhead and limited support for small data transmission (SDT) configurations, which can lead to increased power consumption and latency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of configurations for small data transmission (SDT) allows user equipment (UE) to transmit user data within a random access message in a radio resource control (RRC) inactive state, using reserved resources and specific preamble groups, with configurations provided through broadcast and unicast messages, enabling efficient data transmission without transitioning to an RRC active state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE transitions to RRC active state to transmit user data, then data transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary configuration of SDT parameters and reserved random access resources before the UE needs to transmit data. The base station configures the UE with SDT capability information, allowed preamble indices, and maximum transport block size parameters in advance, so that when data transmission is needed, the UE can directly use pre-configured resources without transitioning to RRC active state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the base station acts as a mediator between the UE and the network core. The base station receives user data from the UE in RRC inactive state via random access messages and handles the data transmission through the core network without requiring the UE to establish a full RRC connection, thus avoiding the need for UE state transition.
2Reliability
If UE transitions to RRC active state to transmit user data, then data transmission reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential data transmission function from the full RRC active state framework. By separating the data transmission capability from the complete RRC connection establishment, the system allows UE to transmit data without going through the complex state transition procedures, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining transmission reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary configuration of SDT parameters and reserved random access resources before the UE needs to transmit data. The base station configures the UE with SDT capability information, allowed preamble indices, and maximum transport block size parameters in advance, so that when data transmission is needed, the UE can directly use pre-configured resources without transitioning to RRC active state.
3Loss of time
If dedicated resources are allocated for small data transmission, then transmission latency is reduced, but frequency resource usage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allocating dedicated resources for all possible data transmission scenarios, the patent uses partial action by providing reserved random access resources only when needed. The base station configures a subset of random access preambles and time slots as reserved for SDT, which are used only when UEs need to transmit small data packets, thereby reducing overall frequency resource usage while maintaining low latency for these specific transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the base station can flexibly configure which random access resources are reserved for SDT based on network conditions and UE requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt resource allocation to actual usage patterns, optimizing both latency performance and frequency resource efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple SDT configuration levels are implemented, then system adaptability is improved, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SDT configuration into multiple independent levels (e.g., network-level, cell-level, and UE-level configurations). Each level can be configured and managed separately, allowing the system to provide flexible adaptability differentiating between network-wide policies and UE-specific parameters without creating overall system complexity. The segmented architecture enables modular configuration management.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for configurations for small data transmission by which a user equipment transmits, to a base station, user data within a random access message in a radio resource control inactive state. The user equipment may receive, via broadcast system information and/or unicast messages from the base station, a configuration on support capability or parameters for small data transmission. Based on the received configuration, the user equipment may transmit user data to the base station. The user equipment may transmit a random access preamble on a resource separately reserved for small data transmission.