Stasis State Protocol Stack for MTC Signaling Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communications networks, designed for high-capability devices, are inefficient for low-complexity devices like MTC applications that transmit small amounts of data infrequently, leading to excessive signaling and power consumption due to the need for advanced mobility management and high-reliability connections.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a 'stasis state' in mobile communications devices, where the protocol stacks are saved and radio resources are released, allowing devices to enter a power-down state without re-establishing EPS bearers for brief periods of inactivity, reducing unnecessary signaling and processing overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional mobile communications networks designed for high-capability devices are used for low-complexity MTC devices, then wide coverage area is provided, but excessive signaling overhead and power consumption occur due to advanced mobility management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mobile communication protocol stack into essential functions (those needed for basic connectivity and data transmission) and non-essential functions (advanced mobility management, handover procedures, etc.). For MTC devices in idle mode, only the essential functions are maintained, while non-essential functions are suspended or removed, thereby reducing signaling overhead and power consumption while preserving wide coverage area through the remaining essential functions.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional mobile communications networks designed for high-capability devices are used for low-complexity MTC devices, then wide coverage area is provided, but excessive signaling overhead occurs due to advanced mobility management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes non-essential protocol functions and signaling procedures from the conventional mobile communication stack when used for MTC devices. Specifically, advanced mobility management functions, complex handover procedures, and other high-overhead features are taken out, leaving only the minimal set of functions required for basic connectivity and data transmission, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining coverage area.
3Loss of energy
If discontinuous reception is used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but connection re-establishment time increases when data transmission is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring and maintaining essential protocol functions and connection parameters in idle mode, so that when data transmission is needed, the device can quickly reactivate these pre-prepared functions without needing to re-establish the entire connection from scratch. This reduces the time penalty associated with discontinuous reception while still achieving power savings during idle periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communications device establishes a communications context for communicating data packets using a packet communications bearer from the communications device via the mobile communications network. A controller of the communications device is configured to identify that the communications device can enter a stasis state because no data packets are available for transmission for a predetermined time via the packet communications bearer or there are no data packets to receive via the packet communications bearer, to transmit a stasis state message to the mobile communications network, and to store information relating to the communications context associated with the packet communications bearer in a data store. The stored information can be used by the controller to re-establish the packet communications bearer to transmit and/or receive data packets using the packet communications bearer, the communications device thereby entering the stasis state. As such there is an improvement in the use of communications resources and processing because the communications context and packet communications bearer is retained during periods in which there are no data packets for transmission or reception, so that there is a saving in signalling transmitted and received by the communications device which would be required to re-establish the communications context and an associated packet communications bearer for communicating data packets, when the data packets are available to transmit.