Stasis State Mechanism for Mobile Device Signaling Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communications networks, particularly those based on LTE architecture, are inefficient for devices that transmit small amounts of data infrequently, as they require excessive signaling and resource allocation, leading to high power consumption and overhead, especially for low-complexity devices like MTC applications.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communications device enters a 'stasis state' when no data is available for transmission, allowing it to save the current communication context and release radio resources, which can be quickly re-established when data is needed, reducing unnecessary signaling and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional LTE network procedures are used for MTC devices, then communication services can be provided, but signaling overhead and power consumption increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures discontinuous reception (DRX) parameters and communication resources for MTC devices before actual data transmission. This allows devices to enter sleep mode earlier and wake up at predetermined intervals, reducing power consumption while maintaining communication capability. The preliminary configuration of DRX cycles and resource allocation patterns enables devices to avoid continuous monitoring of control channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic discontinuous reception where MTC devices alternate between active monitoring periods and sleep periods. Devices wake up at regular intervals to check for incoming data or uplink grants, then return to sleep mode. This periodic action significantly reduces power consumption compared to continuous reception while ensuring timely data transmission. The network schedules uplink opportunities periodically, allowing devices to transmit small data packets efficiently without maintaining continuous connection.
2Productivity
If MTC devices transmit data infrequently, then power consumption is reduced, but communication resource allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary resource allocation and configuration for MTC devices during initial attachment or idle state. Communication resources, including uplink grants and downlink assignments, are pre-configured and stored in the network. When MTC devices need to transmit data, they can immediately use the pre-configured resources without going through full resource allocation procedures, significantly reducing setup time and improving resource allocation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses template-based configuration where standard communication parameter sets are created as templates. These templates include typical DRX cycles, resource allocation patterns, and transmission parameters for common MTC applications. When a device attaches or needs configuration, the network can quickly instantiate a configuration from the template rather than creating parameters from scratch, reducing signaling overhead and setup time while maintaining appropriate resource allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications device establishes a communications context for communicating data packets using a packet communications bearer from the communications device via a 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.