UE Context Transfer via RAN Paging for Seamless Resumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
When user equipment (UE) transitions from one base station to another due to the absence of downlink transmissions, the resumption of downlink communications is delayed as the new base station needs to retrieve UE contexts from the previous base station, causing inefficiencies in wireless network operations.
Innovation Solution
A method where a first base station receives a context message from a second base station, verifies a resume message authentication code identifier (MAC-I) from the UE, and then enables the UE to resume its engaged mode, facilitating seamless context transfer and reducing delays in downlink transmission resumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the UE enters RRC inactive state to save resources, then energy efficiency is improved, but the time to resume downlink transmissions increases when the UE moves to another base station
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the first base station retrieve and store the UE context information before the UE actually needs to resume communications. When the UE sends a resume request, the context is already prepared and available, allowing for faster resumption. This pre-preparation of context information reduces the time delay that would otherwise occur while retrieving context from the previous base station.
2Reliability
If the new base station retrieves UE contexts from the previous base station, then the UE can resume communications, but the resumption process becomes delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The first base station performs preliminary action by proactively retrieving the UE context from the second base station before the UE actually needs to resume communications. This pre-retrieval and storage of context information ensures that when the UE sends a resume request, the context is already ready, eliminating the delay that would occur if the base station had to retrieve the context in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach where the first base station acts as an intermediary that caches the UE context information. Instead of the UE needing to directly communicate with the second base station to retrieve context, the first base station serves as an intermediate that already has the context stored, facilitating faster and more reliable resumption.
3Reliability
If the base station verifies the resume message authentication code, then security is improved, but the context transfer process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the UE itself generate and include the resume message authentication code in its resume request. The UE uses its own security keys and the resume MAC-I value that was previously provided by the network to authenticate itself. This self-authentication mechanism simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need for complex external verification systems while maintaining strong security.
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes methods and systems for user equipment (UE) context transfer over radio access network (RAN) paging. A first base station receives from a second base station a first message that includes a context that is associated with a user equipment while the user equipment was in an engaged mode with the second base station. The first base station transmits a second message that is a paging message to the user equipment and in response receives, from the user equipment, a third message that includes a resume message authentication code identifier. After the first base station verifies the third message using the resume message authentication code identifier, the first base station transmits, to the user equipment, a fourth message that enables the user equipment to resume the engaged mode with the first base station in accordance with the context.