Wireless Configuration Data Exchange via Logical Tunnel
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Solution Overview
Problem
There are limited methods to exchange user equipment, base station, and over-the-top application configuration data over a wireless wide area network's air interface, leading to inefficient resource usage due to frequent transitions between active and inactive modes, especially when keep-alive messages are not synchronized with the inactivity time interval set by the base station.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a logical tunnel over the air interface for exchanging configuration data between user equipment and base stations or over-the-top applications, using a transparent container that can be encapsulated in RRC or NAS signaling, allowing for efficient transmission of configuration data and scheduling of keep-alive messages based on obtained inactivity time intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If keep-alive messages are transmitted at intervals greater than the eNB's inactivity time interval, then the UE can transition to idle mode to save energy, but the UE will repeatedly transition to idle mode and be re-awakened by recurring keep-alive messages, consuming computing and network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The application function obtains the inactivity time interval from the eNB and uses this feedback information to adjust the keep-alive message transmission timing, ensuring messages are sent at optimal intervals that prevent unnecessary state transitions while enabling energy-saving idle mode transitions
Solution Approach 2:
The system obtains the inactivity time interval configuration from the eNB in advance before transmitting keep-alive messages, allowing the application function to pre-calculate optimal message intervals that align with network expectations, thereby preventing both premature wake-ups and unnecessary idle transitions
2Use of energy by moving object
If the UE transitions to idle mode to conserve resources, then energy consumption is reduced, but frequent transitions between active and idle modes occur, consuming computing and network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The application function continuously monitors and adjusts keep-alive message timing based on feedback from the eNB regarding inactivity time intervals, optimizing the balance between energy saving through idle mode transitions and maintaining data exchange efficiency by preventing frequent state changes
3Device complexity
If limited methods are used to exchange configuration data over the air interface, then system complexity is reduced, but OTT applications cannot achieve QoS differentiation and must use the same best effort radio bearer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the existing RRC signaling mechanism, which was originally designed for radio resource configuration, to also carry application-layer configuration data such as inactivity time intervals. This multi-functional use of existing signaling infrastructure enables QoS differentiation for OTT applications without adding complex new exchange mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of apparatus, computer-implemented methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media are described herein for a user equipment (“UE”) to generate, for transmission to a remote entity executing on a remote computing device in communication with the UE over an air interface of an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (“EUTRAN”), a container that includes UE or base station (e.g., Evolved Node B, or “eNB”) configuration data (e.g., an inactivity time interval), or over-the-top (“OTT”) application configuration data. In embodiments, the UE may transmit the container through a logical tunnel passing through the air interface between a local processing entity executing on the computing device and the remote entity. A base station such as an eNB may be similarly configured to generate and/or transmit, to a UE, a container with UE, base station, or OTT application configuration data, through a logical tunnel passing through the air interface.