Wireless UE Connection Release Using Dual Inactivity Timers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communications systems often maintain connections inefficiently when there is no further data to transmit or receive, leading to high power usage and poor resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing timers at the UE for efficient connection release, including a data inactivity timer and an idle timer with configurable durations, and transmitting uplink messages upon timer expiration to request connection release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connection is maintained for a relatively long time when there is no further data to communicate, then the connection reliability is improved, but the power usage increases and resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The UE initiates timers (data inactivity timer and idle timer) before the connection would naturally expire, allowing proactive detection of inactivity conditions. This preliminary timing mechanism enables the system to prepare for connection release in advance, balancing reliability maintenance with power conservation by releasing connections promptly when inactivity is detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the UE monitors communication activity continuously and uses timer expiration as a feedback signal to trigger connection release. The uplink message transmission upon timer expiration provides feedback to the base station, enabling coordinated connection management that reduces power usage while maintaining reliability through controlled release procedures.
2Reliability
If the connection is maintained for a relatively long time when there is no further data to communicate, then the connection reliability is improved, but the resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By initiating timers before connection expiration, the system proactively identifies inactivity conditions and prepares for timely connection release. This preliminary timing action prevents unnecessary prolonged connection maintenance, thereby improving resource utilization while preserving reliability through controlled release procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously manages connection release by monitoring its own communication activity and initiating timer-based release procedures without requiring continuous base station intervention. This self-service mechanism enables efficient resource utilization by allowing the UE to release connections independently when inactivity conditions are met, freeing up system resources for other uses.
3Reliability
If the UE transmits multiple uplink messages to request connection release, then the connection release reliability is improved, but the processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UE transmits uplink messages proactively upon timer expiration to initiate connection release before the data inactivity timer expires. This preliminary message transmission ensures that connection release requests are sent in advance, improving release reliability by giving the base station early notice while avoiding the need for multiple retry messages, thereby reducing processing overhead.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the UE refrains from transmitting further uplink messages after failing to receive a downlink message, then the power usage is reduced, but the connection release reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The UE transmits uplink messages upon idle timer expiration as a preliminary action to request connection release before the data inactivity timer expires. This ensures that connection release is initiated proactively, improving reliability by ensuring the release request is sent even if subsequent downlink messages are not received, while avoiding continuous retransmissions that would increase power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive, from a base station, control signaling for communications in a wireless communications system. The control signaling may indicate a first duration for an inactivity timer. The UE may initiate the inactivity timer and a second timer based on identifying a period of inactivity. The second timer may have a second duration that is shorter than the first duration for the inactivity timer. In some examples, the second duration may be based on one or more parameters, such as a display status, a battery status, a scaling factor, the first duration, an application state, or any combination thereof. The UE may release a connection for the communications in the wireless communications system based on an expiration of the second timer, an expiration of the inactivity timer, or a combination thereof.