Method and apparatus for configuring and using small data radio bearers

• US 9,967,858 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel IP Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Bangolae, Sangeetha L., Martinez Tarradell, Marta, Choi, Hyung-Nam, Pinheiro, Ana Lucia, Jain, Puneet
• Primary Examiner(s): Qin, Zhiren
• Application Number:
  US14/766,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20150373733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0452 Multi-user MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0486 taking channel rank into account
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0626 Channel coefficients, e.g. channel state information [CSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/12 Arrangements providing for calling or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/184 with heterogeneous receivers, e.g. layered multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03 Shaping networks in transmitter or receiver, e.g. adaptive shaping networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/165 : for reducing network power consumption H04W36/18 - H04W36/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 : for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 : Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 : using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/244 : Interferences in heterogeneous networks, e.g. among macro and femto or pico cells or other sector / system interference [OSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 : based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 : Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 : based on requested quality, e.g. QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 : based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 : Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 : Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for control of small data transmission by a user equipment (UE) are described herein. The UE may determine that data to be transmitted by the UE is small data if a size of the data is below a threshold. The UE may transmit a message indicating that the UE shall be transmitting small data responsive to determining that data to be transmitted by the UE is small data. The UE may receive a radio resource control (RRC) signal from an evolved Node B (eNodeB) that includes a logical channel identifier (LCID) of a small data radio bearer (SDRB) configured for transmission of small data. The UE may transmit small data on the SDRB subsequent to receiving the RRC signal from the eNodeB. The UE may refrain from transmitting other than small data on the SDRB. Other apparatuses and methods are described.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE) comprising:

processing circuitry arranged to

determine a size of data to be transmitted by the UE; and

characterize the data as small data if the size of the data is below a threshold; and

physical layer circuitry to be configured by the processing circuitry, responsive to the characterizing, to

transmit a message indicating that the UE shall be transmitting small data, wherein the message indicating that the UE shall be transmitting small data includes a non-access stratum (NAS) extended service request that includes a device properties information element (IE) indicating that a UE is establishing the connection for small data transmission; and

transmit small data subsequent to receiving a notification that a small data radio bearer (SDRB) has been configured for transmission of the small data.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the notification is received in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connection Setup message.

3. The UE of claim 2, wherein the physical layer circuitry is further arranged to refrain from transmitting on the SDRB until the physical layer circuitry receives a security notification notifying the UE that security mechanisms are configured.

4. The UE of claim 2, wherein the physical layer circuitry is arranged to transmit small data on the SDRB without waiting to receive a security notification notifying the UE that security mechanisms are configured.

5. The UE of claim 1, wherein the notification is received in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connection Reconfiguration message, and the physical layer circuitry is further arranged to refrain from transmitting on the SDRB until a time subsequent receiving a security notification notifying the UE that security mechanisms are configured on the SDRB.

6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the UE refrains from transmitting data other than small data on the SDRB.

7. The UE of claim 1, wherein the SDRB is mapped to a dedicated transport channel (DTCH) defined in accordance with a standard of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of standards.

8. The UE of claim 1, wherein the SDRB is mapped to a quality control indicator (QCI) that defines a quality of service (QoS) for small data traffic.

9. A method, performed by user equipment (UE), for small data transmission, the method comprising:

determining that data to be transmitted by the UE is small data if a size of the data is below a threshold;

transmitting a message indicating that the UE shall be transmitting small data responsive to determining that data to be transmitted by the UE is small data;

receiving, in response to transmitting the message, a radio resource control (RRC) signal from an evolved Node B (eNodeB) in accordance with a standard of the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of standards that includes a logical channel identifier (LCD) of a small data radio bearer (SDRB) configured for transmission of small data;

transmitting an RRC Connection Setup Complete message that includes a non-access stratum (NAS) extended service request that includes a device properties information element (IE) indicating that the UE is establishing the connection for small data;

transmitting small data on the SDRB subsequent to receiving the RRC signal from the eNodeB; and

refraining from transmitting other than small data on the SDRB.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification is received in a RRC Connection Setup message, and the method further comprises:

determining whether to refrain from transmitting on the SDRB until a security notification has been received, the security notification indicating that security mechanisms are in place.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining whether to refrain is based on whether the UE is stationary or mobile, or on a security status of applications executing on the UE.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the SDRB is mapped to a dedicated transport channel (DTCH) channel for uplink communications and wherein the SDRB is mapped to a quality control indicator (QCI) that defines a quality of service (QoS) for small data traffic.