The present disclosure relates to a mobile station (MS), an access node (e.g., BSS), a serving node (e.g., SGSN) and various methods for implementing an abbreviated page response (APR) procedure. The APR procedure improves a paging-page response scenario wherein the MS after receiving a paging message from the access node sends a page response to the access node using a single uplink radio block instead of establishing an uplink Temporary Block Flow (TBF) in order to send the page response.
The following abbreviations are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description of the prior art and the present invention.
In the wireless telecommunications field, it is desirable to improve the radio resource utilization efficiency between a mobile station and a network (e.g., BSS). Various ways that can be used to improve the radio resource utilization efficiency between the mobile station and the network (e.g., BSS) are the subject of the present disclosure.
A mobile station, an access node (e.g., BSS), a service node (e.g., SGSN), and various methods which improve the radio resource utilization efficiency are described in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the mobile station, the access node (e.g., BSS), the serving node (e.g., SGSN), and the various methods are further described in the dependent claims.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a mobile station configured to implement an APR procedure with an access node (e.g., BSS). The mobile station comprises a processor and at least one memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the at least one memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the mobile station is operable to perform a first receive operation, a first send operation, a second receive operation, and a second send operation. In the first receive operation, the mobile station receives a paging message from the access node. In the first send operation, the mobile station sends an access request to the access node in response to receiving the paging message. In the second receive operation, the mobile station receives an assignment message from the access node assigning a single uplink radio block. In the second send operation, the mobile station sends a page response using the single uplink radio block to the access node. The mobile station by implementing the APR procedure which comprises the first receive operation, the first send operation, the second receive operation, and the second send operation effectively improves the radio resource utilization efficiency between the mobile station and access node (e.g., BSS).
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method in mobile station for implementing an APR procedure with an access node (e.g., BSS). The method comprises a first receiving operation, a first sending operation, a second receiving operation, and a second sending operation. In the first receiving operation, the mobile station receives a paging message from the access node. In the first sending operation, the mobile station sends an access request to the access node in response to receiving the paging message. In the second receiving operation, the mobile station receives an assignment message from the access node assigning a single uplink radio block. In the second sending operation, the mobile station sends a page response using the single uplink radio block to the access node. The method in the mobile station for implementing the APR procedure which comprises the first receiving operation, the first sending operation, the second receiving operation, and the second sending operation effectively improves the radio resource utilization efficiency between the mobile station and access node (e.g., BSS).
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides an access node (e.g., BSS) configured to implement an APR procedure with a mobile station and a serving node (e.g., SGSN). The access node comprises a processor and at least one memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the at least one memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the access node is operable to perform a first receive operation, a first send operation, a second receive operation, a second send operation, and a third receive operation. In the first receive operation, the access node receives a paging message from the serving node. In the first send operation, the access node sends the paging message to the mobile station. In the second receive operation, the access node receives an access request from the mobile station in response to sending the paging message. In the second send operation, the access node sends an assignment message to the mobile station in response to receiving the access request, where the assignment message indicates a single uplink radio block. In the third receive operation, the access node receives a page response on the single uplink radio block from the mobile station. The access node (e.g., BSS) by implementing the APR procedure which comprises the first receive operation, the first send operation, the second receive operation, the second send operation, and the third receive operation effectively improves the radio resource utilization efficiency between the mobile station and access node (e.g., BSS).
In still yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method in an access node (e.g., BSS) for implementing an APR procedure with a mobile station and a serving node (e.g., SGSN). The method comprises a first receiving operation, a first sending operation, a second receiving operation, a second sending operation, and a third receiving operation. In the first receiving operation, the access node receives a paging message from the serving node. In the first sending operation, the access node sends the paging message to the mobile station. In the second receiving operation, the access node receives an access request from the mobile station in response to sending the paging message. In the second sending operation, the access node sends an assignment message to the mobile station in response to receiving the access request, where the assignment message indicates a single uplink radio block. In the third receiving operation, the access node receives a page response on the single uplink radio block from the mobile station. The method in the access node (e.g., BSS) for implementing the APR procedure which comprises the first receiving operation, the first sending operation, the second receiving operation, the second sending operation, and the third receiving operation effectively improves the radio resource utilization efficiency between the mobile station and access node (e.g., BSS).
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a serving node (e.g., SGSN) configured to implement an APR procedure with a mobile station and an access node (e.g., BSS). The serving node comprises a processor and at least one memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the at least one memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the serving node is operable to perform a send operation, a first receive operation and a second receive operation. In the send operation, the serving node sends a paging message to the access node, where the paging message comprises trigger information which indicates to the MS that uplink payload is to be sent to the serving node. In the first receive operation, the serving node receives from the access node a page response in response to the paging message. In the second receive operation, the serving node receives from the access node the uplink payload provided by the MS in response to the trigger information provided in the paging message. The serving node (e.g., SGSN) by implementing the APR procedure which comprises the send operation and the receive operation effectively improves the radio resource utilization efficiency between the mobile station and access node (e.g., BSS).
In still yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method in a serving node (e.g., SGSN) for implementing an APR procedure with a mobile station and an access node (e.g., BSS). The method comprises a sending operation, a first receiving operation and a second receiving operation. In the sending operation, the serving node sends a paging message to the access node, where the paging message comprises trigger information which indicates to the MS that uplink payload is to be sent to the serving node. In the first receiving operation, the serving node receives from the access node a page response in response to the paging message. In the second receiving operation, the serving node receives from the access node the uplink payload provided by the MS in response to the trigger information provided in the paging message. The method in the serving node (e.g., SGSN) for implementing the APR procedure which comprises the sending operation and the receiving operation effectively improves the radio resource utilization efficiency between the mobile station and access node (e.g., BSS).
Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth, in part, in the detailed description, figures and any claims which follow, and in part will be derived from the detailed description, or can be learned by practice of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as disclosed.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:
To describe the technical features of the present disclosure, a detailed discussion is provided first to explain the main features of an inventive Abbreviated Page Response (APR) procedure which effectively improves a paging-page response scenario wherein a MS after receiving a paging message from the access node (e.g., BSS) sends a page response to the access node (e.g. BSS) using a single uplink radio block instead of establishing an uplink TBF in order to send the page response. Then, a detailed discussion is provided to explain the main features of several different embodiments of the present disclosure wherein the APR procedure is implemented in the following scenarios: (1) the management of downlink payload delivery utilizing UDP/IP which does not trigger the MS to deliver uplink payload—see
The APR procedure improves the radio resource utilization efficiency by implementing a GERAN paging-page response scenario wherein the MS after receiving a paging message from the BSS sends a page response to the BSS using a single uplink radio block instead of establishing and using an uplink TBF. This new APR procedure reduces the amount of PACCH signaling performed within the paging—page response mechanism which is why it is referred to herein as the APR procedure. The APR procedure has the following technical features all of which do not apply to each embodiment described herein:
The MS may support the APR procedure due to the nature of the applications supported therein (e.g., a low cost MS with limited capabilities such as a smart meter) where it is in the interest of the operators to maximize the use of the APR procedure because of the radio resource utilization benefits it represents as discussed in detail below.
Paging Messages sent on the CCCH to a MS indicate when the APR procedure is supported in a serving cell (e.g., by using a Rel-13 extension to the P1/P2/P3 Rest Octets IE) thereby indicating that a MS which is also capable of implementing the APR procedure may indicate the same by using a new EGPRS Packet Channel Request code point indicating APR (see the “Abbreviated Page Response” code point in TABLE #1) when attempting a system access for the purpose of sending a page response.
The BSS responds to the reception of an access request which has the APR indicator by sending the MS an Immediate Assignment message allocating it a single uplink radio block which the MS uses to send the page response (i.e. an uplink TBF is not established).
The MS uniquely identifies itself (e.g., by including a TLLI) when sending the single uplink radio block containing the page response. The BSS relays the page response to a SGSN and when the BSS receives the corresponding downlink payload from the SGSN then the BSS sends the MS an Immediate Assignment message which assigns the MS a downlink TBF and then the BSS delivers the downlink payload to the MS (see
Referring to
1. The SGSN 106 sends a paging message 108 to the BSS 104.
2. The BSS 104 sends the paging message 108′ to the MS 102. The BSS 104 translates the paging message 108 received from the SGSN 106 on the Gb interface into the paging message 108′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 102.
3. The MS 102 sends a packet channel request 110 (access request 110) to the BSS 104.
4. BSS 104 sends an Immediate Assignment message 112 with an UL TBF assignment to the MS 102.
5. The MS 102 sends a page response 114 using the assigned UL TBF to the BSS 104.
6. The BSS 104 forwards a page response 114′ with a dummy LLC PDU to the SGSN 106. Note: it is the payload (dummy LLC PDU) of the page response 114 received over the radio interface by the BSS 104 from the MS 102 that the BSS 104 conveys over the Gb interface to the SGSN 106 as the page response 114′. More specifically, the page response 114 sent over the radio interface is mapped to a different message also known as a page response 114 which is sent on the Gb interface. The page responses 114 and 114′ are not identical.
7. The BSS 104 sends a PUAN message 116 (releasing the UL TBF) to the MS 102.
8. The BSS 104 receives DL packets 118 from the SGSN 106.
9. The BSS 104 sends an Immediate Assignment message 120 with a DL TBF assignment to the MS 102.
10. The BSS 104 sends the DL packets 118′ using the assigned DL TBF to the MS 102. The BSS 104 translates the DL packets 118 received from the SGSN 106 on the Gb interface into the DL packets 118′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 102.
Referring to
1. The SGSN 206 sends a paging message 208 to the BSS 204.
2. The BSS 204 sends the paging message 208′ to the MS 202. The BSS 204 translates the paging message 208 received from the SGSN 206 on the Gb interface into the paging message 208′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 102.
3. The MS 202 sends a packet channel request 210 (access request 210) to the BSS 204.
4. BSS 204 sends an Immediate Assignment message 212 with a single UL block assignment to the MS 202.
5. The MS 202 sends a page response 214 using the assigned single UL block to the BSS 204. In addition, the MS 202 starts a timer TAPR 205 the purpose of which is discussed in more detail below.
6. The BSS 204 forwards a page response 214′ with a dummy LLC PDU to the SGSN 206. Note: it is the payload (dummy LLC PDU) of the page response 214 received over the radio interface by the BSS 204 from the MS 202 that the BSS 204 conveys over the Gb interface to the SGSN 206 as the page response 214′. More specifically, the page response 214 sent over the radio interface is mapped to a different message also known as a page response 214 which is sent on the Gb interface. The page responses 214 and 214′ are not identical.
7. The BSS 204 receives DL packets 216 from the SGSN 206.
8. The BSS 204 sends an Immediate Assignment message 218 with a DL TBF assignment to the MS 202. In addition, the MS 202 stops the timer TAPR 205 the purpose of which is discussed in more detail below.
9. The BSS 204 sends the DL packets 216′ using the assigned DL TBF to the MS 202. The BSS 204 translates the DL packets 216 received from the SGSN 206 on the Gb interface into the DL packets 216′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 202.
In this exemplary scenario, the MS 202 is paged for a MS terminated packet service using the legacy principles except that the paging message 208′ which is sent on the PCH could be enhanced to indicate whether or not the APR procedure is to be used (i.e., on a per page basis). If the paging message 208′ is not enhanced to provide the APR indication then the system information sent within an existing or a new System Information message would be needed so that an APR capable MS 202 will know when it can attempt a system access by sending the packet channel request 210 (access request 210) which has an “Abbreviated Page Response” indication therein as shown in TABLE #1 as follows:
Upon receiving, the packet channel request 210, the BSS 204 sends the Immediate Assignment message 212 that matches the packet channel request 210 (e.g., matching means the Immediate Assignment message 212 indicates the TDMA frame number information corresponding to the RACH burst in which the “Abbreviated Page Response” indication was received in the packet channel request 210 at the BSS 204) and indicates the single uplink radio block that the MS 202 is to use to send its page response 214.
After sending the packet channel request 210, the MS 202 receives the matching Immediate Assignment 212 containing the single uplink radio block allocation. For example, the Immediate Assignment 212 may comprise a Packet Channel Description IE, a Timing Advance IE and a Starting Time IE but an IA Rest Octets IE is excluded since an uplink TBF is not needed. The MS 202 responds to the Immediate Assignment 212 by sending the page response 214 in the allocated uplink radio block. The page response 214 is sent using the single uplink radio block and contains a RLC data block which includes (a) the dummy LLC PDU, (b) the TLLI and (c) a new Length Indicator that allows for indicating the inclusion of 1 octet of supplemental information (e.g., see third embodiment for an example when this new Length Indicator would be used to indicate the volume of uplink payload which is available for transmission at the MS) immediately following the new Length Indicator.
After receiving the page response 214, the BSS 204 extracts the TLLI and the dummy LLC PDU and forwards them together as a logical page response 214′ to the SGSN 206 thereby allowing the SGSN 206 to respond by sending the available downlink payload 216 to the serving BSS 204.
Upon completing the transmission of the page response 214, the MS 202 starts a timer TAPR 205 and remains in non-DRX mode monitoring the AGCH where it waits for either (a) reception of the Immediate Assignment message 218 (addressed to its TLLI) providing it with a downlink TBF assignment for delivery of the downlink payload 216′, or (b) expiration of the TAPR 205. If the MS 202 experiences expiration of the TAPR 205 after transmitting the access request 210 (indicating “Abbreviated Page Response”) on the RACH it can return to idle mode or may attempt another system access by sending another packet channel request 210 using the APR procedure depending on how much time has elapsed since it was first paged (received paging message 208′). Information sent as part of system information within an existing or a new System Information message or as part of the paging message 208′ can indicate what the limit is for the maximum amount of time that can elapse since the MS 202 was first paged until the expiration of TAPR 205 thereby allowing the MS 202 to determine whether or not to restart the APR procedure by re-sending the packet channel request 210 or return to idle mode (in which case it waits for another paging message). This may be feasible since some SGSN 206 implementations may be quite tolerant of the time between the sending of the packet paging message 208 and the reception of the corresponding page response 214′.
The Immediate Assignment message 218 by containing the TLLI effectively allows the MS 202 to successfully complete contention resolution (i.e., to determine that its page response 214 was captured by the BSS 204). Contention resolution is successfully completed in the BSS 204 upon receiving the page response 214 which includes the TLLI. Hence, a benefit of the APR procedure is that the BSS 204 can set-up a downlink TBF by sending the Immediate Assignment message 218 to enable the delivery of downlink payload 216′ even when there are no USFs available at the time of receiving the page response 214 from the particular MS 202.
If a real collision occurs where multiple MSs 202 have all sent packet channel requests 210 (access requests 210) including an “Abbreviated Page Response” in the same RACH burst and therefore think they have all been allocated the same single uplink radio block (e.g., the multiple MSs 202 all believe the same received Immediate Assignment 212 matches their respective “Abbreviated Page Response” transmissions) then the MS 202 which is actually captured by the BSS 204 will clearly be able to determine it is the winner of the contention based on the TLLI included in the subsequent Immediate Assignment message 218 which is sent to the MS 202 after its page response 214 has been received by the BSS 204. As discussed above, the MS 202 upon the transmission of the page response 214 will also start the timer TAPR 205 at time=t0(APR) (see
The advantages of using the APR procedure for delivering downlink payload 216′ in the aforementioned UDP/IP scenario of
The APR procedure for delivering downlink payload 216′ in the aforementioned UDP/IP scenario of
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
1. The SGSN 306 sends a paging message 308 to the BSS 304.
2. The BSS 304 sends the paging message 308′ to the MS 302. The BSS 304 translates the paging message 308 received from the SGSN 306 on the Gb interface into the paging message 308′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 302.
3. The MS 302 sends a packet channel request 310 (access request 310) to the BSS 304.
4. BSS 304 sends an Immediate Assignment message 312 with an extended UL TBF assignment to the MS 302.
5. The MS 302 sends a page response 314 using the assigned extended UL TBF to the BSS 304.
6. The BSS 304 forwards a page response 314′ with a dummy LLC PDU to the SGSN 306. Note: it is the payload (dummy LLC PDU) of the page response 314 received over the radio interface by the BSS 304 from the MS 302 that the BSS 304 conveys over the Gb interface to the SGSN 306 as the page response 314′. More specifically, the page response 314 sent over the radio interface is mapped to a different message also known as a page response 314′ which is sent on the Gb interface. The page responses 314 and 314′ are not identical.
7. The BSS 304 receives DL packets 316 from the SGSN 306.
8. The BSS 304 sends a Packet DL Assignment message 318 on the PACCH to the MS 302.
9. The BSS 304 sends the DL packets 316′ using the assigned DL resources to the MS 302. The BSS 304 translates the DL packets 316 received from the SGSN 306 on the Gb interface into the DL packets 316′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 302.
10. The MS 302 sends a PDAN 320 acknowledging the receipt of the DL packets 316′ (DL PDUs 316) to the BSS 304.
11. The MS 302 has UL packets 322 to send to the BSS 304.
12. The MS 302 sends the UL packets 322 using the assigned extended UL TBF to the BSS 304.
13. The BSS 304 sends the UL packets 322′ to the SGSN 306. The BSS 304 translates the UL packets 322 received from the MS 302 on the radio interface into the UL packets 322′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the Gb interface to the SGSN 306.
Referring to
1. The SGSN 406 sends a paging message 408 to the BSS 404.
2. The BSS 404 sends the paging message 408′ to the MS 402. The BSS 404 translates the paging message 408 received from the SGSN 406 on the Gb interface into the paging message 408′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 402.
3. The MS 402 sends a packet channel request 410 (access request 410) to the BSS 404.
4. The BSS 404 sends an Immediate Assignment message 412 with an UL TBF assignment to the MS 402.
5. The MS 402 sends a page response 414 using the assigned UL TBF to the BSS 404.
6. The BSS 404 forwards a page response 414′ with a dummy LLC PDU to the SGSN 406. Note: it is the payload (dummy LLC PDU) of the page response 414 received over the radio interface by the BSS 404 from the MS 402 that the BSS 404 conveys over the Gb interface to the SGSN 406 as the page response 414′. More specifically, the page response 414 sent over the radio interface is mapped to a different message also known as a page response 414′ which is sent on the Gb interface. The page responses 414 and 414′ are not identical.
7. The BSS 404 sends a PUAN 416 (final) releasing the UL TBF to the MS 402.
8. The MS 402 sends a packet control acknowledgment 418 to the BSS 404.
9. The BSS 404 receives DL packets 420 from the SGSN 406.
10. The BSS 404 sends an Immediate Assignment message 422 assigning a DL TBF to the MS 402.
11. The BSS 404 sends the DL packets 420′ using the assigned DL TBF to the MS 402. The BSS 404 translates the DL packets 420 received from the SGSN 406 on the Gb interface into the DL packets 420′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 402.
12. The MS 402 has UL packets 424 to send to the BSS 404.
13. The MS 402 sends another packet channel request 426 (access request 426) to the BSS 404.
14. The BSS 404 sends an Immediate Assignment message 428 with an UL TBF assignment to the MS 402.
15. The MS 402 sends the UL packets 424 using the assigned UL TBF to the BSS 404.
16. The BSS 404 sends the UL packets 424′ to the SGSN 406. The BSS 404 translates the UL packets 424 received from the MS 402 on the radio interface into the UL packets 424′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the Gb interface to the SGSN 406.
Referring to
1. The SGSN 506 sends a paging message 508 to the BSS 504.
2. The BSS 504 sends the paging message 508′ to the MS 502. The BSS 504 translates the paging message 508 received from the SGSN 506 on the Gb interface into the paging message 508′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 502. In this example, the paging message 508′ which is sent on the PCH indicates that the BSS 504 supports the APR procedure for downlink data delivery. If the paging message 508′ is not enhanced to provide the APR indication then the system information within an existing or a new system information message would be needed so that an APR capable MS 502 will know when it can attempt a system access by sending the packet channel request 510 (access request 510) which has an “Abbreviated Page Response” indication therein as shown in TABLE #1.
3. The MS 502 sends a packet channel request 510 (access request 510) requesting an UL block for a page response to the BSS 504.
4. BSS 504 sends an Immediate Assignment message 512 with a single UL block assignment to the MS 502.
5. The MS 502 sends a page response 514 using the assigned single UL block to the BSS 504. The page response 514 is sent using the single uplink radio block and contains a RLC data block that includes (a) the dummy LLC PDU, (b) the TLLI and (c) a new Length Indicator that allows for indicating the inclusion of 1 octet of supplemental information (e.g., see third embodiment for an example when this new Length Indicator would be used to indicate the volume of uplink payload available for transmission at the MS) immediately following the new Length Indicator. At this time, the MS 502 starts the timer TAPR 505—see earlier discussion.
6. The BSS 504 forwards a page response 514′ with a dummy LLC PDU to the SGSN 506. In particular, the BSS 504 extracts the dummy LLC PDU from the single block PDU (paging message 514) and sends the dummy LLC PDU to the SGSN 506. Note: it is the payload (dummy LLC PDU) of the page response 514 received over the radio interface by the BSS 504 from the MS 502 that the BSS 504 conveys over the Gb interface to the SGSN 506 as the page response 514′. More specifically, the page response 514 sent over the radio interface is mapped to a different message also known as a page response 514′ which is sent on the Gb interface. The page responses 514 and 514′ are not identical.
7. The BSS 504 receives DL packets 516 from the SGSN 506.
8. The BSS 504 sends an Immediate Assignment message 518 with a DL TBF assignment to the MS 502. At this time, the MS 502 stops the timer TAPR 505—see earlier discussion.
9. The BSS 504 sends the DL packets 516′ using the assigned DL TBF to the MS 502. The BSS 504 translates the DL packets 516 received from the SGSN 506 on the Gb interface into the DL packets 516′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 502.
10. The MS 502 has UL packets 519 to send to the BSS 504. The UL packets 519 requiring transmission are identified shortly after the reception of the last of the DL packets 516′ so that the MS 502 is able to formulate a PDAN 520 that includes a request for an UL TBF assignment by the time the PDAN 520 is to be sent (e.g. the polling request sent in the last of the DL packets 516′ may indicate that the MS 502 is to send a PDAN 520 starting in uplink TDMA frame N+13, N+22 or other possible offsets where N is TDMA frame number of the last TDMA frame used to send the last of the DL packets 516′).
11. The MS 502 sends a PDAN 520 which requests an UL TBF assignment to the BSS 504.
12. The BSS 504 sends an Immediate Assignment message 522 with an UL TBF assignment to the MS 502.
13. The MS 502 sends the UL packets 519 using the assigned UL TBF to the BSS 504.
14. The BSS 504 sends the UL packets 519′ to the SGSN 506. The BSS 504 translates the UL packets 519 received from the MS 502 on the radio interface into the UL packets 519′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the Gb interface to the SGSN 506.
Referring to
Referring to
In addition, the advantages of using the APR procedure for the TCP/IP scenario when compared to the legacy signaling procedure (CASE #1) shown in
The advantage of using the APR procedure for this particular scenario are also shown in TABLE #3 where it can be seen that using the APR procedure instead of the legacy procedure requires one less downlink PACCH block transmission and improves the availability of USF and TFI resources for uplink TBFs since they will not be assigned until they are actually needed as per step 9 of TABLE #3 (signal 11 of
Moreover, the advantages of using the APR procedure for the TCP/IP scenario when compared to the legacy signaling procedure (CASE #2) shown in
Referring to
t0(legacy)—The MS 102 and 402 receives PUAN 116 and 416 confirming reception of page response 114 and 414 sent using an uplink TBF, the BSS 104 and 404 forwards the page response 114′ and 414′ to SGSN 106 and 406.
t0(APR)—The APR capable MS 202 and 502 sends the single uplink radio block containing the page response 214 and 514 to the BSS 204 and 504. The BSS 204 and 504 forwards the page response 214′ and 514′ to the SGSN 206 and 506.
t1—The BSS 104, 204, 304, 404 and 504 receives downlink payload 118, 216, 316, 420 and 516 from the SGSN 106, 206, 306, 406 and 506 and sends the Immediate Assignment message 120, 218, 318, 422 and 518 to the MS 102, 202, 302, 402 and 502. Once, the downlink TBF is established, the BSS 104, 204, 304, 404 and 504 begins delivery of downlink payload 118′, 216′, 316′, 420′ and 516′ to the MS 102, 202, 302, 402 and 502.
t2(legacy)—The MS 302 sends the PDAN 320 confirming reception of all downlink payload 316′ and transmission of uplink payload 322 can start (use of the extended uplink TBF can be resumed). Note: in practice there can be a delay in starting the uplink payload 322 transmission since the BSS 304 will take some time before it schedules the next USF for the already established uplink TBF (e.g., this could easily be 20 ms or more).
t2(APR)—The APR capable MS 502 sends the PDAN 520 confirming reception of all downlink payload 516′ and requesting the establishment of an uplink TBF.
t3—The APR capable MS 502 receives Packet Uplink Assignment 522 (providing USF+TFI assignments) and then transmission of the uplink payload 519 can start. Note: this represents a delay in starting the uplink payload transmission (e.g. 40 ms) compared to the legacy case but this delay could easily be the same as the delay associated with the legacy case (see t2(legacy) above).
tEUL=the time that MS 302 spends in extended uplink TBF mode with a USF and TFI assigned but not used.
Referring to
1. The SGSN 706 sends a paging message 708 (for triggering the MS 702 to send data) to the BSS 704.
2. The BSS 704 sends the paging message 708′ (for triggering the MS 702 to send data) to the MS 702. The BSS 704 translates the paging message 708 received from the SGSN 706 on the Gb interface into the paging message 708′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the radio interface to the MS 702. In this example, the paging message 708′ indicates that the BSS 704 not only supports the APR procedure for trigger delivery but indicates that the MS 702 is to send data for the SGSN 706—compare to the paging message 508′ in
3. The MS 702 sends a packet channel request 710 (access request 710) requesting an UL block for a page response to the BSS 704 (see TABLE #1—the MS 702 indicates it is APR capable by using the “Abbreviated Page Response” code point).
4. BSS 704 sends an Immediate Assignment message 712 with a single UL block assignment to the MS 702.
5. The MS 702 sends a page response 714 using the assigned single UL block to the BSS 704. The page response 714 has an indication indicating that there are “X” pending UL blocks. In one example, the page response 714 is sent using the single uplink radio block and contains a RLC data block that includes (a) the dummy LLC PDU, (b) the TLLI and (c) a new Length Indicator that allows for indicating the inclusion of 1 octet of supplemental information (e.g., the volume of uplink payload available for transmission at the MS 702) immediately following the new Length Indicator. The inclusion of this new Length Indicator serves to inform the BSS 704 that the MS 702 has uplink payload (“X” pending UL blocks) to send and therefore an uplink TBF needs to be assigned (i.e., the uplink TBF is needed regardless if the page response 714′, when relayed to the SGSN 706, results in the SGSN 706 sending the BSS 704 downlink packets (downlink payload) to be delivered to the MS 702). At this time, the MS 702 starts the timer TAPR 505—see earlier discussion.
6. The BSS 704 forwards a page response 714′ with a dummy LLC PDU to the SGSN 706. In particular, the BSS 704 extracts the LLC PDU from the single block PDU and sends the dummy LLC PDU to the SGSN 706. Note: it is the payload (dummy LLC PDU) of the page response 714 received over the radio interface by the BSS 704 from the MS 702 that the BSS 704 conveys over the Gb interface to the SGSN 706 as the page response 714′. More specifically, the page response 714 sent over the radio interface is mapped to a different message also known as a page response 714′ which is sent on the Gb interface. The page responses 714 and 714′ are not identical.
7. The BSS 704 sends an Immediate Assignment message 716 with an UL TBF assignment for only “X” blocks (similar to the Short Access Request feature used for uplink TBF established as defined in 3GPP TS 44.060 V4.10.0—the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference or an open ended legacy type UL TBF) to the MS 702. At this time, the MS 502 stops the timer TAPR 505—see earlier discussion.
8. The MS 702 sends the UL blocks 718 using the assigned “X” blocks of the UL TBF to the BSS 704.
9. The BSS 704 sends the UL blocks 718′ to the SGSN 706. The BSS 704 translates the UL blocks 718 received from the MS 702 on the radio interface into the UL blocks 718′ which has a format appropriate for sending over the Gb interface to the SGSN 706.
In the third embodiment, the paging message 708′ sent on the PCH is able to indicate a specific “trigger condition”. In this example, the paging message 708′ sent on the PCH indicates everything the MS 702 needs in order to determine exactly what uplink payload 718 (uplink blocks 718) needs to be sent in response to that “trigger condition”. The following is a more detailed explanation of the aforementioned steps 1-9:
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The advantages of using the APR procedure in the aforementioned MS triggering scenario when compared to the legacy procedure where the uplink TBF used to send the page response is retained using the extended uplink TBF mode (see
Note: The advantage of using the APR procedure in the third embodiment instead of the legacy procedures is that the new procedure requires two less downlink PACCH block transmissions and one less uplink PACCH block transmission.
Referring to
It should be noted that the mobile station 202, 502 and 702, the access node 204, 504 and 704 (e.g., BSS 204, 504 and 704), and the serving node 206, 506 and 706 (e.g., SGSN 206, 506 and 706) each comprise many other components which are well known in the art but for clarity the well known components are not described herein. Moreover, it should be noted that a typical network would comprise multiple mobile stations 202, 502 and 702, multiple access nodes 204, 504 and 704 (e.g., BSSs 204, 504 and 704) as well as a plethora of other network nodes which may or may not be in the path of packets sent between the mobile station 202, 502, 702 and the serving node 206, 506 and 706 (e.g., SGSN 206, 506 and 706).
Further, it should be noted that there are many different types of memories 802, 808 and 814 available, such as solid states drives, hard drives, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM etc. which could be used in implementing embodiments disclosed herein. The memory 802 used for the mobile station 202, 502 and 702 would typically be different from the memory 814 used for the serving node 206, 506 and 706 (e.g., SGSN 206, 506 and 706), however there is absolutely nothing preventing them for utilizing the same kind of memory. Also, while not indicated in the schematic view, there might be multiple different memories in the devices disclosed. Typically, there would be persistent storage as well as Random Access Memory. Also the processors 804, 810 and 816 indicated in the schematic view can be implemented in many different forms, such as an off-the-shelf microcontroller, an ASIC, FPGA etc.
In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the APR procedure results in reducing the amount of PACCH signaling by at least 20% when compared to legacy procedures for the case of small data transmissions downlink as described herein. In some cases, the APR procedure realizes a reduction in PACCH signaling at the expense of a corresponding increase in AGCH signaling but this is still considered as a net gain given the options that exist for increasing the AGCH capacity if needed (e.g. IPA). As such, the APR procedure is seen as being useful towards realizing the EMDA goal of improving PDCH utilization and to support the APR procedure the following specification (standard) changes should be made within the GERAN Rel-13 time frame:
Although multiple embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but instead is also capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the present disclosure that as has been set forth and defined within the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/937,274, filed on Feb. 7, 2014. The entire contents of this application are hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61937274 | Feb 2014 | US |