Small data usage enablement in 3GPP networks
AssigneeConvida Wireless, LLC
InventorsSuresh Palanisamy, Michael F. Starsinic, Paul L. Russell, Jr.
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Abstract
The standards organization 3GPP is exploring new small data delivery techniques for machine-type communications (MTC). It is recognized herein that existing approaches leave the “small data” decision to the service capability server (SCS) for downlink data and to the user equipment (UE) for uplink data. A user equipment (UE) or the core network can identify the services (or flows) that should be characterized as Small Data, and can make decisions as to when to employ optimized Small Data procedures.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a communication network via the communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
- transmit, to a network system via the communication network, a first message, the first message being an attach request message, the first message comprising an indication that the apparatus supports one or more small data procedures;
- receive, from the network system, a second message, the second message being an attach response comprising a first indication that the apparatus may use one or more of the small data procedures, the second message further comprising a second indication that traffic that is associated with a first Packet Data Network (PDN) connection of the apparatus may only use small data mode;
- determine, based on the first and second indications, that the first PDN connection should be used to send uplink data;
- and
- send, via the first PDN connection, the uplink data.
A method performed by a network apparatus, the method comprising:
- receiving, from an endpoint apparatus, a first message, the first message being an attach request comprising an indication that the endpoint apparatus supports one or more small data procedures, the first message further comprising a request that the endpoint apparatus use a small data procedure;
- receiving a second message, the second message indicating one or more packet data network (PDN) connections that should use small data procedures, the second message further indicating a type of small data procedure corresponding to each of the one or more PDN connections, the second message further comprising information pertaining to applying restrictions for small data services;
- and
- sending, based on the second message, a third message, the third message being an attach response comprising first indication that the endpoint apparatus may use one or more of the supported small data procedures, the third message further comprising a second indication that traffic that is associated with a first Packet Data Network (PDN) connection of the endpoint apparatus may only use small data mode.
An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a communication network via the communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
- transmit, to a network system via the communication network, a first message, the first message being an attach request message, the first message comprising an indication that the apparatus supports one or more small data procedures;
- receive, from the network system, a second message, the second message being an attach response, the second message comprising a first indication that the apparatus may use one or more of the small data procedures, the second message further comprising a second indication that traffic that is associated with a first Packet Data Network (PDN) connection of the apparatus may use only small data procedures while the apparatus remains attached to the network system;
- determine, based on the first and second indications, that the first PDN connection should be used to send uplink data;
- and
- send, via the first PDN connection, the uplink data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.