Small data transmission techniques in a wireless communication network

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a node including a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN), a request to send a data payload to user equipment (UE) of a wireless communication network over a radio access network (RAN);
• sending, by the node to the UE via the RAN, a paging message including a small data indicator information element that indicates that a data payload intended for transmission to the UE is located at the node, and wherein the data payload is smaller than a preconfigured threshold;
• subsequent to sending the paging message, sending, by the node to the UE via the RAN, a non-access stratum (NAS) message that includes the data payload;
• and
• receiving, by the node from the UE, an extended service request message to request a NAS attachment with the node and to indicate whether the UE has a small data payload to send to the wireless communication network, wherein:
• the extended service request message is sent by the UE in response to the paging message and upon establishment of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the UE and the RAN;
• the extended service request message includes a service type information element having a service type value that is to indicate that a purpose of the NAS attachment with the node is for small data transmission and whether the UE has a small data payload to send to the wireless communication network;
• and
• the service type information element includes four bits to indicate the service type value.

A base station, comprising:

• one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions;
• and
• one or more processors coupled with the one or more computer-readable media to execute the instructions to:
• receive, from a node of a wireless communication network including a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN), a first paging message including a small data indicator information element that indicates transmission of a data payload from the node to a user equipment (UE) of the wireless communication network, wherein the data payload is a small data payload that is smaller than a preconfigured threshold;
• and
• send a second paging message including the small data indicator information element to the UE, wherein:
• the first paging message received by the base station includes the small data payload;
• the second paging message sent by the base station does not include the small data payload;
• the small data indicator information element in the second paging message indicates that the small data payload is intended for transmission to the UE and is located at the base station;
• and
• the one or more processors are further to execute the instructions to
• receive a radio resource control (RRC) connection request message from the UE, the RRC connection request message being sent by the UE in response to the paging message, and
• receive, from the UE in response to the RRC connection request message, an RRC connection setup complete message and an extended service request message to request a NAS attachment with the node, wherein the extended service request message includes a service type information element having a service type value, and wherein the service type value indicates that a purpose of the NAS attachment with the node is for small data transmission and indicates whether the UE has a small data payload to send to the wireless communication network.

An apparatus comprising:

• non-access stratum (NAS) circuitry coupled with access stratum (AS) circuitry, the NAS circuitry to:
• receive a trigger to send a data payload to a wireless communication network, the data payload having a size that is less than a preconfigured threshold;
• generate a NAS message including the data payload;
• and
• transmit, using the AS circuitry, the NAS message including the data payload to a node comprising a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) upon establishment of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection,
• wherein the NAS message is a routing area update request message for initiation of a routing area update procedure with the node and the routing area update request message includes a communication type information element, and the communication type information element is an update type information element that includes three bits to indicate an update type value, wherein the update type value is to indicate that a purpose of the routing area update procedure with the node is for periodic updating with small data transmission or for routing area updating with small data transmission.

An apparatus comprising:

• non-access stratum (NAS) circuitry coupled with access stratum (AS) circuitry, the NAS circuitry to:
• receive a trigger to send a data payload to a wireless communication network, the data payload having a size that is less than a preconfigured threshold;
• generate a NAS message including the data payload;
• and
• transmit the NAS message including the data payload to a node comprising a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) upon establishment of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection,
• wherein the NAS message is a tracking area update request message for initiation of a tracking area update procedure with the node and the tracking area update request message includes a communication type information element, and the communication type information element is an update type information element that includes three bits to indicate an update type value, wherein the update type value is to indicate that a purpose of the tracking area update procedure with the node is for periodic updating with small data transmission or for tracking area updating with small data transmission.