IP Verse

Release Message In Small Data Transmission Procedure

Patent No. US11570844 (titled "Release Message In Small Data Transmission Procedure") was filed by Peninsula Technologies Llc on Mar 31, 2022.

What is this patent about?

’844 is related to the field of cellular communication , specifically addressing the efficient handling of small data transmissions (SDT) in scenarios where a wireless device moves between base stations. The background involves the need to minimize signaling overhead and latency when devices transmit small amounts of data, especially when mobility is involved, and the device may need to be handed over to a new base station.

The underlying idea behind ’844 is to delay the transmission of the RRC release message from the anchor base station until the small data transmission procedure is complete. This avoids prematurely releasing the connection and forcing the device to re-establish it if more small data needs to be transmitted. The anchor base station informs the new base station that it will retain the device's context, allowing the new base station to facilitate the SDT procedure.

The claims of ’844 focus on a method performed by a first base station (anchor) that involves receiving a request from a second base station (new) indicating an SDT procedure, sending an indication to the second base station that the first base station is retaining the device's context, receiving uplink data from the device via the second base station, and then, only after the SDT procedure is complete, sending the RRC release message to the second base station.

In practice, the invention allows a wireless device to continue its small data transmission even after moving to a new base station's coverage area. The new base station acts as a relay, forwarding data to and from the anchor base station, which retains the device's context. This is achieved by the anchor base station signaling to the new base station that it will keep the context, and crucially, withholding the RRC release until the SDT is finished.

This approach differs from prior solutions where the anchor base station might immediately send an RRC release message upon handover, forcing the device to re-establish a connection if further data transmission is needed. By delaying the RRC release, ’844 minimizes signaling overhead and latency, improving the efficiency of small data transmissions in mobile scenarios. The completion of the SDT procedure is a key trigger for finally sending the RRC release.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2020s when ’844 was filed, at a time when wireless communication systems commonly relied on base stations to manage radio resources and handle data transmission for wireless devices. Systems typically involved procedures for establishing, maintaining, and releasing connections between base stations and wireless devices, and small data transmission was a known concept. Engineering constraints existed around efficiently managing radio resources and minimizing signaling overhead, especially when dealing with small amounts of data.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because the independent claims (1, 11, and 20) contain distinct features not found in the prior art, either individually or in combination. Specifically, the examiner noted that the prior art references (Seokjung Kim et al. and Taehun Kim et al.) did not disclose the unique combination of a first base station receiving a request message from a second base station indicating a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, the first base station sending an indication that it keeps the context of the wireless device, receiving uplink data via the second base station, and sending a radio resource control (RRC) release message based on completion of the SDT procedure.

Claims

This patent contains 20 claims, with independent claims 1, 11, and 20. The independent claims are directed to a method, a first base station, and a system, respectively, all relating to managing small data transmissions (SDT) of a wireless device between base stations. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the details of the SDT procedure, assistance information, and context management within the method, first base station, or system.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Keeps a context of the wireless device
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 20)		“The term configured may relate to the capacity of a device whether the device is in an operational or non-operational state. Configured may refer to specific settings in a device that effect the operational characteristics of the device whether the device is in an operational or non-operational state. In other words, the hardware, software, firmware, registers, memory values, and/or the like may be “configured” within a device, whether the device is in an operational or nonoperational state, to provide the device with specific characteristics.”The first base station maintains stored information or settings related to the wireless device.
Radio resource control (RRC) release message
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 20)		“In the present disclosure, various embodiments are presented as examples of how the disclosed techniques may be implemented and/or how the disclosed techniques may be practiced in environments and scenarios. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope. In fact, after reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art how to implement alternative embodiments.”A message used to terminate the RRC connection between the wireless device and the network.
Request message indicating
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 20)		“In this disclosure, parameters (or equally called, fields, or Information elements: IEs) may comprise one or more information objects, and an information object may comprise one or more other objects. For example, if parameter (IE) N comprises parameter (IE) M, and parameter (IE) M comprises parameter (IE) K, and parameter (IE) K comprises parameter (information element) J. Then, for example, N comprises K, and N comprises J.”A message sent from the second base station to the first base station to inform the first base station about the SDT procedure of a wireless device.
Small data transmission (SDT) procedure
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 20)		“In the present disclosure, various embodiments are presented as examples of how the disclosed techniques may be implemented and/or how the disclosed techniques may be practiced in environments and scenarios. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope. In fact, after reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art how to implement alternative embodiments.”A procedure related to the transmission of small amounts of data by a wireless device.
Uplink data associated
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 20)		“In the present disclosure, various embodiments are presented as examples of how the disclosed techniques may be implemented and/or how the disclosed techniques may be practiced in environments and scenarios. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope. In fact, after reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art how to implement alternative embodiments.”Data transmitted from the wireless device to the network, related to the small data transmission procedure.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
2:25-cv-00387Apr 11, 2025Peninsula Technologies, Llc V. Dish Wireless L.L.C. D/B/A Boost Mobile

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US11570844

PENINSULA TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Application Number
US17709691
Filing Date
Mar 31, 2022
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Sep 23, 2041
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents