GB2513896A

GB2513896A - Method, apparatus and computer program for operating a user equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2513896A
Application number: GB1308401.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Martin; Keiichi Kubota; Jianke Fan
Original assignee: Broadcom Corp
Current assignee: Broadcom International Ltd; Broadcom Corp
Priority date: 2013-05-10
Filing date: 2013-05-10
Publication date: 2014-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2033-05-10
Also published as: GB201308401D0; GB2513896B

Abstract

A first threshold for data volume and/or a second threshold for data periodicity are provided to a user equipment UE 20. The UE 20 selects at least one bit value to indicate at least one of a) volume of uplink data to be sent by the UE relative to the first threshold and b) periodicity of uplink data to be sent by the UE relative to the second threshold. The UE 20 signals the bit value(s) to the radio network 22, 26, for example in RRC connection establishment, connection re-establishment or reconfiguration signalling, or in non-access stratum signalling. The bit values may also indicate priority of the data and/or the UE's preferred DRX configuration. In this way the network 22, 26 has enough information about the data to determine if it is, for example, MTC-type frequent small data, and if so, to arrange for the UE to send the uplink data using optimised procedures.

Description

tM:;: INTELLECTUAL .*.. PROPERTY OFFICE ApplicaUon No. (3BI30840I RTM Daie:I Novcmher 2013 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: 3GPP

USM

LTE

Android Intellectual Properly Office is an operaling name of Ihe Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

FOR OPERATING A USER EOUTPMENT

Technical Field

S The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and a computer program for operating a user equipment. The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relate generally to wireless communication systems, methods, devices and computer programs. Specific examples relate to providing information to a wireless nctwork from a user equipment about data to be scnt uplink, where the user cquipmcnt does not yet have a data connection with the network.

Background

Much research is on-going into deploying new types of radio devices that are dedicated for specific purposes, such as reporting electrical usage information from smart meters deployed at electrical transmission poles for example. The nature of the data being transmitted differs from traditional voice calling which was the paradigm under which many conventional control signalling regimens were developed, and so the data transferred to and from these new types of devices are commonly referred to as machine-type communications (MTC). In the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) there is on-going research into developing a more efficient method to transfer small amounts of data, rcducing powcr consumption and signalling overhead concerning these MTC communications in both Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Networks (UTRAN5) and Evolved UTRANs (E-UTRAN5). Technical report 3GPP TR 23.887 \0.9.0 (2013-04) summarises some of the discussions in this area.

Regardless of any new solutions concerning new radio resource control (RRC) signalling procedures that may be optimiscd for small data transmission or new RRC states for efficiently enabling the small data transmissions of MTC devices, still the network does not know whether the incoming data is a small data transmission or a more traditional wireless communication from a non-MTC UE. There is no solution yet proposed in 3GPP to resolve this issue.

In the specifications for UTRAN specification there is a measurement event 4a which triggers the UE to send a measurement report to the network when the UE's data buffer is filled up to a threshold amount of data where the threshold level is S configured by the network. But this measurement event can be used only when the TIE is in the connected mode, because when the UE is in the idle mode it will not have any radio bearer established by which to measure the buffer occupancy. Additionally, MTC data reports are often periodic and the measurement 4a event does not account for any pcriodicity.

Sum mary According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a user equipment (TIE), the method comprising: determining at least one of a first threshold for data volume that is used in a radio network and a second threshold for data pcriodieity that is used in the radio network; selecting at least one bit value to indicate at least one of volume of uplink data to be sent by the user equipment (UE) relative to the first threshold and periodicity of uplink data to be sent by the TIE relative to the second threshold; and signalling the at least one bit value to the radio network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for operating a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising a processing system configured to cause the apparatus at least to: determine at least one of a first threshold for data volume that is used in a radio network and a second threshold for data pcriodicity that is used in the radio network; select at least one bit value to indicate at least one of volume of uplink data to be sent by the user equipment (liE) relative to the first threshold and pcriodicity of uplink data to be sent by the TIE relative to the second threshold; and signal the at least one bit value to the radio network.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program comprising a set of computer instructions for operating a user equipment, the computer instructions comprising: code for determining at least one of a first threshold for data volume that is used in a radio network and a second threshold S for data periodicity that is used in the radio network; code for selecting at least one bit value to indicate at least one of volume of uplink data to be sent by the user equipment (yE) relative to the first threshold and periodicity of uplink data to be sent by the UE relative to the second threshold; and code for signalling the at least one bit value to the radio network.

The processing system described above may comprise at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code.

There may be provided a computer-readable memory tangibly storing a set of computer instructions as described above.

Some examples of embodiments of the present invention provide a way for the network to distinguish when a given UE is going to send small data MTC communications as opposed to more traditional data, prior to the tiE being in the connected mode, so the network can properly utilisc the RRC control signalling or RRC states that arc being developed for efficient MTC communications.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with refcrence to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows an example of a signalling diagram that details steps taken by both the user equipment (UE) and the network (eNB and/or RNC/MME) in practising an exemplary embodiment of these teachings; Figure 2 shows a logic flow diagram that illustrates an example of the operation of a method, a result of execution of by apparatus, and execution of computer instructions comprising code embodied on a computer-readable memory, in accordance with the embodiments of this invention that are described herein; and

S

Figure 3 shows a simplified block diagram of an example of a UE in communication with a cellular access node (cNB) operating under a higher network entity illustrating exemplary electronic devices suitable for usc in practising the exemplary embodiments of this invention.

Detailed Description

The examples detailed herein are in the context of a MTC device/MTC UE operating in a radio network utilising the E-UTRAN or IX[RAN radio access technology, but these examples are to provide a practical context for describing the inventive concepts detailed herein. These teachings may be utiliscd with other types of radio access technologies. The specific names of messages, channels, operating states and various network entities in the examples below follow the nomenclature for E-1J[RAN/LTE but use of these names in the examples is not limiting to the broader teachings presented below.

An open issue for the problem set forth in the background section above is how the network, and also the UE, can know whether to use any new procedure for transmission of small data. To better define an effective solution it is useful to know two characteristics of MTC data transmissions: the volume is generally very small and MTC transmissions may be frcqucnt or infrequent (for example, on the order of seconds or minutes is frequent and the order or hours or days is infrequent).

Depending on the type of data or device, the network may need to use different configurations, or methods of data transmission, that are optimised for the type of data or device. For example, if the data type is normal the network may use 3GPP Release 11 procedures to perform communication with the LiE because the control signalling needed to set up the connection using Release 11 procedures is relatively low compared to the volume of user data typically transmitted. But if the data type is infrequent small data, the same control signalling to set up a radio bearer under conventional Release 11 procedures will be relatively large as compared to the small amount of user data to be transferred. In this case the Ut and network may use an optimised signalling procedure to send and/or receive user data directly from the UE's idle mode before returning the UE to idle mode. For example, there can bc a very short inactivity timer in the network before returning the UE to idle mode, or thcrc may be a ncw signalling proccdurc such as move the tJE to somc newly defined semi-connected state or newly defined dormant state. One example of an optimised configuration for frequent small data is a longer discontinuous reception (DRX) period having much longer non-reception intervals than is conventional which the network configures for the ut in connected mode. Another example is for the tJTRA network to move the UE to the paging state CELL PCH, or for the EUTRA network to move the UB to some newly defined semi-connected state.

How the network and the Ut can know whether to use procedures or configurations optimised for conventional user data transmissions or for MTC type small data transmissions is the subject of these teachings. First, in an example, the network configures one or more thresholds which define the transmission options for the Ut, such as amount of data or periodicity of data, or thc network can provide to the Ut a few potential DRX configurations for connected mode. Secondly, the Ut radio resource control (RRC) layer receives an indication about the characteristics of the expected data to be transmitted. In one embodiment the RRC layer receives this estimate from the Ut's application layer. In other embodiments this indication may be a fixed or configurable property of the device or application in use. Thirdly, the Ut sets the value of one or more bits accordingly to indicate to the network the type of data, whether the threshold(s) are met, and in some embodiments also which DRX configuration is most suitable for the intended data transmission. The number of these signalling bits depends on how much information is being sent to the network about the data characteristics. Then with this information about the data characteristics, the network can configure the liE.

Figure 1 is a signalling diagram that shows an example of these steps in S further detail. In Figure 1 the UE 20 does not have a radio bearer established; it is in IDLE mode or CELL PCH mode or some other mode yet to be defined in which the liE is not in a eonnccted state with thc cellular radio network. Figure 1 concludes with connection establishment, connection reestablishment or reconfiguration signalling which for example can be implemented by setting up a bearer for the liE 20 (connection establishment signalling) or configuring a DRX for it (reconfiguration signalling).

The technical report 30FF TR 23.887 mentioned in the background section above provides a few scenarios for evaluating various techniques for reducing control signalling. Possible signalling overhead reduction allowed by the different proposals arc to be evaluated for the transfer of 100 byte to 1 Kbyte packets in the uplink (UL) and the downlink (DL), with inter-arrival times from several seconds to many hours.

A particular ease of a 1 Kbyte packet in one direction (UL or DL) + 1 Kbyte packet in the other direction followed by a longer IDLE period (for example, several minutes) may be considered. For convenience but not as any limitation to these teachings, the examples below adopt these as thresholds which are set by the network.

Step a) of Figure 1 shows the network setting data amount/data volume and periodicity thresholds. Figure 1 shows these thresholds being communicated by the network to the liE in a broadcast system information block (SIB, such as SIB1 or SIB2), but in other embodiments the thresholds may be communicated specifically in the master information block (MTB). The network sets one or more thresholds such as a small data threshold (for example = 1 Kbyte) and an infrequent data threshold (for

example = 1 minute).

In another embodiment, instead of broadcasting though the entire cell the thresholds, the network can configure the thresholds for individual UEs using dedicated RRC signalling, or it may use RRC signalling to override the broadcast thresholds for a given LIE, in a still further embodiment, the thresholds may be S written in a published wireless technology specification, and thus may be hard-coded in the local memory or the like of the eNB 24 and the UEs 20. By any of these above methods the tiE can determine what thresholds are in use in the ccli.

In one implementation the data threshold information may just include a data size threshold and a data periodicity threshold. In another implementation the data threshold includes a data size threshold, a data periodicity threshold, and additional information such as an extended DRX cycle and associated system frame number (SFN) information which the UE can use to determine a suitable configuration. For example, the UE2O can use DRX information to determine whether a "small data" configuration would be suitable as opposed to the conventional "large data" procedures for obtaining a radio bearer and sending the data uplink.

Conventionally the network can configure traffic volume measurement when the LIE is in the UMTS connected mode, but as detailed above for the measurement 4a event this requires a bearer to be established for the LIE in order for its buffer memory to be configured, and it is not currently possible to configure a traffic volume measurement for a UE in idle mode. It follows then that conventionally it also is not possible to configure a data periodicity measurement or provide potential DRX configurations to the LiE in advance of the LIE being in the connected mode, and so the above thresholds and DRX options enable the UE 20 to make a determination of a suitable configuration for the data the LIE is waiting to send.

Step b) of Figure 1 has the tiE 20 calculating what kind of data it will transmit. For example, a smartphone may receive an indication from the application layer (for example, an Android operating system OS application management layer) that there will be some data to send, and this indication can provide an estimatcd or an exact amount of data as well as the transmissionlreceptioll period/periodicity.

For some types of devices this information may be fixed. For example a smart meter may transmit less than 1 Kbyte of user data every 24 hours whereas an in-car information device may transmit 10 Kbytes every 10 mrnutes. These actual or estimated amounts of data to be sent (and periodicity) can be compared against the thresholds in use, or device characteristics (for example, a smart meter MTC device) can bc uscd to comparc against the thresholds.

Step c) of Figure 1 has the IJE 20 attempting to establish a connection with the network to send it the information about the data the UE 20 has to send as compared against the thrcsholds. Thc indications in steps a) and b) cause thc UE 20 to set the values of at least one bit, depending whether the threshold criteria is met. For cxamplc, if tim volume of thc uscr data to be scnt is below the sizc tlircshold, the UE can set a small data bit as true with bit value 1'; and if the periodicity of the user data to be sent is below the frequency threshold, the UE 20 can set the frequency bit as false with bit value 0'.

The indication/bit values in step c) can be sent in a RRC Connection Request message to the cNB 24 when thc UE 20 is transitioning from the idle mode to the connected mode in EUTRAN or UTRAN. In TJTRAN, the indication/bit values in step c) can alternatively or additionally be sent by the UE 20 in a Cell Update message. In a different embodiment the UE 20 can send this indication/bit values in a different message, such as an RRC Connection Setup Complete message, for example if the eNB 24 or radio network controller (RNC) 26 does not need to know the data volume and periodicity in thc first of thc uplink signaHing steps. In anothcr embodiment, the indication/bit values can be sent in connection reconfiguration signalling, for example when the UE moves from the UTRAN CELL PCH state to the CELL FACH state; or with any related action of EUTRAN, for example, mobility, measurements, physical configuration, radio configuration, etc. In a still further embodiment, the indication/bit values can be sent in reconfiguration signalling, such as when reconfiguring the UE's DRX configuration.

Connection establishment, connection reestablishment and reconfiguration S signalling mentioned above are each radio resource control RRC signalling. In another embodiment the UE 20 uses non-access stratum signalling to provide this information to the network. Similarly, when the thresholds are not hard coded but provided by the network itself, thc network can use non-access stratum signalling to providc thc thresholds to thc UE 20. Non-acccss stratum (NAS) signalling is well known in the art; it passes through the radio access network (the NodeB and RNC for the case of IJTRANs or the eNodeB and the MME for the case of EIJTRANs).

IJplink NAS signalling is directed to the core network and downlink NAS signalling originates in the core network.

Another embodiment has the liE 20 also sending in step c) information about how critical is the user data waiting to be sent, for example whether the user data is high or low priority, and/or an indication of the applicable extended DRX parameters if DRX configurations and/or an extended SFN type are indicated in step a).

Figure 1 has the uplink indication as two flags but this is just one example. In other embodiments thc indication(s) in step c) may be an cnumcratcd type, or an establishment cause, which is set depending on whether the thresholds are met. As to the DRX parameters, in this embodiment there is a closed set of DRX configurations from which the liE 20 choose and then the liE 20 will indicate a preference for its data to be sent from that set of possible DRX configurations. For example, if there are a total of four possible DRX configurations for the liE 20 to choose from and the IJE 20 selects set 3, the UE 20 can signal in step c) ConfigurationPrcferencc = config_3.

In conventional practice it is not possible to indicate anything in the RRC Connection Request regarding the amount of data or the data periodicity. In the above example the 1-bit flag indicates whether a threshold has been met, where the threshold is configured by the network. In the connected mode conventionally the DIE 20 can indicate a preference for a more power-optimised or a more throughput-optimised configuration, but still the actual configurations are unknown to the tiE. Thus the liE 20, without having a bearer established, indicating a preference for a DRX configuration that it selects from among multiple possible DRX configurations is different from conventional practice.

Stcp d) of Figure 1 shows the network using the information reported in step c) to decide which procedures to use: those optimised for MTC-type small data or those optimised for larger data volumes. For example, in step d) the network decides how to allocate resources, set DRX lengths, determine which RRC states to use, set a release timer (for example, how long the UE will be inactive before sending the UE to the idle state). It may also be used to determine whether to use a new signalling procedure optimised for small data. In conventional UTRAN and EIUTRAN the network does not have this information when the liE is in the idle or other non-connected state, which according to these teachings the network will have via step c) and can use to select whatever procedures may be developed to deal efficiently with MTC-type small data.

Figure 2 presents a summary of certain of these embodiments from the perspective of the UE 20, and may be considered to represent a method for operating a user equipment (yE) such as for example a MTC type UE seeking to send user data uplink to the network (eNB, NodeB, or other radio access node). At block 202 the UE 20 determines at least one of a first threshold for data volume that is used in a radio network and a second threshold for data periodieity that is used in the radio network.

This was detailed above with respect to step a) of Figure 1. Then at block 204 the UE selects at least one bit value to indicate at least one of volume of uplink data to be sent by the DIE relative to the first threshold and periodieity of uplink data to be sent by the DIE relative to the second threshold. This was detailed above with respect to step b) of Figure 1. And then at block 206 the tiE signals the at least one bit value to the radio network. Blocks 208 and 210 provide two different categories for the signalling used to provide those bit values. At block 208 the TIE 20 provides the bit values to the radio network in RRC signalling such as for example connection establishment, connection re-establishment or reconfiguration signalling, as was detailed as step c) of S Figure 1 above. Block 210 provides an alternative implementation in which the TIE provides the bit values to the core network (via the radio network) in non-access stratum signalling.

In the above non-limiting example, the determining at block 202 is of both the first threshold and the second threshold; and the at least one bit value of block 204 indicates both the volume of the uplinic data to be sent and the periodieity of the uplink data to be sent.

In various implementations detailed above, the first and the second thresholds are received by the liE from the network in system information or radio resource control signalling, or are published in a wireless standard and stored in a local computer-readable memory of the TIE.

In one specific non-limiting implementation, the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodieity of the uplink data to be sent is estimated from an application layer of the TIE. In another implementation, the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is a fixed property of the device or application in use; this is of particular use in for example a smart meter MTC device which always sends a fixed amount of data at fixed intervals. In a still further embodiment, the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodieity of the uplink data to be sent is a configurable property of the device or application in use, such as configurable by a user of the device which means there would be no need to estimate the date volume.

In another specific but non-limiting embodiment, the selected bit value at block 204 further indicates a discontinuous reception (DRX) periods selected by the liE from among a pre-defined group of DRX periods for the uplink data to be sent, and!or the selected bit value thrther indicates a priority of the uplink data to be sent.

This/these bit values can be sent in a radio resource control (RRC) Connection Request message or in a RRC Connection Setup Complete message.

S

Further in the non-limiting examples above, the selecting of block 204 is done while the UE is in a first state and the signalling transitions the liE to a second state in which the liE performs data transmission and reception. The above examples have the UE as a machine-type communications (MTC) device.

The above embodiments provide the technical effect of solving the open issue for MTC data procedures where the network has sufficient information to determine which connection procedures to use for the UE based on the liE's data profile.

Embodiments of these teachings further allow the network to determine which procedures and configurations to usc for the specific data type, and allows the network to decide the criteria according to own requirements. The use of only one or two bits in the uplink does not cause a random access channel (RACH) message size restriction, and the solutions presented herein are applicable for all of the solutions currently included in the study for how to deal with small data transmissions differently than conventional/large data transmissions.

The embodiments of these teachings shown at Figure 2 and summarised thereafter may be practised by the liE, or by one or more components thereof As non-limiting examples such components may include a processor and a memory storing executable software code, or a universal system identity module (IJSIM), or a modem, or a IJSB dongle, or a chipset, or an antenna module, or a radio frequency RE module (RF front end), or any combination of these.

The logic diagram of Figure 2 may be considered to illustrate the operation of a method, and a result of execution of a computer program stored in a computer readable memory, and a specific manner in which components of an electronic device are configured to cause that electronic device to operate, whether such an electronic device is the TJE or some other portable electronic device or component thereof.

Figure 2 also implies the mirror processes for the eNB in reading and recognising the indications and performing the network-side steps shown at Figure 1. The various S blocks shown in Figure 2 may also be considered as a plurality of coupled logic circuit elements constructed to carry out the associated function(s), or specific result of strings of computer program code or instructions stored in a memory.

Such blocks and the functions they represent are non-limiting examples, and may be practised in various components such as integrated circuit chips and modules, and the exemplary embodiments of this invention may be realised in an apparatus that is embodied as an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit, or circuits, may comprise circuitry (as well as possibly firmware) for embodying at least one or more of a data processor or data processors, a digital signal processor or processors, baseband circuitry and radio frequency circuitry that are configurable so as to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention.

Such circuit/circuitry embodiments include any of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as: (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a user equipment/UE or a radio network access node, to perform the various functions summarised (or implied for the cellular network) at Figure 2 and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of "circuitry" applies to all uses of this term in this specification, including in any claims. As a ifirther example, as used in this specification, the term "circuitry" would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term "circuitry" also covers, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or application specific integrated circuit for a user equipment UE or a similar integrated circuit in a radio network that communicates wirelessly with one another.

S Reference is now made to Figure 3 for illustrating a simplified block diagram of various electronic devices and apparatus that are suitable for use in practising the exemplary embodiments of this inyention. In Figure 3 a cellular radio network access node 22 is adapted for communication over a wireless link 21 with an apparatus, such as a mobile terminal or UE 20 which may or may not bc a MTC device. The acccss node 22 may be any access node such as a NodeB or an eNB (including frequency selective repeaters and remote radio heads) of any wireless network, such as E-UTRAN/LTE/LTE-Advanced, FISPA, WCDMA, GSM, GERAN, UTRAN, and the like. The operator network of which the access node 22 is a part may also include a network control entity, such as a radio network controller RNC in the case of a UTRAN and WCDMA network, or a mobility management entity MME for the case of LTE/LTE-Advanced networks in which case the MME may also serve as the serving gateway S-GW. This higher network entity 26 generally provides connectivity with the core cellular network and with further networks (e.g. a publicly switched telephone network PSTN and/or a data communications network/Internet).

The UE 20 includes processing means such as at least one data processor (DP) 20A, storing means such as at least one computer-readable memory (MEM) 20B storing at least one computer program (FROG) 20C, and communication means such as a transmitter TX 20D and a receiver RX 20E for bidirectional wireless communications with the access node 22 using the operative radio access technology.

All of the relevant wireless communications are facilitated via one or more antennas 20F. Also stored in the MEM 20B at reference number 200 are the computer code or algorithms for the UE 20 to determine the profile (volume, periodicity, priority, etc.) of the data it has to send uplink and the tables to show the indications it will send to represent that data profile to the cellular network according to exemplary embodiments above.

The cellular access node 22 also includes processing means such as at least one data processor (DP) 22A, storing means such as at least one computer-readable memory (MEM) 22B storing at least one computer program (PROG) 22C, and S communication means such as a transmitter TX 22D and a receiver RX 22E for bidirectional wireless communications with the UE 20 via one or more antennas 22F.

Thc access node 22 stores at block 220 in certain embodiments its own computer software code or algorithms to read and recognise the UF's data profile indications/bit values, and in some embodiments also to send to the FE via broadcast or dedicated RRC signalling the thresholds against which the UE compares its own data profile to find the signalled indications, according to the teachings above. In some radio technologies the cellular access node 22 will have a direct data/control link 23 with other adjacent cellular access nodes.

Also at Figure 3 is shown a higher network entity 26 above the radio access node 22. In UTRAN this higher network entity 26 may be a radio ncwork controller RNC, whereas in LTE/LTE-Advanced this entity 26 may be a MME and/or a S-GW as noted above. However implemented, the higher network entity 26 includes processing means such as at least one data processor (DP) 26A, storing means such as at least one computer-readable memory (MEM) 26B storing at least one computer program (PROG) 26C, and communication means such as a modem 26F for bidirectional communications with the access node 22 and with other access nodes under its control or coordination over the data and control link 27.

While not particularly illustrated for the FE 20 or the access node 22, those devices are also assumed to include as part of their wireless communicating means a modem and/or a chipsct and/or an antenna chip which may or may not be inbuilt onto a radio frequency (RE) front end module within those devices 20, 22 and which also operates according to the teachings set forth above.

At least one of the PROGs 20C in the UE 20 is assumed to include a set of program instructions that, when executed by the associated DP 20A, enable the device to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention, as detailed above and particularly summarised at Figure 2. The cellular access node 22 S also has software stored in its MEM 22B to implement certain aspects of these teachings, some of which are detailed at Figure 1. In these regards the exemplary embodiments of this invention may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored on the MEM 20B, 22B which is executable by the DP 20A of the IJE andlor by the DP 22A of the cellular access node 22, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware) in any one or more of these devices 20, 22. In this manner the respective DP with the MEM and stored PROG may be considered a data processing system. Electronic devices implementing these aspects of the invention need not be the entire devices as depicted at Figure 3 or may be one or more components of same such as the above described tangibly stored software, hardware, firmware and DP, or a system-on-a-chip Soc or an application specific integrated circuit ASIC or a digital signal processor DSP or a modem or an antenna module or a RF front end module as noted above.

In general, the various embodiments of the IJE 20 can include but are not limited to personal portable digital devices having wireless communication capabilities, including but not limited to cellular and other mobile phones, navigation devices, laptop/palmtop/tablet computers, digital cameras and music devices, Intemet appliances, USB dongles and data cards, machine-to-machine communication or machine-type communication devices, and the like.

Various embodiments of the computer-readable MEMs 20B, 22B, 26B include any data storage technology type which is suitable to the loca' technical environment, including but not limited to semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, removable memory, disc memory, flash memory, DRAM, SRAM, EEPROM and the like.

Various embodiments of the DPs 20A, 22A, 26A include but are not limited to general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and multi-core processors.

Various modifications and adaptations to the foregoing exemplary S embodiments of this invention may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description. While the exemplary embodiments have been described above in the context of the LTE/LTE-Advanced systems, as noted above the exemplary embodiments of this invention are not limited for use with only these particular types of wireless radio access technology networks.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of operating a user equipment, the method comprising: determining at least one of a first threshold for data volume that is used in a S radio network and a second threshold for data periodicity that is used in the radio network; selecting at least one bit value to indicate at least one of volume ofuplink data to be sent by the user equipment (yE) relative to the first threshold and periodicity of uplink data to be sent by the UE relative to the second threshold; and signalling the at least one bit value to the radio network.
2. A method according to claim 1. wherein the at least one bit is signalled to the radio network in radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment, RRC connection re-establishment or RRC reconfiguration signalling.
3. A method according to claim 1. wherein the at least one bit is signalled to the radio network in non-access stratum signalling.
4. A method according to any of claims I to 3, wherein: the determining is of both the first threshold and the second threshold; and the at least one bit value indicates both the volume of the uplink data to be sent and the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the first and the second thresholds are received by the UE from the network in system information or radio resource control signalling, or are published in a wireless standard and stored in a local computer-readable memory of the UE.
6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is estimated from an application layer of the liE.
7. A method according to any of claims Ito 5, wherein the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is a fixed property of the device or application in use.S
8. A method according to any of claims Ito 5, wherein the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is a configurable property of the device or application in use.
9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the selected at least one bit value further indicates a discontinuous reception (DRX) period selected by the IJE from among a pre-defined group of DRX periods for the uplink data to be sent.
10. A method according to any of claims Ito 9, wherein the selected at least one bit value further indicates a priority of the uplink data to be scnt.
11. A method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one bit value is sent in a radio resource control (RRC) Connection Request message or in a RRC Connection Setup Complete message.
12. A method according to any of claims 1 to 11, whcrcin the selecting is donc while the TIE is in a first state and the signalling transitions the TJE to a second state in which the IJE performs data transmission and reception.
13. A method according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the UE is a machine-type communications (MTC) device.
14. Apparatus for operating a user equipment, the apparatus comprising a processing system configured to cause the apparatus at least to: determine at least one of a first threshold for data volume that is used in a radio network and a second threshold for data periodicity that is used in the radio network select at least one bit value to indicate at least one of volume of uplink data to be sent by the user equipment (UE) relative to the first threshold and periodicity of uplink data to be sent by the UE relative to the second threshold; and signal the at least one bit value to the radio network.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, arranged so that thc at least onc bit is signalled to the radio network in radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment, RRC connection re-establishment or RRC reconfiguration signalling.
16. Apparatus according to claim 14, arranged so that the at least one bit is signalled to the radio network in non-access stratum signalling.
17. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein: the determining is of both the first threshold and the second threshold and the at least one bit value indicates both the volume of the uplink data to be sent and the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first and the sccond thresholds are received by the UE from the network in system infbrmation or radio resource control signalling, or are published in a wireless standard and stored in a local computer-readable memory of the UE.
19. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is estimated from an application layer of the UE.
20. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 18, whcrcin thc volume of thc uplink data to be sent and!or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is a fixed property of the device or application in use.
21. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is a configurable propcrty of thc dcvicc or application in usc.
22. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 21, whcrcin thc selected at least one bit value further indicates a discontinuous reception (DRX) period selected by the liE from among a pre-defined group of DRX periods for the uplink data to be sent.
23. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 22, whcrcin thc sclcctcd at lcast one bit value further indicates a priority of the uplink data to be sent.
24. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 23, arrangcd so that the at least onc bit value is sent in a radio resource control (RRC) Connection Request message or in a RRC Connection Setup Complete message.
25. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 24, arranged so that thc selecting is donc whilc thc UE is in a first statc and thc signalling transitions thc UE to a sccond state in which the TJE performs data transmission and reception
26. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 25, wherein the liE is a machine-typc communications (MTC) dc-vice.
27. A computcr program comprising a sct of computcr instructions for opcrating a uscr cquipmcnt, thc sct of computcr instructions comprising: code for determining at least one of a first threshold for data volume that is used in a radio network and a second threshold for data periodicity that is used in the radio network; code lix selecting at least one bit value to indicate at least one of volume of uplink data to be sent by the user equipment (UE) relative to the first threshold and periodicity of uplink data to be sent by the UE relative to the second threshold; and code for signalling the at least one bit value to the radio network.
28. A computer program according to claim 27, comprising code such that the at least one bit is signalled to the radio network in radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment, RRC connection re-establishment or RRC reconfiguration signalling.
29. A computer program according to claim 27, comprising code such that the at least one bit is signalled to the radio network in non-access stratum signalling.
30. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 29, wherein: the determining is of both the first threshold and the second threshold; and the at least one bit value indicates both the volume of the upl ink data to be sent and the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent.
31. A computer program according to claim 30, wherein the first and the second thresholds are received by the UE from the network in system information or radio resource control signaffin or are published in a wireless standard and stored in a local computer readable memory of the TiE.
32. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 31, wherein the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is estimated from an application layer of the UE.
33. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 31, wherein the volume of the uplink data to be sent and/or the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is a fixed property of the device or application in use.
34. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 31, whercin the volume of the uplink data to be sent andlor the periodicity of the uplink data to be sent is a configurable property of the device or application in use.
35. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 34, wherein the selected at least one bit value further indicates a discontinuous reception (DRX) period selected by the IJE from among a pre-dcfined group of DRX periods for the uplink data to be sent.
36. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 35, wherein the selected at least one bit value further indicates a priority of the uplink data to be sent.
37. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 36, comprising code such that the at least one bit value is sent in a radio resource control (RRC) Connection Request message or in a RRC Connection Setup Complete message.
38. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 37, comprising code such that the selecting is done while the TIE is in a first state and the signalling transitions the UE to a second state in which the UE performs data transmission and reception.
39. A computer program according to any of claims 27 to 38, wherein the TJE is a machine-type communications (MTC) device.
40. A method of operating a user equipment, substantially in accordance with any of the examples as described herein with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
41. Apparatus for operating a user equipment, substantially in accordance with any of the examples as described herein with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.