Other network component receiving RRC configuration information from eNB
View Patent ↗In order to re-establish a suspended RRC connection, the mobile device ( 101 ) in one example sends a connection re-establishment request message to the RAN ( 102 ) to have the suspended RRC connection re-established. The RAN node may need to attempt to retrieve the RRC connection data (either from memory or if from another network element if stored elsewhere/if the RRC connection was suspended by another RAN node) and verifies whether the RRC connection is valid. When verified, the mobile device ( 101 ) receives, in response to the message, a connection re-establishment command message from the RAN ( 102 ). In response to the message, the mobile device ( 101 ) re-establishes the RRC connection with the RAN ( 102 ), using the stored RRC connection information, and sends a connection re-establishment complete message to the RAN ( 102 ). The mobile device ( 101 ) and RAN ( 102 ) may then resume user plane data communication with each other.
1. A method, implemented in a node of a Radio Access Network (RAN) for use with a mobile device, the method comprising:
receiving from a mobile device a connection re-establishment request message to have a suspended RRC connection re-established, wherein the suspended RRC connection occurs when the mobile device is in the connected mode without releasing associated radio resources and when the mobile device is further configured to store RRC connection data for the RRC connection, the stored RRC connection data including configuration of radio barriers in the RRC connection and being usable by the mobile device to re-establish the suspended RRC connection;
in response to the connection re-establishment request message, sending a connection re-establishment command message to the mobile device, wherein the connection re-establishment command message is one of a RRC Connection Reestablishment command message or a RRC Connection Reconfiguration message; and
receiving in response to the connection re-establishment command message a connection re-establishment complete message from the mobile device, wherein the re-establishment complete message indicates that the suspended RRC connection was re-established based on the stored RRC connection data.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the connection reestablishment complete message is one of a RRC Connection Reestablishment Complete message or a RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message.
3. A Radio Access Network (RAN) node for use with a mobile device, comprising:
a receiver configured to receive from a UE a connection re-establishment request message to have a suspended RRC connection re-established, wherein the suspended RRC connection occurs when the mobile device is in the connected mode without releasing associated radio resources and when the mobile device is further configured to store RRC connection data for the RRC connection, the stored RRC connection data including configuration of radio barriers in the RRC connection and being usable by the mobile device to re-establish the suspended RRC connection;
a transmitter configured to send a connection re-establishment command message to the UE, in response to the connection re-establishment request message, wherein the connection re-establishment command message is one of a RRC Connection Reestablishment command message or a RRC Connection Reconfiguration message; and
the receiver further configured to receive, in response to the connection re-establishment command message, a connection re-establishment complete message from the UE, wherein the re-establishment complete message indicates that the suspended RRC connection was re-established based on the stored RRC connection data.
4. The RAN node according to claim 3 , wherein the connection reestablishment complete message is one of a RRC Connection Reestablishment Complete message or a RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message.
5. The RAN node according to claim 3 , wherein the RAN node is an eNodeB.
6. A method, implemented in a mobile device for use with a Radio Access Network (RAN), the method comprising:
sending, by the mobile device, a connection re-establishment request message to the RAN to have a suspended RRC connection re-established, wherein the suspended RRC connection occurs when the mobile device is in the connected mode without releasing associated radio resources and storing RRC connection data for the RRC connection, and the stored RRC connection data including configuration of radio barriers in the RRC connection and is usable by the mobile device to re-establish the suspended RRC connection;
receiving, by the mobile device, in response to the connection reestablishment request message, a connection re-establishment command message from the RAN, wherein the connection re-establishment command message is one of a RRC Connection Reestablishment command message or a RRC Connection Reconfiguration message; and
re-establishing, by the mobile device, in response to the connection reestablishment command message, the RRC connection with the RAN and sending a connection re-establishment complete message to the RAN, wherein the mobile device re-established the suspended RRC connection re-established using the stored RRC connection data.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the connection re-establishment request message is sent in response to a re-establishment criterion being met at the mobile device.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the re-establishment criterion comprises at least one of:
the mobile device generating uplink data via the user plane of an RRC connection;
reception at the mobile device of a page;
reception at the mobile device of a notification that the RAN or a core network (CN) has downlink data buffered to send to the mobile device; and
the mobile device reselecting to another cell.
9. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the connection re-establishment complete message is one of a RRC Connection Reestablishment Complete message or a RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message.
10. A mobile device for use with a Radio Access Network (RAN), comprising:
a transmitter configured to send a connection re-establishment request message to the RAN to request reestablishment of a suspended RRC connection, wherein the suspended RRC connection occurs when the mobile device is in the connected mode without releasing associated radio resources and storing RRC connection data for the RRC connection, and the stored RRC connection data including configuration of radio barriers in the RRC connection and is usable by the mobile device to re-establish the suspended RRC connection;
a receiver configured to receive, in response to the re-establishment request message, a connection reestablishment command message from the RAN, wherein the connection re-establishment command message is one of a RRC Connection Reestablishment command message or a RRC Connection Reconfiguration message; and
one or more processors configured to re-establish the RRC connection with the RAN and send a re-establishment complete message to the RAN, in response to the connection re-establishment command message, wherein the mobile device re-established the suspended RRC connection re-established using the stored RRC connection data.
11. The mobile device according to claim 10 , wherein the connection reestablishment request message is sent in response to a re-establishment criterion being met at the mobile device.
12. The mobile device according to claim 11 , wherein the re-establishment criterion comprises at least one of:
the mobile device generating uplink data via the user plane of an RRC connection;
reception at the mobile device of a page;
reception at the mobile device of a notification that the RAN or a core network (CN) has downlink data buffered to send to the mobile device; and
the mobile device reselecting to another cell.
13. The mobile device according to claim 10 , being further configured to communicate with the RAN in accordance with the LTE or LTE Advanced protocol.
14. The mobile device according to claim 10 , wherein the connection reestablishment complete message is one of a RRC Connection Reestablishment Complete message or a RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message.