IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,659,784
Granted Patent B2
US 12,659,784 · App. 18/553,568 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Methods and apparatuses for controlling small data transmission on uplink

Inventors: Jussi-Pekka Koskinen (Oulu, FI); Samuli Heikki Turtinen (Oulu, FI)
Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
H04W28/0221H04W28/0278H04W76/27
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,659,784
App. No.
18/553,568
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus determines, during a small data transmission procedure in an inactive state, whether amount of uplink data transmitted or to be transmitted exceeds a limit, which indicates amount of uplink data that the apparatus is at least allowed to transmit during the small data transmission procedure. Wireless network signals information indicating the limit.

Claims (26)

1 . An apparatus comprising

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive, from a network device, information for a small data transmission procedure in an inactive state, the information indicates at least a limit to be used during the small data transmission procedure, wherein the limit indicates an amount of uplink data that the apparatus is at least allowed to transmit during the small data transmission procedure; and

determine, during the small data transmission procedure in the inactive state, whether the amount of uplink data transmitted or to be transmitted exceeds the limit;

in response to the amount exceeding the limit, at least one of: abort the using for the uplink data the small data transmission in the inactive state, cause to transmit a radio resource control resume request, cause to transmit a radio resource control setup request, cause to trigger a buffer status report, indicate in a user equipment assistance information message a preferred radio resource control state to be radio resource control connected, or cause to indicate in signaling that the amount exceeds the limit or causing radio resource control state transition to radio resource control idle; and

determine that the amount of the uplink data that exceeds the limit in response to the amount of uplink data to become available to be transmitted during the uplink data transmission causing that the limit is exceeded, or in response to the amount of uplink data that has been transmitted to exceed the limit while there is still uplink data waiting to be transmitted.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

determine, during the small data transmission procedure in the inactive state, the amount of uplink data to be transmitted by calculating at least one of: an amount of uplink data waiting to be transmitted, an amount of uplink data becoming available to be transmitted during the small data transmission procedure, or an amount of uplink data transmitted during the small data transmission procedure.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the amount of uplink data comprises at least one of: small data transmission data, non-small data transmission data, data for one or more small data transmission data radio bearers, data for one or more small data transmission signaling radio bearers, control plane data, user plane data, small data transmission data with headers, non-small data transmission data with headers, data for one or more small data transmission data radio bearers with headers, data for one or more small data transmission signaling radio bearers with headers, control plane data with headers, and user plane data with headers.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to at least perform transmitting the uplink data using the small data transmission procedure if a permission to exceed the limit during the uplink data transmission is received from the network device.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the permission is received in at least one of a control element in medium access control, a radio resource control message, an uplink grant or downlink transmission.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to at least perform:

determine, when receiving from the network device the information indicating at least one limit, a limit to be equal to a data volume threshold for initiating the small data transmission procedure in the inactive state, or to be equal to a further threshold in the information, or to be an indicated amount bigger than the data volume threshold.

7 . An apparatus configured to provide wireless access to devices, the apparatus comprising

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

signal to at least one device of the devices information for a small data transmission procedure in an inactive state, the information indicates to the at least one device at least a limit to be used, by the at least one device, during the small data transmission procedure, wherein the limit indicates an amount of uplink data at least allowed to be transmitted during the small data transmission procedure; and

determine, in response to receiving from the device information indicating that the limit is exceeded, how the device continues uplink data transmission; and

signal to the device, an indication how to continue the uplink data transmission.

8 . The apparatus of any one of claim 7 , wherein the at least one limit is a general limit or a limit per a data radio bearer, or limit per a signaling radio bearer.

9 . A method comprising:

receiving, in an apparatus, from a network device, information for a small data transmission procedure in an inactive state, the information indicates at least a limit to be used during the small data transmission procedure, wherein the limit indicates an amount of uplink data that the apparatus is at least allowed to transmit during the small data transmission procedure; and

determining, by the apparatus, during the small data transmission procedure in the inactive state, whether the amount of uplink data transmitted or to be transmitted exceeds the limit:

in response to the amount exceeding the limit, at least one of: abort the using for the uplink data the small data transmission in the inactive state, cause to transmit a radio resource control resume request, cause to transmit a radio resource control setup request, cause to trigger a buffer status report, indicate in a user equipment assistance information message a preferred radio resource control state to be radio resource control connected, or cause to indicate in signaling that the amount exceeds the limit or causing radio resource control state transition to radio resource control idle; and

determine that the amount of the uplink data that exceeds the limit in response to the amount of uplink data to become available to be transmitted during the uplink data transmission causing that the limit is exceeded, or in response to the amount of uplink data that has been transmitted to exceed the limit while there is still uplink data waiting to be transmitted.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2024
From: KOSKINEN, JUSSI-PEKKA; TURTINEN, SAMULI HEIKKI
To: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
Reel/Frame 066000/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2024
From: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 066000/0285 →
Priority Claims (1)
FI 20215368 · Mar 30, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240187914A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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