Patent Description:
For data to be exchanged between a user equipment (UE) and a cellular network, a communication channel needs to be established between the UE and cellular core network. Establishment of this communication channel involves processing and signaling overhead. Once the channel is established, the channel may be maintained for a period of time based on a timer. If additional data needs to be exchanged between the UE and the cellular network before the timer expires, the channel can be reused. However, if additional data needs to be exchanged between the UE and the cellular network after the timer expires, a new channel may need to be created, which involves the requisite overhead, since the previous channel would have been "torn down," set to idle, or closed on expiration of the timer. <CIT> discloses a method and system of routing selection for a short messaging service, SMS, over non-access stratum NAS. <CIT> discloses a method and system for dynamically updating a message communicated in a telecommunications protocol.

Various embodiments are described related to a cellular network system that performs intelligent cellular channel management. In some embodiments, a cellular network system that performs intelligent cellular channel management is described. The system may comprise a cellular core network. The system may include a short message service center (SMSC) functioning as part of the cellular core network. The system may include a cellular base station in communication with the cellular core network. The cellular base station (BS) may communicate wirelessly using a cellular radio access technology (RAT) with user equipment (UE). The cellular BS may be configured to establish a physical cellular communication channel between the UE and a centralized unit (CU) of the cellular network system for sending a short message service (SMS) message via the SMSC in response to a cellular service request from the UE. The system may comprise a cellular network messaging controller in communication with the CU. The cellular network messaging controller may be configured to analyze one or more characteristics of use of the UE. The cellular network messaging controller may be configured to determine a duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel may be kept active based on the analyzed one or more characteristics of use of the UE. The cellular network messaging controller may be configured to transmit a channel maintenance instruction to the CU to keep the physical cellular communication channel active based on the cellular network messaging controller determining to adjust the duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel may be kept active. In response to the channel maintenance instruction, the physical cellular communication channel may be kept active.

Embodiments of such a system may include one or more of the following features: the UE may be configured to transmit the SMS message via the physical cellular communication channel. The UE may be configured to send the one or more characteristics of use of the UE to the cellular BS. The UE may be configured to transmit a first characteristic indicating that an SMS messaging application may be open on the UE. The UE may be configured to transmit a second characteristic indicating that a user may be typing on the UE. The SMSC may be configured to receive the SMS message sent by the UE via the physical cellular communication channel and cause the SMS message to a destination. The physical cellular communication channel, while active, may comprise radio resources being reserved for use between the cellular BS and the UE. The channel maintenance instruction may cause the cellular core network to increase a duration of a channel timer. When the channel timer expires, the physical cellular communication channel may be set to idle. The cellular core network may set the physical cellular communication channel to idle after receiving the channel maintenance instruction. The cellular network messaging controller may perform a machine learning process to analyze the one or more characteristics of use of the UE. The one or more characteristics of use of the UE may be characteristics of an SMS message sent by the UE. The machine learning process may comprise analyzing at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of: a length of the SMS message; a time at which the SMS message was transmitted; a location of the UE from which the SMS message was transmitted; and SMS code. The cellular core network may be native <NUM> New Radio (NR) and the cellular base station may be a gNodeB.

In some embodiments, a method for performing intelligent cellular channel management is described. The method may comprise establishing a physical cellular communication channel between a user equipment (UE) and a centralized unit (CU) of a cellular network for sending a short message service (SMS) message in response to a cellular service request from the UE. The method may comprise analyzing one or more characteristics of the UE, the SMS message, or both. The method may comprise determining a duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel may be kept active based on the analyzed one or more characteristics. The method may comprise transmitting a channel maintenance instruction to the CU to keep the physical cellular communication channel active based on the cellular network messaging controller determining to adjust the duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel may be kept active. In response to the channel maintenance instruction, the CU may keep the physical cellular communication channel active. The method may further comprise transmitting, by the UE, the SMS message via the physical cellular communication channel. The method may further sending, by the UE, a characteristic of use of the UE to the cellular BS. The characteristic may indicate that an SMS messaging application may be open on the UE. The method may further comprise transmitting, by the UE, a second characteristic indicating that a user may be inputting text to the UE. The method may further comprise receiving, by an SMSC of the cellular network, the SMS message sent by the UE via the physical cellular communication channel. The method may further comprise causing the SMS message to be routed to a destination. The physical cellular communication channel, while active, may comprise radio resources being reserved for use between the cellular BS and the UE. The method may further comprise increasing, by the CU, a duration of a channel timer in response to the channel maintenance instruction. When the channel timer expires, the physical cellular communication channel may be set to idle. The method may further comprise setting, by the CU, the physical cellular communication channel to idle based on the channel maintenance instruction.

Embodiments detailed herein cause the duration of a channel established for communication between a UE and a base station (BS) to be intelligently varied based on characteristics of a transmitted message, monitored characteristics of the UE, or both. Rather than a timer that uses a fixed duration of time (e.g., for all users of a cellular network) be used to determine when the channel should be set to idle due to inactivity, either the duration of the channel is varied by a network messaging controller system (NMCS) or the channel is maintained open until the NMCS determines that the channel should be idled.

The NMCS may monitor characteristics of the UE, network characteristics, RF characteristics, and/or a message sent by (or to) the UE. Based on the rules, the NMCS may apply various rules that determines an amount of time for which a timer may be set to keep the channel open. After the timer has begun elapsing, the duration of the timer may be adjusted based on characteristics of the UE. In other embodiments, no timer may be present. Rather the NMCS may analyze characteristics, apply rules (or a machine-learning model), and either set/adjust a timer that controls the channel's state or send a command that controls the communication channel's state (e.g., whether it is set to idle).

In some embodiments, rather than applying a set of rules, an artificial intelligence (AI) arrangement is incorporated as part of the NMCS. For example, the NMCS may employ machine learning to determine how long a channel should be maintained open for a possible future message to be transmitted using the same channel. A machine learning model may be trained based on characteristics of the initially-transmitted message, characteristics of the UE, or both.

Whether rules-based, machine learning -based, or a hybrid arrangement, such implementations can allow for lower latency communications between a UE and a cellular network due to fewer messages needed to be queued pending paging or communication channel setup. Such implementations can allow for more efficient radio optimization since the scheduling and radio channel resources are managed using high level data, such as user behavior and application state data. Further, UE battery life can be improved due to decreased signaling since the state of the communication channel is more efficiently managed.

Further detail regarding such embodiments and additional embodiments are presented in relation to the figures. <FIG> illustrates an embodiment of a cellular network system <NUM> that performs intelligent cellular channel management. Cellular network system <NUM> can include: UE <NUM> (UE <NUM>-<NUM>, UE <NUM>-<NUM>, UE <NUM>-<NUM>); base station <NUM>; radio unit (RU) <NUM>; cellular network <NUM>, which can include distributed unit (DU) <NUM>, centralized unit (CU) <NUM>, and national data center (NDC) <NUM>; NMCS <NUM>; data application <NUM>; and Over-the-top (OTT) messaging app <NUM>.

UE <NUM> can represent various forms of devices that communicate via a cellular network. UE <NUM> can include smartphones; cellular phones; cellular modems; cellular access points (APs); Internet of Things (IoT) devices; fixed wireless devices; etc. As illustrated, three pieces of UE <NUM> are illustrated. This number of UE are for example purposes only. UE and the cellular network may function according to one or more radio access technologies (RAT). For example, UE and base station <NUM> may communicate according to <NUM> New Radio (NR) cellular communication protocol. Other RATs are possible, such as <NUM> Long Term Evolution (LTE), GSM, <NUM>, etc. RATs yet to be developed or deployed, such as <NUM>, may also be possible.

UE <NUM> communicate with base station <NUM>. For a <NUM> NR cellular network, the terms base station and gNodeB may be used interchangeably. Base station <NUM> may include one or more antennas and RU <NUM>. RU <NUM> serves as the interface between wireless communications and cellular network <NUM>. Cellular network <NUM> may be native 5GNR. In other embodiments, cellular network <NUM> may function according to some other standard. Cellular network <NUM> may be implemented in accordance with open radio access network (O-RAN) standards such that the functionality of components within cellular network <NUM> are wholly or largely implemented using general-purpose computer servers that execute specialized firmware or software.

Cellular network <NUM> can include DU <NUM>, CU <NUM>, one or more regional data centers (not pictured), and NDC <NUM>. Only a single instance of RU <NUM>, DU <NUM>, and CU <NUM> are illustrated for simplicity; a real-world implementation of a cellular network can involve many similar components being implemented over large geographic regions. On a <NUM> NR-based network, a gNodeB (gNB) includes one or more RUs, one or more DUs and a CU. In different system architectures, specific functions may be assigned to either the DU or the CU. NDC <NUM> can perform functions specific to messaging, such as short message service (SMS) messaging. Embodiments detailed within this document are focused on SMS messaging; however, the principles applied to determining whether a communication channel should be maintained is open for SMS messaging can also be applied to determining whether communication channel should be maintained is open for other forms of communication between a UE and RU <NUM>.

NDC <NUM> can perform the functions of short message service function (SMSF) <NUM>, short message service center (SMSC) <NUM>, Internet Protocol-Short Message- Gateway (IP-SM-GW) / short message service gateway (SMS-GW) <NUM> (hereinafter "GW <NUM>"); IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) <NUM>; and <NUM> C. SMSF <NUM> may perform functions including analyzing a subscription or permissions associated with the source and/or destination of an SMS text. SMSF <NUM> may only permit the SMS to be completed if in accordance with the subscription or permissions allocated to the transmitting and/or receiving UE. SMSF <NUM> may serve to forward permitted SMS messages to SMSC <NUM>. GW <NUM> may facilitate SMS transmissions between cellular network providers and with other forms of networks (e.g., transmission of an SMS message from a computer system that uses the Internet to communicate with GW <NUM>. SMSC <NUM> may serve to store, forward, convert, and deliver SMS messages for the cellular network. IMS <NUM> allows for SMS messages to be delivered via IP. IMS <NUM> routes SMS messages through the user plane and uses IMS to send the SMS to SMSC <NUM>. Regardless of whether an SMS is routed via IMS <NUM> or via the control plane and SMSF <NUM>, the embodiments presented in this document are applicable.

<NUM> Core <NUM> can perform a variety of functions. <NUM> Core <NUM> can include: authentication server function (AUSF); core access and mobility management function (AMF); data network (DN) which can provide access to various other networks; structured data storage network function (SDSF); and unstructured data storage network function (UDSF).

When an SMS message is to be transmitted from a UE, such as UE <NUM>-<NUM>, to SMSC <NUM> or IMS <NUM>, or from SMSC <NUM> or IMS <NUM> to UE <NUM>-<NUM>, a communication channel is created between UE <NUM>-<NUM> and CU <NUM> on the control plane or the user plane, respectively. A communication channel can involve radio resources such as particular frequencies and/or time periods, being reserved for communication between UE <NUM>-<NUM> and CU <NUM>. In a cellular communication protocol stack, a communication channel can represent the physical layer of the stack and involves reservation of time and/or frequency resources for wireless communication between the UE and the RU. Establishment of the communication channel involves an amount of signaling occurring between UE <NUM>-<NUM>, RU <NUM>, DU <NUM>, and/or CU <NUM>. More specifically, this communication channel can be in the form of a radio resource control (RRC) connection being established between UE <NUM>-<NUM> and the cellular network's gNB (the DU and CU). An RRC connection can exist in several modes, including an idle mode (no connection present); dedicated channel; forward access channel (from UE to gNB); cell paging channel; and URA paging channel. Each of these states involves a different amount of signaling between the UE and the gNB, an amount of communication/processing resources being used by the gNB, RU, and UE, and differing amounts of power consumption by the UE. Information about the establishment, state, and closing of communication channels may occur over the non-access stratum (NAS), which is a functional layer in the cellular wireless protocol stack that exists between UE and the gNB.

When a communication channel is active (i.e., any mode other than idle) between UE <NUM>-<NUM> and a gNB, multiple timers may be maintained by the gNB to determine the state in which the communication channel should be maintained. For example, a first timer (T1) may determine when a transition from a dedicated channel to a forward access channel is to occur; a second timer (T2) can control when transition from a forward access channel to a paging channel is to occur; and a third timer (T3) can control when transition from the paging channel to idle is to occur. The duration of these timers may be set by the network operator. Conventionally, the timers are static for all UE. If the communication channel is utilized while the timer is active, the time may be reset. If the timer expires before the communication channel is utilized again, the transition can occur.

Cellular network system <NUM> includes NMCS <NUM>, which can be in communication with NDC <NUM> or directly in communication with one or more gNB components, such as DU <NUM> and/or CU <NUM>. NMCS <NUM> can control the state of a communication channel between a UE and a gNB by sending the gNB a channel maintenance instruction. NMCS <NUM> uses channel maintenance instructions to set or modify the duration of timers, such as timer T300, or can replace or supersede such timers by making transitions on a communication channel dependent on commands being sent to the gNB from NMCS <NUM>.

NMCS <NUM> may make decisions on the duration of a communication channel timer or the state in which a communication channel should be maintained based on multiple sources of information. A first source of information can be characteristics transmitted by the UE to the gNB, which may be forwarded by cellular network <NUM> to NMCS <NUM>. Details on such characteristics are provided in relation to <FIG>. Additionally or alternatively, NMCS may make decisions on the duration of a communication channel timer or the state in which a communication channel should be maintained based on characteristics of the SMS message itself. The gNB, which can include DU <NUM> and CU <NUM>, or SMSC <NUM> may send the SMS message itself to NMCS <NUM> or may send characteristics of the SMS message to NMCS <NUM> for analysis. Such characteristics can include: a time at which the SMS was sent; a date on which the SMS message was sent; a geographic location from where the SMS message was sent; an identity of the source of the SMS message; an identity of the recipient of the SMS message; a geographic location of where the recipient is located; an application that sent the SMS message; a length of the SMS message; a particular string of characters present within the SMS message; a type or class of UE from which the SMS message originated; a cellular network slice used by the sender; a cellular network slice used by the recipient; number of SMS messages sent by UE within a defined time period; and/or an SMS code used (e.g., GSM code, USC2 code).

In addition or in alternate to characteristics of the SMS message and the UE, NMCS <NUM> may analyze characteristics of the cellular network. NMCS <NUM> may receive characteristics of an amount of utilization of radio resources between RU <NUM> and UE <NUM>. NMCS <NUM> may receive other network information such as an amount of utilization of processing or communication resources of particular components of cellular network <NUM>. Characteristics analyzed can additionally or alternatively include: RF conditions of the UE, power consumption of the UE (e.g., power consumption of the UE is lower when the signal sent to the gNB is lower power); network load, SINR, interference conditions, time of day, day of week, etc..

NMCS <NUM> may function in various ways. In some embodiments, NMCS <NUM> has various rules that are followed based on characteristics of the UE, characteristics of the SMS message, and/or characteristics of the cellular network. These rules may be used to set or update a duration of a timer such as a T300-class timer. Alternatively, these rules may be used to send a command to the gNB indicating that a communication channel should be maintained in a particular active state or should be set to idle. Table <NUM> indicates examples of possible rules that may be used to adjust the duration of a timer.

In some embodiments, rather than using defined rules, an AI-based approach may be used by NMCS <NUM>, such as using machine learning model <NUM>. Machine learning may involve training a machine learning model <NUM> to determine durations of timers that should be used and/or when commands to switch the state of a communication channel to idle should be sent. A set of training data can include characteristics on a large number of SMS messages and UE that sent/received should SMS messages, along with data about when the UE next needed the communication channel available. For example, one possible machine learning implementation can involve a neural network being trained based on some or all of these characteristics. These characteristics can serve as input features to the neural network. The neural network may then perform a classification based on the features to select a predefined timer duration or time duration class. In other embodiments, other forms of machine learning may be used to calculate a particular amount of time that may be used to set the timer and/or determine when a command to change the state of the communication channel should be sent.

In some embodiments, NMCS <NUM> may modify a previously-set timer. For instance, based on characteristics of the UE that have changed, changing the duration of the timer may be efficient. For example, if a timer is set to expire and will result in the communication channel being set to idle, but NMCS <NUM> receives characteristic information about the UE indicating that a user has opened an SMS application, NMCS <NUM> may increase the duration of the timer. Similarly, if a timer is not set to expire for some amount of time, but the NMCS <NUM> receives characteristics information about the UE indicating that a user has closed the SMS application, NMCS <NUM> may decrease the duration of the timer or may send a command to the gNB indicating that the communication channel be set to idle. Such modification can be managed by NMCS <NUM> using rules or a machine learning model.

In some embodiments, in addition or in alternate to using characteristics of the UE and/or the SMS message, data may be obtained from one or more other sources. For example, a separate data application <NUM> may provide information to NMCS <NUM> that can be used to determine the state which the communication channel should be set to (or how a timer should be adjusted). As an example, a system that receives data from a streaming video camera may determine that a user has placed his UE down and walked away, thus it is unlikely he will be sending an SMS text message in the near future. As another example, OTT messaging application <NUM> may be a third-party messaging application that may provide data about whether another SMS message is likely to be sent. For instance, OTT messaging application <NUM> may provide information to NMCS <NUM> indicating that OTT messaging application <NUM> intends on sending an SMS within a particular time period or that OTT messaging application <NUM> expects the UE to respond within a particular time period. This information can be used by NMCS <NUM> to determine the duration of a timer or a particular state to which the communication channel should be set.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment of UE <NUM> that functions as part of a cellular network system that performs intelligent cellular channel management. UE <NUM> can function as, for example, UE <NUM>-<NUM>, UE <NUM>-<NUM>, UE, <NUM>-<NUM>, etc. UE <NUM> can include processing system <NUM> and radio components <NUM>. Radio components <NUM> can enable UE <NUM> to communicate via one or more RATs, such as <NUM> NR and <NUM> LTE. Radio components <NUM> may exchange data with processing system <NUM>.

Processing system <NUM> can include one or more special-purpose or general-purpose processors. Such special-purpose processors may include processors that are specifically designed to perform the functions detailed herein. Such special-purpose processors may be ASICs or FPGAs which are general-purpose components that are physically and electrically configured to perform the functions detailed herein. Such general-purpose processors may execute special-purpose software that is stored using one or more non-transitory processor-readable mediums, such as random access memory (RAM), flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD). Processing system <NUM> can perform the functions of UE operating system (OS) <NUM>, messaging application <NUM>; application <NUM>; and channel controller <NUM> whether in the form of firmware, software, or special-purpose hardware.

In addition to executing UE OS <NUM>, a messaging application <NUM> may be executed by processing system <NUM>. Messaging application <NUM> may be used to send and receive SMS text messages. Other forms of messages may also be sent or received via messaging application <NUM>, such as multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages. Channel controller <NUM> may be executed by processing system <NUM>. Channel controller <NUM> may be a background process with which a user does not directly interact. Rather, channel controller <NUM> may monitor characteristics of UE <NUM> based on actions being taken by messaging application <NUM>, application <NUM>, and/or how the user is interacting with UE <NUM>. Channel controller <NUM> may periodically or occasionally cause characteristics of the UE to be transmitted to NMCS <NUM>. Such characteristics can include: whether the user is typing on the UE (or providing voice input); whether, how fast, and the direction that the UE is moving; an orientation of the UE; which application is currently active; a state of the application (e.g., performing an SMS-based authentication process); whether an SMS application is active; whether audio/video is being output by the UE; and whether the UE is locked. The characteristics of the UE may be sent while a channel is already open, may be predicted, and/or may be sent via an alternative path, such as via a packet connection, to the cellular network.

Indications of such characteristics can be transmitted occasionally to the cellular network and forwarded to NMCS <NUM>. NMCS <NUM> can use this data to set a timer for when the state of the channel should be changed, such as to idle, or can be used to determine when a command should be sent to the gNB to change state.

<FIG> illustrates a swim diagram of communication between UE and a cellular core network of a cellular network system that perform intelligent cellular channel management. In <FIG>, interactions between a UE, gNB, AMF (<NUM> Core Access and Mobility Function), SMSF, and SMSC are illustrated. AMF can be understood as a function performed by NDC <NUM> of cellular network <NUM>. The AMF receives connection and session related information from the UE and can be responsible for handling connection and mobility management-related tasks.

Service request <NUM> occurs when the UE has a SMS message that is to be sent to the cellular network. At the time of the service request being present at the UE, the UE may have its communication channel in idle mode. To establish a communication channel from idle mode, a two-step RACH (random access channel) process <NUM> (or some other process, such as in <NUM>) may be initiated by the UE. RACH is a shared channel that is used by multiple UE to perform an unscheduled communication with a gNB. The physical-layer channel used for RACH is referred to as PRACH. In a two-step RACH, a first transmission is sent from the UE to the gNB that includes a RA (random access) preamble and a message, which may include a first SMS text to be transmitted. In response to a successfully received first transmission, the gNB responds to the UE with a second transmission that includes an RA response and a message. The RA response can include the detected preamble ID from the first transmission, a time-advance command, and an uplink grant for scheduling a future third transmission from the UE to the gNB.

Following the two-step RACH, a communication channel (RRC channel) has been established for the UE, the communication channel is not in idle mode, and the UE has some number of reserved resource blocks (timeslot and frequency) on which to transmit messages to the gNB. At blocks <NUM> and <NUM>, the UE may use these reserved timeslots while the communication channel is active (i.e., non-idle) to send future SMS messages. Such messages may be received by the gNB and processed at blocks <NUM> and <NUM>.

At this point, the communication channel between the UE and the gNB is non-idle. The NMCS is performing its analysis based on characteristics of the UE and/or SMS message to determine how a timer should be adjusted at the gNB (or when a command should be sent) to the gNB that would dictate when the communication channel is made idle. Once made idle, the two-step RACH process would need to be repeated.

When an SMS originates from a UE in idle and is sent over NAS, the UE performs domain selection and the UE and network perform a UE-triggered service request procedure to establish a NAS signaling connection to AMF. The UE can build an SMS message to be sent. The SMS message is encapsulated in an NAS message with an indication indicating that the NAS message is for SMS transporting. The UE sends the NAS message to the AMF as part of block <NUM>. The AMF can add information, such as the current UE Location Information, and the local time zone, and can forward the SMS message and the UE identity to the SMSF serving the UE at block <NUM>. The SMSF can send an SMS acknowledgement message to AMF. The AMF forwards the SMS acknowledgement message from the SMSF to the UE using a downlink unit data message. The SMSF can check the SMS management subscription data. The SMSF can forward the SMS message to SMSC at block <NUM>, and then forwards the submit report to AMF which is forwarded to UE via the downlink NAS transport at blocks <NUM> and <NUM>. When an SMS originates from a UE when in a non-idle mode, no service request process may need to be performed.

When an SMS originates terminates at a UE over NAS and the UE is in idle mode, the SMSC can send the SMS message intended for the UE to the SMSF. The SMSF can check the SMS management subscription data. If SMS delivery is permitted (e.g., in accordance with a subscription mapped to the UE), the SMSF can contacts the AMF, and the AMF can page the UE. The UE can then respond to the page with the service request procedure. The SMSF can forward the SMS message to be sent to the AMF. The AMF can transfer the SMS message to the UE. The UE can acknowledge receipt of the SMS message to the SMSF through the AMF. The AMF can add information including the current UE Location Information and the local time zone. The UE can returns a delivery report. The delivery report may be encapsulated in an NAS message and sent to the AMF which can be forwarded to SMSF. The SMSF can acknowledge receipt of the delivery report to the UE. The AMF encapsulates the SMS message via a NAS message to the UE. If the UE is already in a non-idle mode, the process can remain the same except there may be no need for the AMF to perform paging of the UE and can immediate continue with a message to SMSF to allow the SMSF to send the SMS to the UE.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment of a method <NUM> for performing intelligent cellular channel management. Method <NUM> may be performed using the systems and devices detailed in relation to <FIG> and <FIG>. At block <NUM>, a UE may initially not have an active physical-layer communication channel (e.g., RRC communication channel) active with a BS (e.g., gNB). Therefore, in order to transmit data to the BS or, more specifically, gNB, the UE may need to initially communicate using a random-access channel, which can involve some amount of signaling overhead. At block <NUM>, the UE has received data to transmit to the gNB. In method <NUM>, the data that is received is an SMS message from a user. In other embodiments, data other than an SMS message may need to be transmitted. As an example, method <NUM> may be applied to an MMS message or some other form of data transmission, for example, data exchanged between a cellular network and an IoT device.

In response to receiving a message to transmit, the UE may perform a random access exchange with the BS at block <NUM>. For example, as detailed in relation to <FIG>, a two-step RACH process may be performed, which can involve a first part of an SMS message being transmitted as part of the RA exchange. This exchange can involve at least one RA message being sent by the UE to the BS and the BS sending a response, which can serve as collision resolution, a confirmation as to the RA message being successfully received, and reserving a communication channel for the UE. In other embodiments, a four-step RACH process or some other form of RA process may be performed.

At block <NUM>, if the SMS is sufficient in length, an additional part of the SMS message may remain pending for transmission. The additional part of the SMS message may be sent at block <NUM> using the now-active communication channel. Blocks <NUM> and <NUM> may repeat until the totality of the SMS message is transmitted.

At block <NUM>, the initial SMS message has been transmitted. One or more properties of the SMS message, UE, or information from a third-party source may be analyzed by an NMCS to determine: an initial value for a timer (e.g., a T300 class timer); an adjustment (increase or decrease) value for the timer; and/or a command to send to the gNB regarding whether the communication channel should be kept active, set to idle, or the particular mode in which the communication channel should be maintained. At block <NUM>, a channel maintenance instruction may be transmitted by the NMCS to the gNB. The channel maintenance instruction may provide the gNB with: a value to use for a timer (e.g., T300 timer); an adjustment to a default value for the timer; or a command to set the communication channel to a particular mode.

Blocks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may occur while the communication channel is still active. If another SMS message is sent at block <NUM>, no RA process needs to be performed because the communication channel involves at least some amount of physical communication resources having been reserved for communication between the UE and the BS. The next SMS message received at block <NUM> is transmitted at block <NUM> using the communication channel that was maintained as active by the NMCS. Method <NUM> may return to block <NUM>, the entirety of the SMS message may be transmitted, and the NMCS may continue to evaluate characteristics of the UE, SMS messages, and other sources of characteristics to determine when the communication channel should be set to idle.

Returning to block <NUM>, if the NMCS determines, based on the characteristics evaluated, that the communication channel should be idled, or sets a T300-class timer to a value that results in the communication channel being set to idle before a next SMS message is transmitted, method <NUM> may proceed to block <NUM>. At block <NUM>, the communication channel is set to idle. Method <NUM> now returns to block <NUM>. The UE may remain in idle mode until some future data change is performed between the UE and the BS. When the UE needs to access the cellular network, the UE may now need to repeat the RA process because no physical resources are currently reserved for communication between the UE and BS.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of example configurations (including implementations). However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the configurations. This description provides example configurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of the configurations will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing described techniques. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Also, configurations may be described as a process which is depicted as a flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methods may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storage medium. Processors may perform the described tasks.

Claim 1:
A cellular network system that performs intelligent cellular channel management, the cellular network system comprising:
a cellular core network (<NUM>);
a short message service center (<NUM>), SMSC, functioning as part of the cellular core network (<NUM>) ;
a cellular base station (<NUM>) in communication with the cellular core network (<NUM>), wherein the cellular base station, BS (<NUM>), communicates wirelessly using a cellular radio access technology, RAT, with user equipment, UE (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>), , wherein the cellular BS (<NUM>) is configured to:
establish a physical cellular communication channel between the UE (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) and a centralized unit, CU (<NUM>), of the cellular network system for sending a short message service, SMS, message via the SMSC (<NUM>) in response to a cellular service request from the UE (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>); and
a cellular network messaging controller (<NUM>) in communication with the CU (<NUM>), the cellular network messaging controller (<NUM>) configured to:
analyze one or more characteristics of use of the UE (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>); and
determine a duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel is kept active based on the analyzed one or more characteristics of use of the UE (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>); and
transmit a channel maintenance instruction to the CU (<NUM>) to keep the physical cellular communication channel active based on the cellular network messaging controller (<NUM>) determining to adjust the duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel is kept active, wherein:
in response to the channel maintenance instruction, the physical cellular communication channel is kept active.