Patent Description:
In standardization of communication systems such as wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) and/or long term evolution (LTE), the main focus has been often directed to the question of how to optimize the radio link communication for relatively large data communication sessions. Typical examples of such use cases are file upload, file download, e-mail transmission, e-mail reception, web browsing etc..

Nowadays, machine to machine (M2M) applications become more important. The development of M2M applications refers, for example, to machine-type communication (MTC) and/or narrow band internet of things (NB-IOT). M2M applications are, in particular, implemented among and/or with regard to a large amount of devices that are capable of communicating (transmitting and/or receiving data/signals) via communication networks such as LTE. Frequently, such devices require only small data or small data packet transmissions respectively. Said transmissions of small data or small data packets respectively comprise, for example, sensor data transmissions and/or command transmissions. Because the small data transmissions may be executed frequently and/or because each transmission requires some wake-up/set-up/activation time and because it is expected that on top of that the modem, i.e. the receiver and/or transmitter of the device is also regularly activated for other modem related activities not specifically coupled to the mentioned data transmission, the total power consumption increases with each small data transmission. Thus, battery lifetime is of great importance. In some cases, the priority of handling battery lifetime becomes even higher than the priority of handling short data transmission latency.

To prolong the battery lifetime, one type of devices could essentially refrain from listening to paging events and utilize power save mode (PSM). This type of devices could be, for example, in dormant state between own initiated transmissions and/or control signal transmissions initiated by the device itself, said transmission comprising, e.g., tracking area update messages. Another type of devices could rely service wise on a pre-defined pattern of reoccurring occasions, i.e. events in the device and/or activities of the device when the device should activate its modem and conduct channel measurements and/or listen to possible control signal to be notified about downlink data between own data/signal transmission events. In some systems such as WCDMA and LTE this can be referred to as paging occasions. In the following, focus is set on the latter type of devices, i.e. on devices that are configured to activate functions of its modem at pre-defined occasions to receive control signalling and/or measure radio channel properties of the received signal energy, and/or be able to detect possible notification signalling (here denoted as executing paging) into which the device may be notified about possible reception of downlink data. The first type of devices are also applicable in the following, while however the pre-defined reoccurring occasions of modem activity are less frequent in time.

In general, approaches for small data transmissions are required that do not strain battery lifetime in devices. In particular, approaches are desired that, despite the execution of small data transmissions, improve battery lifetime prolongation in devices. Document <CIT> discloses dividing data-to-be transmitted, larger than transmittable data size, while performing periodical standby operations.

The present invention enables execution of data transmissions, in particular, of small data transmissions with improved battery lifetime. Thus, if a communication device has to execute one or more data transmissions and on top of that also has to regularly activate the modem for other modem related activities, not specifically coupled to the mentioned one or more data transmissions, the negative effect of said transmissions on the battery lifetime will be significantly reduced. By the present invention, the battery or energy consumption in a communication device is saved despite the large amount of small data transmissions.

The general idea of the present invention is to use times pre-determined for executing a pre-determined activity, said pre-determined activity comprising data and/or signal communication (i.e. transmission and/or reception), to execute at least one small data transmission. With regard to the pre-determined activity, the communication device is expected to measure radio channel properties, to listen to control signaling such as system signaling, and/or to execute at least one data and/or signal communication that belongs to the pre-determined activity. The radio channel property measurements, the control signal listening and/or the data and/or signal communication(s) consume battery energy. If no data and/or signal communication that belongs to the pre-determined activity is executed or said communication does not require the whole time as pre-determined, the battery energy is nevertheless consumed because radio channel property measurements and/or the control signal listening are nevertheless executed with regard to the pre-determined activity. If however a data transmission would occur at the time of the pre-determined activity the pre-determined activity may not be required to be executed to its full extent, or at all. The present invention suggests to use the time pre-determined for execution of the corresponding pre-determined activity for one or more small data transmissions, either in addition or instead of parts of or the complete pre-determined activity. The small data transmission(s) are executed at said pre-determined time at time points, at which the data and/or signal communication belonging to the pre-determined activity if possible could be reused or omitted. As one example, a paging event is/could be considered as a pre-determined activity and consists/could consist of channel measurements for time and frequency synchronization, as well as listening to broadcasted control channel for possible paging. If the device uses the pre-determined time for paging activity to instead initialize a small data transmission, the time and frequency measurements may be done as part of the data transmission activity, while specific paging activity can be omitted. Thus, the small data transmission(s) may initiate the radio channel property measurement(s) and/or the control signal listening(s) expected to be executed with regard to the pre-determined activity and the pre-determined activity does not require "own" radio channel property measurement(s) and/or the control signal listening(s). In this way, energy, which would have been required for radio channel property measurement(s) and/or the control signal listening(s) with regard to the predetermined activity, can be saved. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the times required for setting and for releasing connections for the small data transmission(s) can be saved, because said connections are already set and released with regard to the pre-determined activity. This improves battery lifetime prolongation in devices.

Usually, the pre-determined activities are repeated, i.e. are repetitive events, communication schedule of the communication device will always have a further future time pre-determined periods for execution of the pre-determined activities. Thus, the communication device has repeatedly the opportunity to transmit further small data during re-occurring modem (i.e. transmitter and/or receiver) activity times. This accumulates the energy savings.

Herein, the term "small data" refers to or specifies data, size of which is equal or below a threshold. Also for considering small data the number of reoccurring or repeated data transmissions required for transmitting portions of the data, obtained by dividing the data into data portions, over time may be limited to a corresponding threshold. Thus, data (to be transmitted) is considered as representing "small data" if size of the data is smaller than or equal a data size threshold and/or if the data can be divided into a number of data portions for reoccurring or repeated data transmissions that is smaller than or equal a data portion number threshold.

The present invention refers at least to communication device, method, computer program product and computer program product as specified in independent claims, the further arrangements of which are exemplary specified in dependent claims as well as in the following description and attached figures.

The term "pre-determined activity" represents an activity that has been determined and/or set as being appropriate for permitting small data transmissions during the time, at which the device is or is to be activated for executing a pre-determined activity. According to an embodiment, the pre-determined activity may refer to one particular activity such as paging only. According to a further embodiment, the pre-determined activity refers to one particular activity including but not limiting to: obtaining time or frequency synchronization, conducting an update signaling, conducting a control signal measurement, conducting a radio channel property measurement, conducting a discovery signal detection or transmission. According to an embodiment, the pre-determined activity represents a set of activities that have been determined and/or set as being appropriate for permitting small data transmissions during the time, at which the device is or is to be activated for executing a pre-determined activity. The set of activities comprises at least one of the activities mentioned exemplary here and/or at least one further appropriate activity. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pre-determined activity comprises or refers to at least one activity that is a reoccurring or repeated activity, i.e. activity that is executed again and again. Further, the time, at which the pre-determined activity is a pre-determined and/or pre-set time. The time may be pre-determined and/or pre-set by a corresponding scheduling. Thus, if the pre-determined activity is or comprises at least one reoccurring or repeated activity, a plurality of times or time periods will be given, at which the pre-determined activity will be correspondingly executed.

The term "communication" refers to or comprises at least one data and/or signal transmission and/or at least one data and/or signal reception.

In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to accompanying drawings in which the same or similar reference numerals designate the same or similar elements.

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the attached drawings. Features of the various embodiments may be combined with each other unless specifically stated otherwise.

<FIG> is a schematic view of a network <NUM>, in which the present invention is implemented according to an embodiment. The network <NUM> comprises a plurality of communication devices <NUM>, <NUM>, capable of communicating, i.e. of executing transmissions and/or receptions of signals and/or data. According to the present embodiment, the communication between the communication devices <NUM>, <NUM> is a wireless communication. Thus, wireless data/signal transmissions and/or receipts are executed. Further, according to the present embodiment, the communication is executed according to at least one communication protocol, which may refer, for example, to WCDMA, LTE etc. Moreover, according to the present embodiment, two kinds of communication devices <NUM>, <NUM> are distinguished in general. The one kind of communication devices has the reference number <NUM> and is referred to as a user communication device. User communication devices <NUM> comprise, for example: mobile devices such as laptops, mobile phones, vehicles etc.; machine-type devices such as home automation devices, smart meters etc.; and/or any other kind of devices that may be incorporated in M2M applications. The other kind of communication devices has the reference number <NUM> and is referred to as communication network device. Communication network devices <NUM> comprise, for example, base stations, eNodeBs or eNBs, and/or access points etc. In general, a communication network device <NUM> is configured to enable a user communication device <NUM> to communicate via a communication network <NUM>. Communication network <NUM> is implemented according to at least one communication protocol such as WCDMA, LTE etc. User communication devices <NUM> are connected to at least one communication network <NUM> that is implemented via at least one communication network device <NUM>. The communication between two user communication devices <NUM> comprises uplink and downlink transmissions. An uplink transmission is a signal/data transmission from a user communication device <NUM> to a communication network device <NUM>. A downlink transmission is a signal/data transmission from a communication network device <NUM> to a user communication device <NUM>. If a user communication device <NUM> transmits a signal/data to another user communication device <NUM>, the transmission is executed via at least one communication network device <NUM> or between the two communication devices <NUM> directly as a device-to-device (D2D) communication.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a communication device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to a further embodiment, communication device <NUM> is a communication network device <NUM>. According to another embodiment, communication device <NUM> is a user communication device <NUM>. Communication device <NUM> of <FIG> comprises a transmitter <NUM> that is configured to execute signal/data transmissions. In particular, transmitter <NUM> is configured to execute any of signal/data transmissions described here. Further, communication device <NUM> of <FIG> comprises a receiver that is configured to execute signal/data receptions. In particular, receiver <NUM> is configured to execute any of signal/data receptions described here. Transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM> are arranged according to an embodiment as separate units. According to another embodiment, transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM> are provided within one unit <NUM> such as a transceiver or modem, for example. Said unit <NUM> is indicated in <FIG> by dashed lines around transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM>. The unit <NUM> comprising transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM> can be arranged as an internal or as an external unit of communication device <NUM>.

Communication device <NUM> of <FIG> comprises further a processor <NUM> that is configured to perform any of the steps executed by communication device <NUM>, apart from the transmissions executed by transmitter <NUM> and apart from the receptions executed by receiver <NUM>. In particular, processor <NUM> is arranged to execute steps described here with regard to communication device <NUM> (i.e. user communication device <NUM> or communication network device <NUM>), i.e. steps of said communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Processor <NUM> and transmitter <NUM> are configured to exchange data or information respectively. In particular, processor <NUM> provides signals/data/information to be transmitted, i.e. to be sent to transmitter <NUM>. Further, also processor <NUM> and receiver <NUM> are configured to exchange data or information respectively. In particular, receiver <NUM> provides received signals/data/information to processor <NUM> for further processing by processor <NUM>.

According to <FIG>, communication device <NUM> comprises a transmission buffer <NUM>. In transmission buffer <NUM> data/information to be transmitted is stored until the transmission of the data/information has been executed. Transmission buffer <NUM> comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising corresponding data to be transmitted by transmitter <NUM>. Thus, according to the present embodiment, processor <NUM> provides signals/data/information to be transmitted to transmitter <NUM> via transmission buffer <NUM>. The signals/data/information to be transmitted are provided by processor <NUM> to transmission buffer <NUM> that stores each signal/data/information to be transmitted in a corresponding entry. Transmitter <NUM> takes then each signal/data/information from transmission buffer <NUM> and transmits it to the corresponding receiving device. After the transmission, the corresponding signal/data/information is deleted from transmission buffer <NUM>.

<FIG> shows communicating of signals and/or data with regard to a pre-determined activity according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communicating is a part of the pre-determined activity. The pre-determined activity is executed at a time that is pre-determined for the execution of the pre-determined activity. , the time is pre-determined according or by a schedule. According to the embodiment, if a communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is communicating signals and/or data, the communicating is done with a repetitive pattern. In particular, the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is arranged to repeat the execution of the pre-determined activity at particular, i.e. predetermined times. For example, this repetition is pre-determined by a schedule. The schedule is, for example, a schedule of the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, also the communicating of signals and/or data is repeated at the particular or pre-determined times because the communicating is a part of the pre-determined activity.

As mentioned, the pre-determined activity comprises, for example, at least one of the following: a paging activity; a radio channel measurement activity; a tracking area update activity; a routing area update activity; a synchronization activity (e.g., for time and/or frequency synchronization); a location area update activity; a pilot signal transmission activity; a pilot signal reception activity; a device-to-device discovery signal reception; a device-to-device discovery signal transmission; a system information transmission; and/or a system information reception activity. The pre-determined activity is, however, not limited by the above mentioned examples. Rather, it may comprise further activities, which comprise or involve signal and/or data communications and which are executed at times pre-determined for execution of said activities. According to a further embodiment, the pre-determined activity is repeated. In particular, it is repeated at further pre-determined times.

As to the operation of communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with regard to the communicating, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is activated for the execution of the pre-determined activity and, thus, for the execution of the communicating. If the pre-determined activity is repeated again and again, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> becomes active with a repetitive pattern for the execution of the pre-determined activity and, thus, for the execution of the communicating. After the execution of the pre-determined activity comprising the execution of said communicating, the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can switch to dormant mode, idle mode, sleep mode, power saving mode, and/or standby mode until the next activation.

In <FIG>, reference number <NUM> indicates a time interval between two communications. The arrow of <FIG> indicates a time line. The first or left communication is executed as a part of the pre-determined activity within a time pre-determined for execution of the pre-determined activity. The subsequent or right communication is executed within a time pre-determined for a repeated execution of the pre-determined activity.

The operating of communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with regard to the pre-determined activity and, particularly, with regard to the execution of communication part of the pre-determined activity comprises in general three steps. These steps are repeatedly executed with regard to the times predetermined for the repetitive execution of the pre-determined activity.

In a first step 31_k, 31_k+<NUM> (k ≥ <NUM> and being natural), a wake up activity is executed, if the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is not in an active mode. For example, the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is in dormant mode, idle mode, sleep mode, power saving mode, and/or standby mode. In particular, in the first step 31_k, 31_k+<NUM>, the pre-determined activity is started. Here, a connection set-up for the execution of the communication of the pre-determined activity (e.g., for at least one reception and/or for at least one transmission of data and/or signal(s)) is executed, for example. According to an embodiment, it comprises start-up of processes in base band, radio frequency system synchronization or re-synchronization etc..

In a second step 32_k, 32_k+<NUM>, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is in an active state and ready or prepared for communicating data and/or signal(s). Thus, in the second step 32_k, 32_k+<NUM>, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> receives and/or transmits at least data and/or signal. If no data and no signal to be communicated within the pre-determined activity is present, to communicating is executed despite the availability of the connection set-up or arranged in first step 31_k, 31_k+<NUM>.

In a third step 33_k, 33_k+<NUM>, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> executes post communication activities in view of expiry of the time pre-determined for the execution of the pre-determined activity. For example, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> decodes received information and/or signals, executes channel estimation updates etc..

After the execution of third step 33_k, 33_k+<NUM> and, in particular, if the time pre-determined for the execution of the pre-determined activity has expired, according to an embodiment, the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> switches to dormant mode, idle mode, sleep mode, power saving mode, and/or standby mode until the next activation.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the pre-determined activity is paging. Communication network <NUM> is, for example, LTE, and paging is executed as specified according to corresponding LTE standards. According to this embodiment, time interval <NUM> is an idle mode DRX or eDRX interval. According to a further embodiment, time interval <NUM> (e.g., idle mode DRX interval or eDRX interval) is from <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. According to this embodiment, although the specific paging information is received in view milliseconds, the total activity time of user communication device <NUM>, <NUM> is significantly longer. It may be, for example, <NUM> to <NUM> milliseconds longer. Further, according to an embodiment, user communication device <NUM>, <NUM> is configured to demodulate each paging event.

In general, if communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> has small amounts of data (e.g., smaller than or equal a threshold), communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may initiate the corresponding small data transmission activity at any point of time. Here, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> has to take into account, for example, allocated random access procedure resources and/or time slots. However, if communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> initiates a small (packet) data transmission at the start of a pre-determined activity such as paging occasion, a significant overlap in activity time with the predetermined activity such as paging occasion exists. In this way, the aggregated energy consumption is reduced.

In view of the aforesaid, the idea is to divide transmissions of small data amounts into sub-transmissions and to execute each sub-transmission time aligned with the pre-determined activity such as paging. The general concept of this idea is illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a transmission of small data (i.e. of data, size of which is smaller than or equal a threshold) that is executed time aligned with a pre-determined activity (e.g., paging activity, radio channel measurement activity, tracking area update activity, routing area update activity, synchronization activity, location area update activity, pilot signal transmission activity, etc.) according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the embodiment of <FIG>, a communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> divides small data <NUM> to be transmitted into at least one small data portions or packets <NUM>. According to <FIG>, a plurality of small data portions or packets <NUM> is obtained. The dividing of small data <NUM> into small data portions or packets <NUM> is executed such that each small data portion or packet <NUM> has a size that is smaller than or equal a maximum small data portion or packet size. According to an embodiment, small data portions or packets <NUM> have essentially the same size (e.g., the maximum small data portion or packet size).

Subsequently, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> transmits each of the small data portions or packets <NUM> at a corresponding time pre-determined for the execution of the pre-determined activity. For example, in a first step 41_k, 41_k+<NUM>,. , 41_k+m (m ≥ <NUM> and being a natural), communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> executes activities for preparing the execution of the pre-determined activity as described above. In a second step 42_k, 42_k+<NUM>,. , 42_k+m, the pre-determined activity is started and executed by the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Within the second or paging step 42_k, 42_k+<NUM>,. , 42_k+m, the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is arranged to communicate data and/or signals (if available) as described above, wherein said communicating is a part of the pre-determined activity. Additionally, the communication device transmits, within the second or paging step 42_k, 42_k+<NUM>,. , 42_k+m, also a corresponding small data portion or packet <NUM> time aligned with the pre-determined activity. Time aligned with the pre-determined activity means that the communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is active with regard to the time, pre-determined for the execution of the pre-determined activity, but does not execute any communication that is a part of the pre-determined activity at the time of the transmission of the corresponding small data portion or packet <NUM>. Thus, a time slot within the pre-determined time is used that is free for communication (e.g., transmission and/or reception) purposes and that can be used for transmitting a small data portion or packet <NUM>.

According to the idea as shown in <FIG>, a delay tolerant transmission is partitioned or sub-divided to occur time aligned when communication activity is anyway awaited. For example, if transmission time for each small data portion <NUM> is <NUM> milliseconds, the total required transmission of small data <NUM> is j * <NUM> milliseconds, wherein j is the number of data portions <NUM>, in which small data <NUM> has been subdivided. If the wakeup time is <NUM> milliseconds, the transition to active state is <NUM> milliseconds, the time for paging reception and paging post-processing is <NUM> milliseconds, and the transmission time for each small data portion <NUM> is <NUM> milliseconds, the total required active time for the transmission of all data portions <NUM> of a small data <NUM> is j * (<NUM> + <NUM> + <NUM>) milliseconds, i.e. j*<NUM> milliseconds. The total time required for executing paging and small data transmission separately, in turn, is j * (<NUM> + <NUM>) + <NUM> + <NUM> + j * <NUM> milliseconds, i.e. j * <NUM> + <NUM> milliseconds. Thus, a small data transmission time aligned with a pre-determined activity provides a time saving of j * <NUM> + <NUM> milliseconds. When taking j as a concrete number, average time saving is approximately <NUM> %.

<FIG> shows a flowchart with steps executed with regard to a data transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention. Steps shown in <FIG> are executed by a communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, data to be transmitted is examined. According to an embodiment, data to be transmitted is taken from transmission buffer <NUM> of communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The examination step <NUM> comprises at least one of two sub-steps.

According to a first sub-step, a data size examination is executed. In particular, a size of data to be transmitted is determined. The data size is determined, for example, in bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes etc. In the first sub-step, it is examined whether the data size of the data to be transmitted is smaller than or equal a data size threshold.

According to a second sub-step, a data portion number examination is executed. In particular, a number of data portions <NUM> is determined that would be obtained by dividing data to be transmitted in data portions <NUM>. In the second sub-step, it is examined whether the number of data portions <NUM> is smaller than or equal a data portion number threshold.

According to an embodiment, one of the two sub-steps is executed. According to another embodiment, both sub-steps are executed.

In step <NUM>, it is determined whether data to be transmitted is appropriate to be transmitted during a time, at which the device is activated for executing a pre-determined activity. According to the present embodiment, the determining <NUM> is executed in view of the result of the examination step <NUM>. The result depends on whether one or both of the sub-steps of the examination step <NUM> have been executed or on whether results of one or both of the sub-steps of the examination step <NUM> have to be taken into consideration.

Generally, if, in the first sub-step, it is determined that the data size of the data to be transmitted is smaller than or equal a data size threshold, the data to be transmitted may be or is considered as being appropriate.

Similarly, if, in the second sub-step, it is determined that the number of data portions <NUM> is smaller than or equal a data portion number threshold, the data to be transmitted may be or is considered as being appropriate.

If both of the two sub-steps of the examination step <NUM> have to be taken into consideration and if both sub-steps have been executed, results of both sub-steps have to indicate that the data to be transmitted may be or is considered as being appropriate. Only in this case the result of the determination <NUM> will indicate that the data to be transmitted is appropriate to be transmitted during a time, at which the device is activated for executing a pre-determined activity. the result of the determination <NUM> will indicate that the data to be transmitted is small data.

If any one of the two sub-steps of the examination step <NUM> has to be taken into consideration or if a particular sub-step of the two sub-steps of the examination step <NUM> has to be taken into consideration, the corresponding sub-step has to indicate that the data to be transmitted may be or is considered as being appropriate. Only in this case the result of the determination <NUM> will indicate that the data to be transmitted is appropriate to be transmitted during a time, at which the device is activated for executing a pre-determined activity. the result of the determination <NUM> will indicate that the data to be transmitted is small data.

In step <NUM>, it is determined whether or not the data to be transmitted is appropriate to be transmitted during a time, at which the device is activated for executing a pre-determined activity, i.e. whether or not the data to be transmitted is small data. Here, the result of step <NUM> is used.

If the data to be transmitted is not appropriate, no small data that is small enough to be transmitted time aligned with the pre-determined activity is given. Thus, a conventional data transmission, i.e. a data transmission as generally executed by communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is performed. In particular, the data is transmitted during a data transmission time that is different from the time pre-determined for the execution of the pre-determined activity. In <FIG> it is indicated by an end step <NUM> because a data transmission as generally done by communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> will be executed with regard to said data.

If the data to be transmitted is appropriate, i.e. if data that is small enough to be transmitted time aligned with the pre-determined activity is given. In response to this determination, it is turned to step <NUM> in which data to be transmitted, i.e. small data <NUM> is divided into at least one data portion or packet <NUM>. As described above, division <NUM> of small data <NUM> into small data portions or packets <NUM> is executed such that each small data portion or packet <NUM> has a size that is smaller than or equal a maximum small data portion or packet size. According to an embodiment, small data portions or packets <NUM> have essentially the same size (e.g., the maximum small data portion or packet size).

In step <NUM>, each data portion <NUM> is assigned to a time that is pre-determined for executing the pre-determined activity. The time may be predetermined, for example, in view of a given scheduling or in view of a given communication (i.e. transmission and/or reception) scheduling in general. Because, the pre-determined activity is a repetitive task, each data portion <NUM> is assigned to a corresponding time, pre-determined for execution of the pre-determined activity. According to an embodiment, each data portion <NUM> is assigned to a time slot within the corresponding pre-determined time.

In step <NUM>, transmission of a data portion <NUM> is initiated at, i.e. executed during the corresponding pre-determined time. If a particular time slot has been determined, the initiation, i.e. the execution of the transmission of data portion <NUM> is done at, i.e. during said time slot. Thus, two different data portions <NUM> of small data <NUM> are transmitted <NUM> during two different pre-determined times.

The execution of steps <NUM> and <NUM> can be executed also substantially or partially in parallel for different data portions <NUM>, wherein for each data portion <NUM>, at first, step <NUM> and, subsequently, step <NUM> is executed.

Further, according to an embodiment, the execution of the data transmission time aligned with the pre-determined activity is to be activated with regard to a communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. This allows a targeted use of the data transmission that is time aligned with the pre-determined activity. For example, operators of communication networks <NUM> or users of user communication devices <NUM>, <NUM> receive the possibility of influencing data transmission processes. The activation can be executed in different ways. According to an embodiment, an explicit activation is executed. Here, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> receives at least one of the following: a signal, an indicator, a flag, a signalling bit etc., indicating whether or not communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is activated for data transmission that is time aligned with the pre-determined activity. According to another embodiment, an implicit activation is executed. In this case, a communication protocol of communication network <NUM>, for example, specifies whether or not communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is permitted to execute the data transmission that is time aligned with the pre-determined activity. According to a further embodiment, the execution of the data transmission that is time aligned with the pre-determined activity can be activated, i.e. permitted for communication devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of a particular, e.g., pre-set category, for communication devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> executing particular, e.g., pre-set functions, for communication devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> meeting a particular, e.g., pre-set, quality of service (QoS) level (e.g., having a QoS class identifier (QCI)), and/or for transmissions of certain maximum sizes etc. Here, several different criteria may be used.

Thus, according to the embodiment, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> determines whether or not it is activated, i.e. permitted to execute data transmission time aligned with the pre-determined activity before starting the execution of step <NUM> of <FIG>.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the maximum data size that is used for dividing small data <NUM> to be transmitted into data portions or packets <NUM> is determined by communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the determination is executed by a standardized signalling. communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> receives a signal or information indicating the maximum size of a data portion or packet <NUM>. According to another embodiment, communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> selects the maximum size from a standardized table or determines the maximum size according to a maximum size calculation method. Here, several different calculation methods can be implemented. In particular, the calculation methods can be based on parameters such as utilized DRX interval, mobility of user communication device <NUM>, <NUM>, communication device's <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> transmit power class, and/or communication device's <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> average signal quality. In the following, an exemplary calculation method is considered in more detail.

<FIG> shows a flowchart with steps executed for determining of a maximum size of a data portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the embodiment of <FIG>, in step <NUM>, an estimate of energy E1 consumed for a transmission of data having a size of "B" bits is determined or estimated, said data transmission being executed time aligned with a pre-determined activity. "B" may correspond to (e.g., be equal or smaller than) the threshold used in step <NUM> for determining whether the data to be transmitted is small data. For the estimation or determination of energy E1, time T1 is estimated or determined in seconds that are required for a transmission connection setup and release. Further, an average data throughput Tp, which is expected for a data transmission over a wireless interface, is estimated or determined in bits/seconds. This estimation or determination can be captured or detected, for example, from a look-up table or based on a collection of historical data statistics on data throughputs of previous data transmissions. Furthermore, an average current I1_1 and 11_2 consumed to setup and release a connection I1_1 and to be active for a transmission in the wireless network 11_2 respectively is estimated or determined. After the execution of each of the estimations and/or determinations, the estimate of energy E1 is calculated as follows: <MAT>.

In step <NUM>, an estimate of energy E2 needed for the data and/or signal communication of the pre-determined activity event is estimated or determined. For this purpose, a time T2 in seconds is estimated or determined that would be required to perform the data and/or signal communication. Further, an average current I2 that is required to conduct the data and/or signal communication is estimated or determined. Subsequently, the estimate of energy E2 is calculated as follows: <MAT>.

In step <NUM>, a maximum allowed additional relative energy k allowed for a transmission of a data portion or packet <NUM> is determined. According to an embodiment, this relative additional energy factor is pre-defined in a look-up table. If a modem is used for data transmission, the look-up table may be defined by the modem vendor.

In step <NUM>, a ratio of E2 and E1, i.e. k = E2/E1 is calculated. Subsequently, the maximum size of a data portion or packet <NUM>, i.e. of amount of data to be transmitted time aligned with the pre-determined activity is determined in step <NUM> as B: <MAT>.

Any of the above-mentioned estimations of T1, Tp, 11_1, 11_2, T2, I2 can be captured or derived from a look-up table or can be determined based on corresponding collection(s) of historical data observed or monitored with regard to previous data transmission. If a modem is used for data communication (i.e. data transmission and/or reception), look-up table(s) pre-defined by modem vendor are used according to an embodiment. Look-up values can be different in different look-up tables based on, e.g., utilized radio access technology, average signal strength, and/or other radio related parameters.

Further, according to an embodiment, with regard to the maximum size, an abbreviation range is provided. In this case, the determined maximum size can have abbreviations upwards and/or downwards. The abbreviation range can be provided also as a percentage. Also the abbreviation percentage or the abbreviation range may be provided in a look-up table.

Recently, in 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) radio access network (RAN), a proposal with regard to signalling reduction to enable light connection for LTE has been made. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a light connection (e.g., as proposed or used for LTE) is used by a user communication device <NUM>, <NUM> for scheduling or executing transmissions of data portions <NUM> during paging events being an example of the pre-determined activity of the present invention. Thus, if a user communication device <NUM>, <NUM> has a certain amount of data <NUM> to be transmitted (e.g., in transmission buffer <NUM>), said data <NUM>, if smaller than the threshold, is divided into sub-transmissions, i.e. data portions <NUM> and is transmitted during paging times by use of the light connection. According to an embodiment, the light connection has different operation modes.

According to an embodiment, complete radio resource control (RRC) connected mode parameters, utilized conventionally for decreasing power consumption, can be saved when transmitting small data <NUM> time aligned with paging events. In this way, a user communication device <NUM>, <NUM> may consider itself as being in a full connected mode, but use idle mode DRX interval <NUM> for small data <NUM>, i.e. data portion <NUM> transmissions. Subsequently, after a small data <NUM> transmission, a medium user equipment (UE) context saving mode can be used by user communication device <NUM>, <NUM>.

Thus, by the above-presented technique, due to presence of paging events, mandatory activity periods in a user communication device <NUM>, <NUM> are used to coordinate transmissions of small data <NUM> into these periods. Since data <NUM> of some services or applications might be larger than the maximum size of a data portion or packet <NUM>, the transmission connection used for a transmission of a data portion <NUM> can be maintained for a further transmission of a further data portion <NUM>, the transmission is then continued at a further paging time, i.e. with regard to a further paging event. If LTE network is used as communication network <NUM>, the light connection of LTE can be used for data portion <NUM> transmission.

Claim 1:
A communication device (<NUM>) configured to:
divide data to be transmitted into multiple data portions (<NUM>); and
transmit each data portion during a time, at which the device is to be activated for executing a pre-determined activity,
wherein the pre-determined activity comprises at least one data and/or signal communication in a repetitive pattern,
wherein the transmission of the data portion refers to a further activity of the communication device that is different from the pre-determined activity,
wherein said time represents a time period at which the communication device is activated after being in an idle mode.