CPC H04W 72/1268 (2013.01) [H04L 1/1607 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
1. The method to operate a base station being part of a cellular network, said base station being configured for conducting a preconfigured periodical uplink communication schedule with at least one user equipment,
the method comprising the step for the base station of negotiating with the user equipment for setting up the preconfigured periodical uplink communication schedule,
further comprising receiving a downlink data flag indicating if the user equipment is prepared to receive downlink data in conjunction with at least one preconfigured periodical uplink communication occasion,
after setup of the preconfigured periodical uplink communication schedule, allocating network resources at a time synchronized with the preconfigured periodical uplink communication schedule of a data transmission as part of a preconfigured periodical uplink communication occasion,
wherein a check for availability of downlink data for the user equipment is evaluated in advance of the next preconfigured periodical uplink communication occasion only in case the downlink data flag indicates to check for downlink data,
and the method further comprising for the base station during said preconfigured periodical uplink communication occasion:
receiving uplink data from the user equipment with a data message,
only if the check for availability of downlink data indicates availability of downlink data, then sending an indication to the user equipment for setting up a downlink data connection, and
if the check for availability of downlink data indicates no availability of downlink data, then causing the user equipment to return to idle mode immediately after receipt of the uplink data is complete.
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