Apple patents way for phones to update time while in low-power mode
Apple describes a method where a phone can stay in a low-power 'inactive' state but still receive updates about its clock accuracy from the network. The phone sends a small data request and receives new clock quality information without fully waking up its main connection.
In the filing’s own words
Embodiments herein may allow a user equipment (UE) to receive clock quality information while in a radio resource control (RRC) inactive state. The UE may receive an indication of a time synchronization status change from a network node while in the RRC inactive state. The UE may send an uplink small data transmission (SDT) message to the network node to request updated clock quality information while in the RRC inactive state. The UE may receive a downlink SDT message from the network node while in the RRC inactive state. The downlink SDT message comprises the updated clock quality information.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method of a user equipment (UE), comprising: entering a radio resource control (RRC) inactive state; receiving an indication of a time synchronization status change from a network node while in the RRC inactive state; and receiving a downlink small data transmission (SDT) message from the network node while in the RRC inactive state, wherein the downlink SDT message comprises the updated clock quality information.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (APPLE INC.)
- Official title
- USER EQUIPMENT TIME SYNCHRONIZATION UPDATE IN RRC_INACTIVE
- Publication number
- US20260282149A1
- Application number
- 19167235
- Filed
- Apr 24, 2023
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 9
- Claims
- 21
Classified under
H04W 76/20 Electricity & electronicsH04W 56/0015 Electricity & electronicsH04W 68/02 Electricity & electronicsH04W 76/19 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
- Apple patents interface for sending messages via satellite Sep 29, 2026
- Apple patents way for phones to switch from ground towers to satellites Sep 17, 2026
- Apple patents moving phone plans between devices via Bluetooth Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents sharing Wi-Fi channel data to speed up device connections Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents smart surface that helps phones find signal faster Sep 8, 2026
Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.