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Apple patents faster data starts for phones in idle mode

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This filing describes a method for a phone to send data immediately while in a low-power 'inactive' state, without first waking up to ask for permission. The phone uses pre-arranged time slots provided by the cell tower, allowing it to transmit data based on specific conditions like signal strength or data type.

Why it mattersThis could reduce the delay before a phone starts sending or receiving data after being idle, potentially making apps feel more responsive when you open them.

In the filing’s own words

A base station (BS) comprising a processor configured to perform operations is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the operations include generating one or more pre-configured grant (pre-CG) configurations. The operations also include transmitting the one or more pre-CG configurations to a user equipment (UE) to enable the UE to perform an initial transmission while the UE is in an RRC_INACTIVE state using a pre-CG resource based on the transmitted one or more pre-CG configurations. Each of the one or more pre-CG configurations includes a configuration of the pre-CG resource and one or more conditions to use the pre-CG resource. The one or more conditions to use the pre-CG resource include one or more of an access type, a transmission priority, a mapped Logical Channel (LCH)/Dedicated Radio Bearer (DRB)/Quality of Service (QoS) flow, and a valid timing advance (TA).

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A user equipment (UE) comprising a processor configured to perform operations comprising: receiving, from a base station (BS), one or more pre-CG configurations and a list of cells for which the one or more pre-CG configurations are valid in a dedicated radio resource control (RRC) message to enable the UE to perform an initial data transmission while the UE is in an RRC_INACTIVE state using a pre-CG resource based on the one or more pre-CG configurations, wherein the dedicated RRC message includes one or more conditions to use the pre-CG resource, and wherein the one or more conditions comprise a current camping cell of the UE being included in the list of cells; transmitting, to the BS, an inactive radio network temporary identifier (I-RNTI) of the UE for the initial data transmission according to the one or more pre-CG configurations and the current camping cell of the UE being associated with the BS; and receiving, from the BS, a network feedback within a predefined time window after the initial data transmission using the pre-CG resource, wherein the network feedback comprises an uplink grant based on the I-RNTI of the UE.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INACTIVE STATE INITIAL UPLINK TRANSMISSION USING PRE-CONFIGURED GRANT AT A BASE STATION IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
Publication number
US20260323760A1
Application number
19467393
Filed
Feb 2, 2026
Published
Oct 15, 2026
Inventors
7
Claims
20

Classified under

H04W 76/27 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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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.