Method, user equipment, master evolved node b and communication system for dual connectivity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017071023-A1
Application number	US-201515303529-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2015
Priority date	Mar 14, 2014
Publication date	Mar 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for dual connectivity (DC) performed by a user equipment (UE), wherein said the UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B (MeNB) and connectable to a secondary evolved node B (SeNB), includes informing a communication system entity about regarding DC support of said the UE, and when the UE supports DC, receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from the MeNB to the SeNB.

First claim

1 . A method for dual connectivity, ‘DC’, performed by a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,
the method comprising:
informing a communication system entity about DC support of said UE, and
when the UE supports DC, receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from the MeNB to the SeNB.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said connection reconfiguration message comprises a new radio resource configuration for DC with the SeNB.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said communication system entity is either the MeNB or a mobility management entity, ‘MME’.

4 . A method for dual connectivity, ‘DC’, performed by a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, in a communication system including a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to said MeNB and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,
the method comprising:
receiving information about DC support of said UE; and
providing, to said UE, a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from the MeNB to the SeNB, when said UE supports DC.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein said MeNB decides to configure said UE for DC.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein said decision is based on properties of current bearers of said UE.

7 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein said connection reconfiguration message comprises a new radio resource configuration for DC of said UE with said SeNB.

8 . A method for dual connectivity, ‘DC’ performed in a communication system including a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,
the method comprising:
the UE:
informing a communication system entity about DC support of said UE, and
when said UE supports DC, receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB.

the MeNB:
receiving information about DC support of said UE; and
providing, to said UE, a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB when said UE supports DC.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein said MeNB decides to configure said UE for DC.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein said decision is based on properties of current bearers of said UE.

11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein said connection reconfiguration message comprises a new radio resource configuration for DC of said UE with said SeNB.

12 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
the SeNB:
receiving bearer relocation information of said UE for changing or splitting bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB when said UE supports DC;
allocating radio resources for said bearers on said SeNB if available; and
receiving said bearers from said MeNB.

13 . A method for dual connectivity, ‘DC’, of a user equipment, ‘UE’, including information of a communication system entity about DC support of said UE, wherein a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’, is generated by said MeNB when the UE supports DC and sent to said UE.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , characterized in that said connection reconfiguration message is generated based on properties of current bearers of said UE.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said MeNB includes in said connection reconfiguration message a new radio resource configuration for said UE for DC of said UE with said SeNB.

16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the information about DC support is sent directly to said further communication system entity by said UE or via said MeNB.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein said further communication system entity is provided in form of a mobility management entity, ‘MME’.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said MeNB maintains bearer relocation information of bearers of said UE for relocation to said SeNB.

19 . The method according to claims 17 and 18 , wherein said bearer relocation information is configured on said MeNB during a S1-MME procedure.

20 . A user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,
the UE comprising
means for informing a communication system entity about its dual connectivity, ‘DC’ support, and
means for receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB when said UE supports DC.

21 . A master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, in a communication system including a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to said MeNB, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,
the MeNB comprising:
means for receiving information about dual connectivity, ‘DC’ support of said UE; and
means for providing, to said UE, a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB, when said UE supports DC.

22 . A communication system including a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,
the communication system comprising
the UE comprising
means for informing a communication system entity about its dual connectivity, ‘DC’ support, and
means for receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB when said UE supports DC.

the MeNB comprising:
means for receiving information about DC support of said UE; and
means for providing, to said UE, a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB, when said UE support DC.

Assignees

• Nec Europe Ltd

Inventors

• Kunz Andreas
• Velev Genadi
• Maeder Andreas
• Prasad Athul

Classifications

• H04W8/22

  Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities · CPC title

• H04W76/19

  Connection re-establishment · CPC title

• H04W76/15 Primary

  Setup of multiple wireless link connections · CPC title

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• H04W88/02

  Terminal devices · CPC title