Uplink reconfiguration for split bearer in dual connectivity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9867096-B2
Application number	US-201514758408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2015
Priority date	May 9, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a wireless device operating in dual connectivity with a first and second network node performs a method comprising establishing an uplink radio connection from the wireless device to the first and second network nodes. The wireless device comprises first MAC and RLC modules for uplink radio communication with the first network node, second MAC and RLC modules for uplink radio communication with the second network node, and a PDCP module for communicating with the first and second RLC modules. The method further comprises communicating data for uplink transmission from the PDCP module to the first RLC module; obtaining an indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node; resetting the first RLC module and the first MAC module; and communicating data for uplink transmission from the PDCP module to the second RLC module.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method in a wireless device operating in dual connectivity with a first network node and a second network node, the method comprising:
establishing an uplink radio connection from the wireless device to the first network node and to the second network node, the wireless device comprising a first Medium Access Control (MAC) module and a first Radio Link Control (RLC) module for uplink radio communication with the first network node, a second MAC module and a second RLC module for uplink radio communication with the second network node, and a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) module for communicating with the first RLC module and the second RLC module;
communicating data for uplink transmission from the PDCP module to the first RLC module;
obtaining an indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node;
resetting the first RLC module and the first MAC module; and
communicating data for uplink transmission from the PDCP module to the second RLC module.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node comprises receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a Buffer Status Report (BSR).

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the obtaining the indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node triggers the transmitting the BSR.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the PDCP module triggers the transmitting the BSR.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein transmitting the BSR comprises transmitting a first BSR to the first network node, the first BSR indicating that the wireless device does not have data for uplink transmission to the first network node.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein transmitting the BSR comprises transmitting a second BSR to the second network node, the second BSR indicating that the wireless device has data for uplink transmission to the second network node.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein resetting the RLC module comprises resetting an uplink buffer of the RLC module.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining an indication to reset the first RLC module or the first MAC module.

10. A method in a wireless device, the wireless device operating in dual connectivity with a first network node and a second network node, the method comprising:
establishing an uplink radio connection from the wireless device to the first network node and to the second network node, the wireless device comprising a first Medium Access Control (MAC) module and a first Radio Link Control (RLC) module for uplink radio communication with the first network node, a second MAC module and a second RLC module for uplink radio communication with the second network node, and a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) module for communicating with the first RLC module and the second RLC module;
communicating data for uplink transmission from the PDCP module to the first RLC module;
obtaining an indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node;
communicating data pending for uplink transmission in the first RLC module and the first MAC module to the first network node; and
communicating data pending for uplink transmission in the PDCP module to the second network node.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting a Buffer Status Report (BSR) to the first network node, the BSR indicating data pending for uplink transmission in the first RLC module and the first MAC module at a time when the wireless device obtains the indication to switch transmission of uplink data.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting a BSR to the second network node, the BSR indicating data pending for uplink transmission in the PDCP module at a time when the wireless device obtains the indication to switch transmission of uplink data.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein obtaining the indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node comprises receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.

14. A method in a first network node, the first network node operating in dual connectivity with a wireless device and a second network node, the method comprising:
establishing an uplink radio connection from the wireless device to the first network node and to the second network node, the wireless device comprising a first Medium Access Control (MAC) module and a first Radio Link Control (RLC) module for uplink radio communication with the first network node, a second MAC module and a second RLC module for uplink radio communication with the second network node, and a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) module for communicating with the first RLC module and the second RLC module;
communicating, to the wireless device, an indication to switch transmission of uplink data, via the PDCP module, from the first network node to the second network node; and
communicating, to the wireless device, a configuration parameter for switching transmission of uplink data, via the PDCP module, from the first network node to the second network node.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the configuration parameter comprises an indication for the wireless device to reset the first MAC module and the first RLC module.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the configuration parameter comprises an indication for the wireless device to send a Buffer Status Report (BSR).

17. A wireless device configured to operate in dual connectivity with a first network node and a second network node, the wireless device comprising:
one or more processors comprising:
a first Medium Access Control (MAC) module and a first Radio Link Control (RLC) module for uplink radio communication with the first network node;
a second MAC module and a second RLC module for uplink radio communication with the second network node; and
a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) module for communicating with the first RLC module and the second RLC module; and

at least one memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the one or more processors whereby the wireless device is operable to:
establish an uplink radio connection from the wireless device to the first network node and to the second network node;
communicate data for uplink transmission from the PDCP module to the first RLC module;
obtain an indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node;
reset the first RLC module and the first MAC module; and
communicate data for uplink transmission from the PDCP module to the second RLC module.

18. The wireless device of claim 17 , wherein the wireless device is operable to obtain the indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node by receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.

19. The wireless device of claim 17 , wherein the wireless device is operable to transmit a Buffer Status Report (BSR).

20. The wireless device of claim 19 , wherein obtaining the indication to switch transmission of uplink data from the first network node to the second network node triggers the wireless device to transmit the BSR.

21. The wireless device of claim 19 , wherein the PDCP module triggers the wireless device to transmit the BSR.

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M
• ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M (publ)

Inventors

• Susitaival Riikka
• Dudda Torsten
• Bergström Mattias Tan
• Wager Stefan

Classifications

• H04W72/21

  in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network · CPC title

• H04W36/04 Primary

  Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells · CPC title

• H04W28/0278

  using buffer status reports (dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition H04W72/12) · CPC title

• H04W88/16

  Gateway arrangements · CPC title

• H04W36/0027

  for a plurality of data sessions of end-to-end connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer end-to-end data connections · CPC title