Radio link failure handling for dual connectivity

• US 10,015,807 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2017
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel IP Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Heo, Youn Hyoung, Zhang, Yujian
• Primary Examiner(s): O CONNOR, BRIAN T
• Application Number:
  US15/614,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20170273095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/17 Detection of non-compliance or faulty performance, e.g. response deviations H04B17/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/08 Load balancing or load distribution transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0069 in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00692 using simultaneous multiple data streams, e.g. cooperative multipoint [CoMP], carrier aggregation [CA] or multiple input multiple output [MIMO] allocation of physical resources in CoMP or in CA H04L5/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/305 Handover due to radio link failure control signalling for hand-off failure H04W36/0079
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 : using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 : distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 : Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 : Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 : by periodical registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 : based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 : based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 : based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 : in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 : Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 : Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 : Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 : Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 : Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 : Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 : between access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments of an evolved Node B (eNB) and methods for radio link failure handling for dual connectivity are generally described herein. A method performed by circuitry of a User Equipment (UE) may include connecting, at a UE, to a Master eNB (MeNB) and connecting to a Secondary eNB (SeNB). The method may include determining, at the UE, that one of the connections has a Radio Link Failure and determining at the UE, that the other of the connections remains connected to the UE. The method may include refraining from initiating a Radio Resource Control (RRC) re-establishment procedure while at least one of the connections does not have a radio link failure.

Claims

1. An apparatus of a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive communications with a Master evolved Node-B (MeNB) and a Secondary evolved Node-B (SeNB) when the UE is configured with dual connectivity (DC); and

processing circuitry coupled to the transceiver, the processing circuitry configured to detect a radio link failure (RLF) for the SeNB, and upon detecting the RLF;

encode for transmission to the MeNB, a radio resource control (RRC) indication that the connection with the SeNB has experienced RLF;

suspend radio bearers for the SeNB based on the detected RLF for the SeNB;

reset a media access control (MAC) layer associated with communications with the SeNB;

release a serving cell configuration of the SeNB in response to a request from the MeNB, upon determining the connection with the SeNB has experienced the RLF, and

maintain connection with radio bearers for the MeNB in a non-DC configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio bearers for the SeNB include a data radio bearer (DRB).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio bearers for the SeNB include a split DRB.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine the connection with the SeNB has the RLF based on an expiration of an out-of-sync timer indicating lack of synchronization with the SeNB.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine the connection with the SeNB has the RLF based on a random access problem indication received from a media access control (MAC) layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode an indication from a radio link control (RLC) layer of the SeNB that a maximum number of retransmissions has been reached for a secondary cell group (SCG) of the SeNB; and

determine a connection with the SeNB has the RLF based on the decoded indication.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

refrain from initiating a radio resource control (RRC) re-establishment procedure between the UE and the SeNB while a connection between the UE and the MeNB does not have a RLF.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

upon detecting the RLF with the SeNB, apply one of a default physical channel configuration or a default semi-persistent scheduling configuration to maintain a connection with the MeNB.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

reconfigure at least one radio bearer served by the SeNB in response to the request from the MeNB.

10. An apparatus of a user equipment (LT the apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry, the processing circuitry configured to;

detect a radio link failure (RIF) for a Secondary evolved Node-B (SeNB), while the UE is in a dual connectivity (DC) state with the SeNB and a Master evolved Node-B (MeNB), wherein the MeNB is associated with a Primary Cell (PCell) and the SeNB is associated with a Secondary Cell (SCell); and

upon detecting the RLF;

encode for transmission to the MeNB, a radio resource control (RRC) indication that the connection with the SeNB has experienced RLF;

suspend radio bearers for the SeNB, wherein the radio bearers for the SeNB include a data radio bearer (DRB) or a split DRB;

reset a media access control (MAC) layer associated with communications with the SeNB;

decode a Radio Resource Control reconfiguration message from the MeNB to remove the SCell from a set of cells serving the UE; and

maintain connection with radio bearers for the MeNB in a non-DC configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine the connection with the SeNB has the RLF based on an expiration of an out-of-sync timer indicating lack of synchronization with the SeNB.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine the connection with the SeNB has the RLF based on a random access problem indication received from the MAC layer associated with communications to the SeNB.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode an indication from a radio link control (RLC) layer of the SeNB that a maximum number of retransmissions has been reached for SCell of the SeNB; and

determine a connection with the SeNB has the RLF based on the decoded indication.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage device including instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors of a User Equipment (UE), cause the UE to perform operations to:

detect a radio link failure (RLF) for a Secondary evolved Node-B (SeNB), while the UE is in a dual connectivity (DC) state with a secondary cell (SCell) of the SeNB and a primary cell (Pcell) of a Master evolved Node-B (MeNB);

encode for transmission to the MeNB, a radio resource control (RRC) indication that the connection with the SeNB has experienced RLF;

suspend radio bearers for the SeNB, wherein the radio bearers for the SeNB include a data radio bearer (DRB) or a split DRB;

reset a media access control (MAC) layer associated with communications to the SeNB;

decode a Radio Resource Control reconfiguration message from the MeNB to remove the SCell from a set of cells serving the UE, and

maintain connection with radio bearers for the MeNB in a non-DC configuration.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to perform operations to:

determine the connection with the SeNB has the RLF based on an expiration of an out-of-sync timer indicating lack of synchronization with the SeNB.