Path switch method for dual connectivity in wireless communication system and apparatus for same

• US 10,085,201 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ryu, Jinsook, Kim, Hyunsook, Kim, Laeyoung, Xu, Jian, Byun, Daewook, Kim, Taehyeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhao, Wei
• Application Number:
  US15/108,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20160323805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0069 in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0079 in case of hand-off failure or rejection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/36 due to handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining a path switch in a wireless communication system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for determining a path switch of a first network entity, the method comprising the steps of: receiving bearer setup information including a bearer type regarding at least one bearer; transmitting a path switch request to a second network entity on the basis of the bearer setup information; receiving a path switch response corresponding to the path switch request from the second network entity; and determining a path switch depending on whether the path switch response indicates admission of a default bearer.

Claims

1. A method of determining a path switch for dual connectivity of a first network entity in a wireless communication system, comprising:

receiving bearer setup information containing a bearer type for at least one or more bearers;

transmitting a path switch request to a second network entity based on the bearer setup information;

receiving a path switch response from the second network entity in response to the path switch request; and

determining a path switch according to whether or not the path switch response indicates admission of a default bearer,

wherein the first network entity corresponds to a MeNB (master eNB), and

wherein the second network entity corresponds to a SeNB (secondary eNB).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bearer type is contained only when dual connectivity of a user equipment is determined to be performed according to at least one of whether or not the user equipment supports dual connectivity or whether or not an eNB supports dual connectivity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the path switch request is transmitted to a dedicated bearer only among the at least one or more bearers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if the path switch is requested for a default bearer, the second network entity performs admission control to make a resource to be preferentially allocated prior to ARP (allocation and retention priority).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein if the second network entity does not admit a default bearer, the first network entity is configured to maintain a service for the default bearer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein if a path switch request for a default bearer is received from the second network entity, the first network entity is configured to admit the default bearer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the bearer setup information is received from an MME (mobility management entity).

8. A first network entity determining a path switch for dual connectivity in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) unit; and

a processor,

wherein the processor is configured to;

control the RF unit to receive bearer setup information containing a bearer type for at least one or more bearers;

control the RF unit to transmit a path switch request to a second network entity based on the bearer setup information;

control the RF unit to receive a path switch response from the second network entity in response to the path switch request; and

determine a path switch according to whether or not the path switch response indicates admission of a default bearer,

wherein the first network entity corresponds to a MeNB (master eNB), and

wherein the second network entity corresponds to a SeNB (secondary eNB).