Devices and methods for next generation technology indicators

• US 10,609,750 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2018
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Raghuram, Sharada, Parron, Jerome, Subramanian, Kumaran
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Nam T
• Application Number:
  US16/053,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20200045762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/023 with message or information receiving capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Devices and methods for enabling the reporting of technology indicators to a user operating on an LTE-NR Dual Connectivity mode. This may include establishing a first network access link with a primary network access node and a second network access link with a secondary network access node; identifying a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) corresponding to the first network access link and a second RAT corresponding to the second network access link; determining a first RAT Radio Link Control (RLC) leg for the first RAT and a second RAT RLC leg for the second RAT; and reporting at least the second RAT based on the determined second RAT RLC leg.

Claims

1. A communication device configured for dual connectivity supporting a first network access link with a primary network access node and a second network access link with a secondary network access node, the communication device comprising:

an identifier configured to identify a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) corresponding to the first network access link and a second RAT corresponding to the second network access link;

a determiner configured to determine between a first RAT Radio Link Control (RLC) leg for the first RAT and a second RAT RLC leg for the second RAT, determine a first type of data on the second RAT RLC leg based on the determining between the first RAT RLC leg and the second RAT RLC leg, and

identify a service associated with the first type of data, wherein the identifying of the service is performed by obtaining an information from a packet used to communicate the first type of data; and

a reporter configured to report at least the second RAT based on the determined second RAT RLC leg.

2. The communication device of claim 1, further configured to concurrently and simultaneously communicate data with the primary network access node and the secondary network access node via the first network access link and the second network access link, respectively, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are different.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first RAT is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAT.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the second RAT is a 5G new radio (NR) RAT.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first RAT is a 5G new radio (NR) RAT.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the second RAT is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAT.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the determiner is configured to determine between the first RAT RLC and the second RAT RLC leg by detecting an active communication of data on the respective RLC leg.

8. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a configuration message, wherein the determining between of the first RAT RLC and for the second RAT RLC leg is performed based on the configuration message.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the configuration message is received from the primary network access node.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the configuration message is an RRCConnectionReconfiguration message, an RRCReconfiguration message, or an RRCResume message.

11. The communication device of claim 1, the reporter configured to report at least the second RAT to the user via a display of the communication device.

12. The communication device of claim 1, the reporter further configured to report the determined service.

13. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are different.

14. A method for a communication device to perform wireless communications, the method comprising:

establishing a first network access link with a primary network access node and a second network access link with a secondary network access node, wherein the first network access link and the second network access link are configured to concurrently and simultaneously communicate data with the primary network access node and the secondary network access node, respectively;

identifying a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) corresponding to the first network access link and a second RAT corresponding to the second network access link;

determining between a first RAT Radio Link Control (RLC) leg for the first RAT and a second RAT RLC leg for the second RAT;

based on the determining between the first RAT RLC leg and the second RAT RLC leg, determining a first type of data on the second RAT RLC leg;

identifying a service associated with the first type of data, wherein the identifying of the service is performed by obtaining an information from a packet used to communicate the first type of data; and

reporting at least the second RAT based on the determined second RAT RLC leg and reporting the determined service.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising implementing a timer for each of the first RAT RLC leg and the second RAT RLC leg and restarting the timer for the respective RAT RLC leg each time a packet is sent or received over the respective RAT RLC leg, wherein the reporting is done based on the timer for at least the second RAT RLC leg.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the first RAT RLC leg and the second RAT RLC leg comprises detecting an active communication of data on the respective RAT RLC leg.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a first type of data on the second RAT RLC leg and determining a service associated with the first type of data.

18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor of a communication device, direct the communication device to:

establish a first network access link with a primary network access node and a second network access link with a secondary network access node;

identify a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) corresponding to the first network access link and a second RAT corresponding to the second network access link;

determining between a first RAT Radio Link Control (RLC) leg for the first RAT and a second RAT RLC leg for the second RAT;

based on the determining between the first RAT RLC leg and the second RAT RLC leg, determining a first type of data on the second RAT RLC leg;

identifying a service associated with the first type of data, wherein the identifying of the service is performed by obtaining an information from a packet used to communicate the first type of data; and

reporting at least the second RAT based on the determined second RAT RLC leg and reporting the determined service.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein determining the first RAT RLC leg and the second RAT RLC leg comprises detecting an active communication of data on the respective RLC leg.