5G/LTE dual connectivity

• US 10,716,157 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2017
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Belghoul, Farouk, Mucke, Christian W., Smaini, Lydi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Mahbubul Bar
• Application Number:
  US15/828,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20180227960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00226 wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1273 of downlink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods to perform attachment of a wireless device to substantially concurrent connections with a next generation network node and a legacy network node. The wireless device may be configured to transmit a request to attach to a first network node operating according to the first RAT and transmit an indication that the wireless device is capable of maintaining substantially concurrent connections with the first network node and a second network node that operates according to the second RAT. The wireless device may also be configured transmit a request to attach to the second network node. The request may include an indication that the wireless device is capable of maintaining substantially concurrent connections with the first and second network nodes. Further, the wireless device may be configured to receive an indication that dual connectivity with the first and second network nodes has been established.

Claims

1. A user equipment device (UE), comprising:

a first radio in communication with a first antenna, wherein the first radio is configured to perform cellular communication according to a first radio access technology (RAT);

a second radio in communication with a second antenna, wherein the second radio is configured to perform cellular communication according to a second RAT;

a switch coupled to the first and second radios;

a third antenna coupled to the switch, wherein a first state of the switch enables communication between the first radio and the third antenna, wherein a second state of the switch enables communication between the second radio and the third antenna; and

one or more processors coupled to the first and second radios, wherein the one or more processors and the first and second radios are configured to perform voice and/or data communications;

wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the UE to;

couple the third antenna to the first radio via the switch;

transmit, via the first radio while the switch is in the first state, a request to attach to a first network node operating according to the first RAT;

transmit, via the first radio while the switch is in the first state, signaling indicating that the UE is capable of maintaining concurrent downlink (DL) connections with the first network node and a second network node, and wherein the second network node operates according to the second RAT, wherein the DL connections are maintained via the first radio and the second radio;

couple the third antenna to the second radio via the switch;

transmit, via the second radio while the switch is in the second state, signaling to attach to the second network node;

receive, via the first receive chain, uplink and downlink grants from the first network node in a dual connectivity configuration with the first and second network nodes; and

receive, via the second receive chain, uplink and downlink grants from the second network node in the dual connectivity configuration with the first and second network nodes, wherein a portion of downlink subframes are not available for downlink transmissions from the first network node to accommodate potential uplink transmissions to the second network node.

2. The UE of claim 1,

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:

receive, via the first radio, uplink and downlink grants from the first network node.

3. The UE of any of claim 1,

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:

receive, via the second radio, a dynamic uplink resource allocation from the second network node.

4. The UE of claim 3,

wherein the dynamic uplink resource allocation accommodates uplink grants received from the first network node.

5. The UE of claim 1,

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:

receive, via the second radio, an uplink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) schedule from the second network node.

6. The UE of claim 5,

wherein the uplink HARQ schedule accommodates the uplink grants received from the first network node.

7. The UE of claim 1,

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:

receive, via the first radio, downlink transmissions from the first network node while concurrently receiving, via the second radio, downlink transmissions from the second network node.

8. The UE of claim 1,

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:

switch the state of the switch from the first state to the second state; and

transmit, via the second radio, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgements/negative acknowledgements associated with data received from the second network node.

9. The UE of claim 1,

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:

receive, via the first radio, uplink and downlink grants from the first network node, wherein the uplink and downlink grants comprise a semi-static pattern of uplink and downlink transmissions; and

receive, via the second radio, a dynamic uplink resource allocation from the second network node, wherein the dynamic uplink resource allocation accommodates the semi-static pattern of uplink grants received from the first network node.

10. The UE of claim 1,

wherein the first RAT is LTE;

and

wherein the second RAT is 5G NR.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor in communication with the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

generate instructions to transmit, via a transmit chain in communication with the at least one processor, a request to attach to a first network node operating according to Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access technology (RAT);

generate instructions to transmit to the first network node via the transmit chain, signaling indicating that concurrent downlink (DL) connections with the first network node and a second network node can be maintained, wherein the second network node operates according to 5G new radio (5G NR) RAT, and wherein the DL connections are maintained via a first receive chain in communication with the at least one processor and a second receive chain in communication with the at least one processor;

generate instructions to transmit to the second network node via the transmit chain, signaling to attach to the second network node;

receive, via the first receive chain, uplink and downlink grants from the first network node in a dual connectivity configuration with the first and second network nodes; and

receive, via the second receive chain, uplink and downlink grants from the second network node in the dual connectivity configuration with the first and second network nodes, wherein a portion of downlink subframes are not available for downlink transmissions from the first network node to accommodate potential uplink transmissions to the second network node.

12. The apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, via the first receive chain, uplink and downlink grants from the first network node.

13. The apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, via the second receive chain, a dynamic uplink resource allocation from the second network node, wherein the dynamic uplink resource allocation accommodates uplink grants received from the first network node.

14. The apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, via the second receive chain, an uplink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) schedule from the second network node.

15. The apparatus of claim 14,

wherein the uplink HARQ schedule accommodates the uplink grants received from the first network node.

16. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium storing program instructions executable by processing circuitry to cause a user equipment device (UE) to:

generate instructions to transmit, via a transmit chain of the UE, a request to attach to a first network node operating according to a first radio access technology (RAT);

generate instructions to transmit to the first network node via the transmit chain, signaling indicating that the UE is capable of maintaining concurrent downlink (DL) connections with the first network node and a second network node, wherein the second network node operates according to a second RAT, and wherein the DL connections are maintained via a first receive chain of the UE and a second receive chain of the UE;

generate instructions to transmit to the second network node via the transmit chain, signaling to attach to the second network node;

receive, via the first receive chain, uplink and downlink grants from the first network node in a dual connectivity configuration with the first and second network nodes; and

receive, via the second receive chain, uplink and downlink grants from the second network node in the dual connectivity configuration with the first and second network nodes, wherein a portion of downlink subframes are not available for downlink transmissions from the first network node to accommodate potential uplink transmissions to the second network node.

17. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 16,

wherein the program instructions are further executable by processing circuitry to cause the UE to:

receive, via the second receive chain, a dynamic uplink resource allocation from the second network node, wherein the dynamic uplink resource allocation accommodates uplink grants received from the first network node.

18. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 16,

wherein the program instructions are further executable by processing circuitry to cause the UE to:

receive, via the second receive chain, an uplink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) schedule from the second network node, wherein the uplink HARQ schedule accommodates the uplink grants received from the first network node.

19. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 16,

wherein the program instructions are further executable by processing circuitry to cause the UE to:

receive, via the first receive chain, downlink transmissions from the first network node while concurrently receiving, via the second receive chain, downlink transmissions from the second network node.

20. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 16,

wherein the first RAT is LTE;

and

wherein the second RAT is 5G NR.