Systems and methods for dual-connectivity operation

• US 9,538,575 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Shohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dewan, Sanjay K
• Application Number:
  US14/168,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20150215965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0069 in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink
• 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 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states

Abstract

A method for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving, from a first evolved Node B (eNB), an RRC connection reconfiguration (RRCConnectionReconfiguration) message including data radio bearer (DRB) configuration parameters for remapping a DRB that is established on a master cell group (MCG) to a secondary cell group (SCG).

Claims

1. A method for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

receiving, from a first evolved Node B (eNB), an RRC connection reconfiguration (RRCConnectionReconfiguration) message including data radio bearer (DRB) configuration parameters for remapping a DRB that is established on a master cell group (MCG) to a secondary cell group (SCG), wherein a DRB is mapped to either a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the MCG or a PDCP of the SCG and the MCG and the SCG are configured for dual connectivity in Long Term Evolution (LTE), the MCG comprises at least one primary cell (PCell), and the SCG comprises at least one primary secondary cell (PSCell), wherein a first medium access control (MAC) entity is configured for the MCG and a second MAC entity is configured for the SCG.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the DRB configuration parameters comprise at least one of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) configuration, a radio link control (RLC) configuration, logical channel configuration, logical channel identity and evolved packet system (EPS) bearer identity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to receipt of the RRC connection reconfiguration message, remapping a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) that is established on the MCG to the SCG.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising remapping the PDCP that is established on the MCG to the SCG after a random access procedure is successfully completed.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising re-establishing the PDCP on the SCG.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to receipt of the RRC connection reconfiguration message, remapping a radio link control (RLC) that is established on the MCG to the SCG.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising re-establishing the RLC on the SCG.

8. A method for sending a radio resource control (RRC) message by an evolved Node B (eNB), comprising:

sending, to a user equipment (UE), an RRC connection reconfiguration (RRCConnectionReconfiguration) message including data radio bearer (DRB) configuration parameters for remapping a DRB that is established on a master cell group (MCG) to a secondary cell group (SCG), wherein a DRB is mapped to either a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the MCG or a PDCP of the SCG and the MCG and the SCG are configured for dual connectivity in Long Term Evolution (LTE), the MCG comprises at least one primary cell (PCell), and the SCG comprises at least one primary secondary cell (PSCell), wherein a first medium access control (MAC) entity is configured for the MCG and a second MAC entity is configured for the SCG.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the DRB configuration parameters comprise at least one of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) configuration, a radio link control (RLC) configuration, logical channel configuration, logical channel identity and evolved packet system (EPS) bearer identity.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the sending the RRC connection reconfiguration message causes the UE to remap a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) that is established on the MCG to the SCG.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sending the RRC connection reconfiguration message causes the UE to remap the PDCP that is established on the MCG to the SCG after a random access procedure is successfully completed.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing the UE to re-establish the PDCP on the SCG.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the sending the RRC connection reconfiguration message causes the UE to remap a radio link control (RLC) that is established on the MCG to the SCG.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing the UE to re-establish the RLC on the SCG.

15. A user equipment (UE) for receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory are executable to;

receive, from first evolved Node B (eNB), an RRC connection reconfiguration (RRCConnectionReconfiguration) message including data radio bearer (DRB) configuration parameters for remapping a DRB that is established on a master cell group (MCG) to a secondary cell group (SCG), wherein a DRB is mapped to either a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the MCG or a PDCP of the SCG and the MCG and the SCG are configured for dual connectivity in Long Term Evolution (LTE), the MCG comprises at least one primary cell (PCell), and the SCG comprises at least one primary secondary cell (PSCell), wherein a first medium access control (MAC) entity is configured for the MCG and a second MAC entity is configured for the SCG.

16. The UE of claim 15, wherein the DRB configuration parameters comprise at least one of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) configuration, a radio link control (RLC) configuration, logical channel configuration, logical channel identity and evolved packet system (EPS) bearer identity.

17. The UE of claim 15, wherein in response to receipt of the RRC connection reconfiguration message, the instructions are further executable to remap a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) that is established on the MCG to the SCG.

18. The UE of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further executable to remap the PDCP that is established on the MCG to the SCG after a random access procedure is successfully completed.

19. The UE of claim 17, the instructions are further executable to re-establish the PDCP on the SCG.

20. The UE of claim 15, wherein in response to receipt of the RRC connection reconfiguration message, the instructions are further executable to remap a radio link control (RLC) that is established on the MCG to the SCG.

21. The UE of claim 20, the instructions are further executable to re-establish the RLC on the SCG.

22. An evolved Node B (eNB) for sending a radio resource control (RRC) message, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory are executable to;

send, to a user equipment (UE), an RRC connection reconfiguration (RRCConnectionReconfiguration) message including data radio bearer (DRB) configuration parameters for remapping a DRB that is established on a master cell group (MCG) to a secondary cell group (SCG), wherein a DRB is mapped to either a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the MCG or a PDCP of the SCG and the MCG and the SCG are configured for dual connectivity in Long Term Evolution (LTE), the MCG comprises at least one primary cell (PCell), and the SCG comprises at least one primary secondary cell (PSCell), wherein a first medium access control (MAC) entity is configured for the MCG and a second MAC entity is configured for the SCG.

23. The eNB of claim 22, wherein the DRB configuration parameters comprise at least one of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) configuration, a radio link control (RLC) configuration, logical channel configuration, logical channel identity and evolved packet system (EPS) bearer identity.

24. The eNB of claim 22, wherein the sending the RRC connection reconfiguration message causes the UE to remap a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) that is established on the MCG to the SCG.

25. The eNB of claim 24, wherein the sending the RRC connection reconfiguration message causes the UE to remap the PDCP that is established on the MCG to the SCG after a random access procedure is successfully completed.

26. The eNB of claim 24, wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the UE to re-establish the PDCP on the SCG.

27. The eNB of claim 22, wherein the sending the RRC connection reconfiguration message causes the UE to remap a radio link control (RLC) that is established on the MCG to the SCG.

28. The eNB of claim 27, wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the UE to re-establish the RLC on the SCG.