Method, apparatus and system for managing bearers in a wireless communication system

• US 9,848,322 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel IP Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yujian, Pinheiro, Ana Lucia A., Heo, Youn Hyoung, Yiu, Candy, Fong, Mo-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Crompton, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US14/653,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20150351139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 370329
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0417 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0456 Selection of precoding matrices or codebooks, e.g. using matrices antenna weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/00 Time-division multiplex systems H04J14/00 takes precedence; relay systems H04B7/14; selecting techniques H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/24 Key scheduling, i.e. generating round keys or sub-keys for block encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0051 of dedicated pilots, i.e. pilots destined for a single user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0057 Physical resource allocation for CQI
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0062 Avoidance of ingress interference, e.g. ham radio channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0076 Allocation utility-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0096 Indication of changes in allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/22 : using time-division multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 : for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 : Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 : for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 : Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 : using a plurality of keys or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 : Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 : Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 : Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0231 : based on communication conditions dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition based on channel quality criteria H04W72/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 : of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• 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 36/22 : for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• 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 48/10 : using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 : using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 : Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 : Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 : Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 : Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 : the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 : Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 : in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 : Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 : Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatuses, and systems for managing bearers in a wireless communication system. In some embodiments, an apparatus, to be employed by a user equipment (UE), may comprise a communication module to: communicate with a core network on a first bearer through a master evolved Node B (MeNB); receive, from the MeNB, a first message of reconfiguring a radio resource control (RRC) connection to establish a second bearer between the UE and the core network and through a secondary eNB (SeNB); synchronize, in response to the message, with the SeNB in order to establish the second bearer; and communicate with the core network on the second bearer through the SeNB, and continue communicating with the core network on the first bearer through the MeNB.

Claims

1. An apparatus, to be employed by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

memory having instructions;

processing circuitry coupled with the memory to execute the instructions to cause the UE to;

communicate with a core network on one or more evolved packet system (EPS) bearers through a master evolved Node B (MeNB);

receive, from the MeNB, a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message to switch at least one of the one or more EPS bearers from the MeNB to a secondary eNB (SeNB);

synchronize with the SeNB, in response to the RRC connection reconfiguration message; and

communicate with the core network on the at least one of the EPS bearers through the SeNB; and

keep communication with the MeNB on a signaling radio through the MeNB.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further to execute the instructions to cause the UE to communicate with the core network on a default EPS bearer of the EPS bearers via the MeNB.

3. An apparatus, to be employed by a master evolved Node B (MeNB), comprising:

memory having instructions; and

processing circuitry coupled to the memory to execute the instructions to cause the MeNB to;

communicate with a user equipment (UE) and a core network on one or more evolved packet system (EPS) bearers through the MeNB;

transmit, to a secondary eNB (SeNB), an addition request of switching at least one of the EPS bearers from the MeNB to the SeNB;

receive, from the SeNB, an acknowledgment message to acknowledge that the at least one of the EPS bearers can be switched from the MeNB to the SeNB;

transmit, to the UE, a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message to switch the at least one of the EPS bearers;

communicate with the UE on a signaling radio bearer through the MeNB, while the UE further communicates with the core network on the at least one of the EPS bearers through the SeNB; and

continue to communicate with the UE and the core network on a default EPS bearer of the EPS bearers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the addition request comprises characteristics of the at least one of the EPS bearers, UE security capabilities, or security context.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further to execute the instructions to cause the MeNB to transmit, to a mobility management entity (MME), a path switch request of switching a downlink path of an EPS bearer from between the MeNB and the core network to between the SeNB and the core network.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further to execute the instructions to cause the MeNB to deliver in-transit packet data buffered at the MeNB to the SeNB.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further to execute the instructions to cause the MeNB to convey an uplink packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) serial number receiver status or a downlink PDCP serial number receiver status to the SeNB to preserve the uplink PDCP serial number receiver status or the downlink PDCP serial number receiver status.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the addition request comprises an information element to convey a list of evolved universal terrestrial radio access network radio access bearers (E-RABs) to be set up by the SeNB, and wherein the acknowledgment message comprises a list of admitted E-RABs including transport network layer address information for the respective admitted E-RAB.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the acknowledgment message comprises a transparent container to be sent to the UE, wherein said transparent container includes a cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) for identifying the UE by the SeNB.

10. One or more non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause a secondary evolved Node B (SeNB) to:

process an addition request, received from a master eNB (MeNB), the addition request to request switching of at least one of one or more evolved packet system (EPS) bearers from the MeNB to the SeNB, wherein a user equipment (UE) communicates with a core network on the EPS bearers through the MeNB;

transmit, to the MeNB, a message to acknowledge that the at least one of the EPS bearer can be switched;

synchronize with the UE in order to establish the at least one of the EPS bearer through the SeNB;

communicate with the UE and the core network on the at least one of the EPS bearer through the SeNB, while the UE further communicates with the MeNB on a signaling bearer through MeNB.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the addition request comprises characteristics of the at least one of the EPS bearers, UE security capabilities, or security context.

12. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the SeNB to buffer in-transit packet data received from the MeNB.

13. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the SeNB to process an uplink packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) serial number receiver status or a downlink PDCP serial number receiver status from the MeNB to preserve the uplink PDCP serial number receiver status or the downlink PDCP serial number receiver status.

14. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the SeNB to transmit, to a mobility management entity (MME), a path switch request of switching a downlink path of the EPS bearer from between the MeNB and the core network to between the SeNB and the core network.