# US 10,321,511 B2 · Systems and methods for data offload in wireless networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,511 B2 - Document ID: US10321511B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/967,228 - Filed: 2018-04-30 - Published: 2018-08-30 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-31 - Assignees: BlackBerry Limited - Applicants: BlackBerry Limited - Inventors: Shiwei Gao; Yufei Wu Blankenship; Zhijun Cai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321511B2 ## CPC - H04W 76/27: Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states - H04B 7/02: Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas (RAKE receivers H04B1/7115) - H04L 63/0428: {wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload} - H04W 16/32: Hierarchical cell structures - H04W 72/27: between access points - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W 72/0473: {the resource being transmission power} - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W 92/20: between access points - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Systems, methods, and apparatuses for radio resource control (RRC) signaling in wireless communication networks with data offload are provided. The radio configuration messages from a small cell to a dual connection UE may be sent by an overlay macro E-UTRAN node-B (eNB). The small cell may send the RRC messages to the macro-eNB first via a backhaul link, and the macro-eNB then transmits the messages to the UE. In some implementations, the radio configuration messages from a small cell to a dual connection UE may be sent directly from the small cell. In some other implementations, some of the RRC messages may be sent selectively to/from either the macro-cell or the small cell, or to/from both the macro-cell and the small cell. The type of RRC messages sent over the small cell and/or the macro-cell may be preconfigured or predetermined. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC) message from a first base station while the UE communicates concurrently with the first base station and a second base station, and the RRC message received from the first base station includes a label that identifies the second base station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the RRC message is transmitted from the second base station to the first base station. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the RRC message is encrypted by the first base station. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the RRC message is received from the first base station on a dedicated signal radio bearer (SRB) that identifies the second base station. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first base station and the second base station performs a different subset of RRC functionalities for the UE. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first base station is a macro node, and the second base station is a low power node. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second base station receives user plane data from the UE. ### Claim 8 A user equipment (UE), comprising: a memory; and at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to: receive a radio resource control (RRC) message from a first base station while the UE communicates concurrently with the first base station and a second base station, and the RRC message received from the first base station includes a label that identifies the second base station. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the RRC message is transmitted from the second base station to the first base station. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the RRC message is encrypted by the first base station. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the RRC message is received from the first base station on a dedicated signal radio bearer (SRB) that identifies the second base station. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The user equipment of claim 8, wherein each of the first base station and the second base station performs a different subset of RRC functionalities for the UE. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the first base station is a macro node, and the second base station is a low power node. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the second base station receives user plane data from the UE. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause a computing device to perform operations comprising, comprising: receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC) message from a first base station while the UE communicates concurrently with the first base station and a second base station, and the RRC message received from the first base station includes a label that identifies the second base station. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the RRC message is transmitted from the second base station to the first base station. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the RRC message is encrypted by the first base station. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the RRC message is received from the first base station on a dedicated signal radio bearer (SRB) that identifies the second base station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein each of the first base station and the second base station performs a different subset of RRC functionalities for the UE. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first base station is a macro node, and the second base station is a low power node.