Radio link management in a split RAN architecture

A method of operating a distributed unit (DU) network node to manage resources associated with a radio link serving a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• receiving, from a central unit (CU) network node coupled to the DU network node, one or more criteria relating to reporting quality metrics pertaining to the radio link;
• transmitting one or more quality metric reports to the CU network node in accordance with the one or more criteria;
• and
• receiving one or more instructions, from the CU network node, for changing resources associated with the radio link serving the UE based on the one or more quality metric reports and information identifying whether the radio link is a single-connectivity link or a multi-connectivity link.

A central unit (CU) network node for a radio access network (RAN), the CU node comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with one or more distributed unit (DU) network nodes;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication interface circuitry and configured to:
• configure the one or more DU network node with one or more criteria relating to reporting quality metrics pertaining to a radio link serving a user equipment (UE);
• receive one or more quality metric reports, from a reporting DU network node of the one or more DU network nodes, in accordance with the one or more criteria;
• and
• determine a change in resources associated with the radio link serving the UE based on the one or more quality metric reports and information identifying whether the radio link is a single-connectivity link or a multi-connectivity link.

A distributed unit (DU) network node for a radio access network, the DU network node comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with a central unit (CU) network node;
• transceiver circuitry configured for communicating with a user equipment (UE);
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication interface circuitry and transceiver circuitry and configured to:
• receive, from the CU network node, one or more criteria relating to reporting quality metrics pertaining to a radio link serving the UE;
• transmit one or more quality metric reports to the CU network node in accordance with the one or more criteria;
• and
• receive one or more instructions, from the CU network node, for changing resources associated with the radio link serving the UE based on the one or more quality metric reports and information identifying whether the radio link is a single-connectivity link or a multi-connectivity link.