Special cell selection at secondary network nodes supporting dual connectivity
AssigneeNokia Technologies Oy
InventorsChandrika Worrall, Sudeep Palat
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer program, network node and method performed at a secondary network node within a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that a user equipment may communicate with a master network node and a secondary network node at a same time, the secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells. The method comprising: determining at the secondary network node that a configuration of one of the plurality of cells as a special cell for the user equipment such that the special cell provides predetermined functionality should be transferred to another one of the plurality of cells; and in response to the determining step, transmitting a request for a change in special cell towards the master network node.
Claims14
A method performed at a secondary network node within a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that a user equipment may communicate with a master network node and the secondary network node, said secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells, said method comprising:
- determining at said secondary network node that a configuration of one of said plurality of cells as a special cell for said user equipment such that said special cell provides predetermined functionality should be transferred to another one of said plurality of cells;
- in response to said determining step, transmitting a request for a change in special cell towards said master network node;
- and
- receiving from said master network node one of a secondary network node modification request or a secondary network node addition request;
- wherein said master network node is configured to receive radio resource configuration information indicating the change in the cell designated as said special cell at said secondary network node prior to transmitting a radio resource connection reconfiguration request to said user equipment;
- wherein said radio resource connection reconfiguration request comprises a secondary network node modification request for modifying parameters relating to said secondary network node, said modification request comprising parameters identifying a new special cell;
- and
- wherein the special cell is configured to control downlink random access request (RAR) transmission for Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) procedure.
A method performed at a master network node within a wireless communication network that supports dual connectivity such that a user equipment may communicate with the master network node and a secondary network node, said secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells, said method comprising:
- receiving at said master network node a change request indicating that a configuration of a cell supported by said secondary network node as a special cell such that it provides predetermined functionality should be transferred to another one of said plurality of cells;
- in response to said change request, transmitting to said secondary network node one of a secondary network node modification request or a secondary network node addition request;
- transmitting a radio resource connection reconfiguration request to said user equipment;
- indicating to said secondary network node when reconfiguration process is complete;
- and
- receiving, at said master network node, radio resource configuration information indicating the change in the cell designated as said special cell at said secondary network node prior to transmitting said radio resource connection reconfiguration request to said user equipment;
- wherein said radio resource connection reconfiguration request comprises a secondary network node modification request for modifying parameters relating to said secondary network node, said modification request comprising parameters identifying a new special cell;
- and
- wherein the special cell is configured to control downlink random access request (RAR) transmission for Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) procedure.
A network node for use as a secondary network node within a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that a user equipment may communicate with a master network node and the secondary network node, said network node being operable to support a plurality of cells, said network node comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network node at least to:
- determine that a configuration of one of said plurality of cells as a special cell for said user equipment such that said special cell provides predetermined functionality should be transferred to another one of said plurality of cells;
- and
- transmit a request for a change in special cell towards said master network node in response to said determination that said special cell should be changed, and to receive from said master network node one of a secondary network node modification request or a secondary network node addition request;
- wherein said master network node is configured to receive radio resource configuration information indicating the change in the cell designated as said special cell at said secondary network node prior to transmitting a radio resource connection reconfiguration request to said user equipment;
- wherein said radio resource connection reconfiguration request comprises a secondary network node modification request for modifying parameters relating to said secondary network node, said modification request comprising parameters identifying a new special cell;
- and
- wherein the special cell is configured to control downlink random access request (RAR) transmission for Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) procedure.
A network node for use as a master network node within a wireless communication network supporting dual connectivity, such that a user equipment may communicate with the master network node and a secondary network node, said secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells, said network node comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network node at least to:
- receive a change request indicating that a configuration of a cell supported by said secondary network node as a special cell such that it has control of predetermined functionality should be transferred to another one of said plurality of cells;
- in response to said change request, transmit to said secondary network node one of a secondary network node modification request and a secondary network node addition request;
- wherein
- receive radio resource configuration information indicating a change in a cell configured as said special cell at said secondary network node;
- in response to receipt of said radio resource configuration information, transmit a radio resource connection reconfiguration request to said user equipment and to indicate to said secondary network node when reconfiguration process is complete;
- receive radio resource configuration information indicating the change in the cell designated as said special cell at said secondary network node prior to the transmitter transmitting said radio resource connection reconfiguration request to said user equipment,
- wherein said radio resource connection reconfiguration request comprises a secondary network node modification request for modifying parameters relating to said secondary network node, said modification request comprising parameters identifying a new special cell;
- and
- wherein the special cell is configured to control downlink random access request (RAR) transmission for Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) procedure.
A user equipment operable to communicate with a master network node and a secondary network node supporting a plurality of cells, the user equipment comprising:
- at least one processor
- at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to:
- apply a configuration of the plurality of cells supported by the secondary network node such that one of said plurality of cells is configured as a special cell for providing predetermined functionality and wherein said secondary network node is configured to initiate a change of special cell by transmitting a request for the change in special cell towards said master network node and, in response, receiving one of a secondary network node modification request or a secondary network node addition request, from said master network node and responding thereto;
- receive a RRCConnectionReconfiguration message from the master network node containing a new radio resource control (RRC) configuration including an indication of the change of special cell;
- apply the new RRC configuration;
- transmit an RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message towards the master network node;
- and
- perform a random access procedure to gain synchronization to the secondary network node with the new RRC configuration with changed special cell;
- wherein the special cell is configured to control downlink random access request (RAR) transmission for Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) procedure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.