# US 10,772,100 B1 · Dynamic carrier allocation based on dual-connectivity capability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,772,100 B1 - Document ID: US10772100B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/929,186 - Filed: 2019-12-11 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-21 - Assignees: Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Applicants: Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Inventors: Sreekar Marupaduga; Rajveen Narendran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10772100B1 ## CPC - H04W 72/51: based on terminal or device properties - H04L 5/0032: {Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A base station that is configured to provide first-RAT service on multiple carriers will reserve at least one of the carriers for use in providing UEs with dual-connectivity service on the first RAT and a second RAT, and the base station will reserve at least one other of the carriers for use in providing UEs with standalone first-RAT service. For instance, a 4G base station that is configured to provide 4G service on multiple 4G carriers could reserve at least one of those 4G carriers for use in providing UEs with EN-DC service (where each UE would be served concurrently on a 5G carrier as well) and could reserve another one of those 4G carriers for use in providing UEs with standalone 4G service. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A base station configured to control carrier assignment, the base station comprising: a wireless communication interface through which the base station is configured to provide wireless communication service, wherein the base station is configured to operate on a first carrier and on a second carrier, a network communication interface though which the base station is configured to communicate on a core network; and a controller for controlling the carrier assignment by the base station, wherein the controller is configured to reserve the first carrier for dual-connectivity service and the controller is configured to reserve the second carrier for standalone service. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The base station of claim 1, wherein the base station is configured to operate in accordance with a first radio access technology (RAT) on each of the first carrier and the second carrier, wherein the dual-connectivity service comprises service concurrently (i) by the base station in accordance with the first RAT and (ii) by another base station in accordance with a second RAT, and wherein the standalone service comprises service by the base station in accordance with the first RAT without concurrent service by another base station in accordance with the second RAT. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The base station of claim 2, wherein the first RAT is 4G LTE, wherein the second RAT is 5G NR, and wherein the dual-connectivity service is EN-DC. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The base station of claim 1, wherein reserving the first carrier for use in providing of the dual-connectivity service rather than the standalone service comprises causing a UE to be connected with the base station on the first carrier rather than on the second carrier in response to determining that the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The base station of claim 4, wherein determining that the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service comprises referring to UE-capabilities data that indicates whether the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The base station of claim 1, wherein reserving the second carrier for use in providing of the standalone service rather than the dual-connectivity service comprises causing a UE to be connected with the base station on the second carrier rather than on the first carrier in response to determining that the UE does not support engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The base station of claim 6, wherein determining that the UE does not support engaging in the dual-connectivity service comprises referring to UE-capabilities data that indicates whether the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 8 A method for controlling use of radio-frequency carriers by a base station, wherein the base station is configured to operate on at least a first carrier and a second carrier, the method comprising: reserving by the base station the first carrier for use in providing of dual-connectivity service rather than standalone service; and reserving by the base station the second carrier for use in providing of the standalone service rather than the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the base station is configured to operate in accordance with a first radio access technology (RAT) on each of the first carrier and the second carrier, wherein the dual-connectivity service comprises service concurrently (i) by the base station in accordance with the first RAT and (ii) by another base station in accordance with a second RAT, and wherein the standalone service comprises service by the base station in accordance with the first RAT without concurrent service by another base station in accordance with the second RAT. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the first RAT is 4G LTE, wherein the second RAT is 5G NR, and wherein the dual-connectivity service is EN-DC. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein reserving the first carrier for use in providing of the dual-connectivity service rather than the standalone service comprises causing a UE to be connected with the base station on the first carrier rather than on the second carrier in response to determining that the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining that the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service comprises referring to UE-capabilities data that indicates whether the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein reserving the second carrier for use in providing of the standalone service rather than the dual-connectivity service comprises causing a UE to be connected with the base station on the second carrier rather than on the first carrier in response to determining that the UE does not support engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein determining that UE does not support engaging in the dual-connectivity service comprises referring to UE-capabilities data that indicates whether the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising forgoing by the base station from advertising coverage of the base station on the first carrier, wherein the forgoing by the base station from advertising coverage of the base station on the first carrier prevents initial UE-connectivity with the base station on the first carrier. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying program instructions executable by a processing unit to carry out operations for controlling use of radio-frequency carriers by a base station, wherein the base station is configured to operate on at least a first carrier and a second carrier, the operations comprising: causing the base station to reserve the first carrier for use in providing of dual-connectivity service rather than standalone service; and causing the base station to reserve the second carrier for use in providing of the standalone service rather than the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the base station is configured to operate in accordance with a first radio access technology (RAT) on each of the first carrier and the second carrier, wherein the dual-connectivity service comprises service concurrently (i) by the base station in accordance with the first RAT and (ii) by another base station in accordance with a second RAT, and wherein the standalone service comprises service by the base station in accordance with the first RAT without concurrent service by another base station in accordance with the second RAT. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first RAT is 4G LTE, wherein the second RAT is 5G NR, and wherein the dual-connectivity service is EN-DC. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein reserving the first carrier for use in providing of the dual-connectivity service rather than the standalone service comprises causing a UE to be connected with the base station on the first carrier rather than on the second carrier in response to determining that the UE supports engaging in the dual-connectivity service. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein reserving the second carrier for use in providing of the standalone service rather than the dual-connectivity service comprises causing a UE to be connected with the base station on the second carrier rather than on the first carrier in response to determining that the UE does not support engaging in the dual-connectivity service.