# US 11,310,852 B2 · Apparatus and method related to dual connectivity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,852 B2 - Document ID: US11310852B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/747,810 - Filed: 2016-08-04 - Published: 2018-08-02 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-11 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Applicants: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Sadafuku Hayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310852B2 ## CPC - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W 76/25: Maintenance of established connections - H04W 16/32: Hierarchical cell structures - H04W 36/0027: {for a plurality of data sessions of end-to-end connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer end-to-end data connections} - H04W 76/30: Connection release - H04W 92/20: between access points - H04W 88/08: Access point devices - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract An apparatus and a method which make it possible to suppress occurrence of an unnecessary operation in a case of an SCG bearer. The apparatus includes: a communication processing unit configured to communicate with a terminal apparatus over a Master Cell Group (MCG) bearer for dual connectivity of the terminal apparatus; a request unit configured to request a secondary base station, which communicates with the terminal apparatus over a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) bearer for the dual connectivity, to report activity-related information related to an activity of the terminal apparatus in an SCG of the secondary base station; and an information acquisition unit configured to acquire the activity-related information reported by the secondary base station. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A base station which communicates with a terminal apparatus over a Master Cell Group (MCG) bearer for dual connectivity, the base station comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit an Addition Request message to a secondary base station which communicates with the terminal apparatus over a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) bearer for the dual connectivity, the Addition Request message including a first information element, an Expected UE Behavior information element, and an inactivity timer, wherein the first information element indicates a request for the secondary base station to report information related to an activity of the terminal apparatus in a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) which is a group of serving cells associated with the secondary base station, wherein the first information element is different from the inactivity timer, and wherein the first information element does not include the inactivity timer; and a receiver configured to receive the information transmitted by the secondary base station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The base station according to claim 1, wherein the information indicates whether the terminal apparatus is inactive or not. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The base station according to claim 1, wherein the Addition Request message and a first message are transmitted on a first procedure, the first message being an acknowledge message which corresponds to the Addition Request message, and wherein the information included in a second message is received on a second procedure, the second procedure being different from the first procedure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The base station according to claim 3, wherein the information is transmitted when the activity of the terminal apparatus is changed, if the acknowledge message is transmitted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The base station according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted when the activity of the terminal apparatus is changed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The base station according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted when the activity of the terminal apparatus is changed to be inactive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The base station according to claim 1, wherein the secondary base station sends the information in a case of changing activity state of the terminal apparatus, the information indicating the terminal apparatus is active. ### Claim 8 A base station which communicates with a terminal apparatus over a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) bearer for dual connectivity, the base station comprising: a receiver configured to receive an Addition Request message from a master base station which communicates with the terminal apparatus over a Master Cell Group (MCG) bearer for the dual connectivity, the Addition Request message including a first information element, an Expected UE Behavior information element, and an inactivity timer, wherein the first information element indicates a request to report information related to an activity of the terminal apparatus in a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) which is a group of serving cells associated with the base station, wherein the first information element is different from the inactivity timer, and wherein the first information element does not include the inactivity timer; and a transmitter configured to transmit the information to the master base station. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The base station according to claim 8, wherein the information indicates whether the terminal apparatus is inactive or not. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The base station according to claim 8, wherein the Addition Request message and a first message are transmitted on a first procedure, the first message being an acknowledge message which corresponds to the Addition Request message, and wherein the information included in a second message is received on a second procedure, the second procedure being different from the first procedure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The base station according to claim 8, wherein the information is transmitted when the activity of the terminal apparatus is changed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The base station according to claim 8, wherein the information is transmitted when the activity of the terminal apparatus is changed to be inactive. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The base station according to claim 8, wherein the base secondary station sends the information in a case of changing activity state of the terminal apparatus, the information indicating the terminal apparatus is active. ### Claim 14 A method for a base station, the method comprising: communicating with a terminal apparatus over a Master Cell Group (MCG) bearer for dual connectivity; transmitting an Addition Request message to a secondary base station which communicates with the terminal apparatus over a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) bearer for the dual connectivity, the Addition Request message separately including a first information element, an Expected UE Behavior information element, and an inactivity timer, wherein the first information element indicates a request for the secondary base station to report information related to an activity of the terminal apparatus in a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) which is a group of serving cells associated with the secondary base station, wherein the first information element is different from the inactivity timer, and wherein the first information element does not include the inactivity timer; and receiving the information transmitted by the secondary base station. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the information indicates whether the terminal apparatus is inactive or not. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the Addition Request message and a first message are transmitted on a first procedure, the first message being an acknowledge message which corresponds to the Addition Request message, and wherein the information included in a second message is received on a second procedure, the second procedure being different from the first procedure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the information is transmitted when the activity of the terminal apparatus is changed, if the acknowledge message is transmitted. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the information is transmitted when the activity of the terminal apparatus is changed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the information is transmitted when the activity of the terminal apparatus is changed to be inactive. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, transmitting, by the secondary base station, the information in a case of changing activity state of the terminal apparatus, the information indicating the terminal apparatus is active.