Use of secondary-node loading as basis to control timing for configuring dual connectivity

A first access node comprising:

• a wireless communication interface through which the first access node is configured to engage in air-interface communication;
• a backhaul communication interface;
• and
• a controller configured to control configuration of connectivity of a user equipment device (UE) when the UE has a first connection between the UE and the first access node, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first access node to carry out operations including:
• determining a level of load of a second access node with which the UE is not currently connected, and
• using the determined level of load of the second access node as a basis to control whether to delay configuration of dual connectivity for the UE in which the UE would be served concurrently by the first access node over the first connection between the UE and the first access node and by the second access node over a second connection between the UE and the second access node,
• wherein using the determined level of load of the second access node as a basis to control whether to delay configuration of the dual connectivity for the UE comprises (i) making a determination whether the determined level of load of the second access node is at least predefined threshold high, (ii) if the determination is that the determined level of load of the second access node is not at least predefined threshold high, then, based at least in part on the determination, proceeding with application of a process for adding the second connection, without applying a timer for delaying application of the process, and (iii) if the determination is that the determined level of load of the second access node is at least predefined threshold high, then, based at least in part on the determination, applying the timer for delaying application of the process and, upon expiration of the timer, proceeding with application of the process.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon instructions executable by a processing unit to cause a first access node to carry out operations for controlling configuration of connectivity of a user equipment device (UE) when the UE has a first connection between the UE and the first access node, the operations including:

• determining a level of load of a second access node with which the UE is not currently connected, and
• using the determined level of load of the second access node as a basis to control whether to delay configuration of dual connectivity for the UE in which the UE would be served concurrently by the first access node over the first connection between the UE and the first access node and by the second access node over a second connection between the UE and the second access node,
• wherein using the determined level of load of the second access node as a basis to control whether to delay configuration of the dual connectivity for the UE comprises (i) making a determination whether the determined level of load of the second access node is at least predefined threshold high, (ii) if the determination is that the determined level of load of the second access node is not at least predefined threshold high, then, based at least in part on the determination, proceeding with application of a process for adding the second connection, without applying a timer for delaying application of the process, and (iii) if the determination is that the determined level of load of the second access node is at least predefined threshold high, then, based at least in part on the determination, applying the timer for delaying application of the process and, upon expiration of the timer, proceeding with application of the process.