Secondary cell link recovery request transmission

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to cause a user equipment device (UE) to:
• establish a connection with a secondary cell (SCell) of a cellular network;
• receive configuration for a first opportunity for transmission of a link recovery message on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH);
• determine that the connection with the SCell has failed;
• determine at least one condition for early transmission, prior to the first opportunity, of an indication that the connection with the SCell has failed;
• and
• transmit, to the cellular network prior to the first opportunity, the indication using a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

A method, comprising:

• at a user equipment device (UE):
• establishing a connection with a cellular network, wherein the connection includes:
• a link to a primary cell (PCell);
• and
• a link to a secondary cell (SCell);
• receiving configuration for a first opportunity for transmission of a link recovery message on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH);
• determining a failure of the link to the SCell;
• determining at least one condition for early transmission, prior to the first opportunity, of an indication of the failure of the link to the SCell;
• and
• transmitting, to the cellular network, the indication, wherein the indication is transmitted prior to the first opportunity in response to the determination of the at least one condition, wherein the indication is transmitted using a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).