Method and apparatus for managing dual registration with multiple networks in one or more radio communication systems

A method in a network entity of a first one of multiple networks, each network supporting a different radio access technology, the method comprising:

• establishing a communication connection between the network entity and the user equipment, while the user equipment has established and is maintaining an alternative communication connection with another network entity associated with a second one of the multiple networks;
• receiving flow management information from a shared common control element of the user equipment, which manages parallel user equipment activity including a flow of information between the user equipment and each of the multiple networks via the respective communication connections;
• and
• communicating with the user equipment in a manner which is consistent with the flow management information received from the shared common control element;
• and
• wherein when the sum of the power to be applied to each of the transmitters during parallel user equipment activity exceeds a maximum allowed transmit power of the user equipment, the method includes where the user equipment determines and applies a power back off to be applied to at least one of the transmitters of the user equipment;
• and
• wherein the shared common control element includes a multilayer non access stratum having respective lower non access stratum associated with a corresponding one of each of the multiple networks, and having an upper common layer non access stratum which coordinates the parallel user equipment activity across the multiple networks, the method further comprising
• exchanging radio communication capabilities with the user equipment, and
• receiving from the upper common layer non access stratum an indication as to whether one or both of the lower non access stratums associated with each of the multiple networks should be used for supporting concurrent access to the multiple networks.

A network entity comprising:

• a transceiver that establishes a communication connection between the network entity and the user equipment, while the user equipment has established and is maintaining an alternative communication connection with another network entity associated with a second one of the multiple networks, where the multiple networks each support a different radio access technology, and that receives flow management information from a shared common control element of the user equipment, which manages the parallel user equipment activity including a flow of information between the user equipment and each of the multiple networks via the respective communication connections;
• and
• a controller that manages the flow of information communicated between the network entity and the user equipment via the transceiver of the network entity in a manner consistent with the flow management information that was received from the shared common control element of the user equipment;
• and
• wherein the shared common control element includes one or more away patterns, that are each shared with a respective one of the first one and the second one of the multiple networks, where each of the one or more away patterns define periods of time during which the corresponding one of the first one and the second one of the multiple networks should avoid scheduling communications with the user equipment;
• wherein the shared common control element of the user equipment includes a multilayer non access stratum having respective lower non access stratum associated with a corresponding one of each of the multiple networks, and having an upper common layer non access stratum which coordinates the parallel user equipment activity across the multiple networks;
• and
• wherein radio communication capabilities are exchanged between the multilayer non access stratum and one or more core network nodes associated with the multiple networks of the radio communication system, and the upper common layer non access stratum provides an indication as to whether one or both of the lower non access stratums associated with each of the multiple networks should be used for supporting concurrent access to the multiple networks.