Method and apparatus for supporting UE-to-network relay communication in a wireless communication system

A method for a remote User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• establishing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with a network, wherein a first Radio Link Control (RLC) entity is created and used for transmitting a first RRC message for request of establishing the RRC connection to the network;
• selecting a relay UE;
• releasing the first RLC entity in response to selection of the relay UE;
• and
• transmitting a second RRC message to the network via the relay UE.

A remote UE (User Equipment), comprising:

• a control circuit;
• a processor installed in the control circuit;
• and
• a memory installed in the control circuit and operatively coupled to the processor;
• wherein the processor is configured to execute a program code stored in the memory to:
• establish a unicast link with a relay UE;
• establish a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with a network via the relay UE, wherein a first Radio Link Control (RLC) entity is created and used for transmitting a first RRC message for request of establishing the RRC connection to the network via the relay UE;
• select a suitable cell;
• release the first RLC entity in response to selection of the suitable cell;
• and
• transmit a second RRC message to the network directly.

A remote UE (User Equipment), comprising:

• a control circuit;
• a processor installed in the control circuit;
• and
• a memory installed in the control circuit and operatively coupled to the processor;
• wherein the processor is configured to execute a program code stored in the memory to:
• establish a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with a network, wherein a first Radio Link Control (RLC) entity is created and used for transmitting a first RRC message for request of establishing the RRC connection to the network;
• select a relay UE;
• release the first RLC entity in response to selection of the relay UE;
• and
• transmit a second RRC message to the network via the relay UE.