Multi-connectivity restriction for services demanding single-path or single access

A user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a memory configured to store a mapping table, wherein the mapping table comprises assignment information about a respective single access mode assigned to a service requestable by the UE, wherein the respective single access mode is one of multiple access modes usable by the UE, wherein each of the multiple access modes corresponds to a different respective transmission technology, and wherein the multiple access modes comprise a cellular single access mode corresponding to a cellular communication link and a Wi-Fi single access mode corresponding to a Wi-Fi communication link;
• a network interface configured to receive service information about a requested service;
• at least one processor configured to:
• compare the received service information to entries of the mapping table;
• select a single access mode assigned to the requested service based on a respective entry of the mapping table which corresponds to the received service information;
• and
• restrict the multi-connectivity functionality of the UE while transmitting data traffic associated with the requested service, wherein restricting the multi-connectivity functionality of the UE while transmitting the data traffic associated with the requested service comprises:
• redirecting the data traffic associated with the requested service such that the data traffic associated with the requested service is transmitted according to the selected single access mode;
• or scheduling the data traffic associated with the requested service to a communication link that corresponds to the selected single access mode.

A communication system, comprising

• a communication network configured to provide multipath functionality over multiple communication links;
• a user equipment (UE) having a mapping table stored thereon, wherein the mapping table comprises assignment information about a respective single access mode assigned to a service requestable by the UE, wherein the respective single access mode is one of multiple access modes usable by the UE, wherein each of the multiple access modes corresponds to a different respective transmission technology, and wherein the multiple access modes comprise a cellular single access mode corresponding to a cellular communication link and a Wi-Fi single access mode corresponding to a Wi-Fi communication link;
• and
• a multipath termination endpoint (MP-TE), wherein the user equipment is connected to the MP-TE via the communication network;
• wherein the UE is configured to request a service that is provided by the MP-TE;
• and
• wherein the MP-TE is configured to transmit service information of the requested service to the UE via the communication network;
• wherein the UE is further configured to:
• compare the received service information to entries of the mapping table;
• select a single access mode assigned to the requested service based on a respective entry of the mapping table which corresponds to the received service information;
• and
• restrict the multi-connectivity functionality of the UE while transmitting data traffic associated with the requested service, wherein restricting the multi-connectivity functionality of the UE while transmitting the data traffic associated with the requested service comprises:
• redirecting the data traffic associated with the requested service such that the data traffic associated with the requested service is transmitted according to the selected single access mode;
• or scheduling the data traffic associated with the requested service to a communication link that corresponds to the selected single access mode.