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US 11,706,793 B2Granted
User equipment and methods of bearer operation for carrier aggregation
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsYujian Zhang, Youn Hyoung Heo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of a User Equipment (UE) to support dual-connectivity with a Master Evolved Node-B (MeNB) and a Secondary eNB (SeNB) are disclosed herein. The UE may receive downlink traffic packets from the MeNB and from the SeNB as part of a split data radio bearer (DRB). At least a portion of control functionality for the split DRB may be performed at each of the MeNB and the SeNB. The UE may receive an uplink eNB indicator for an uplink eNB to which the UE is to transmit uplink traffic packets as part of the split DRB. Based at least partly on the uplink eNB indicator, the UE may transmit uplink traffic packets to the uplink eNB as part of the split DRB. The uplink eNB may be selected from a group that includes the MeNB and the SeNB.
Claims22
A user equipment (UE) comprising:
- a radio;
- and
- a processor operably coupled to the radio and configured to cause the UE, while configured for dual connectivity with a master node and a secondary node, to:
- receive downlink traffic packets from at least one of the master node and the secondary node as part of a split data radio bearer (DRB), the downlink traffic packets including downlink traffic packets received out of sequence as part of the split DRB, wherein the split DRB includes corresponding radio link control (RLC) functionalities at the master node and the secondary node;
- start a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) timer for reordering the downlink traffic packets received out of sequence as part of the split DRB, wherein when the PDCP timer is set to zero, the downlink traffic packets may be delivered to at least one upper layer without additional reordering delay at a PDCP layer due to the PDCP timer;
- and
- deliver the downlink traffic packets to the at least one upper layer.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- at a master node, while in communication with a user equipment device (UE) configured for dual connectivity with the master node and a secondary node:
- transmit, to the UE, a configuration for a split data radio bearer (DRB), wherein the split DRB is to be served by the master node and the secondary node;
- and
- transmit, to the UE, downlink traffic packets as part of the split DRB, wherein the split DRB includes corresponding radio link control (RLC) functionalities at the master node and the secondary node, wherein the split DRB is associated with a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) timer for reordering downlink traffic packets received out of sequence as part of the split DRB, wherein when the PDCP timer is set to zero, the downlink traffic packets may be delivered to at least one upper layer of the UE without additional reordering delay at a PDCP layer due to the PDCP timer.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a processor configured to cause a user equipment (UE) configured for dual connectivity with a master node and a secondary node to:
- receive downlink traffic packets from at least one of the master node and the secondary node as part of a split data radio bearer (DRB), the downlink traffic packets including downlink traffic packets received out of sequence as part of the split DRB, wherein the split DRB includes corresponding radio link control (RLC) functionalities at the master node and the secondary node;
- start a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) timer for reordering the downlink traffic packets received out of sequence as part of the split DRB, wherein when the PDCP timer is set to zero, the downlink traffic packets may be delivered to at least one upper layer without additional reordering delay at a PDCP layer due to the PDCP timer;
- and
- deliver the downlink traffic packets to the at least one upper layer.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- at a network, while in communication with a user equipment device (UE) configured for dual connectivity with a master node and a secondary node of the network:
- transmit, to the UE, a configuration for a split data radio bearer (DRB), wherein the split DRB is to be served by the master node and the secondary node;
- and
- transmit, to the UE, downlink traffic packets as part of the split DRB, wherein the split DRB includes corresponding radio link control (RLC) functionalities at the master node and the secondary node, wherein the split DRB is associated with a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) timer for reordering downlink traffic packets received out of sequence as part of the split DRB, wherein when the PDCP timer is set to zero, the downlink traffic packets may be delivered to at least one upper layer of the UE without additional reordering delay at a PDCP layer due to the PDCP timer.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.