# US 12,004,004 B2 · Apparatus and method for controlling data flow in wireless communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,004 B2 - Document ID: US12004004B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/306,747 - Filed: 2023-04-25 - Published: 2023-08-17 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-12 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Himke Van Der Velde; Gert Jan Van Lieshout - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004004B2 ## CPC - H04W 28/0268: {using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] (negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24)} - H04W 28/082: among bearers or channels - H04W 36/08: Reselecting an access point - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W 76/22: Manipulation of transport tunnels - H04W 36/00695: {using split of the control plane or user plane} - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). The present disclosure provides apparatus and method for controlling data flow in wireless communication system. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of managing a data flow in a wireless communication system comprises controlling a quality of service (QoS) flow to be transferred from a first data radio bearer (DRB) to a second DRB. Herein, the QoS flow is a flow of data carried by a DRB between a terminal and at least one network entity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method performed by a core network entity, the method comprising: receiving, from a master node (MN), a session modification message for offloading at least one quality of service (QoS) flow of a protocol data unit (PDU) session from the MN to a secondary node (SN), wherein the PDU session comprises a plurality of QoS flows of the PDU session; and transmitting, to the MN, a response message, wherein the session modification message includes information of the at least one QoS flow, wherein the MN is configured with a first layer for mapping between a QoS flow and a data radio bearer (DRB), wherein the SN is configured with a second layer for mapping between a QoS flow and a DRB, and wherein the first layer and the second layer are configured for the PDU session for the offloading of the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session between the MN and the SN. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one or more QoS flows of the plurality of QoS flows is mapped to a split bearer in the SN. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the QoS flow of a terminal is offloaded from the MN to the SN, and wherein the MN and the SN are connected to 5th generation core network (5GC). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the session modification message includes information on a tunnel of the SN, which is associated with the at least one QoS flow. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from the MN, another session modification message for offloading at least one another QoS flow of the PDU session from the SN to the MN. ### Claim 6 A method performed by a secondary node (SN) for dual connectivity in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving, from a master node (MN), an addition request message associated with at least one quality of service (QoS) flow of a protocol data unit (PDU) session for offloading the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session; transmitting, to the MN, an addition request acknowledge message, in response to the addition request message; and receiving, from the MN, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message, wherein the MN is configured with a first layer for mapping between a QoS flow and a data radio bearer (DRB), wherein the SN is configured with a second layer for mapping between a QoS flow and a DRB, and wherein the first layer and the second layer are configured for the PDU session for the offloading of the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session between the MN and the SN. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the addition request message includes uplink tunnel information used at the MN, and wherein the addition request acknowledge message includes downlink tunnel information used at the SN. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: performing a random access procedure with a user equipment (UE) for delivering a packet of the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: in case that an additional QoS flow of the PDU session needs to be offloaded, receiving a modification request message associated with the additional QoS flow; and transmitting a modification request acknowledge message, in response to the modification request message. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session is offloaded determined by the MN and the MN and the SN are connected to 5th generation core network (5GC). ### Claim 11 A core network entity, comprising: at least one transceiver; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one transceiver and configured to: receive, from a master node (MN), a session modification message for offloading at least one quality of service (QoS) flow of a protocol data unit (PDU) session from the MN to a secondary node (SN), wherein the PDU session comprises a plurality of QoS flows of the PDU session, and transmit, to the MN, a response message, wherein the session modification message includes information of the at least one QoS flow, wherein the MN is configured with a first layer for mapping between a QoS flow and a data radio bearer (DRB), wherein the SN is configured with a second layer for mapping between a QoS flow and a DRB, and wherein the first layer and the second layer are configured for the PDU session for the offloading of the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session between the MN and the SN. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The core network entity of claim 11, wherein one or more QoS flows of the plurality of QoS flows is mapped to a split bearer in the SN. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The core network entity of claim 11, wherein the QoS flow of a terminal is offloaded from the MN to the SN, and wherein the MN and the SN are connected to 5th generation core network (5GC). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The core network entity of claim 11, wherein the session modification message includes information on a tunnel of the SN, which is associated with the at least one QoS flow. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The core network entity of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive, from the MN, another session modification message for offloading at least one another QoS flow of the PDU session from the SN to the MN. ### Claim 16 A secondary node (SN) for dual connectivity in a wireless communication system, the SN comprising: at least one transceiver; and at least one processor operably coupled to the at least one transceiver and configured to: receive, from a master node (MN), an addition request message associated with at least one quality of service (QoS) flow of a protocol data unit (PDU) session for offloading the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session, transmit, to the MN, an addition request acknowledge message, in response to the addition request message, and receive, from the MN, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message, wherein the MN is configured with a first layer, for mapping between a QoS flow and a data radio bearer (DRB), wherein the SN is configured with a second layer for mapping between a QoS flow and a DRB, and wherein the first layer and the second layer are configured for the PDU session for the offloading of the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session between the MN and the SN. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The SN of claim 16, wherein the addition request message includes uplink tunnel information used at the MN, and wherein the addition request acknowledge message includes downlink tunnel information used at the SN. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The SN of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: perform a random access procedure with a user equipment (UE) for delivering a packet of the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The SN of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: in case that an additional QoS flow of the PDU session needs to be offloaded, receive a modification request message associated with the additional QoS flow; and transmit a modification request acknowledge message, in response to the modification request message. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The SN of claim 16, wherein the at least one QoS flow of the PDU session is offloaded determined by the MN and the MN and the SN are connected to 5th generation core network (5GC).