Use of estimated arrival probability-related information to select target secondary nodes for early data forwarding for dual connectivity wireless communications

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• transmit, by a master node (MN) to a target-secondary node (T-SN), a request for the target-secondary node (T-SN) to prepare a set of one or more candidate target primary cells of a secondary cell group (candidate target PSCells) for a conditional PSCell change for the user device;
• and
• transmit, by the master node (MN) to a source-secondary node (S-SN) that provides dual connectivity for a user device, information indicating or relating to an arrival probability of a cell change for the user device to the target-secondary node (T-SN),
• wherein the information indicating or relating to an arrival probability is transmitted within a Xn-U Address Indication message.

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a source-secondary node (S-SN) within a wireless network that is in communication with a user device as part of dual connectivity, information indicating that a conditional PSCell change has been configured for the user device for one or more candidate target primary cells of a secondary cell group (candidate target PSCells) controlled by each of a plurality of target-secondary nodes (T-SNs);
• receiving, by the source-secondary node (S-SN) from a master node (MN), information indicating or relating to an arrival probability of a cell change for the user device to a candidate target PSCell controlled by one or more of the plurality of the target-secondary nodes (T-SNs);
• and
• selecting, by the source-secondary node (S-SN) based on the received information, a subset of the plurality of target-secondary nodes (T-SNs) to perform early data forwarding from the source-secondary node (S-SN),
• wherein the information indicating or relating to an arrival probability is transmitted within a Xn-U Address Indication message.