US 2019/0379469 A1 · NETWORK SYMBOL DISPLAY IN DUAL CONNECTIVITY REGIONS

Abstract

A wireless communication system may support two types of networks, such as a 4th-Generation (4G) network and a 5th-Generation (5G) network. The 4G network is accessed through Long-Term Evolution (LTE) base stations. The 5G network is accessed through New Radio (NR) base stations. LTE base stations are configured to broadcast information regarding 5G availability. For example, an LTE base station may indicate whether it is configured to support Non-Standalone Architecture (NSA) Dual Connectivity in conjunction with an associated NR base station. When a communication device receives an indication that NSA Dual Connectivity is available, the communication device scans and measures signal strengths on each of multiple frequencies that are potentially being used by the NR base station. This can be done without decoding of the signals. If a signal having a sufficient signal strength is found, the communication device displays a 5G symbol in its status bar.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method performed by a cellular communication device, comprising:

receiving, from a first base station, an indication that the first base station is associated with a second base station to support dual connectivity, wherein the first base station operates using a first radio access technology and the second base station operates using a second radio access technology;
in response to receiving the indication, measuring a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by the second base station;
determining, based at least in part on the measuring, that the RF signal satisfies one or more signal criteria;
and
in response to determining that the RF signal satisfies the one or more signal criteria, displaying a symbol on the cellular communication device indicating that the second radio access technology is currently available to the cellular communication device.

2 more elements

A cellular communication device, comprising:

one or more processors;
and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions comprising:
establishing communications with a master base station of a network cell, wherein the master base station operates using 4th-Generation (4G) radio access technology;
receiving, from the master base station, a System Information Block (SIB) indicating that the master base station supports a Non-Standalone Architecture (NSA) of a 5th-Generation (5G) communication network;
receiving, from the master base station, an identification of one or more frequencies used by a secondary base station that is associated with the master base station, wherein the secondary base station operates using 5th-Generation radio access technology;
in response to receiving the SIB, measuring a radio frequency (RF) signal of at least one of the one or more frequencies used by the secondary base station;
determining, based at least in part on the measuring, that the RF signal satisfies one or more signal criteria;
and
in response to determining that the RF signal satisfies the one or more signal criteria, displaying a symbol on the cellular communication device indicating that 5G services are currently available to the cellular communication device.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network symbol display in dual connectivity regions

Life of this patent

Network symbol display in dual connectivity regions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20