Managing continuous conditional cell changes and related configurations

A method implemented in a first node of a radio access network (RAN), the method comprising:

• transmitting, to a user equipment (UE) that communicates in dual connectivity (DC) with the first node as a master node (MN) and a second node of the RAN as a secondary node (SN), a conditional secondary node (C-SN) configuration related to a plurality of candidate cells for connecting subject to one or more respective conditions, the plurality of candidate cells including a candidate cell of a candidate SN;
• receiving an indication that the UE connected to the candidate cell;
• and
• transmitting, to the SN, a notification based on whether the candidate SN is for continuous conditional cell changes associated with the UE performing a subsequent conditional cell change based on the C-SN configuration that does not require new conditional secondary cell addition or change (CPAC) preparation from the RAN.

A first node in a radio access network (RAN) comprising processing hardware and a transceiver, the node configured to:

• transmit, to a second node, a request to operate as a secondary node (SN) and provide dual connectivity (DC) to a user equipment (UE), with the first node operating as a master node (MN), the request including an indication of continuous conditional secondary cell addition or change (CPAC) which does not require new CPAC preparation from the RAN for a subsequent CPAC;
• receive, from the second node and in response to the request, a first conditional SN (C-SN) configuration;
• and
• transmit, to the UE, the first conditional SN configuration and a second conditional SN configuration related to at least one cell not associated with the second node.