Method and apparatus for handling buffer status reporting and scheduling request with dual connectivity

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor, and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to
• receive an indication providing a cell location to which the apparatus, operating in a dual connectivity mode, should transmit a buffer status report for each of at least one bearer, the cell location being one of a first cell location, a second cell location, a first cell location and second cell location, or a first cell location or second cell location;
• and
• in response to being triggered, causing the buffer status report to be transmitted to the cell location provided in the indication,
• in an instance in which the indication provides that the apparatus is to transmit the buffer status report to the first cell location, the at least one memory and computer program code are further configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to transmit a scheduling request to the first cell location, and if radio link monitoring indicates that a signal from the first cell location is weak or if a radio link failure condition is triggered, cause the apparatus to instead transmit the buffer status report and the scheduling request to the second cell location.

A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions configured, upon execution by a processor to:

• receive an indication providing a cell location to which a user equipment, operating in a dual connectivity mode, should transmit a buffer status report for each of at least one, the cell location being one of a first cell location, a second cell location, a first cell location and second cell location, or a first cell location or second cell location;
• and
• in response to being triggered, cause the buffer status report to be transmitted to the location provided in the indication,
• in an instance in which the indication provides that the user equipment is to transmit the buffer status report to the first cell location, cause the user equipment to transmit a scheduling request to the first cell location, and if radio link monitoring indicates that a signal from the first cell location is weak or if a radio link failure condition is triggered, cause the user equipment to instead transmit the buffer status report and the scheduling request to the second cell location.