Apparatuses and methods for informing master node of impending wrap-around of packet counter value

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving, by a master node, from a node hosting packet data convergence protocol for a data radio bearer comprising a non-master node terminated bearer in multi-connectivity, a counter check request including a count value, wherein the counter check request indicates that a count wrap-around event is to occur, wherein the count value comprises a hyper frame number and packet data convergence protocol sequence number, wherein the count wrap-around event comprises setting the count value to zero upon reaching a maximum value of the count value, and wherein the maximum value of the count value comprises at least one of a highest downlink count value or highest uplink count value;

in response to the receiving, determining, by the master node, that the count value is within a threshold of its maximum value; and

in response to the determining, initiating, by the master node, release of the data radio bearer and optionally adding a new bearer, wherein the initiating of the release avoids occurrence of the count wrap-around event.

2 . An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code,

the at least one memory and computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to

receive, from a node hosting packet data convergence protocol for a data radio bearer comprising a non-master node terminated bearer in multi-connectivity, a counter check request including a count value, wherein the counter check request indicates that a count wrap-around event is to occur, wherein the count value comprises a hyper frame number and packet data convergence protocol sequence number, wherein the count wrap-around event comprises setting the count value to zero upon reaching a maximum value of the count value, and wherein the maximum value of the count value comprises at least one of a highest downlink count value or highest uplink count value;

in response to the receiving, determine that the count value is within a threshold of its maximum value; and

in response to the determining, initiate release of the data radio bearer and optionally add a new bearer, wherein the initiating of the release avoids occurrence of the count wrap-around event,

wherein the apparatus comprises a master node.

3 . A method, comprising:

determining or detecting, by a secondary node, that a count value is within the threshold its maximum value, wherein the maximum value of the count value comprises at least one of a highest downlink count value or highest uplink count value, and wherein the count value comprises a hyper frame number and packet data convergence protocol sequence number; and

in response to the determining or detecting, transmitting, by the secondary node, to a master node, a counter check request including the count value that is within the threshold of its maximum value, wherein the counter check request indicates that a count wrap-around event is to occur, and wherein the count wrap-around event comprises setting the count value to zero upon reaching the maximum value of the count value,

wherein the counter check request triggers the master node to initiate data radio bearer release of a data radio bearer comprising a non-master node terminated bearer in multi-connectivity and optionally to add a new bearer, and the initiating of the release avoids occurrence of the count wrap-around event.

4 . An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code,

the at least one memory and computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to

determine or detect that a count value is within a threshold of its maximum value, wherein the maximum value of the count value comprises at least one of a highest downlink count value or highest uplink count value, and wherein the count value comprises a hyper frame number and packet data convergence protocol sequence number; and

in response to the determining or detecting, transmit, to a master node, a counter check request including the count value that is within the threshold of its maximum value, wherein the counter check request indicates that a count wrap-around event is to occur, and wherein the count wrap-around event comprises setting the count value to zero upon reaching a maximum value of the count value,

wherein the counter check request triggers the master node to initiate data radio bearer release of a data radio bearer comprising a non-master node terminated bearer in multi-connectivity and optionally to add a new bearer, and the initiating of the release avoids occurrence of the count wrap-around event,

wherein the apparatus comprises a secondary node.