Method and apparatus for improved dual connectivity
Various methods and devices are provided to address the need for improved dual connectivity. For example, a network node ( 500 ) in a primary network includes a processing unit ( 501 ) and an interface unit ( 510 ), which includes a network interface ( 511 ) for communication with other network devices. The processing unit is communicatively coupled to the interface unit and configured to receive, from a user equipment (UE) via the interface unit, a secondary Internet Protocol (IP) address for the UE, the secondary IP address being associated with a secondary network of the UE. The processing unit is also configured to initiate via the interface unit the establishment of at least one tunnel to bridge the network node and the UE via the secondary network.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, from a user equipment (UE) by a network node in a primary network, a secondary Internet Protocol (IP) address for the UE, the secondary IP address being associated with a secondary network of the UE, each of the primary network and the secondary network supported by a different radio access technology;
establishing at least one tunnel between the primary network and the secondary network to bridge the network node and the UE via the secondary network, the at least one tunnel including a special bearer to carry control and data packets between the network node and a gateway to the primary network;
conveying, by the network node to the UE, (i) an identifier of at least one radio access bearer for use in identifying encapsulated packets communicated via the at least one tunnel, and (ii) an indication of which protocol layer will be producing data communicated via the at least one radio access bearer;
receiving, by the network node, a packet to be delivered to the UE on a radio access bearer split between the primary and secondary networks;
encapsulating the received packet according to a tunneling protocol for the at least one tunnel; and
forwarding the encapsulated packet from the network node to the secondary network through the at least one tunnel.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the establishing at least one tunnel comprises:
establishing a tunnel between the secondary IP address and an IP address associated with the network node.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the establishing at least one tunnel comprises:
establishing back-to-back tunnels bridging the secondary IP address and an IP address associated with the network node.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the network node in the primary network includes a wireless transceiver node; and
the receiving the secondary IP address includes receiving the secondary IP address via a wireless connection between the wireless transceiver node and the UE.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the conveying an indication of which protocol layer comprises:
conveying an indication of a protocol layer from the group of a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer.
6. A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium storing one or more software programs which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
receiving, from a user equipment (UE) by a network node in a primary network, a secondary Internet Protocol (IP) address for the UE, the secondary IP address being associated with a secondary network of the UE, each of the primary network and the secondary network supported by a different radio access technology;
establishing at least one tunnel between the primary network and the secondary network to bridge the network node and the UE via the secondary network, the at least one tunnel including a special bearer to carry control and data packets between the network node and a gateway to the primary network;
conveying, by the network node to the UE, (i) an identifier of at least one radio access bearer for use in identifying encapsulated packets communicated via the at least one tunnel, and (ii) an indication of which protocol layer will be producing data communicated via the at least one radio access bearer;
receiving, by the network node, a packet to be delivered to the UE on a radio access bearer split between the primary and secondary networks;
encapsulating the received packet according to a tunneling protocol for the at least one tunnel; and
forwarding the encapsulated packet from the network node to the secondary network through the at least one tunnel.
7. A network node in a primary network, the network node comprising:
a network interface configured to communicate with other network devices; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the network interface, the at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions to,
receive, from a user equipment (UE) by a network node in network interface, a secondary Internet Protocol (IP) address for the UE, the secondary IP address being associated with a secondary network of the UE, each of the primary network and the secondary network supported by a different radio access technology;
establish, via the network interface, at least one tunnel between the primary network and the secondary network to bridge the network node and the UE via the secondary network, the at least one tunnel including a special bearer to carry control and data packets between the network node and a gateway to the primary network;
convey, via the network interface to the UE, (i) an identifier of at least one radio access bearer for use in identifying encapsulated packets communicated via the at least one tunnel, and (ii) an indication of which protocol layer will be producing data communicated via the at least one radio access bearer;
receive, via the network interface, a packet to be delivered to the UE on a radio access bearer split between the primary and secondary networks;
encapsulate the received packet according to a tunneling protocol for the at least one tunnel; and
where the network interface is further configured to forward the encapsulated packet from the network node to the secondary network through the at least one tunnel.
8. The network node as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to establish a tunnel between the secondary IP address and an IP address associated with the network node.
9. The network node as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to establish back-to-back tunnels bridging the secondary IP address and an IP address associated with the network node.
10. The network node as recited in claim 7 , wherein the network node further includes a wireless transceiver.
11. The network node as recited in claim 7 , wherein
the network node in the primary network includes a wireless transceiver node; and
the at least one processor is further configured to receive the secondary IP address via a wireless connection between the wireless transceiver node and the UE.
12. The network node as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute computer-readable instructions to convey an indication of a protocol layer from the group of a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer.