Method for processing a packet data convergence protocol service data unit at a user equipment in a dual connectivity system and device therefor

1. A method for a User Equipment (UE) operating in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) entity of the UE, a PDCP Service Data Unit (SDU) from a upper layer;

starting, by the PDCP entity, a timer associated with the PDCP SDU;

checking whether the PDCP SDU is ready to be submitted or is already submitted to a lower layer of the UE, while a PDCP reordering function based on a reordering timer is operating in the PDCP entity;

discarding the PDCP SDU if the PDCP SDU is not ready to be submitted nor is not submitted to the lower layer of the UE upon the discard timer expiry; and

submitting a PDCP Protocol Data Unit (PDU) including the PDCP SDU to the lower layer of the UE without discarding the PDCP SDU if the PDCP SDU is ready to be submitted or is already submitted to the lower layer of the UE upon the discard timer expiry.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the PDCP SDU ready to be submitted to the lower layer of the UE is a PDCP SDU which is already associated with a PDCP sequence number (SN), or is a PDCP SDU included in the PDCP PDU that is already generated.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the PDCP PDU submitted to the lower layer of the UE includes the PDCP SDU and a PDCP SN associated with the PDCP SDU.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

performing, by the PDCP entity, a re-numbering of consecutive PDCP SDUs that follow the discarded PDCP SDU so that there is no PDCP Sequence Number gap between the consecutive PDCP SDUs if the PDCP SDU is discarded.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the PDCP entity is associated with a first RLC for a first eNB and a second RLC for a second eNB.

6. A User Equipment (UE) for operating in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:

a Radio Frequency (RF) module; and

a processor configured to control the RF module,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Service Data Unit (SDU) from a upper layer,

start a timer associated with the PDCP SDU,

check whether the PDCP SDU is ready to be submitted or is already submitted to a lower layer of the UE, while a PDCP reordering function based on a reordering timer is operating in the PDCP entity when the timer expires,

discard the PDCP SDU if the PDCP SDU is not ready to be submitted nor is not submitted to the lower layer of the UE upon the discard timer expiry, and

submit a PDCP Protocol Data Unit (PDU) including the PDCP SDU to the lower layer of the UE without discarding the PDCP SDU if the PDCP SDU is ready to be submitted or is already submitted to the lower layer of the UE upon the discard timer expiry.

7. The UE according to claim 6 , wherein the PDCP SDU ready to be submitted to the lower layer of the UE is a PDCP SDU which is already associated with a PDCP sequence number (SN), or is a PDCP SDU included in the PDCP PDU that is already generated.

8. The UE according to claim 6 , wherein the PDCP PDU submitted to the lower layer of the UE includes the PDCP SDU and a PDCP SN associated with the PDCP SDU.

9. The UE according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform, by the PDCP entity, a re-numbering of consecutive PDCP SDUs that follow the discarded PDCP SDU so that there is no PDCP Sequence Number gap between the consecutive PDCP SDUs if the PDCP SDU is discarded.

10. The UE according to claim 6 , wherein the PDCP entity is associated with a first RLC for a first eNB and a second RLC for a second eNB.