METHOD, USER EQUIPMENT, MASTER EVOLVED NODE B AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR DUAL CONNECTIVITY

1 . A method for dual connectivity, ‘DC’, performed by a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,

the method comprising:

informing a communication system entity about DC support of said UE, and

when the UE supports DC, receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from the MeNB to the SeNB.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said connection reconfiguration message comprises a new radio resource configuration for DC with the SeNB.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said communication system entity is either the MeNB or a mobility management entity, ‘MME’.

4 . A method for dual connectivity, ‘DC’, performed by a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, in a communication system including a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to said MeNB and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,

the method comprising:

receiving information about DC support of said UE; and

providing, to said UE, a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from the MeNB to the SeNB, when said UE supports DC.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein said MeNB decides to configure said UE for DC.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein said decision is based on properties of current bearers of said UE.

7 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein said connection reconfiguration message comprises a new radio resource configuration for DC of said UE with said SeNB.

8 . A method for dual connectivity, ‘DC’ performed in a communication system including a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,

the method comprising:

the UE:

informing a communication system entity about DC support of said UE, and

when said UE supports DC, receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB.

the MeNB:

receiving information about DC support of said UE; and

providing, to said UE, a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB when said UE supports DC.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein said MeNB decides to configure said UE for DC.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein said decision is based on properties of current bearers of said UE.

11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein said connection reconfiguration message comprises a new radio resource configuration for DC of said UE with said SeNB.

12 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

the SeNB:

receiving bearer relocation information of said UE for changing or splitting bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB when said UE supports DC;

allocating radio resources for said bearers on said SeNB if available; and

receiving said bearers from said MeNB.

13 . A method for dual connectivity, ‘DC’, of a user equipment, ‘UE’, including information of a communication system entity about DC support of said UE, wherein a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’, is generated by said MeNB when the UE supports DC and sent to said UE.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , characterized in that said connection reconfiguration message is generated based on properties of current bearers of said UE.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said MeNB includes in said connection reconfiguration message a new radio resource configuration for said UE for DC of said UE with said SeNB.

16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the information about DC support is sent directly to said further communication system entity by said UE or via said MeNB.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein said further communication system entity is provided in form of a mobility management entity, ‘MME’.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said MeNB maintains bearer relocation information of bearers of said UE for relocation to said SeNB.

19 . The method according to claims 17 and 18 , wherein said bearer relocation information is configured on said MeNB during a S1-MME procedure.

20 . A user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,

the UE comprising

means for informing a communication system entity about its dual connectivity, ‘DC’ support, and

means for receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB when said UE supports DC.

21 . A master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, in a communication system including a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to said MeNB, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,

the MeNB comprising:

means for receiving information about dual connectivity, ‘DC’ support of said UE; and

means for providing, to said UE, a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB, when said UE supports DC.

22 . A communication system including a user equipment, ‘UE’, wherein said UE is in connected mode and is connected to a master evolved node B, ‘MeNB’, and connectable to a secondary evolved node B, ‘SeNB’,

the communication system comprising

the UE comprising

means for informing a communication system entity about its dual connectivity, ‘DC’ support, and

means for receiving a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB when said UE supports DC.

the MeNB comprising:

means for receiving information about DC support of said UE; and

means for providing, to said UE, a connection reconfiguration message to change or split bearers from said MeNB to said SeNB, when said UE support DC.