Method, apparatus and system for managing bearers in a wireless communication system
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatuses, and systems for managing bearers in a wireless communication system. In some embodiments, an apparatus, to be employed by a user equipment (UE), may comprise a communication module to: communicate with a core network on a first bearer through a master evolved Node B (MeNB); receive, from the MeNB, a first message of reconfiguring a radio resource control (RRC) connection to establish a second bearer between the UE and the core network and through a secondary eNB (SeNB); synchronize, in response to the message, with the SeNB in order to establish the second bearer; and communicate with the core network on the second bearer through the SeNB, and continue communicating with the core network on the first bearer through the MeNB.
1. One or more non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause a master evolved Node B (“MeNB”) to:
detect a condition to initiate a dual-connectivity operation for a user equipment (“UE”);
select, based on detection of the condition, a secondary evolved Node B (“SeNB”) to establish an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network radio access bearer (“E-RAB”) for the dual-connectivity operation, the E-RAB to include an S1 bearer between the MeNB and a core network and a data radio bearer between the SeNB and the UE:
generate an addition request to request the SeNB to establish the E-RAB;
cause transmission of the addition request to the SeNB;
generate an E-RAB setup message for a mobility management entity (“MME”), the E-RAB setup message indicating that the SeNB is capable of handling the E-RAB; and
cause transmission of the E-RAB setup message to the MME.
2. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the addition request includes a list of E-RABs to be setup.
3. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the addition request includes security capabilities of the UE.
4. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the addition request is an X2 message to be transmitted over an X2 interface.
5. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the MeNB to:
process an addition request acknowledgement received from the Se NB in response to the addition request.
6. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 5 , wherein the addition request acknowledgement includes a list of admitted ERABs.
7. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the MeNB to:
generate an RRC connection reconfiguration message to include small cell information to facilitate establishment of a connection with the SeNB; and
cause the RRC connection reconfiguration message to be transmitted to the UE.
8. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the addition request is an SeNB addition request.
9. The or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the MeNB to:
generate a release request to be sent to the SeNB to request that the SeNB release the E-RAB used by the UE for dual-connectivity operation; and
cause transmission of the release request to the SeNB.
10. An apparatus to be implemented in a master evolved Node B (“MeNB”), the apparatus comprising:
communication circuitry to: detect a condition to initiate a dual-connectivity operation for a user equipment (“UE”); select, based on detection of the condition, a secondary evolved Node B (“SeNB”) to establish an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network radio access bearer (“E-RAB”) for dual connectivity operation of a user equipment (“UE”); generate an addition request to request the SeNB to establish the E-RAB, the E-RAB to include an S1 bearer between the MeNB and a core network and a data radio bearer between the SeNB and the UE; and generate an E-RAB setup message for a mobility management entity (“MME”), the E-RAB setup message indicating that the SeNB is capable of handling the E-RAB; and
X2 interface circuitry to cause the addition request to be transmitted to the SeNB.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the addition request includes a list of E-RABs to be setup.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the addition request includes security capabilities of the UE.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the addition request is an X2 message.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the MeNB to:
process an addition request acknowledgement received from the Se NB in response to the addition request.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the addition request acknowledgement includes a list of admitted E-RABs.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the communication circuitry is further to:
generate an RRC connection reconfiguration message to include small cell information to facilitate establishment of a connection with the SeNB; and
cause the RRC connection reconfiguration message to be transmitted to the UE.
17. An apparatus to be implemented in a master evolved Node B (“MeNB”), the apparatus comprising:
means for choosing a small cell for evolved packet system (“EPS”) bearer establishment to provide dual-connectivity for a user equipment (“UE”);
means for sending, to a secondary evolved node B (“SeNB”) that is to provide the small cell, an addition request to request the SeNB to establish an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network radio access bearer (“E-RAB”), the E-RAB to include an S1 bearer between the MeNB and a core network and a data radio bearer between the SeNB and the UE;
means for receiving, from the Se NB, an addition request acknowledgment that includes a list of established E-RABs; and
means for generating an E-RAB setup message for a mobility management entity (“MME”), the E-RAB setup message indicating that the SeNB is capable of handling the E-RAB.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising:
means for transmitting, to the UE, an RRC connection reconfiguration message that includes small cell information to facilitate establishment of a connection with the Se NB.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
means for receiving, from the UE, an RRC connection reconfiguration complete message after the UE synchronizes with the SeNB.