Incrementally distributing user equipment capability information using a model identifier

1. A method performed by a wireless device of incrementally distributing wireless device capability information, the method comprising:

receiving a first device capability enquiry from a first network node;

transmitting a user equipment (UE) model identifier (UE-ModelId) to the first network node, wherein the UE-ModelId identifies a set of device capabilities for all wireless devices that share the same UE-ModelId; and

transmitting a subset of device capabilities associated with the UE-ModelId to the first network node, such that the subset of device capabilities is stored to build a larger set of device capabilities associated with the UE-ModelId.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a subset of device capabilities associated with the UE-ModelId to the first network node.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device capability enquiry includes a first capability filter and the method further comprises:

determining a first subset of device capabilities identified by the first capability filter; and

transmitting the first subset of device capabilities to the first network node.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving a second device capability enquiry from a second network node, the second device capability enquiry including a second capability filter;

determining a second subset of device capabilities identified by the second capability filter; and

transmitting the second subset of device capabilities to the second network node.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the capability filter comprises a bandwidth combination.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the capability filter comprises a radio access technology (RAT) type.

7. A wireless device capable of incrementally distributing wireless device capability information, the wireless device comprising processing circuitry operable to:

receive a first device capability enquiry from a first network node;

transmit a user equipment (UE) model identifier (UE-ModelId) to the first network node, wherein the UE-ModelId identifies a set of device capabilities for all wireless devices that share the same UE-ModelId; and

transmit a subset of device capabilities associated with the UE-ModelId to the first network node, such that the subset of device capabilities is stored to build a larger set of device capabilities associated with the UE-ModelId.

8. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to transmit a subset of device capabilities associated with the UE-ModelId to the first network node.

9. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the first device capability enquiry includes a first capability filter and the processing circuitry is further operable to:

determine a first subset of device capabilities identified by the first capability filter; and

transmit the first subset of device capabilities to the first network node.

10. The wireless device of claim 9 , the processing circuitry further operable to:

receive a second device capability enquiry from a second network node, the second device capability enquiry including a second capability filter;

determine a second subset of device capabilities identified by the second capability filter; and

transmit the second subset of device capabilities to the second network node.

11. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the capability filter comprises a bandwidth combination.

12. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the capability filter comprises a radio access technology (RAT) type.

13. A method performed by a network node of incrementally obtaining wireless device capability information, the method comprising:

receiving a context setup request for a first wireless device from an access and mobility management function (AMF);

determining whether the context setup request includes device capability information relevant to the network node;

upon determining the context setup request does not include device capability information relevant to the network node:

transmitting a first device capability enquiry to the first wireless device;

receiving a user equipment (UE) model identifier (UE-ModelId) from the first wireless device, wherein the UE-ModelId identifies a set of device capabilities for all wireless devices that share the same UE-ModelId;

determining whether the network node has stored device capability information associated with the UE-ModelId that is relevant to the network node;

upon determining the network node does not have stored device capability information associated with the UE-ModelId relevant to the network node:

transmitting a second device capability enquiry to the first wireless device, the second device capability enquiry including a capability filter that identifies capability information relevant to the network node;

receiving a first subset of device capabilities identified by the first capability filter from the first wireless device; and

updating stored device capability information associated with the UE-ModelId with the first subset of device capabilities.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the UE-ModelId from the first wireless device further comprises receiving a subset of device capabilities associated with the UE-ModelId.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising transmitting the UE-ModelId and the first subset of device capabilities to the AMF.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

transmitting a third device capability enquiry to a second wireless device, the third device capability enquiry including a capability filter that identifies capability information relevant to the base station;

receiving a second subset of device capabilities identified by the first capability filter from the second wireless device; and

updating stored device capability information associated with the UE-ModelId with the second subset of device capabilities.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting the UE-ModelId and the second subset of device capabilities to the AMF.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the capability filter comprises a bandwidth combination.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the capability filter comprises a radio access technology (RAT) type.

20. A network node capable of incrementally obtaining wireless device capability information, the network node comprising processing circuitry operable to:

receive a context setup request for a first wireless device from an access and mobility management function (AMF);

determine whether the context setup request includes device capability information relevant to the network node;

upon determining the context setup request does not include device capability information relevant to the base station:

transmit a first device capability enquiry to the first wireless device;

receive a user equipment (UE) model identifier (UE-ModelId) from the first wireless device, wherein the UE-ModelId identifies a set of device capabilities for all wireless devices that share the same UE-ModelId;

determine whether the network node has stored device capability information associated with the UE-ModelId that is relevant to the network node;

upon determining the network node does not have stored device capability information associated with the UE-ModelId relevant to the network node:

transmit a second device capability enquiry to the first wireless device, the second device capability enquiry including a capability filter that identifies capability information relevant to the network node;

receive a first subset of device capabilities identified by the first capability filter from the first wireless device; and

update stored device capability information associated with the UE-ModelId with the first subset of device capabilities.