Dynamic restriction of split-uplink-mode operation in response to high level of voice muting

1. A method for controlling operation in a wireless communication system having a first access node that provides service on a first air interface and a second access node that provides service on a second air interface, wherein the first and second access nodes support cooperatively providing dual-connectivity service and support operating in (i) a single-connection-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, with uplink user-plane communication being carried on just the second air interface and (ii) a split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, with the uplink user-plane communication being split between the first air interface and the second air interface, the method comprising:

detecting at least a predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface; and

responsive to the detecting of at least the predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface, restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service,

wherein restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises disabling application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, wherein disabling application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises at least one operation selected from the group consisting of (i) disabling application of the split-uplink mode for a first class of served devices while still allowing application of the split-uplink mode for a second class of served devices and (ii) disabling new activation of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service while still allowing already-activated split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting at least the predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface comprises monitoring for absence of expected voice-packet transmission on a voice bearer traversing the first air interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first class of served devices comprises relay devices, and wherein the second class of served devices comprises non-relay devices.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises modifying a trigger condition for application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, wherein modifying the trigger condition reduces a likelihood of activating the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein, as to a served device, the trigger condition comprises a quantity of uplink data communicated by or buffered by the served device being at least a predefined threshold quantity, and wherein modifying the trigger condition comprises increasing the predefined threshold quantity.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises changing an uplink-split ratio to reduce associated uplink data flow on the first air interface.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting and restricting are carried out by the first access node.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first access node is a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) evolved Node-B (eNB), wherein the second access node is a 5G New Radio (NR) next-generation Node-B (gNB), and wherein the dual-connectivity service is EUTRA-NR Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) service.

9. In a wireless communication system comprising a first access node configured to provide service on a first air interface and a second access node configured to provide service on a second air interface, wherein the first and second access nodes support cooperatively providing dual-connectivity service and support operating in (i) a single-connection-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, with uplink user-plane communication being carried on just the second air interface and (ii) a split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, with the uplink user-plane communication being split between the first air interface and the second air interface, the first access node comprising:

a wireless communication interface through which to engage in air-interface communication on the first air interface; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first access node to carry out operations including:

detecting at least a predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface, and

responsive to the detecting of at least the predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface, restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service,

wherein restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises disabling application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, wherein disabling application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises at least one operation selected from the group consisting of (i) disabling application of the split-uplink mode for a first class of served devices while still allowing application of the split-uplink mode for a second class of served devices and (ii) disabling new activation of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service while still allowing already-activated split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service.

10. The first access node of claim 9 , wherein the controller comprises at least one processing unit, at least one non-transitory data storage, and program instructions stored in the at least one non-transitory data storage and executable by the at least one processing unit to cause the first access node to carry out the operations.

11. The first access node of claim 9 , wherein detecting at least the predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface comprises monitoring for absence of expected voice-packet transmission on a voice bearer traversing the first air interface.

12. The first access node of claim 9 , wherein the first class of served devices comprises relay devices, and wherein the second class of served devices comprises non-relay devices.

13. The first access node of claim 9 , wherein restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises modifying a trigger condition for application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, wherein modifying the trigger condition reduces a likelihood of activating the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service.

14. The first access node of claim 13 , wherein, as to a served device, the trigger condition comprises a quantity of uplink data communicated by or buffered by the served device being at least a predefined threshold quantity, and wherein modifying the trigger condition comprises increasing the predefined threshold quantity.

15. The first access node of claim 9 , wherein the first access node is a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) evolved Node-B (eNB), wherein the second access node is a 5G New Radio (NR) next-generation Node-B (gNB), and wherein the dual-connectivity service is EUTRA-NR Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) service.

16. In a wireless communication system comprising a first access node configured to provide service on a first air interface and a second access node configured to provide service on a second air interface, wherein the first and second access nodes support cooperatively providing dual-connectivity service and support operating in (i) a single-connection-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, with uplink user-plane communication being carried on just the second air interface and (ii) a split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, with the uplink user-plane communication being split between the first air interface and the second air interface, at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by at least one processing unit to carry out operations comprising:

detecting at least a predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface; and

responsive to the detecting of at least the predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface, restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service,

wherein restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises disabling application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, wherein disabling application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises at least one operation selected from the group consisting of (i) disabling application of the split-uplink mode for a first class of served devices while still allowing application of the split-uplink mode for a second class of served devices and (ii) disabling new activation of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service while still allowing already-activated split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein detecting at least the predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface comprises monitoring for absence of expected voice-packet transmission on a voice bearer traversing the first air interface.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein detecting at least the predefined threshold high level of uplink voice muting on the first air interface comprises tracking an extent of uplink voice muting on the first air interface and comparing the tracked extent of uplink voice muting with a predefined threshold level of voice muting to determine if the tracked extent of uplink voice muting is at least as high as the predefined threshold level of voice muting.

19. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the first class of served devices comprises relay devices, and wherein the second class of served devices comprises non-relay devices.

20. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein restricting application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service comprises modifying a trigger condition for application of the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service, wherein modifying the trigger condition reduces a likelihood of activating the split-uplink mode for the dual-connectivity service.