Dual active protocol stack operation for handover and PSCell change
A radio access network (RAN) for enabling execution of a dual active protocol stack (DAPS) procedure at a UE determines that the UE is to release at least one cell via which the UE communicates with the RAN, prior to executing the DAPS procedure ( 2402 ), causes the UE to release the at least one cell ( 2404 ), and transmits a command to the UE to execute the DAPS procedure ( 2406 ).
1. A method in a radio access network (RAN) for enabling execution of a dual active protocol stack (DAPS) procedure at a user equipment (UE) communicating with the RAN in dual connectivity (DC) via a master node (MN) of the RAN, the MN covering a primary cell (PCell), and a secondary node (SN) of the RAN, the SN covering a primary secondary cell (PSCell), the method comprising:
causing, by the MN, the UE to release the SN covering the PSCell; and
transmitting, by the MN to the UE, a command to execute the DAPS procedure after the UE releases the SN.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the command is a handover command.
3. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the causing includes instructing the UE to release the SN.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the causing includes:
transmitting, to the UE, and prior to transmitting the command to execute the DAPS, a reconfiguration command to reconfigure a radio connection between the UE and the RAN, the command including an indication to release the SN.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the causing includes:
transmitting, to the UE, an indication that the UE is to perform the DAPS procedure.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the DAPS procedure is a DAPS handover procedure or a DAPS PSCell change procedure.
7. A base station ( 104 ) for a radio access network (RAN), the base station comprising processing hardware ( 130 ) and configured to implement the method of claim 1 .
8. A method performed by a user equipment UE, communicating with a radio access network (RAN) in dual connectivity (DC) via a master node (MN) of the RAN, the MN covering a primary cell (PCell), and a secondary node (SN) of the RAN, the SN covering a primary secondary cell (PSCell), for executing a dual active protocol stack (DAPS) procedure, the method comprising:
receiving, by the UE from the MN, an indication the UE is to release the SN coverinq the PSCell;
releasing the SN covering the PSCell in response to the indication;
receiving, by the UE from the RAN, a command to execute the DAPS procedure; and
executing the DAPS procedure subsequently to the releasing of the SN.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the command is a handover command.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the indication indicates that the UE is to perform the DAPS procedure.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the DAPS procedure is a DAPS handover procedure or a PSCell change procedure.
12. A UE comprising processing hardware and configured to implement the method of claim 8 .
13. The UE of claim 12 , wherein the command is a handover command.
14. The UE of claim 12 , wherein indication indicates that the UE is to perform the DAPS procedure.
15. The UE of claim 12 , wherein the DAPS procedure is a DAPS handover procedure.
16. The UE of claim 12 , wherein the DAPS procedure is a DAPS PSCell change procedure.
17. The base station of claim 7 , wherein the command is a handover command.
18. The base station of claim 7 , wherein the causing includes one of:
an instruction for the UE to release the SN; or
a transmission, prior to a transmission of the command to execute the DAPS, of a reconfiguration command to reconfigure a radio connection between the UE and the RAN, the reconfiguration command including an indication to release the SN.
19. The base station of claim 7 , wherein the DAPS procedure is a DAPS handover procedure.
20. The base station of claim 7 , wherein the DAPS procedure is a DAPS PSCell change procedure.