First network node and methods therein, for determining whether a second multi path transmission control protocol connection is to be initiated

1. A method performed by a first network node, the method comprising:

determining a first amount of resources associated with a usage of a first Multi Path Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) connection between the first network node and a second network node;

determining whether the determined first amount of resources meets a first criterion;

in response to determining that the determined first amount of resources meets the first criterion, initiating a second MPTCP connection between the first network node and the second network node in addition to the first MPTCP connection;

after initiating the second MPTCP connection, using both the first and second MPTCP connection to transmit data to or receive data from the second network node;

while using both the first and second MPTCP connection to transmit data to or receive data from the second network node, determining a second amount of resources associated with a usage of the first MPTCP connection between the first network node and the second network node;

determining whether the determined second amount of resources meets a second criterion; and

in response to determining that the determined second amount of resources meets the second criterion, terminating the second MPTCP connection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining that a second internet protocol address is to be generated to initiate the second MPTCP connection, wherein the first MPTCP connection is associated with a first internet protocol address.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating a Packet Data Protocol, PDP, context activation to the second network node when the first network node determines that a second internet protocol address is to be generated to initiate the second MPTCP connection.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first criterion is a threshold, and wherein the determining whether the second MPTCP connection is to be initiated, based on whether the determined amount of resources meets the first criterion further comprises determining whether the determined amount of resources exceeds the threshold,

wherein the determining of whether the second MPTCP connection is to be initiated comprises determining that the second MPTCP connection is to be initiated when the determined amount of resources exceeds the threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second network node is a Multi Path Transmission Control Protocol Proxy and the first network node is a Customer Premises Equipment.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after determining that the second MPTCP connection is to be initiated, sending a message to the second network node, the message comprising an instruction to initiate the second MPTCP connection.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the first MPTCP connection is in accordance with a first communication technology,

the second MPTCP connection is in accordance with a second communication technology, and

the second communication technology is a mobile technology.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network node is a Multi Path Transmission Control Protocol Proxy and the second network node is a Customer Premises Equipment.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first communication technology is a fixed technology.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the first network node has a buffer storing data to be transmitted over the first MPTCP connection,

determining the first amount of resources associated with the usage of the first MPTCP connection comprises obtaining a buffer fill value indicating the amount of data in the buffer, and

determining whether the determined first amount of resources meets the first criterion comprises comparing the buffer fill value to a threshold.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program, comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method of claim 1 .

12. A first network node, the first network node being configured to:

determine a first amount of resources associated with a usage of a first Multi Path Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) connection between the first network node and a second network node;

determine whether the determined first amount of resources meets a first criterion;

in response to determining that the determined first amount of resources meets the first criterion, initiate a second MPTCP connection between the first network node and the second network node in addition to the first MPTCP connection;

after initiating the second MPTCP connection, use both the first and second MPTCP connection to transmit data to or receive data from the second network node;

while using both the first and second MPTCP connection to transmit data to or receive data from the second network node, determine a second amount of resources associated with a usage of the first MPTCP connection between the first network node and the second network node;

determine whether the determined second amount of resources meets a second criterion; and

in response to determining that the determined second amount of resources meets the second criterion, terminate the second MPTCP connection.

13. The first network node of claim 12 , wherein the first network node is further configured to:

determine that a second internet protocol address is to be generated to initiate the second MPTCP connection, wherein the first MPTCP connection is associated with a first internet protocol address.

14. The first network node of claim 12 , being further configured to:

initiate a Packet Data Protocol, PDP, context activation to the second network node when the first network node determines that a second internet protocol address is to be generated to initiate the second MPTCP connection.

15. The first network node of claim 12 , wherein the first criterion is a threshold, and wherein to determine whether the second MPTCP connection is to be initiated, based on whether the determined amount of resources meets the first criterion comprises to determine whether the determined amount of resources exceeds the threshold,

wherein to determine whether the second MPTCP connection is to be initiated comprises to determine that the second MPTCP connection is to be initiated when the determined amount of resources exceeds the threshold.

16. The first network node of claim 12 , wherein the second network node is a Multi Path Transmission Control Protocol Proxy and the first network node is a Customer Premises Equipment.

17. The first network node of claim 12 , being further to:

send a message to the second network node, the message comprising an instruction to initiate the second MPTCP connection, after a determination that the second MPTCP connection is to be initiated based on the determined amount of resources meeting the first criterion.

18. The first network node of claim 12 , wherein the first network node is a Multi Path Transmission Control Protocol Proxy and the second network node is a Customer Premises Equipment.

19. The first network node of claim 12 , wherein

the first MPTCP connection is in accordance with a first communication technology,

the second MPTCP connection is in accordance with a second communication technology, and

the first communication technology is a fixed technology.

20. The first network node of claim 19 , wherein the second communication technology is a mobile technology.