Determining module and method performed therein for handling dual connectivity in a communication network
Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a determining module, for managing dual connectivity, DC, in a communications network. The communications network comprises a first and a second Radio Access Network, RAN, node. The first RAN node manages a first user plane bearer for a User Equipment, UE. The DC comprises communicating with the UE over the first RAN node and the second RAN node simultaneously. The determining module obtains information about characteristics of the UE and/or information about characteristics of a transport network between the first RAN node and the second RAN node. The determining module determines, based on the retrieved information, to adapt DC for the first user plane bearer via the second RAN node for communication with the UE.
1. A method performed by a determining module, for managing dual connectivity (DC) in a communications network, wherein the communications network comprises a first and a second Radio Access Network (RAN) node, wherein the first RAN node manages a first user plane bearer for a User Equipment (UE) and wherein the DC comprises communicating with the UE over the first RAN node and the second RAN node simultaneously, wherein the method comprises:
activating DC for the first user plane bearer for the UE via the second RAN node for communication with the UE;
obtaining information about characteristics of the UE and characteristics of a transport network between the first RAN node and the second RAN node, wherein the characteristics of the UE comprises one or more Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for one or more active data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer,
determining to adapt the activated DC for the first user plane bearer, based on the QoS requirements for the one or more active service data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer; and
adapting the activated DC for the first user plane bearer based on the QoS requirements for the one or more active service data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
adapting the activated DC for the first user plane bearer comprises deactivating the activated DC for the first user plane bearer based on the QoS requirements for the one or more active service data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adapting comprises modifying the activated DC for the first user plane bearer based on the QoS requirements for the one or more active service data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the QoS requirements is an UE-Aggregate Maximum Bit-Rate, AMBR, or an Access Point Name, APN, AMBR.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UE characteristics further comprises a mobility pattern of the UE.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transport network characteristics comprises a topology of the transport network, a load of the transport network, a packet loss of the transport network, a delay of the transport network and/or jitter of the transport network.
7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein modifying the activated DC for the first user plane bearer comprises selecting a different RAN node than the second RAN node for the activated DC for the first user plane bearer.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the information is obtained by receiving the information from a second network node, from the UE and/or from a configuration database, by means of measurements and/or by means of analytics.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the information is obtained by measuring a load of the transport network, a packet loss of the transport network, a delay of the transport network and/or jitter of the transport network.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the information is obtained by determining, while using analytics, the characteristics of the UE and/or the characteristics of the transport network.
11. A determining module, for managing dual connectivity (DC) in a communications network, wherein the communications network comprises a first and a second Radio Access Network (RAN) node, wherein the first RAN node manages a first user plane bearer for a User Equipment (UE) wherein the DC comprises communicating with the UE over the first RAN node and the second RAN node simultaneously, wherein the determining module comprises a processing unit including one or more processors configured to:
activate DC for the first user plane bearer for the UE via the second RAN node for communication with the UE;
obtain information about characteristics of the UE and characteristics of a transport network between the first RAN node and the second RAN node, wherein the characteristics of the UE comprises one or more Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for one or more active data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer,
determine to adapt the activated DC for the first user plane bearer, based on the QoS requirements for the one or more active service data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer; and
adapt the activated DC for the first user plane bearer based on the QoS requirements for the one or more active service data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer.
12. The determining module according to claim 11 , wherein the determining module further is configured to:
adapt the activated DC for the first user plane bearer by deactivating the activated DC for the first user plane bearer based on the QoS requirements for the one or more active service data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer.
13. The determining module according to claim 11 , wherein the determining module further is configured to:
adapt the activated DC by modifying the activated DC for the first user plane bearer based on the QoS requirements for the one or more active service data flows of the UE on the first user plane bearer.
14. The determining module according to claim 11 , wherein the QoS requirements is an UE-Aggregate Maximum Bit-Rate, AMBR, or an Access Point Name, APN, AMBR.
15. The determining module according to claim 11 , wherein the UE characteristics comprises a mobility pattern of the UE.
16. The determining module according to claim 11 , wherein the transport network characteristics comprises a topology of the transport network, a load of the transport network, a packet loss of the transport network, a delay of the transport network and/or jitter of the transport network.
17. The determining module according to claim 13 , wherein the determining module is configured to modify the activated DC for the first user plane bearer by selecting a different RAN node than the second RAN node for the activated DC for the first user plane bearer.
18. The determining module according to claim 11 , wherein the determining module is configured to obtain the information by receiving the information from a second network node, from the UE and/or from a configuration database, by means of measurements and/or by means of analytics.