Method and system for indication of a change in multi-radio access technology dual connectivity capability

1. A method for indicating a change in multi-radio access technology (RAT) dual connectivity (MR-DC) capability by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

detecting, by the UE, a change in the MR-DC capability of the UE;

identifying, by the UE, an operation mode of the UE, the operation mode being one of an idle mode and a connected mode;

in response to the operation mode being the idle mode:

detecting, by the UE, an event,

identifying a validity of the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE after detecting the event, and

providing, to a first network node, information indicating that the MR-DC capability of the UE is changed based on a result of the identification; and

in response to the operation mode being the connected mode:

identifying, by the UE, whether UE-assistance information is configured by the first network node, and

providing, to the first network node, the information indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the UE-assistance information in response to identifying that the UE-assistance information is configured by the first network,

wherein the event comprises an event related to at least one of a mobile originated request, a mobile terminated request, a data request, a signaling request, and a short message service (SMS) request.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode of the UE is changed into the connected mode from the idle mode based on the event.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the operation mode being the idle mode, holding, by the UE, transmission of a tracking area update (TAU) procedure message.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

identifying that a trigger has occurred; and

transmitting, to the first network node, the TAU message indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the trigger.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing, to the first network node, the information indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the UE-assistance information comprises:

determining, by the UE, disable of the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the UE-assistance information;

transmitting, by the UE, to the first network node, a secondary cell group (SCG) failure indication message indicating that there is no measurements of a secondary network node;

disabling, by the UE, the MR-DC capability of the UE, in response to receiving a response signal for the SCG failure indication message from the first network node; and

transmitting, by the UE, to the first network node, information indicating the disable of the MR-DC capability of the UE.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the disabling of the MR-DC capability of the UE comprises:

determining, by the UE, whether the response signal is received within a predetermined time; and

disabling, by the UE, the MR-DC capability of the UE, in response to receiving the response signal within the predetermined time.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the operation mode being the connected mode, transmitting, by the UE, to the first network node, a request message for the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE;

receiving, by the UE, from the first network node, a response message indicating that a connection for a second network node is release; and

indicating providing, by the UE, to the first network node, information indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the response message.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the operation mode being the connected mode, determining, by the UE, whether a dual connectivity (DC) for a second network node is configured;

in response to determining that the DC for the second network node is configured, determining, by the UE, to transmit measurements for the second network node to the first network node; and

indicating providing, by the UE, to the first network node, information indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on determination to transmit the measurements.

9. A user equipment (UE), comprising:

a transceiver; and

at least one processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to:

detect a change in multi-radio access technology (RAT) dual connectivity (MR-DC) capability of the UE,

identify an operation mode of the UE, the operation mode being one of an idle mode and a connected mode,

in response to the operation mode being the idle mode:

detect an event,

check a validity of the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE after detecting the event, and

provide, to a first network node, information to indicate the MR-DC capability of the UE is changed based on a result of the check, and

in response to the operation mode being connected mode:

identify whether UE-assistance information is configured by the first network node, and

provide, to a first network node, information indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the UE-assistance information in response to identifying that the UE-assistance information is configured by the first network node,

wherein the event comprises an event related to at least one of a mobile originated request, a mobile terminated request, a data request, a signaling request, and a short message service (SMS) request.

10. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the operation mode of the UE is changed into the connected mode from the idle mode based on the event.

11. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

in response to the operation mode being the idle mode, hold transmission of a tracking area update (TAU) message.

12. The UE of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

identify that a trigger has occurred; and

control the transceiver to transmit, to the first network node, the TAU message indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the trigger.

13. The UE of claim 12 , wherein the trigger includes a trigger for establishing connection with a second network node based on one of a mobile originated request and a mobile terminated request.

14. The method of claim 3 , wherein the trigger includes a trigger for establishing connection with a second network node based on one of a mobile originated request and a mobile terminated request.

15. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine disable of the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the UE-assistance information;

control the transceiver to transmit, to the first network node, a secondary cell group (SCG) failure indication message indicating that there is no measurements of a secondary network node;

disable the MR-DC capability of the UE, in response to receiving a response signal for the SCG failure indication message from the first network node; and

control the transceiver to transmit, to the first network node, information indicating the disable of the MR-DC capability of the UE.

16. The UE of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether the response signal is received within a predetermined time; and

disable the MR-DC capability of the UE, in response to receiving the response signal within the predetermined time.

17. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

in response to the operation mode being the connected mode, control the transceiver to transmit, to the first network node, a request message for the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE;

control the transceiver to receive, from the first network node, a response message indicating that a connection for a second network node is release; and

provide, to the first network node, information indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on the response message.

18. The UE of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

in response to the operation mode being the connected mode, determine whether a dual connectivity (DC) for a second network node is configured;

in response to determining that the DC for the second network node is configured, determine to transmit measurements for the second network node to the first network node; and

provide, to the first network node, information indicating the change in the MR-DC capability of the UE based on determination to transmit the measurements.