Intra-UE coexistence between non-stand-alone and stand-alone mode
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for a user equipment device (UE) to perform intra-UE co-existence between non-stand-alone (NSA) and stand-alone (SA) mode. The UE may be configured to connect to a first radio access network (RAN) operating according to a first radio access technology (RAT) via a first radio and connect to a second RAN operating according to a second RAT via a second radio. The UE may provide, to the first RAN, configuration information during a radio resource control (RRC) connection procedure. The configuration information may indicate a dual connectivity status of the UE. The dual connectivity status may include indication disabling (enabling) dual connectivity for the UE, working frequencies associated with the second RAN, and/or configurations associated with the second RAN. The UE may receive, from the first RAN, a dual connectivity configuration that may be based on the dual connectivity status of the UE and operate accordingly.
1. A user equipment device (UE), comprising:
one or more antennas;
one or more radios, wherein each of the one or more radios is configured to perform cellular communication using at least one radio access technology (RAT);
one or more processors coupled to the one or more radios, wherein the one or more processors and the one or more radios are configured to perform voice and/or data communications;
wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the UE to:
connect to a first radio access network (RAN) operating according to a first RAT via a first radio of the one or more radios;
connect to a second RAN operating according to a second RAT via a second radio of the one or more radios;
provide, to the first RAN, configuration information during a radio resource control (RRC) connection procedure, wherein the configuration information indicates a dual connectivity status of the UE;
receive, from the first RAN, a dual connectivity configuration, wherein the dual connectivity configuration is based on the dual connectivity status of the UE; and
enable multiple instances of a communication stack associated with the second RAN, wherein a first instance of the communication stack supports a non-stand-alone mode of operation for the first and second RANs and a second instance of the stack supports a stand-alone mode of operation for the second RAN, wherein a higher layer service level of the UE and lower level radio frequency arbitration of the UE determine which instance of the communication stack has access for transmission and/or reception at any particular time based, at least in part, on one or more of service requirements of each instance of the communication stack or priority of a service being supported by an instance of the communication stack.
2. The UE of claim 1 ,
wherein dual connectivity status includes one or more of:
an indication disabling dual connectivity for the UE;
working frequencies associated with the second RAN; or
configurations associated with the second RAN.
3. The UE of claim 2 ,
wherein the configurations associated with the second RAN includes whether the UE is configured in a stand-alone mode for communications with the second RAN.
4. The UE of claim 1 ,
wherein the dual connectivity configuration includes configuring the UE for a stand-alone mode of operation with the first RAN.
5. The UE of claim 1 ,
wherein the dual connectivity configuration includes configuring the UE for a non-stand-alone mode of operation with the first and second RANs, wherein non-stand-alone mode of operation accommodates the UE operating in stand-alone mode with the second RAN.
6. The UE of claim 5 ,
wherein the dual connectivity configuration in combination with the UE operating in stand-alone mode with the second RAN does not exceed radio frequency capabilities of the second radio.
7. The UE of claim 1 ,
wherein the first RAT is one of 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR); and
wherein the second RAT is one of 3GPP LTE and 3GPP 5G NR.
8. The UE of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:
release or suspend the connection to the second RAN; and
receive, based on the release or suspension, an updated dual connectivity configuration from the first RAN.
9. The UE of claim 1 ,
wherein the first instance of the communication stack and the second instance of the communication stack are supported by a single SIM profile of the UE; and
wherein the first instance of the communication stack and the second instance of the communication stack share physical resources associated with the second radio.
10. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium storing program instructions executable by processing circuitry to cause a user equipment device (UE) to:
connect to a first radio access network (RAN) operating according to a first radio access technology (RAT) via a first radio;
connect to a second RAN operating according to a second RAT via a second radio;
receive, from the first RAN, a dual connectivity configuration; and
enable multiple instances of a communication stack associated with the second RAN, wherein a first instance of the communication stack supports a non-stand-alone mode of operation for the first and second RANs and a second instance of the stack supports a stand-alone mode of operation for the second RAN, wherein a higher layer service level of the UE and lower level radio frequency arbitration of the UE determine which instance of the communication stack has access for transmission and/or reception at any particular time based, at least in part, on one or more of service requirements of each instance of the communication stack or priority of a service being supported by an instance of the communication stack.
11. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 10 ,
wherein the first instance of the communication stack and the second instance of the communication stack are supported by a single SIM profile of the UE.
12. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 10 ,
wherein the first instance of the communication stack and the second instance of the communication stack share physical resources associated with the second radio.
13. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 10 ,
wherein program instructions are further executable by the processing circuitry to cause the UE to:
suspend the connection to the second RAN; and
receive, receive, based on the suspension of the connection with the second RAN, an updated dual connectivity configuration from the first RAN.
14. A method for intra-user equipment device (UE) coexistence between non-stand-alone mode and stand-alone mode, comprising:
connecting to a first radio access network (RAN) operating according to a first RAT via a first radio of the one or more radios;
connecting to a second RAN operating according to a second RAT via a second radio of the one or more radios;
providing, to the first RAN, configuration information during a radio resource control (RRC) connection procedure, wherein the configuration information indicates a dual connectivity status of the UE;
receiving, from the first RAN, a dual connectivity configuration, wherein the dual connectivity configuration is based on the dual connectivity status of the UE; and
enabling multiple instances of a communication stack associated with the second RAN, wherein a first instance of the communication stack supports a non-stand-alone mode of operation for the first and second RANs and a second instance of the stack supports a stand-alone mode of operation for the second RAN, wherein a higher layer service level of the UE and lower level radio frequency arbitration of the UE determine which instance of the communication stack has access for transmission and/or reception at any particular time based, at least in part, on one or more of service requirements of each instance of the communication stack or priority of a service being supported by an instance of the communication stack.
15. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein dual connectivity status includes one or more of:
an indication disabling dual connectivity for the UE;
working frequencies associated with the second RAN; or
configurations associated with the second RAN.
16. The method of claim 15 ,
wherein the configurations associated with the second RAN includes whether the UE is configured in a stand-alone mode for communications with the second RAN.
17. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the dual connectivity configuration includes configuring the UE for a stand-alone mode of operation with the first RAN.
18. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the dual connectivity configuration includes configuring the UE for a non-stand-alone mode of operation with the first and second RANs, wherein non-stand-alone mode of operation accommodates the UE operating in stand-alone mode with the second RAN.
19. The method of claim 18 ,
wherein the dual connectivity configuration in combination with the UE operating in stand-alone mode with the second RAN does not exceed radio frequency capabilities of the second radio.
20. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the first RAT is one of 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR); and
wherein the second RAT is one of 3GPP LTE and 3GPP 5G NR.