IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,457,530
Granted Patent B2
US 12,457,530 · App. 18/250,099 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Inter-system handover involving E1 interface

Inventors: Julien Muller (Rennes, FR); Alexander Vesely (Feldbach, AU); Anders Hallberg (Vreta Kloster, SE); Stefan Eng (Linköping, SE)
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
H04W36/0022H04W36/14
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,457,530
App. No.
18/250,099
Granted
Oct 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, a network node including a target central unit, CU, the target CU including a CU-CP, and a CU-UP, that are in communication with each other via at least one interface is provided. The network node configured to identify a handover request associated with an inter-system handover, determine a configuration for the CU-UP to one of add and omit a service data adaptation protocol, SDAP, header for at least one inter-system data packet that is to be transmitted to a wireless device and cause transmission of at least one message over the interface where the at least one message configured to initiate a bearer context procedure, indicate that the bearer context procedure is associated with the inter-system handover, and indicate the configuration of the CU-UP.

Claims (64)

1. A network node including a target central unit, CU, the target CU including a CU-control plane, CU-CP, and a CU-user plane, CU-UP, that are in communication with each other via at least one interface, the network node comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

identify, at the CU-CP, a handover request associated with an inter-system handover;

determine, at the CU-CP, a configuration for the CU-UP to one of add and omit a service data adaptation protocol, SDAP, header for at least one inter-system data packet that is to be transmitted to a wireless device, the determination being based at least on the identification of the handover request;

cause, at the CU-CP, transmission of at least one message over the interface, the at least one message configured to:

initiate a bearer context procedure;

indicate that the bearer context procedure is associated with the inter-system handover; and

indicate the configuration of the CU-UP.

2. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, at the CU-CP, that the CU-UP is not to transfer at least one packet data convergence protocol, PDCP, sequence number, SN, of at least one PDCP service data units, SDU, received from a source network node, to the wireless device; and

the configuring of the CU-UP further includes configuring the CU-UP to discard the at least one PDCP SN, received from the source network node, from the at least one PDCP SDU based at least on the determination.

3. The network node of claim 2 , wherein the network node is a first radio access technology, RAT, network node and the source network node is a second RAT network node, the first RAT being different from the second RAT.

4. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive, at the CU-CP, user plane tunnel information for inter-system handover, the user plane tunnel information being based on the at least one message.

5. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one message corresponds to one of a bearer context setup message and bearer context modification message.

6. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the network node is a disaggregated network node; and

the CU-CP and CU-UP being respective logical entities of the disaggregated network node.

7. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive, at the CU-CP, the handover request from an Access and Mobility management Function, AMF.

8. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one message is associated with user plane tunnel endpoints required by the CU-CP.

9. A method implemented by a network node that includes a target central unit, CU, the target CU including a CU-control plane, CU-CP, and a CU-user plane, CU-UP, that are in communication with each other via at least one interface, the method comprising:

identifying, at the CU-CP, a handover request associated with an inter-system handover;

determining, at the CU-CP, a configuration for the CU-UP to one of add and omit a service data adaptation protocol, SDAP, header for at least one inter-system data packet that is to be transmitted to a wireless device, the determination being based at least on the identification of the handover request;

causing, at the CU-CP, transmission of at least one message over the interface, the at least one message configured to:

initiate a bearer context procedure;

indicate that the bearer context procedure is associated with the inter-system handover; and

indicate the configuration of the CU-UP.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining, at the CU-CP, that the CU-UP is not to transfer at least one packet data convergence protocol, PDCP, sequence number, SN, of at least one PDCP service data units, SDU, received from a source network node, to the wireless device; and

the configuring of the CU-UP further includes configuring the CU-UP to discard the at least one PDCP SN, received from the source network node, from the at least one PDCP SDU based at least on the determination.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the network node is a first radio access technology, RAT, network node and the source network node is a second RAT network node, the first RAT being different from the second RAT.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving, at the CU-CP, user plane tunnel information for inter-system handover, the user plane tunnel information being based on the at least one message.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one message corresponds to one of a bearer context setup message and bearer context modification message.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the network node is a disaggregated network node; and

the CU-CP and CU-UP being respective logical entities of the disaggregated network node.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving, at the CU-CP, the handover request from an Access and Mobility management Function, AMF.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one message is associated with user plane tunnel endpoints required by the CU-CP.

17. A network node including a target central unit, CU, the target CU including a CU-control plane, CU-CP, and a CU-user plane, CU-UP, that are in communication with each other via at least one interface, the network node comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

receive, at the CU-UP, at least one message over the interface, the at least one message configured to:

initiate a bearer context procedure;

indicate that the bearer context procedure is associated with an inter-system handover; and

indicate a configuration of the CU-UP, the configuration of the CU-UP indicating to one of add and omit a service data adaptation protocol, SDAP, header for at least one inter-system data packet that is to be transmitted to a wireless device;

operate, at the CU-UP, according to the configuration of the CU-UP indicated in the at least one message;

cause, at the CU-UP, transmission of user plane tunnel information for inter-system data forwarding associated with inter-system handover.

18. The network node of claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to select, at the CU-UP, the user plane tunnel information based on a handover type associated with the inter-system handover.

19. The network node of claim 18 , wherein the user plane tunnel information includes user plane tunnel endpoints required by the CU-CP.

20. The network node of claim 17 , wherein the configuration of the CU-UP further indicates for the CU-UP to discard at least one packet data convergence protocol, PDCP, sequence number, SN, of at least one PDCP service data units, SDU, received from a source network node, to the wireless device; and

the operating, at the CU-|UP, including discarding the at least one PDCP SN, received from the source network node, from the at least one PDCP SDU based at least on the indicated configuration of the CU-UP.

21. The network node of claim 20 , wherein the network node is a first radio access technology, RAT, network node and the source network node is a second RAT network node, the first RAT being different from the second RAT.

22. The network node of claim 17 , wherein the at least one message corresponds to one of a bearer context setup message and bearer context modification message.

23. The network node of claim 17 , wherein the network node is a disaggregated network node; and

the CU-CP and CU-UP being respective logical entities of the disaggregated network node.

24. A method implemented by a network node including a target central unit, CU, the target CU including a CU-control plane, CU-CP, and a CU-user plane, CU-UP, that are in communication with each other via at least one interface, the method comprising:

receiving, at the CU-UP, at least one message over the interface, the at least one message configured to:

initiate a bearer context procedure;

indicate that the bearer context procedure is associated with an inter-system handover; and

indicate a configuration of the CU-UP, the configuration of the CU-UP indicating to one of add and omit a service data adaptation protocol, SDAP, header for at least one inter-system data packet that is to be transmitted to a wireless device;

operating, at the CU-UP, according to the configuration of the CU-UP indicated in the at least one message;

causing, at the CU-UP, transmission of user plane tunnel information for inter-system data forwarding associated with inter-system handover.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising selecting, at the CU-UP, the user plane tunnel information based on a handover type associated with the inter-system handover.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the user plane tunnel information includes user plane tunnel endpoints required by the CU-CP.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the configuration of the CU-UP further indicates for the CU-UP to discard at least one packet data convergence protocol, PDCP, sequence number, SN, of at least one PDCP service data units, SDU, received from a source network node, to the wireless device; and

the operating, at the CU-|UP, including discarding the at least one PDCP SN, received from the source network node, from the at least one PDCP SDU based at least on the indicated configuration of the CU-UP.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the network node is a first radio access technology, RAT, network node and the source network node is a second RAT network node, the first RAT being different from the second RAT.

29. The method of claim 24 , wherein the at least one message corresponds to one of a bearer context setup message and bearer context modification message.

30. The method of claim 24 , wherein the network node is a disaggregated network node; and

the CU-CP and CU-UP being respective logical entities of the disaggregated network node.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2023
From: MULLER, JULIEN; VESELY, ALEXANDER; HALLBERG, ANDERS; ENG, STEFAN
To: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
Reel/Frame 063403/0622 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63094755 · Oct 21, 2020
Related Publication 20230397055A1 · Dec 7, 2023
References Cited (14)
US 20200077317A1 · Sharma · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200367109A1 · Chen · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210377818A1 · Xu · 2021 [cited by examiner]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jan. 31, 2022 issued in PCT Application No. PCT/IB2021/059730 filed Oct. 21, 2021, consisting of 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG3 Meeting #109-e R3-205102; Source: CATT, Nokia, Nokia Shanghai Bell, China Telecom, ZTE; Title: Discussion on E1AP for Inter-System Direct Data Forwarding; Agenda Item: 31.3.3; Document for: Discussion a… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG3 #112e R3-211825; Source: CATT, China Telecom, ZTE; Title: Support of Direct Data Forwarding for Inter-System Handover w/o Shared gNB; Document for: Approval; May 17-28, 2021, consisting of 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG3 Meeting #110e R3-206620 Change Request 38.463 CR 0538 rev 1 Current Version: 16.3.0; Title: Inter-System Direct Data Forwarding and E1; Source to WG: Ericsson: Source to TSG: R3; Work Item Code: Direct_… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG3 Meeting #109e R3-205383 Change Request 38.463 CR 0550 rev Current Version: 16.2.0; Title: Support Direct Data Forwarding for Inter-System Handover; Source to WG: Samsung; Source to TSG: RAN3; Work Item … [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 36.300 V16.3.0 (Sep. 2020) 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Acce… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 38.300 V16.3.0 (Sep. 2020) 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; NR and NG-RAN Overall Description; Stage 2 (Release 16), consisting of 148 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 38.401 V16.3.0 (Sep. 2020) 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; Architecture description (Release 16), consisting of 78 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 38.410 V16.3.0 (Sep. 2020) 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification GroupRadio Access Network; NG-RAN; NG general aspects and principles (Release 16), consisting of 17 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 38.413 V16.3.0 (Sep. 2020) 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; NG Application Protocol (NGAP) (Release 16), consisting of 466 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 38.463 V16.3.0 (Sep. 2020) 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NG-RAN; E1 Application Protocol (E1AP) (Release 16), consisting of 235 pages. [cited by applicant]