Use of per-connection spectral efficiency as basis for dynamic control of air-interface communication with dual-connected device

1. A method for controlling data split of a dual-connected user equipment device (UE) when the UE has at least two co-existing air-interface connections including a first air-interface connection with a first access node and a second air-interface connection with a second access node, the method comprising:

determining a level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection based on spectral efficiency of one or more cells on which the first air-interface connection is defined;

determining a level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection based on spectral efficiency of one or more cells on which the second air-interface connection is defined;

comparing the determined level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection with the determined level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection;

based at least on the comparing, establishing a split ratio that defines a distribution of data flow of the UE between at least the first air-interface connection and the second air-interface connection, wherein establishing the split ratio based on the comparing of the determined level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection with the determined level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection comprises (i) selecting one of the first and second air-interface connections based on the determined level of spectral efficiency of the identified air-interface connection being higher than the determined level of spectral efficiency of the other of the first and second air-interface connections and (ii) based on the selecting, establishing as the split ratio a split ratio that will put a majority of the data flow of the UE on the selected air-interface connection; and

based on the establishing, causing the established split ratio to be applied.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the established split ratio is an uplink split ratio, and wherein causing the established split ratio to be applied comprises transmitting to the UE a directive that causes the UE to apply the established split ratio.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the established split ratio is a downlink split ratio, wherein an entity splits downlink data flow of the UE between the first air-interface connection and the second air-interface connection, and wherein causing the established split ratio to be applied comprises causing the entity to apply the established split ratio.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is carried out by at least one of the first access node and the second access node.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection based on spectral efficiency of one or more cells on which the first air-interface connection is defined; and

determining the level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection based on spectral efficiency of one or more cells on which the second air-interface connection is defined,

wherein comparing the level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection with the level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection comprises comparing the determined level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection with the determined level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first air-interface connection operates in accordance with a first ratio access technology (RAT) and the second air-interface connection operates in accordance with a second RAT different than the first RAT.

7. A computing system configured to control data split of a dual-connected user equipment device (UE) when the UE has at least two co-existing air-interface connections including a first air-interface connection with a first access node and a second air-interface connection with a second access node, the computing system comprising:

a processor;

non-transitory data storage; and

program instructions stored in the non-transitory data storage and executable by the processor to cause the computing system to carry out operations including:

determining a level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection based on spectral efficiency of one or more cells on which the first air-interface connection is defined,

determining a level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection based on spectral efficiency of one or more cells on which the second air-interface connection is defined,

comparing the determined level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection with the determined level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection,

based at least on the comparing, establishing a split ratio that defines a distribution of data flow of the UE between at least the first air-interface connection and the second air-interface connection, wherein establishing the split ratio based on the comparing of the determined level of spectral efficiency of the first air-interface connection with the determined level of spectral efficiency of the second air-interface connection comprises (i) selecting one of the first and second air-interface connections based on the determined level of spectral efficiency of the identified air-interface connection being higher than the determined level of spectral efficiency of the other of the first and second air-interface connections and (ii) based on the selecting, establishing as the split ratio a split ratio that will put a majority of the data flow of the UE on the selected air-interface connection, and

based on the establishing, causing the established split ratio to be applied.

8. The computing system of claim 7 , wherein the computing system is at a given one of the first and second access nodes.

9. The computing system of claim 7 , wherein the established split ratio is an uplink split ratio, and wherein causing the established split ratio to be applied comprises transmitting to the UE a directive that causes the UE to apply the established split ratio.

10. The computing system of claim 7 , wherein the established split ratio is a downlink split ratio, wherein an entity splits downlink data flow of the UE between the first air-interface connection and the second air-interface connection, and wherein causing the established split ratio to be applied comprises causing the entity to apply the established split ratio.