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US-20260129703-A1 - Secondary Cell Group Activation/Deactivation in Split Node Architecture

US20260129703A1US 20260129703 A1US20260129703 A1US 20260129703A1US-20260129703-A1

Abstract

Embodiments include methods for a first node configured for dual connectivity with a user equipment (UE) together with a second node of a wireless network. One of the first and second nodes provides a secondary cell group (SCG) for the UE. Each of the first and second nodes includes a first unit that is one of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU) and a second unit that is the other of the CU and the DU. Such methods include the first unit of the first node receiving an indication of change in activation status of the SCG, and sending the indication to the second unit of the first node or to the first unit of the second node. The change in activation status is from SCG activated to SCG deactivated or vice versa. Other embodiments include first unit and first node apparatus configured to perform such methods.

Inventors

  • Liwei Qiu
  • Nianshan Shi
  • Pontus Wallentin

Assignees

  • TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251219

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method for a first node, of a wireless network, that is configured for dual connectivity (DC) with a user equipment (UE) together with a second node of the wireless network, wherein each of the first and second nodes includes a first unit and a second unit, wherein the first unit is one of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), wherein the second unit is the other of the CU and the DU, wherein the method comprises: the first unit of the first node receiving an indication of change in activation status of a secondary cell group (SCG) for the UE, wherein: one of the first and second nodes provides the SCG, and the change in activation status is from SCG activated to SCG deactivated or vice versa; and the first unit of the first node sending the indication of change in activation status to one of the following: the second unit of the first node, or the first unit of the second node.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first node provides the SCG for the UE.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein: the first unit is the CU and the second unit is the DU; and the indication is sent by the first unit of the first node to the second unit of the first node.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the indication is received from the first unit of the second node, which provides a master cell group (MCG) for the UE.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the second unit of the first node activating or deactivating resources of the SCG for the UE in accordance with the indicated change in activation status.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein: the second unit is the CU and the first unit is the DU; the indication is received from the UE via the SCG; and the indication is sent by the first unit of the first node to the second unit of the first node.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising the first unit of the first node activating or deactivating resources of the SCG for the UE in accordance with the indicated change in activation status.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising the second unit of the first node forwarding the indication received from the first unit of the first node to the second unit of the second node.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the first unit is the CU and the second unit is the DU; the indication is received from the first unit of the second node, which provides the SCG for the UE; and the indication is sent by the first unit of the first node to the second unit of the first node.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the second unit is the CU and the first unit is the DU; the indication is received from the UE via a master cell group (MCG) provided by the first node, wherein the second node provides the SCG; and the indication is sent by the first unit of the first node to the second unit of the first node.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the second unit of the first node forwarding, to the second unit of the second node, the indication received from the first unit of the first node.
  12. 12 . A method for a centralized unit (CU) of a first node, of a wireless network, that is configured for dual connectivity (DC) with a user equipment (UE) together with a second node of the wireless network, the method comprising: initiating a change in activation status of the SCG for the UE, wherein: one of the first and second nodes provides a secondary cell group (SCG) for the UE, and the change in activation status is from SCG activated to SCG deactivated or vice versa; and sending an indication of the change in activation status to at least one of the following: a distributed unit (DU) of the first node, a CU of the second node, and the UE.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first node provides the SCG for the UE.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising controlling the DU of the first node to activate or deactivate resources of the SCG for the UE in accordance with the indicated change in activation status.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second node provides the SCG for the UE.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the indication is sent to the CU of the second node and to the DU of the first node.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein one of the following applies: the first node provides the SCG for the UE and the indication is also sent to the UE via the SCG; or the second node provides the SCG for the UE and the indication is also sent to the UE via a master cell group (MCG) provided by the first node.
  18. 18 . A first unit of a first node of a wireless network, the first node being configured for dual connectivity (DC) with a user equipment (UE) together with a second node of the wireless network, wherein each of the first and second nodes includes a first unit and a second unit, wherein the first unit is one of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), and the second unit is the other of the CU and the DU, wherein the first unit comprises: radio network interface circuitry configured to communicate with the UE and with at least the second unit of the first node; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the radio network interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the radio network interface circuitry are configured to: receive an indication of change in activation status of the SCG for the UE, wherein: one of the first and second nodes provides the SCG, and the change in activation status is from SCG activated to SCG deactivated or vice versa; and send the indication of change in activation status to one of the following: the second unit of the first node, or the first unit of the second node.
  19. 19 . A first node of a wireless network, the first node being configured for dual connectivity (DC) with a user equipment (UE) together with a second node of the wireless network, wherein the first node comprises: the first unit of claim 20 ; and processing circuitry and radio network interface circuitry arranged as the second unit of the first node and configured to: when the second unit of the first node is the DU, activate or deactivate resources of the SCG for the UE in accordance with the indicated change in activation status; and when the second unit of the first node is the CU, forward the indication received from the first unit of the first node to the second unit of the second node.
  20. 20 . A centralized unit (CU) of a first node of a wireless network, the CU comprising communication interface circuitry and processing circuitry that are operatively coupled and are configured to perform the method of claim 13 .

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication networks and more specifically to techniques that reduced the energy consumed by a user equipment (UE) when connected to multiple cell groups in a wireless network, particularly cell groups provided by network nodes that use a split or distributed architecture. BACKGROUND Currently the fifth generation (“5G”) of cellular systems, also referred to as New Radio (NR), is being standardized within the Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). NR is developed for maximum flexibility to support multiple and substantially different use cases. These include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), machine type communications (MTC), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), side-link device-to-device (D2D), and several other use cases. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary high-level view of the 5G network architecture, consisting of a Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN) 199 and a 5G Core (5GC) 198. NG-RAN 199 can include a set of gNodeB's (gNBs) connected to the 5GC via one or more NG interfaces, such as gNBs 100, 150 connected via interfaces 102, 152, respectively. In addition, the gNBs can be connected to each other via one or more Xn interfaces, such as Xn interface 140 between gNBs 100 and 150. With respect the NR interface to UEs, each of the gNBs can support frequency division duplexing (FDD), time division duplexing (TDD), or a combination thereof. NG-RAN 199 is layered into a Radio Network Layer (RNL) and a Transport Network Layer (TNL). The NG-RAN architecture, i.e., the NG-RAN logical nodes and interfaces between them, is defined as part of the RNL. For each NG-RAN interface (NG, Xn, F1) the related TNL protocol and the functionality are specified. The TNL provides services for user plane transport and signaling transport. In some exemplary configurations, each gNB is connected to all 5GC nodes within an “AMF Region,” which is defined in 3GPP TS 23.501. The NG RAN logical nodes shown in FIG. 1 include a central (or centralized) unit (CU or gNB-CU) and one or more distributed (or decentralized) units (DU or gNB-DU). For example, gNB 100 includes gNB-CU 110 and gNB-DUs 120 and 130. CUs (e.g., gNB-CU 110) are logical nodes that host higher-layer protocols and perform various gNB functions such controlling the operation of DUs. Each DU is a logical node that hosts lower-layer protocols and can include, depending on the functional split, various subsets of the gNB functions. A gNB-CU connects to gNB-DUs over respective F1 logical interfaces, such as interfaces 122 and 132 shown in FIG. 1. The gNB-CU and connected gNB-DUs are only visible to other gNBs and the 5GC as a gNB. In other words, the F1 interface is not visible beyond gNB-CU. Each of the CUs and DUs can include various circuitry needed to perform their respective functions, including processing circuitry, communication interface and/or transceiver circuitry (e.g., for CU/DU communication, CU/CU communication, and/or communication with UEs), power supply circuitry, etc. Moreover, the terms “central unit” and “centralized unit” are used interchangeably herein, as are the terms “distributed unit” and “decentralized unit.” FIG. 2 shows a high-level view of an exemplary 5G network architecture, including an NG-RAN 299 and a 5GC 298. As shown in the figure, NG-RAN 299 can include gNBs 210 (e.g., 210a,b) and ng-eNBs 220 (e.g., 220a,b) that are interconnected with each other via respective Xn interfaces. The gNBs and ng-eNBs are also connected via the NG interfaces to 5GC 298, more specifically to the AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) 230 (e.g., AMFs 230a,b) via respective NG-C interfaces and to the UPF (User Plane Function) 240 (e.g., UPFs 240a,b) via respective NG-U interfaces. Moreover, the AMFs 230a,b can communicate with one or more policy control functions (PCFs, e.g., PCFs 250a,b) and network exposure functions (NEFs, e.g., NEFs 260a,b). Each of the gNBs 210 can support the NR radio interface including frequency division duplexing (FDD), time division duplexing (TDD), or a combination thereof. Each of ng-eNBs 220 can support the fourth-generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio interface. Unlike conventional LTE eNBs, however, ng-eNBs 220 connect to the 5GC via the NG interface. Each of the gNBs and ng-eNBs can serve a geographic coverage area including one more cells, such as cells 211a-b and 221a-b shown in FIG. 2. Depending on the particular cell in which it is located, a UE 205 can communicate with the gNB or ng-eNB serving that particular cell via the NR or LTE radio interface, respectively. Although FIG. 2 shows gNBs and ng-eNBs separately, it is also possible that a single NG-RAN node provides both types of functionality. 5G/NR technology shares many similarities with 4G/LTE. For example, NR uses CP-OFDM (Cyclic Prefix Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) in the DL and both CP-OFDM and DFT-spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM) in the UL. As another example, NR