Conditional access to cells of secondary cell group

Abstract

The disclosure relates to implementing conditional access to cells of a secondary cell group (SCG). An apparatus comprises: means for sending first condition reconfiguration information to a user equipment (UE), the information for enabling the UE to access a cell of an SCG when a first condition for accessing the cell of the SCG is satisfied; means for transmitting, to the UE, second condition reconfiguration information for enabling the UE to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing the cell of another SCG is satisfied; means for receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that a first condition has been satisfied; means for determining whether to delay a cell-triggered path handover of the SCG; means for sending a first indication to a cell of the SCG to delay a triggered path switch; means for receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that a second condition has been satisfied; means for determining whether to abort the cell-triggered path handover of the SCG; and to send a second indication to the cell of the SCG to abort the trigger path handover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Examples of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus, method, and computer program for implementing conditional access to cells of a secondary cell group SCG. Background Art

[0002] Conventional procedures for supporting strip access to cells of a secondary cell group (such as conditional primary secondary cell PSCell, adding CPA and conditional PSCell change CPC) are not always optimal. In some cases, it may be desirable to improve conditional access to cells of an SCG (such as enhancing the procedures for PSCell addition and / or change). In some cases, it may be desirable to reduce the signaling overhead involved in conditional access to cells of an SCG.

[0003] The listing or discussion of any prior published document or any background in this specification should not be considered as an acknowledgement that the document or background is part of the prior art or is common general knowledge.One or more aspects / examples of the present disclosure may or may not address one or more of the background issues. Summary of the invention

[0004] The scope of protection sought for the different embodiments of the present disclosure is set out in the claims.

[0005] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, examples as claimed in the appended claims are provided.Any examples and features described in this specification that do not belong to the scope of the independent claims are to be construed as useful examples for understanding different embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0006] According to at least some examples of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

[0007] A component for sending first conditional reconfiguration information to a user equipment UE, wherein the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0008] A component for sending second conditional reconfiguration information to the UE, where the second conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is met;

[0009] means for receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that a first condition has been met;

[0010] A component for determining whether to delay the cell triggering path switching of the SCG;

[0011] means for sending a first indication to a cell of the SCG to delay triggering a path switch, wherein the first indication is sent based at least in part on the determination;

[0012] means for receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that a second condition has been met;

[0013] A component for determining whether to terminate the cell-triggered path switching of the SCG; and

[0014] Means for sending a second indication to a cell of the SCG to abort triggering the path switch, wherein the second indication is sent based at least in part on a determination of whether to abort triggering the path switch.

[0015] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising:

[0016] Sending first conditional reconfiguration information to a user equipment UE, where the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0017] Sending second condition reconfiguration information to the UE, where the second condition reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is met;

[0018] receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that a first condition has been satisfied;

[0019] Determine whether to delay the cell triggering path switching of the SCG;

[0020] sending a first indication of delaying triggered path switching to a cell of the SCG, wherein the first indication is sent based at least in part on the determination;

[0021] receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that a second condition has been satisfied;

[0022] Determine whether to terminate the cell triggering path switching of the SCG; and

[0023] A second indication is sent to the cell of the SCG to abort the triggered path switch, wherein the second indication is sent based at least in part on the determination of whether to abort the triggered path switch.

[0024] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a chipset including a processing circuit configured to execute the above method.

[0025] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, a module, circuit, device and / or system is provided, including components for performing the above method.

[0026] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform:

[0027] Sending first conditional reconfiguration information to a user equipment UE, where the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0028] Sending second condition reconfiguration information to the UE, where the second condition reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is met;

[0029] receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that a first condition has been satisfied;

[0030] Determine whether to delay the cell triggering path switching of the SCG;

[0031] sending a first indication of delaying triggered path switching to a cell of the SCG, wherein the first indication is sent based at least in part on the determination;

[0032] receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that a second condition has been satisfied;

[0033] Determine whether to terminate the cell triggering path switching of the SCG; and

[0034] A second indication is sent to the cell of the SCG to abort the triggered path switch, wherein the second indication is sent based at least in part on the determination of whether to abort the triggered path switch.

[0035] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

[0036] at least one processor; and

[0037] at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

[0038] Sending first conditional reconfiguration information to a user equipment UE, where the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0039] Sending second condition reconfiguration information to the UE, where the second condition reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is met;

[0040] receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that a first condition has been satisfied;

[0041] Determine whether to delay the cell triggering path switching of the SCG;

[0042] sending a first indication of delaying triggered path switching to a cell of the SCG, wherein the first indication is sent based at least in part on the determination;

[0043] receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that a second condition has been satisfied;

[0044] Determine whether to terminate the cell triggering path switching of the SCG; and

[0045] A second indication is sent to the cell of the SCG to abort the triggered path switch, wherein the second indication is sent based at least in part on the determination of whether to abort the triggered path switch.

[0046] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause at least the following operations to be performed:

[0047] Sending first conditional reconfiguration information to a user equipment UE, where the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0048] Sending second condition reconfiguration information to the UE, where the second condition reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is met;

[0049] receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that a first condition has been satisfied;

[0050] Determine whether to delay the cell triggering path switching of the SCG;

[0051] sending a first indication of delaying triggered path switching to a cell of the SCG, wherein the first indication is sent based at least in part on the determination;

[0052] receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that a second condition has been satisfied;

[0053] Determine whether to terminate the cell triggering path switching of the SCG; and

[0054] A second indication is sent to the cell of the SCG to abort the triggered path switch, wherein the second indication is sent based at least in part on the determination of whether to abort the triggered path switch.

[0055] The following part of this "Summary" section describes various features, which may be features of any example in the preceding part of the "Summary" section mutatis mutandis. In addition, the description of a function should be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform that function.

[0056] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, determining whether to abort triggering the path switch is based at least in part on when the first indication is sent and when the second indication is received.

[0057] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the first indication includes an indication of a delay time.

[0058] In some but not necessarily all examples, determining whether to abort triggering the path switch is based at least in part on a determination that a difference between a time when the first indication is sent and a time when the second indication is received is less than a delay time.

[0059] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving from the UE a third indication of delaying the triggered path switch; the determination of whether to delay the cell-triggered path switch of the SCG is based at least in part on the third indication.

[0060] In some but not necessarily all examples, the third indication indicates the UE's evaluation of at least one of:

[0061] whether the expected duration of the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time;

[0062] Whether the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is expected to be a short-stay SS access; and

[0063] Whether the UE's access to the SCG cell is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

[0064] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first conditional reconfiguration information includes at least one of the following:

[0065] an indication for the UE to send a third indication to the device;

[0066] information for configuring the UE to evaluate a third indication;

[0067] one or more criteria for the UE to use in evaluating the third indication; and

[0068] One or more thresholds for the UE to use in evaluating the third indication.

[0069] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the third indication is one of:

[0070] Flags in received messages;

[0071] received in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, message;

[0072] is received in an RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message; and

[0073] Received after the UE has determined that the first condition has been met.

[0074] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving from the UE one or more measurements of signals from one or more secondary cell groups; and wherein the determination of whether to delay a cell-triggered path switch of the SCG is based at least in part on the received one or more measurements.

[0075] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the apparatus further comprises means for evaluating, based at least in part on the one or more measurements of the signal, at least one of:

[0076] whether the expected duration of the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time;

[0077] Whether the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is expected to be a short-stay SS access; and

[0078] Whether the UE's access to the SCG cell is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

[0079] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the determination of whether to delay a cell-triggered path switch for the SCG is based at least in part on an evaluation.

[0080] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first conditional reconfiguration information includes at least one of the following:

[0081] information for configuring the UE to perform and / or report one or more signal measurements;

[0082] one or more criteria for a UE to perform and / or report one or more signal measurements;

[0083] one or more identifiers of one or more cells of one or more secondary cell groups SCG, whose signals are to be measured;

[0084] one or more group identifiers of one or more secondary cell groups SCG, the signals of which are to be measured;

[0085] Information used to configure the UE to perform inter-secondary cell group (SCG) measurements; and

[0086] An indication for the UE to send to the device one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs.

[0087] In some but not necessarily all examples, one or more measurements of a signal are received in one of:

[0088] Radio Resource Control RRC messages;

[0089] Layer 3 measurement reporting;

[0090] RRC connection reconfiguration complete message; and

[0091] SN RRC reconfiguration complete message.

[0092] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the apparatus further comprises means for determining third information indicating at least one of:

[0093] Configured scenario;

[0094] Characteristics of cell borders of RAN nodes;

[0095] Network coverage, cell coverage and / or coverage gaps.

[0096] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the apparatus further comprises means for evaluating, based at least in part on the third information, at least one or more of:

[0097] whether the expected duration of the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time;

[0098] Whether the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is expected to be a short-stay SS access; and

[0099] Whether the UE's access to the SCG cell is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

[0100] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the determination of whether to delay a cell-triggered path switch for the SCG is based at least in part on an evaluation.

[0101] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first and / or second conditional reconfiguration information includes at least one of the following:

[0102] Condition: Primary secondary cell PSCell, add CPA, configure information;

[0103] Conditional PSCell changes CPC configuration information;

[0104] Conditional PSCell, add or change CPAC,configuration information;

[0105] Selectively activate CPAC, S-CPAC, configuration information; and

[0106] CPAC configuration information with selectively activated secondary cell group SCG cells.

[0107] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first condition for accessing a cell of an SCG and / or the second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG includes at least one of the following:

[0108] A first execution condition and / or a second execution condition for respectively adding a cell of an SCG and / or a cell of another SCG;

[0109] a first execution condition and / or a second execution condition for changing to a cell of an SCG and / or a cell of another SCG, respectively; and

[0110] The first execution condition and / or the second execution condition of the CPC candidate PSCell.

[0111] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first information indicating that the first condition has been met includes at least one of the following:

[0112] Radio resource control messages;

[0113] RRC connection reconfiguration complete message.

[0114] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first indication is sent via at least one of:

[0115] Radio resource control messages;

[0116] SN RRC reconfiguration complete message.

[0117] In some but not necessarily all examples, the second indication is sent via at least one of:

[0118] Xn user plane Xn-U interface; and

[0119] Xn-U address indication message.

[0120] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus is configured as a master node MN for a UE, wherein the UE operates in a multiple connection MC mode and establishes a connection with the MN and a source secondary node SN.

[0121] According to at least some examples of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

[0122] A component for receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access the cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing the cell of the SCG is met;

[0123] A component for receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to: evaluate whether to delay a cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch, and to send an indication of triggering a path switch based on the evaluation delay to a cell of the master cell group MCG;

[0124] A component for receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of an MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0125] means for determining whether a first condition has been satisfied;

[0126] A means for sending, to a cell of the MCG, first information indicating that a first condition has been met;

[0127] means for evaluating whether to delay triggering a path switch in response to receiving the configuration information; and

[0128] Means for sending an indication to a cell of the MCG and triggering a path switch based at least in part on the evaluated delay.

[0129] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising:

[0130] Receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access the cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing the cell of the SCG is met;

[0131] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the device to: evaluate whether to delay a cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch, and send an indication of triggering a path switch based on the evaluation delay to a cell of the master cell group MCG;

[0132] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0133] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0134] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0135] evaluating whether to delay triggering a path switch in response to receiving the configuration information; and

[0136] An indication is sent to a cell of the MCG and triggers a path switch based at least in part on the evaluated delay.

[0137] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a chip set including circuits configured to perform the above method.

[0138] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform:

[0139] Receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access the cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing the cell of the SCG is met;

[0140] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the device to: evaluate whether to delay a cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch, and send an indication of triggering a path switch based on the evaluation delay to a cell of the master cell group MCG;

[0141] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0142] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0143] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0144] evaluating whether to delay triggering a path switch in response to receiving the configuration information; and

[0145] An indication is sent to a cell of the MCG and triggers a path switch based at least in part on the evaluated delay.

[0146] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, an example of the present disclosure provides a device, including: a device, including:

[0147] at least one processor; and

[0148] at least one memory storing instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

[0149] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0150] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to: evaluate whether to delay triggering a path switch for a cell of the SCG, and send an indication of delaying triggering a path switch to a cell of the master cell group MCG based at least in part on the evaluation;

[0151] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0152] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0153] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0154] In response to receiving the configuration information, evaluating whether to delay triggering the path switch; and

[0155] An indication of delaying triggering a path switch is sent to a cell of the MCG based at least in part on the evaluation.

[0156] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause at least the following operations to be performed:

[0157] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0158] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to: evaluate whether to delay triggering a path switch for a cell of the SCG, and send an indication of delaying triggering a path switch to a cell of the master cell group MCG based at least in part on the evaluation;

[0159] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0160] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0161] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0162] In response to receiving the configuration information, evaluating whether to delay triggering the path switch; and

[0163] An indication of delaying triggering a path switch is sent to a cell of the MCG based at least in part on the evaluation.

[0164] The following part of this "Summary" section describes various features, which may be features of any example in the preceding part of the "Summary" section mutatis mutandis. In addition, the description of a function should be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform that function.

[0165] In some but not necessarily all examples, the configuration information also includes at least one of the following:

[0166] one or more criteria used by the device to evaluate an indication of delaying triggering a path switch; and

[0167] One or more thresholds used by the device to evaluate an indication of a delay triggering a path switch.

[0168] In some but not necessarily all examples, evaluating whether to delay triggering the path switch is based at least in part on evaluating at least one of:

[0169] whether the expected duration of the device's access to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time;

[0170] Whether the device's access to the cell of the SCG is intended to be a short-stay SS access; and

[0171] Whether the device's access to the SCG cell is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

[0172] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the indication indicates an assessment by the device of at least one of:

[0173] whether the expected duration of the device's access to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time;

[0174] Whether the device's access to the cell of the SCG is intended to be a short-stay SS access; and

[0175] Whether the device's access to the SCG cell is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

[0176] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the indication is one of the following:

[0177] Flag in messages sent to cells of the master cell group MCG;

[0178] Sent in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message;

[0179] sent in an RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message; and

[0180] Sent after the device has determined that the first condition has been met.

[0181] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus is a user equipment UE configured to operate in a multiple connection MC mode, and wherein the UE establishes a connection with a master node MN and a source secondary node SN.

[0182] According to at least some examples of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

[0183] A component for receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0184] means for receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to measure and report one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs for use by the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG from triggering a path switch;

[0185] A component for receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of an MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0186] means for determining whether a first condition has been satisfied;

[0187] A means for sending, to a cell of the MCG, first information indicating that a first condition has been met;

[0188] means for measuring one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs in accordance with the configuration information;

[0189] A component for sending one or more measurements to a cell of the MCG for the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay a cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

[0190] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising:

[0191] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0192] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to measure and report one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs for use by the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG from triggering a path switch;

[0193] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0194] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0195] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0196] measuring one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs according to the configuration information;

[0197] One or more measurements are sent to the cell of the MCG for the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

[0198] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, a chip set is provided, including a circuit configured to execute the above method.

[0199] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, a module, circuit, device and / or system is provided, including components for performing the above-described method.

[0200] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform:

[0201] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0202] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to measure and report one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs for use by the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG from triggering a path switch;

[0203] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0204] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0205] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0206] measuring one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs according to the configuration information;

[0207] One or more measurements are sent to the cell of the MCG for the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

[0208] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

[0209] at least one processor; and

[0210] at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

[0211] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0212] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to measure and report one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs for use by the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG from triggering a path switch;

[0213] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0214] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0215] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0216] measuring one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs according to the configuration information;

[0217] One or more measurements are sent to the cell of the MCG for the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

[0218] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause at least the following operations to be performed:

[0219] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0220] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to measure and report one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs for use by the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG from triggering a path switch;

[0221] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0222] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0223] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0224] measuring one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs according to the configuration information;

[0225] One or more measurements are sent to the cell of the MCG for the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

[0226] The following part of this "Summary" section describes various features, which may be features of any example in the preceding part of the "Summary" section mutatis mutandis. In addition, the description of a function should be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform that function.

[0227] In some but not necessarily all examples, the configuration information also includes at least one of the following:

[0228] one or more criteria used by the device to perform and / or report one or more measurements of the signal;

[0229] one or more identifiers of one or more cells of one or more secondary cell groups SCG, whose signals are to be measured;

[0230] one or more group identifiers of one or more secondary cell groups SCG whose signals are to be measured; and

[0231] Information used to configure the device to perform and report measurements between one or more secondary cell groups (SCGs).

[0232] In some but not necessarily all examples, one or more measurements of a signal are sent in one of the following:

[0233] Radio Resource Control RRC messages;

[0234] Layer 3 measurement reporting;

[0235] RRC connection reconfiguration complete message; and

[0236] SN RRC reconfiguration complete message.

[0237] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus is a user equipment UE configured to operate in a multiple connection MC mode, and wherein the UE establishes a connection with a master node MN and a source secondary node SN.

[0238] According to at least some examples of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

[0239] means for receiving, from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, reconfiguration information for configuring the device as a candidate cell of a secondary cell group SCG;

[0240] means for receiving information from a cell of the MCG instructing the user equipment UE to select a candidate cell of the SCG; and

[0241] means for determining a delay triggering a path switch;

[0242] means for delaying triggering of a path switch, wherein the triggering of the delayed path switch is based at least in part on a determination to delay triggering the path switch;

[0243] means for determining to abort triggering path switching; and

[0244] Means for suspending triggering of the path switch, wherein suspending triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on a determination to suspend triggering the path switch.

[0245] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising:

[0246] Receiving reconfiguration information for configuring the device as a candidate cell of the secondary cell group SCG from a cell of the primary cell group MCG;

[0247] receiving information from the cell of the MCG instructing the user equipment UE to select a candidate cell of the SCG; and

[0248] Determine the delay triggering path switching;

[0249] delaying triggering of the path switch, wherein the delaying triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on a determination to delay triggering the path switch;

[0250] determining to abort triggering a path switch; and

[0251] The triggering of the path switch is suspended, wherein the triggering of the path switch is suspended based at least in part on the determination to suspend triggering the path switch.

[0252] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, a chip set is provided, including a circuit configured to execute the above method.

[0253] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, a module, circuit, device and / or system is provided, including components for performing the above-described method.

[0254] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform:

[0255] Receiving reconfiguration information for configuring the device as a candidate cell of the secondary cell group SCG from a cell of the primary cell group MCG;

[0256] receiving information from the cell of the MCG instructing the user equipment UE to select a candidate cell of the SCG; and

[0257] Determine the delay triggering path switching;

[0258] delaying triggering of the path switch, wherein the delaying triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on a determination to delay triggering the path switch;

[0259] determining to abort triggering a path switch; and

[0260] The triggering of the path switch is suspended, wherein the triggering of the path switch is suspended based at least in part on the determination to suspend triggering the path switch.

[0261] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

[0262] at least one processor; and

[0263] At least one memory storing instructions, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform:

[0264] Receiving reconfiguration information for configuring the device as a candidate cell of the secondary cell group SCG from a cell of the primary cell group MCG;

[0265] receiving information from the cell of the MCG instructing the user equipment UE to select a candidate cell of the SCG; and

[0266] Determine the delay triggering path switching;

[0267] delaying triggering of the path switch, wherein the delaying triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on a determination to delay triggering the path switch;

[0268] determining to abort triggering a path switch; and

[0269] The triggering of the path switch is suspended, wherein the triggering of the path switch is suspended based at least in part on the determination to suspend triggering the path switch.

[0270] According to various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause at least the following operations to be performed:

[0271] Receiving reconfiguration information for configuring the device as a candidate cell of the secondary cell group SCG from a cell of the primary cell group MCG;

[0272] receiving information from the cell of the MCG instructing the user equipment UE to select a candidate cell of the SCG; and

[0273] Determine the delay triggering path switching;

[0274] delaying triggering of the path switch, wherein the delaying triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on a determination to delay triggering the path switch;

[0275] determining to abort triggering a path switch; and

[0276] The triggering of the path switch is suspended, wherein the triggering of the path switch is suspended based at least in part on the determination to suspend triggering the path switch.

[0277] The following part of this "Summary" section describes various features, which may be features of any example in the preceding part of the "Summary" section mutatis mutandis. In addition, the description of a function should be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform that function.

[0278] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving an indication of delaying triggering the path switch from a cell of the MCG; and means for determining delaying triggering the path switch based at least in part on the received indication.

[0279] In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the device automatically determines a delay triggering a path switch.

[0280] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving an indication from a cell of the MCG to suspend triggering the path switch; and determining to suspend triggering the path switch is based at least in part on the received indication.

[0281] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus is configured as a target secondary node SN for a UE, wherein the UE operates in a multiple connection MC mode and establishes connections with a master node MN and a source SN.

[0282] Although the above examples and optional features of the present disclosure are described separately, it should be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and arrangements is included in the present disclosure. It should be understood that various examples of the present disclosure may include any one or all of the features described with respect to other examples of the present disclosure, and vice versa. Moreover, it should be understood that any one or more or all of the features may be implemented / included / executed by devices, methods and / or computer program instructions in any combination, as desired and appropriate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0283] Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0284] Figure 1 illustrates an example of the subject matter described herein;

[0285] FIG2 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0286] Figure 3 Another example of the subject matter described herein is shown;

[0287] FIG4 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0288] FIG5 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0289] FIG6 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0290] Figure 7 Another example of the subject matter described herein is shown; and

[0291] Figure 8 Another example of the subject matter described herein is shown.

[0292] The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For clarity and simplicity, certain features and views of the drawings may be shown schematically or scaled up. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the drawings may be enlarged relative to other elements to aid illustration. Similar reference numerals are used to refer to similar features in the drawings. For clarity, all reference numerals may not necessarily be shown in all drawings.

[0293] In the drawings (and description), similar features may be referenced by the same three-digit number. In the drawings (and description), an optional subscript for the three-digit number may be used to distinguish different instances of similar features. Thus, a three-digit number without a subscript may be used as a general reference, while a three-digit number with a subscript may be used as a specific reference. A subscript may include a single digit marking different examples. A subscript may include two digits, including a first digit marking a group of instances and a second digit marking different instances in the group. Abbreviations / Definitions 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project 5G 5th Generation 5GC 5G Core 6G 6th Generation AMF Access and Mobility Management Function CPA Condition PSCell Added CPAC Conditions PSCell Addition and / or Change CPC Condition PSCell Change DC Dual Connection DL Downlink gNB 5G / NR base station MCG Master Cell Group MN Master Node NG Next Generation NR New Radio NR-DC New Wireless Dual Connectivity PCell Primary Cell PSCell main auxiliary cell PP Ping Pong RACH Random Access Channel RAN Radio Access Network RRC Radio Resource Control SCG Secondary Cell Group Selective activation of S-CPAC-conditioned PSCell addition and / or alteration SN Secondary Node SS Short Stay S-SN Source Secondary Node T-SN Target Secondary Node UE User Equipment UPF User Plane Function DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0294] Figure 1 An example of a network 100 applicable to examples of the present disclosure is schematically shown. The network (also referred to as NW) includes a plurality of network nodes, including: a terminal node 110 (also referred to as a user equipment UE), an access node 120 (also referred to as a radio access network RAN ​​node or base station), and one or more core network nodes 130. The terminal node 110 and the access node 120 communicate with each other. In some but not necessarily all examples, one or more core network nodes 130 may communicate with each other. In some but not necessarily all examples, one or more access nodes 120 may communicate with each other.

[0295] In this example, the network 100 is a wireless telecommunication network, ie, a RAN, in which at least some of the terminal nodes 110 and the access nodes 120 communicate with each other using transmission / reception of radio waves.

[0296] The RAN 100 may be a cellular network including a plurality of cells 122, each cell being served by an access node 120. The access node 120 includes a cellular radio transceiver. The terminal node 110 includes a cellular radio transceiver.

[0297] In the specific example shown, the network 100 may be a new radio NR network of the third generation partnership project 3GPP and its fifth generation 5G technology. In other examples, the network 100 may be a post-5G network, such as a next generation (i.e., sixth generation 6G) radio network currently under development (i.e., an NR network and its evolution of 5G technology).

[0298] The interface between the terminal node 110 and the access node 120 is a radio interface 124 (eg, a Uu interface). The interface between the access node 120 and one or more core nodes 130 is a backhaul interface 128 (eg, an S1 and / or next generation NG interface).

[0299] Depending on the exact deployment scenario, the access node 120 may be a RAN node, such as a NG-RAN node. The NG-RAN node may be a gNodeB, a gNB, which provides NG user plane and control plane protocol termination to the UE. The gNB is connected to the 5G core (5GC) via an NG interface, more specifically, to the access and mobility management function AMF via an NG control plane NG-C interface, and to the user plane function UPF via an NG user plane NG-U interface. The access nodes 120 may be interconnected to each other by means of an Xn interface 126.

[0300] The cellular network 100 may be configured to operate in a licensed band or an unlicensed band (such as at least: an unlicensed band that relies on the transmitting device sensing the radio resource / medium before commencing transmission, such as via a listen-before-talk (LBT) process; and a 60 GHz unlicensed band where beamforming may be required to achieve the required coverage).

[0301] The access node 120 may be deployed in NG standalone operation / scenario. The access node 120 may be deployed in NG non-standalone operation / scenario. The access node 120 may be deployed in carrier aggregation CA operation / scenario. The access node 120 may be deployed in dual-connection DC operation / scenario, i.e., multi-radio access technology - dual-connection MR-DC or NR-DC. The access node 120 may be deployed in multi-connection MC operation / scenario.

[0302] In such a non-standalone / dual connectivity deployment, the access nodes 120 may be interconnected with each other via an X2 or Xn interface and connected to an evolved packet core EPC via an S1 interface or to a 5GC via an NG interface.

[0303] Terminal nodes 110 are network elements on the user side of the network that terminate a radio link. They are devices that allow access to network services. Terminal nodes 110 may be referred to as user equipment UE, mobile terminals or mobile stations. The term "user equipment" may be used to specify a mobile device including components (such as smart cards) for authentication / encryption, etc., such as a user identity module SIM. The SIM / SIM card may be a memory chip, module, or universal user identity module (USIM).

[0304] In some examples, the term "user equipment" may be used to designate a location / position tag, a super / smart tag, or a mobile device including circuitry embedded as part of an authenticated / encrypted user equipment (such as a software SIM). The functions of the terminal node 110 may also be performed by a mobile terminal MT of an integrated access and backhaul IAB node.

[0305] The access node 120 is a network element in the network that is responsible for radio transmission and reception to or from the terminal node 110 in one or more cells 122. The access node 120 is the network termination of the radio link. The access node 120 can be implemented as a single network device, or have a split architecture that is dispersed / distributed over two or more RAN nodes, such as a central unit CU, a distributed unit DU, a remote radio head RRH, using different functional split architectures and different interfaces.

[0306] In the case where the access node 120 has a split (split) architecture, the access node 120 may include one or more distributed units gNB-DU and centralized units gNB-CU (in Figure 1 1). The gNB-CU is a logical node configured to host the radio resource connection RRC layer and other layers of the access node 120. The gNB-CU controls the operation of one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-DU is a logical node configured to host the radio link control RLC protocol layer, the medium access control MAC layer, and the physical PHY layer of the access node 120. The gNB-DU can communicate with the radio resource control RRC layer hosted by the gNB-CU via a dedicated interface (e.g., the F1 interface). One gNB-DU can support one or more cells 122. The gNB or gNB-DU can host one or more transmit receive points TRP. The gNB-DU function can also be performed by the DU part of the IAB node.

[0307] In the following description, the terminal node 110 may be referred to as UE 110. In the following description, the UE has NR-DC capability, that is, the UE is capable of operating in NR-DC mode, wherein the UE is simultaneously connected to: a first access node configured to act as a master node MN; a second access node configured to act as a secondary node SN. In this regard, the UE is connected to:

[0308] a primary cell PCell of a primary cell group MCG associated with the MN, and

[0309] The primary secondary cell PSCell of the secondary cell group SCG associated with the SN.

[0310] In the following description, references to signaling to / from the MN may be understood as corresponding to signaling to / from a cell (e.g., PCell) of an MCG associated with the MN. Similarly, references to signaling to / from an SN (e.g., a source SN, a candidate SN, or a target SN) may be understood as corresponding to a cell (e.g., PSCell) of an SCG associated with the SN.

[0311] A master node MN may be defined as a network node that provides a control plane connection toward a core network. A master cell group MCG may be defined as a group of cells associated with a MN. An MCG includes a PCell and may also include one or more SCells. A PCell may be defined as a cell for uplink / downlink connections to a MN, and / or a cell of an MCG for initiating initial access to a MN.

[0312] A secondary node SN may be defined as a network node that is providing additional radio resources to a UE instead of a MN. A secondary cell group SCG may be defined as a cell group associated with a SN. An SCG includes a PSCell and may also include one or more SCells. A PSCell may be defined as a cell for uplink / downlink connection to a SN and / or a cell of an SCG for initiating initial access to a SN.

[0313] Conditional handover CHO (i.e., to a prepared candidate cell) can be defined as a handover procedure that is triggered by the UE only when the configured execution conditions are met for the prepared candidate cell. The conditions are pre-configured by the MN / network. In 3GPP, the conditional handover execution conditions are specified by the condExecutionCond in the ConditionalReconfigToAddModList information element in the ConditionalReconfiguration information element in the RRCReconfiguration message. The CHO configuration information may include configuration information for supporting handover to a primary cell. The CHO configuration information may include a handover execution condition for the primary cell and a measurement configuration for configuring the measurement of the handover execution condition for the primary cell. Triggering the conditional handover to the primary cell depends on the measurement satisfying the handover execution condition for the primary cell.

[0314] In 3GPP, the RRCReconfiguration message specifies the ConditionalReconfiguration information element that provides the CHO configuration. The ConditionalReconfiguration information element includes the CondReconfigToAddModList information element. The CondReconfigToAddModList information element includes condExecutionCond and condRRCReconfig. The handover execution condition for the primary cell is specified by condExecutionCond. The RRCReconfiguration message applied when the specified condition is met is provided by condRRCReconfig.

[0315] In dual connectivity DC, the UE has simultaneous connections to both the MN and the SN. This is the operating mode of the UE in RRC_CONNECTED configured with a primary cell group and a secondary cell group.

[0316] The dual connection DC configuration information may include configuration information for dual connection to the primary secondary cell PSCell. The DC configuration information may include measurement configuration for additional conditions for the primary secondary cell for dual connection with the primary cell and for configuring the measurement of additional conditions for the primary secondary cell for dual connection with the primary cell (i.e., dual connection of the UE with both the primary cell and the primary secondary cell).

[0317] Triggering the addition of a primary secondary cell for dual connectivity depends on measurements that satisfy the conditions for adding a primary secondary cell.

[0318] In 3GPP, the RRCReconfiguration message specifies the ConditionalReconfiguration information element, which provides the add / change conditions for the DC. The ConditionalReconfiguration information element includes the CondReconfigToAddModList information element. The CondReconfigToAddModList information element includes condExecutionCond and condRRCReconfig. The addition condition for the primary secondary cell (PSCell) is specified by condExecutionCond. The RRCReconfiguration message applied when the specified condition is met is provided by condRRCReconfig.

[0319] In NR-DC deployment, a UE that is initially connected only to the MN can add an SN. For this, a PSCell of the SCG can be added. Such PSCell addition can be performed via the conditional PSCell addition CPA procedure. A UE that is simultaneously connected to the MN and the SN can change the SN, i.e., from the source SN to the target SN. For this, the PSCell of the source SCG can be changed to the target PSCell of the target SCG. Such a PSCell change can be performed via the conditional PSCell change CPC procedure. In the following description, references to CPA / CPC may be referred to as conditional PSCell addition and / or change CPAC.

[0320] Before describing the exemplary embodiments in detail, a brief discussion of conventional CPAC is now provided. An enhancement of conventional CPAC, namely, selective activation of CPAC, S-CPAC, is also discussed below.

[0321] The CPAC procedure can be regarded as the addition or change of a PSCell triggered by the UE when one or more execution conditions are met. One or more execution conditions can be pre-configured by the MN.

[0322] During the CPAC process, the UE may receive a conditional reconfiguration message from the MN (i.e., the UE receives the CPAC configuration), including the configuration and execution status of the target PSCell of the target SCG, the satisfaction of which triggers the addition / change of the target PSCell. The UE evaluates the execution condition, and when it is determined that the execution condition has been met, the UE applies the configuration of the target PSCell and establishes a connection with the target PSCell, for example, by performing a random access channel RACH access procedure to the target PSCell.

[0323] In 3GPP Rel-17, a UE configured with a CPA / CPC configuration (i.e., CPAC configuration) must release the CPA / CPC configuration upon completion of the RACH access procedure to the target PSCell. Therefore, the UE cannot perform subsequent CPA / CPC without the network re-initiating and re-configuring CPA / CPC. The need for such re-initiation and re-configuration of CPA / CPC may increase the latency of the cell change and also increase the signaling overhead to achieve the reconfiguration (especially in scenarios where there are frequent SCG / SN changes, such as may occur when the UE operates in frequency range 2 (FR2)).

[0324] As part of 3GPP Rel-18, further NR mobility enhancements are being considered. In work item description WIDRP-223236, it was agreed to specify mechanisms and procedures for NR-DC with "selective activation" of SCG via L3 enhancements to allow subsequent SCG changes after changing SCG without reconfiguring and re-initiating CPC or CPA.

[0325] In RAN2#119bis-e (October 2022), the following process was agreed:

[0326] Step 1: When the execution condition of the CPC candidate PSCell is met, the UE performs CPC towards the candidate PSCell.

[0327] Step 2: After completing the addition or change of the PSCell, the UE does not release the conditional configuration of other candidate PSCells for subsequent CPC, and the UE continues to evaluate the execution of other candidate PSCells.

[0328] Step 3: When the execution condition of the candidate PSCell is met, the UE performs CPC execution towards the (other) candidate PSCell.

[0329] The above-described process, which provides an enhancement of the conventional CPAC process to support selective activation of CPAC, may be referred to herein as S-CPAC.

[0330] Figure 2 shows a signaling diagram for an example of conditional PSCell addition and / or selective activation of S-CPAC change. In the specific example shown, the method shows two consecutive S-CPAC executions, where the UE changes from the PScell ​​of SN1 to the PScell ​​of SN2, and then from the PScell ​​of SN2 to the PScell ​​of SN3.

[0331] This figure shows the signaling flow of a typical S-CPAC scenario. In this scenario, the UE is in NR-DC operation and is connected to the PScell ​​of the MN and the PSCell of SN1 at the same time. The UE is configured with an S-CPAC configuration for the first candidate target SN (i.e., SN2) and is also configured with an S-CPAC configuration for the second candidate target SN (i.e., SN3). The UE performs two consecutive / continuous S-CPAC executions, causing the secondary node to change from SN1 to SN2 and then to SN3.

[0332] Before describing exemplary embodiments in detail, the problem underlying the present application is described in more detail.

[0333] At high carrier frequencies (e.g., FR2@28GHz, short-stay SS and / or ping-pong PP), handover may be a very common mobility event. This may be due to the rapid changes in signal power and strong shadow fading effects in high frequency FR2. The coverage area of ​​a cell may be penetrated by a neighboring cell, thereby creating a small coverage island for the neighboring cell within the coverage area of ​​the cell. The UE may switch to a neighboring cell of this coverage island and switch back to the source cell or another neighboring cell again. This results in a short stay of the UE in such a coverage island.

[0334] From the perspective of the UE, such a short stay or ping-pong is a necessary handover. This is because preventing such a handover may cause the UE to suffer strong interference from the cell covering the island and may cause a suspension on the UE side. This is especially true for ultra-reliable low-impedance communication URLLC, UE, where such a suspension will be unacceptable. In the worst case, the UE may experience a radio link failure that causes overall performance degradation of the UE.

[0335] A cell border between two cells may show both "SS / PP" and "no SS / PP" characteristics at the same time. This is because a cell border is a long area where some cells in the area may have islands of coverage while others may not. For example, considering that such an area may be two streets, a UE in one street may show SS / PP switching while a UE in another street may not show SS / PP switching.

[0336] Since S-CPAC is considered for SN deployment in FR2, SS / PP switching may be a problem for S-CPAC. In addition, the problem will be more significant in S-CPAC because the UE may have multiple preparations (e.g., with respect to steps 5 and 6 of FIG. 2, the UE may receive an S-CPAC configuration for a first candidate target (SN2) and an S-CPAC configuration for a second candidate target (SN3)), and the UE only monitors the executions one by one without the need for L3 reporting and preparation.

[0337] In S-CPAC, the UE can change candidate SNs faster than in conventional CPAC. This is because S-CPAC execution can occur in rapid succession with a short stay at any given candidate target SN without any further preparation process. This will result in frequent 5GC to NG RAN node DL path switching (e.g., as shown in steps 37 and 68 of Figure 2).

[0338] As shown in FIG2 , when the conventional S-CPAC process is used, when two consecutive S-CPAC executions are performed so that the UE changes from accessing SN1 to accessing SN2, and then the UE changes from accessing SN2 to accessing SN3; two path switching processes are performed (steps 37 and 68 of FIG2 ). Therefore, even if the UE only stays briefly in SN2 before changing to SN3, in the conventional S-CPAC process, two path switching changes (one for switching from SN1 to SN2 and another for switching from SN2 to SN3) still need to be performed.

[0339] The inventors have realized that it is undesirable to perform a change of DL path at the same rate of S-CPAC for a short stay at a given candidate target SN. This is because the path switching process is an intensive / involved / heavy process on the network, which may result in an unnecessary increase in the signaling load on the N2, N3 and N4 interfaces.

[0340] Furthermore, if early data forwarding is enabled, data forwarding must be re-initiated from the node hosting the DL termination point from the 5GC every time there is a DL termination point change due to a path switch.

[0341] Various examples of the present disclosure attempt to reduce the amount of 5GC to NG RAN node DL path switches. Various examples of the present disclosure seek to reduce / avoid overly frequent 5GC to NG RAN node DL path switches. Various examples of the present disclosure seek to reduce / avoid 5GC to NG RAN node DL path switches that occur at the same rate as those performed by S-CPAC, particularly in situations where it is estimated that the UE may only have a short stay at the target PSCell.

[0342] Various examples of the present disclosure propose to delay DL path switching to prevent an unwanted re-path switching process from being performed in anticipation of an SS or PP on a secondary node.

[0343] Figure 3 An example of a method 300 according to the present disclosure is schematically shown. In the specific example shown, the method is used to delay and abort a path switching process in an S-CPAC.

[0344] exist Figure 3 In the example, multiple devices / elements send and / or receive one or more signals and / or one or more messages across and / or via and / or using a network. In the example, any suitable form of communication in any suitable network may be used. For example, Figure 1 Thus, in some examples, the plurality of devices / elements in FIG. 2 may form a Figure 1 At least a portion of the described network 100. In some but not necessarily all examples, Figure 3 Communications and / or transmissions between the devices / elements shown in the drawings may occur via any number of intermediate elements, including no intermediate elements.

[0345] In the illustrated example, UE 110 and four access nodes 120 send and / or receive one or more signals and / or one or more messages. Figure 3 In the example of FIG. 1 , the four access nodes are: a master node MN 120_1, a source slave node S-SN 120_2, and two target SNs: T-SN1 120_21 and T-SN2 120_22. Each of the MN, S-SN, and T-SN may be associated with its own corresponding cell group. For example, the MN may be associated with an MCG including a PCell and one or more SCells. The S-SN may be associated with a source SCG including a source PSCell and one or more source SCells. Each T-SN may be associated with its own corresponding target PSCell and one or more source SCells.

[0346] Figure 3 It can be viewed as illustrating a plurality of methods, wherein each of the plurality of methods is performed by one of the separate devices / elements / entities / actors. In this manner, each such method corresponds to one or more actions by / at a corresponding device / element / entity / actor, such as one of the MN, UE, or SN.

[0347] Figure 3 The component blocks are functional and the functions described can be performed by a single physical entity (such as reference Figure 7 The functions described may also be implemented by a computer program (such as Figure 8 as described). Figure 3 The blocks shown in the figure may represent actions in a method, functions performed by an apparatus, and / or portions of instructions / code in a computer program.

[0348] Although in Figure 3 In the example of FIG. 1 , one UE 120 is shown, but in the example, any suitable number of UEs may be included. Similarly, in the example, any suitable number of access nodes may be included.

[0349] In some but not necessarily all examples, the UE operates in multi-connectivity MC mode (e.g., NR-DC) and establishes connections with both the MN and the S-SN (i.e., via the PCell of the MN's MSC and the PSCell of the SCG of the S-SN).

[0350] In box 301, the MN sends first condition reconfiguration information 302 to the UE, so as to enable the UE to access the cell of the SCG (e.g., the cell of the SCG associated with T-SN1) 20_21 when the first condition is met, wherein the first condition is a condition for accessing the cell of the SCG.

[0351] In box 303, the MN sends second conditional reconfiguration information 304 to the UE, which is used to enable the UE to access a cell of another SCG (for example, a cell of an SCG associated with T-SN 2) 120_22 when a second condition is met, wherein the second condition is a condition for accessing a cell of another SCG.

[0352] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first and / or second conditional reconfiguration information includes at least one of the following:

[0353] CPA configuration information;

[0354] CPC configuration information;

[0355] CPAC configuration information;

[0356] Selective activation of CPAC, S-CPAC, and configuration information; and

[0357] CPAC configuration information with selective activation of secondary cell group SCG cells.

[0358] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first condition for accessing a cell of an SCG and / or the second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG includes at least one of the following:

[0359] Add the first execution condition and / or the second execution condition of the cell of the SCG and / or the cells of other SCGs respectively;

[0360] a first and / or second execution condition for changing to a cell of an SCG and / or a cell of another SCG, respectively; and

[0361] The first and / or second implementation of the CPC candidate PSCell.

[0362] In block 305, the UE determines whether a first condition has been met.

[0363] In block 306, in response to determining that the first condition has been met, the UE sends first information 307 to the MN indicating that the first condition has been met.

[0364] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first information indicating that the first condition has been met includes an RRC message, such as at least an RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message.

[0365] At block 308, the MN determines whether to delay the cell-triggered path switch of the SCG.

[0366] In block 309, in response to determining that the cell of the SCG is delayed in triggering the path switch, the MN sends a first indication of delaying the triggering of the path switch to the cell of the SCG (310). The first indication may be referred to herein as a path switch delay indication.

[0367] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first indication is sent via an RRC message or an SN reconfiguration complete message.

[0368] In block 311, in response to receiving the path switch delay indication (310), the cell of the SCG delays triggering the path switch. In this regard, the cell of the SCG may include a component for determining whether to delay triggering the path switch, and determining to delay triggering the path switch may be based at least in part on receiving the delay indication.

[0369] In some examples, instead of performing block 308 at the MN, it may be performed at the T-SN (e.g., at a cell of an SCG associated with T-SN 1). In such examples, block 309 need not be performed, and the delay of triggering the path switch at block 311 may be in response to the cell of the SCG determining to delay triggering the path switch. In some examples, the cell of the SCG may delay the path switch autonomously (i.e., without receiving a delay notification from the MN).

[0370] In block 312, the UE determines whether a second condition is satisfied.

[0371] In block 313, in response to determining that the second condition has been satisfied, the UE sends second information 314 to the MN indicating that the second condition has been satisfied.

[0372] In block 315, the MN determines whether to suspend the cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

[0373] In some examples, the determination of whether to abort the triggered path switch may be based at least in part on when the path switch delay indication 310 is sent and when the second information 314 is received. For example, if the second information 314 is received within a predetermined time period from when the path switch delay indication is sent, the MN may determine to abort the cell triggered path switch of the SCG. In this regard, the path switch delay indication may include an indication of a delay time, i.e., the amount of time that the cell of the SCG should wait for expiration (after the time when the path switch delay indication is received) before triggering the path switch. In some examples, if the difference between the time when the second information 314 is received and the time when the path switch delay indication is sent is less than the delay time, the MN may determine to abort the cell triggered path switch of the SCG.

[0374] In block 316, in response to determining to suspend the path switch triggered by the cell of the SCG, the MN sends a second indication 317 of suspending the path switch triggered to the cell of the SCG. The second indication may be referred to herein as a path switch suspension indication.

[0375] In some but not necessarily all examples, the second indication is sent via at least one of:

[0376] Xn user plane Xn-U interface; and

[0377] Xn-U address indication message.

[0378] In block 318, in response to receiving the second indication 317 to abort the triggered path switch, the cell of the SCG aborts the triggered path switch. To this end, the cell of the SCG may include: a component for determining whether to abort the triggered path switch, and determining to abort the triggered path switch may be based at least in part on receiving the abort indication.

[0379] Figure 3 The flowchart of in particular represents a possible scenario. The order of the blocks shown is not absolutely necessary, so in principle, the individual blocks may be executed out of order. Not all blocks are necessary. In some examples, one or more blocks may be executed in a different order or overlap in time, serially or in parallel. One or more blocks may be omitted or added or changed in some combination of ways.

[0380] about Figure 3 One or more of the features discussed may be found in one or more of the other FIGS. 4 to 6 .

[0381] The manner in which the MN determines whether to initiate a path switch delay procedure (i.e., how the determination is made in block 308, which may result in / cause execution of blocks 309 and 311) cannot be implemented according to at least the first to third example embodiments as illustrated with respect to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0382] According to a first example embodiment (further discussed and illustrated with respect to FIG. 4 ), the determination of block 308 as to whether to delay triggering a path switch is based on an indication received from the UE. In this regard, the UE may determine / evaluate whether the likelihood of the UE accessing a cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time, i.e., whether access is expected for a short stay SS, or if a ping pong PP access is possible. If the UE determines the likelihood of SS or PP access, it may send an indication of the same to the MN. Based on receiving such a determination, the MN may determine to delay triggering a path switch.

[0383] In some examples, the indication includes or consists of a flag. The flag may be sent to the MN in a message, such as an RRC connection reconfiguration complete message sent after the UE has determined that the first condition has been met.

[0384] To determine whether to send an indication, the UE may determine / evaluate at least one of the following:

[0385] Whether the expected duration of the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time. The threshold amount of time may be selected to represent an SS or a PP;

[0386] Whether the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is expected to be a short-stay SS access; and

[0387] Whether the UE's access to the SCG cell is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

[0388] The UE may then determine whether to send an indication based on the above determination / evaluation.

[0389] The MN may send configuration information including at least one of the following to the UE:

[0390] The UE sends an indication of the above indication to the MN;

[0391] Information used to configure the UE to evaluate the above indication;

[0392] one or more criteria (e.g., a detection criterion or a short dwell criterion) for the UE to use in evaluating the indication; and

[0393] One or more thresholds used by the UE to evaluate the above indications.

[0394] Such configuration may be sent to the UE together with the first conditional reconfiguration information 302 sent in step 301 or as a part of the first conditional reconfiguration information 302 .

[0395] According to a second example embodiment (further discussed and illustrated with respect to FIG. 5 ), the determination of block 308 as to whether to delay triggering a path switch is based on one or more reports of one or more measurements of signals from one or more SNs.

[0396] Upon receiving the signal measurement report from the UE, the MN may determine / evaluate at least one of the following:

[0397] whether the expected duration of the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time;

[0398] Whether the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is expected to be a short-stay SS access; and

[0399] Whether the UE's access to the SCG cell is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access

[0400] The MN may then determine whether to delay the cell-triggered path switch of the SCG based on the above determination / evaluation.

[0401] The UE may send measurements of signals from one or more SNs to the MN in one of the following ways:

[0402] Radio Resource Control RRC messages;

[0403] Layer 3 measurement reports;

[0404] RRC connection reconfiguration complete message; and

[0405] SN RRC reconfiguration complete message.

[0406] The MN may send configuration information including at least one of the following to the UE:

[0407] information for configuring the UE to perform and / or report one or more measurements of a signal;

[0408] one or more criteria used by the UE to perform and / or report one or more measurements of a signal;

[0409] one or more identifiers of one or more cells of one or more secondary cell groups SCG, whose signals are to be measured;

[0410] one or more group identifiers of the one or more secondary cell groups SCG whose signals are to be measured;

[0411] Information for the UE to perform inter-SCG measurement of one or more secondary cell groups (SCGs); and

[0412] Used for the UE to send an indication to the device of one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs.

[0413] Such configuration may be sent to the UE together with the first conditional reconfiguration information 302 sent in step 301 or as a part thereof.

[0414] According to a third example embodiment (further discussed and illustrated with respect to FIG. 6 ), the determination of block 308 as to whether to delay triggering a path switch is based on information / knowledge known to the MN, such as at least one of the following:

[0415] Configured scenarios, e.g., knowledge of configured scenarios may be an awareness S-CPAC (i.e., configuration of selective activation of PSCells) function of the MN. In some examples, the MN may decide to delay path switching for each SN change based on knowing that it is an S-CPAC scenario;

[0416] Characteristics of the cell borders of the RAN nodes, such characteristics may be derived jointly or independently based on the mobility history information SON mechanism or from operations and maintenance O&M (from which cell coverage and cell borders may be identified);

[0417] Network coverage, cell coverage and / or coverage gaps.

[0418] The MN may evaluate, at least in part based on such information, at least one or more of the following:

[0419] Whether the expected duration of the UE accessing the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time;

[0420] Whether the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is expected to be a short-stay SS access; and

[0421] Whether the UE's access to the SCG cell is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

[0422] The MN may then determine whether to delay the cell-triggered path switch of the SCG based on the above determination / evaluation.

[0423] Figure 4 shows a signaling diagram of an example of S-CPAC with path switch delay and suspension. This example corresponds to the first example embodiment described above.

[0424] As with the S-CPAC scenario shown in FIG2 , in the S-CPAC scenario of FIG4 , there are two consecutive S-CPAC executions, where the UE changes from SN1 to SN2, and then (after a short stay in SN2), the UE changes from SN2 to SN3. However, unlike the S-CPAC process of FIG2 , which requires two path switching changes to be performed, advantageously, under the modified S-CPAC process of FIG4 , only one path switching process needs to be performed. This thereby reduces resources, such as signaling overhead, that would otherwise be required to perform additional path switches.

[0425] Many of the steps and signaling shown in Figure 4 correspond / are similar to those shown in Figure 2. However, the differences between the two figures include the following.

[0426] In steps 5 and 14, the MN configures the UE to evaluate short dwell detection criteria and thresholds. In some examples, the threshold may be a time to trigger (TTT) value that the network may configure at the UE, where the TTT value is the time that the criteria for event triggering hold.

[0427] It should be noted that in steps 5 and 14, the configurations of the MN of the UE with S-CPAC configurations for the candidate target secondary nodes (SN2 and SN3) roughly correspond to Figure 3 Frames 301 and 303 of FIG.

[0428] In step 24, the UE evaluates the short stay criteria configured by the MN. This evaluation may take place while the UE also evaluates the S-CPAC enforcement criteria of the candidate target cell (in this example SN2).

[0429] In step 27, the UE may use MN configured criteria (eg, thresholds for target SN cells) or "UE implemented" specific methods to detect short stays, ie determine whether the change of SN2 is likely to be a short stay.

[0430] In step 28, if the UE detects a short stay / determines the possibility of a short stay, the UE sets a "short stay" flag in the RRCReconfigurationComplete message it sends to the MN.

[0431] In step 29, the MN detects the "short stay" flag in the RRCReconfigurationComplete message.

[0432] In step 30, in response to detecting the "short stay" flag, the MN determines to delay the path switching process (this determination roughly corresponds to Figure 3 308), and the MN includes the "DelayPathSwitchIndication" and the "TDelay" timer value in the "SN Reconfiguration Complete" message. It should be noted that step 30 is broadly related to Figure 3 309 of , and "DelayPathSwitchIndication" is broadly related to Figure 3 The delay triggers the first indication 310 of the path switching.

[0433] In step 32, in response to receiving the "DelayPathSwitchIndication", the target SN (SN2 in this example) delays the path switch until the "TDelay" timer expires. It should be noted that step 32 is generally similar to Figure 3 Corresponding to box 311.

[0434] In step 33 , the MN also starts a “TDelay” timer simultaneously immediately after step 30 .

[0435] In step 41 (similar to step 53 of FIG. 2 ), the UE may start evaluating the S-CPAC execution conditions for SN3 after step 28 .

[0436] In step 47, if it is determined that the S-CPAC execution condition for SN3 (of step 43) is met before the expiration of the "TDelay" timer, then after the RACH access procedure to the target cell SN3 (of step 46), the MN signals "AbortPathSwitchIndication" to SN2 to notify SN2 to abort (i.e., not trigger) the path switch.

[0437] In the first example embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , the MN determines whether to delay the path switching process based on receiving an indication from the UE in an RRCReconfigurationComplete message after S-CPAC is performed to the target SN.

[0438] In a first option, the MN may configure the UE to evaluate a potential short stay within the same cell group and report it after S-CPAC execution in RRCReconfigurationComplete. How the UE evaluates the short stay depends on the UE implementation. By way of example, one approach may be for the UE to evaluate how close the reference signal received power RSRP value of the target cell is compared to the configured event threshold of the new serving cell including the trigger time TTT.

[0439] In a second option, the MN may configure criteria for the UE, such as a threshold for the target SN cell, for short stay evaluation.

[0440] Based on the evaluation using the first option or the second option described above, the UE may set a "short stay" flag in the "RRCReconfigurationComplete" message after S-CPAC execution, wherein such a flag indicates that the network delayed the path switch.

[0441] Alternatively, if the UE decides to perform an additional evaluation of further / new / fresh radio measurements of the target cell taking into account the conditional event for the new serving cell, then even in this case the UE may set the "short stay" flag in the "RRCReconfigurationComplete" message after S-CPAC execution, indicating that the network delayed the path switch.

[0442] In case of continued evaluation of short stay after S-CPAC, the UE may indicate disabling of short stay via a separate indication, i.e., if a later evaluation concludes that no immediate inter-SN handover is possible. The separate indication may be sent via a MAC CE or RRC message.

[0443] Figure 5 shows a signaling diagram of another example of S-CPAC with path switch delay and suspension. This example corresponds to the second example embodiment mentioned previously.

[0444] As with the S-CPAC scenarios shown in Figures 2 and 4, in the S-CPAC scenario of Figure 5, there are two consecutive S-CPAC executions, in which the UE changes from SN1 to SN2, and then (after a short stay in SN2), the UE changes from SN2 to SN3. As with the S-CPAC process of Figure 4, the path switch for SN2 can be delayed, and if the change to SN2 is only for a short stay (i.e., within the delay period), the path switch for SN2 can be aborted, thereby reducing the number of path switch procedures that need to be performed, and therefore reducing the resource / signaling overhead that would otherwise be required to perform additional path switches.

[0445] Many of the steps and signaling shown in Figure 5 correspond to / are similar to the steps and signaling shown in Figure 2. However, there are the following main differences.

[0446] In steps 5 and 14, the MN configures the UE to evaluate the short stay detection criteria and thresholds. To this end, the MN may configure the UE to measure and report inter-SN measurements for the identified SN. Note that in steps 5 and 14, the configuration of the MN with the S-CPAC configured UE of the candidate target secondary nodes (SN2 and SN3) roughly corresponds to Figure 3 Frames 301 and 303 of FIG.

[0447] In step 24, the UE evaluates the short dwell criteria configured by the MN to identify the reported inter-SN measurements. This evaluation may occur while the UE also evaluates the S-CPAC enforcement criteria of the candidate target cell (in this example SN2).

[0448] In some examples, when the S-CPAC conditions are met, the UE reports measurements to the MN via L3 measurement reporting.

[0449] In some examples, the UE reports the measurements to the MN via an RRCReconfigurationComplete or SNRRCReconfigurationComplete message.

[0450] In some examples, the UE reports the measurements if configured to do so. For example, if S-CPAC PP reporting is configured for the UE, the UE may report the measurements.

[0451] In some examples, the UE reports the measurement based on a measurement criterion. Such a measurement criterion may be, for example, a measurement of Cell-1 that satisfies the CPAC condition, and there is a second cell Cell-2, (serving cell or non-serving cell) that is X dB or less strong (e.g., its RSRP is X dB less than Cell-1).

[0452] In some examples, if there is another CPAC condition that is partially met but the condition is not fully met (i.e., when the CPAC-1 condition is met, the trigger time is still running under the CPAC-2 condition), then the UE reports the measurement.

[0453] In some examples, the UE performs measurements, measurement comparisons, and / or reports only for a specific target cell, for example, if the target cell (i.e., a cell that the UE may pass through after an initial handover) is under a different SN that may guide a path switch.

[0454] In step 27, the UE evaluates the inter-SN target cell measurements for the configured group Id (where the group Id is configured in step 5).

[0455] In step 28, the UE includes the target SN measurement for the configured Group Id in RRCReconfigurationComplete.

[0456] In step 29, the MN evaluates the measurements included in the received RRCReconfigurationComplete message, and the MN identifies a potential short stay (this identification of a potential short stay corresponds approximately to Figure 3 308).

[0457] In step 30, in response to step 29 identifying the possibility of a short stay, the MN includes a "DelayPathSwitchIndication" and a "TDelay" timer value in a "SN Reconfiguration Complete" message.

[0458] The remaining steps are similar to those in FIG4 .

[0459] In this regard, in step 32, in response to receiving the "DelayPathSwitchIndication", the target SN (SN2 in this example) delays the path switch until the "TDelay" timer expires. It is noted that step 32 is substantially the same as Figure 3 Corresponding to box 311.

[0460] In step 33, the MN also starts a "TDelay" timer immediately after step 30.

[0461] In step 41 (similar to step 53 of FIG. 2 ), the UE may start evaluating the S-CPAC execution condition of SN3 after step 28 .

[0462] In step 47, if it is determined that the S-CPAC execution condition for SN3 (of step 43) is met before the expiration of the "TDelay" timer, then after the RACH access procedure to the target cell SN3 (of step 46), the MN signals "AbortPathSwitchIndication" to SN2 to notify SN2 to abort (i.e., not trigger) the path switch.

[0463] In the second exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 5, the determination as to whether to delay the path switching process may be based on measurements of cells belonging to other candidate SNs in close distance for continuous / subsequent conditional execution of S-CPAC included in the UE's "RRCReconfigurationComplete" message.

[0464] During the target SN preparation for S-CPAC, in the conditional reconfiguration of the UE, the network may configure the UE to include inter-SN target cell measurements for a list of group IDs that the network expects the UE to report measurements on. For example, each candidate SN may include a "short stay evaluation flag", a "list of group IDs to be reported", and a "short stay criteria".

[0465] Figure 6 shows a signaling diagram of another example of S-CPAC with path switch delay and suspension. This example corresponds to the second example embodiment mentioned previously.

[0466] As with the S-CPAC scenarios shown in Figures 2 and 4, in the S-CPAC scenario of Figure 5, there are two consecutive S-CPAC executions, in which the UE changes from SN1 to SN2, and then (after a short stay in SN2), the UE changes from SN2 to SN3. As with the S-CPAC process of Figure 4, the path switch for SN2 can be delayed, and if the change of SN2 is only for a short stay (i.e., within the delay period), the path switch of SN2 can be aborted, thereby reducing the number of path switch procedures that need to be performed, and therefore reducing the resource / signaling overhead that would otherwise be required to perform additional path switches.

[0467] Many of the steps and signaling shown in Figure 5 correspond to / are similar to the steps and signaling shown in Figure 2. However, there are the following main differences.

[0468] In step 28, the MN may use one or a combination of the following:

[0469] Configure the perception of the scene,

[0470] UE mobility history information, and

[0471] Awareness of radio conditions (e.g., network knowledge of network coverage and coverage gaps)

[0472] To decide whether to delay path switching.

[0473] In step 29, if the MN detects / determines that a delayed path switch is required, "DelayPathSwitchIndication" and "TDelay" timer are included in "SN Reconfiguration Complete".

[0474] The remaining steps 30 - 68 are similar to steps 31 - 69 of FIGS. 4 and 5 .

[0475] In this regard, in step 31, in response to receiving the "DelayPathSwitchIndication", the target SN (SN2 in this example) delays the path switch until the "TDelay" timer expires. It is noted that step 31 is broadly related to Figure 3 Corresponding to box 311.

[0476] In step 32 , the MN also simultaneously starts a “TDelay” timer immediately after step 30 .

[0477] In step 40 (similar to step 53 of FIG. 2 ), the UE may start evaluating the S-CPAC execution condition of SN3 after step 27 .

[0478] In step 46, if it is determined that the S-CPAC execution condition for SN3 (of step 42) is met before the expiration of the "TDelay" timer, then after the RACH access procedure to the target cell SN3 (of step 45), the MN signals "AbortPathSwitchIndication" to SN2 to notify SN2 to abort (i.e., not trigger) the path switch.

[0479] In the first and second exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5, the MN determines whether to initiate the path switch delay procedure (i.e., determines whether to instruct / request the target SN2 to delay the triggered path switch) based on receiving information from the UE, i.e., an indication of delayed path switching from the UE (according to Figure 4) or a report of configured measurements (according to Figure 5). However, in the third exemplary embodiment, the MN determines whether to initiate the path switch delay procedure statically by the MN, i.e., the MN determines whether to initiate the path switch delay procedure based on information known to the MN without further input / information from the UE.

[0480] The first and second exemplary embodiments may be applicable for use in a scenario where "PP / SS" and "no PP / SS" are observed in a cell boundary between two cells. In fact, in such a scenario where it is uncertain whether "PP / SS" and "no PP / SS" situations are currently possible / existing, the MN configures the UE to determine and provide information to the MN that enables the MN to determine whether "PP / SS" or "no PP / SS" situations are currently possible / existing. In this regard, in the first exemplary embodiment, the MN configures the UE to determine for itself whether a "PP / SS" or "no PP / SS" situation is currently being observed / possible, and indicates the situation to the MN (the MN determines whether to initiate a path switching delay procedure based on the situation). However, in the second exemplary embodiment, the MN configures the UE to measure and report SN signal measurements. The MN then uses these reports to determine whether a "PP / SS" or "no PP / SS" situation is currently / possibly present (the MN determines whether to initiate a path switching delay procedure based on the situation).

[0481] However, if the MN knows that the cell border has only "PP / SS" or only "no PP / SS" behavior, the MN can avoid configuring the UE to query the UE to indicate / report things that the MN knows. For example, if the MN knows that a specific cell border usually has "PP / SS" behavior based on historical mobility information (which includes information indicating whether the mobility event / cell change is SS or PP), the MN does not need to configure the UE located in the specific cell border to provide the indication / report of the first and second exemplary embodiments.

[0482] In the third exemplary embodiment, the MN determines for itself whether a "PP / SS" or "no PP / SS" situation is possible for a given UE in a given cell border using information known to the MN, such as a priori information, in particular, for example, historical mobility information. This may therefore avoid the need to configure the UE to perform the evaluation, measurement and reporting of the first and second exemplary embodiments, and thus save resources, in particular resources of the UE.

[0483] However, in the third example embodiment, the MN may still need to configure the S-SN and T-SN to delay the path switching process if necessary. Here, "need" refers to known cell boundary characteristics and mobility behavior, i.e., based on previous mobility events (such as known methods via self-optimizing network SON mechanisms).

[0484] Advantageously, example embodiments 1 and 2 allow the network (i.e., MN) to configure criteria for the UE to evaluate short stay (or ping-pong) conditions and report short stay indications / triggers or inter-SN target cell measurements, wherein the report enables the network to evaluate whether a short stay (or ping-pong) condition exists / is possible, based on which the network can determine whether to delay path switching.

[0485] Advantageously, Example Embodiment 3 allows the network (ie, MN) to evaluate a combination of UE mobility history information and deployed radio characteristics to determine whether to delay a path switch.

[0486] Advantageously, delaying path switching in consecutive S-CPAC executions involving short dwells can:

[0487] Reduce unnecessary N2, N3, and N4 signaling overhead,

[0488] Realize smooth processing of data forwarding, scheduling and caching,

[0489] Avoid entering a potentially indeterminate state caused by the potential processing of a path switch while a previous path switch process is still in progress.

[0490] It should be understood that Figure 3 Each of the boxes and combinations of boxes shown in -6 and the additional functions described above can be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware and / or software including one or more computer program instructions. For example, one or more of the above functions can be performed by a suitably configured device (i.e., a device including components for performing the above functions). One or more of the above functions / functionality can be embodied by a suitably configured computer program (i.e., a computer program including computer program instructions that embody the functions / functionality lines described above and can be stored by a memory storage device and executed by a processor).

[0491] As can be understood, any such computer program instructions can be loaded onto a computer or other programmable device (i.e., hardware) to produce a machine such that when the instructions are executed on the programmable device, the instructions produce components for implementing the functions / functionalities specified in the box. These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable medium, which causes the programming device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction components that implement the functions specified in the box. The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a programmable device so that a series of operational actions are performed on the programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the programmable device provide actions for implementing the functions / functionality specified in the box.

[0492] Various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure may take the form of methods, devices or computer programs. Thus, various but not necessarily all examples may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

[0493] Various but not necessarily all examples of the present disclosure are described using flow charts and schematic block diagrams. It should be understood that each frame (of the flow chart and block diagram) and the combination of frames can be realized by the computer program instructions of the computer program. These program instructions can be provided to one or more processors, processing circuits or controllers so that the instructions executed thereon create components for realizing the functions specified in one or more frames, that is, so that the method can be computer-implemented. The computer program instructions can be executed by a processor so that a series of operation frames / steps / actions are executed by the processor to produce a computer-implemented process so that the instructions executed on the processor provide blocks / steps for realizing the functions specified in the frame.

[0494] Thus, the blocks support: a combination of components for performing specified functions; a combination of actions for performing specified functions; and computer program instructions / algorithms for performing specified functions. It should also be understood that each block and combination of blocks can be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system or a combination of dedicated hardware and computer program instructions that performs the specified functions or actions.

[0495] Figure 7 Schematically shows a method for performing the method described in the present disclosure and Figure 3 A block diagram of an apparatus 10 for the methods, processes, procedures and signaling shown in Figure 6. In this regard, the apparatus may perform the role of one of a MN, a UE or a SN in the methods illustrated and described above. Figure 7 The component blocks are functional and the described functions can be performed by a single physical entity.

[0496] The apparatus includes a controller 11, which may be provided in a device such as a MN 120_1, a UE 110, a first T-SN 120_22, and a second T-SN 120_22.

[0497] The controller 11 may be embodied by a computing device, in particular such as those described above. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the device may be embodied as a chip, a chipset, a circuit or a module, i.e., for any of the above. As used herein, a "module" refers to a unit or device that excludes specific parts / components to be added by a terminal manufacturer or user.

[0498] The controller 11 may be implemented as a controller circuit. The controller 11 may be implemented solely in hardware, have certain aspects in software including firmware alone, or may be a combination of hardware and software (including firmware).

[0499] The controller 11 may be implemented using instructions that implement the hardware functionality, such as by using executable instructions of a computer program 14 in a general or special purpose processor 12 , which may be stored on a computer readable storage medium 13 (e.g., a memory or disk, etc.) for execution by such a processor 12 .

[0500] The processor 12 is configured to read from and write to the memory 13. The processor 12 may also include an output interface and an input interface, via which the processor 12 outputs data and / or commands, and via which the processor 12 inputs data and / or commands to the processor 12. The apparatus may be coupled to or include one or more other components 15 (e.g., among others: a radio transceiver, a sensor, an input / output user interface element, and / or other modules / devices / components for inputting and outputting data / commands).

[0501] The memory 13 stores instructions, such as a computer program 14 including such instructions (e.g., computer program instructions / codes), which control the operation of the apparatus 10 when loaded into the processor 12. The instructions of the computer program 14 provide instructions that enable the apparatus to perform the functions described in the present disclosure and Figure 3 The logic and routines of the method, process and program are shown in Figure 6. The processor 12 can load and execute the computer program 14 by reading the memory 13.

[0502] These instructions may be included in a computer program, a non-transitory computer readable medium, a computer program product, a machine readable medium. As used herein, the term "non-transitory" is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, non-signal), as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistence (e.g., RAM versus ROM). In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the computer program instructions may be distributed across more than one computer program.

[0503] Although memory 13 is shown as a single component / circuit, it may be implemented as one or more separate components / circuit, some or all of which may be integrated / removable and / or may provide permanent / semi-permanent / dynamic / cached storage.

[0504] Although processor 12 is shown as a single component / circuit, it may be implemented as one or more separate components / circuit, some or all of which may be integrated / removed.Processor 12 may be a single-core or multi-core processor.

[0505] The apparatus may include a device for implementing the method described in the present disclosure and Figure 3 One or more components of the methods, processes and procedures shown in 6. It is contemplated that the functions of these components may be combined in one or more components or performed by other components of equivalent functions. In addition, the description of a function should be considered to also disclose any components suitable for performing the function.

[0506] Where a structural feature is described, it may be replaced with a means for performing one or more functions of the structural feature, whether the function or functions are described explicitly or implicitly.

[0507] Although examples of the apparatus have been described above, including various components, it should be understood that these components may be embodied as corresponding controllers or circuits, or controlled by corresponding controllers or circuits, such as one or more processing elements or processors of the apparatus. In this regard, each of the above components may be one or more of any devices, components or circuits implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software, which are configured to perform the corresponding functions of the above corresponding components.

[0508] For example, the device may be a server device, a base station in a mobile cellular telecommunication system, a client device, a mobile handset, a wireless communication device, a handheld portable electronic device, a location / positioning tag, a hypertag, etc. The device may be implemented by a computing device, in particular the above-mentioned device. However, in some examples, the device may be embodied as a chip, a chipset, a circuit or a module, i.e., for any of the above-mentioned.

[0509] In one example, the apparatus is embodied on a handheld portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a mobile communication device, a wearable computing device, or a personal digital assistant, which may additionally provide one or more audio / text / video communication functions (e.g., telecommunication, video communication, and / or text transmission (Short Message Service (SMS) / Multimedia Message Service (MMS) / email), interactive / non-interactive viewing functions (e.g., web browsing, navigation, TV / program viewing functions), music recording / playback functions (e.g., Moving Picture Experts Group-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) or other formats and / or (frequency modulation / amplitude modulation) radio broadcast recording / playback), data downloading / sending functions, image capture functions (e.g., using a (e.g., built-in) digital camera), and gaming functions, or any combination thereof.

[0510] In an example where the device is provided in MN 120_1, the device includes:

[0511] at least one processor 12; and

[0512] At least one memory 13 storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus to at least:

[0513] Sending first conditional reconfiguration information to a user equipment UE, where the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0514] Sending second condition reconfiguration information to the UE, where the second condition reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is met;

[0515] receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that a first condition has been satisfied;

[0516] Determine whether to delay the cell triggering path switching of the SCG;

[0517] sending a first indication of delaying triggered path switching to a cell of the SCG, wherein the first indication is sent based at least in part on the determination;

[0518] receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that a second condition has been satisfied;

[0519] Determine whether to terminate the cell triggering path switching of the SCG; and

[0520] A second indication is sent to the cell of the SCG to abort the triggered path switch, wherein the second indication is sent based at least in part on the determination of whether to abort the triggered path switch.

[0521] In an example where the apparatus is disposed within the UE 110, the apparatus includes:

[0522] at least one processor 12; and

[0523] At least one memory 13 stores instructions, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the device to at least:

[0524] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0525] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to: evaluate whether to delay triggering a path switch in a cell of the SCG, and send an indication of delaying triggering the path switch to a cell of the master cell group MCG based at least in part on the evaluation;

[0526] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0527] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0528] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0529] In response to receiving the configuration information, evaluating whether to delay triggering the path switch; and

[0530] An indication of delaying triggering a path switch is sent to a cell of the MCG based at least in part on the evaluation.

[0531] In an example where the apparatus is disposed within UE 110, the apparatus includes:

[0532] at least one processor 12; and

[0533] At least one memory 13 stores instructions, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the device to at least:

[0534] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0535] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to measure and report one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs for use by the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG from triggering a path switch;

[0536] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0537] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0538] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0539] measuring one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs according to the configuration information;

[0540] One or more measurements are sent to the cell of the MCG for the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

[0541] In the example where the device is provided in the target SN 120_21, the device includes:

[0542] at least one processor 12; and

[0543] At least one memory 13 storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus to at least:

[0544] Receiving reconfiguration information for configuring the device as a candidate cell of the secondary cell group SCG from a cell of the primary cell group MCG;

[0545] receiving information from the cell of the MCG instructing the user equipment UE to select a candidate cell of the SCG; and

[0546] Determine the delay triggering path switching;

[0547] delaying the triggering of the path switch, wherein the triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on the determination of delaying the triggered path switch;

[0548] determining to abort triggering a path switch; and

[0549] The triggering of the path switch is suspended, wherein the triggering of the path switch is suspended based at least in part on the determination to suspend triggering the path switch.

[0550] According to some examples of the present disclosure, a system is provided, including at least one MN 120_1, UE 110, and one or more target SNs 120_21 as described above.

[0551] The above examples are applied as enabling components of the following systems: tracking systems, automotive systems; telecommunication systems; electronic systems, including consumer electronics; distributed computing systems; media systems for generating or presenting media content, including audio, video and audio-visual content and mixed, mediated, virtual and / or augmented reality; personal systems, including personal health systems or personal fitness systems; navigation systems; user interfaces also known as human-machine interfaces; networks, including cellular, non-cellular and optical networks; self-organizing networks; the Internet; the Internet of Things (IOT); vehicle-to-everything (V2X), virtualized networks; and related software and services.

[0552] According to the examples of the present disclosure, the device may be arranged in an electronic device such as a mobile terminal. However, it should be understood that the mobile terminal is merely an illustration of an electronic device that will benefit from the examples of the implementation of the present disclosure, and therefore should not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure to this. Although in some implementation examples, the device may be arranged in a mobile terminal, other types of electronic devices (such as but not limited to: mobile communication devices, handheld portable electronic devices, wearable computing devices, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, mobile computers, desktop computers, televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, GPS devices, and other types of electronic systems) may easily use the examples of the present disclosure. In addition, the devices may easily use the examples of the present disclosure, regardless of their intention to provide mobility.

[0553] Figure 8 A computer program 14 is shown that can be transmitted via a transmission mechanism 20. The transmission mechanism 20 can be any suitable transmission mechanism, for example, a machine-readable medium, a computer-readable medium, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a solid-state memory, a recording medium such as a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or a digital versatile disk (DVD), or an article of manufacture that includes or tangibly embodies the computer program 14. The transmission mechanism can be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program. An apparatus can receive, transmit or send a computer program as a computer data signal.

[0554] In some examples of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided, the computer program including instructions, which when executed by a device (MN 120_1) causes the device to perform at least the following operations or causes at least the following operations to be performed:

[0555] Sending first conditional reconfiguration information to a user equipment UE, where the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0556] Sending second condition reconfiguration information to the UE, where the second condition reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is met;

[0557] receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that a first condition has been satisfied;

[0558] Determine whether to delay the cell triggering path switching of the SCG;

[0559] sending a first indication of delaying triggered path switching to a cell of the SCG, wherein the first indication is sent based at least in part on the determination;

[0560] receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that a second condition has been satisfied;

[0561] Determine whether to terminate the cell triggering path switching of the SCG; and

[0562] A second indication is sent to the cell of the SCG to abort the triggered path switch, wherein the second indication is sent based at least in part on the determination of whether to abort the triggered path switch.

[0563] In some examples of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided, the computer program including instructions that, when executed by a device (UE 110), cause the device to perform at least the following operations or cause at least the following operations to be performed:

[0564] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0565] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to: evaluate whether to delay triggering a path switch for a cell of the SCG, and send an indication of delaying triggering a path switch to a cell of the master cell group MCG based at least in part on the evaluation;

[0566] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0567] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0568] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0569] In response to receiving the configuration information, evaluating whether to delay triggering the path switch; and

[0570] An indication of delaying triggering a path switch is sent to a cell of the MCG based at least in part on the evaluation.

[0571] In some examples of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided, the computer program including instructions that, when executed by a device (UE 110), cause the device to perform at least the following operations or cause at least the following operations to be performed:

[0572] receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, the first conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of a secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing a cell of the SCG is met;

[0573] receiving configuration information from a cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to measure and report one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs for use by the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG from triggering a path switch;

[0574] receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of the MCG, the second conditional reconfiguration information being used to enable the device to access a cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG is satisfied;

[0575] determining whether the first condition has been satisfied;

[0576] Sending first information to the cell of the MCG indicating that the first condition has been met;

[0577] measuring one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs according to the configuration information;

[0578] One or more measurements are sent to the cell of the MCG for the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

[0579] In some examples of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided, the computer program including instructions, which, when executed by a device (target SN 120_21), causes the device to perform at least the following operations or causes at least the following operations to be performed:

[0580] Receiving reconfiguration information for configuring the device as a candidate cell of the secondary cell group SCG from a cell of the primary cell group MCG;

[0581] receiving information from the cell of the MCG instructing the user equipment UE to select a candidate cell of the SCG; and

[0582] Determine the delay triggering path switching;

[0583] delaying the triggering of the path switch, wherein the triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on the determination of delaying the triggered path switch;

[0584] determining to abort triggering a path switch; and

[0585] The triggering of the path switch is suspended, wherein the triggering of the path switch is suspended based at least in part on the determination to suspend triggering the path switch.

[0586] References to "computer program", "computer-readable storage medium", "computer program product", "tangibly embodied computer program", etc. or "controller", "computer", "processor", etc. should be understood to include not only computers with different architectures (such as single / multi-processor architectures and sequential (von Neumann) / parallel architectures), but also special-purpose circuits (such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific circuits (ASICs), signal processing devices and other devices). References to computer programs, instructions, code, etc. should be understood to include software for a programmable processor or firmware, for example, the programmable content of a hardware device, whether instructions for a processor or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gate array or programmable logic device, etc.

[0587] As used in this application, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware circuit implementation only (e.g., implementation only in analog and / or digital circuits), and (b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software such as (where applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuitry and software / firmware, and (ii) any portion of a hardware processor (including a digital signal processor) with software, software and memory that work together to enable a device such as a mobile phone or server to perform various functions; and (c) A hardware circuit and / or processor that requires software (eg, firmware) for operation, such as a microprocessor or portion of a microprocessor, but the software may not be present when not required for operation.

[0588] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of only a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to a particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0589] Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

[0590] Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

[0591] Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

[0592] Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, these features may also be present in other examples, whether described or not. Thus, features described with respect to one example / aspect of the disclosure may include any or all of the features described with respect to another example / aspect of the disclosure, and vice versa, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with each other.

[0593] Although various examples of the present disclosure have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims.

[0594] The term "comprising" is used in this document in an inclusive, rather than exclusive, sense. That is, any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If "comprising" is intended to be used in an exclusive sense, this will become clear in the context by reference to "comprising only one ..." or by use of "consisting of ..."

[0595] In this specification, the terms "connected", "coupled" and "in communication" and their derivatives indicate operable connection / coupling / communication. It should be understood that any number or combination of intermediate components (including no intermediate components) may be present, i.e., to provide direct or indirect connection / coupling / communication. Any such intermediate components may include hardware and / or software components.

[0596] As used herein, the term "determine / determining" (and grammatical variations thereof) may include at least evaluating, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, identifying, searching (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, etc. Moreover, "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), retrieving / accessing (e.g., retrieving / accessing data in a memory), obtaining, etc. Moreover, "determine / determining" may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, inferring, etc.

[0597] As used herein, a description of an action should also be considered to disclose enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling the action. For example, a description of transmitting information should also be considered to disclose enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling the transmission of information. Similarly, for example, a description of a device for transmitting information should also be considered to disclose at least one component or controller of the device enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling the transmission of information by the device.

[0598] The term "component" as used in the specification and claims may refer to one or more individual elements configured to perform the corresponding one or more stated functions, or it may refer to several elements that perform such one or more functions. In addition, several functions recited in the claims may be performed by the same individual component or the same combination of components. For example, the execution of such one or more functions may be caused in the device by a processor executing instructions stored in a memory of the device.

[0599] If not explicitly stated (unless the context requires otherwise), reference to a parameter or parameter value is to be understood as referring to data that “indicates,” “defines,” or “identifies” the associated parameter / parameter value. The data may indicate the associated parameter / parameter value in any manner and may indicate the associated parameter / parameter value directly or indirectly.

[0600] In this specification, reference has been made to various examples. Descriptions of features or functions of an example indicate that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the terms "example" or "for example", "can" or "may" herein indicates that, whether explicitly stated or not, such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they may, but not necessarily, be present in some or all other examples. Thus, an "example" or "for example", "can" or "may" refers to a specific example in a class of examples. An attribute of an example may be an attribute of only that example or an attribute of that class or an attribute of a subclass of that class, which subclass includes some but not all examples in that class.

[0601] In this specification, reference to "a / an / the" [feature, element, assembly, part ...] is used with inclusive rather than exclusive meaning and should be interpreted as "at least one" [feature, element, assembly, part ...], unless otherwise explicitly stated. That is, any reference to X including one / the Y indicates that X can include only one Y or can include more than one Y, unless the context clearly indicates the opposite. If it is intended to use "a" or "the" with exclusive meaning, it will become clear in the context. In some cases, the use of "at least one" or "one or more" can be used to emphasize inclusive meaning, but the lack of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning. As used in this article, "at least one of the following: <list of two or more elements>" and "at least one of <list of two or more elements>" and similar wording (wherein the list of two or more elements is connected by "and" or "or") refer to at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all elements.

[0602] The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to the feature (or combination of features) itself and to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). Equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. Equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result.

[0603] In this specification, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or conjunctive phrases to describe features of the examples. Such descriptions of features of the examples indicate that the features exist in some examples exactly as described, and exist in other examples substantially as described.

[0604] In the above description, the described device may alternatively or additionally include such a device: it includes, in some other examples, a distributed system of devices, for example, a client / server device system. In the example where the provided device forms (or the method is implemented as) a distributed system, each device forming a component and / or part of the system provides (or implements) one or more features that jointly implement the examples of the present disclosure. In some examples, the device is reconfigured by an entity other than its original manufacturer to implement the examples of the present disclosure by being provided with additional software (for example, by a user downloading such software), which, when executed, causes the device to implement the examples of the present disclosure (such implementation is entirely by the device or as part of a system of devices as described above).

[0605] The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure, however, those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features that provide equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described above, and have been omitted from the above description for the sake of brevity and clarity. Nevertheless, the above description should be understood to implicitly include reference to such alternative structures and method features that provide equivalent functionality, unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of examples of the present disclosure.

[0606] While an effort has been made in the foregoing description to call attention to those features of the examples of the present disclosure which are regarded as particularly important, it should be understood that the applicants claim protection for any patentable feature or combination of features heretofore mentioned and / or shown in the accompanying drawings, whether or not specifically emphasized.

[0607] The examples of the present disclosure and the appended claims may be appropriately combined in any manner that is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Individual references to "examples," "in some examples," and / or the like in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same example and are not mutually exclusive unless so stated and / or unless as would be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art from the specification. For example, features, structures, processes, blocks, steps, actions, etc. described in one example may also be included in other examples, but are not necessarily included in other examples.

[0608] Each and every claim is incorporated into this specification as further disclosure, and such claims are embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, although the claims herein are provided as including certain dependencies, it is contemplated that any claim may be derived from any other claim, and to the extent that any alternative embodiments may result from combining, integrating and / or omitting features of different claims and / or changing the dependencies of the claims, any such alternative embodiments and their equivalents are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A device for communication, comprising: at least one processor; as well as At least one memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform the following operations: Sending first conditional reconfiguration information to a user equipment UE, where the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access the cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing the cell of the SCG is met; Sending second conditional reconfiguration information to the UE, where the second conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the UE to access the cell of the other SCG when a second condition for accessing the cell of the other SCG is met; receiving, from the UE, first information indicating that the first condition has been met; Determining whether to delay the cell triggering path switching of the SCG; sending a first indication to the cell of the SCG to delay triggering the path switch, wherein the first indication is sent based at least in part on the determination; receiving, from the UE, second information indicating that the second condition has been met; determining whether to terminate the cell of the SCG to trigger the path switch; as well as A second indication is sent to the cell of the SCG to suspend triggering the path switch, wherein the second indication is sent based at least in part on the determination of whether to suspend triggering the path switch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining whether to suspend triggering the path switch is based at least in part on when the first indication is sent and when the second indication is received.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first indication comprises an indication of a delay time, and wherein determining whether to suspend triggering the path switch is based at least in part on a determination that a difference between a time when the first indication is sent and a time when the second information is received is less than the delay time.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured to receive a third indication of delaying triggering the path switch from the UE; wherein the determination of whether to delay triggering a path switch for the cell of the SCG is based at least in part on the third indication, and The third indication indicates the UE's evaluation of at least one of the following: whether an expected duration of access by the UE to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time; whether the access of the UE to the cell of the SCG is expected to be a short-stay SS access; and Whether the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, configured to: receiving from the UE one or more measurements of signals from one or more secondary cell groups, wherein the determination of whether to delay the cell of the SCG to trigger the path switch is based at least in part on the received one or more measurements; and Based at least in part on the one or more measurements of the signal, at least one of: whether an expected duration of access by the UE to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time; whether the access of the UE to the cell of the SCG is expected to be a short-stay SS access; and Whether the UE's access to the cell of the SCG is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the determination of whether to delay the cell of the SCG from triggering the path switch is based at least in part on the evaluation.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first condition for accessing the cell of the SCG and / or the second condition for accessing a cell of another SCG comprises at least one of the following: A first execution condition and / or a second execution condition for respectively adding the cell of the SCG and / or the cell of the other SCG; a first execution condition and / or a second execution condition for changing to the cell of the SCG and / or the cell of the other SCG, respectively; as well as The first execution condition and / or the second execution condition of the CPC candidate PSCell.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured as a master node MN for the UE, wherein the UE operates in a multiple connection MC mode and establishes a connection with the MN and a source secondary node SN.

9. An apparatus for communication, comprising: at least one processor; as well as At least one memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform the following operations: receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, wherein the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the device to access the cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing the cell of the SCG is met; receiving configuration information from the cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to: evaluate whether to delay triggering a path switch for the cell of the SCG, and send an indication of delaying triggering the path switch to the cell of the master cell group MCG based at least in part on the evaluation; receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from the cell of the MCG, wherein the second conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the device to access the cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing the cell of another SCG is satisfied; determining whether the first condition has been met; sending, to the cell of the MCG, first information indicating that the first condition has been met; In response to receiving the configuration information, evaluating whether to delay triggering the path switching; as well as The indication to delay triggering the path switch is sent to the cell of the MCG based at least in part on the evaluation.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the configuration information further comprises at least one of the following: one or more criteria used by the apparatus to evaluate an indication of delaying triggering a path switch; and One or more thresholds used by the apparatus to evaluate an indication of delaying triggering the path switch.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein evaluating whether to delay triggering the path switch is based at least in part on evaluating at least one of: whether an expected duration of access by the device to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time; whether the access of the device to the cell of the SCG is intended to be a short-stay SS access; and Whether the access of the device to the cell of the SCG is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indication indicates an assessment by the apparatus of at least one of: whether an expected duration of access by the device to the cell of the SCG is less than a threshold amount of time; whether the access of the device to the cell of the SCG is intended to be a short-stay SS access; and Whether the access of the device to the cell of the SCG is expected to be Ping-Pong PP access.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indication is one of: a flag in a message sent to the cell of the master cell group MCG; Sent in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message; sent in an RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message; and Sent after the apparatus has determined that the first condition has been met.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a user equipment (UE) configured to operate in a multiple connection (MC) mode, and wherein the UE establishes a connection with a master node (MN) and a source secondary node (SN).

15. An apparatus for communication, comprising: at least one processor; as well as At least one memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform the following operations: receiving first conditional reconfiguration information from a cell of a primary cell group MCG, wherein the first conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the device to access the cell of the secondary cell group SCG when a first condition for accessing the cell of the SCG is met; receiving configuration information from the cell of the MCG, the configuration information being used to configure the apparatus to measure and report one or more measurements of signals from one or more SCGs for use by the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay triggering a path switch for the cell of the SCG; receiving second conditional reconfiguration information from the cell of the MCG, wherein the second conditional reconfiguration information is used to enable the device to access the cell of another SCG when a second condition for accessing the cell of another SCG is satisfied; determining whether the first condition has been met; sending, to the cell of the MCG, first information indicating that the first condition has been met; measuring one or more measurements of signals from the one or more SCGs according to the configuration information; The one or more measurements are sent to the cell of the MCG for the cell of the MCG to determine whether to delay the cell of the SCG to trigger a path switch.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the configuration information further comprises at least one of the following: one or more criteria used by the apparatus to perform and / or report the one or more measurements of signals; one or more identifiers of one or more cells of one or more secondary cell groups SCG, whose signals are to be measured; one or more group identifiers of the one or more secondary cell groups SCG whose signals are to be measured; as well as Information used to configure the device to perform and report measurements between one or more secondary cell groups (SCGs).

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more measurements of a signal are sent in one of: Radio Resource Control RRC messages; Layer 3 measurement reporting; RRC connection reconfiguration complete message; and SN RRC reconfiguration complete message.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus is a user equipment (UE) configured to operate in a multiple connection (MC) mode, and wherein the UE establishes a connection with a master node (MN) and a source secondary node (SN).

19. An apparatus for communication, comprising: at least one processor; as well as At least one memory stores instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform the following operations: Receiving reconfiguration information for configuring the device as a candidate cell of a secondary cell group SCG from a cell of a primary cell group MCG; receiving, from the cell of the MCG, information instructing a user equipment UE to select the candidate cell of the SCG; as well as Determine the delay triggering path switching; delaying the triggering of the path switch, wherein delaying the triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on delaying the determination to trigger the path switch; Determine to stop triggering the path switching; as well as Aborting the triggering of the path switch, wherein aborting the triggering of the path switch is based at least in part on the determination to abort triggering the path switch.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus automatically determines a delay to trigger the path switching.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is configured as a target secondary node SN for the UE, wherein the UE operates in a multi-connection MC mode and establishes connections with a master node MN and a source SN.

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