Patent ID: 11882491
Assignee: SPRINT SPECTRUM LP
Field: Digital communication (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 16:
17. A user equipment device (UE) configured to control connectivity, wherein the UE comprises:
at least one processor;
at least one non-transitory data storage; and
program instructions stored in the non-transitory data storage and executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to carry out operations, the operations including:
when the UE has standalone connectivity with a first access node under a first radio access technology (RAT), (a) detecting that the UE is within threshold strong coverage of a second access node under a second RAT, and (b) responsive to the detecting, making a selection between (i) the UE engaging in inter-RAT handover from the first access node to the second access node and (ii) the UE having inter-RAT dual connectivity with the first access node and the second access node; and
causing the first access node to take action in accordance with the UE's selection,
wherein making the selection by the UE is based on remaining battery energy of the UE, and
wherein making the selection by the UE based on remaining battery energy of the UE comprises (i) making a determination of whether the remaining battery energy of the UE is at least as low as a predefined threshold level, (ii) if the determination is affirmative, then, based at least on the determination, selecting by the UE the inter-RAT handover rather than the inter-RAT dual connectivity and (iii) if the determination is negative, then, based at least on the determination, selecting by the UE the inter-RAT dual connectivity rather than the inter-RAT handover.