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

Claim 0:
1. A method for dynamically controlling connectivity of a user equipment device (UE) in a wireless communication system while the UE has standalone connectivity with a first access node under a first radio access technology (RAT), the method comprising:
receiving by the first access node, from the UE, control signaling that includes (a) a report that the UE is within coverage of a second access node under a second RAT, and (b) a selection by the UE between inter-RAT handover and inter-RAT dual connectivity; and
using by the first access node the included selection by the UE between inter-RAT handover and inter-RAT dual connectivity as a basis to respond to the included report that the UE is within the coverage of the second access node according to the second RAT, wherein (i) if the included selection by the UE is inter-RAT handover, then the first access node processes handover of the UE from the standalone connectivity with the first access node to standalone connectivity with the second access node and (ii) if the included selection by the UE is inter-RAT dual connectivity, then the first access node processes transition of the UE from standalone connectivity with the first access node to dual connectivity with the first access node and the second access node.