Patent ID: 12200528

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth, such as a specific network environment in order to provide a thorough understanding of the technique disclosed herein. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the technique may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. Moreover, while the following embodiments are primarily described for a New Radio (NR) or 5G implementation, it is readily apparent that the technique described herein may also be implemented for any other radio communication technique, including 3GPP LTE (e.g., LTE-Advanced or a related radio access technique such as MulteFire), in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) according to the standard family IEEE 802.11, for Bluetooth according to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), particularly Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth Mesh Networking and Bluetooth broadcasting, for Z-Wave according to the Z-Wave Alliance or for ZigBee based on IEEE 802.15.4.

Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functions, steps, units and modules explained herein may be implemented using software functioning in conjunction with a programmed microprocessor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or a general purpose computer, e.g., including an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM). It will also be appreciated that, while the following embodiments are primarily described in context with methods and devices, the invention may also be embodied in a computer program product as well as in a system comprising at least one computer processor and memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the memory is encoded with one or more programs that may perform the functions and steps or implement the units and modules disclosed herein.

FIG.1schematically illustrates an example block diagram of a device for receiving a radio quality report. The first radio device is generically referred to by reference sign100. The first device may be a device100for configuring a second device with reporting the radio quality report and receiving the radio quality report accordingly.

The device100comprises a radio quality report configuration transmission module102that is adapted to transmitting a first control message indicative of configuring a second device with reporting a radio quality report using a secondary connection that is different from a primary connection between the first device100and the second device. The primary connection may refer to a first, e.g. direct, radio connection. The device100further comprises a reference signal (RS) transmission module104that is adapted to transmitting at least one RS to the second device over the primary connection. The device100further comprises a radio quality report reception module106that is adapted to receiving, from the second device over the secondary connection, a radio quality report indicative of a radio quality of the primary connection based on the at least one RS. The device100further includes a data transmission module108that is adapted to transmitting, over the primary connection, a signal, e.g. data and/or a second control message. The transmission of the signal, e.g. data and/or the second control message, may be based on the radio quality report. In more detail, the transmission of the signal, e.g. data and/or the second control message, may be based on the radio quality report by comprising an update of a beamforming configuration and/or a link adaptation.

Any of the modules of the receiving device100may be implemented by units configured to provide the corresponding functionality.

The device100may also be referred to as, or may be embodied by, a base station or a node. The device100and the second device are in a, e.g. direct, radio communication at least for the transmission of the at least one RS. The device100and the second device are in a, e.g. dual connectivity, communication at least for the transmission of the radio quality report configuration message and the reception of the radio quality report.

FIG.2schematically illustrates an example block diagram of a device for transmitting a radio quality report. The device is generically denoted as the second device and referred to by reference sign200. The second device may be a device200for transmitting the radio quality report upon configuration by a first device.

The device200comprises a radio quality configuration reception module202that is adapted to receiving a first control message indicative of configuring the second device200with radio quality reporting over a secondary connection that is different from the primary connection between the first radio device and the second radio device200. The primary connection may refer to a, e.g. direct, radio connection between the first radio device and the second radio device200. The device200further comprises an RS measurement module204that is adapted to measuring the radio quality of at least one RS received from the first device over the primary connection. The device200further comprises a radio quality report transmission module206that is adapted to transmitting over the secondary connection a radio quality report indicative of the quality of the received at least one RS. The device200further comprises a data reception module208that is adapted to receiving a signal, e.g. data and/or a second control message, from the first device100, based on the radio quality report. The reception of the signal may depend on the radio quality report in terms of an updated beamforming configuration and/or a link adaptation.

Any of the modules of the device200may be implemented by units configured to provide the corresponding functionality.

The device200may also be referred to as, or may be embodied by, a radio device or a UE. The device200and a transmitter of the radio quality reporting configuration are in a, e.g. direct, radio communication at least for the reception of the at least one RS at the device200. The device200and the transmitter of the radio quality reporting configuration may be in a, e.g. dual connectivity, communication for at least the reception of the radio quality reporting configuration and the transmission of the radio quality report.

FIG.3shows an example flowchart for a method300of receiving a radio quality report at a first device from a second device. The method300comprises or initiates a step302of transmitting to the second device a first control message indicative of configuring the second device with reporting a radio quality report using a secondary connection that is different from the primary connection.

The method300further comprises or initiates a step304of transmitting to the second device over the primary connection at least one RS. The method300further comprises or initiates a step306of receiving from the second device over the secondary connection the radio quality report that is indicative of a radio quality of the primary connection based on the at least one RS. The method300further comprises a step308of transmitting, based on the radio quality report, from the first device over the primary connection a signal, e.g. a second control message and/or data, to the second device.

The method300may be implemented as a method of configuring the second device with reporting a radio quality report and receiving a radio quality report accordingly.

Transmitting the signal may be based on the radio quality report. For example, the transmission of the signal may use a beamforming configuration and/or a link adaptation that is updated according to the radio quality report at the first device and/or the second device.

The method300may be performed by the device100. For example, the modules102,104,106and108may perform the steps302,304,306and308, respectively.

FIG.4shows an example flowchart for a method400of transmitting a radio quality report to a first device from a second device. The method400comprises or initiates a step402of receiving at the second device from the first device a first control message indicative of configuring the second device with reporting a radio quality report. The method400further comprises or initiates a step404of measuring at the second device the quality of at least one RS received over the primary connection from the first device. The method400further comprises or initiates a step406of transmitting from the second device over a secondary connection a radio quality report indicative of the quality of the received at least one RS. The method400further comprises or initiates a step408of receiving a signal, e.g. a second control message or data, over the primary connection based on the radio quality report.

The method400may be implemented as a method of reporting a radio quality report.

The receiving of the signal may be based on a beamforming configuration and/or a link adaptation, which may be updated according to the radio quality report at the first device and/or the second device.

The method400may be performed by the device200. For example, the modules202,204,206and208may perform the steps402,404,406and408, respectively.

The technique may be applied to downlink (DL) as the primary connection and uplink (UL), dual connectivity or sidelink communications as the secondary connection.

The device100may be a base station (BS). The device200may be a radio device. Herein, any radio device may be a mobile or portable station and/or any radio device wirelessly connectable to a base station or RAN, or to another radio device. A radio device may be a user equipment (UE), a device for machine-type communication (MTC) or a device for (e.g., narrowband) Internet of Things (IoT). Two or more radio devices may be configured to wirelessly connect to each other, e.g., in an ad hoc radio network or via a 3GPP sidelink connection. Furthermore, any base station may be a station providing radio access, may be part of a radio access network (RAN) and/or may be a node connected to the RAN for controlling radio access. Further a base station may be an access point, for example a Wi-Fi access point.

According to the method300for receiving at a first device a radio quality report, e.g. indicative of CSI or CQI, over a secondary connection, a second device, e.g. a UE, is configured to detect and perform measurements on a set of RSs and transmit a radio quality report based on this set of RSs. The reference signals can in NR for example be SSBs or CSI-RS.

The second device, e.g. the UE, may be instructed to report periodically. Alternatively or in addition, the second device may be instructed to report based on a set of events, e.g. that one signal becomes weaker than a different signal. Reporting based on an event may also be referred to as aperiodic reporting or event triggered reporting. The event trigger optionally includes comparing a signal strength to a predefined threshold value and switching the reporting mode if the measured signal strength falls below the threshold value.

The radio quality report reflects the quality of the at least one RS received. For NR it can be configured to be either a received power estimate (RSRP) or a received quality estimate, e.g. SNR, SINR or RSRQ.

In a first class of embodiments, the second device, e.g. the UE, is instructed to report based on a set of configured CSI-RS. The first device, e.g. the base station, configures the second device, e.g. the UE, with reporting on the CSI-RS and a radio quality report setting, for example to report SINR and to report periodically. The first device, e.g. the base station, then transmits each CSI-RS in a direction that can be a potential beamforming direction for the second device. A set of second devices may also be referred to as users.

When receiving the radio quality report, the first device100, e.g. the base station, then transmits a signal, e.g. control or data, using an antenna weight or a set of antenna weights based on the antenna weights used for transmitting the CSI-RSs and/or based on the reported radio quality. Using antenna weights for the reported radio quality may comprise receive beamforming at the first device. Alternatively or in addition, using antenna weights for the reported radio quality may comprise transmit beamforming at the second device.

In an embodiment, the same antenna weight is used as for the CSI-RS reported as having the highest radio quality. In other embodiments, a junction between multiple weights can be applied based on their relative radio quality.

In a second class of embodiments, which is combinable with the first class of embodiments, the second device, e.g. the UE, is instructed to measure on one or more SSBs. In some embodiments, the second device200, e.g. the UE, is instructed to measure on a subset of all possible SSBs. In other embodiments, the second device, e.g. the UE, is configured to by itself detect the presence of an SSB and report the radio quality.

The one or more SSBs used for reporting can be the conventional SSBs used for cell coverage of the cell. In some embodiments, it is beneficial to have more narrow beams for input to beamforming. In this case, the first device100, e.g. the base station, may transmit additional, e.g. dedicated, SSBs for this purpose. The first device100, e.g. the base station, may transmit dedicated SSBs on the same location as its conventional SSBs. The dedicated SSBs can be transmitted out with lower power than the conventional SSBs for cell coverage to not be selected by other users. These SSBs can have the same cell ID or a different cell ID from the normal SSBs for cell coverage. With different cell IDs, multiple RSs can advantageously be transmitted on the same time and/or frequency resource.

Alternatively or in addition, the second device200, e.g. the UE, can be instructed to measure on a different frequency that does not lie on the conventional search grid for SSBs. The transmitted, e.g. dedicated, SSBs may use the same cell ID or a cell ID that is different from the conventional SSBs for cell coverage.

The additional SSBs, e.g., independently of the frequency, may have beamforming weights employed and/or adjusted and reporting configurations as in the CSI-RS case.

In a third class of embodiments, which is combinable with the first and/or second class of embodiments, multiple second devices200, e.g. UEs, may be instructed to measure on the same set of RSs in the step402. In this class of embodiments, the beamforming weight of each RS may depend on a set of potential beamforming weights for all second devices200, e.g. UEs, sharing the same set of RSs.

Reporting, according to the steps306and406, link adaptation information and/or beam information over RRC using the secondary connection may be slower and/or may have a higher overhead compared to conventional CSI reporting. It may in some embodiments also be costlier in terms of the number of downlink RSs. Due to the potential increase in latency and/or signaling overhead, in a fourth class of embodiments, which is combinable with any other class of embodiments, the first device100, e.g. the base station, only configures reporting the radio quality report over the secondary connection when it is expected to be needed.

In a first implementation of the fourth class of embodiments, reporting CSI over RRC is triggered based on measurements on uplink signals. In some embodiments, a SNR, a SINR or a RSRP is estimated over one or multiple uplink transmissions and compared to a threshold value. Reporting CSI over RRC using the secondary connection is configured if the uplink radio quality is below the threshold value.

In some embodiments, there is also a counter that triggers reporting CSI over RRC using the secondary connection if the uplink radio quality is below the threshold for a given time.

In other embodiments, reporting the CSI over RRC using the secondary connection is triggered by a failure to decode one or multiple transmissions on a control channel and/or a data channel (e.g., in the uplink and/or downlink) of the primary connection. E.g., the failure to decode a transmission may be detected by a CRC error. Alternatively or in addition, a failure to decode a transmission may be detected by means of a BER, a BLER or a PER.

In a second implementation of the fourth class of embodiments, which is combinable with the first implementation of the fourth class of embodiments, configuring the reporting of the radio quality over a secondary connection is triggered by a measurement in the downlink, for example that serving cell RSRP falls below a threshold value. In some embodiments, the second device200, e.g. the UE, may be pre-configured with reporting the radio quality over the secondary connection but only start to report over the secondary connection once a condition as to the downlink radio quality (e.g., a serving cell RSRP) being below a threshold value is fulfilled.

In some embodiments of the fourth class of embodiments, the second device200, e.g. the UE, is configured to release any regular, e.g. conventional, CSI reporting or sounding transmission once reporting CSI over RRC is configured. Conventional CSI reporting may, e.g. be abandoned by the second device200, e.g. the UE, if the serving cell RSRP falls below a threshold value. The transmission of a radio quality report over a secondary connection may be triggered by the RSRP threshold value.

In another implementation of the fourth class of embodiments, a second stricter trigger is applied to remove the regular CSI reporting, having a range where both (regular or conventional CSI reporting over the primary connection and CSI reporting over the secondary connection) exist in parallel.

In some embodiments, both the beam information over RRC as well as the regular CSI reporting are used in parallel. In some embodiments, the higher layer beam information is used as a filtering criterion so that only reports indicating a strong beam from the RRC reporting are assumed correct. The indication of a beam may comprise a PMI, a CSI resource indicator (CRI) and/or some other spatial information in the radio quality report, e.g., in a CSI report.

FIG.5schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of dual connectivity wherein a first base station100is in direct radio communication510, at least in the downlink, with the radio device200, which is in uplink and downlink communication with the second base station502. The radio device200is in dual connectivity to the first base station100by virtue of at least the uplink communication512to the second base station502, which may forward, e.g. over a backhaul link, control information and/or data to the first base station100.

FIG.6shows an exemplary implementation of intertwining the method300of receiving a radio quality report and the method400of transmitting the radio quality report. According to the step302, a BS100configures a UE200with reporting a radio quality report indicative of CSI over a secondary connection. The reporting configuration is received by the UE200according to the step402. Following the radio quality report configuration message, the BS100transmits over the primary connection at least one RS according to the step304. The RS may comprise multiple beamformed CSI-RSs in an optional substep602of the step304. Alternatively or in addition, the RS may comprise one or more conventional (e.g. for cell coverage) or dedicated SSBs transmitted in a substep604of the step304.

The UE200measures the radio quality based on the at least one received RS according to the step404. The UE200determines if it is configured with periodic and/or aperiodic (e.g. event triggered) radio quality reporting in a substep606of the step406. According to reference sign608, the UE200proceeds to transmit a radio quality report periodically over the second connection if configured accordingly. Alternatively or in addition, the UE200verifies if an event occurred in a substep610of the step406, if the UE200is configured with event-triggered radio quality reporting. For example, the UE200is configured with aperiodic reporting if the downlink radio quality (e.g., a master cell RSRP) is below a corresponding threshold according to an implementation of the step406. Responsive to the downlink radio quality falling below the threshold, the UE200transmits an aperiodic radio quality report in the step406.

FIG.7shows a schematic block diagram for an embodiment of the device100. The device100comprises one or more processors704for performing the method300and memory706coupled to the processors704. For example, the memory706may be encoded with instructions that implement at least one of the modules102,104,106and108.

The one or more processors704may be a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, microcode and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other components of the device100, such as the memory706, transmitter functionality. For example, the one or more processors704may execute instructions stored in the memory706. Such functionality may include providing various features and steps discussed herein, including any of the benefits disclosed herein. The expression “the device being operative to perform an action” may denote the device100being configured to perform the action.

As schematically illustrated inFIG.7, the device100may be embodied by a base station (BS)700, e.g., functioning as a transmitting base station. The BS700comprises a radio interface702coupled to the device100for radio communication with one or more radio devices, e.g., functioning as a receiving UE.

FIG.8shows a schematic block diagram for an embodiment of the device200. The device200comprises one or more processors804for performing the method400and memory806coupled to the processors804. For example, the memory806may be encoded with instructions that implement at least one of the modules202,204,206and208.

The one or more processors804may be a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, microcode and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other components of the device200, such as the memory806, receiver functionality. For example, the one or more processors804may execute instructions stored in the memory806. Such functionality may include providing various features and steps discussed herein, including any of the benefits disclosed herein. The expression “the device being operative to perform an action” may denote the device200being configured to perform the action.

As schematically illustrated inFIG.8, the device200may be embodied by a radio device or UE800, e.g., functioning as a receiving UE. The UE800comprises a radio interface802coupled to the device200for radio communication with one or more base stations, e.g., functioning as a transmitting base station.

With reference toFIG.9, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system900includes a telecommunication network910, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises an access network911, such as a radio access network, and a core network914. The access network911comprises a plurality of base stations912a,912b,912c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area913a,913b,913c. Each base station912a,912b,912cis connectable to the core network914over a wired or wireless connection915. A first user equipment (UE)991located in coverage area913cis configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station912c. A second UE992in coverage area913ais wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station912a. While a plurality of UEs991,992are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station912.

The telecommunication network910is itself connected to a host computer930, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer930may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections921,922between the telecommunication network910and the host computer930may extend directly from the core network914to the host computer930or may go via an optional intermediate network920. The intermediate network920may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; the intermediate network920, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, the intermediate network920may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system900ofFIG.9as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected UEs991,992and the host computer930. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection950. The host computer930and the connected UEs991,992are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection950, using the access network911, the core network914, any intermediate network920and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection950may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection950passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a base station912need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer930to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE991. Similarly, the base station912need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE991towards the host computer930.

By virtue of the method300and400being performed by any one of the base stations912and/or any one of the UEs991or992, the performance of the OTT connection950can be improved, e.g., in terms of increased throughput and/or reduced latency.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference toFIG.10. In a communication system1000, a host computer1010comprises hardware1015including a communication interface1016configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system1000. The host computer1010further comprises processing circuitry1018, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, the processing circuitry1018may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The host computer1010further comprises software1011, which is stored in or accessible by the host computer1010and executable by the processing circuitry1018. The software1011includes a host application1012. The host application1012may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a UE1030connecting via an OTT connection1050terminating at the UE1030and the host computer1010. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application1012may provide user data, which is transmitted using the OTT connection1050. The user data may depend on the location of the UE1030. The user data may comprise auxiliary information or precision advertisements (also: ads) delivered to the UE1030. The location may be reported by the UE1030to the host computer, e.g., using the OTT connection1050, and/or by the base station1020, e.g., using a connection1060.

The communication system1000further includes a base station (BS)1020provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware1025enabling it to communicate with the host computer1010and with the UE1030. The hardware1025may include a communication interface1026for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system1000, as well as a radio interface1027for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection1070with a UE1030located in a coverage area (not shown inFIG.10) served by the base station1020. The communication interface1026may be configured to facilitate a connection1060to the host computer1010. The connection1060may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown inFIG.10) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, the hardware1025of the base station1020further includes processing circuitry1028, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The base station1020further has software1021stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

The communication system1000further includes the UE1030already referred to. Its hardware1035may include a radio interface1037configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection1070with a base station serving a coverage area in which the UE1030is currently located. The hardware1035of the UE1030further includes processing circuitry1038, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The UE1030further comprises software1031, which is stored in or accessible by the UE1030and executable by the processing circuitry1038. The software1031includes a client application1032. The client application1032may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the UE1030, with the support of the host computer1010. In the host computer1010, an executing host application1012may communicate with the executing client application1032via the OTT connection1050terminating at the UE1030and the host computer1010. In providing the service to the user, the client application1032may receive request data from the host application1012and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection1050may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application1032may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that the host computer1010, base station1020and UE1030illustrated inFIG.10may be identical to the host computer930, one of the base stations912a,912b,912cand one of the UEs991,992ofFIG.9, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown inFIG.10and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that ofFIG.9.

InFIG.10, the OTT connection1050has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer1010and the use equipment1030via the base station1020, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the UE1030or from the service provider operating the host computer1010, or both. While the OTT connection1050is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

The wireless connection1070between the UE1030and the base station1020is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE1030using the OTT connection1050, in which the wireless connection1070forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may reduce the latency and improve the data rate and thereby provide benefits such as better responsiveness.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection1050between the host computer1010and UE1030, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection1050may be implemented in the software1011of the host computer1010or in the software1031of the UE1030, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection1050passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software1011,1031may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection1050may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the base station1020, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the base station1020. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating the host computer's1010measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that the software1011,1031causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or “dummy” messages, using the OTT connection1050while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIG.11is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.9and10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.11will be included in this section. In a first step1110of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep1111of the first step1110, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step1120, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In an optional third step1130, the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional fourth step1140, the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

FIG.12is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.9and10. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.12will be included in this section. In a first step1210of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step1220, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step1230, the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

As has become apparent from above description, embodiments of the technique enable radio quality reporting. In particular, the downlink of a radio connection may still be used even if the uplink is out of coverage. The radio quality report may be transmitted using a higher layer aggregation with a different connection, e.g. using dual connectivity instead of CA or SUL.

The technique may be implemented without any modification to the supporting (e.g., secondary) connection. For example, the radio quality report may be transmitted using dual connectivity via a second BS. The second BS may be associated to a different, e.g. legacy, 3GPP standard and/or a different service provider than the first BS.

Many advantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the units and devices without departing from the scope of the invention and/or without sacrificing all of its advantages. Since the invention can be varied in many ways, it will be recognized that the invention should be limited only by the scope of the following claims.