Relating to network interconnectivity

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5 th -Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4 th -Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. Disclosed is a method of operating a telecommunication system operating in a multi-connectivity configuration, wherein a first node operates a first radio connection using a first Radio Access Technology, RAT, and a second node operates a second radio connection using a second RAT, wherein a User Equipment, UE, operable to communicate over first and second radio connections, is configured on the basis of its capabilities with respect to the first node and its capabilities with respect to the second node.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a first base station of a first radio access technology (RAT) in a communication system, the method comprising:
 transmitting, to a terminal, a first message to request capability information of the terminal for a RAT type of an inter-RAT dual connectivity (DC), wherein the inter-RAT DC between the first base station of the first RAT and a second base station of a second RAT is configured for the terminal;   receiving, from the terminal, a second message including the capability information of the terminal for the RAT type;   transmitting, to the second base station of the second RAT, a third message including the capability information of the terminal and information on a configuration restriction to be configured by the second base station of the second RAT for the terminal; and   receiving, from the second base station of the second RAT, a fourth message as a response to the third message,   wherein the configuration restriction is associated with a band combination and identified based on the capability information of the terminal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the capability information of the terminal includes information on at least one band combination supported by the terminal for the RAT type, and   wherein the configuration restriction includes an index indicating the band combination among the at least one band combination.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fourth message includes modification request information for requesting a modification for the configuration restriction,   wherein the modification request information includes an index of a band combination requested by the second base station of the second RAT, and   wherein the first RAT includes evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and the second RAT includes a new radio (NR).   
     
     
         4 . A method performed by a second base station of a second radio access technology (RAT) in a communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first base station of a first RAT, a first message including capability information of a terminal and information on a configuration restriction to be configured for the terminal; and   transmitting, to the first base station of the first RAT, a second message as a response to the first message,   wherein the capability information of the terminal is for a RAT type of an inter-RAT dual connectivity (DC),   wherein the inter-RAT DC between the first base station of the first RAT and the second base station of the second RAT is configured for the terminal, and   wherein the configuration restriction is associated with a band combination and identified based on the capability information of the terminal.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the capability information of the terminal includes information on at least one band combination supported by the terminal for the RAT type, and   wherein the configuration restriction includes an index indicating the band combination among the at least one band combination.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the second message includes modification request information for requesting a modification for the configuration restriction,   wherein the modification request information includes an index of a band combination requested by the second base station of the second RAT, and   wherein the first RAT includes evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and the second RAT includes a new radio (NR).   
     
     
         7 . A method in a communication system which comprises a first base station of a first radio access technology (RAT), a second base station of a second RAT, and a terminal configured with an inter-RAT dual connectivity (DC) between the first base station of the first RAT and the second base station of the second RAT, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the terminal from the first base station of the first RAT, a first message to request capability information of the terminal for a RAT type of the inter-RAT DC;   transmitting, by the terminal to the first base station of the first RAT, a second message including the capability information of the terminal for the RAT type;   transmitting, by the first base station of the first RAT to the second base station of the second RAT, a third message including the capability information of the terminal and information on a configuration restriction to be configured by the second base station of the second RAT for the terminal; and   transmitting, by the second base station of the second RAT to the first base station of the first RAT, a fourth message as a response to the third message,   wherein the configuration restriction is associated with a band combination and identified based on the capability information of the terminal.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the capability information of the terminal includes information on at least one band combination supported by the terminal for the RAT type, and   wherein the configuration restriction includes an index indicating the band combination among the at least one band combination.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the fourth message includes modification request information for requesting a modification for the configuration restriction,   wherein the modification request information includes an index of a band combination requested by the second base station of the second RAT, and   wherein the first RAT includes evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and the second RAT includes a new radio (NR).   
     
     
         10 . A first base station of a first radio access technology (RAT) in a communication system, the first base station comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to:
 transmit, to a terminal, a first message to request capability information of the terminal for a RAT type of an inter-RAT dual connectivity (DC), wherein the inter-RAT DC between the first base station of the first RAT and a second base station of a second RAT is configured for the terminal, 
 receive, from the terminal, a second message including the capability information of the terminal for the RAT type, 
 transmit, to the second base station of the second RAT, a third message including the capability information of the terminal and information on a configuration restriction to be configured by the second base station of the second RAT for the terminal, and 
 receive, from the second base station of the second RAT, a fourth message as a response to the third message, 
   wherein the configuration restriction is associated with a band combination and identified based on the capability information of the terminal.   
     
     
         11 . The first base station of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the capability information of the terminal includes information on at least one band combination supported by the terminal for the RAT type, and   wherein the configuration restriction includes an index indicating the band combination among the at least one band combination.   
     
     
         12 . The first base station of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the fourth message includes modification request information for requesting a modification for the configuration restriction,   wherein the modification request information includes an index of a band combination requested by the second base station of the second RAT, and   wherein the first RAT includes evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and the second RAT includes a new radio (NR).   
     
     
         13 . A second base station of a second radio access technology (RAT) in a communication system, the second base station comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to:
 receive, from a first base station of a first RAT, a first message including capability information of a terminal and information on a configuration restriction to be configured for the terminal, and 
 transmit, to the first base station of the first RAT, a second message as a response to the first message, 
   wherein the capability information of the terminal is for a RAT type of an inter-RAT dual connectivity (DC),   wherein the inter-RAT DC between the first base station of the first RAT and the second base station of the second RAT is configured for the terminal, and   wherein the configuration restriction is associated with a band combination and identified based on the capability information of the terminal.   
     
     
         14 . The second base station of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the capability information of the terminal includes information on at least one band combination supported by the terminal for the RAT type, and   wherein the configuration restriction includes an index indicating the band combination among the at least one band combination.   
     
     
         15 . The second base station of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the second message includes modification request information for requesting a modification for the configuration restriction,   wherein the modification request information includes an index of a band combination requested by the second base station of the second RAT, and   wherein the first RAT includes evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and the second RAT includes a new radio (NR).   
     
     
         16 . A communication system comprising:
 a terminal configured to receive, from a first base station of a first radio access technology (RAT) a first message to request capability information of the terminal for a RAT type an inter-RAT dual connectivity (DC), and transmit, to the first base station of the first RAT, a second message including the capability information of the terminal for the RAT type, wherein the inter-RAT DC between the first base station of the first RAT and a second base station of a second RAT is configured for the terminal;   the first base station of the first RAT configured to transmit, to the second base station of the second RAT, a third message including the capability information of the terminal and information on a configuration restriction to be configured by the second base station of the second RAT for the terminal; and   the second base station of the second RAT configured to transmit, to the first base station of the first RAT, a fourth message as a response to the third message,   wherein the configuration restriction is associated with a band combination and identified based on the capability information of the terminal.   
     
     
         17 . The communication system of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the capability information of the terminal includes information on at least one band combination supported by the terminal for the RAT type, and   wherein the configuration restriction includes an index indicating the band combination among the at least one band combination.   
     
     
         18 . The communication system of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the fourth message includes modification request information for requesting a modification for the configuration restriction,   wherein the modification request information includes an index of a band combination requested by the second base station of the second RAT, and   wherein the first RAT includes evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and the second RAT includes a new radio (NR).