Multi-connectivity user device for wireless communication networks

Abstract

A user device UE for a wireless communication with a plurality of wireless network elements includes a plurality of antennas. The plurality of antennas are configured to form a plurality of spatial or directional beams. The user device is configured to provide simultaneously a plurality of independent wireless communication links using the plurality of spatial or directional beams, wherein the user device is configured to provide a first wireless communication link with a first wireless network element using a first spatial or directional beam and to provide a second wireless communication link with a second wireless network element using a second antenna beam.

1 . A device comprising:
 a processor circuit and a memory,   wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor circuit,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to communicate with a plurality of users,   wherein at least one of the plurality of users access a least one logical access network(s), and   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to control physical resources of a communication network,   wherein the communication network is assigned to the at least one logical access network(s),   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to allow access of the plurality of users to the at least one logical access network(s) during a first mode,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to   adaptively limit access of the plurality of users to the at least one logical access network(s) during a second mode.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one logical access network comprises at least one network slice(s),   wherein information controlling the access of the plurality of users comprises an access class or an access category,   wherein the access class or access category is for the plurality of users.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein to adaptively limiting access of the plurality of users to the at least one logical radio access network(s) comprises gradually reduce reducing the plurality of users permitted to access the at least one logical radio access network(s). 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 22 ,
 wherein barring at least one user(s) from the at least one logical access network(s) comprises providing a barring time,   wherein the barring time indicates when the at least one user(s) should try the next time to access the at least one logical access network(s).   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein adaptively reducing the enabled logical access networks comprises barring the enabled logical access network so as to increase the available physical resources for at least one of the non-barred logical access network(s). 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein barring the enabled logical access network comprises:
 controlling the at least one user(s) to stay on the logical access network; and   signaling to the at least one user(s) that access to the logical access network is barred.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein controlling the physical resources comprises modifying an amount of physical resources allocated to the enabled logical access networks. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the liming or suspending comprises:
 selecting a service quality for the at least one user(s), or   prioritizing for at least one user(s).   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second mode is determined based on a certain event,   wherein the certain event comprises at least one of: 
 an emergency situation, 
 an overload situation of at least a part of the communication network, 
 a need to balance the load between the at least one logical access network(s), 
 a need to provide resilience to the at least one logical access network(s), 
 an event at a certain date and for a first duration, 
 changes in a service using the logical access network, 
 a time, and 
 a reoccurring event. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the communication network is arranged to enable a plurality of logical access networks,   wherein each logical access network of the plurality of logical access networks use different carriers,   wherein a first one of the plurality of logical access networks is barred,   wherein the first one of the plurality of logical radio access networks uses a first carrier,   wherein the device is arranged redirect at least one of the user(s) to a second one of the plurality of logical access networks,   wherein the second one of the plurality of logical access networks uses a second carrier.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the device is arranged to perform the control using a common downlink system information,   wherein the common downlink system information is provided by the communication network for the plurality of users.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to signal control information so as to inform at least one of the plurality of users whether a third logical access network is supported or is not supported by the communication network. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the base station is configured to broadcast to the plurality of users control information,   wherein the control information indicates to indicate that additional access control information is available before access,   wherein the additional access control information controls access of the plurality of users to the at least one of the logical access network(s).   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the processor circuit is arranged to signal to a master user connected to the communication network when access to a logical access network is blocked for a portion of the plurality of users to connect to at least one slave user within a coverage zone when access to a logical access network is blocked for a portion of the plurality of users,   wherein the at least one slave user comprises at least a portion of the of the blocked user(s).   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control signal comprises a first set of access control parameters and a second set of access control parameters,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to broadcast to first set of access control parameters using the RRC protocol,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to broadcast to the second set of access control parameters using the NAS protocol.   
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of logical access networks, the method comprising:
 communicating with a plurality of users by a device;   accessing at least one of the plurality of logical access network(s);   controlling physical resources of the communication network, wherein the physical resources are assigned to the at lase one of the plurality of logical access networks;   allowing access of the plurality of users to the at least one of the logical access network(s) during a first mode; and   adaptively limiting access of the plurality of users to at least one of the logical access network(s) during a second mode.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium, wherein the computer program when executed on a processor performs the method as claimed in  claim 17 . 
     
     
         18 . A device comprising:
 a processor circuit and a memory,   wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor circuit,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to communicate with a plurality of users,   wherein at least one of the plurality of users access a least one logical access network(s) of a plurality of logical access networks, and   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to control physical resources of a communication network,   wherein the communication network is assigned to the at least one logical access network(s),   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to allow access of the plurality of users to the at least one logical access network(s) during a first mode,   wherein a portion of the plurality of logical access networks comprise enabled logical access networks,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to adaptively reduce the enabled logical access networks during a second mode.   
     
     
         19 . A device comprising:
 a processor circuit and a memory,   wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor circuit,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to communicate with a plurality of users,   wherein at least one of the plurality of users access a least one logical access network(s), and   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to control access of at least one of the plurality of users to the at least one logical access network(s),   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to allow access of the plurality of users to the at least one logical access network(s) during a first mode,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to adaptively limit access of the plurality of users to at least one of the logical access network(s) during a second mode.   
     
     
         20 . A device comprising:
 a processor circuit and a memory,   wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor circuit,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to communicate with a plurality of users,   wherein at least one of the plurality of users access a least one logical access network(s), and   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to control access of at least one of the plurality of users to the at least one logical access network(s),   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to allow access of the plurality of users to the at least one logical access network(s) during a first mode,   wherein the processor circuit is arranged to   adaptively reduce a number of enabled logical access networks during a second mode.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1 ,wherein to adaptively limiting access comprises barring at least one user(s) from the at least one logical access network(s). 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1 ,wherein to adaptively limiting access comprises barring at least one logical access network(s) from being accessed. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein adaptively reducing the enabled logical access networks comprises allowing access only to a first of the enabled logical access networks or to a subset of the enabled logical access networks so as to increase the available physical resources for the single one or the subset of enabled logical access networks. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the physical resources comprises limiting or suspending at least one service(s) using the logical access network. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein controlling the physical resources comprises increasing a scheduling priority of at least one of the enabled logical access networks relative to at least one disabled logical access network. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein controlling the physical resources comprises decreasing the scheduling priority of at least one disabled logical access network(s) relative to the scheduling priority of the at least one of the enabled logical access networks. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the device is arranged to perform the control by signaling of a first communication protocol,   wherein the first communication protocol is used by the at least one logical access network(s).   
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to signal control information so as to limit access to a fourth one the plurality of users. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to signal control so as to at bar at least a fifth one of the at least one logical access network(s. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to signal control information so as to limit access to second service using the at least one logical access network(s). 
     
     
         31 . A method of operating a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of logical access networks, the method comprising:
 communicating with a plurality of users by a device;   accessing at least one of the plurality of logical access network(s);   controlling access of the plurality of users to at least one of the logical access network(s) during a first mode   allowing access of the plurality of users to the at least one of the logical access network(s) during a first mode, and   adaptively limiting access of the plurality of users to at least one of the logical access network(s) during a second mode.   
     
     
         32 . A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium, wherein the computer program when executed on a processor performs the method as claimed in  claim 31 . 
     
     
         33 . A method of operating a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of logical access networks, the method comprising:
 communicating with a plurality of users by a device;   accessing at least one of the plurality of logical access network(s);   controlling physical resources of the communication network, wherein the physical resources are assigned to the at lase one of the plurality of logical access networks;   allowing access of the plurality of users to the at least one of the logical access network(s) during a first mode; and   adaptively reducing a number of enabled logical access networks.   
     
     
         34 . A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium, wherein the computer program when executed on a processor performs the method as claimed in  claim 33 . 
     
     
         35 . A method of operating a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of logical access networks, the method comprising:
 communicating with a plurality of users by a device;   accessing at least one of the plurality of logical access network(s);   controlling access of the plurality of users to the at least one logical access network(s);   allowing access of the plurality of users to the at least one of the logical access network(s) during a first mode; and   adaptively reducing a number of enabled logical access networks.   
     
     
         36 . A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium, wherein the computer program when executed on a processor performs the method as claimed in  claim 35 .