GB2642234A

GB2642234A - Supporting extreme bit rate service

Info

Publication number: GB2642234A
Application number: GB2409246.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Van Phan Vinh; Yu Ling
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2024-06-27
Filing date: 2024-06-27
Publication date: 2026-01-07
Also published as: WO2026002485A1; GB202409246D0

Abstract

There is provided a first apparatus configured to perform receiving, while in idle or inactive state, from a serving network configured to support a target service, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the first apparatus 210, transmitting, based on the information on the readiness, to the serving network, a request for the target service 220, and establishing a connection with the network node 230. The information of the readiness may comprise an indication of a guaranteed bit rate GBR threshold, which can be interpreted such that a delay is expected for the target service, or a list of GBR thresholds or GBR ranges and corresponding time durations for expecting a response to a request for the target service. The invention is also defined from the viewpoint of the network node.

Description

[0001] SUPPORTING EXTREME BIT RATE SERVICE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Various example embodiments relate generally to supporting extreme bit rate service.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Services that require very high bandwidth may be referred to as extreme bit rate (EBR) services. User or user device using EBR service may be referred to as EBR user. Examples of EBR service include ultra reliable and low latency communications (URLLC), extended reality (XR), Metaverse, lmmersive ser-i") vices.

[0006] BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0007] According to some aspects, there is provided the subject matter of the independent claims. Some further aspects are defined in the dependent claims. The embodiments that do not fall under the scope of the claims are to be interpreted as

[0008] examples useful for understanding the disclosure.

[0009] According to an aspect, a method comprises: receiving, by a user equipment while in idle/inactive state, from a serving network configured to support a target service, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the user equipment; selecting, by the user equipment based on the information on the read-iness per cell or cell group, a cell to request for the target service; and establishing, by the user equipment a connection with a network node associated with the selected cell.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the selecting is further performed based on at least one condition for requesting the target service.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the serving network, the at least one condition for requesting the target service wherein the at least one condition is one or more of the following: - a minimum number of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one net-work slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; - a minimum total bandwidth of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; - radio conditions of the first apparatus towards cells and/or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum number of primary cells supporting the target service, wherein the primary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; or - a minimum number of secondary cells supporting the target service, wherein the secondary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: performing at least one measurement to determine whether the at least one condition is met According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, based on the performed at least one measurement, a measurement report to the network node associated with the selected cell.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the measurement report is indicative of a list of cells meeting the at least one condition.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the method comprises:receiving from the serving network, indication of supportper cell or carrier or per cell group or carrier group associated with the network node of the serving network to provide the tar-get service.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the information on the readiness per cell or cell group comprises at least one of: - indication of a cell being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; - indication of a cell not being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell being ready to act as a secondary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell being not ready to accept a new request for the target service; - indication of a guaranteed bit rate, GBR, threshold, wherein the UE is configured to interpret the GBR threshold such that a delay is expected for the target service with required GBR above the GBR threshold; or -indication of a list of GBR thresholds or GBR ranges and corresponding time du-rations for expecting a response to a request for the target service.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, to the network node associated with the selected cell, an indication that the first apparatus will request for the target service.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, to the network node associated with the selected cell, the request for the target service.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the request for the target service is a packet data unit, PDU, session establishment request.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the network node associated with the selected cell, a configuration of a timer for expecting a response to the request for the target service; and starting the timer based on transmitting the request for the target service.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the network node associated with the selected cell, a notification related to ongoing setup for the requested target service; and resetting, based on the notification, the timer.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the network node associated with the selected cell, a response to the request for the target service.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: determining that a response to the request for the target service has not been received before the timer expires; and transmitting a further request for the target service or release the connection.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the information on the readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service is received via broadcast signalling from the serving network.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the network node associated with the selected cell, assistance information for re-questing the target service, wherein the assistance information is indicative of at least one of: - bit rate information associated with the selected cell for the target service; - delay information associated with the selected cell for the target service; -mobility support information associated with the selected cell for the target ser-vice; and determining based on the assistance information, requirements to be requested for the target service.

[0025] According to an aspect there is provided a computer program compris-ing instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the method of the aspect above and any of the embodiments thereof. The apparatus may be a user equipment.

[0026] According to an aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the method of the aspect above and any of the embodiments thereof. The apparatus may be a user equipment According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for performing at least the method of the aspect above and any of the embodiments thereof. The apparatus may be a user equipment.

[0027] According to another aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving, by a user equipment while in connected state, from a serving network configured to support a target service, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the user equipment; and transmitting by the user equipment, based on the information on the readiness, to the serving network, a request for the target service.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the transmitting is further performed based on at least one condition for requesting the target service.

[0029] According to an embodiment the method comprises: receiving, from the serving network, the at least one condition for requesting the target service wherein the condition is one or more of the following: -a minimum number of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum total bandwidth of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; - radio conditions of the first apparatus towards cells and/or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum number of primary cells supporting the target service, wherein the primary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; or - a minimum number of secondary cells supporting the target service, wherein the secondary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: performing at least one measurement to determine whether the at least one condition is met.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, based on the performed at least one measurement, a measurement report to the serving network.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the measurement report is indicative of a list of cells meeting the at least one condition.

[0033] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the serving network, indication of support per cell or carrier or per cell group or carrier group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service.

[0034] According to an embodiment, the information on the readiness per cell or cell group comprises at least one of: -indication of a cell being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell not being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; - indication of a cell being ready to act as a secondary cell for the target service; - indication of a cell being not ready to accept a new request for the target service; -indication of a guaranteed bit rate, GBR, threshold, wherein the UE is configured to interpret the GBR threshold such that a delay is expected for the target service 20 with required GBR above the GBR threshold; or - indication of a list of GBR thresholds or GBR ranges and corresponding time durations for expecting a response to a request for the target service.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the request for the target service is a packet data unit, PDU, session establishment request.

[0036] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving a con-figuration of a timer for expecting a response to the request for the target service; and starting the timer based on transmitting the request for the target service. According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving a notification related to ongoing setup for the requested target service; and resetting, based on the notification, the timer.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the serving network, a response to the request for the target service.

[0038] According to an embodiment, the response is indicative of redirection instructions to connect to another cell.

[0039] According to an embodiment the method comprises: establishing a connection with the other cell according to the redirection instructions.

[0040] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: determining that a response to the request for the target service has not been received before the timer expires; and transmitting a further request for the target service or release the connection.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the information on the readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service is received via one of: broadcast signalling from the serving network; or dedicated signalling from the serving network.

[0042] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the serving network, assistance information for requesting the target service, wherein the assistance information is indicative of at least one of: -bit rate information associated with a current serving cell or a neighboring cell of the current serving cell for the target service; -delay information associated with a current serving cell or a neighboring cell of is the current serving cell for the target service; -mobility support information associated with a current serving cell or a neighboring cell of the current serving cell for the target service.

[0043] According to an aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to 20 perform at least the method of the aspect above and any of the embodiments thereof. The apparatus may be a user equipment.

[0044] According to an aspect, there is provided a (non-transitory) computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the method of the aspect above and any of 25 the embodiments thereof. The apparatus may be a user equipment.

[0045] According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for performing at least the method of the aspect above and any of the embodiments thereof. The apparatus may be a user equipment

[0046] LIST OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows an example of a communication network to which examples disclosed herein may be applied; Fig. 2 shows an example of a method; Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, signalling between entities; Fig. 4 shows, by way of example, signalling between entities; Fig. 5 shows, by way of example, signalling between entities; Fig. 6 shows an example of a method; Fig. 7 shows an example of a method; and Fig. 8 shows an example of an apparatus.

[0048] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0049] The following embodiments are exemplary. Although the specification may refer to "an", "one", or "some" embodiment(s) in several locations of the text, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is made to the same embodi-ment(s), or that a particular feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection of an embodiment, it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to apply such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embod-iments whether or not explicitly described. It shall be understood that although the terms "first," "second" and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

[0050] For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrases "at least one of A or B", "at least one of A and B", and "A and/or B" means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase "A, B, and/or C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C).

[0051] Embodiments described may be implemented in a communication network, such as any of the following radio access technologies (RATs): Worldwide lnteroperability for Micro-wave Access (WiMAX), Global System for Mobile com-munications (GSM, 2G), GSM EDGE radio access Network (GERAN), General Packet Radio Service (GAPS), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS, 3G) based on basic wideband-code division multiple access (W-CDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, and enhanced LTE (eLTE), 5G (also called NR), or any future RAT such as 6G. Moreover, commu-nication within the communication network may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIM0), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), and/or Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM).

[0052] As used herein, the term "network device" or "network node" refers to a node in a communication network via which user equipment may access the network and/or which is capable of controlling radio communication and managing radio resources within a cell. The network node or network device may be referred to as a base station (BS), an access point (AP) or an access node. The network device may be, depending on the applied technology, for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio head (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, or an aircraft network device.

[0053] Moreover, in connection of split radio access network (RAN), the net- device may refer to a centralised unit (CU) of a base station and/or a distrib- uted unit (DU) of a base station. An interface between CU and DU may be referred to as an Fl interface in NR. In the split RAN architecture, node operations may be carried out, at least partly, in the central/centralized unit, CU, (e.g. server, host or node) operationally coupled to the DU, (e.g. a radio head/node). One CU may con-trol one or more DUs, acting at least as transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) nodes. In some embodiments, the DUs may comprise e.g. a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the CU may comprise the layers above RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC) and an internet protocol (IP) layers. Other functional splits are possible too. In practice, any processing task may be performed in either the CU or the DU and the boundary where the responsibility is shifted between the CU and the DU may depend on the applied implementation.

[0054] The term "terminal device" refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example, a terminal device may be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), or a Mobile Station (MS). The terminal device may include a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VolP) phones, wireless local loop phones a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, USB dongles, an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and/or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and/or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device op-erating on commercial and/or industrial wireless networks, and the like.

[0055] A term "resource", as used herein, may refer to radio resources in time domain, in frequency domain, in space domain, and/or in code domain. Some examples of resources include e.g. a physical resource block (PRB), a radio frame, a subframe, a time slot, a subband, a frequency region, a sub-carrier, a beam, etc. The term "transmission" and/or "reception" may refer to wirelessly transmitting and/or receiving via a wireless propagation channel on radio resources.

[0056] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a communication network to which examples disclosed herein may be applied. The communication network or a cellular communication network may comprise a network node 110 providing one or more cells, such as cell 100, and a network node 112 providing one or more other cells, such as cell 102. Each cell may be, e.g., a macro cell, a micro cell, femto, or a pico cell, for example. The cell may define a coverage area or a service area of the corresponding access node.

[0057] The network node 110 may provide a user equipment (UE) 120 (one or more UEs) with wireless access to the communication network. The wireless access may comprise downlink (DL) communication from the network node to the UE 120 and uplink (UL) communication from the UE 120 to the network node. Examples of uplink channels comprise physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for transmitting control information and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for transmitting data towards the network. Examples of downlink channels comprise physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for transmitting control information and physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for transmitting data towards the user equipment There may be a plurality of UEs 120, 122 in the system. Each of them may be served by the same or by different network nodes 110, 112. UE may be configured with dual connectivity (DC), wherein the UE, e.g. UE 120, may be connected to multiple network nodes 110, 112. The UEs 120, 122 may communicate with each other, in case device-to-device (D2D) communication interface is established between them via a so-called sidelink (SL). Such D2D communications may be referred to as machine-to-machine, peer-to-peer (P2P) communications, or ve-hicle-to-vehicle (V2V), for example.

[0058] In the case of multiple network nodes in the communication network, the network nodes may be connected to each other via an interface. LTE specifications call such an interface as X2 interface. An interface between an LTE node and a 5G node, or between two SG nodes may be called Xn interface.

[0059] The network nodes 110 and 112 may be further connected via another interface to a core network 116 of the communication network. The LTE specifications specify the core network as an evolved packet core (EPC), and the core network may comprise e.g. a mobility management entity (MME) and a gateway node. The MME may handle mobility of terminal devices in a tracking area encompassing a plurality of cells and handle signalling connections between the terminal devices and the core network. The gateway node may handle data routing in the core network and to/from the terminal devices. The SG specifications specify the core network as a SG core (5GC). The 5G core may comprise e.g. an access and mobility management function (AMF) and a user plane function/gateway (UPF) and other functions. The AMF may handle termination of non-access stratum (NAS) signal-ling, NAS ciphering & integrity protection, registration management, connection management, mobility management, access authentication and authorization, security context management. The UPF node may support packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection and quality of service (QoS) handling for example.

[0060] Services that require very high bandwidth may be referred to as ex-treme bit rate (EBR) services. User or user device using EBR service may be referred to as EBR user. Examples of EBR service include ultra reliable and low latency communications (URLLC), extended reality (XR), Metaverse, lmmersive services.

[0061] 5G system (5GS) has been enhanced to support XR applications with high data rate (under 100 Mbps) with features given in TS 23.501 18.4.0 clause 5.37.1.

[0062] In 6GS, it may be expected that the DL and UL user experience data rate for EBR services is in 100 Mbps -1 Gbps, for very high data rate category, and 30 above 1 Gbps for ultra high data rate category. Some use cases may need even tens or hundreds of Gbps connection.

[0063] EBR services have requirements related to quality of service (QoS) and/or quality of experience (QoE). As used herein, QoS/QoE support refers to requirements of the target service, e.g. EBR service.

[0064] Guaranteed bit rate (GBR) is a quality of service (QoS) parameter that guarantees a minimum data transfer rate for a service, such as for EBR services described above.

[0065] For practical support of extreme bandwidth demanding or EBR users, there may be a need for a serving networkto prepare its resources in order to serve a UE or group of cooperative UE devices of an EBR user. The preparation here re-fers to at least making sufficient resources available, including radio resources for UL and/or DL transmissions.

[0066] The preparation is related to service availability and service access delay for EBR users. The service availability refers to whether and to what extent a cell may support a specified service or service access category.

[0067] The service access delay refers to the time duration between the time instance the service request is sent from the UE to the network and the time instance the service response is received by the UE from the network to start the service.

[0068] It may be considered a waste of resources to have exclusive resources reserved or made available for support of EBR users in advance per a selectable serving cell. This is because not only exclusive radio resources may need to be reserved but also exclusive infrastructures (e.g. RAN nodes) may need to be deployed, as it may take all the resources of one or more carriers or cells or RAN nodes to be ready to serve an EBR user.

[0069] It is expected that a cell or a RAN node may serve lower bandwidth de-manding or lower bit rate (LBR) users including legacy ones, at least when there is no active EBR user. It is noted that a single EBR user may consume the same amount of resources that are needed to serve, e.g., tens or hundreds of LBR users. Thus, upon admitting an EBR user, the cell or RAN node may need to hand over or release a number of its ongoing active LBR users to make room for the EBR user.

[0070] This may take considerable time and therefore cause notable delay for service access to the EBR user. From QoS/QoE perspective, it is desirable to minimize service interruption for the LBR users while providing the EBR user with the requested service as soon as possible and meeting user demands and/or service require-ments of the EBR user as much as possible.

[0071] Thus, to leverage the above issues, enhancements related to service availability and service access delay for EBR users may be needed. In particular, as requirements for EBR services such as GBR may be variable and adaptable within a considerably large range, the service availability for EBR services may need to be more flexible and adaptable compared to that for legacy GBR services. The service access delay for EBR services may also need to be more flexible and adaptable, depending on time needed for providing service continuity for the number of other impacted UEs as well as setting up suitable multi-connectivity or carrier aggregation arrangement for providing EBR services to the UE.

[0072] Furthermore, the UE may need to be facilitated to (re)select best suita-ble primary serving cell for requesting a RRC connection in order to request for EBR service with highest expected success probability and lowest expected service access delay. From QoE as well as signaling overhead perspectives, having the UE postpone its service request may be preferable to allowing the UE to request the service anyways even unsuccessful operation or failure of accepting the request may likely be expected. It is noted that EBR users may likely be associated with particular network slice(s) dedicated for serving ESA users. Therefore, the preparation for serving EBR users discussed above may be associated with or applied to the network slice serving EBR users.

[0073] There is provided a method for supporting EBR services. When a net-work has a full quality support for requirements of the target service, the network may be considered to have, for example, the GBR required by the target service. Even though the serving network, e.g. 6G network, fully supports EBR services, there may be situations wherein the network may be momentarily not ready or not able to provide EBR services, e.g. not able to provide EBR services with full support zo in terms of bandwidth or bit rate demands, for example.

[0074] Fig. 2 shows an example of a method 200. The method may be computer-implemented. The method may be performed by a UE while in idle state or inactive state. The method 200 comprises receiving 210, by a user equipment while in idle/inactive state, from a serving network configured to support a target ser-vice, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the user equipment. The method 200 comprises selecting 220, by the user equipment, based on the information on the readiness per cell or cell group, a cell to request for the target service. The method 200 comprises establishing 230, by the user equipment, a con-nection with a network node associated with the selected cell.

[0075] The method as disclosed herein enables the network to indicate to the UE, using the readiness information, the actual readiness of the network to provide the target service. The UE may perform the cell (re)selection based on the readiness information. In addition, some EBR condition(s) may need to be fulfilled so that the UE eventually decides to request for the target service from the network.

[0076] Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, signalling between entities. The UE 310 may be in idle/inactive state (RRC IDLE or RRC INACTIVE). A network node 320 is associated with a serving network, e.g. 6G network. Core network 330 is associated with the serving network. The serving network is configured to support a target service, e.g. EBR service. The UE may be referred to as a first apparatus. The net-work node may be referred to as a second apparatus.

[0077] The UE may receive 342 information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the UE. The readiness information may be given per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network. The readiness information may be referred to as EBR readiness information or EBR service readiness infor-mation.

[0078] For example, the readiness information may be received via broadcast signalling from the serving network. For example, the readiness information may be received via a system information block, SIB, from the serving network, e.g. from 15 the network node 320.

[0079] While the serving network may provide, e.g. via individual serving cell or cell group, support for EBR services, and the UE is authorized to request for EBR services via the serving cell, the serving network may not be immediately ready to provide the EBR service. For example, it may take time to prepare and allocate suf- ficient resources for setting up and running the service. The preparation may com-prise, for example, reconfiguration, handover, or redirection procedures for a number of other active UEs, also referred to as impacted UEs, to make sufficient room for providing the EBR service to the UE 310.

[0080] For example, the information on the readiness per cell or cell group comprises at least one of: -indication of a cell being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell not being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; The UE may determine based on this indication that the cell cannot be se-lected as a primary cell but can be a candidate secondary cell for a possible resource aggregation for providing EBR services. This may be applied in case the cell is loaded with a large number of non-EBR users, for example.

[0081] -indication of a cell being ready to act as a secondary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell being not ready to accept a new request for the tar-get service; The UE may determine based on this indication that the cell is busy serving EBR users and cannot accept new users from certain services or service categories or access classes including EBR and/or cannot be (re)selected as either primary or secondary cell for a new EBR user. The service category or access class may be implicitly or explicitly specified and indicated along with the readiness in-s formation.

[0082] - indication of a guaranteed bit rate, GBR, threshold, wherein the UE is configured to interpret the GBR threshold such that a delay is expected for the target service with required GBR above the GBR threshold; or - indication of a list of GBR thresholds or GBR ranges and corresponding time durations for expecting a response for a request for the target service. Time duration may be measured by a timer starting when the request for the target service is sent to the serving network. The list may comprise pairs of GBR thresholds/ranges and time durations. Based on the GBR required by the EBR service, the UE may determine the time duration for expecting the response to the request The readiness information may be used by the UE 310 for selecting or reselecting a cell to request for the target service. The UE 310 may select a suitable, e.g. the most suitable or the best, primary cell to request for the EBR service of interest. The UE 310 may select 344 or reselect, based on the information on the readiness per cell or cell group, a cell to request for the target service.

[0083] For example, the readiness information may be exposed to the applica-tion layer to make the end-user (e.g. EBR user] aware of what may be expected in advance. This may also influence the end-user's setting or selection of QoS/QoE related attributes for corresponding EBR application.

[0084] The UE 310 may establish 346 a connection with a network node asso-ciated with the selected cell. In the example of Fig. 3, the network node 320 is the network node associated with the selected cell. The connection establishment may follow the RRC connection establishment procedure.

[0085] The UE may transmit, to the network node associated with the selected cell, an indication that the UE will request for the target service. This indication may be transmitted, for example, along with the connection establishment 346.

[0086] This indication may be included in the connection establishment request as a cause of the connection establishment request Based on this indication, the network node may start resource preparations or aggregation proactively that may help to reassure and fasten the actual resource setup later.

[0087] Referring back to the selection 344 of the cell, the selection may further (in addition to readiness information) be performed based on at least one condition for requesting the target service. For example, the condition may be related to resource preparation or aggregation needed for the UE to request for certain EBR services or service categories or access classes.

[0088] The at least one condition, e.g. EBR condition, may be one or more of the following: - a minimum number of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of; - a minimum total bandwidth of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of; -radio conditions (e.g. Downlink Reference Signal Received Power (DLRSRP) above a threshold) of the apparatus towards cells and/or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network Ls or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum number of primary cells supporting the target service, wherein the primary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of; or -a minimum number of secondary cells supporting the target service, 20 wherein the secondary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of Referring to the example conditions, a mix of cells and carriers supporting EBR services and cells and carriers not supporting EBR services but associated services (such as LBR XR or URLLC) may be considered for possible aggregation to serve EBR services. For example, the aggregation may be carried out using, e.g., MIMO, carrier aggregation or multi-RAT multi-connectivity. The EBR conditions may be specified and indicated per corresponding GBR for EBR services.

[0089] The primary cell is a cell operating in a primary frequency or carrier or carrier component that can be selected by the UE to perform connection establish- ment or reestablishment procedure to connect to the serving network and to re-quest for target service.

[0090] The secondary cell is a cell operating in a secondary frequency or carrier or carrier component that can be used together with a primary cell in some carrier aggregation fashion to provide connectivity and resources to serve the UE.

[0091] In SG dual connectivity, there are 4 types of cells: PCell: Primary Cell SCell: Secondary Cell PSCell: Primary and Secondary Cells SpCell: Special Cell, SpCell = PCell + PSCell In SG dual connectivity, a Master Cell Group (MCG) is a group of serving cells associated with the Master RAN Node, comprising of the PCell and optionally one or more SCells. A Secondary Coll Group (SCG) is a group of serving cells associated with the Secondary RAN Node, comprising of the PSCell and optionally one or more SCells.

[0092] The UE 310 may receive the at least one condition from the serving net- work. For example, the at least one condition may be received via broadcast signal-ling from the serving network. For example, the at least one condition may be received via SIB, e.g. the same SIB as the readiness information is received in.

[0093] The UE 310 may perform at least one measurement to determine whether the at least one condition is met The measurements may comprise, for example, neighbouring cell measurements for at least one of cell reselection, hand-over, or multi-connectivity. The UE may need to discover all relevant local cells and perform measurements on the cells. The UE may receive, from the network, a list of neighbouring cells in advance, e.g. along with the at least one condition.

[0094] The UE 310 may transmit 348, based on the performed at least one 20 measurement, a measurement report to the network node associated with the selected cell.

[0095] In some examples, the measurement report may be transmitted along with the RRC connection establishment request.

[0096] The measurement report may be considered as a UE assistance infor-mation associated with the request for the target service. The measurement report may, in some examples, be considered as an indication that the UE is requesting or will request for the target service. For example, the measurement report may be a request for the target service.

[0097] The network node may use the measurement report for configuration of aggregation across multiple carriers/cells using different techniques such as car-rier aggregation or multi-connectivity. The network may determine and set up suitable aggregation for the UE based on measurement report from the UE.

[0098] The measurements and reporting may be performed before the UE requests for the target service.

[0099] For example, the measurement report may be indicative of whether and how or to what extent the at least one condition is met. For example, the measurement report may be indicative of a list of cells meeting the at least one condition. A list of cells may comprise one or more cells.

[0100] The UE may receive 350 assistance information, e.g. EBR assistance information, for requesting the target service. The assistance information may be in-dicative of at least one of: -bit rate information associated with the selected cell for the target service; -delay information associated with the selected cell for the target service; -mobility support information associated with the selected cell for the target service.

[0101] For example, the UE 310 may use the assistance information in determining requirements to be requested for the target service. For example, the UE may use the assistance information in deciding which set of the QoS requirements should be requested for the target service.

[0102] The UE 310 may transmit 352 the request for the target service. The request may be transmitted to the CN 330 via the network node 320 associated with the selected cell. Transmission of the request may be based on the at least one condition being met. When the transmission of the request is based on the at least one condition being met, the service request may be considered to be postponed to a suitable time for requesting the service. Transmission of the request may be based on the readiness information.

[0103] For example, the request may be a packet data unit, PDU, session establishment request.

[0104] The UE may receive a configuration of a timer for expecting a response to the request for the target service. The configuration may be received from the network node 320 or from the CN 330 via the network node 320.

[0105] The UE 310 may start 354 a timer based on transmitting the request for the target service. For example, the transmission of the request may trigger the start of the timer.

[0106] The CN 330 may prepare 356 resources for the EBR service. The CN may transmit a PDU session establishment accept to the UE 310, e.g. via steps 358 and 366.

[0107] The CN 330 may transmit 358 a response to request for the EBR service 35 to the network node 320. The response may be a PDU session resource setup request.

[0108] The network node 320 may prepare 360 resources for the EBR service.

[0109] For example, the UE 310 may receive 362 a notification related to ongoing setup for the requested target service. The notification may be or comprise, for example, explicit instruction to reset the timer, request for UE assistance infor-mation, or a request for measurement report.

[0110] Based on the notification, the UE 310 may reset or restart 364 the timer. Steps 362 and 364 may be repeated, in case the preparations take longer, for example.

[0111] The UE 310 may receive 366, from the network node 320, a response to the request for the target service. The response may be or comprise, for example, a PDU session establishment accept and/or a RRC reconfiguration. The reconfiguration may comprise a configuration of data radio bearer (DRB) setup and resource allocation for EBR services, for example.

[0112] It may happen that the timer expires before any response has been re- ceived to the request for the target service. The UE 310 may determine that a re-sponse to the request for the target service has not been received before the timer expires. Based on the determining the UE may transmit a further request for the target service or release the connection.

[0113] The network node 320 may transmit 368 PDU session resource setup response to the CN 330.

[0114] The timer may be stopped 370 responsive to the receiving the response (e.g. RRC reconfiguration 366) to the request for the target service.

[0115] Fig. 4 shows, by way of example, signalling between entities. The UE 310 may be in connected state (RRC CONNECTED). A network node 320 is associated with a serving network, e.g. 6G network. Core network 330 is associated with the serving network. The serving network is configured to support a target service, e.g. EBR service. The UE may be referred to as a first apparatus. The network node may be referred to as a second apparatus.

[0116] The UE may receive 442 information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the UE. The readiness information may be given per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network. The readiness information may be referred to as EBR readiness information or EBR service readiness information.

[0117] For example, the readiness information may be received via broadcast signalling from the serving network. For example, the readiness information may be received via a system information block, SIB, from the serving network, e.g. from the network node 320. As another example, the readiness information may be received via dedicated signalling from the serving network.

[0118] In some examples, the UE receives readiness information associated with the current serving cell or cell group associated with the current serving RAN node and readiness information associated with the neighbouring cells or cell groups associated with neighbouring RAN nodes. When in connected state, the UE may be configured by the serving RAN node with information specific to the UE. For example, readiness information per cell or cell group may be more detailed and/or extensive when transmitted to the UE via dedicated signalling than when transmitted via broadcasting. In some examples, the UE may perform measurements for the EBR conditions only on the cells indicated in the readiness information, i.e. the cells for which readiness information has been received.

[0119] While the serving network may provide, e.g. via individual serving cell or cell group, support for EBR services, and the UE is authorized to request for EBR services via the serving cell, the serving network may not be immediately ready to provide the EBR service. For example, it may take time to prepare and allocate sufficient resources for setting up and running the service. The preparation may comprise, for example, reconfiguration, handover, or redirection procedures for a num-ber of other active UEs to make sufficient room for providing the EBR service to the UE 310.

[0120] For example, the information on the readiness per cell or cell group comprises at least one of: -indication of a cell being ready to act as a primary cell for the target 25 service; -indication of a cell not being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; The UE may determine based on this indication that the cell cannot be selected as a primary cell but can be a candidate secondary cell for a possible resource aggregation for providing EBR services. This may be applied in case the cell is loaded with a large number of non-EBR users, for example.

[0121] -indication of a cell being ready to act as a secondary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell being not ready to accept a new request for the target service; The UE may determine based on this indication that the cell is busy serving EBR users and cannot accept new users from certain services or service categories or access classes including EBR and/or cannot be (re)selected as either primary or secondary cell for a new EBR user. The service category or access class may be implicitly or explicitly specified and indicated along with the readiness information.

[0122] -indication of a guaranteed bit rate, GBR, threshold, wherein the UE is configured to interpret the GBR threshold such that a delay is expected for the tar-get service with required GBR above the GBR threshold; or -indication of a list of GBR thresholds or GBR ranges and corresponding time durations for expecting a response for a request for the target service. Time duration may be measured by a timer starting when the request for the target ser10 vice is sent to the serving network. The list may comprise pairs of GBR thresholds/ranges and time durations. Based on the GBR required by the EBR service, the UE may determine the time duration for expecting the response to the request. The readiness information may be used by the UE 310 for determining 444 whether to request for EBR service from the serving network. The UE 310 may determine 444, based on the information on the readiness per cell or cell group, to request for the target service from the serving network.

[0123] For example, the readiness information may be exposed to the application layer to make the end-user (e.g. EBR user] aware of what may be expected in advance. This may also influence the end-user's setting or selection of QoS/QoE re-lated attributes for corresponding EBR application.

[0124] The UE 310 may transmit 452, based on the readiness information, to the serving network, a request for the target service. For example, the request may be transmitted to the CN 330 via the network node 320. For example, the request may be a packet data unit, PDU, session establishment request.

[0125] In some examples, the UE may indicate along the request 452 for the target service one or more other cells than the serving cell that can serve the request.

[0126] Transmission of the request may be further based on at least one condition being met. Transmission of the request may further (in addition to readiness information) be performed based on atleast one condition for requesting the target service. For example, the condition may be related to resource preparation or aggregation needed for the UE to request for certain EBR services or service categories or access classes.

[0127] The at least one condition may be one or more of the following: -a minimum number of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum total bandwidth of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of; -radio conditions (e.g. DL-RSRP > a threshold) of the apparatus towards cells and/or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum number of primary cells supporting the target service, wherein the primary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of; or -a minimum number of secondary cells supporting the target service, wherein the secondary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the apparatus is under coverage of Ls Referring to the example conditions, a mix of cells and carriers support-ing EBR services and cells and carriers not supporting EBR services but associated services (such as LBR XR or URLLC) may be considered for possible aggregation to serve EBR services. For example, the aggregation may be carried out using, e.g., MIMO, carrier aggregation or multi-RAT multi-connectivity. The EBR conditions may be specified and indicated per corresponding GBR for EBR services.

[0128] The UE 310 may receive the at least one condition from the serving network. For example, the at least one condition may be received via broadcast signalling from the serving network. For example, the at least one condition may be received via SIB, e.g. the same SIB as the readiness information is received in. As an-other example, the at least one condition may be received via dedicated signalling.

[0129] In some examples, the UE receives the at least one condition (EBR condition) associated with the current serving cell or cell group associated with the current serving RAN node and the at least one condition associated with the neighbouring cells or cell groups associated with neighbouring RAN nodes.

[0130] The UE 310 may perform at least one measurement to determine whether the at least one condition is met. The measurements may comprise, for example, neighbouring cell measurements for at least one of cell reselection, hand-over, or multi-connectivity. The UE may need to discover all relevant local cells and perform measurements on the cells. The UE may receive, from the network, a list of neighbouring cells in advance, e.g. along with the at least one condition. For ex-ample, the measurements may be limited to the current serving cell or cell group and configured neighbouring cells or neighbouring cell groups.

[0131] The UE 310 may transmit 448, based on the performed at least one measurement, a measurement report to the serving network.

[0132] The measurement report may be considered as a UE assistance infor-mation associated with the request for the target service. The measurement report may, in some examples, be considered as an indication that the UE is requesting for the target service. For example, the measurement report may be a request for the target service.

[0133] The network node may use the measurement report for configuration of aggregation across multiple carriers/cells using different techniques such as car-rier aggregation or multi-connectivity. The network may determine and set up suitable aggregation for the UE based on measurement report from the UE.

[0134] The measurements and reporting may be performed before the UE requests for the target service.

[0135] For example, the measurement report may be indicative of whether and how or to what extent the at least one condition is met. For example, the measurement report may be indicative of a list of cells meeting the at least one condition. A list of cells may comprise one or more cells.

[0136] The UE may receive 450 assistance information, e.g. EBR assistance in- formation, for requesting the target service. The assistance information may be in-dicative of at least one of: -bit rate information associated with a current serving cell or a neighbouring cell of the current serving cell for the target service; -delay information associated with a current serving cell or a neigh-bouring cell of the current serving cell for the target service; -mobility support information associated with a current serving cell or a neighbouring cell of the current serving cell for the target service.

[0137] For example, the UE 310 may use the assistance information in determining requirements to be requested for the target service. For example, the UE may use the assistance information in deciding which set of the QoS requirements should be requested for the target service.

[0138] In case the serving cell is not able to serve the UE for the target service, the network node 320 may determine that a redirection to a neighboring cell may be needed. The current serving network node 320 may transmit 451 a notification to the CN 330 that the UE is to be redirected or handed over to another cell. This scenario is described in the context of Fig. 5.

[0139] In the example of Fig. 4, the serving cell is able to serve the UE for the target service.

[0140] The UE 310 may transmit 452 the request for the target service. The request may be transmitted to the CN 330 via the network node 320 associated with the selected cell. Transmission of the request may be based on the at least one condition being met. Transmission of the request may be based on the readiness information.

[0141] For example, the request may be a packet data unit, PDU, session establishment request.

[0142] The UE may receive a configuration of a timer for expecting a response to the request for the target service. The configuration may be received from the network node 320 or from the CN 330 via the network node 320.

[0143] The UE 310 may start 454 a timer based on transmitting the request for the target service. For example, the transmission of the request may trigger the start of the timer.

[0144] The CN 330 may prepare 456 resources for the EBR service. The CN may transmit a PDU session establishment accept to the UE 310, e.g. via steps 458 and 466.

[0145] The CN 330 may transmit 458 a response to request for the EBR service to the network node 320. The response may be a PDU session resource setup re-quest.

[0146] The network node 320 may prepare 460 resources for the EBR service. For example, the UE 310 may receive 462 a notification related to ongoing setup for the requested target service. The notification may be or comprise, for example, explicit instruction to reset the timer, request for UE assistance infor-mation, or a request for measurement report.

[0147] Based on the notification, the UE 310 may reset or restart 464 the timer. Steps 462 and 464 may be repeated, in case the preparations take longer, for example.

[0148] The UE 310 may receive 466, from the network node 320, a response to the request for the target service. The response may be or comprise, for example, a PDU session establishment accept and/or a RRC reconfiguration. The reconfiguration may comprise a configuration of data radio bearer (DRB) setup and resource allocation for EBR services, for example.

[0149] It may happen that the timer expires before any response has been re-ceived to the request for the target service. The UE 310 may determine that a response to the request for the target service has not been received before the timer expires. Based on the determining, the UE may transmit a further request for the target service or release the connection.

[0150] The network node 320 may transmit 468 PDU session resource setup response to the CN 330.

[0151] The timer may be stopped 470 responsive to the receiving the response (e.g. RRC reconfiguration 466) to the request for the target service.

[0152] Fig. 5 shows, by way of example, signalling between entities. The UE may be referred to as a first apparatus. The network node may be referred to as a second apparatus. In case the serving cell is not able to serve the UE for the target service, the network node 320 may determine that a redirection to a neighboring cell may be needed. The current serving network node 320 may transmit 451 a notification to the CN 330 that the UE is to be redirected or handed over to another cell.

[0153] The network node 320 may transmit 451 a list of target cell candidates for the redirection or handover. The network node 320 may determine the target cells based on the measurement report received from the UE, for example. The redirection may be tried with more than one target cell and this may be left up to the CN 330.

[0154] Let us consider that the measurement report 448 is considered by the network as a request for the target service.

[0155] The UE 310 may receive 510 a response for the request for the target service. The response may be indicative of redirection instructions to connect to another cell.

[0156] The redirection instructions may be, for example, handover configura-tion to a target cell that is more ready to serve the UE with the target service than the current serving cell.

[0157] The UE performs a handover to a target cell. For example, the UE establishes a connection with the other cell according to the redirection instructions.

[0158] After a successful handover to the target cell, the UE may transmit 512 a request for the target service to the target cell.

[0159] In some examples, the UE receives 450, as part of the EBR assistance information, instructions to transmit a request for the target service to a target cell after a handover to the target cell is performed. The request for the target service may be a request for a PDU session.

[0160] In some examples, the current serving network node may indicate to the network node of the target cell in a handover request that the HE is to request for the target service after the handover.

[0161] As described in the context of Fig.3 and Fig. 4, the timer may be started upon transmitting 512 the request for the target service to the target cell. Steps of 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468, 470 may apply similarly in the scenario wherein the UE requests for the target service from the target cell.

[0162] Fig. 6 shows an example of a method 600. The method may be computer-implemented. The method may be performed by a UE while in connected state. The method 600 comprises receiving, by a user equipment while in con- nected state, from a serving network configured to support a target service, infor-mation on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the user equipment. The method 600 comprises transmitting, by the user equipment, based on the information on the readiness, to the serving network, a request for the target service.

[0163] The method as disclosed herein enables the network to indicate to the UE, using the readiness information, the actual readiness of the network to provide the target service. The HE may determine, based on the readiness information, to transmit the request for the target service. In addition, some EBR condition(s) may need to be fulfilled so that the HE eventually decides to request for the target ser-a) vice from the network.

[0164] Fig. 7 shows an example of a method. The method may be computer-implemented. The method may be performed by a network node. The method 700 comprises transmitting 710, by a network node of a serving network configured to support a target service, to a user equipment, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with the network node to provide the target service for the user equipment.

[0165] The network node may determine its readiness based on awareness of capabilities and capacities of its own cells (cells the network node is configured to provide or operate) and neighbouring cells associated with neighbouring network nodes for support of the target service. The capabilities and capacities may com- prise, for example, carrier and bandwidth information, carrier aggregation capabilities, overall cell load status, number of ongoing EBR and non-EBR users, etc. This may take into consideration that some of the ongoing EBR or non-EBR users may be offloaded or handed over to other network nodes to make room for a new re-for the target service.

[0166] According to an embodiment, the information on the readiness per cell or cell group comprises at least one of: -indication of a cell being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; - indication of a cell not being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; - indication of a cell being ready to act as a secondary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell being not ready to accept a new request for the target service; -indication of a guaranteed bit rate, GBR, threshold, wherein the UE is configured to interpret the GBR threshold such that a delay is expected for the target service with required GBR above the GBR threshold; or -indication of a list of GBR thresholds or GBR ranges and corresponding time durations for expecting a response to a request for the target service According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, to the user equipment, at least one condition for requesting the target service, wherein the at least one condition is one or more of the following: - a minimum number of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one net-20 work slice which the user equipment is under coverage of; -a minimum total bandwidth of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the user equipment is under coverage of; -radio conditions of the first apparatus towards cells and/or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the user equipment is under coverage of; -a minimum number of primary cells supporting the target service, wherein the primary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice 30 which the user equipment is under coverage of; or -a minimum number of secondary cells supporting the target service, wherein the secondary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the user equipment is under coverage of.

[0167] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the user equipment a measurement report indicative of a list of cells meeting the at least one condition.

[0168] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, to the user equipment, indication of support per cell or carrier or per cell group or carrier group associated with the network node of the serving network to provide the target service.

[0169] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, from the user equipment, an indication that the user equipment will request for the target service.

[0170] According to an embodiment, the method comprises receiving, from the user equipment, a request for the target service.

[0171] According to an embodiment the request for the target service is a packet data unit, PDU, session establishment request.

[0172] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, to the user equipment, a configuration of a timer for expecting a response to the request for the target service.

[0173] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, to the user equipment a notification related to ongoing setup for the requested target service.

[0174] According to an embodiment, the information on the readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service is transmitted to the user equipment via one of: broadcast signalling or dedicated signalling.

[0175] According to an embodiment, the method comprises: transmitting, to the user equipment assistance information for requesting the target service. According to an aspect there is provided a computer program compris-ing instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the method of the Fig. 7 and any of the embodiments thereof The apparatus may be a network node.

[0176] According to an aspect there is provided a (non-transitory) computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by an apparatus, 30 cause the apparatus to perform at least the method of the aspect above and any of the embodiments thereof The apparatus may be a network node.

[0177] According to an aspect there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for performing at least the method of the aspect above and any of the embodiments thereof. The apparatus may be a network node.

[0178] The methods as disclosed herein provide simple and effective method for facilitating UE requesting for EBR services. The methods as disclosed herein enable the network and the UE to adapt to flexible expected service availability and service access delay for providing EBR services.

[0179] Fig. 8 shows, by way of example, a block diagram of an apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 comprises, for example, at least one processor 12 and at least one memory 14 storing instructions 15 that, when executed by the at least one proces-sor, cause the apparatus 10 at least to perform the method or methods as disclosed herein, and any of the embodiments thereof. In an example, the at least one memory and the instructions (e.g. a computer program code, software), are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus 10 to perform the method or methods as disclosed herein, and any of the embodiments thereof.

[0180] A processor 12 may comprise circuitry, or be constituted as circuitry or circuitries, the circuitry or circuitries being configured to perform phases of methods in accordance with example embodiments described herein. As used in this application, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as, as applicable: (i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a user equipment, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this ap-plication, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0181] The memory 14 may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology. The memory may comprise a database for storing data. The memory 14 may be at least in part external to apparatus 10 but accessible to apparatus 10.

[0182] The instructions 15 may be comprised in a computer readable medium or a non-transitory computer readable medium. A term non-transitory, as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g. random access memory, RAM, vs. read only memory, ROM).

[0183] For example, the apparatus 10 is a terminal device, such as the UE 310 of Fig. 3, Fig. 4 or Fig. 5. As another example, the apparatus is comprised in such a terminal device, e.g. as a chipset configured to control the terminal device. The ap-paratus 10 may be caused or configured to perform at least the method of Fig. 2 and/or Fig. 6 and/or any one or more of the embodiments described.

[0184] As another example, the apparatus 10 is a network node, e.g. the network node 320 of Fig. 3, Fig. 4 or Fig. 5. In another embodiment, the apparatus is comprised in such a network node, e.g. as a chipset configured to control the net-work node. The apparatus 10 may be caused or configured to perform at least the method of Fig. 7 and/or any one or more of the embodiments described.

[0185] The apparatus may comprise one or more entities of any of protocol layers, such as a MAC entity, an RRC entity, an RLC entity, a PDCP entity or a PHY en-tity. In some embodiments, the entity is configured to perform at least the method of Fig. 2 or Fig. 6, and/or any one or more of the embodiments described.

[0186] The apparatus 10 comprises a radio interface 16. The radio interface 16 may provide the apparatus 10 with communication capabilities. The radio interface 16 may comprise a receiver configured to receive information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The radio interface 16 may com- prise a transmitter configured to transmit information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The receiver may comprise more than one receiver. The transmitter may comprise more than one transmitter. The radio interface 16 may comprise a transceiver configured to receive and transmit infor- mation in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The trans-ceiver may comprise more than one transceiver.

[0187] The apparatus 10 may comprise a user interface 18 comprising, for example, at least one of a keypad, a microphone, a touch display, a display, a speaker, etc. The user interface 18 may be used to control the apparatus by the user. The user interface 18 may be external to the apparatus 10. For example, the apparatus 10 may be connected to another device, such as a computer, either via wireless or wired connection, and the apparatus 10 is controlled by the user via the computer.

[0188] In an embodiment, at least some of the processes described herein may be carried out by an apparatus comprising means for carrying out at least some of the described processes. Means for performing method steps as disclosed herein may include software and/or hardware components of the apparatus 10. For example, the at least one processor 12, the memory 14, and the computer program code form means for carrying out the method or methods as disclosed herein, and any of the embodiments thereof As used herein the term "means" is to be construed in singular form, i.e. referring to a single element, or in plural form, i.e. re-vs ferring to a combination of single elements. Therefore, terminology "means for [performing A, B, C]", is to be interpreted to cover an apparatus in which there is only one means for performing A, B and C, or where there are separate means for performing A, B and C, or partially or fully overlapping means for performing A, B, C. Further, terminology "means for performing A, means for performing B, means for performing C" is to be interpreted to cover an apparatus in which there is only one means for performing A, B and C, or where there are separate means for performing A, B and C, or partially or fully overlapping means for performing A, B, C. Some numbered examples: Example 1. A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to perform: receiving while in connected state, from a serving network configured to support a target service, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the first ap-paratus; transmitting based on the information on the readiness, to the serving network, a request for the target service.

[0189] Example 2. The first apparatus of example 1, wherein the transmitting is further performed based on at least one condition for requesting the target service. Example 3. The first apparatus of example 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving from the serving network, the at least one condition for requesting the target service wherein the condition is one or more of the following: -a minimum number of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one net-work slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum total bandwidth of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -radio conditions of the first apparatus towards cells and/or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum number of primary cells supporting the target service, wherein the primary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; or -a minimum number of secondary cells supporting the target service, wherein the secondary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of.

[0190] Example 4. The first apparatus of example 2 or 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: performing at least one measurement to determine whether the at least one condition is met.

[0191] Example 5. The first apparatus of example 4, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: transmitting, based on the performed at least one measurement, a measurement report to the serving network.

[0192] Example 6. The first apparatus of example 5, wherein the measurement report is indicative of a list of cells meeting the at least one condition.

[0193] Example 7. The first apparatus of any preceding examples, wherein the instruc-tions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving from the serving network, indication of support per cell or carrier or per cell group or carrier group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service.

[0194] Example 8. The first apparatus of any preceding examples, wherein the information on the readiness per cell or cell group comprises at least one of: - indication of a cell being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; - indication of a cell not being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell being ready to act as a secondary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell being not ready to accept a new request for the target service; -indication of a guaranteed bit rate, GBR, threshold, wherein the UE is configured to interpret the GBR threshold such that a delay is expected for the target service with required GBR above the GBR threshold; or -indication of a list of GBR thresholds or GBR ranges and corresponding time du-rations for expecting a response to a request for the target service.

[0195] Example 9. The first apparatus of any preceding examples, wherein the request for the target service is a packet data unit, PDU, session establishment request. Example 10. The first apparatus of any preceding examples, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving a configuration of a timer for expecting a response to the request for the target service; and starting the timer based on transmitting the request for the target service. Example 11. The first apparatus of example 10, wherein the instructions, when ex-ecuted by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving a notification related to ongoing setup for the requested target service; and resetting, based on the notification, the timer.

[0196] Example 12. The first apparatus of any preceding examples, wherein the instruc-tions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving, from the serving network, a response to the request for the target service.

[0197] Example 13. The first apparatus of example 12, wherein the response is indicative 33 of redirection instructions to connect to another cell.

[0198] Example 14. The first apparatus of example 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: establishing a connection with the other cell according to the redirection instructions.

[0199] Example 15. The first apparatus of any of the examples 10 or 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: determining that a response to the request for the target service has not been received before the timer expires; and transmitting a further request for the target service or release the connection.

[0200] Example 16. The first apparatus of any preceding examples, wherein the information on the readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service is received via one of: broadcast signalling from the serving network; or dedicated signalling from the serving network.

[0201] Example 17. The first apparatus of any preceding examples, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving from the serving network, assistance information for requesting the tar-get service, wherein the assistance information is indicative of at least one of: - bit rate information associated with a current serving cell or a neighboring cell of the current serving cell for the target service; - delay information associated with a current serving cell or a neighboring cell of the current serving cell for the target service; -mobility support information associated with a current serving cell or a neighbor-ing cell of the current serving cell for the target service.

[0202] Example 18.The first apparatus of any preceding examples, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a user equipment

Claims

1. CLAIMS1. A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to perform: receiving, while in idle/inactive state, from a serving network configured to support a target service, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the first apparatus; selecting based on the information on the readiness per cell or cell group, a cell to request for the target service; and establishing a connection with a network node associated with the selected cell.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selecting is further performed based on at least one condition for requesting the target service.

3. The first apparatus of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving, from the serving network, the at least one condition for requesting the target service wherein the at least one condition is one or more of the following: -a minimum number of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum total bandwidth of cells or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -radio conditions of the first apparatus towards cells and/or carriers supporting the target service, wherein the cells and/or carriers are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; -a minimum number of primary cells supporting the target service, wherein the primary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of; or -a minimum number of secondary cells supporting the target service, wherein the secondary cells are of at least one network or at least one network slice which the first apparatus is under coverage of.

4. The first apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: performing at least one measurement to determine whether the at least one condition is met

5. The first apparatus of claim 4, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: transmitting based on the performed at least one measurement, a measurement report to the network node associated with the selected cell.

6. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the measurement report is indicative of a list of cells meeting the at least one condition.

7. The first apparatus of any preceding claims, wherein the instructions, when ex-ecuted by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving, from the serving network, indication of support per cell or carrier or per cell group or carrier group associated with the network node of the serving network to provide the target service.

8. The first apparatus of any preceding claims, wherein the information on the readiness per cell or cell group comprises at least one of: - indication of a cell being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell not being ready to act as a primary cell for the target service; -indication of a cell being ready to act as a secondary cell for the target service; - indication of a cell being not ready to accept a new request for the target service; - indication of a guaranteed bit rate, GBR, threshold, wherein the UE is configured to interpret the GBR threshold such that a delay is expected for the target service 30 with required GBR above the GBR threshold; or -indication of a list of GBR thresholds or GBR ranges and corresponding time durations for expecting a response to a request for the target service.

9. The first apparatus of any preceding claims, wherein the instructions, when ex-ecuted by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: transmitting to the network node associated with the selected cell, an indication that the first apparatus will request for the target service.

10. The first apparatus of any preceding claims, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: transmitting to the network node associated with the selected cell, the request for the target service.

11. The first apparatus of claim 10, wherein the request for the target service is a packet data unit, PDU, session establishment request.

12. The first apparatus of claim 10 or 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving, from the network node associated with the selected cell, a configuration of a timer for expecting a response to the request for the target service; and starting the timer based on transmitting the request for the target service.

13. The first apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving, from the network node associated with the selected cell, a notification related to ongoing setup for the requested target service; and resetting, based on the notification, the timer.

14. The first apparatus of any of the claims 10 to 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving, from the network node associated with the selected cell, a response to the request for the target service.

15. The first apparatus of any of the claims 12 or 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: determining that a response to the request for the target service has not been received before the timer expires; and transmitting a further request for the target service or release the connection.

16. The first apparatus of any preceding claims, wherein the information on the readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service is received via broadcast signalling from the serving network.

17. The first apparatus of any preceding claims, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first apparatus to perform: receiving, from the network node associated with the selected cell, assistance information for requesting the target service, wherein the assistance information is indicative of at least one of: -bit rate information associated with the selected cell for the target service; -delay information associated with the selected cell for the target service; -mobility support information associated with the selected cell for the target ser-vice; and determining based on the assistance information, requirements to be requested is for the target service.

18. The first apparatus of any preceding claims, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a user equipment

19. A method, comprising: receiving, by a user equipment while in idle/inactive state, from a serving network configured to support a target service, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with a network node of the serving network to provide the target service for the user equipment; selecting by the user equipment, based on the information on the readiness per cell or cell group, a cell to request for the target service; and establishing, by the user equipment, a connection with a network node associated with the selected cell.

20.A second apparatus of a serving network configured to support a target service, the second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to perform: transmitting, to a user equipment, information on a readiness per cell or cell group associated with the network node to provide the target service for the user equipment.