WO2018042071A1

WO2018042071A1 - Controlling transmission of information on radio links used in aggregation

Info

Publication number: WO2018042071A1
Application number: PCT/FI2016/050594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henri Koskinen
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2016-08-30
Filing date: 2016-08-30
Publication date: 2018-03-08

Abstract

There is provided utilizing resource allocations in aggregation of radio links. Information is obtained for transmission between user equipment and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation. At least a part of the amount of the obtained information is reported to the base station for transmission over the first radio link at a reporting rate. At least part of the obtained information is ciphered at a ciphering rate. At least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate is controlled such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit ciphered obtained information on the first radio link, wherein ciphered obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link, or unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the second radio link.

Description

CONTROLLING TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION ON RADIO LINKS USED FN

AGGREGATION

FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates to controlling transmission of information on radio links used in aggregation.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Wireless communication may be conducted using, in general, cellular and/or non-cellular technologies. Cellular technologies include, for example, wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, long term evolution, LTE, and 5G. Non-cellular technologies include, for example, wireless local area network, WLAN, and worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX. The WLAN typically is used to refer to WLANs that are compliant to IEEE 802.1 1 family of standards. [0003] In wireless communication, a wireless connection between user equipment, UE, and a base station, or access point, may be arranged to convey information in the uplink and downlink. The uplink direction proceeds from the user equipment toward the network, and the downlink direction proceeds from the network toward the user equipment. A base station is a term used in connection with cellular technologies, while access point is a term employed frequently when discussing non-cellular technologies.

[0004] Some user equipment, such as smartphones, has the ability to select a technology to use from a plurality of available choices. For example, to download a large file, a smartphone may choose to select a non-cellular technology, and to place a voice call the same smartphone may choose to select a cellular technology. Non-cellular technologies may offer high data rates, while cellular technologies may be designed to support mobility and guaranteed quality of service.

[0005] Information communicated over cellular or non-cellular connections may be ciphered. Ciphering may alternatively be referred to as encryption. Ciphering may take place at one or more layers, for example, an application may employ end-to-end ciphering, an intermediate protocol layer may employ a ciphering and an air interface may employ a further, separate ciphering, resulting in data communicated over the air interface that may be ciphered more than once, using different algorithms and keys.

[0006] Aggregation may be used to facilitate communication, wherein more than one carrier is employed simultaneously to communicate information. The carriers may be of same or differing types, and similar or differing frequency bands may be used to communicate over the carriers joined together in aggregation. The expression "dual connectivity" may be used to refer to aggregation of carriers controlled by different base stations. Carrier aggregation is used for example in LTE-Advanced that is a mobile communication standard and a major enhancement of the LTE standard, both being standards by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3 GPP.

[0007] Communications over the carriers may be scheduled at specific transmission time intervals (TTIs). Ciphering of the information to be transmitted in an allocated TTI should be completed before the TTI such that the allocation is not missed. Accordingly, the ciphering should start well-before the allocated TTI.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Some specific embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a memory for storing program code and at least one processing core capable of executing the program code to cause obtaining information for transmission between user equipment and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation, and reporting at least a part of the amount of the obtained information to the base station for transmission over the first radio link at a reporting rate, ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate, controlling at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit on the first radio link ciphered obtained information, wherein ciphered obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link, or unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the second radio link.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising, obtaining information for transmission between user equipment and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation, reporting at least a part of the amount of the obtained information to the base station for transmission over the first radio link at a reporting rate, ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate, controlling at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit on the first radio link ciphered obtained information, wherein ciphered obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link, or unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the second radio link. [0011] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for obtaining information for transmission between user equipment and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation, and, means for reporting at least a part of the amount of the obtained information to the base station for transmission over the first radio link at a reporting rate, means for ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate, means for controlling at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit on the first radio link ciphered obtained information, wherein ciphered obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link, or unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the second radio link.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non- transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least, obtaining information for transmission between user equipment and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation, and reporting at least a part of the amount of the obtained information to the base station for transmission over the first radio link at a reporting rate, ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate, controlling at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit on the first radio link ciphered obtained information, wherein ciphered obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link, or unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the second radio link. [0013] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program configured to cause a method in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention.

[0014] Various embodiments of the first, second, third and fourth aspects may comprise at least one feature from the following bulleted list:

• the reporting rate and the ciphering rate are controlled such that the reporting rate does not exceed the ciphering rate

• the reporting rate and the ciphering rate are controlled such that only ciphered obtained information is reported to the base station

• the ciphering rate is a maximum uplink data rate defined by a capability category of the user equipment

• the apparatus is caused to decipher at least part of the ciphered obtained information for transmission via the second radio link

• the apparatus is caused to store at least part of the obtained information unciphered, and retrieve the unciphered obtained information for transmission via the second radio link

• the apparatus is caused to optionally include with the obtained information conveyed via the second radio link an indication of whether the information is ciphered

• the apparatus is caused to refrain from reporting the obtained information to the base station if at least one of the reporting rate exceeds the ciphering rate, information is obtained at a higher rate than the ciphering rate and/or information is obtained at a higher rate than at which resource allocations are received, and transmit the obtained information via the second radio link

• the ciphering comprises packet data convergence protocol ciphering

• at least one of the radio links has an air interface protocol employing ciphering

• the apparatus comprises user equipment or a control device for user equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0016] FIGURE 2 is a flow graph of method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention; [0017] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0018] FIGURE 4 illustrates an example of controlling reporting rate in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0019] FIGURE 5 illustrates an example of controlling ciphering rate in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0020] FIGURES 6a and 6b illustrate examples of transmitting ciphered and unciphered information on aggregated radio links in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention; and

[0021] FIGURE 7 illustrates a sequence in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS

[0022] In connection with radio links in aggregation, at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate of information to be transmitted over one of the radio links may be controlled such that on receiving a resource allocation on one of the radio links, the resource allocation is utilized for transmitting ciphered information and information is transmitted on at least one other aggregated link ciphered or unciphered. A benefit of this is obtained in more efficient use of allocated resources and increased throughput, when more than one aggregated radio link is utilized. Unless the reporting rate and ciphering rate were controlled, some of the resources allocations could not be utilized, for example if the ciphering rate was too low and/or if the reporting rate was too high, since on reception of the resources allocation ciphered information could not be available for transmission. Further, processing resources of the user equipment and the base station may be used more efficiently, when redundant ciphering of information according to the ciphering requirements of one of the radio links in aggregation may be reduced.

[0023] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The system of FIGURE 1 comprises device 1 10, which may comprise user equipment such as a smartphone, tablet device, smart watch or other suitable device. Device 110 is furnished with dual connectivity which comprises an ability to communicate via two radio links of different access networks. In an example, the radio links may be a cellular radio link according to a cellular technology and a non-cellular radio link according to a non-cellular technology. Each of the radio links have a radio frequency carrier, where transmissions of information such as data are performed. For example, this communication may take place simultaneously to both the cellular and non-cellular part for the same bearer, such as a radio bearer. Device 110 is configured to employ aggregation of the radio links wherein one carrier of the aggregation is a carrier on one of the radio links and another carrier of the aggregation is a carrier on another radio link of the radio links. Accordingly, in an example the one carrier may be a cellular carrier and another carrier of the aggregation may be a non-cellular carrier. [0024] In the system of FIGURE 1, device 110 has a first radio link 112 with one base station. The base station may be a cellular base station 120, the first carrier being a cellular carrier. The first radio link 112 and base station 120 may be arranged to operate in accordance with LTE, 5G or WCDMA technology, for example. In the LTE the base stations are referred to as evolved NodeBs (eNBs). Device 110 has a radio linkl 13 with access point 130. Access point 130 and second radio link 113 may be arranged to operate in accordance with a non- cellular technology such as WLAN or WiMAX, for example. First radio link 112 and second radio link 113 may be comprised in a same aggregation of the radio links.

[0025] Access point 130, while illustrated in FIGURE 1 as sited away from base station

120, may alternatively be co-located with base station 120. A cell 121 controlled by base station 120 is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1. Likewise, a communication range 131 of access point 130 is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1. Device 110, being in cell 121 and communication range 131, is capable of communicating with both base station 120 and access point 130.

[0026] An interface 123 enables communication between base station 120 and access point 130. In some embodiments, a WLAN termination, WT, node is disposed between base station 120 and access point 130. Interface 123 may comprise an Xw interface, for example, where the aggregation is LTE- WLAN, LWA, aggregation. A Xw interface interconnects a base station and a WT node. A WT node may be co-located with an access point, and/or a WT functionality may be comprised in an access point. Interface 123 may carry both control and data plane traffic. Interface 123 may be arranged to convey traffic using GPRS tunnelling protocol for user plane, GTP-u, over UDP, for example. An IPsec tunnel may be established between base station 120 and device 110, via access point 130. IPsec keys, or other keys, may be derived by base station 120 and device 110, for example based on key KeNB. Base station 120 is further connected to a cellular network via interface 126. For example, interface 126 may connect to a MME or S-GW in case the cellular technology is LTE. Base station 120 may thus provide information to device 110 over the radio links in aggregation by transmitting a part of the information via first radio link 112, and by providing another part of the information, via interface 123, to access point 130 for transmission to device 110 via second radio link 113.

[0027] In the uplink direction, device 1 10 may provide information over the radio links in aggregation by transmitting at least part of the information to base station 120 via first radio link 112, and at least part of the information to access point 130 via second radio link 113. Access point 130 will then forward, via interface 123, the part of the information, received in access point 130 via second carrier 113, to base station 120. The information may comprise user-plane and control-plane data, for example.

[0028] First radio link 112 may employ an air interface ciphering in accordance with a technology, for example cellular technology, used in first radio link 112. Likewise, second radio link 113 may employ an air interface ciphering in accordance with another technology, for example non-cellular technology, used in second carrier 113. Further, base station 120 may perform ciphering of information before providing it to interface 123 and/or first radio link 112. Such ciphering, which may thus take place in addition to the air interface ciphering on the second radio link, may comprise intermediate-level ciphering, such as packet data convergence protocol, PDCP, and/or IPSec ciphering. Intermediate-level ciphering may thus comprise ciphering that is performed in a protocol stack between application level ciphering and air interface ciphering. In one example the intermediate level ciphering may be PDCP ciphering performed for the first radio link.

[0029] In general, LWA aggregating may be controlled by base station 120. Controlling may comprise activation and deactivation of the aggregating, for example. Base station 120 may configure a WLAN mobility set for device 110, for example based on WLAN measurements performed by device 110. A WLAN mobility set may comprise a set of access point identifiers, wherein mobility within the mobility set may be controlled by device 110. Access points comprised in a mobility set may have interfaces with each other, enabling mobility within the mobility set to be transparent to base station 120. [0030] Device 110 may perform measurements to support aggregation of radio links.

The measurements may comprise non-cellular measurements, such as for example WLAN measurements. For example, signal strengths from access points may be compared to thresholds to determine access points or access point sets that are usable. The measurements may also comprise cellular measurements, for example measurements usable in planning handovers between base stations.

[0031] Access point 130 may act under the direction of base station 120, without needing to communicate with a core network of the cellular network where base station 120 is comprised. The aggregation of radio links may be used in the downlink only direction, or both in downlink and uplink. Data transmitted via access point 130 may be encapsulated in LWA adaptation protocol, LWAAP, format, which may carry a bearer identity. LWIP encapsulation protocol, LWIPEP, may carry a bearer ID in case of LWIP. LWIP comprises LTE-WLAN radio level integration with IPsec tunnel. [0032] Device 110 may provide with transmitted information left unciphered an indication that ciphering has not been used. The indication may take the form of an indicator bit in a LWAAP or LWIPEP header, for example. The disabling of the ciphering may be performed on a packet by packet basis, for example. The disabling may be associated with a limit, expressed, for example, as a number of packets or as a length of time. Once the limit is achieved, the disabling may responsively be ended.

[0033] Device 1 10 may disable intermediate- level ciphering of packets it provides to the network via the non-cellular carrier. Such packets may be furnished with an indication that ciphering has been disabled, for example in a LWAAP header.

[0034] FIGURE 2 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in device 1 10, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when implanted therein.

[0035] Phase 202 comprises obtaining information 'D', e.g. data, for transmission between user equipment and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation. Phase 206 comprises reporting, 'R', at least a part of the amount of the obtained information to the base station for transmission over the first radio link at a reporting rate. Phase 208 comprises ciphering, 'C, at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate. Phase 204 comprises controlling at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation, 'RA', on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit on the first radio link ciphered obtained information, and such that ciphered obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link or unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the second radio link. In phase 210, ciphered obtained information is transmitted, 'TX', such that ciphered obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link or unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the second radio link.

[0036] In an example, in phase 206, the reporting rate may be defined by the rate of information reported for transmission between user equipment and base station. The reporting rate may be expressed by an amount of information reported in a time period.

[0037] In an example, in phase 208, the ciphering rate may be defined by the rate of ciphering information for transmission between user equipment and base station. The ciphering rate may be expressed by an amount of information ciphered in a time period. [0038] In an example, in phase 202, the obtained information may comprise a plurality of service data units to be transmitted over the radio links in aggregation. The service data units may comprise user plane data for example. Each of the radio links may have their own protocol stacks for transmitting information over the air interface towards the network, i.e. in uplink direction. In the protocol stack, the obtained information is encapsulated into one or more protocol data units of the protocols used in the radio link. The obtained information may be for example an Internet Protocol (IP) packet. On a cellular radio link, the IP packet may be processed by protocol stack comprising a PDCP protocol, LC protocol and a cellular MAC protocol. On a non-cellular radio link, the IP packet may be processed by protocol stack comprising a non-cellular MAC protocol. The non-cellular radio link may be a WLAN radio link.

[0039] In an example, in phase 206 the reporting may comprise Buffer Status Reporting to the base station in LTE and the resource allocation may be a scheduling grant, SG.

[0040] In an embodiment, at least one of the radio links has an air interface protocol employing ciphering. Accordingly, ciphered obtained information is transmitted over the radio link employing ciphering on air interface protocols. An air interface protocol employing ciphering may be e.g. PDCP. At least one of the radio links may not employ ciphering on air interface protocols The radio links that do not employ ciphering may be used for obtained information ciphered or unciphered. Information transmitted over a radio link that does not employ ciphering may be transmitted with an indication of whether the information has been ciphered.. In one example the indication may indicate that the information is, or is not, ciphered. The indication may be included in a header field that is included in the transmitted information. The header field may be included for example only if the information is unciphered, or only if the information is ciphered. Thereby, including the indication with the transmitted information may be optional.

[0041] In an embodiment, in phase 204 the reporting rate and the ciphering rate may be controlled such that the reporting rate does not exceed the ciphering rate. After information is reported to the base station for transmission, a resource allocation may be received from the base station. Provided that the reporting rate does not exceed the ciphering rate, ciphered information for transmission may be available to be transmitted in the allocated resources identified by the resource allocation and the allocated resources may be utilized in communications. The allocated resources may comprise air interface resources defined at least one of time, frequency and/or code. The time may be for example a TTI.

[0042] In an embodiment, in phase 208 the ciphering rate may be equal to a maximum uplink data rate defined by a capability category of the user equipment.

[0043] In an embodiment, in phase 208 the ciphering comprises packet data convergence protocol ciphering. [0044] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the present invention. Illustrated is device 300, which may comprise, for example, a mobile communication device such as mobile 110 of FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 2. Comprised in device 300 is processor 310, which may comprise, for example, a single- or multi-core processor wherein a single-core processor comprises one processing core and a multi-core processor comprises more than one processing core. Processor 310 may comprise more than one processor. A processing core may comprise, for example, a Cortex-A8 processing core manufactured by ARM Holdings or a Steamroller processing core produced by Advanced Micro Devices Corporation. Processor 310 may comprise at least one Qualcomm Snapdragon and/or Intel Atom processor. Processor 310 may comprise at least one application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC. Processor 310 may comprise at least one field- programmable gate array, FPGA. Processor 310 may be means for performing method steps in device 300. Processor 310 may be configured, at least in part by computer instructions, to perform actions.

[0045] Device 300 may comprise memory 320. Memory 320 may comprise random- access memory and/or permanent memory. Memory 320 may comprise at least one RAM chip. Memory 320 may comprise solid-state, magnetic, optical and/or holographic memory, for example. Memory 320 may be at least in part accessible to processor 310. Memory 320 may be at least in part comprised in processor 310. Memory 320 may be means for storing information. Memory 320 may comprise computer instructions that processor 310 is configured to execute. When computer instructions configured to cause processor 310 to perform certain actions are stored in memory 320, and device 300 overall is configured to run under the direction of processor 310 using computer instructions from memory 320, processor 310 and/or its at least one processing core may be considered to be configured to perform said certain actions. Memory 320 may be at least in part comprised in processor 310. Memory 320 may be at least in part external to device 300 but accessible to device 300.

[0046] Device 300 may comprise a transmitter 330. Device 300 may comprise a receiver 340. Transmitter 330 and receiver 340 may be configured to transmit and receive, respectively, information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Transmitter 330 may comprise more than one transmitter. Receiver 340 may comprise more than one receiver. Transmitter 330 and/or receiver 340 may be configured to operate in accordance with global system for mobile communication, GSM, wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, long term evolution, LTE, IS-95, wireless local area network, WLAN, Ethernet and/or worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX, standards, for example.

[0047] Device 300 may comprise a near-field communication, NFC, transceiver 350.

NFC transceiver 350 may support at least one NFC technology, such as NFC, Bluetooth, Wibree or similar technologies. [0048] Device 300 may comprise user interface, UI, 360. UI 360 may comprise at least one of a display, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a vibrator arranged to signal to a user by causing device 300 to vibrate, a speaker and a microphone. A user may be able to operate device 300 via UI 360, for example to accept incoming telephone calls, to originate telephone calls or video calls, to browse the Internet, to manage digital files stored in memory 320 or on a cloud accessible via transmitter 330 and receiver 340, or via NFC transceiver 350, and/or to play games.

[0049] Device 300 may comprise or be arranged to accept a user identity module 370.

User identity module 370 may comprise, for example, a subscriber identity module, SIM, card installable in device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise information identifying a subscription of a user of device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise cryptographic information usable to verify the identity of a user of device 300 and/or to facilitate encryption of communicated information and billing of the user of device 300 for communication effected via device 300. [0050] Processor 310 may be furnished with a transmitter arranged to output information from processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device 300, to other devices comprised in device 300. Such a transmitter may comprise a serial bus transmitter arranged to, for example, output information via at least one electrical lead to memory 320 for storage therein. Alternatively to a serial bus, the transmitter may comprise a parallel bus transmitter. Likewise processor 310 may comprise a receiver arranged to receive information in processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device 300, from other devices comprised in device 300. Such a receiver may comprise a serial bus receiver arranged to, for example, receive information via at least one electrical lead from receiver 340 for processing in processor 310. Alternatively to a serial bus, the receiver may comprise a parallel bus receiver.

[0051] Device 300 may comprise further devices not illustrated in FIGURE 3. For example, where device 300 comprises a smartphone, it may comprise at least one digital camera. Some devices 300 may comprise a back-facing camera and a front-facing camera, wherein the back-facing camera may be intended for digital photography and the front-facing camera for video telephony. Device 300 may comprise a fingerprint sensor arranged to authenticate, at least in part, a user of device 300. In some embodiments, device 300 lacks at least one device described above. For example, some devices 300 may lack a NFC transceiver 350 and/or user identity module 370.

[0052] Processor 310, memory 320, transmitter 330, receiver 340, NFC transceiver 350, UI 360 and/or user identity module 370 may be interconnected by electrical leads internal to device 300 in a multitude of different ways. For example, each of the aforementioned devices may be separately connected to a master bus internal to device 300, to allow for the devices to exchange information. However, as the skilled person will appreciate, this is only one example and depending on the embodiment various ways of interconnecting at least two of the aforementioned devices may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0053] FIGURE 4 illustrates an example of controlling reporting rate in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in device 1 10, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when implanted therein. One or more of the phases of the method in Figure 4 may cause controlling the reporting rate for example in phase 206 in the method of Figure 2. The example of FIGURE 4 is now described with reference to both FIGURES 2 and 4. [0054] Phase 402 may correspond phase 202, phase 408 may correspond to phase 208 and phase 406 may correspond to phase 206. Phase 410 comprises receiving a resource allocation. The resource allocation may be received in response to the report in phase 406. Phase 404 comprises controlling, CNTL, the reporting rate such that on receiving, in response to the reporting, the resource allocation from the base station, the resource allocation may be used to transmit ciphered obtained information, and such that ciphered obtained information may also be transmitted on the second radio link, in phase 412. Accordingly, in phase 412, ciphered obtained information may be transmitted on both radio links in aggregation.

[0055] In one example of controlling the reporting rate, a part of the obtained 402 information may be selected for reporting. Accordingly, from an amount X of received information a part of the X may be selected for reporting. The part selected for reporting may have a minimum value that may be reported even if an amount that is less than the minimum value is obtained 402 for transmission.

[0056] In an embodiment only ciphered obtained information is reported to the base station. In this way the base station may allocate resources accurately and the ciphered information is ready for transmission on the radio links in aggregation, when the resource allocation is obtained.

[0057] In an embodiment in phase 412 the ciphered obtained information may be included with an indication of whether the information is ciphered. The indication may be included on at least one of the aggregated radio links. In one example the indication may be included with the ciphered obtained information transmitted over a non-cellular radio link.

[0058] FIGURE 5 illustrates an example of controlling ciphering rate in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in device 110, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when implanted therein. One or more of the phases of the method in Figure 5 may cause controlling the ciphering rate for example in phase 208 in the method of Figure 2. The example of FIGURE 5 is now described with reference to both FIGURES 2 and 5.

[0059] Phase 502 may correspond phase 202, phase 506 may correspond to phase 206 and phase 508 may correspond to phase 208 in FIGURE 2. Phase 510 comprises receiving a resource allocation. The resource allocation may be received in response to the report in phase 506. Phase 504 comprises controlling the ciphering rate such that on receiving, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation from the base station, the resource allocation is utilized to transmit ciphered obtained information, and such that ciphered obtained information may also be transmitted on the second radio link in phase 512. Accordingly, in phase, 512 ciphered obtained information may be transmitted on both radio links in aggregation.

[0060] In one example of controlling the ciphering rate, a part of the obtained 502 information may be selected for ciphering. Accordingly, from an amount Y of received information a part of the Y may be selected for ciphering. The part selected for ciphering may have a minimum value that may be ciphered even if an amount that is less than the minimum value is obtained 502 for transmission.

[0061] In an embodiment in phase 512 the ciphered obtained information may be included with an indication of whether the information is ciphered. The indication may be included on at least one of the aggregated radio links. In one example the indication may be included with the ciphered obtained information transmitted over a non-cellular radio link.

[0062] FIGURES 6a and 6b illustrate examples of transmitting ciphered and unciphered information on aggregated radio links in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in device 1 10, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when implanted therein.

[0063] Reference is now made to Figures 6a, 6b, 2, 4 and 5. Phase 602 may correspond to any of phases 202, 402 and 502. Phase 606 may correspond to any of phases 206, 406 and 506. Phase 604 may correspond to any of phases 208, 408 and 508. Phase 610 may correspond to any of phases 410 and 510. [0064] Phase 608 comprises causing to store at least part of the obtained information unciphered. The unciphered information may be stored to a memory (M). A part of the obtained information may be selected for storing. Accordingly, from an amount Z of received information a part of the Z may be selected for storing. In one example the part selected from the obtained information may be a default value that is less than the whole amount Z. In another example the whole obtained information is selected for storing. Phase 604 comprises ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate such that on receiving, in response to the reporting in phase 606, a resource allocation from the base station, the resource allocation is utilized to transmit ciphered obtained information, and such that obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link. Phase 612 may comprise retrieving from the memory the unciphered obtained information for transmission via one of the aggregated radio links and transmitting the ciphered obtained information on one radio link and transmitting the unciphered obtained information on another radio link. In this way the transmission of the obtained information over the aggregated radio links may be provided even if the allocated resources on one of the radio links would not be sufficient for transmission of the information.

[0065] Phase 609 may comprise deciphering at least part of the ciphered obtained information for transmission via one of the aggregated radio links. Accordingly, from an amount P of received information a part of the P may be selected for deciphering. In one example the part selected from the obtained information may be a default value that is less than the whole amount P. In another example the whole obtained information is selected for deciphering. In this way the transmission of the obtained information over the aggregated radio links may be provided even if the allocated resources on one of the radio links would not be sufficient for transmission of the information. Thanks to the deciphering the obtained data does not need to be stored unciphered and unciphered obtained information does not need to be retrieved from memory.

[0066] FIGURE 7 illustrates a sequence in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The sequence includes functionalities performed by device 110, base station 120 and an access point 130. The functionalities may be performed in the device 110, the base station 120 or the access point, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when implanted therein. Time advances in the sequence from top toward the bottom.

Initially, aggregated radio links comprising at least two radio links 701a, 701b may connect the device 110 to the network. The aggregation of the radio links is

schematically illustrated with a dashed line. The device may be connected by the aggregated radio links, when the device may transmit information and/or receive information over both of the aggregated radio links. In 702 information Ό may be obtained for transmission between the device 110 and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation. In phase 704 the device 1 10 controls the reporting rate such that, in phase 706,on receiving, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation from the base station, the resource allocation is utilized to transmit ciphered obtained information. In phase 708 ciphered obtained information may be transmitted on both of the aggregated radio links, or the ciphered obtained information may be transmitted on one of the radio links and unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the other radio link.

[0067] Subsequently, in 710 more information 'D2' may be obtained for transmission between the device 1 10 and base station. In phase 712 the device 110 controls the reporting rate and determines that at least one of: a) the reporting rate exceeds the ciphering rate, b) information is obtained for transmission at a higher rate than the ciphering rate and/or c) information is obtained for transmission at a higher rate than at which resource allocations are received. The ciphering rate may be the maximum supported ciphering rate, for example.

[0068] It is possible that the reporting rate is a current reporting rate or an estimated reporting rate after the report has been transmitted to the base station. Then, if the reporting rate exceeds the ciphering rate the device 110 may refrain from reporting the obtained information to the base station. Since reporting is refrained, resources for transmitting ciphered information are not obtained from the base station. In phase 714 the device may transmit the obtained information unciphered via one of the radio links, where transmission resources are not allocated by the base station. In one example the radio link for unciphered transmission may be a non-cellular radio link. Following the transmission 714 of the unciphered information, further information may be obtained for transmission which may be transmitted over at least one of the aggregated radio links as described above.

[0069] While the above focuses on uplink operation, the described indication of whether transmitted information is ciphered is equally applicable in downlink. This may hold as long as the eNB takes into account the maximum rate of downlink PDCP PDUs supported by the UE, as defined by its LTE UE category.

[0070] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0071] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Where reference is made to a numerical value using a term such as, for example, about or substantially, the exact numerical value is also disclosed.

[0072] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

[0073] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the preceding description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0074] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below. [0075] The verbs "to comprise" and "to include" are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an", that is, a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality. ACRONYMS LIST

3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

5G 5^th generation, a cellular technology

C ciphering

CC component carrier CNTL control

D information eNB evolved NodeB

GPRS general packet radio service

GTP-u GPRS tunnelling protocol for user plane

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

IPsec internet protocol security

LTE long term evolution

LWAAP LWA adaptation protocol

LWA LTE-WLAN aggregation

LWIP LTE-WLAN radio level integration with IPsec tunnel

LWIPEP LWIP encapsulation protocol

M memory

MME mobility management entity

PDCP packet data convergence protocol

PDU protocol data unit

R reporting

RA resource allocation

SDU Service Data Unit

SG scheduling grant

S-GW serving gateway (also "SGW")

TTI transmission time interval

TX transmitting

UE user equipment

WCDMA wideband code division multiple access

WiMAX worldwide interoperability for microwave access WLAN wireless local area network WT WLAN termination

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

110 Device (e.g. a smartphone)

120 Base station

130 Access point

112 first carrier (cellular)

113 second carrier (non-cellular)

121, 221 cell boundary

131 communication range of access point 130

123 Interface

202-210 Phases of the method of FIGURE 2

300 - 370 Structure of the apparatus of FIGURE 3

402-412 Phases of the method of FIGURE 4

502 - 512 Phases of the sequence of FIGURE 5

602 - 612 Phases of the methods of FIGURES 6a and 6b

701 - 714 Phases of the sequence of FIGURE 7

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus comprising a memory for storing program code and at least one processing core capable of executing the program code to cause:

- obtaining information for transmission between user equipment and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation; and

- reporting at least a part of the amount of the obtained information to the base station for transmission over the first radio link at a reporting rate;

- ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate;

- controlling at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit on the first radio link ciphered obtained information; wherein

ciphered obtained information is also transmitted on the second radio link, or unciphered obtained information is transmitted on the second radio link.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reporting rate and the ciphering rate are controlled such that the reporting rate does not exceed the ciphering rate.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reporting rate and the ciphering rate are controlled such that only ciphered obtained information is reported to the base station.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ciphering rate is a maximum uplink data rate defined by a capability category of the user equipment.

5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is caused to:

decipher at least part of the ciphered obtained information for transmission via the second radio link.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is caused to:

store at least part of the obtained information unciphered; and

retrieve the unciphered obtained information for transmission via the second radio link.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus is caused to: optionally include with the obtained information conveyed via the second radio link an indication of whether the information is ciphered.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is caused to:

refrain from reporting the obtained information to the base station if at least one of:

the reporting rate exceeds the ciphering rate;

information is obtained at a higher rate than the ciphering rate and/or information is obtained at a higher rate than at which resource allocations are received; and

transmit the obtained information via the second radio link.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ciphering comprises packet data convergence protocol ciphering.

10. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the radio links has an air interface protocol employing ciphering.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises user equipment or a control device for user equipment.

12. A method comprising:

- ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate;

- controlling at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit on the first radio link ciphered obtained information, wherein

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the reporting rate and the ciphering rate are controlled such that the reporting rate does not exceed the ciphering rate.

14. A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the reporting rate and the ciphering rate are controlled such that only ciphered obtained information is reported to the base station.

15. A method according to any one of the claims 12 to 14, wherein the ciphering rate is a maximum uplink data rate defined by a capability category of the user equipment.

16. A method according to any one of the claims 12 to 15, wherein the apparatus is caused to: decipher at least part of the ciphered obtained information for transmission via the second radio link.

17. A method according to any one of the claims 12 to 16, wherein the apparatus is caused to store at least part of the obtained information unciphered;

and

18. A method according to any one of the claims 12 to 17, the apparatus is caused to:

optionally include with the obtained information conveyed via the second radio link indication of whether the information is ciphered.

19. A method according to any one of the claims 12 to 18, wherein the apparatus is caused to: refrain from reporting the obtained information to the base station if

at least one of:

the reporting rate exceeds the ciphering rate;

transmit the obtained information via the second radio link.

20. A method according to any one of the claims 12 to 19, wherein the ciphering comprises packet data convergence protocol ciphering.

21. A method according to any one of the claims 12 to 20, wherein at least one of the radio links has an air interface protocol employing ciphering and at least one of the radio links.

22. An apparatus comprising:

- means for obtaining information for transmission between user equipment and base station, the transmission being configured to utilize at least one of a first and second radio links in aggregation; and

- means for reporting at least a part of the amount of the obtained information to the base station for transmission over the first radio link at a reporting rate;

- means for ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate;

- means for controlling at least one of the reporting rate and the ciphering rate such that on receiving from the base station, in response to the reporting, a resource allocation on the first radio link, the resource allocation is used to transmit on the first radio link ciphered obtained information, wherein

23. A computer program configured to cause a method in accordance with at least one of claims 12 to 21 to be performed.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:

- ciphering at least part of the obtained information at a ciphering rate;