WO2024071080A1

WO2024071080A1 - Base station, communication device, and communication method

Info

Publication number: WO2024071080A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/034833
Authority: WO
Inventors: 智之山本
Original assignee: 株式会社デンソー
Priority date: 2022-09-30
Filing date: 2023-09-26
Publication date: 2024-04-04

Abstract

A base station (210M) that operates as a master node comprises a control unit (214) that notifies a communication device (100) of: an MCG gap configuration pertaining to a for-MCG gap which is a period in which the communication device (100) can temporarily terminate communication in the MCG in order to communicate with a second network (200B); and an SCG gap configuration pertaining to a for-SCG gap which is a period in which the communication device can temporarily terminate communication in the SCG in order to communicate with the second network. Each of the MCG gap configuration and the SCG gap configuration includes a gap identifier. The control unit notifies the communication device of the gap identifier in such a manner that it is possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not.

Description

Base station, communication device, and communication method

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority to patent application serial number 2022-158536, filed on September 30, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This disclosure relates to a base station, a communication device, and a communication method used in a mobile communication system.

3GPP (registered trademark; the same applies below) (3rd Generation Partnership Project), a standardization project for mobile communication systems, specifies a communication device (hereinafter referred to as a MUSIM (Multi-Universal Subscriber Identity Module) communication device) that uses multiple subscriber identity modules to communicate with multiple networks. In the MUSIM communication device, a period (hereinafter referred to as a MUSIM gap) can be set during which communication with a certain network (hereinafter referred to as a first network) can be temporarily interrupted in order to receive signaling (e.g., monitoring paging, acquiring system information blocks (SIBs), etc.) from another network (hereinafter referred to as a second network) while maintaining a connection with the first network.

In recent years, in dual connectivity (DC), MUSIM gaps for secondary cell groups (SCGs) associated with secondary nodes (hereinafter referred to as SCG gaps) have been discussed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). A MUSIM communication device in which a SCG gap is set can communicate with a second network during a SCG gap in which communication with the SCG of a first network can be temporarily interrupted, thereby enabling communication with the second network while continuing communication with the master cell group (MCG) of the first network.

In addition, when a MUSIM gap for an MCG (hereinafter referred to as a gap for an MCG) is set, the MUSIM communication device can continue communication with the SCG of the first network even during a gap in which communication with the second network is performed by communicating with the second network during the gap for the MCG.

Incidentally, when setting the MUSIM gap, a gap identifier for identifying the MUSIM gap (specifically, MUSIM-GapID) is associated with MUSIM gap information indicating the gap parameters of the MUSIM gap (specifically, MUSIM-GapInfo). Therefore, it is expected that the MUSIM communication device will communicate with the second network during a gap for SCG based on the gap parameters corresponding to the gap identifier specified by the first network.

The base station according to the first aspect is a base station that operates as a master node in a first network including a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) configured in a communication device and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) configured in the communication device, and includes a control unit that notifies the communication device of an MCG gap setting related to a gap for an MCG, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network, and an SCG gap setting related to a gap for an SCG, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network, each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier, and the control unit notifies the communication device of the gap identifier in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.

A communication device according to a second aspect is a communication device that communicates between a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) in a first network and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) in the first network, and includes a control unit that acquires from the master node an MCG gap setting related to an MCG-oriented gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network, and an SCG gap setting related to an SCG-oriented gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network, each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier, and the control unit acquires the gap identifier from the master node in a manner that allows identification of whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not.

The communication method according to the third aspect is a communication method executed by a base station operating as a master node in a first network including a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) configured in a communication device and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) configured in the communication device, and includes a step of notifying the communication device of an MCG gap setting related to a gap for an MCG, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network, and an SCG gap setting related to a gap for an SCG, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network, each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting including a gap identifier, and in the step, notifying the communication device of the gap identifier in a manner that allows identification of whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not.

The communication method according to the fourth aspect is a communication method executed by a communication device that communicates between a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) in a first network and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) in the first network, and includes a step of acquiring from the master node an MCG gap setting related to an MCG-oriented gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network, and an SCG gap setting related to an SCG-oriented gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network, each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier, and in the step, the gap identifier is acquired from the master node in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not.

The objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a mobile communication system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a protocol stack in the mobile communication system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the assumed scenario. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a UE according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station of the first network according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram (part 1) showing a first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining information elements in a first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining information elements in the first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram (part 3) for explaining information elements in the first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 4) for explaining information elements in the first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram (part 5) for explaining information elements in the first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram (part 2) illustrating a first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram (part 6) for explaining information elements in the first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram (part 7) for explaining information elements in the first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram (part 8) for explaining information elements in the first operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram showing a second operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining information elements in a second operation example according to the embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining information elements in the second operation example according to the embodiment.

The mobile communication system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

　Existing 3GPP specifications do not stipulate what gap identifiers should be associated with the gap parameters of the gap for the MCG and the gap parameters of the gap for the SCG. Therefore, there is a possibility that the gap identifiers associated with the gap parameters of the gap for the MCG and the gap identifiers associated with the gap parameters of the gap for the SCG may overlap, and the MUSIM communication device may not be able to properly control the gaps set for itself.

Therefore, one of the objectives is to provide a base station, communication device, and communication method that allows the SCG gap to be appropriately set in the communication device.

[Embodiment]
(System configuration)
A configuration of a mobile communication system 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In the following, an example in which the mobile communication system 1 is a fifth generation system (5G/NR: New Radio) of the 3GPP standard will be mainly described, but a fourth generation system (4G/LTE: Long Term Evolution) system and/or a sixth generation system may be at least partially applied to the mobile communication system 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication system 1 according to the embodiment includes a user equipment (UE) 100, a first network 200A, and a second network 200B.

UE100 is an example of a communication device. UE100 may be a mobile wireless communication device. UE100 may be a device used by a user. UE100 may be a user device defined in the technical specifications of 3GPP. For example, UE100 is a mobile phone terminal (including a smartphone), a tablet terminal, a notebook PC, a communication module (including a communication card or chipset), a sensor or a device provided in a sensor, a vehicle or a device provided in a vehicle (e.g., a Vehicle UE), an aircraft or a device provided in an aircraft (e.g., an Aerial UE). Note that UE100 may be called by other names such as a mobile station, a mobile terminal, a mobile device, a mobile unit, a subscriber station, a subscriber terminal, a subscriber device, a subscriber unit, a wireless station, a wireless terminal, a wireless device, a wireless unit, a remote station, a remote terminal, a remote device, or a remote unit.

UE100 can communicate with multiple networks using multiple subscriber identity modules (SIMs). UE100 may be a multi-SIM device that supports multiple SIMs. UE100 may be referred to as a MUSIM device, for example. In the following, an example in which UE100 supports two SIMs will be mainly described, but UE100 may support three or more SIMs. "Supporting multiple SIMs" means that UE100 has the ability to handle multiple SIMs, and does not necessarily have to be equipped with multiple SIMs. Such a UE100 may be called a "UE that supports multiple SIMs." The SIM is not limited to a card-type SIM (a so-called SIM card), but may be an embedded SIM (a so-called eSIM) that is previously built into UE100. The SIM is sometimes called a USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module).

The first network 200A is a network associated with one SIM of the UE 100. The second network 200B is a network associated with the other SIM of the UE 100. The UE 100 uses one SIM to register its location to the first network 200A, and uses the other SIM to register its location to the second network 200B. That is, the UE 100 is present in both the first network 200A and the second network 200B. The first network 200A and the second network 200B may be networks of different telecommunications carriers. However, the first network 200A and the second network 200B may be networks of the same telecommunications carrier. The first network 200A and the second network 200B may be assigned different PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) IDs.

The first network 200A has a base station 210A and a core network 220A that constitute a radio access network. The core network 220A has a mobility management device 221A and a gateway device 222A as core network devices. Similarly, the second network 200B has a base station 210B and a core network 220B that constitute a radio access network. The core network 220B has a mobility management device 221B and a gateway device 222B as core network devices. In the following, when the

base stations

210A and 200B are not distinguished, they are simply called the base station 210, when the

mobility management devices

221A and 221B are not distinguished, they are simply called the mobility management device 221, and when the

gateway devices

222A and 222B are not distinguished, they are simply called the gateway device 222.

The base station 210 is a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with the UE 100. The base station 210 manages one or more cells. The base station 210 performs wireless communication with the UE 100 that has established a connection with its own cell in the radio resource control (RRC) layer. The base station 210 has a radio resource management (RRM) function, a routing function for user data (hereinafter simply referred to as "data"), a measurement control function for mobility control and scheduling, and the like. "Cell" is used as a term indicating the smallest unit of a wireless communication area. "Cell" is also used as a term indicating a function or resource that performs wireless communication with the UE 100. One cell belongs to one carrier frequency. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the base station 210A manages the cell C1, and the base station 210B manages the cell C2. The UE 100 is located in an overlapping area of the cells C1 and C2.

The base station 210 may be a gNB, which is a 5G/NR base station, or an eNB, which is a 4G/LTE base station. In the following, an example in which the base station 210 is a gNB will be mainly described. The base station 210 may be functionally divided into a CU (Central Unit) and a DU (Distributed Unit). The base station 210 may be a relay node such as an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) node.

The mobility management device 221 is a device corresponding to the control plane, and is a device that performs various mobility management for the UE 100. The mobility management device 221 communicates with the UE 100 using NAS (Non-Access Stratum) signaling, and manages information on the tracking area in which the UE 100 is located. The mobility management device 221 performs paging through the base station 210 to notify the UE 100 of an incoming call. The mobility management device 221 may be a 5G/NR AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) or a 4G/LTE MME (Mobility Management Entity).

The gateway device 222 is a device that supports the user plane and controls the transfer of data for the UE 100. The gateway device 222 may be a 5G/NR UPF (User Plane Function) or a 4G/LTE S-GW (Serving Gateway).

(Example of protocol stack configuration)
A configuration example of a protocol stack of the mobile communication system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the protocol of the wireless section between the UE 100 and the base station 210 includes a physical (PHY) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and a radio resource control (RRC) layer.

The PHY layer performs encoding/decoding, modulation/demodulation, antenna mapping/demapping, and resource mapping/demapping. Data and control information are transmitted between the PHY layer of the UE 100 and the PHY layer of the base station 210 via a physical channel.

The MAC layer performs data priority control, retransmission processing using hybrid ARQ (HARQ), random access procedures, etc. Data and control information are transmitted between the MAC layer of UE100 and the MAC layer of base station 210 via a transport channel. The MAC layer of base station 210 includes a scheduler. The scheduler determines the uplink and downlink transport format (transport block size, modulation and coding scheme (MCS)) and the resources to be allocated to UE100.

The RLC layer uses the functions of the MAC layer and PHY layer to transmit data to the RLC layer on the receiving side. Data and control information are transmitted between the RLC layer of the UE 100 and the RLC layer of the base station 210 via logical channels.

The PDCP layer performs header compression/decompression, and encryption/decryption.

The SDAP (Service Data Adaptation Protocol) layer may be provided as a layer above the PDCP layer. The SDAP (Service Data Adaptation Protocol) layer maps IP flows, which are the units by which the core network performs QoS (Quality of Service) control, to radio bearers, which are the units by which the AS (Access Stratum) performs QoS control.

The RRC layer controls logical channels, transport channels, and physical channels in response to the establishment, re-establishment, and release of radio bearers. RRC signaling for various settings is transmitted between the RRC layer of UE100 and the RRC layer of base station 210. When there is an RRC connection between the RRC of UE100 and the RRC of base station 210, UE100 is in an RRC connected state. When there is no RRC connection between the RRC of UE100 and the RRC of base station 210, UE100 is in an RRC idle state. When the RRC connection between the RRC of UE100 and the RRC of base station 210 is suspended, UE100 is in an RRC inactive state.

The NAS layer, which is located above the RRC layer, performs session management and mobility management for UE100. NAS signaling is transmitted between the NAS layer of UE100 and the NAS layer of the mobility management device 221.

UE100 has two modes (NAS states) in the NAS layer: idle mode and connected mode. In connected mode, the context information of UE100 is held in the network, and in idle mode, the context information of UE100 is not held in the network. When UE100 is in connected mode, UE100 is in an RRC connected state or an RRC inactive state. When UE100 is in idle mode, UE100 is in an RRC idle state.

The mode at the NAS layer may be 5G Mobility Management (5GMM) mode. In this mode, the connected mode may be 5GMM-connected mode, and the idle mode may be 5GMM-idle mode.

In addition, UE100 has an application layer and the like in addition to the radio interface protocol.

(Assumed scenario)
An assumed scenario in the mobile communication system 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. In the 3GPP, which is a standardization project for the mobile communication system 1, a UE 100 that communicates with a plurality of networks using a plurality of subscriber identity modules is specified. In such a UE 100, a period (hereinafter, MUSIM gap) during which communication with the first network 200A can be temporarily interrupted can be set in order to perform a signaling reception operation (e.g., paging monitoring, acquisition of a system information block (SIB), measurement, etc.) from another network (e.g., the second network 200B) while maintaining a connection with a certain network (e.g., the first network 200A).

Currently, in 3GPP Release 18, a work item is being launched to formulate a function for a UE 100 having two transceivers to communicate with multiple networks using multiple SIMs. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the UE 100 communicates with the first network 200A using the SIM 111, the UE 100 can use the first transceiver 121 and the second transceiver 122 for communication with the first network 200A. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the UE 100 communicates with the second network 200B using the SIM 112, it is assumed that the second transceiver 122 is switched to communication with the second network 200B. This allows the UE 100 to communicate with the second network 200B using the second transceiver 122 while maintaining communication with the first network 200A using the first transceiver 121.

Here, when UE100 is communicating with multiple cells in the first network 200A, it is assumed that it will communicate with some of the multiple cells using one transceiver unit (e.g., the first transceiver unit 121) while communicating with the remaining cells of the multiple cells using the other transceiver unit (e.g., the second transceiver unit 122).

UE 100 in which a MUSIM gap is set can continue communication with some cells using the first transceiver unit 121, while interrupting communication with the remaining cells during the MUSIM gap and performing signaling reception operations in the second network 200B using the second transceiver unit 122, thereby continuing communication with the first network 200A even during the MUSIM gap. This can improve communication performance.

In recent years, in dual connectivity (DC), a MUSIM gap for a secondary cell group (SCG) associated with a secondary node (hereinafter referred to as an SCG gap) has been discussed. A UE 100 in which an SCG gap is set can communicate with the second network 200B while continuing communication with the master cell group (MCG) of the first network 200A by communicating with the second network 200B during the SCG gap, in which communication with the SCG of the first network 200A can be temporarily interrupted.

　Existing 3GPP specifications do not specify how to handle the SCG gap of UE100. For this reason, there is a concern that the secondary node will not be able to grasp the SCG gap set for UE100, and will attempt to communicate with UE100 in the SCG even during the SCG gap. In one embodiment described below, the present disclosure describes an operation for enabling UE100 to handle the SCG gap.

In addition, when a MUSIM gap for an MCG (hereinafter referred to as a gap for an MCG) is set, the UE 100 can continue communication with the SCG of the first network 200A even during a gap in which communication with the second network 200B is performed by communicating with the second network 200B during the gap for the MCG.

Incidentally, when setting the MUSIM gap, a gap identifier for identifying the MUSIM gap (specifically, MUSIM-GapID) is associated with MUSIM gap information indicating the gap parameters of the MUSIM gap (specifically, MUSIM-GapInfo). Therefore, it is expected that the UE 100 will communicate with the second network 200B during a gap for SCG based on the gap parameters corresponding to the gap identifier specified by the first network 200A.

Here, existing 3GPP specifications do not specify what gap identifiers are associated with the gap parameters of the gap for the MCG and the gap parameters of the gap for the SCG. Therefore, there is a possibility that the gap identifiers associated with the gap parameters of the gap for the MCG and the gap identifiers associated with the gap parameters of the gap for the SCG may overlap, and therefore UE100 cannot determine whether each gap set in itself is for the SCG. In one embodiment described below, the present disclosure describes an operation for enabling UE100 to appropriately set gaps for the SCG.

In addition, UE100 can transmit a gap recommendation list (specifically, musim-GapPreferenceList) to the network to notify the network of the recommended MUSIM gap. The network can set a MUSIM gap in UE100 based on the MUSIM gap recommendation list.

Here, not all base stations 210 belonging to the network necessarily support the setting of a gap for SCG. For this reason, if the base station 210 that performs dual connectivity with the UE 100 does not support the setting of a gap for SCG, and the UE 100 notifies the base station 210 of a gap for SCG as a recommended MUSIM gap, there is a concern that a malfunction may occur. In one embodiment described later, the present disclosure describes an operation for making it possible to know whether or not a gap for SCG can be set.

(Example of UE configuration)
A configuration example of the UE 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the UE 100 has an antenna 101, an antenna 102, an SIM 111, an SIM 112, a communication unit 120, and a control unit 130. The antenna 101 and the antenna 102 may be provided outside the UE 100. The SIM 111 and the SIM 112 may be a SIM card or an eSIM.

SIM111 stores subscriber information and setting information necessary for UE100 to communicate with the first network 200A. SIM111 stores identification information of UE100 in the first network 200A, such as a telephone number and IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity). SIM111 corresponds to a first subscriber information module. UE100 communicates with the first network 200A using SIM111.

SIM112 stores subscriber information and setting information necessary for UE100 to communicate with the second network 200B. SIM112 stores identification information of UE100 in the second network 200B, such as a telephone number and IMSI. SIM112 corresponds to a second subscriber information module. UE100 communicates with the second network 200B using SIM112.

The communication unit 120 performs wireless communication with the first network 200A and the second network 200B via the antenna 101 and the antenna 102 under the control of the control unit 130. The communication unit 120 has a plurality of transceivers. The transceivers may be referred to as a transceiver or as an RF (Radio Frequency) chain. In this embodiment, the communication unit 120 has a first transceiver 121 and a second transceiver 122. The first transceiver 121 and the second transceiver 122 have a receiving unit 120R and a transmitting unit 120T. The receiving unit 120R converts the radio signal received by each antenna into a receiving signal, which is a baseband signal, performs signal processing on the received signal, and outputs it to the control unit 130. The transmitting unit 120T performs signal processing on the transmitting signal, which is a baseband signal output by the control unit 130, converts it into a radio signal, and transmits the radio signal from each antenna. The receiving unit 120R may be referred to as a receiver, an Rx chain, or an Rx branch. The transmitting unit 120T may be referred to as a transmitter, a Tx chain, or a Tx branch. In this embodiment, the first transmitting/receiving unit 121 has a first receiving unit 121R as the receiving unit 120R and a first transmitting unit 121T as the transmitting unit 120T. The second transmitting/receiving unit 122 has a second receiving unit 122R as the receiving unit 120R and a second transmitting unit 122T as the transmitting unit 120T.

The control unit 130 controls the communication unit 120 and performs various controls in the UE 100. The control unit 130 controls communication with the first network 200A using the SIM 111 and controls communication with the second network 200B using the SIM 112. The control unit 130 includes at least one processor and at least one memory. The memory stores programs executed by the processor and information used for processing by the processor. The memory may include at least one of a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a flash memory. The processor may include a digital signal processor (DSP) that performs digital processing of digital signals, and a central processing unit (CPU) that executes programs. Note that a portion of the memory may be provided in the communication unit 120. Also, the DSP may be provided in the communication unit 120.

In the UE 100 configured in this manner, the receiver 120R receives an RRC message from the first network 200A, which allows the UE 100 to determine whether or not a gap for the SCG can be set. The control unit 130 of the UE 100 determines whether or not a gap for the SCG can be set based on the RRC message. This allows the UE 100 to know whether or not a gap for the SCG can be set based on the RRC message.

The control unit 130 also acquires an MCG gap setting for the gap for the MCG and an SCG gap setting for the gap for the SCG from the master node. Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier. The control unit 130 acquires the gap identifier from the master node in a manner that allows the control unit 130 to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not. This allows the UE 100 to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not, and to appropriately control the gap set for itself.

Note that the operation of the functional units of UE100 (specifically, at least one of antenna 101, antenna 102, SIM 111, SIM 112, communication unit 120, and control unit 130) may be described as the operation of UE100.

(Example of base station configuration)
A configuration example of the base station 210A of the first network 200A will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Note that the base station 210B of the second network 200B has a similar configuration to the base station 210A, so a description thereof will be omitted. As shown in Fig. 5, the base station 210A has an antenna 211, a wireless communication unit 212, a network communication unit 213, and a control unit 214.

Under the control of the control unit 214, the wireless communication unit 212 communicates with the UE 100 via the antenna 211. The wireless communication unit 212 has a receiving unit 212R and a transmitting unit 212T. The receiving unit 212R converts the wireless signal received by the antenna 211 into a received signal, which is a baseband signal, performs signal processing on the received signal, and outputs it to the control unit 214. The transmitting unit 212T performs signal processing on the transmission signal, which is a baseband signal, output by the control unit 214, converts it into a wireless signal, and transmits the wireless signal from the antenna 211.

The network communication unit 213 is connected to the core network 220A. Under the control of the control unit 214, the network communication unit 213 performs network communication with the mobility management device 221A and the gateway device 222A.

The control unit 214 controls the wireless communication unit 212 and performs various controls in the base station 210A. The control unit 214 includes at least one processor and at least one memory. The memory stores programs executed by the processor and information used in processing by the processor. The memory may include at least one of ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, RAM, and flash memory. The processor may include a digital signal processor (DSP) that performs digital processing of digital signals, and a central processing unit (CPU) that executes programs. Note that a part of the memory may be provided in the wireless communication unit 212. Also, the DSP may be provided in the wireless communication unit 212.

In the base station 210 configured in this manner, the transmission unit 212T transmits to the UE 100 an RRC message for the UE 100 to determine whether or not a gap for the SCG can be set. This allows the UE 100 to know whether or not a gap for the SCG can be set.

The network communication unit 213 of the master node also transmits notification information to the secondary node for the secondary node to identify the gap for SCG. The network communication unit 213 of the secondary node also receives notification information from the master node. This allows the secondary node to identify the gap for SCG and handle the gap for SCG appropriately.

The control unit 214 also notifies the UE 100 of an MCG gap setting for the gap for the MCG and an SCG gap setting for the gap for the SCG. Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier. The control unit 214 notifies the UE 100 of the gap identifier in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not. Because it is possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not, the UE 100 can appropriately control the gap set for itself.

Note that the operation of the functional units (specifically, at least one of the antenna 211, the wireless communication unit 212, the network communication unit 213, and the control unit 214) included in the base station 210A may be described as the operation of the base station 210A.

(Operation of the mobile communication system)
Next, the operation of the mobile communication system 1 will be described.

(First operation example)
The first operation example will be described with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG.

Step S101:
The UE 100 performs dual connectivity operation. Specifically, the UE 100 communicates with a base station 210M operating as a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) in the first network 200A, and a base station 210S operating as a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) in the first network 200A. The UE 100 communicates in the MCG set in the UE 100 and also communicates in the SCG set in the UE 100. The MCG is a group of serving cells associated with a master node in the DC. The MCG is composed of an Sp cell (primary cell (P cell)) and optionally one or more secondary cells (S cells). The Sp cell is a P cell of the MCG or SCG. The SCG is a group of serving cells associated with a secondary node in the DC. The SCG is composed of an Sp cell (primary secondary cell (PS cell)) and optionally one or more S cells. The PS cell is an Sp cell of the SCG. The MAC entity of the UE 100 may be associated with the MCG and the SCG in the DC.

The base station 210M is associated with the MCG set in the UE 100 in the DC. The base station 210M manages the MCG set in the UE 100. The base station 210M operates as a master node in the first network 200A. The base station 210S is associated with the SCG set in the UE 100 in the dual connectivity. The base station 210S manages the SCG set in the UE 100. The base station 210S operates as a secondary node in the first network 200A.

UE100 is in an RRC connected state in the first network 200A. When UE100 is in the RRC connected state, an RRC connection is established between the first network 200A and UE100. Therefore, the control unit 130 of UE100 and the control unit 214 of the base station (base station 210M and base station 210S) may be performing control to establish an RRC connection between UE100 and the base station.

In addition, UE100 is communicating in the first network 200A. UE100 may be provided with services such as voice calls from the first network 200A. The control unit 130 of UE100 controls communication with the MCG and SCG. Note that "communicating" means that UE100 is at least in an RRC connected state in the network. Therefore, when UE100 is communicating with the first network 200A, it is continuously exchanging data with the network, either continuously or discontinuously.

Hereinafter, the communication between UE100 and base station 210M may be, for UE100, communication between UE100 and the cell of base station 210M (specifically, MCG, SCG, P cell, S cell), i.e., communication between UE100 and the cell in which UE100 is located. The same applies to communication between UE100 and base station 210S. Also, communication between UE100 and a node belonging to the first network 200A (e.g., base station 210A (i.e., MCG, SCG, P cell, S cell), mobility management device 221A, gateway device 222A) may be referred to as communication between UE100 and the first network 200A. The same applies to communication between UE100 and a node belonging to the second network 200B.

Furthermore, in the following, UE100 communicates with the first network 200A (specifically, sending and receiving/notifying messages, etc.) via communication unit 120 (specifically, receiving unit 120R and/or transmitting unit 120T), but for ease of explanation, the explanation that the communication is via communication unit 120 will be omitted as appropriate. Similarly, the explanation that the communication between UE100 and the second network 200B is communication via communication unit 120 will be omitted as appropriate. Therefore, the transmission and/or reception of messages, etc. by UE100 may be the transmission and/or reception of messages, etc. by communication unit 120 (specifically, receiving unit 120R and/or transmitting unit 120T) of UE100.

Step S102:
The transmission unit 212T of the base station 210B may transmit to the UE 100 a radio resource control (RRC) message for the UE 100 to determine whether or not the SCG gap can be set in the MCG. The reception unit 120R of the UE 100 may receive an RRC message in the MCG. The RRC message may be, for example, an RRC reconfiguration message, an SIB message, or the like.

The RRC message may include enable/disable information indicating whether or not a gap for an SCG can be configured. The enable/disable information may be included in a cell group configuration (CellGroupConfig) used to configure an MCG or an SCG, as shown in E11 of FIG. 7. The enable/disable information may also be included in an other configuration (OtherConfig) that includes configurations related to other configurations, as shown in E14 of FIG. 8.

As shown in E11 of FIG. 7 and E14 of FIG. 8, the availability information (e.g., musim-GapAvailableForSCG) may be indicated by binary information such as ENUM or BOOL. For example, when the availability information is "true", it may indicate that a gap for SCG can be set. For example, when the availability information is not "true", it may indicate that a gap for SCG cannot be set.

The RRC message may include configuration number information (e.g., musim-nrofGapForSCG) indicating the number of gaps that can be set for SCG. The configuration number information may be included in the cell group configuration, as shown in E12 and E13 of FIG. 7. The configuration number information may also be included in the other configuration, as shown in E16 and E17 of FIG. 9. If it is not possible to set a gap for SCG, the configuration number information may indicate 0.

The number of configurable gaps for SCG may be specified in advance. For example, the number of configurable gaps for SCG may be specified in the 3GPP technical specifications.

The RRC message may also include timer information indicating a timer value to be set in a timer (hereinafter, SCG gap prohibit timer) for timing a period during which notification of SCG gap information recommended by UE 100 is prohibited. When the SCG gap prohibit timer is running, UE 100 may be prohibited from notifying SCG gap information.

The timer information may be specified separately from the MUSIM gap prohibition timer information (specifically, musim-GapProhibitTimer-r17) specified in Release 17 of the 3GPP technical specifications, or may be common to both. The MUSIM gap prohibition timer is a prohibition timer related to MUSIM auxiliary information that reports the recommended gap (gap preference). Therefore, the MUSIM gap prohibition timer may be a timer that measures the period during which notification of MUSIM gap information recommended by UE 100 is prohibited.

As shown in E13 of FIG. 7 and E17 of FIG. 9, timer information (e.g., musim-GapProhibitTimer) may be included in the SCG gap setting (e.g., MUSIM-GapAssistanceConfigSCG) related to the gap for SCG. The timer information may be included in the SCG gap setting (e.g., MUSIM-GapAssistanceConfigSCG) together with the setting number information (E13 of FIG. 7).

Before transmitting the RRC message, the base station 210M may receive the availability information and/or the setting number information from the secondary node. For example, the base station 210M may receive the availability information and/or the setting number information from the secondary node in a procedure (e.g., SeNB addition) for the base station 210S to operate as a secondary node.

Step S103:
The SIM 112 may be inserted into the UE 100. As a result, the control unit 130 of the UE 100 may start a process for communicating with the second network 200B. In addition, the setting of the control unit 130 may be changed by an input from a user so as to communicate with the second network 200B.

The control unit 130 may determine a target cell (e.g., a cell included in the MCG and/or SCG) among multiple cells for interrupting communication during a MUSIM gap for communicating with the second network 200B, based on, for example, the communication load and other conditions of each cell communicating in the first network 200A. The control unit 130 may also determine a target cell, for example, based on the frequency band used in the second network 200B. The MUSIM gap may be a period during which signaling reception is performed in the second network 200B. Cells in which a gap for MUSIM is set may include a primary cell, a primary secondary cell, and/or a secondary cell. That is, the target cell may include a primary cell, a primary secondary cell, and/or a secondary cell.

As described above, the control unit 130 may, for example, determine the secondary cell as the target cell, or may determine at least one cell belonging to the secondary cell group (for example, the primary secondary cell and/or the secondary cell) as the target cell. The control unit 130 may, for example, determine the target cell as a cell within a frequency range that overlaps with at least a portion of the frequency band used in the second network 200B. The control unit 130 may determine the target cell as a cell in frequency range 2 (FR2).

The control unit 130 may perform the following process to determine whether a cell included in the SCG can be determined as a target cell, i.e., whether a gap for the SCG can be set.

Step S104:
The control unit 130 of the UE 100 determines whether or not a gap for SCG can be set, which is a period during which communication in the SCG can be temporarily interrupted in order to communicate with the second network 200B, based on the RRC message. The control unit 130 may determine whether or not a gap for SCG can be set, for example, when the RRC message of step S102 is received. The control unit 130 may determine whether or not a gap for SCG can be set, for example, when attempting communication with the second network 200B. The control unit 130 determines whether or not a gap for SCG can be set, for example, by the following method.

The control unit 130 may determine whether or not a gap for an SCG can be set based on the feasibility information. When the feasibility information indicates that a gap for an SCG can be set, the control unit 130 determines that a gap for an SCG can be set. On the other hand, when the feasibility information indicates that a gap for an SCG cannot be set, the control unit 130 determines that a gap for an SCG cannot be set.

The control unit 130 may determine whether or not a gap for SCG can be set based on the setting number information. For example, when the RRC message does not include possible or impossible information, the control unit 130 may determine whether or not a gap for SCG can be set based on the setting number information. When the setting number information indicates that the number of gaps set for SCG is 1 or more, the control unit 130 determines that a gap for SCG can be set. On the other hand, when the setting number information indicates that the number of gaps set for SCG is 0, the control unit 130 determines that a gap for SCG cannot be set.

The control unit 130 may determine that it is not possible to set a gap for an SCG if the RRC message does not include information regarding the setting of a gap for an SCG. The control unit 130 may determine that it is not possible to set a gap for an SCG if the RRC message does not include possible/not possible information. The control unit 130 may determine that it is not possible to set a gap for an SCG if the RRC message does not include possible/not possible information and setting number information.

In the RRC message, if the first other setting (e.g., OtherConfig specified in Release 17 of the 3GPP Technical Specifications) does not set (i.e., does not include) a setting related to the MUSIM gap (specifically, a setting for reporting auxiliary information for the recommended gap (gap preference) (musim-GapAssistanceConfig)), and the second other setting (e.g., OtherConfig specified in Release 18 of the 3GPP Technical Specifications) specified after the first other setting has information related to whether or not a gap for SCG can be set (e.g., musim-GapAssistanceConfigSCG-r18) set (i.e., includes), then any of the following processes may be performed. The control unit 130 may assume that a gap for SCG can be set. Alternatively, the control unit 130 may consider that both the gap for the MCG and the gap for the SCG can be set. Alternatively, the control unit 130 may consider that both the gap for the MCG and the gap for the SCG (i.e., the MUSIM gap) cannot be set.

The control unit 130 may generate a gap recommendation list (e.g., musim-GapPreferenceList) to notify of the recommended MUSIM gap. When the control unit 130 determines that a gap for SCG can be set based on the RRC message and there is a gap for SCG recommended by UE100, the control unit 130 may generate a gap recommendation list including information on the recommended gap for SCG. On the other hand, when the control unit 130 determines that a gap for SCG cannot be set based on the RRC message, even if there is a gap for SCG recommended by UE100, the control unit 130 may perform control not to generate a gap recommendation list that does not include information on the recommended gap for SCG. When the control unit 130 determines that a gap for SCG cannot be set, the control unit 130 may generate a gap recommendation list that includes information on the recommended gap for MCG and does not include information on the recommended gap for SCG.

Note that the preference of UE100 may be what is recommended. Therefore, "recommended" may be replaced with "preference". For example, the MUSIM gap of UE100's preference may be a recommended MUSIM gap (e.g., a gap for MCG and/or a gap for SCG). "Gap preference" may include the recommended MUSIM gap. The gap recommendation list may include and/or indicate, for example, gap preference (information).

When the RRC message includes setting number information, the control unit 130 may generate a gap recommendation list including information on gaps for SCGs equal to or less than the number indicated by the setting number information. When the number of gaps for SCGs that can be set is predefined, the control unit 130 may generate a gap recommendation list including information on gaps for SCGs equal to or less than the predefined number.

The recommended gap information for MCG and the recommended gap information for SCG may be referred to as MUSIM-GapPrefInfo (see FIG. 10), or may be information used to indicate MUSIM gap parameters (specifically, MUSIM-GapInfo) (see FIG. 11). The control unit 130 may execute the following processing to make it possible to distinguish between the recommended gap information for MCG and the recommended gap information for SCG.

As shown in E21 of FIG. 10, the control unit 130 may associate a cell group identifier (cellGroupId) indicating an SCG or a cell identifier indicating a cell included in an SCG as identification information with the recommended gap information for SCG to indicate the recommended gap information for SCG. The control unit 130 may associate a cell group identifier indicating an MCG or a cell identifier indicating a cell included in an MCG with the recommended gap information for MCG to indicate the recommended gap information for MCG. When associating a cell group identifier or a cell identifier with the recommended gap information for SCG to indicate the recommended gap information for SCG, the control unit 130 does not need to associate a cell group identifier indicating an MCG or a cell identifier indicating a cell included in an MCG with the recommended gap information for MCG.

The identification information for distinguishing between the recommended gap information for the MCG and the recommended gap information for the SCG may be an identifier of the frequency of the target cell. The identification information may be, for example, the absolute radio-frequency channel number (ARFCN) of the target cell. The identification information may also indicate, for example, the frequency range (e.g., FR1, FR2, etc.) in which the target cell is included.

As shown in E22 of FIG. 11, the control unit 130 may generate a gap recommendation list by generating a list of information on recommended gaps for SCG (e.g., musim-GapPreferenceList-r17) and a list of information on recommended gaps for SCG (e.g., musim-GapPreferenceListSCG-r18).

The control unit 130 may generate a UE assistance information message including the generated gap recommendation list. The UE assistance information message may be used for indicating the UE assistance information to the first network 200A. The control unit 130 may generate the UE assistance information message, for example, when providing MUSIM assistance information. The MUSIM assistance information may include the above-mentioned recommended MUSIM gap information as the preference of the UE 100 for MUSIM. That is, the recommended MUSIM gap information in this embodiment may be the preferred MUSIM gap information of the UE 100.

The gap recommendation information included in the gap recommendation list may include at least one of the following information: information indicating the length of the MUSIM gap length recommended by UE100 (e.g., musim-GapLength); information indicating the gap offset of the MUSIM gap recommended by UE100 (e.g., musim-GapOffset); information indicating the gap start position of the non-periodic MUSIM gap recommended by UE100 while maintaining the RRC connected state (e.g., musim-PrefStarting-SFN-AndSubframex); and information indicating the gap reception period and gap offset of the periodic MUSIM gap recommended by UE100 while maintaining the RRC connected state (e.g., musim-GapRepetitionAndOffsetPeriod).

In this embodiment, the explanation will proceed assuming that it is possible to set a gap for SCG. Therefore, the explanation will proceed assuming that the control unit 130 of the UE 100 generates a gap recommendation list that includes information about the gap for SCG.

Step S105:
The transmitter 120T of the UE 100 transmits a UE assistance information message to the first network 200A (specifically, the base station 210A). The receiver 212R of the base station 210A receives the UE assistance information message from the UE 100 in the MCG.

The control unit 214 of the base station 210A can ascertain the target cell recommended by the UE 100 based on the identification information included in the UE assistance information message. The control unit 214 can also ascertain the gap recommended by the UE 100 based on the gap recommendation information. The control unit 214 may determine, for example, based on the identification information, whether the gap recommendation list includes information on gaps for the MCG and/or information on gaps for the SCG.

If the gap prohibit timer for SCG is running, the transmission unit 120T of the UE 100 may not be able to transmit a UE assistance information message that includes information about the gap for SCG. Even if the gap prohibit timer for SCG is running, the transmission unit 120T may be able to transmit a UE assistance information message that includes information only about the gap for MCG.

The transmitting unit 120T of the UE 100 may be able to transmit a UE assistance information message including information about the gap for the SCG when the gap prohibition timer for the SCG is not running. The transmitting unit 120T may be able to transmit a UE assistance information message including information only about the gap for the SCG even when the MUSIM gap prohibition timer (specifically, musim-GapProhibitTimer-r17) is running.

Step S111:
12, the control unit 214 of the base station 210M determines a MUSIM gap setting regarding the MUSIM gap to be set in the UE 100. The control unit 214 may determine the MUSIM gap setting (for example, MUSIM-GapConfig) based on the gap recommendation list.

The MUSIM gap setting may include an MCG gap setting and an SCG gap setting. The MCG gap setting may be a gap setting related to a gap for an MCG, which is a period during which the UE 100 can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG in order to communicate with the second network 200B. The SCG gap setting may be a gap setting related to a gap for an SCG, which is a period during which the UE 100 can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG in order to communicate with the second network 200B.

The control unit 214 may generate MUSIM gap setting information indicating the determined MUSIM gap setting. The MUSIM gap setting information may, for example, control the setup/release of a gap for MUSIM. The MUSIM gap setting information may, for example, be musim-GapConfig, MUSIM-GapConfig. In addition, the MUSIM gap setting information may include at least one of information indicating a list for adding or changing a periodic MUSIM gap pattern identifier without leaving the RRC connected state (e.g., musim-GapToAddModList), information indicating a list for releasing a periodic MUSIM gap pattern identifier without leaving the RRC connected state (e.g., musim-GapToReleaseList), and information indicating that UE100 is permitted to use a non-periodic MUSIM gap when requested by UE100 in a UE assistance information message (e.g., musim-AperiodicGap). In addition, the MUSIM gap setting information may include at least one of information indicating the gap start position for periodic MUSIM gaps that do not leave the RRC connected state (musim-Start-SFN-AndSubframe), information indicating the MUSIM gap length (musim-GapLength), a gap offset of the number of subframes for periodic MUSIM gaps that do not leave the RRC connected state, and information indicating the gap repetition period in milliseconds (musim-GapRepetitionAndOffset), and a MUSIM gap identifier (e.g., MUSIM-GapID) for identifying the periodic MUSIM gap to add, change, or release.

The control unit 214 may determine the MCG gap setting when the gap recommendation list includes information on the MCG gap. The control unit 214 may determine a first gap parameter (e.g., musim-GapInfo) indicating the MCG gap. Thus, the control unit 214 determines the MCG gap to be set in the UE 100. The control unit 214 may determine the SCG gap setting when the gap recommendation list includes information on the SCG gap. In this operation example, the control unit 214 determines the SCG gap setting in addition to the MCG gap setting. Thus, the control unit 214 determines the SCG gap to be set in the UE 100. The control unit 214 may determine a second gap parameter (e.g., musim-GapInfo) indicating the SCG gap. The first gap parameter and the second gap parameter may include the above-mentioned information. The control unit 214 may determine all the MCG gap settings to be set in the UE 100.

Furthermore, the control unit 214 may determine, as the MUSIM gap identifier, a first gap identifier associated with a first gap parameter indicating a gap for an MCG. Further, the control unit 214 may determine, as the MUSIM gap identifier, a second gap identifier associated with a second gap parameter indicating a gap for an SCG. Therefore, the MUSIM gap identifier (gap identifier) includes a first gap identifier and a second gap identifier.

Here, the control unit 214 may determine the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier such that the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different. Thus, the control unit 214 may select (determine) the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier from an identifier space (ID space) having a plurality of assignable gap identifiers. As a result, the gap identifier determined as the first gap identifier cannot be selected (determined) as the second gap identifier, and therefore the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different. Note that the first gap identifiers are different from each other. The second gap identifiers are different from each other.

Step S112:
The network communication unit 213 of the base station 210M transmits notification information for the secondary node to identify the SCG-directed gap to the secondary node (base station 210S). The network communication unit 213 of the base station 210S receives the notification information from the master node.

The notification information may include information on the gap for the SCG determined by the master node. The notification information may include an SCG gap setting as information on the gap for the SCG. The SCG gap setting may include the determined second gap parameter and a second gap identifier. As shown in E31 of FIG. 13, the notification information may include a MUSIM gap setting (e.g., MUSIM-GapConfig) as the SCG gap setting (e.g., musim-GapConfigSCG). The control unit 214 may include only the SCG gap setting of all the MUSIM gap settings to be set in the UE 100 in the notification information.

The control unit 214 of the base station 210M may not include a second gap identifier in the notification information if only a single SCG gap setting is included in the notification information. For example, if it is specified that a maximum of one SCG gap setting can be set in the UE 100, the notification information may not include a second gap identifier. Therefore, as shown in E32 of FIG. 13, the notification information may include a second gap parameter (e.g., MUSIM-GapInfo) rather than the SCG gap setting itself including the second gap identifier.

Furthermore, the notification information may include information on the gap for the MCG determined by the master node. The notification information may include an MCG gap setting as the information on the gap for the MCG. The MCG gap setting may include the determined first gap parameter and a first gap identifier.

The notification information may include all MUSIM gap settings to be set in UE 100. The notification information may include a list of MUSIM gap settings (MCG gap settings and/or SCG gap settings). For example, the list may associate MUSIM gap settings with gap identifiers.

As shown in FIG. 13, the notification information may be, for example, CG setting information (CG-ConfigInfo) for requesting the base station 210S operating as a secondary node to execute a specific action. The notification information may be information (or a message) other than CG setting information.

In this operation example, the control unit 214 can identify the gap for the SCG based on the SCG gap setting or the second gap parameter included in the notification information.

Step S113:
The control unit 214 of the base station 210S may determine application of the SCG gap setting. When the notification information includes multiple SCG gap settings, the control unit 214 may determine whether to apply each of the multiple SCG gap settings.

Step S114:
The network communication unit 213 of the base station 210S transmits a response to the notification information to the master node (base station 210M). The network communication unit 213 of the base station 210M receives the response to the notification information from the secondary node.

The response may include specific information that enables the master node (base station 210M) to identify the SCG gap to be applied by the secondary node from among the SCG gaps determined by the master node.

For example, if all SCG gap settings received from the master node are to be applied, the specified information may be a response indicating approval. If the control unit 214 does not apply all SCG gap settings received from the master node, the specified information may be a response indicating rejection.

As shown in E41 of FIG. 14, the control unit 214 may include the SCG gap setting to be applied (e.g., MUSIM-GapConfig) in the specified information. The control unit 214 may include, for example, a list of SCG gap settings to be applied (e.g., a list of MUSIM-Gap) in the specified information. The control unit 214 may set the contents of at least a portion of the SCG gap settings to be applied (e.g., musim-GapInfo, musim-GapConfigSCG, etc.) to empty values.

When the control unit 214 changes the SCG gap setting, it may include at least a part of the changed SCG gap setting (e.g., musim-GapInfo, musim-GapConfigSCG, etc.) in the specified information. When the control unit 214 changes the SCG gap setting, it may include only at least a part of the changed SCG gap setting in the specified information, and may not include the SCG gap setting to be applied in the specified information.

The control unit 214 may not include SCG gap settings that are not applied in the specified information. The control unit 214 may not include SCG gap settings that are not applied in a list of SCG gap settings to be added/changed that is included in the specified information (e.g., musim-GapToAddModList). The control unit 214 may include SCG gap settings that are not applied in a list of SCG gap settings to be released that is included in the specified information (e.g., musim-GapToReleaseList).

The control unit 214 may include information (e.g., boolean or enum) indicating whether each SCG gap setting has been applied in the specified information.

When a single SCG gap setting is set in UE 100, the control unit 214 may include a second gap parameter (e.g., MUSIM-GapInfo) in the specified information instead of the SCG gap setting itself, as shown in E42 of FIG. 14.

As shown in FIG. 14, the response may be, for example, a CG setting (CG-Config) used to transfer an SCG setting (SCG radio setting) generated by the base station 210S operating as a secondary node. The response may also be information (or a message) other than the CG setting.

In this operation example, the control unit 214 of the base station 210M can identify the SCG gap to be applied to the secondary node from among the gaps for SCG determined by the master node based on the SCG gap setting or the second gap parameter included in the specified information.

After receiving the response, the control unit 214 may determine a second gap identifier that corresponds to a gap parameter indicating the gap for the SCG to be applied. The control unit 214 may also determine a first gap identifier after receiving the response. The control unit 214 may determine the first gap identifier and/or the second gap identifier such that the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different.

After receiving the response, the control unit 214 may determine the MUSIM gap setting to be set in the UE 100. The control unit 214 generates an RRC message including the determined MUSIM gap setting. The following description will be given assuming that the MUSIM gap setting includes the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting.

Note that each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier. The gap identifier includes a first gap identifier and a second gap identifier.

Step S115:
The transmitter 212T of the base station 210M transmits an RRC message including the MUSIM gap setting to the UE 100. The receiver 120R of the UE 100 receives an RRC message including the MUSIM gap setting from the base station 210M in the MCG. As a result, the control unit 214 of the base station 210M notifies the UE 100 of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting. The control unit 130 of the UE 100 acquires the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting.

In this operation example, since the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different, the control unit 214 of the base station 210M can notify the gap identifier to the UE 100 in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier included in the MUSIM gap setting is for the SCG or not. In addition, the control unit 130 of the UE 100 can obtain the gap identifier from the master node in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG or not.

Step S116:
The control unit 130 of the UE 100 sets the MUSIM gap. The control unit 130 sets the MUSIM gap based on the MUSIM gap setting information. The control unit 130 performs the following operations based on the set MUSIM gap. That is, the control unit 130 performs the following operations in the MUSIM gap based on the gap parameter specified by the gap identifier.

Step S117:
The control unit 130 of the UE 100 controls communication in the MCG and communication in the SCG during a period other than the set MUSIM gap. The control unit 130 controls communication in the MCG using the first transceiver unit 121, for example. The control unit 130 controls communication in the SCG using the second transceiver unit 122.

Step S118:
The control unit 130 of the UE 100 performs control to interrupt communication in the first network 200A during the set MUSIM gap.

The control unit 130 of the UE 100, for example, performs control to interrupt communication in the MCG during the set gap for the MCG. The control unit 130 may perform control to switch the first transceiver unit 121 used for communication in the MCG to a receiving operation for receiving signaling in the second network 200B. The control unit 130 of the UE 100 may continue communication with the SCG during the gap for the MCG. After terminating the receiving operation, the control unit 130 may perform control to switch the first transceiver unit 121 used for a receiving operation for receiving signaling in the second network 200B to a communication with the MCG.

The control unit 130 of the UE 100, for example, performs control to interrupt communication in the SCG during the set gap for SCG. The control unit 130 may perform control to switch the second transceiver unit 122 used for communication in the SCG to a receiving operation for receiving signaling in the second network 200B. The control unit 130 of the UE 100 may continue communication with the MCG during the gap for SCG. After terminating the receiving operation, the control unit 130 may perform control to switch the second transceiver unit 122 used for a receiving operation for receiving signaling in the second network 200B to a communication with the SCG.

As described above, the transmitter 212T of the base station 210M transmits an RRC message to the UE 100 for the UE 100 to determine whether or not a gap for SCG can be set. The receiver 120R of the UE 100 receives an RRC message from the first network 200A for the UE 100 to determine whether or not a gap for SCG can be set. The control unit 130 of the UE 100 determines whether or not a gap for SCG can be set based on the RRC message. This allows the UE 100 to know whether or not a gap for SCG can be set.

In addition, when the control unit 130 determines that it is possible to set a gap for SCG based on the RRC message, and there is a gap for SCG recommended by the communication device, the control unit 130 may generate a gap recommendation list including information on the recommended gap for SCG. This allows the base station 210M to grasp the gap for SCG as a recommended MUSIM gap when it supports the setting of a gap for SCG.

In addition, when the control unit 130 determines based on the RRC message that the gap for SCG cannot be set, even if there is a gap for SCG recommended by the communication device, the control unit 130 may perform control not to generate a gap recommendation list including information on the gap for SCG recommended by the communication device. This makes it possible to avoid notifying the base station 210M of the gap for SCG even if the UE 100 does not support the setting of the gap for SCG.

The RRC message may also include availability information indicating whether or not a gap for an SCG can be set. The control unit 130 may determine whether or not a gap for an SCG can be set based on the availability information. The availability information explicitly indicates whether or not a gap for an SCG can be set, allowing the control unit 130 to know whether or not a gap for an SCG can be set.

Furthermore, the number of configurable gaps for SCG may be predefined. When the feasibility information indicates that a gap for SCG can be configured, the control unit 130 may generate a gap recommendation list including information on recommended gaps for SCG that are equal to or less than the predefined configurable number. This allows the UE 100 to avoid notifying information on a number of gaps for SCG that cannot be installed.

The RRC message may also include setting number information indicating the number of SCG gaps that can be set. This allows the network 10 to flexibly change the number of SCG gaps that can be set. The UE 100 can avoid notifying information about an unsettable number of SCG gaps.

The control unit 130 may also determine whether or not a gap for SCG can be set based on the setting number information. The UE 100 can grasp whether or not a gap for SCG can be set and the number of gaps set for SCG.

In addition, if the RRC message does not include information regarding the setting of a gap for an SCG, the control unit 130 may determine that the setting of a gap for an SCG is not possible. This can reduce the amount of information to be included in the RRC message, thereby saving communication resources.

The RRC message also includes timer information indicating a timer value to be set in a timer for timing a period during which notification of information on a recommended gap for an SCG is prohibited. This allows the network 10 to control the period during which notification of information on a recommended gap for an SCG is prohibited.

Furthermore, the control unit 214 of the master node may determine the gap for SCG to be set in the UE 100. The notification information may include information on the determined gap for SCG. This allows the secondary node to identify the gap for SCG based on the information on the determined gap for SCG.

Furthermore, the control unit 214 of the master node may determine the gap for MCG to be set in the UE 100. The notification information may include information on the gap for MCG determined in addition to information on the gap for SCG determined. This allows the secondary node to identify the gap for MCG based on the information on the gap for MCG determined. The secondary node may also determine the application of the gap for SCG, for example, taking into account the gap for MCG.

Furthermore, the network communication unit 213 of the master node may receive a response to the notification information from the secondary node. The response may include information for the base station to identify an SCG gap to be applied at the secondary node from among the determined SCG gaps. This allows the master node to identify an SCG gap to be applied at the secondary node.

The control unit of the secondary node may also determine whether or not to apply an SCG gap at the secondary node from among the determined gaps for SCG. The network communication unit 213 may transmit a response to the notification information to the master node. The response may include information for the master node to identify an SCG gap to be applied at the secondary node from among the determined gaps for SCG. This allows the master node to identify an SCG gap to be applied at the secondary node.

The control unit 214 notifies the UE 100 of the MCG gap setting for the gap for the MCG and the SCG gap setting for the gap for the SCG. Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier. The control unit 214 notifies the UE 100 of the gap identifier in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG. The control unit 130 also acquires the MCG gap setting for the gap for the MCG and the SCG gap setting for the gap for the SCG from the master node. The control unit 130 acquires the gap identifier from the master node in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG. This allows the UE 100 to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG and appropriately control the gap set for itself. In other words, an appropriate MUSIM gap can be specified between the UE 100 and the network 10, and the MUSIM gap can be appropriately changed or released.

Furthermore, the gap identifier may include a first gap identifier associated with a first gap parameter indicating a gap for the MCG, and a second gap identifier associated with a second gap parameter indicating a gap for the SCG. The control unit 214 of the master node may determine the first gap identifier such that the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different. This allows the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier to not overlap, making it possible to appropriately control the gap set for itself.

The control unit 214 may also determine a second gap identifier in addition to the first gap identifier. This allows the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier to be different, since each gap identifier is determined by a single base station 210M.

Furthermore, the control unit 214 may determine a second gap parameter. The network communication unit 213 may transmit an SCG gap setting including the determined second gap parameter and the determined second gap identifier to the secondary node. This allows the secondary node to grasp the SCG gap setting, for example, to determine whether or not to apply it.

(Second operation example)
A second operation example will be described with reference to Fig. 15 and Fig. 16. In this operation example, the secondary node determines the SCG gap setting. The same parts as the above operation examples will not be described. The operations from steps S101 to S105 are the same as the first operation example, and therefore will not be described.

Step S211:
The control unit 214 of the base station 210M determines the MCG gap setting. The control unit 214 determines the MCG gap setting in the same manner as in step S111. In this operation example, the control unit 214 does not determine the SCG gap setting.

The control unit 214 may determine the second gap identifier in the same manner as in the first operation example. The control unit 214 may determine the second gap identifier associated with the gap parameters of the recommended gap for SCG.

Step S212:
The network communication unit 213 of the base station 210M transmits the notification information to the secondary node (base station 210S). The network communication unit 213 of the base station 210S receives the notification information from the master node.

The notification information includes information on recommended gaps for SCG. As shown in E51 of FIG. 16, the notification information may include, for example, a gap recommendation list including information on recommended gaps for SCG. The control unit 214 may include only information on recommended gaps for SCG (for example, MUSIM-GapInfo) from the gap recommendation list in the notification information. Furthermore, the notification information may include information on recommended gaps for MCG in addition to information on recommended gaps for SCG. The notification information may include a first gap identifier. Furthermore, the notification information may include information on recommended gaps for SCG and a second gap identifier.

Step S213:
The control unit 214 of the base station 210S determines the SCG gap setting in the same manner as the master node in the above-described first operation example. The control unit 214 can determine the SCG gap setting based on the information of the recommended SCG gap. The control unit 214 may determine the SCG gap setting including the gap parameters of the SCG gap to be applied from the information of the recommended SCG gap. If the control unit 214 has received the second gap identifier from the master node, the control unit 214 may include the second gap identifier in the SCG gap setting.

Alternatively, the control unit 214 may determine a second gap identifier for identifying the gap for the SCG, similar to the master node in the first operation example described above. The control unit 214 may determine the second gap identifier such that the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different.

Alternatively, the control unit 214 may determine the second gap identifier regardless of the first gap identifier. Therefore, in this case, the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier may overlap.

Step S214:
The network communication unit 213 of the base station 210S transmits a response to the notification information to the master node (base station 210M), similarly to step S114.

If the base station 210S determines the second gap identifier, the response may include the second gap identifier as a gap identifier for identifying the gap for the SCG. The notification information may include the second gap identifier determined by the control unit 214 of the secondary node.

If a second gap identifier is not associated with the SCG gap setting (or second gap parameter) determined by the secondary node, the control unit 214 of the base station 210M may determine a second gap identifier to be associated with each SCG gap (or each second gap parameter).

If the response includes a second gap identifier, the control unit 214 of the base station 210M may determine the first gap identifier such that the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different. In addition, if the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier overlap, the control unit 214 may change one of the overlapping first gap identifier and second gap identifier.

The control unit 214 of the base station 210M may generate an RRC message configured to distinguish between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting, regardless of whether the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier overlap. The control unit 214 may, for example, include identification information for the UE 100 to identify the SCG gap setting in the RRC message.

The identification information may include a cell group identifier or a cell identifier associated with the gap for SCG. The identification information may be associated with an SCG gap setting or a second gap parameter, similar to E21 in FIG. 10. When the cell group identifier indicates an SCG or the cell identifier indicates a cell included in the SCG, the UE 100 can determine that the MUSIM gap associated with the identification information is a gap for SCG. The identification information may also be a cell group identifier or a cell identifier associated with the gap for MCG. The identification information may be associated with an MCG gap setting or a first gap parameter. When the cell group identifier indicates an MCG or the cell identifier indicates a cell included in the MCG, the UE 100 can determine that the MUSIM gap associated with the identification information is a gap for MCG.

The identification information may include information (e.g., bool or enum) indicating whether the MUSIM gap setting included in the RRC message is an SCG gap setting. For example, as shown in E61 of FIG. 17, when the information (e.g., forSCG) indicates an SCG gap setting, the UE 100 can determine that the associated MUSIM gap setting is an SCG gap setting. On the other hand, when the information indicates that the information is not an SCG gap setting, the UE 100 can determine that the associated MUSIM gap setting is an MCG gap setting. The identification information may also include information indicating whether the MUSIM gap setting included in the RRC message is an MCG gap setting. When the information indicates that the information is an MCG gap setting, the UE 100 can determine that the associated MUSIM gap setting is an MCG gap setting. On the other hand, when the information indicates that the information is not an MCG gap setting, the UE 100 can determine that the associated MUSIM gap setting is an SCG gap setting.

The identification information may include information (e.g., targetCellGroup) indicating whether the MUSIM gap setting included in the RRC message is an MCG gap setting or an SCG gap setting. If the information indicates an MCG gap setting (e.g., mcg), UE100 can determine that the associated MUSIM gap setting is an MCG gap setting. On the other hand, if the information indicates an SCG gap setting (e.g., scg), UE100 can determine that the associated MUSIM gap setting is an SCG gap setting.

The control unit 214 of the base station 210M may be configured to distinguish between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting by including a list of MCG gap settings and a list of SCG gap settings in an RRC message. The UE 100 can determine that the MUSIM gap setting indicated by the list of MCG gap settings is the MCG gap setting. The UE 100 can determine that the MUSIM gap setting indicated by the list of SCG gap settings is the SCG gap setting.

Steps S215 to S218:
This is the same as steps S116 to S118.

In accordance with the above, the receiver 212R of the base station 210M may receive from the UE 100 a gap recommendation list including information on gaps for SCG recommended by the UE 100. The notification information may include information on the recommended gaps for SCG. This allows the secondary node to identify gaps for SCG based on the information on the recommended gaps for SCG, and to appropriately handle the gaps for SCG.

The gap recommendation list may further include information on the gap for the MCG recommended by UE100. The notification information may include information on the gap for the MCG recommended in addition to the information on the gap for the SCG recommended. This allows the secondary node to identify the gap for the MCG recommended. The secondary node may also determine the application of the gap for the SCG, for example, taking into account the gap for the MCG recommended.

Furthermore, the network communication unit 213 of the base station 210M may receive a response to the notification information from the secondary node. The response may include information for the base station to identify the SCG gap to be set in the UE 100. The master node can identify the SCG gap to be set in the UE 100.

The response may include a gap identifier for identifying the gap for the SCG. This allows the base station 210M to identify the gap for the SCG to be set for the UE 100 based on the gap identifier.

Furthermore, the receiver 212R of the base station 210M may receive from the UE 100 a gap recommendation list including information on gaps for SCG recommended by the UE 100. The network communication unit 213 may transmit the information on the recommended gaps for SCG and a second gap identifier associated with the gap parameters of the recommended gaps for SCG to the secondary node. In this way, the base station 210M, which determines the second gap identifier, can determine the second gap identifier so that the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different.

Furthermore, the network communication unit 213 of the base station 210M may receive the second gap parameter from the secondary node. The control unit 214 of the base station 210M may determine a second gap identifier that corresponds to the second gap parameter received from the secondary node. By determining the second gap identifier, the base station 210M that determines the second gap identifier can make the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier different.

The control unit 214 of the base station 210M may also perform control to transmit to the UE 100 an RRC message configured to be able to distinguish between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting. This allows the UE 100 that receives the RRC message to be able to distinguish between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting.

In addition, the control unit 214 of the base station 210M may include identification information for the UE 100 to identify the SCG gap setting in the RRC message. This allows the UE 100 to distinguish between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting based on the identification information.

The identification information may also include a cell group identifier or a cell identifier associated with the SCG gap. This allows the UE 100 to distinguish between an MCG gap setting and an SCG gap setting based on the cell group identifier or the cell identifier.

The identification information may also include information indicating whether the MUSIM gap setting included in the RRC message is an SCG gap setting. This allows the UE 100 to determine whether the MUSIM gap setting is an SCG gap setting based on the information.

Furthermore, the control unit 214 of the base station 210M may include a list of MCG gap settings and a list of SCG gap settings in the RRC message. The UE 100 can identify the MCG gap setting based on the list of MCG gap settings, and can identify the SCG gap setting based on the list of SCG gap settings.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the UE 100 may perform, for example, the operation of step S105 when the UE 100 is in an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state in the second network 200B. The UE 100 may perform, for example, the operation of step S105 after performing an initial connection (for example, an attach process) with the second network 200B. The UE 100 may perform the operation of step S105 when the UE 100 receives a paging message from the second network 200B.

The operation sequences (and operation flows) in the above-described embodiments do not necessarily have to be executed chronologically in the order depicted in the flow diagram or sequence diagram. For example, the steps in the operations may be executed in an order different from that depicted in the flow diagram or sequence diagram, or may be executed in parallel. Some of the steps in the operations may be deleted, and additional steps may be added to the process. The operation sequences (and operation flows) in the above-described embodiments may be executed separately and independently, or two or more operation sequences (and operation flows) may be executed in combination. For example, some steps of one operation flow may be added to another operation flow, or some steps of one operation flow may be replaced with some steps of another operation flow.

In the above embodiment, a mobile communication system based on NR has been described as an example of the mobile communication system 1. However, the mobile communication system 1 is not limited to this example. The mobile communication system 1 may be a system that complies with the TS of either LTE (Long Term Evolution) or another generation system of the 3GPP standard (e.g., the sixth generation). The base station 210 may be an eNB that provides E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol termination toward the UE 100 in LTE. The mobile communication system 1 may be a system that complies with the TS of a standard other than the 3GPP standard. The base station 210 may be an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) donor or an IAB node.

A program may be provided that causes a computer to execute each process performed by the UE 100 or the base station 210. The program may be recorded in a computer-readable medium. Using the computer-readable medium, it is possible to install the program in the computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transient recording medium. The non-transient recording medium is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) or a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory). In addition, circuits that execute each process performed by the UE 100 or the base station 210 may be integrated, and at least a part of the UE 100 or the base station 210 may be configured as a semiconductor integrated circuit (chip set, SoC (System On Chip)).

In the above embodiment, "transmit" may mean performing processing of at least one layer in a protocol stack used for transmission, or may mean physically transmitting a signal wirelessly or wired. Alternatively, "transmit" may mean a combination of performing processing of at least one layer and physically transmitting a signal wirelessly or wired. Similarly, "receive" may mean performing processing of at least one layer in a protocol stack used for reception, or may mean physically receiving a signal wirelessly or wired. Alternatively, "receive" may mean a combination of performing processing of at least one layer and physically receiving a signal wirelessly or wired. Similarly, "obtain/acquire" may mean obtaining information from stored information, obtaining information from information received from other nodes, or obtaining the information by generating the information. Similarly, the terms "based on" and "depending on/in response to" do not mean "based only on" or "only in response to," unless expressly stated otherwise. The term "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least in part on." Similarly, the term "in response to" means both "only in response to" and "at least in part on." Similarly, "include" and "comprise" do not mean including only the recited items, but may include only the recited items or may include additional items in addition to the recited items. Similarly, in this disclosure, "or" does not mean an exclusive or, but does mean an or. Furthermore, any reference to elements using designations such as "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed therein, or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner. In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as, for example, a, an, and the in English, these articles are intended to include the plural unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or structures. The present disclosure also encompasses various modifications and modifications within the scope of equivalents. In addition, various combinations and forms, as well as other combinations and forms including only one element, more than one element, or less than one element, are also within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

(Additional Note)
The following additional features relate to the above-described embodiment.

(Appendix 1)
A base station (210M) operating as a master node in a first network (100A) including a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) configured in a communication device (100) and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) configured in the communication device,
a control unit (214) that notifies the communication device of an MCG gap setting related to an MCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network (200B), and an SCG gap setting related to an SCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network;
Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier;
The control unit notifies the communication device of the gap identifier in a manner that enables identification of whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.

(Appendix 2)
the gap identifier includes a first gap identifier associated with a first gap parameter indicating the gap for the MCG, and a second gap identifier associated with a second gap parameter indicating the gap for the SCG,
The base station according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the first gap identifier such that the first gap identifier and the second gap identifier are different from each other.

(Appendix 3)
The base station according to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines the second gap identifier in addition to the first gap identifier.

(Appendix 4)
The control unit determines the second gap parameter;
The base station according to claim 3, further comprising: a network communication unit (213) configured to transmit the SCG gap configuration including the determined second gap parameter and the determined second gap identifier to the secondary node.

(Appendix 5)
A receiving unit (212R) that receives a gap recommendation list including information on gaps for SCG recommended by the communication device from the communication device,
The base station according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a network communication unit that transmits to the secondary node information on the recommended SCG gap and the second gap identifier associated with a gap parameter of the recommended SCG gap.

(Appendix 6)
a network communication unit that receives the second gap parameter from the secondary node;
The base station according to any one of Supplementary Note 3 to 5, wherein the control unit determines the second gap identifier associated with the second gap parameter received from the secondary node.

(Appendix 7)
The base station according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to 6, wherein the control unit controls transmission of a radio resource control (RRC) message to the communication device, the RRC message being configured to distinguish between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting.

(Appendix 8)
The base station according to Supplementary Note 7, wherein the control unit includes, in the RRC message, identification information for the communication device to identify the SCG gap setting.

(Appendix 9)
The base station according to Supplementary Note 8, wherein the identification information includes a cell group identifier or a cell identifier associated with the SCG-directed gap.

(Appendix 10)
The base station according to Supplementary Note 8, wherein the identification information includes information indicating whether the gap setting included in the RRC message is the SCG gap setting.

(Appendix 11)
The base station according to any one of Supplementary Note 7 to 10, wherein the control unit includes the list of MCG gap settings and the list of SCG gap settings in the RRC message.

(Appendix 12)
A communication device (100) for communicating with a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) in a first network (200A) and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) in the first network,
a control unit (130) that acquires from the master node an MCG gap setting for an MCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network (200B), and an SCG gap setting for an SCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network;
Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier;
The control unit acquires the gap identifier from the master node in a manner that enables identification of whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.

(Appendix 13)
The communication device according to claim 12, further comprising: a receiving unit (120R) that receives a radio resource control (RRC) message from the master node, the RRC message being configured to be distinguishable between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting.

(Appendix 14)
A communication method executed in a base station (210M) operating as a master node in a first network (100A) including a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) configured in a communication device (100) and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) configured in the communication device,
notifying the communication device of an MCG gap setting for an MCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network (200B), and an SCG gap setting for an SCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network;
Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier;
In the step, the gap identifier is notified to the communication device in a manner that enables identification of whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.

(Appendix 15)
A communication method executed by a communication device (100) that communicates with a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) in a first network (200A) and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) in the first network, comprising:
The method includes a step of acquiring from the master node an MCG gap setting for an MCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network (200B), and an SCG gap setting for an SCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network;
Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier;
In the step, the gap identifier is acquired from the master node in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.

Claims

A base station (210M) operating as a master node in a first network (100A) including a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) configured in a communication device (100) and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) configured in the communication device,
a control unit (214) that notifies the communication device of an MCG gap setting related to an MCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network (200B), and an SCG gap setting related to an SCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network;
Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier;
The control unit notifies the communication device of the gap identifier in a manner that enables identification of whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.
the gap identifier includes a first gap identifier associated with a first gap parameter indicating the gap for the MCG, and a second gap identifier associated with a second gap parameter indicating the gap for the SCG,
The base station according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines the first gap identifier such that the first gap identifier is different from the second gap identifier.
The base station according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit determines the second gap identifier in addition to the first gap identifier.
The control unit determines the second gap parameter;
The base station according to claim 3, further comprising a network communication unit (213) configured to transmit the SCG gap configuration including the determined second gap parameter and the determined second gap identifier to the secondary node.
A receiving unit (212R) that receives a gap recommendation list including information on gaps for SCG recommended by the communication device from the communication device,
The base station according to claim 3 or 4, comprising a network communication unit that transmits information of the recommended SCG gap and the second gap identifier associated with a gap parameter of the recommended SCG gap to the secondary node.
a network communication unit that receives the second gap parameter from the secondary node;
The base station according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit determines the second gap identifier associated with the second gap parameter received from the secondary node.
The base station according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit performs control to transmit, to the communication device, a radio resource control (RRC) message configured to be able to distinguish between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting.
The base station according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit includes, in the RRC message, identification information for the communication device to identify the SCG gap setting.
The base station according to claim 8 , wherein the identification information includes a cell group identifier or a cell identifier associated with the SCG-directed gap.
The base station according to claim 8 , wherein the identification information includes information indicating whether or not the gap setting included in the RRC message is the SCG gap setting.
The base station according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit includes the list of MCG gap settings and the list of SCG gap settings in the RRC message.
A communication device (100) for communicating with a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) in a first network (200A) and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) in the first network,
a control unit (130) that acquires from the master node an MCG gap setting for an MCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network (200B), and an SCG gap setting for an SCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network;
Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier;
The control unit acquires the gap identifier from the master node in a manner that enables identification of whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.
The communication device according to claim 12, comprising: a receiving unit (120R) that receives a radio resource control (RRC) message from the master node, the RRC message being configured to be distinguishable between the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting.
A communication method executed in a base station (210M) operating as a master node in a first network (100A) including a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) configured in a communication device (100) and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) configured in the communication device,
notifying the communication device of an MCG gap setting for an MCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network (200B), and an SCG gap setting for an SCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network;
Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier;
In the step, the gap identifier is notified to the communication device in a manner that enables identification of whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.
A communication method executed in a communication device (100) that communicates between a master node associated with a master cell group (MCG) in a first network (200A) and a secondary node associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) in the first network, the method comprising:
The method includes a step of acquiring from the master node an MCG gap setting for an MCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the MCG to communicate with a second network (200B), and an SCG gap setting for an SCG gap, which is a period during which the communication device can temporarily suspend communication in the SCG to communicate with the second network;
Each of the MCG gap setting and the SCG gap setting includes a gap identifier;
In the step, the gap identifier is acquired from the master node in a manner that makes it possible to identify whether the gap identifier is for the SCG.