Apple patents method for phones to quickly switch between cell towers
Apple has filed a patent for a way to manage connections between a phone and multiple cell towers. The system sends pre-set connection details to the phone in advance, then sends a separate signal to activate the specific tower needed at that moment.
In the filing’s own words
Aspects are described for a user equipment (UE) comprising a transceiver configured to enable wireless communications with a base station and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver. The processor is configured to receive a configuration message from the base station. The configuration message includes respective radio resource control (RRC) configuration information of a plurality of secondary base stations. The processor is further configured to receive an activation message from the base station and determine at least one secondary base station of the plurality of secondary base stations based on the activation message. Finally, the processor is configured to activate a connection with the at least one secondary base station using the configuration message.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A base station, comprising: a transceiver configured to enable wireless communications with a user equipment (UE); and a processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver, and configured to: generate a configuration message that includes respective radio resource control (RRC) configuration information of a plurality of secondary base stations; transmit, using the transceiver, the configuration message to the UE; generate an activation message that indicates at least one secondary base station of the plurality of secondary base stations for activation; and transmit, using the transceiver, the activation message to the UE.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- MULTI-CELL GROUP CONNECTIVITY REALIZATION MODEL FOR SECONDARY CELL GROUP (SCG) SWITCH
- Publication number
- US20260323758A1
- Application number
- 19113751
- Filed
- Sep 22, 2022
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 10
- Claims
- 19
Classified under
H04W 76/27 Electricity & electronicsH04W 24/10 Electricity & electronicsH04W 36/0069 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.