Optimizations To LTE-NR Inter-RAT Mobility

Beamforming characteristics determined for a master RAT are reused to form the beam(s) for a different, secondary RAT when communications using the second RAT becomes desirable, e.g., during handover or for dual connectivity scenarios, when an antenna arrangement for the first RAT is close enough to the antenna arrangement for the second RAT. When these antenna arrangements are "close enough," the assumption is that the beamforming characteristics for the first RAT are a reasonable approximation of the beamforming characteristics that would be determined for the second RAT. By reusing the beamforming characteristics, the solution presented herein provides the efficiency and directionality provided by dynamic beamforming while avoiding the delay typically associated with traditional beamforming solutions.