Rrm measurement and reporting mechanisms with antenna port adaptation

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to a terminal node, a network node, and methods for assisting a RRM measurement to ensure the consistence of the measurement. A method at a terminal node for performing a RRM measurement includes receiving an indication from a network node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells; and performing the RRM measurement on the one or more cells based on the indication. The indication helps the terminal node perform the RRM measurement.

Description

[0001] RRM EASUREMENTAND REPORTING MECHANISMS WITH ANTENNA PORT ADAPTATION

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure is related to the field of telecommunication, and in particular, to a terminal node, a network node, and methods for Radio Resource Management, RRM measurements.

[0004] Background

[0005] With the development of the electronic and telecommunications technologies, mobile devices, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a vehicle mounted device, becomes an important part of our daily lives. To support a numerous number of mobile devices, a highly power-efficient Radio Access Network (RAN), such as a fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) RAN, will be required.

[0006] The network (NW) power consumption for 5G NR is said to be less compared to Long Term Evolution (LTE) because of its lean design. In the current implementation, however, NR will most likely consume more power compared to LTE, e.g., due to the higher bandwidth, and more so due to introduction of additional elements such as 64 TX / RX ports with associated digital Radio Frequency (RF) chains. As the NW is expected to be able to support UEs with its maximum capability (e.g., throughput, coverage, etc.), the NW may need to use full configuration even when the maximum NW support is actually rarely needed by the UEs.

[0007] In addition, an increased number of TX / RX ports also leads to an increase to the number of reference signals (e.g., Channel State Information Reference Signal or CSI- RS) needed to be transmitted by the NW (and to be measured by the UEs) for a proper signal detection. Thus, the additional TX / RX ports may result in another additional power consumption, i.e., to transmit a larger number of CSI-RSs to the UEs. Furthermore, it should also be noted that the larger number of CSI-RS transmissions may also consume the valuable NW resources.

[0008] For RRM mobility measurements, UEs are configured to measure signal strength or quality of Synchronization Symbol Block, SSB or CSI-RS transmissions from its serving and neighbor cells. The UE can then report the measurement results, e.g. best cell identities and qualities to the serving cell as basis for handover decisions, or in idle mode, autonomously determine the preferred camping cell.

[0009] UE RRM measurements may consist of combining multiple measurement instances over an extended observation window. The preferred cell decision is typically based on the assumption that measurement results for different cells are comparable, possibly applying static cell-specific offsets signaled from the NW.

[0010] When antenna elements / ports are adapted to improve energy performance, e.g. by turning on and off subsets of antenna elements and / or transmissions in corresponding antenna ports, actual SSB or CSI-RS transmission configurations may change.

[0011] UEs using the RS to perform RRM measurements while the RS configurations varying over time results in inconsistencies in both long and short term. For example, a single cell quality report or estimate that is aggregated based on multiple inconsistent measurements is expected to degrade handover decision quality. Also in terms of longterm NW performance management, it is problematic if reported cell qualities or relative comparisons are inconsistent over time due to port adaptation in individual cells.

[0012] Summary

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method at a terminal node for performing a RRM measurement is provided. The method comprises: receiving an indication from a network node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells; and performing the RRM measurement on the one or more cells based on the indication.

[0014] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication indicates a change of the antenna configuration, and performing the RRM measurement based on the indication comprises: adjusting the RRM measurement based on the changed antenna configuration.

[0015] In some exemplary embodiments, the change of the antenna configuration comprises a change of active antenna ports and / or a change of transmission power of antenna ports.

[0016] In some exemplary embodiments, adjusting the RRM measurement comprises resetting or rescaling samples pertaining to one or more ongoing and / or previous RRM measurements. In some exemplary embodiments, the indication comprises information on duration of the change.

[0017] In some exemplary embodiments, performing the RRM measurement based on the indication comprises: ignoring a result of the RRM measurement if the duration is shorter than a time threshold; and using a result of the RRM measurement performed after the change and dropping a result of the RRM measurement performed before the change if the duration is longer than the time threshold.

[0018] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication further comprises a Channel State Information, CSI, Reference Signal, RS, resource indication, and performing the RRM measurement comprises using the indicated CSI-RS resource to perform the RRM measurement.

[0019] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication comprises a threshold to be used for the terminal node in deciding whether to report a result of the RRM measurement.

[0020] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication further indicates a request for additional information, and the method further comprises: reporting a result of the RRM measurement by including the additional information.

[0021] In some exemplary embodiments, the additional information comprises configuration stamps or measurement time instance of the RRM measurement.

[0022] In some exemplary embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a Radio Resource Control, RRC message or System Information, SI message to indicate at least one antenna configuration of the one or more cell, and receiving an indication from a serving cell, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells comprises receiving a Downlink Control Information, DCI, or Medium Access Control, MAC, control Element, CE, which refers to one of the at least one antenna configuration indicated by the RRC or SI message.

[0023] In some exemplary embodiments, an RRC configuration indicates one or more CSI-RS resource sets to be measured, and wherein each CSI-RS resource set comprises only CSI-RS resource configured with the same number of antenna ports or each CSI-RS resource set comprises CSI-RS resource configured with at least different number of antenna ports. In some exemplary embodiments, samples measured on CSI-RS resources configured with the same number of antenna ports are averaged.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a terminal node is provided. The terminal node comprises: a communication interface arranged for communication; at least one processor; and a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal node to perform the method of any of the first aspect.

[0025] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a terminal node is provided. The terminal node comprises: a receiving module configured to receive, from a network node, an indication indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells; a performing module configured to perform indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells.

[0026] In some exemplary embodiments, the terminal node may comprise one or more further modules configured to perform the method of any of the first aspect.

[0027] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a method at a network node for configuring a RRM measurement of a terminal node is provided. The method comprises: transmitting an indication to the terminal node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells, which indication being used by the terminal node in performing the RRM measurement on the one or more cells.

[0028] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication indicates a change of the antenna configuration.

[0029] In some exemplary embodiments, the change of the antenna configuration comprises a change of active antenna ports and / or a change of transmission power of antenna ports.

[0030] In some exemplary embodiments, the change of the antenna configuration comprises a change of active antenna ports and / or a change of transmission power of antenna ports.

[0031] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication comprises information on duration of the change.

[0032] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication further comprises a Channel State Information, CSI, Reference Signal, RS, resource indication.

[0033] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication further comprises a threshold to be used for the terminal node in deciding whether to report a result of the RRM measurement. In some exemplary embodiments, the indication further indicates a request for additional information to be reported along with a report of the RRM measurement.

[0034] In some exemplary embodiments, the additional information comprises stamps or measurement time instance of the RRM measurement.

[0035] In some exemplary embodiments, the indication comprises an offset indicating an effect of the antenna configuration on the RRM measurement.

[0036] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a network node is provided. The network node comprises: a communication interface arranged for communication; at least one processor; and a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node to perform the method of any of the fourth aspect.

[0037] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a network node is provided. The network node comprises: a transmitting module configured to transmit an indication to the terminal node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells, which indication being used by the terminal node in performing the RRM measurement on the one or more cells.

[0038] In some exemplary embodiments, the network node may comprise one or more further modules configured to perform the method of any of the fourth aspect.

[0039] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program comprising instructions is provided. The instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method of any of the first and fourth aspects.

[0040] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a carrier containing the computer program of the seventh aspect is provided. In some exemplary embodiments, the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

[0041] The present disclosure proposes a solution to assist the UE in performing the RRM measurement to avoid mixing inconsistent measurement instances, so that the consistency of RRM measurements and cell quality comparison can be maintained even when the network make antenna port adaption, and the mobility performance is not degraded. This makes both system operation and individual user experience more robust when network energy saving is applied. Brief Description of the

[0042] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary telecommunications network in which UEs and gNB may be operated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method at a terminal node for performing an RRM measurement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method at a network node for configuring a RRM measurement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of an arrangement which may be used in a terminal node or a network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary terminal node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] FIG. 8 is a generalized block diagram of a host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] FIG. 9 to FIG. 12 are flowcharts illustrating methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0051] Detailed

[0052] Hereinafter, the present disclosure is described with reference to embodiments shown in the attached drawings. However, it is to be understood that those descriptions are just provided for illustrative purpose, rather than limiting the present disclosure. Further, in the following, descriptions of known structures and techniques are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the concept of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the term "exemplary" is used herein to mean "illustrative," or "serving as an example," and is not intended to imply that a particular embodiment is preferred over another or that a particular feature is essential. Likewise, the terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth," and similar terms, are used simply to distinguish one particular instance of an item or feature from another, and do not indicate a particular order or arrangement, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, the term "step," as used herein, is meant to be synonymous with "operation" or "action." Any description herein of a sequence of steps does not imply that these operations must be carried out in a particular order, or even that these operations are carried out in any order at all, unless the context or the details of the described operation clearly indicates otherwise.

[0053] Conditional language used herein, such as "can," "might," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and / or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and / or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and / or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Further, the term "each," as used herein, in addition to having its ordinary meaning, can mean any subset of a set of elements to which the term "each" is applied.

[0054] The term "based on" is to be read as "based at least in part on." The term "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" are to be read as "at least one embodiment." The term "another embodiment" is to be read as "at least one other embodiment." Other definitions, explicit and implicit, may be included below. In addition, language such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y and Z," unless specifically stated otherwise, is to be understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z, or a combination thereof.

[0055] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limitation of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "has", "having", "includes" and / or "including", when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof. It will be also understood that the terms "con nect(s)," "connecting", "connected", etc. when used herein, just mean that there is an electrical or communicative connection between two elements and they can be connected either directly or indirectly, unless explicitly stated to the contrary.

[0056] Of course, the present disclosure may be carried out in other specific ways than those set forth herein without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the disclosure. One or more of the specific processes discussed below may be carried out in any electronic device comprising one or more appropriately configured processing circuits, which may in some exemplary embodiments be embodied in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). In some exemplary embodiments, these processing circuits may comprise one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, and / or digital signal processors programmed with appropriate software and / or firmware to carry out one or more of the operations described above, or variants thereof. In some exemplary embodiments, these processing circuits may comprise customized hardware to carry out one or more of the functions described above. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

[0057] Although multiple embodiments of the present disclosure will be illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the following Detailed Description, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but instead is also capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the present disclosure that as will be set forth and defined within the claims.

[0058] Further, please note that although the following description of some embodiments of the present disclosure is given in the context of 5G NR, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In fact, as long as a RS measurement reporting is involved, the inventive concept of the present disclosure may be applicable to any appropriate communication architecture, for example, to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) I General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Time Division - Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), CDMA2000, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), 4th Generation Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advance (LTE-A), or 5G NR, etc. Therefore, one skilled in the arts could readily understand that the terms used herein may also refer to their equivalents in any other infrastructure. For example, the term "User Equipment" or "UE" used herein may refer to a terminal device, a mobile device, a mobile terminal, a mobile station, a user device, a user terminal, a wireless device, a wireless terminal, or any other equivalents. For another example, the term "gNB" used herein may refer to a network node, a base station, a base transceiver station, an access point, a hot spot, a NodeB, an Evolved NodeB, a network element, or any other equivalents. Further, please note that the term "indicator" used herein may refer to a parameter, a coefficient, an attribute, a property, a setting, a configuration, a profile, an identifier, a field, one or more bits / octets, an information element, or any data by which information of interest may be indicated directly or indirectly.

[0059] Further, although some embodiments are described in the context of "CSI-RS", the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, another type of reference signal may be involved, for example Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), Phase Tracking Reference Signal (PT-RS) or any other reference signals that are applicable to the teaching of the present disclosure.

[0060] Further, following 3GPP documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties:

[0061] - 3GPP TS 38.331 V17.3.0 (2022-12), Technical Specification, 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 17).

[0062] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary telecommunications network 10 in which UE #1 100-1, UE #2 100-2, and gNB 105 may be operated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Although the telecommunications network 10 is a network defined in the context of 5G NR, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, the network 10 may comprise one or more UEs 100-1 and 100-2 (collectively, UE(s) 100) and a RAN node 105, which could be a base station, a Node B, an evolved NodeB (eNB), a gNB, or an AN node which provides the UEs 100 with access to the network. Further, the network 10 may comprise its core network portion that is not shown in FIG. 1.

[0064] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the network 10 may comprise additional nodes, less nodes, or some variants of the existing nodes shown in FIG. 1. For example, in a network with the 4G architecture, the entities (e.g., an eNB) which perform these functions may be different from those (e.g., the gNB 105) shown in FIG. 1. For another example, in a network with a mixed 4G / 5G architecture, some of the entities may be same as those shown in FIG. 1, and others may be different.

[0065] Further, although two UEs 100 and one gNB 105 are shown in FIG. 1, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, any number of UEs and / or any number of gNBs may be comprised in the network 10.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 1, the UEs 100 may be communicatively connected to the gNB 105 which in turn may be communicatively connected to a corresponding Core Network (CN) and then the Internet, such that the UEs 100 may finally communicate its user plane data with other devices outside the network 10, for example, via the gNB 105.

[0067] A UE in a 5G NR network periodically measures the quality of received signals, such as Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) of SSB or CSI-RS transmission. These measurements, referred to as the Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements, are reported back to a base station for resource management. RRM enables the network to efficiently utilize its limited radio frequency resources. RRM measurements can be used for the management of limited radio frequency resources to enhance the performance of wireless connections and mobility operations, such as handover. Based on the RRM measurements, a network node (e.g., base station) configures parameters such as transmit power, user allocation, beamforming, data rates, handover criteria, modulation scheme, error coding scheme, etc.

[0068] As mentioned above, when antenna elements / ports are adapted to improve energy performance, actual SSB or CSI-RS transmission configurations may change, resulting inconsistent measurements.

[0069] The present disclosure proposes an effective solution to assist the UE in performing RRM measurements even if the serving (if in RRC_CONNECTED) or camping (if in RRC_IDEL / RRC_INACTIVE) cell or an RRM candidate cell adapt its antenna port configuration. The main idea is to enable the network providing the UE with information that may affect the RRM measurements, for example a state or a state change of the cell antenna configuration of the serving / camping cell and / or the RRM candidate cell, so that the UE adjusts the RRM measurements according to the provided information. For example, the UE would not combine incompatible measurement instances, and the network can properly interpret the reported results.

[0070] In particular, the idea may be embodied as:

[0071] • UE receives indication from serving cell about port configuration changes in the serving or candidate cells to flush or rescale previous measurement instances

[0072] • UE receives indication from serving cell about which CSI-RS resource is applicable to the current measurement (in case of CSI-RS-based RRM measurements)

[0073] • UE receives indication from serving cell about how long such change could be, i.e. whether this change could last long so that RRM measurement according to the new change shall impact RRM decision, or whether this change is temporary so that RRM measurement according to the new change can be ignored to avoid ping-pong effects.

[0074] • UE signals to serving cell which configuration stamps or which time instances the reported measurement (and the underlying comparison) is based on

[0075] • UE receives configuration changes for e.g. RSRP thresholds (or other RRM configurations) as the port configurations and resulting beam shapes change

[0076] • RRC-based multiple configurations are provided and DCI / MAC CE-based indications point to a configuration selection for the above choices

[0077] • An RRC configuration that comprises options for configuring CSI-RS resources to be used for L3 measurement with different numbers of antenna ports and further configuration on how UE derives the measurements from those is provided. Also Mac CE option corresponding to the static configuration is provided. The idea may also be applied in the beam management measurement and reporting context. It can also easily be applied to other types of RRM measurements, e.g., SSB based one.

[0078] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary method 200 at a terminal node for performing a RRM measurement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 200 may be performed at a terminal node (e.g., the UE 100). The method 200 may comprise step S210, S220 and possible S230. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the method 200 may comprise more steps, less steps, different steps, or any combination thereof. Further the steps of the method 200 may be performed in a different order than that described herein. Further, in some exemplary embodiments, a step in the method 200 may be split into multiple sub-steps and performed by different entities, and / or multiple steps in the method 200 may be combined into a single step.

[0079] The method 200 may begin at step S210 where an indication indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells is received from a network node.

[0080] At step S220, the terminal node performs an RRM measurement on the one or more cells based on the indication.

[0081] If configured, the terminal node may report a result of the RRM measurement to the terminal node at step S230.

[0082] In one embodiment, the indication may indicate a change of the antenna configuration. In the embodiment, the terminal node adjusts the RRM measurement based on the changed antenna configuration.

[0083] In one embodiment, the change of the antenna configuration comprises a change of active antenna ports and / or a change of transmission power of antenna ports.

[0084] In one embodiment, the terminal node may adjust the RRM measurement by resetting or rescaling samples pertaining to one or more ongoing and / or previous RRM measurements.

[0085] In one embodiment, the indication comprises an indication of a configuration change, i.e. that the active antenna port set has changed during the overall measurement window containing multiple measurement instances. Based on the indication, the terminal node may reset (or erase) samples collected so far that pertain to an ongoing measurement. In another embodiment, the indication comprises an indication of a transmission power change, i.e., that the power of signals transmitted from active antenna port set changes. Based on the indication, the terminal node may rescale samples pertaining to anon going RRM measurement.

[0086] In one embodiment, the indication comprises information on duration of the change.

[0087] In one embodiment, the terminal node may have different behavior on the RRM measurement with different durations of change. The terminal node may ignore a result of the RRM measurement if the duration is shorter than a time threshold. The time threshold may be preconfigured by the network or set autonomously by the terminal node. The terminal node also may use a result of the RRM measurement performed after the change and dropping a result of the RRM measurement performed before the change if the duration is longer than the time threshold. For a change that may last long, the terminal node may flush its previous RRM measurement and report RRM results based on new results so that RRM decision can be triggered quickly. For a change that may last a short time, the terminal node may ignore the measurement results based on new results so that RRM decision is not affected by this change to avoid ping / pong effect, e.g. UE handover back and forth between two neighboring cells.

[0088] In one embodiment, the indication further comprises a CSI-RS resource indication. The terminal node may use the indicated CSI-RS resource to perform the RRM measurement. The terminal node may receive indication from the network node about which CSI-RS resource is applicable to the current measurement (in case of CSI- RS-based RRM measurements), and the terminal node then use the applicable CSI-RS resource to perform the measurement.

[0089] In one embodiment, the indication further comprises a threshold to be used for the terminal node in deciding whether to report a result of the RRM measurement. In one embodiment, the indication may comprise a new RSRP threshold (or other mobility event threshold) or change in such a threshold. The terminal node in response applies the new indicated threshold values in its event processing, preferred cell decision process, and RRM mobility reporting.

[0090] In one embodiment, the indication comprises further indicates a request for additional information. The terminal node includes the additional information in the report of the RRM measurement. The terminal may determine whether, or which types of, indications include the request for additional information, or there could be an explicit additional information request flag in the indication. In one embodiment, the indication may also comprise a reconfiguration of RRM reporting, e.g. including additional information in the report. The terminal node adds additional information to the measurement report that helps identify the resources used, changes criteria for preferred cell selection, etc.

[0091] In one embodiment, the additional information comprises configuration stamps or measurement time instance of the RRM measurement.

[0092] In one embodiment, the method 200 may further comprise a step of receiving a Radio Resource Control, RRC message or System Information, SI message to indicate at least one antenna configuration of the one or more cell. In the embodiment, the terminal node may receive a Downlink Control Information, DCI, or Medium Access Control, MAC, control Element, CE, which refers to one of the at least one antenna configuration indicated by the RRC or SI message.

[0093] In one embodiment, the indication may be a stand-alone state description message, e.g. an RRC message or a SI IE. In another embodiment, the indication may be a more-compact message in e.g. DCI or MAC CE, which refers to one of the states previously described via an RRC or SI configuration or indicates a state change without specifying the new state.

[0094] In one embodiment, an RRC configuration indicates one or more CSI-RS resource sets to be measured, and wherein each CSI-RS resource set comprises only CSI-RS resource configured with the same number of antenna ports or each CSI-RS resource set comprises CSI-RS resource configured with at least different number of antenna ports.

[0095] In one embodiment, samples measured on CSI-RS resources configured with the same number of antenna ports are averaged.

[0096] An RRC configuration may comprise options for configuring CSI-RS resources to be used for L3 measurement with different numbers of antenna ports and further configuration on how the terminal node derives the measurements from those. Also Mac CE option corresponding to the static configuration is provided.

[0097] Below are some embodiments for static RRC configuration option

[0098] In an embodiment that only involves RRC configuration, UE is configured in IE CSI-RS-CellMobility a list of CSI-RS resources to be used for L3 mobility measurements. E.g. in field csi-rs-ResourceList-Mobility or in an extension or in another similar field providing a list of CSI-RS resources using e.g. IE CSI-RS-Resource-Mobility. In this list, different from existing specification which only allows one port CSI-RS to be configured, different resources are configured with different parameter values for nrofPorts as well as parameters frequencyDomainAllocation, cdm-Type and density which also depends on number of ports. That is, UE is given with one list of CSI-RS resources per neighbor cell and within the list CSI-RS resources, each resource indexed with csi-RS-Index, different CSI-RS resources may be configured with different number of antenna portsfand corresponding parameters).

[0099] In another embodiment, the IE CSI-RS-CellMobility includes more than one list of CSI-RS resources per neighbor cell e.g. csi-rs-ResourceList-Mobility, csi-rs-ResourceList- Mobility_2port, csi-rs-ResourceList-Mobility_3port, where each list consist ofn CSI-RS resources with same number of antenna ports (same parameter value for at least nrofPorts). In a variant, the configuration is list of lists and each list is indexed.

[0100] Correspondingly, UE is configured for serving cell for corresponding CSI-RS for mobility in order to do comparisons between serving cell and neighbor cell measurements.

[0101] Then, in IE measObjectNR UE is configured how measurements are derived from the configured CSI-RS resources in IE CSI-RS- Resource- Mobility:

[0102] In case of single list per neighbor cell, the IE measObjectNR can be revised to include a field or IE which indicates the csi-RS-Index that may be averaged. That is, to indicate which CSI-RS resources are to be treated in a same way by the UE as these CSI-RS resources may be configured with different number of antenna ports. In this way, UE may average over CSI-RS resources which are configured with same number of antenna ports. This configuration may be used separately or jointly with existing parameters nrofCSI-RS-ResourcesToAverage and absThreshCSI-RS-Consolidation. In one embodiment, UE is configured with different values for these parameters to be applied depending on the number of antenna ports of the CSI-RS resource. In ASN1, this means that more than one field of nrofCSI-RS-ResourcesToAverage and absThreshCSI-RS-Consolidation is added, or a list of these is coded. This list is then associated to a set of csi-RS-Index for which these parameter values apply. In TS 38.331 in Clause 5.5.3.3, the corresponding procedural text needs to be added.

[0103] In case of multiple lists of CSI-RS resources per neighbort cell in IE CSI-RS- CellMobility, the UE is specified to potentially average only over CSI-RS resources belonging to same the lists. For each lists, UE may be configured with different value for nrofCSI-RS-ResourcesToAverage and / or absThreshCSI-RS-Consolidation in IE MeasObjectNR. In another embodiment, same value of nrofCSI-RS-ResourcesToAverage and / or absThreshCSI-RS-Consolidation is used for each list. In the latter option, the existing parameters may be used. In TS 38.331 in Clause 5.5.3.3, the corresponding procedural text needs to be added.

[0104] Below are some embodiments for applying Mac CE in corresponding to the above static RRC configuration.

[0105] In one embodiment, a MAC CE is defined with fields cellld (corresponding to this parameter in IE CSI-RS-CellMobility) and list of csi-RS-Index corresponding to the RRC embodiment where UE is configured with single list csi-rs-ResourceList-Mobility. Alternatively, the MAC CE is defined with fields cellld (corresponding to this parameter in IE CSI-RS-CellMobility) and index of the list csi-rs-ResourceList-Mobility. When UE receives the MAC CE, UE activates the measurement for the the indicated CSI-RS resources and deactivates ongoing measurements configured in CSI-RS-CellMobility for the same serving cell. In a variant, the MAC CE has a field F where value "0" means that it deactivates the measurements indicated in the MAC CE and value "1" means that it activates the measurements indicated in the MAC CE. In yet another variant, the MAC CE has the field F for each resource or resource list included in the MAC CE. In this case, the field F is applied only to the associated resource(s).

[0106] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an exemplary method 300 for configuring a RRM measurement of a terminal node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 300 may be performed at a network node (e.g., the gNB 105). The method 300 may comprise steps S310 and S320. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the method 300 may comprise more steps, less steps, different steps, or any combination thereof. Further the steps of the method 300 may be performed in a different order than that described herein. Further, in some exemplary embodiments, a step in the method 300 may be split into multiple sub-steps and performed by different entities, and / or multiple steps in the method 900 may be combined into a single step.

[0107] The method 300 may begin at step S310 where the network node transmits an indication to a terminal node (e.g., UE 100), indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells, which indication being used by the terminal node in performing the RRM measurement on the one or more cells. If the terminal node is configured to report the RRM measurement, the method 300 may further comprise a step S320 of receiving the RRM measurement report from the terminal node.

[0108] In one embodiment, the indication may indicate a change of the antenna configuration. In the embodiment, the terminal node adjusts the RRM measurement based on the changed antenna configuration.

[0109] In one embodiment, the change of the antenna configuration comprises a change of active antenna ports and / or a change of transmission power of antenna ports.

[0110] In one embodiment, the indication comprises an indication of a configuration change, i.e. that the active antenna port set has changed during the overall measurement window containing multiple measurement instances. Based on the indication, the terminal node may reset (erase) samples collected so far that pertain to an ongoing measurement. In another embodiment, the indication comprises an indication of a transmission power change, i.e., that the power of signals transmitted from active antenna port set changes. Based on the indication, the terminal node may rescale samples pertaining to an ongoing RRM measurement.

[0111] In one embodiment, the indication comprises information on duration of the change. In the embodiment, the terminal node may have different behavior on the RRM measurement with different durations of change. The terminal node may ignore a result of the RRM measurement if the duration is short. The terminal node also may use a result of the RRM measurement performed after the change and dropping a result of the RRM measurement performed before the change if the duration is long. For a change that may last long, the terminal node may flush its previous RRM measurement and report RRM results based on new results so that RRM decision can be triggered quickly. For a change that may last a short time, the terminal node may ignore the measurement results based on new results so that RRM decision is not affected by this change to avoid ping / pong effect, e.g. UE handover back and forth between two neighboring cells.

[0112] In one embodiment, the indication further comprises a CSI-RS resource indication. The terminal node may use the indicated CSI-RS resource to perform the RRM measurement. The CSI-RS resource indication may be e.g. a CSI-RS resource set index for the ports that are active after the recent or pending port adaptation. The terminal node then configures its receiver to perform measurements using the indicated resources.

[0113] In one embodiment, the indication further comprises a threshold to be used for the terminal node in deciding whether to report a result of the RRM measurement. In one embodiment, the indication may comprise a new RSRP threshold (or other mobility event threshold) or change in such a threshold. The terminal node in response applies the new indicated threshold values in its event processing, preferred cell decision process, and RRM mobility reporting.

[0114] In one embodiment, the indication further indicates a request for additional information to be reported along with a report of the RRM measurement. The request may be an explicit additional information request flag in the indication. The terminal node includes the additional information in the report of the RRM measurement. In one embodiment, the indication may also comprise a reconfiguration of RRM reporting, e.g. including additional information in the report. The terminal node adds additional information to the measurement report that helps identify the resources used, changes criteria for preferred cell selection, etc.

[0115] In one embodiment, the additional information comprises configuration stamps or measurement time instance of the RRM measurement. In the embodiment, the interpretation of the indication may be that previous measurements are not necessarily immediately flushed, e.g. if the terminal node is involved in a procedure that needs to retrieve those measured values, e.g. in the aspect below that requests the terminal node to provide configuration stamps. Thus, the terminal node may keep the samples collected so far and additionally initiate a new filter process. The sample collection, flushing, or modification / scaling may refer to LI or L2 / 3 filtering of measurement samples.

[0116] In one embodiment, the indication comprises an offset indicating an effect of the antenna configuration on the RRM measurement. The terminal node may then rescale previously gathered samples to continue the sample collection and accumulation using consistent scaling.

[0117] FIG. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of an arrangement 400 which may be used in a terminal node (e.g., the UE 100) or a network node (e.g., the gNB 105) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Comprised in the arrangement 400 are a controlling unit or processing unit 403, e.g., with a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The processing unit 403 may be a single unit or a plurality of units to perform different actions of procedures described herein by executing a computer program. The computer program may be stored in a memory 405. The memory 405 may be any combination of a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The memory may also comprise persistent storage, which, for example, can be any single one or combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, or solid state memory or even remotely mounted memory.

[0118] The arrangement 400 may also comprise a communication interface 401 arranged for communication. The communication interface 401 may be implemented as an input unit for receiving signals from other entities, and an output unit for providing signal(s) to other entities. The communication interface 401 may also be implemented as an integrated entity or as separate entities.

[0119] The computer program, which comprises code / computer readable instructions, which when executed by the processing unit 403 in the arrangement 400 causes the arrangement 400 and / or the terminal node / network node in which it is comprised to perform the actions, e.g., of the procedure described earlier in conjunction with FIG. 2 to FIG. 3 or any other variant.

[0120] The computer program may be configured as a computer program code structured in computer program modules. Hence, in an exemplifying embodiment when the arrangement 400 is used in a terminal node, the code in the computer program of the arrangement 400 includes: a module configured to receive an indication from a network node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells; and a module configured to perform the RRM measurement on the one or more cells based on the indication.

[0121] Additionally or alternatively, in an exemplifying embodiment when the arrangement 400 is used in a network node, the code in the computer program of the arrangement 400 includes: a module configured to transmit an indication to the terminal node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells, which indication being used by the terminal node in performing the RRM measurement on the one or more cells.

[0122] The computer program modules could essentially perform the actions of the flow illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, to emulate the terminal node or the network node. In other words, when the different computer program modules are executed in the processing unit 403, they may correspond to different modules in the terminal node or the network node.

[0123] Although the code means in the embodiments disclosed above in conjunction with FIG. 4 are implemented as computer program modules which when executed in the processing unit causes the arrangement to perform the actions described above in conjunction with the figures mentioned above, at least one of the code means may in alternative embodiments be implemented at least partly as hardware circuits.

[0124] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product in the form of a non-volatile or volatile memory, e.g., a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a flash memory and a hard drive. The computer program product includes a computer program. The computer program includes: code / computer readable instructions, which when executed by the processor 403 causes the arrangement 400 to perform the actions, e.g., of the procedure described earlier in conjunction with FIG. 2; or code / computer readable instructions, which when executed by the processor 403 causes the arrangement 400 to perform the actions, e.g., of the procedure described earlier in conjunction with FIG. 3.

[0125] The computer program product may be configured as a computer program code structured in computer program modules. The computer program modules could essentially perform the actions of the flow illustrated in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3.

[0126] The processor may be a single CPU (Central processing unit), but could also comprise two or more processing units. For example, the processor may include general purpose microprocessors; instruction set processors and / or related chips sets and / or special purpose microprocessors such as Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASICs). The processor may also comprise board memory for caching purposes. The computer program may be carried by a computer program product connected to the processor. The computer program product may comprise a computer readable medium on which the computer program is stored. For example, the computer program product may be a flash memory, a Random-access memory (RAM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM), or an EEPROM, and the computer program modules described above could in alternative embodiments be distributed on different computer program products in the form of memories within the terminal node and / or the network node. Correspondingly to the method 200 as described above, an exemplary terminal node is provided. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a terminal node 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The terminal node 500 may be, e.g., the UE 100 in some embodiments.

[0127] The terminal node 500 may be configured to perform the method 200 as described above in connection with FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal node 500 may comprise a receiving module 510 configured to receive, from a network node, an indication indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells; a performing module 520 configured to perform the RRM measurement on the one or more cells based on the indication; and possibly a reporting module 530 of reporting the RRM measurement.

[0128] The above modules 510, 520 and / or 530 may be implemented as a pure hardware solution or as a combination of software and hardware, e.g., by one or more of: a processor or a micro- processor and adequate software and memory for storing of the software, a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) or other electronic component(s) or processing circuitry configured to perform the actions described above, and illustrated, e.g., in FIG. 2. Further, the terminal node 500 may comprise one or more further modules, each of which may perform any of the steps of the method 200 described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0129] Correspondingly to the method 300 as described above, a network node is provided. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary network node 600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The network node 600 may be, e.g., the gNB 105 in some embodiments.

[0130] The network node 600 may be configured to perform the method 300 as described above in connection with FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the network node 600 may comprise a transmitting module 610 configured to transmit an indication to the terminal node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells, which indication being used by the terminal node in performing the RRM measurement on the one or more cells, and / or a receiving module 620 configured to receive an RRM report from the terminal node.

[0131] The above modules 610, and / or 620 may be implemented as a pure hardware solution or as a combination of software and hardware, e.g., by one or more of: a processor or a micro-processor and adequate software and memory for storing of the software, a PLD or other electronic component(s) or processing circuitry configured to perform the actions described above, and illustrated, e.g., in FIG. 3. Further, the network node 600 may comprise one or more further modules, each of which may perform any of the steps of the method 900 described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0132] With reference to FIG. 7, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes a telecommunication network 3210, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises an access network 3211, such as a radio access network, and a core network 3214. The access network 3211 comprises a plurality of base stations 3212a, 3212b, 3212c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 3213a, 3213b, 3213c. Each base station 3212a, 3212b, 3212c is connectable to the core network 3214 over a wired or wireless connection 3215. A first UE 3291 located in coverage area 3213c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 3212c. A second UE 3292 in coverage area 3213a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 3212a. While a plurality of UEs 3291, 3292 are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station 3212.

[0133] The telecommunication network 3210 is itself connected to a host computer 3230, which may be embodied in the hardware and / or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 3230 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections 3221, 3222 between the telecommunication network 3210 and the host computer 3230 may extend directly from the core network 3214 to the host computer 3230 or may go via an optional intermediate network 3220. The intermediate network 3220 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; the intermediate network 3220, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, the intermediate network 3220 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

[0134] The communication system of FIG. 7 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected UEs 3291, 3292 and the host computer 3230. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 3250. The host computer 3230 and the connected UEs 3291, 3292 are configured to communicate data and / or signaling via the OTT connection 3250, using the access network 3211, the core network 3214, any intermediate network 3220 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection 3250 may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection 3250 passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a base station 3212 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 3230 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE 3291. Similarly, the base station 3212 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 3291 towards the host computer 3230.

[0135] Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 8. In a communication system 3300, a host computer 3310 comprises hardware 3315 including a communication interface 3316 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 3300. The host computer 3310 further comprises processing circuitry 3318, which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. In particular, the processing circuitry 3318 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The host computer 3310 further comprises software 3311, which is stored in or accessible by the host computer 3310 and executable by the processing circuitry 3318. The software 3311 includes a host application 3312. The host application 3312 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a UE 3330 connecting via an OTT connection 3350 terminating at the UE 3330 and the host computer 3310. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 3312 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 3350.

[0136] The communication system 3300 further includes a base station 3320 provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware 3325 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 3310 and with the UE 3330. The hardware 3325 may include a communication interface 3326 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 3300, as well as a radio interface 3327 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 3370 with a UE 3330 located in a coverage area (not shown in FIG. 8) served by the base station 3320. The communication interface 3326 may be configured to facilitate a connection 3360 to the host computer 3310. The connection 3360 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in FIG. 8) of the telecommunication system and / or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, the hardware 3325 of the base station 3320 further includes processing circuitry 3328, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The base station 3320 further has software 3321 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

[0137] The communication system 3300 further includes the UE 3330 already referred to. Its hardware 3335 may include a radio interface 3337 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 3370 with a base station serving a coverage area in which the UE 3330 is currently located. The hardware 3335 of the UE 3330 further includes processing circuitry 3338, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The UE 3330 further comprises software 3331, which is stored in or accessible by the UE 3330 and executable by the processing circuitry 3338. The software 3331 includes a client application 3332. The client application 3332 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the UE 3330, with the support of the host computer 3310. In the host computer 3310, an executing host application 3312 may communicate with the executing client application 3332 via the OTT connection 3350 terminating at the UE 3330 and the host computer 3310. In providing the service to the user, the client application 3332 may receive request data from the host application 3312 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 3350 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 3332 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

[0138] It is noted that the host computer 3310, base station 3320 and UE 3330 illustrated in FIG. 8 may be identical to the host computer 3230, one of the base stations 3212a, 3212b, 3212c and one of the UEs 3291, 3292 of FIG. 7, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in FIG. 8 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, the OTT connection 3350 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 3310 and the use equipment 3330 via the base station 3320, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the UE 3330 or from the service provider operating the host computer 3310, or both. While the OTT connection 3350 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

[0139] The wireless connection 3370 between the UE 3330 and the base station 3320 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE 3330 using the OTT connection 3350, in which the wireless connection 3370 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the latency and power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, better responsiveness, extended battery lifetime.

[0140] A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency, and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 3350 between the host computer 3310 and UE 3330, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and / or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 3350 may be implemented in the software 3311 of the host computer 3310 or in the software 3331 of the UE 3330, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 3350 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 3311, 3331 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 3350 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the base station 3320, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the base station 3320. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating the host computer's 3310 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency, and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that the software 3311, 3331 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or 'dummy' messages, using the OTT connection 3350 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

[0141] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 9 will be included in this section. In a first step 3410 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep 3411 of the first step 3410, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step 3420, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In an optional third step 3430, the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional fourth step 3440, the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

[0142] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 10 will be included in this section. In a first step 3510 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step 3520, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step 3530, the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

[0143] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 11 will be included in this section. In an optional first step 3610 of the method, the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step 3620, the UE provides user data. In an optional substep 3621 of the second step 3620, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In a further optional substep 3611 of the first step 3610, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in an optional third substep 3630, transmission of the user data to the host computer. In a fourth step 3640 of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

[0144] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIG. 7 and 8. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 12 will be included in this section. In an optional first step 3710 of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In an optional second step 3720, the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In a third step 3730, the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

[0145] The present disclosure is described above with reference to the embodiments thereof. However, those embodiments are provided just for illustrative purpose, rather than limiting the present disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is defined by the attached claims as well as equivalents thereof. Those skilled in the art can make various alternations and modifications without departing from the scope of the disclosure, which all fall into the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method (200) at a terminal node for performing a Radio Resource Management, RRM, measurement, comprising: receiving (S210) an indication from a network node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells; and performing (S220) the RRM measurement on the one or more cells based on the indication.

2. The method (200) of claim 1, wherein the indication indicates a change of the antenna configuration, and performing the RRM measurement based on the indication comprises: adjusting the RRM measurement based on the changed antenna configuration.

3. The method (200) of claim 2, wherein the change of the antenna configuration comprises a change of active antenna ports and / or a change of transmission power of antenna ports.

4. The method (200) of claim 2, wherein adjusting the RRM measurement comprises resetting or rescaling samples pertaining to one or more ongoing and / or previous RRM measurements.

5. The method (200) of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the indication comprises information on duration of the change.

6. The method (200) of claim 5, wherein performing the RRM measurement based on the indication comprises: ignoring a result of the RRM measurement if the duration is shorter than a time threshold; and using a result of the RRM measurement performed after the change and dropping a result of the RRM measurement performed before the change if the duration is longer than the time threshold.

7. The method (200) of any of clams 1 to 6, wherein the indication further comprises a Channel State Information, CSI, Reference Signal, RS, resource indication, and performing the RRM measurement comprises using the indicated CSI-RS resource to perform the RRM measurement.

8. The method (200) of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the indication comprises a threshold to be used for the terminal node in deciding whether to report a result of the RRM measurement.

9. The method (200) of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the indication further indicates a request for additional information, and the method further comprises: reporting a result of the RRM measurement by including the additional information.

10. The method (200) of claim 9, wherein the additional information comprises configuration stamps or measurement time instance of the RRM measurement.

11. The method (200) of any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising receiving a Radio Resource Control, RRC message or System Information, SI message to indicate at least one antenna configuration of the one or more cell, and receiving an indication from a serving cell, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells comprises receiving a Downlink Control Information, DCI, or Medium Access Control, MAC, control Element, CE, which refers to one of the at least one antenna configuration indicated by the RRC or SI message.

12. The method (200) of claim 11, wherein an RRC configuration indicates one or more CSI-RS resource sets to be measured, and wherein each CSI-RS resource set comprises only CSI-RS resource configured with the same number of antenna ports or each CSI-RS resource set comprises CSI-RS resource configured with at least different number of antenna ports.

13. The method (200) of claim 12, wherein samples measured on CSI-RS resources configured with the same number of antenna ports are averaged.

14. A method (300) at a network node for configuring a RRM measurement of a terminal node, comprising: transmitting (S310) an indication to the terminal node, indicating antenna configuration of one or more cells, which indication being used by the terminal node in performing the RRM measurement on the one or more cells.

15. The method (300) of claim 14, wherein the indication indicates a change of the antenna configuration.

16. The method (300) of claim 15, wherein the change of the antenna configuration comprises a change of active antenna ports and / or a change of transmission power of antenna ports.

17. The method (300) of any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the indication comprises information on duration of the change.

18. The method (300) of any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the indication further comprises a Channel State Information, CSI, Reference Signal, RS, resource indication.

19. The method (300) of any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the indication further comprises a threshold to be used for the terminal node in deciding whether to report a result of the RRM measurement.

20. The method (300) of any of claims 14 to 19, wherein the indication further indicates a request for additional information to be reported along with a report of the RRM measurement.

21. The method (300) of claim 20, wherein the additional information comprises stamps or measurement time instance of the RRM measurement.

22. The method (300) of any of claims 14 to 21, wherein the indication comprises an offset indicating an effect of the antenna configuration on the RRM measurement.

23. A terminal node, comprising: a communication interface arranged for communication, at least one processor, and a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal node to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 13.

24. A network node, comprising: a communication interface arranged for communication, at least one processor, and a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node to perform the method of any of claims 14 to 22.

25. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method of any of claims 1 to 13.

26. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method of any of claims 14 to 22.

27. A carrier containing the computer program of claim 25 or 26, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

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