Conditional cell changes

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable storage media for conditional cell modification. In a method, a network device transmits indications of multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices to multiple candidate target network devices. The network device receives from the multiple candidate target network devices first information relating to the measurement of modification between the multiple candidate target cells. The network device then transmits second information relating to the measurement for use when performing modification from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunications, and specifically relate to devices, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage media for conditional cell change. [Background Art]

[0002] Radio resource configurations of a serving cell and a target cell are provided to a UE using the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol. In selective activation, the UE maintains a target cell configuration for the change of a Primary Secondary Cell (PSCell) during Conditional Primary Secondary Cell Change (CPC), so that subsequent changes can be evaluated continuously. For conditional execution, the required report configuration and measurement ID are generated by the source secondary node (SN) that triggers the conditional configuration. When the UE is handed over from one target SN to another target SN, the target SN does not know other SNs, so the UE will not have the report configuration and measurement ID for other target SN cell configurations. [Summary of the Invention] [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0003] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a network device is provided. The network device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory for storing instructions, which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the network device to: cause a plurality of candidate target network devices to transmit indications of a plurality of candidate target cells of the plurality of candidate target network devices; cause the plurality of candidate target network devices to receive first information relating to the measurement of changes between the plurality of candidate target cells; and cause a terminal device to transmit second information relating to measurements for use when performing changes from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the plurality of candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell.

[0004] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a terminal device comprising at least one processor and at least one memory for storing instructions, the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause the terminal device to receive at least: second information from a network device relating to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells of a plurality of candidate target network devices; and, based on the second information, cause the terminal device to measure changes from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the plurality of candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell.

[0005] A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a candidate target network device. The candidate target network device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory for storing instructions, the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause the candidate target network device to: receive indications of a plurality of candidate target cells between the candidate target network device and at least further candidate target network devices from a network device; and transmit first information relating to measuring changes between the plurality of candidate target cells to the network device.

[0006] A fourth aspect of this disclosure provides a method, the method comprising: transmitting indications of multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices to multiple candidate target network devices; receiving first information from the multiple candidate target network devices relating to the measurement of changes between the multiple candidate target cells; and transmitting second information relating to measurements for use when performing changes from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell.

[0007] A fifth aspect of this disclosure provides a method, which includes: receiving from a network device second information relating to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices; and, based on the second information, performing a measurement of changes from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell.

[0008] A sixth aspect of this disclosure provides a method, which includes: receiving indications of a plurality of candidate target cells between a candidate target network device and at least a further candidate target network device from a network device; and transmitting first information relating to measuring changes between the plurality of candidate target cells to the network device.

[0009] A seventh aspect of this disclosure provides a first apparatus, comprising: means for transmitting indications of a plurality of candidate target cells of a plurality of candidate target network devices to a plurality of candidate target network devices; means for receiving first information relating to the measurement of changes between the plurality of candidate target cells from the plurality of candidate target network devices; and means for transmitting second information relating to measurements for use when performing changes from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the plurality of candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell.

[0010] An eighth aspect of the present disclosure provides a second apparatus. The second apparatus includes means for receiving from a network device second information relating to measuring changes between a plurality of candidate target cells of a plurality of candidate target network devices, and means for performing, based on the second information, a measurement of changes from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the plurality of candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell.

[0011] A ninth aspect of the present disclosure provides a third apparatus. The third apparatus comprises means for receiving indications of a plurality of candidate target cells between a candidate target network device and at least further candidate target network devices from a network device; and means for transmitting first information relating to the measurement of changes between the plurality of candidate target cells to the network device.

[0012] In a tenth aspect of this disclosure, a computer-readable medium is provided. The computer-readable medium stores instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth, fifth, or sixth aspect.

[0013] It should be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify any significant or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will be readily apparent through the following description.

[0014] Next, several exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1A] This diagram shows an example structure of an RRC message.

[0016] [Figure 1B] This is an illustrative flowchart of an SN-initiated CPC without MN involvement. [Figure 1C] This is an example flowchart of an SN-initiated CPC with MN involvement.

[0017] [Figure 2] This figure shows an exemplary communication environment in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0018] [Figure 3] This is a signaling diagram of an exemplary communication process according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] [Figure 4] This is a flowchart of an exemplary process according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] [Figure 5]It is a flowchart of a method implemented in a network device according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] [Figure 6] It is a flowchart of a method implemented in a terminal device according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] [Figure 7] It is a flowchart of a method implemented in a candidate target network device according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] [Figure 8] It is a simplified block diagram of a device suitable for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] [Figure 9] It is a block diagram of an exemplary computer-readable medium according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Throughout the drawings, identical or similar reference numerals represent identical or similar elements.

[0026] Next, the principles of the present disclosure are described with reference to some exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are described for illustrative purposes only, and are intended to help those skilled in the art understand and implement the present disclosure without implying any limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein can be implemented in various ways other than those described below.

[0027] In the following description and the claims, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

[0028] References in this disclosure such as “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and “an example embodiment” indicate that the described embodiments may include certain features, structures, or characteristics, but not all embodiments are required to include such features, structures, or characteristics. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, if certain features, structures, or characteristics are described in relation to an embodiment, it is considered within the knowledge of those skilled in the art that such features, structures, or characteristics will affect other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not.

[0029] In this specification, terms such as "first," "second," etc., preceding nouns may be used to describe various elements, but it should be understood that these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one element from another and do not restrict the order of nouns. For example, without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiment, the first element may be called the second element, and similarly, the second element may be called the first element. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any combination of one or more of the enumerated terms.

[0030] When used herein, "at least one of the following: <list of two or more elements>" ) and at least one of The phrases ")" and similar phrases in which a list of two or more elements are joined by "and" or "or" mean at least one of the elements, or at least two or more of the elements, or at least all of the elements.

[0031] As used herein, unless expressly stated otherwise, performing a “in response to A” step does not imply that the step is performed immediately after the occurrence of “A,” and may include one or more intervening steps.

[0032] The terms used herein are for the sole purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit exemplary embodiments. Where used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Where used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” and / or “including” identify the presence of the described features, elements, and / or components, and do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0033] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more, or all of the following: (a) Hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations of analog and / or digital circuits only) and, (b) The following combinations of hardware circuits and software (if applicable): (i) combinations of analog and / or digital hardware circuits and software / firmware, and (ii) Any part of a hardware processor with software (including a digital signal processor), software and memory that works in conjunction to cause a device such as a mobile phone or server to perform various functions, (c) Hardware circuits and / or processors, such as microprocessors or parts of microprocessors, that require software (e.g., firmware) for operation; however, the software may not be present if it is not required for operation.

[0034] This definition of circuit applies to all uses of this term in this application, including all claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuit also covers implementations of hardware circuitry or processors (or more processors) alone, or implementations of a portion of hardware circuitry or processors and the software and / or firmware associated with them. The term circuit also covers, for example, baseband integrated circuits or processor integrated circuits for mobile devices, or similar integrated circuits in servers, cellular network devices, or other computing or network devices, where applicable to a particular claim element.

[0035] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network compliant with any appropriate communication standard, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), and Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT). Furthermore, communication between terminal devices and network devices within a communication network may be conducted in accordance with any appropriate generation of communication protocol, including but not limited to first-generation (1G), second-generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, third-generation (3G), fourth-generation (4G), 4.5G, fifth-generation (5G), sixth-generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of this disclosure may be applied to a variety of communication systems. Given the rapid advancements in communications, there will naturally be future types of communication technologies and systems to which the present invention may be embodied. The scope of this disclosure should not be construed as being limited only to the aforementioned systems.

[0036] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communications network from which terminal devices access the network and receive services. Depending on the terminology and technology applied, a network device may refer to a base station (BS) or access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved node B (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also called a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, low-power nodes such as femto and pico, satellite network devices, low orbit (LEO) satellites and geostationary (GEO) satellites, and non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-terrestrial network devices such as aircraft network devices. In some exemplary embodiments, a radio access network (RAN) partitioned architecture comprises centralized units (CUs) and distributed units (DUs) in an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) portion that acts like a UE (Union Engine) to its parent node, and a DU (Unit Unit) portion of the IAB node that acts like a base station to the next hop's IAB node.

[0037] The term "terminal device" refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. More specifically, terminal devices may also be called communication devices, user equipment (UE), Subscriber Station (SS), Portable Subscriber Station, Mobile Station (MS), or Access Terminal (AT). Terminal devices may include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, cellular phones, smartphones, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, tablets, wearable terminal devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable computers, desktop computers, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, game terminal devices, music storage and playback devices, in-vehicle wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop embedded devices (LEEs), laptop mounted devices (LMEs), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer premises equipment (CPEs), Internet of Things (IoT) devices, watches or other wearables, head-mounted displays (HMDs), vehicles, drones, medical devices and applications (e.g., remote surgery), industrial devices and applications (e.g., robots and / or other wireless devices operating in the context of industrial and / or automated processing chains), consumer electronic devices, and devices operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks. Terminal devices may also correspond to the Mobile Termination (MT) portion of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device,” “communication device,” “terminal,” “user equipment,” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0038] As used herein, the terms “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing communication, such as communication between a terminal device and a network device, including resources in the time domain, resources in the frequency domain, resources in the spatial domain, resources in the code domain, or any other combination of resources in the time, frequency, space, and / or code domain that enable communication. Hereinafter, unless expressly stated, resources in both the frequency and time domains are used as examples of transmission resources to describe some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Note that the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0039] As mentioned above, the radio resource configurations of the serving and target cells are provided to the UE using the RRC protocol. The RRC message sent to the UE is an RRC reconfiguration message containing the configuration of the serving cell (e.g., bandwidth portion (BWP), security key, beam configurations, beam failure handling configuration, and / or similar). In addition, for mobility configurations, the message includes the measurement configuration of the target cell so that it has all the fields necessary for the UE to connect to that cell when performing a cell change. The previous statement represents both a baseline handover command and a conditional cell change (both Conditional Handover (CHO) and Conditional Primary Secondary Cell Addition Change (CPAC)), including Selective Activation or Selective Activation for PSCell Change (SA / SAPC) introduced in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release-18.

[0040] Figure 1A shows an exemplary structure of an RRC message 100. It provides a descriptive representation of how the target cell configuration is provided to the UE and linked to the report configuration and measurement configuration.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1A, the RRC Reconfiguration 102 includes MeasConfig IE104 and conditionalReconfiguration IE106 (among other information elements (IEs)). The former is essentially the configuration of the measurement (e.g., MeasObjtoAddMod IE108), the configuration of the measurement event (e.g., ReportConfigToAddMod IE110), and a combination of these with the RRC Configuration of the target cell (e.g., using measId IE114) in MeasIdtoAddMod IE112. measId IE114 is also part of CondReconfigToAddMod116 (which is part of CondReconfigToAddModList IE118, and CondReconfigToAddModList IE118 is part of conditionalReconfiguration IE106 in RRC Reconfiguration 102).

[0042] In this specification, measObjectNR IE 120 is used to tell the UE which reference signal (RS) is measured at which frequency and which cell-specific offset (CIO) is used for evaluating any given condition. ReportConfigNR 122 specifies the type of condition to be evaluated by the UE, e.g., events A3, A4, A5, etc., and the hysteresis, time-to-trigger, and event offset values ​​used to evaluate the execution condition. It also specifies whether the event is used for reporting purposes or execution purposes. In condreconfigToAddMod IE116, the network provides the UE with a conditional reconfiguration, such as an RRC Reconfiguration within an RRC reconfiguration (i.e., a configuration of a target cell performed by the UE). This configuration comes with a measurement ID. measID IE114 is mapped to reportConfigNR IE 122 and MeasObjectNR IE120 via measIDtoAddMod IE112 so that the UE can associate the conditional reconfiguration with the appropriate condition and know what to measure for evaluating the condition.

[0043] As illustrated, Figure 1A relates to a Conditional Handover (CHO) and an SN-initiated CPC without the involvement of the master node (MN) (i.e., using SRB3). Figure 1B shows an exemplary signaling diagram of process 124 of a secondary node (SN)-initiated CPC without MN involvement, and Figure 1C shows an exemplary signaling diagram of process 126 of an SN-initiated CPC with MN involvement. As shown in Figure 1B, the MN is not involved in the entire CPC initiation process by SN128. As shown in Figure 1C, in the case of an SN-initiated CPC with MN involvement, SN128 may provide an RRC configuration to MN130. MN130 may include this in the Mrdc-SecondaryCellGroupConfig IE of the RRC configuration provided to UE132 to indicate that this is a configuration related to a PSCell change. The Mrdc-SecondaryCellGroupConfig IE contains the nested RRC configuration of the CPC.

[0044] In a selective activation scenario, the UE maintains the target cell configuration for PSCell changes during CPC, allowing for continuous evaluation of subsequent changes. In the SN-initiated inter-SN SAPC process, the UE has active dual connections with cells (e.g., PSCells) from the MN and SN (denoted as SN1). The UE then provides SN1 with a measurement report, and SN1 decides to initiate an inter-SN SAPC using cells (configured as PSCells) from two other SNs (indicated by SN2 and SN3). SN1 sends an SN change request message providing a candidate PSCell list and conditions for accessing the PSCells. The report configuration and measurement IDs required for conditional execution are generated by the source SN (SN1) that triggers the conditional configuration.

[0045] Furthermore, the MN sends an SN Addition Request to the target SN requesting the RRC configuration of the candidate PSCell, which the target SN provides in its SN Addition Request Acknowledgment. The MN creates an RRC Reconfiguration Message by combining the target cell configuration with the conditions for accessing the PSCell from the source SN (i.e., SN1). The MN prepares for RRC reconfiguration. The MN then provides the RRC reconfiguration to the UE, which responds with an RRC Reconfiguration Complete Message, which the MN further notifies SN1 of. The UE evaluates the SAPC conditions, and if the conditions are met for the cell, the UE notifies the MN using an RRC Reconfiguration Complete Message. Since the UE is configured for selective activation, it maintains the target PSCells configuration. Furthermore, the UE accesses the target cell to evaluate the conditions for sequential cell changes.

[0046] Note that the report configuration and measurement ID required for conditional execution are generated by the source SN that triggers the conditional configuration. In this specification, “source” refers to the serving SN during CPAC execution. The candidate PSCell configuration is generated by the target node (i.e., the target SN).

[0047] In SAPC, when SN1 is the serving SN, preparation of SN2 and SN3 PSCells begins. If the UE hands over to SN2, preparation of SN3 remains. For the UE to hand over from SN2 to SN3, the appropriate metric and reporting configuration based on SN2 must be pre-configured in the UE. However, currently, target SN2 is unaware of all other potential targets and does not provide an SCPAC configuration for SN3. Therefore, during the first execution, the UE does not have the reporting configuration and metric IDs for the other target SN cell configurations.

[0048] An exemplary embodiment of this disclosure proposes a configuration maintenance scheme in which information related to measuring changes between candidate target cells involved in a handover from a source cell can be transmitted via a specific network device (such as an MN) to a terminal among the corresponding candidate target network devices. Thus, the terminal device can have a configuration that can be used for further cell changes from one candidate target cell (referred to as the first candidate target cell) to another candidate target cell (referred to as the second candidate target cell) after a handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell. In this way, cell changes can be implemented more efficiently and network performance can be improved.

[0049] While this issue stems from the SAPC scenario, it should be noted that the methods proposed herein are generally applicable to Master Cell Group (MCG) selective activation scenarios and other selective activation scenarios. Several exemplary embodiments are described below using the SAPC scenario as an example, but the exemplary embodiments herein are generally applicable to other selective activation scenarios as well.

[0050] Figure 2 shows an exemplary communication environment 200 in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0051] The communication environment 200 comprises a terminal device 210, a network device 220, a source network device 230, and four network devices which may include a plurality of candidate target network devices, including a first candidate target network device 240-1 and a second candidate target network device 240-2. In some exemplary embodiments, during the selective activation of a Secondary Cell group (SCG), network device 220 may operate as an MN, source network device 230 may operate as a source SN, and candidate target network devices 240-1 and 240-2 may operate as target SNs (also called T-SNs). During MCG selective activation, network device 220 may operate as a source MN, and the other network devices may operate as target MNs.

[0052] In Figure 1, the number and types of devices are shown for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limitations. For example, the communication environment 100 may have any number of candidate target network devices. For the sake of explanation, the candidate target network devices are referred to individually or collectively as candidate target network devices 240.

[0053] In some exemplary embodiments, the link from network device 220 to terminal device 210 is called a downlink (DL), and the link from terminal device 210 to network device 220 is called an uplink (UL). In a DL, network device 220 is a transmit (TX) device (or transmitter), and terminal device 210 is a receive (RX) device (or receiver). In a UL, terminal device 210 is a TX device (or transmitter), and network device 220 is an RX device (or receiver).

[0054] Terminal device 210 and network devices 220, 230, and 240 are able to communicate with each other. Communication in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any suitable communication protocol, including but not limited to cellular communication protocols such as first generation (1G), second generation (2G), third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), fifth generation (5G), and sixth generation (6G), wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Furthermore, communications may utilize any suitable wireless communication technology, including but not limited to Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform Spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM), and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0055] In the communication environment 100, network device 220 may notify all candidate target network devices 240 about potential target cells (i.e., PSCells of other T-SNs). Each candidate target network device 240 generates information (referred to as first information) related to measurements of changes between potential target cells (including both intra-SN cell changes and inter-SN cell changes). Based on the first information received from the candidate target network devices 240, network device 220 generates second information (for example, including "condReconfigId Vs MeasId") that indicates the final configuration of each candidate target network device 240. Network device 220 then transmits the second information to terminal device 210.

[0056] Figure 3 shows a signaling diagram of an exemplary communication process 300 between a terminal device 210, a network device 220, and a candidate target network device 240, according to some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. The operation and actions of the candidate target network device 240 are described below, using the first candidate target network device 240-1 as an example. It should be understood that these operation and actions can also be implemented in the second candidate target network device 240-2.

[0057] As shown in Figure 3, network device 220 transmits indications of multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices to multiple candidate target network devices 240, including a first candidate target network device 240-1 and a second candidate target network device 240-2 (310). For example, network device 220 may inform candidate target network devices 240 about potential target cells (e.g., PSCells of other T-SNs).

[0058] Accordingly, the first candidate target device 240-1 receives indications from the network device 220 of multiple candidate target cells between the first candidate target network device 240-1 and at least the second candidate target network device 240-2. In some exemplary embodiments, the first candidate target network device 240-1 determines first information relating to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells between the first candidate target network device 240-1 and at least the second candidate target network device 240-2 (320).

[0059] In some exemplary embodiments, the first information may include an identifier (ID) (also called a measurement ID) of the configuration and / or measurement related to the measurement. For example, in a SAPC scenario, a first candidate target network device 240-1 (acting as a target SN providing one or more PSCells) may generate measurement configurations and measurement IDs for handovers from its prepared PSCells to other prepared PSCells (e.g., PSCells of candidate target network device 240-2) while preparing all potential candidate cells proposed from the source SN.

[0060] In some exemplary embodiments, changes between multiple candidate target cells may include changes between a first list of candidate target cells of a first candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices, and / or changes from a first list of candidate target cells to a second list of candidate target cells of a second candidate target network device (also called a further candidate target network device) of multiple candidate target network devices. In one example, the changes include both intra-SN cell changes and inter-SN cell changes for each target SN. Intra-SN cell changes refer to handovers between T-SN preparations. For example, if PSCell-A and PSCell-B are prepared and controlled by the same T-SN, or if a UE hands over to PSCell-A, then the handover from PSCell-A to PSCell-B would be an intra-SN CPAC.

[0061] Next, the first candidate target network device 240-1 transmits the first information to the network device 220 (330). In response, the network device 220 receives the first information relating to the measurement of changes between multiple candidate target cells from multiple candidate target network devices 240, including the first candidate target network device 240-1 and the second candidate target network device 240-2.

[0062] Subsequently, the network device 220 transmits second information relating to the measurement of changes between multiple candidate target cells to the terminal device 210 (340). For example, the network device 220 may generate a final configuration for each candidate target network device 240, including "condReconfigId Vs MeasId", based on the received mapping and the final list of prepared candidate cells. The final configuration may be indicated by third information. In some exemplary embodiments, the third information may include the second information.

[0063] Accordingly, terminal device 210 receives second information from network device 220 relating to the measurement of changes between multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices 240. Subsequently, terminal device 210 measures the changes from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells after the handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell (350).

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, when a first candidate target network device 240-1 serves a first candidate target cell, the first candidate target network device 240-1 may transmit a handover readiness configuration from the source cell to the first candidate target cell to network device 220. The readiness configuration is associated with first information relating to changes from the first candidate target cell to at least one second candidate target cell of a plurality of candidate target cells. Network device 220 may then transmit a handover readiness configuration from the source cell to the first candidate target cell to terminal device 210, associated with second information relating to changes from the first candidate target cell to at least a second candidate target cell. Accordingly, terminal device 210 may receive from the network device a readiness configuration associated with the mapped second information.

[0065] If network device 220 notifies all candidate target network devices 240 about all candidate target cells, then some of the candidate target network devices 240 (such as a second candidate target network device 240-1) may reject the SN addition request. To further improve the efficiency of cell changes, in some exemplary embodiments, some invalid information from the first information from the candidate target network devices 240 may not be provided to terminal device 210. This invalid information may include orphaned measurement IDs, or orphaned configurations that do not have mapped measurement configurations and / or execution conditions, or that do not have mapped measurement IDs.

[0066] In some exemplary embodiments, the network device 220 may determine invalid information from first information and generate second information by removing invalid information from first information. For example, in determining invalid information, if the network device 220 determines that there is a measurement ID that does not have a corresponding measurement configuration and / or execution conditions, the network device 220 may determine that measurement ID as invalid information. For example, the network device 220 may parse the RRC Configuration provided by the candidate target network device 240 and then integrate the RRC Reconfiguration messages accordingly.

[0067] In some exemplary embodiments, the removal of invalid information may be implemented by the terminal device 210. In some exemplary embodiments, the terminal device 210 may determine invalid information before performing a measurement and remove it from the second information. For example, during SAPC execution, the terminal device 210 may identify invalid / orphaned pairs of MeasId and CondRRCReconfig and then remove them.

[0068] Some embodiments will be described below with reference to Figure 4.

[0069] Figure 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary process 400 according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, UE402 operates as an exemplary implementation of terminal device 210 in Figure 2, MN404 operates as an exemplary implementation of network device 220 in Figure 2, source SN1 406 operates as an exemplary implementation of source network device 230, and target SN2 408 and target SN3 410 operate as exemplary implementations of first candidate target network device 240-1 and second candidate target network device 240-2.

[0070] As shown in Figure 4, in process 400, at 420, UE402 has an active dual connection with cells (e.g., PSCell) from MN404 and SN1 406. At 422, UE404 provides a measurement report to SN1 406. At 424, SN1 406 may decide to prepare an inter-SN Selective Activation (SAPC) for a PSCell change using cells (e.g., cells configured as PSCell) from SN2 408 and SN3 410.

[0071] At 426, SN1 406 sends an SN change request message to MN404. The SN change request message may provide a list of candidate PSCells (for example, both SN2 408 and SN3 410). The SN change request message may further provide conditions for accessing the PSCells from the currently serving PSCell to all candidate PSCells. Note that the report configuration and measurement IDs required for conditional execution are generated by the node that triggers the conditional configuration (i.e., the source SN). In this specification, the measurement configuration, conditions, and measurement IDs for the first PSCell changes from SN1 406 to SN2 408 and from SN1 406 to SN3 PSCell are provided by SN1 406. However, subsequent SCPAC configurations from SN2 PSCell to SN1 406 and SN3 PSCell, as well as SCPAC configurations from SN3 PSCell to SN1 406 and SN2 PSCell, may not be provided by SN1 406 (as this is the responsibility of SN2 408 and SN3 410).

[0072] In 428 and 430, MN404 sends an SN append request to the target SN (e.g., SN2 408 and SN3 410) requesting RRC configurations for candidate PSCells of the connected SN. Furthermore, the SN append request may provide candidate PSCells from other SNs. For example, SN2 408 may receive a list of PSCells from SN3 410 in addition to SN2 PSCells, and SN3 410 may receive a list of PSCells from SN2 408 in addition to SN3 PSCells.

[0073] In 432 and 434, a target SN may create the RRC Configuration of the PSCells under its responsibility, as well as measurement configurations and measurement IDs for changes to those PSCells, while preparing all potential candidate cells proposed from the source SN (e.g., both within and between each target SN). For example, SN2 408 may create the measurement configurations and conditions for PSCell changes between prepared SN2 408 PSCells. SN2 may further create measurement configurations and conditions for PSCell changes from prepared SN2 PSCells to SN3 PSCells, which are additionally notified to SN2 408. In another example, SN3 410 may create the measurement configurations and conditions for PSCell changes between prepared SN3 410 PSCells. SN3 410 may further create measurement configurations and conditions for PSCell changes from prepared SN3 PSCells to SN2 PSCells, which are additionally notified to SN3 410. In another example, SN2 408 and SN3 410 may generate a measIDtoAddMod to map the measID mappings of each configuration provided to MN404, namely reportconfig, measobject, and condreconfig, to each other via measID.

[0074] In 436 and 438, the target SN in the SN addition request acknowledgment may provide the RRC configuration of the PSCells under their responsibility, as well as the measurement configuration and measurement ID for any changes to those PSCells, while preparing all potential candidate cells (e.g., both within and between each target SN) proposed from the source SN created in 432 and 434.

[0075] In 440, MN404 creates an RRC reconfiguration message by combining the target cell configuration with the conditions for accessing the PSCell from the source SN (i.e., SN1 406).

[0076] In 442, MN404 provides UE402 with RRC reconfiguration. In 444, UE402 may respond with an RRC reconfiguration completion message. In 446, MN404 may further notify SN1 406 of the completion of UE402's SCPAC ready configuration.

[0077] At 448, UE402 evaluates the SCPAC conditions. At 450, if the SCPAC conditions are met for a cell (e.g., SN2 408), UE402 applies the SCPAC configuration associated with the cell that satisfies the conditions, and at 452, UE402 notifies MN404 of the RRC reconstruction complete message.

[0078] In 454, UE402 is configured for selective activation, and therefore retains unused target PSCells configurations, such as all other SCPAC configurations.

[0079] At 456, UE402 accesses the target cell through the Secondary Cell Group (SCG) Random Access Channel (RACH), and at 456, as in 446, evaluates the conditions for a successive cell change using the new measurement configuration and the conditions of the retained SCPAC configuration, which is recognized by the UE after the execution of the SCPAC configuration, as each SCPAC configuration integrated by MN404 provides the new configuration and conditions for the subsequent cell change. Apart from the configuration change, from 448 onwards, UE402 may repeat, and the UE handover between prepared SCPAC cells without reinitializing or reconfiguring the configuration.

[0080] In some exemplary embodiments, the message exchange procedure is the same as in Figure 4, but there are differences in 436 and 438 described above. In this example, in 436 and 438, each T-SN provides a configuration in an IE readable by MN404, rather than a transparent container. There are some other differences in 440 described above. In this example, in 440, MN404 may parse the RRC configuration provided by each TSN and check for invalid / orphaned pairs of MeasId and CondRRCReconfig and remove them. MN404 may create a clean RRC Reconfig, a conditionalReconfig per PSCell prepared for SCPAC including the parsed and reorganized measurements, and conditional configurations for subsequent cell changes. MN404 may then provide each conditionalReconfig to UE402. In this way, the problem of orphaned measurement IDs is mitigated by MN parsing the RRC configuration provided by the target SN and integrating the RRC reconfiguration messages accordingly.

[0081] Alternatively, the target SN provides the MN404 with only the necessary configurations in the non-transparent container. In this way, the MN404 can integrate the RRC configuration without having to include all SN configurations in the non-transparent container.

[0082] In some exemplary embodiments, the message exchange procedure is the same as in Figure 4, but there is a difference in 454 described above. In this example, in 454, upon accessing the target cell, UE402 may identify and remove orphaned MeasId and CondRRCReconfig pairs. Instead of continuing to perform the measurement, UE402 may update the RRC configuration to remove them. In this way, UE402 not only stops evaluating the conditions for changing the cell, but may also stop performing the measurement because UE402 updates the measurement configuration. Thus, the problem of orphaned measurement IDs is mitigated by UE402 identifying orphaned configurations and removing them during SAPC execution.

[0083] Exemplary Method Figure 5 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 500 implemented in a network device 220 according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience of explanation, method 500 will be described in terms of the network device 220 in Figure 2.

[0084] In block 510, network 220 transmits indications of multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices to multiple candidate target network devices.

[0085] In block 520, the network device 220 receives first information from multiple candidate target network devices related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells.

[0086] In block 530, network 220 transmits second information related to measurements to a terminal device for use when performing a change from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells, after a handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell.

[0087] In some exemplary embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the configurations related to the measurement or the identification of the measurement.

[0088] In some exemplary embodiments, the second information includes the first information.

[0089] In some exemplary embodiments, the network device 220 may generate second information by determining invalid information from first information and removing the invalid information from first information.

[0090] In some exemplary embodiments, a change between multiple candidate target network devices includes at least one of a change between a first list of candidate target cells of a first candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices, or a change from a first list of candidate target cells to a second list of candidate target cells of a second candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices.

[0091] In some exemplary embodiments, the first candidate target network device serves the first candidate target cell. In these exemplary embodiments, the network device 220 may receive a handover readiness configuration from the first candidate target network device for a handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell. The readiness configuration is associated with first information relating to a change from the first candidate target cell to at least a second candidate target cell among a plurality of candidate target cells. The network device 220 may then transmit the readiness configuration from the first candidate target cell to a terminal device, associated with second information relating to a change from the plurality of candidate target cells to at least a second candidate target cell.

[0092] In some exemplary embodiments, the network device 220 comprises a master node, and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

[0093] Figure 6 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 600 implemented in a terminal device 210 according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience of explanation, method 600 will be described in terms of the terminal device 210 in Figure 2.

[0094] In block 610, the terminal device 210 receives second information from the network device related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices.

[0095] In block 620, the terminal device 210, based on the second information, measures the change from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells after the handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell.

[0096] In some exemplary embodiments, the second information includes at least one of the configurations related to the measurement or the identification of the measurement.

[0097] In some exemplary embodiments, the third information includes the second information.

[0098] In some exemplary embodiments, the terminal device 210 may remove invalid information from the second information before performing the measurement.

[0099] In some exemplary embodiments, a change between multiple candidate target network devices includes at least one of a change between a first list of candidate target cells of a first candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices, or a change from a first list of candidate target cells to a second list of candidate target cells of a second candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices.

[0100] In some exemplary embodiments, the first candidate target network device serves the first candidate target cell. In these exemplary embodiments, the terminal device 210 may receive a handover preparation configuration from the network device, associated with second information relating to a change from the first candidate target cell to at least a second candidate target cell among a plurality of candidate target cells.

[0101] In some exemplary embodiments, the network device comprises a master node, and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

[0102] Figure 7 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 700 implemented in a candidate target network device 240 according to several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For convenience of explanation, method 700 will be described in terms of the candidate target network device 240 in Figure 2.

[0103] In block 710, the candidate target network device 240 receives indications from the network device of multiple candidate target cells between the candidate target network device and at least further candidate target network devices.

[0104] In block 730, the candidate target network device 240 transmits first information related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells to the network device.

[0105] In some exemplary embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the configurations related to the measurement or the identification of the measurement.

[0106] In some exemplary embodiments, a change between multiple candidate target network devices includes at least one of a change between a first list of candidate target cells of a candidate target network device, or a change from a first list of candidate target cells to a second list of candidate target cells of further candidate target network devices.

[0107] In some exemplary embodiments, the candidate target network device 240 may transmit a handover preparation configuration to the network device for a first candidate target cell in a first list of candidate target cells from a source cell, the preparation configuration being associated with first information relating to a change from the first candidate target cell to at least one second candidate target cell of a plurality of candidate target cells.

[0108] In some exemplary embodiments, the network device comprises a master node, and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

[0109] Exemplary devices, equipment, and media In some exemplary embodiments, a first device capable of performing Method 500 (for example, the network device 220 in Figure 2) may comprise means for performing each operation of Method 500. The means can be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means can be implemented in a circuit or a software module. The first device may be implemented as the network device 220 in Figure 2, or may be included in the network device 220.

[0110] In some exemplary embodiments, the first device includes means for transmitting indications of multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices to multiple candidate target network devices; means for receiving first information relating to the measurement of changes between multiple candidate target cells from the multiple candidate target network devices; and means for transmitting second information relating to measurements for use when performing changes from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell.

[0111] In some exemplary embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the configurations related to the measurement or the identification of the measurement.

[0112] In some exemplary embodiments, the second information includes the first information.

[0113] In some exemplary embodiments, the first apparatus includes means for determining invalid information from first information; and means for generating second information by removing invalid information from first information.

[0114] In some exemplary embodiments, a change between multiple candidate target network devices includes at least one of: a change between a first list of candidate target cells of a first candidate target network device among the multiple candidate target network devices, or a change from a first list of candidate target cells to a second list of candidate target cells of a second candidate target network device among the multiple candidate target network devices.

[0115] In some exemplary embodiments, a first candidate target network device serves a first candidate target cell, and the first device comprises means for receiving a handover preparation configuration from the first candidate target network device to the first candidate target cell, wherein the preparation configuration is associated with first information relating to a change from the first candidate target cell to at least a second candidate target cell of a plurality of candidate target cells; and means for transmitting the preparation configuration from the first candidate target cell to a terminal device, associated with second information relating to a change from the first candidate target cell to at least a second candidate target cell of the plurality of candidate target cells.

[0116] In some exemplary embodiments, the network device comprises a master node, and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

[0117] In some exemplary embodiments, the first device further comprises means for performing other operations in some exemplary embodiments of Method 500 or the network device 220. In some exemplary embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause performance of the first device.

[0118] In some exemplary embodiments, a second device (for example, terminal device 210 in Figure 2) capable of performing any of the methods 600 may include means for performing each operation of the methods 600. The means can be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means can be implemented in a circuit or a software module. The second device may be implemented as terminal device 210 in Figure 2, or may be included in terminal device 210.

[0119] In some exemplary embodiments, the second device includes means for receiving from a network device second information relating to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices; and means for measuring changes from a first candidate target cell to a second candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells after a handover from a source cell to a first candidate target cell, based on the second information.

[0120] In some exemplary embodiments, the second information includes at least one of the configurations related to the measurement or the identification of the measurement.

[0121] In some exemplary embodiments, the third information includes the second information.

[0122] In some exemplary embodiments, the second device includes means for removing invalid information from the second information before performing the measurement.

[0123] In some exemplary embodiments, a change between multiple candidate target network devices includes at least one of a change between a first list of candidate target cells of a first candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices, or a change from a first list of candidate target cells to a second list of candidate target cells of a second candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices.

[0124] In some exemplary embodiments, a first candidate target network device serves a first candidate target cell, and a second device includes means for receiving a handover preparation configuration from the network device, associated with second information relating to a change from the first candidate target cell to at least a second candidate target cell among a plurality of candidate target cells.

[0125] In some exemplary embodiments, the network device comprises a master node, and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

[0126] In some exemplary embodiments, the second device further comprises means for performing other operations in some exemplary embodiments of Method 600 or the terminal device 210. In some exemplary embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, actually cause performance of the second device.

[0127] In some exemplary embodiments, a third device (for example, network device 240 in Figure 2) capable of performing any of the methods 700 may include means for performing each operation of the methods 700. The means can be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuit or a software module. The third device may be implemented as candidate target network device 240 in Figure 2, or may be included in candidate target network device 240.

[0128] In some exemplary embodiments, the third device includes means for receiving indications of a plurality of candidate target cells between a candidate target network device and at least further candidate target network devices from a network device; and means for transmitting first information relating to the measurement of changes between the plurality of candidate target cells to the network device.

[0129] In some exemplary embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the configurations related to the measurement or the identification of the measurement.

[0130] In some exemplary embodiments, a change between multiple candidate target network devices includes at least one of: a change between a first list of candidate target cells of a candidate target network device, or a change from a first list of candidate target cells to a second list of candidate target cells of further candidate target network devices.

[0131] In some exemplary embodiments, the third device includes means for transmitting a handover preparation configuration to a network device from a source cell to a first candidate target cell in a first list of candidate target cells, wherein the preparation configuration is associated with first information relating to a change from the first candidate target cell to at least one second candidate target cell of a plurality of candidate target cells.

[0132] In some exemplary embodiments, the network device comprises a master node, and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

[0133] In some exemplary embodiments, the third device further comprises means for performing other operations in some exemplary embodiments of Method 700 or the candidate target network device 240. In some exemplary embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause performance of the third device.

[0134] Figure 8 is a simplified block diagram of a device 800 suitable for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The device 800 may be provided for implementing a communication device such as the terminal device 210, network device 220, or candidate target network device 240 shown in Figure 2. As shown, the device 800 includes one or more processors 810, one or more memories 820 coupled to the processors 810, and one or more communication modules 840 coupled to the processors 810.

[0135] The communication module 840 is for bidirectional communication. The communication module 840 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interfaces necessary for communication with other network elements. In some exemplary embodiments, the communication module 840 may include at least one antenna.

[0136] The processor 810 may be of any type suitable for a local technology network and may include, in non-limiting examples, one or more general-purpose computers, dedicated computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), and processors based on multicore processor architectures. The device 800 may have multiple processors, such as application-specific integrated circuit chips that are synchronous and dependent on a clock that synchronizes the main processor.

[0137] Memory 820 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, Read Only Memory (ROM) 824, electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, hard disks, compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs), optical discs, laser discs, and other magnetic and / or optical storage. Examples of volatile memories include, but are not limited to, Random Access Memory (RAM) 822 and other volatile memories that are not retained during power-off periods.

[0138] The computer program 830 includes computer-executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 810. The instructions in program 830 may include instructions for performing actions / behaviors of some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Program 830 may be stored in memory, for example, ROM 824. The processor 810 may perform any appropriate actions and processes by loading program 830 into RAM 822.

[0139] The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by program 830, and as a result, device 800 may perform any of the processes of this disclosure as described with reference to Figures 3 to 7. The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0140] In some exemplary embodiments, program 830 may be tangibly contained in a computer-readable medium that may be contained in device 800 (such as memory 820), or in another storage device accessible by device 800. Device 800 may load program 830 from the computer-readable medium into RAM 822 and execute it. In some exemplary embodiments, the computer-readable medium may include any type of non-temporary storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, flash memory, hard disk, CD, DVD, etc. As used herein, the term “non-temporary” refers to the limitations of the medium itself (i.e., tangible rather than signal) rather than limitations on the persistence of data storage (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0141] Figure 9 shows a block diagram of an exemplary computer-readable medium 900, which may be in the form of a CD, DVD, or other optical storage disc. The computer-readable medium 900 stores program 830.

[0142] In general, various embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuitry, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some embodiments may be implemented in hardware, while others may be implemented in firmware or software that can be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device. Various embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated and described using block diagrams, flowcharts, or other graphical representations, but it should be understood that any blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques, or methods described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuitry or logic, general-purpose hardware or controllers, or other computing devices, or any combination thereof, as non-limiting examples.

[0143] Some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored in a computer-readable medium, such as a non-temporary computer-readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those contained in a program module, and is executed on a device on a target physical or virtual processor, performing one of the methods described above. Generally, a program module includes routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc., that perform a particular task or implement a particular abstract data type. The functionality of a program module may be combined or separated among program modules as needed in various embodiments. The machine-executable instructions of a program module may be executed in a local device or a distributed device. In a distributed device, a program module may reside in both local and remote storage media.

[0144] Program code for performing the methods of this disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, or other programmable data processing device, and when the program code is executed by the processor or controller, it will implement the functions / operations specified in the flowchart and / or block diagrams. The program code may run entirely on the machine, partially on the machine as a standalone software package, partially on the machine and partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0145] In the context of this disclosure, computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable a device, apparatus, or processor to perform the various processes and operations described above. Examples of carriers include signals, computer-readable media, and the like.

[0146] Computer-readable media may be computer-readable signal media or computer-readable storage media. Computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, apparatus, or devices, or any suitable combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media include electrical connections having one or more wires, portable computer diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0147] Furthermore, while the operations are presented in a specific order, it should not be understood that such operations must be performed in a specific or sequential order, or that all of the operations must be performed, in order to obtain the desired result. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, the above description includes details of several specific implementation forms, but these should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of this disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to a particular embodiment. Unless expressly stated, certain features described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in a combination of a single embodiment. Conversely, unless expressly stated, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented separately or in any suitable subcombination in multiple embodiments.

[0148] While the present invention is described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological actions, it should be understood that the disclosure as defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described above. Rather, the aforementioned specific features and actions are disclosed as exemplary forms that implement the claims.

Claims

1. At least one processor, A network device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions, wherein when an instruction is executed by at least one processor, the network device has at least one To cause multiple candidate target network devices to send indications for multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices, First information related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells is received from multiple candidate target network devices. After the handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell, the terminal device is given second information related to the measurement to be used when performing a change from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells. Network device.

2. The first piece of information is, Configurations related to measurement, or Measurement identification The network device according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following.

3. The network device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second information includes the first information.

4. At least one memory and at least one processor are provided to the network device. Determine invalid information from the first piece of information. The second piece of information is generated by removing invalid information from the first piece of information. The network device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. Changes between multiple candidate target network devices Changes between the first list of candidate target cells of the first candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices, or Change from the first candidate target cell list to the second candidate target cell list for a second candidate target network device among multiple candidate target network devices. A network device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising at least one of the following.

6. The first candidate target network device serves the first candidate target cell, and at least one memory and at least one processor further provide the network device with The first candidate target network device receives a handover preparation configuration from the source cell to the first candidate target cell, and the preparation configuration is associated with first information regarding a change from the first candidate target cell to at least a second candidate target cell among a plurality of candidate target cells. The system causes the terminal device to send a ready configuration associated with second information regarding the change from a first candidate target cell to at least a second candidate target cell of multiple candidate target cells. The network device according to claim 5.

7. The network device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the network device comprises a master node and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

8. At least one processor, A terminal device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions, wherein when an instruction is executed by at least one processor, the terminal device has at least one The network device receives second information related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices. Based on the second piece of information, after the handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell, the change from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells is measured. Terminal device.

9. The second piece of information is, Configurations related to measurement, or Measurement identification The terminal device according to claim 8, comprising at least one of the following.

10. At least one memory and at least one processor, The terminal device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, before performing a measurement, the terminal device is instructed to remove invalid information from the second information.

11. Changes between multiple candidate target network devices Changes between the first list of candidate target cells of the first candidate target network device of multiple candidate target network devices, or Change from the first candidate target cell list to the second candidate target cell list for a second candidate target network device among multiple candidate target network devices. A terminal device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, comprising at least one of the following.

12. The first candidate target network device serves the first candidate target cell, and at least one memory and at least one processor further provide the terminal device with The network device receives a handover preparation configuration from the source cell to the first candidate target cell, associated with second information regarding changes from the first candidate target cell to at least second candidate target cells among multiple candidate target cells. The terminal device according to claim 11.

13. The terminal device according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the network device comprises a master node and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

14. At least one processor, A candidate target network device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions, wherein when an instruction is executed by at least one processor, the candidate target network device has at least one The network device receives indications of multiple candidate target cells between the candidate target network device and at least further candidate target network devices. To cause a network device to send first information related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells, Candidate target network devices.

15. The first piece of information is, Configurations related to measurement, or Measurement identification A candidate target network device according to claim 14, comprising at least one of the following.

16. Changes between multiple candidate target network devices Changes between the first list of candidate target cells of candidate target network devices, or Change from the first list of candidate target cells to the second list of candidate target cells for further candidate target network devices. A candidate target network device according to claim 14 or 15, comprising at least one of the following:

17. At least one memory and at least one processor are provided to the candidate target network device. The network device is instructed to send a handover preparation configuration from a source cell to a first candidate target cell in a first list of candidate target cells, and the preparation configuration is associated with first information regarding a change from the first candidate target cell to at least one second candidate target cell of a plurality of candidate target cells. A candidate target network device according to claim 16.

18. The candidate target network device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the network device comprises a master node and the candidate target network device comprises a secondary node.

19. Sending indications of multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices to multiple candidate target network devices, Receiving first information related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells from multiple candidate target network devices, After the handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell, second information related to measurements is sent to the terminal device for use when performing a change from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells. Methods that include...

20. Receiving second information from a network device related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices, Based on the second piece of information, after the handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell, the change from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells is measured. Methods that include...

21. Receiving indications from a network device for multiple candidate target cells between a candidate target network device and at least further candidate target network devices, To transmit first information related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells to a network device Methods that include...

22. Means for transmitting indications of multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices to multiple candidate target network devices, Means for receiving first information related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells from multiple candidate target network devices, Means for transmitting to a terminal device second information related to measurements for use when performing a change from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells after a handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell, and A first device comprising the following:

23. Means for receiving second information from a network device related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells of multiple candidate target network devices, Based on the second piece of information, a means for measuring the change from the first candidate target cell to the second candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells after the handover from the source cell to the first candidate target cell, and A second device equipped with the following.

24. Means for receiving indications of multiple candidate target cells from a network device, between a candidate target network device and at least further candidate target network devices, Means for transmitting first information related to measuring changes between multiple candidate target cells to a network device A third device equipped with the following.

25. A computer-readable medium for storing instructions for causing a device to perform at least the method according to claim 19, the method according to claim 20, or the method according to claim 21.

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