RRM Measurement Activity Reporting and Usage

Abstract

In a user equipment in a connected mode with the wireless network, the user equipment transmits measurement activity information to the wireless network, the user equipment performs measurements, in a network node that sets the user equipment in a connected mode, the network node configures the user equipment to report the measurement activity information to the network node, and the network node receives the measurement activity information from the user equipment.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Example embodiments herein relate generally to wireless networks, and more particularly to Radio Resource Management (RRM) activity reporting and usage, such as RRM measurements, RRM measurement activity reporting, measurement gap utilization, and scheduling in wireless networks. [Background technology]

[0002] Abbreviations that may appear in the specification and / or drawings are defined at the end of the Detailed Description section below.

[0003] In wireless networks, such as cellular networks, user equipment (UE) connects to the network through base stations. Low-cost, power-efficient, reduced-capability UEs (REDCAP UEs) have been introduced in recent years, and standardization is currently underway for non-eMBB (non-enhanced mobile broadband) use cases, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wearables, and sensors. These REDCAP UEs typically have low complexity and compact form factors and may be stationary or move within a relatively small space (e.g., a forklift in a warehouse). As such, REDCAP UEs may have lower mobility than other UEs. While power conservation is important for all UEs, REDCAP UEs may also have smaller batteries, which means power conservation is also important. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This section is intended to include examples and is not intended to be limiting.

[0005] In an example embodiment, a method is disclosed in a user equipment in a connected mode with a wireless network that includes transmitting, by the user equipment, measurement activity information to the wireless network. The method also includes performing measurements by the user equipment.

[0006] Further exemplary embodiments include a computer program comprising code for performing the preceding method when executed on a processor. The computer program of this paragraph is a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program code embodied therein for use on a computer. Another example is the computer program of this paragraph, where the program is directly loadable into the internal memory of a computer.

[0007] An example apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories containing computer program code configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to at least, in a user equipment in a connected mode with the wireless network, transmit measurement activity information by the user equipment to the wireless network and perform measurements by the user equipment.

[0008] An exemplary computer program product includes a computer-readable storage medium having computer program code embodied therein for use on a computer, the computer program code including code for transmitting, by user equipment, measurement activity information to a wireless network, in user equipment in a connected mode with the wireless network, and code for performing measurements by the user equipment.

[0009] In another example embodiment, an apparatus includes means for performing, in user equipment in a connected mode with the wireless network, transmitting, by the user equipment, measurement activity information to the wireless network and performing, by the user equipment, measurements.

[0010] In an example embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes, at a network node that has configured a user equipment in a connected mode, configuring, by the network node, the user equipment to report measurement activity information to the network node, the method including receiving, by the network node, the measurement activity information from the user equipment.

[0011] Further exemplary embodiments include a computer program comprising code for performing the preceding method when executed on a processor. The computer program of this paragraph is a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program code embodied therein for use on a computer. Another example is the computer program of this paragraph, where the program is directly loadable into the internal memory of a computer.

[0012] An example apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories containing computer program code configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to at least, at a network node that configured the user equipment in a connected mode, configure, by the network node, the user equipment to report measurement activity information to the network node, and receive, by the network node, the measurement activity information from the user equipment.

[0013] An exemplary computer program product includes a computer-readable storage medium having computer program code embodied thereon for use on a computer, the computer program code including code for configuring, by the network node, the user equipment to report measurement activity information to the network node, at a network node that has configured the user equipment in a connected mode, and code for receiving, by the network node, the measurement activity information from the user equipment.

[0014] In another example embodiment, an apparatus includes means for, at a network node that has configured the user equipment in a connected mode, configuring, by the network node, the user equipment to report measurement activity information to the network node, and receiving, by the network node, the measurement activity information from the user equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one possible, non-limiting example system in which example embodiments may be practiced. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the MeasGapConfig (measurement gap configuration) and GapConfig (gap configuration) IEs. [Figure 2A] 3 is a table of field descriptions in FIG. 2. [Figure 2B] 10 is a table of gap pattern settings. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 illustrates a logic flow and signaling diagram for radio resource management relaxed reporting and scheduling, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a logic flow and signaling diagram for radio resource measurement activity information reporting and scheduling for a first alternative example build to FIG. 3. [Figure 5]4 is a logic flow and signaling diagram for measurement activity information reporting and scheduling for a second alternative example implementation to FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a logic flow diagram implemented by user equipment for measurement activity reporting and usage, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a logic flow diagram implemented by a network node for measurement activity reporting and usage, according to an example embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Abbreviations that may appear in the specification and / or drawings are defined below at the end of the Detailed Description section.

[0017] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All embodiments described in this Detailed Description are example embodiments provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0018] Where more than one drawing reference number, word or acronym in this description is used with " / ", and as used generally in this description, " / " can be interpreted as "or", "and", and "both".

[0019] The example embodiments herein describe techniques for RRM relaxed reporting and scheduling, further description of which is provided after describing systems in which the example embodiments can be used.

[0020] Turning now to FIG. 1 , this figure illustrates a block diagram of one possible, non-limiting, example system in which example embodiments may be practiced. A user equipment (UE) 110, a radio access network (RAN) node 170, and a network element 190 are illustrated. In FIG. 1 , the user equipment (UE) 110 is in wireless communication with a wireless network 100. The UE is a wireless, typically mobile, device capable of accessing the wireless network. The UE 110 includes one or more processors 120, one or more memories 125, and one or more transceivers 130 interconnected through one or more buses 127. Each of the one or more transceivers 130 includes a receiver (Rx) 132 and a transmitter (Tx) 133. The one or more buses 127 may be address, data, or control buses and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, optical fiber, or other optical communication equipment. The one or more transceivers 130 are connected to one or more antennas 128. The one or more memories 125 include computer program code 123. The UE 110 includes a control module 140 comprising one or both of portions 140-1 and / or 140-2, which can be implemented in any number of ways. The control module 140 can be implemented in hardware as control module 140-1, such as being executed as part of one or more processors 120. The control module 140-1 can also be implemented as an integrated circuit or through other hardware, such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the control module 140 can be implemented as computer program code 123 and as control module 140-2 executed by one or more processors 120. For example, the one or more memories 125 and the computer program code 123 can be configured to cause the user equipment 110, using the one or more processors 120, to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. The UE 110 communicates with the RAN node 170 via a wireless link 111.

[0021] The RAN node 170 is a base station that provides access to the wireless network 100 by wireless devices, such as the UE 110. The RAN node 170 may be, for example, a base station for 5G, also known as New Radio (NR). In 5G, the RAN node 170 may be an NG-RAN node, defined as either a gNB or an ng-eNB. A gNB is a node that provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations for UEs and connects to the 5GC (e.g., network element 190) via an NG interface. An ng-eNB is a node that provides E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations for UEs and connects to the 5GC via an NG interface. An NG-RAN node may include multiple gNBs and may also include a central unit (CU) (gNB-CU) 196 and multiple distributed units (DUs) (gNB-DUs), of which DU 195 is shown. Note that a DU may include or be coupled to a radio unit (RU) to control the radio unit. The gNB-CU is a logical node that hosts the RRC, gNB SDAP, and PDCP protocols or en-gNB RRC and PDCP protocols and controls the operation of one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU terminates the F1 interface connected to the gNB-DU. The F1 interface is illustrated as 198, which also represents a link between a remote element of the RAN node 170 and a centralized element of the RAN node 170, such as between the gNB-CU 196 and the gNB-DU 195. The gNB-DU is a logical node that hosts the RLC, MAC layer, and PHY layer of the gNB or en-gNB, and its operation is partially controlled by the gNB-CU. One gNB-CU supports one or more cells. One cell is supported by one gNB-DU. The gNB-DU terminates the F1 interface 198 connected to the gNB-CU.It should be noted that while the DU 195 is considered to include the transceiver 160, e.g., as part of an RU, some examples of this may have the transceiver 160 as part of a separate RU, e.g., under the control of and connected to the DU 195. The RAN node 170 may also be an eNB (Evolved NodeB) base station for LTE (Long Term Evolution), or any other suitable base station.

[0022] The RAN node 170 includes one or more processors 152, one or more memories 155, one or more network interfaces (N / WI / F) 161, and one or more transceivers 160 interconnected through one or more buses 157. Each of the one or more transceivers 160 includes a receiver (Rx) 162 and a transmitter (Tx) 163. The one or more transceivers 160 are connected to one or more antennas 158. The one or more memories 155 include computer program code 153. The CU 196 may include the processor 152, the memory 155, and the network interface 161. Note that the DU 195 may also include its own one or more memories and processors, and / or other hardware, which are not shown.

[0023] The RAN node 170 includes a control module 150 comprising one or both of portions 150-1 and / or 150-2, which can be implemented in any number of ways. The control module 150 can be implemented in hardware as control module 150-1, such as being executed as part of one or more processors 152. The control module 150-1 can also be implemented as an integrated circuit or through other hardware, such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the control module 150 can be implemented as control module 150-2, which is executed as computer program code 153 and executed by one or more processors 152. For example, the one or more memories 155 and the computer program code 153 are configured to cause the RAN node 170, using the one or more processors 152, to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. It should be noted that the functionality of the control module 150 can be distributed, such as being distributed between the DU 195 and the CU 196, or can be executed solely in the DU 195.

[0024] One or more network interfaces 161 communicate over a network, such as via links 176 and 131. Two or more RAN nodes 170 communicate, for example, using link 176. Link 176 may be wired or wireless or both, and may implement, for example, an Xn interface for 5G, an X2 interface for LTE, or other suitable interfaces for other standards.

[0025] The one or more buses 157 may be address, data, or control buses and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, optical fiber or other optical communications equipment, wireless channels, etc. For example, the one or more transceivers 160 may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) 195 for LTE or a distributed unit (DU) 195 for a gNB implementation for 5G, with other elements of the RAN node 170 being in a different physical location than the RRH / DU, and the one or more buses 157 may be implemented in part as, for example, optical fiber cables or other suitable network connections to connect other elements of the RAN node 170 (e.g., a central unit (CU), gNB-CU) to the RRH / DU 195. Reference numeral 198 also denotes such a suitable network link.

[0026] Note that while the description herein refers to a "cell" performing a function, it should be clear that the base station forming the cell performs that function. A cell constitutes part of a base station; that is, there can be multiple cells per base station. For example, there may be three cells on a single carrier frequency and associated bandwidth, each covering one-third of a 360-degree area, such that the coverage area of a single base station covers roughly an oval or circle. Furthermore, each cell can support a single carrier, and a base station can use multiple carriers. Thus, if there are three 120-degree cells per carrier and two carriers, the base station has a total of six cells.

[0027] The wireless network 100 may include one or more network elements 190, which may include core network functionality, providing connectivity to a data network 191, such as a telephone network and / or a data communication network (e.g., the Internet), via one or more links 181. Such core network functionality for 5G may include an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and / or a User Plane Function (UPF) and / or a Session Management Function (SMF). Such core network functionality for LTE may include an MME (Mobility Management Entity) / SGW (Serving Gateway) functionality. Note that these are merely example functions that may be supported by the network element 190, and both 5G and LTE functionality may be supported. The RAN node 170 is coupled to the network element 190 via a link 131. The link 131 may be implemented, for example, as an NG interface for 5G, an S1 interface for LTE, or another suitable interface for other standards. Network element 190 includes one or more processors 175, one or more memories 171, and one or more network interfaces (N / WI / F) 180, interconnected through one or more buses 185. The one or more memories 171 include computer program code 173. The one or more memories 171 and the computer program code 173 are configured, using the one or more processors 175, to cause network element 190 to perform one or more operations.

[0028] Wireless network 100 may implement network virtualization, which is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and functionality into a single software-based management entity, a virtual network. Network virtualization involves platform virtualization and is often combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is categorized as either external, combining many networks or network portions into a single virtual unit, or internal, providing network-like functionality in software containers on a single system. Note that the resulting virtualized entities resulting from network virtualization are further executed at some level using hardware, such as processor 152 or 175 and memory 155 and 171, and that such virtualized entities also produce technical effects.

[0029] The computer-readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be of any type suitable for the local technology environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory. The computer-readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be means for performing storage functions. The processors 120, 152, and 175 may be of any type suitable for the local technology environment and may include, by way of non-limiting example, one or more of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. The processors 120, 152, and 175 may be means for performing functions, such as controlling the UE 110, the RAN node 170, and other functions described herein.

[0030] In general, various embodiments of user equipment 110 may include, but are not limited to, mobile phones such as smartphones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs) with wireless communication capabilities, portable computers with wireless communication capabilities, vehicles with modem devices for wireless vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, imaging devices such as digital cameras with wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices with wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback appliances with wireless communication capabilities, internet appliances (including Internet of Things (IoT) devices) capable of wireless internet access and browsing, IoT devices with sensors and / or actuators for automation applications with wireless communication tablets with wireless communication capabilities, and portable devices or terminals incorporating combinations of such functions.

[0031] Having introduced one suitable, but non-limiting, technical context for the practice of the exemplary embodiments, the exemplary embodiments will now be described more specifically.

[0032] Example embodiments herein relate to RRM mitigation intended for stationary devices, for example, in both idle / inactive and connected modes. An overview of the related art is provided, followed by an introduction to example embodiments.

[0033] As an overview, one reference in this technical field is Ericsson's "New SID on support of reduced capability NR devices" (December 9-12, 2019, Sitges, Spain, 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #86, RP-193238). This reference describes the purpose of the SI or core part WI or test part WI, and includes the following: Research into UE power saving and battery life enhancement for UEs with limited functionality in applicable use cases (e.g., delay tolerant) [RAN2, RAN1]: · Limiting PDCCH monitoring by reducing the number of blind decodings and CCE limits [RAN1]. Enhanced DRX for RRC inactive and / or idle [RAN2]. · RRM mitigation for stationary devices [RAN2].

[0034] This was discussed in RAN2#112e with the following agreement: 1. RRM mitigation for REDCAP UEs is triggered based on measurements as a baseline. Other trigger conditions for "Level 1" (fixed location, motionless devices) UEs are not excluded, such as the possibility to explicitly signal their stationary nature. 2. The R16 NR RRM mitigation procedures are taken as a baseline to explore further enhancements of neighbor cell RRM mitigation for REDCAP UEs in RRC IDLE / INACTIVE state. 3. Mitigation of neighbor cell RRM measurements in RRC_CONNECTED state is investigated in this SI / WI.

[0035] In REL-15, if the S measurements are met according to 3GPP TS38.304, the UE may choose not to perform the measurements: Intra-frequency measurements can be omitted if the serving cell satisfies the following: Srxlev>SIntraSearchP and Squal>SIntraSearchQ Inter-frequency / RAT measurements High priority: always measure on demand The same / low priority layer measurements can be omitted if the serving cell satisfies the following: Srxlev>SnonIntraSearchP and Squal>SnonIntraSearchQ Otherwise the UE performs measurements as indicated in the SIB.

[0036] In REL-16, power savings in RRC_IDLE and RRC_INACTIVE states can also be achieved by the UE relaxing RRM measurements of neighboring cells when the UE meets criteria to determine whether it is in a low mobility state and / or is not at a cell edge. The UE must monitor whether the serving cell (e.g., using RSRP / RSRQ) meets any configured relaxation trigger criteria, defined in 3GPP TS 38.304 according to configured thresholds, as shown in part below. Low mobility if: Within TSearchDeltaP, (SrxlevRef-Srxlev) <SSearchDeltaP however, Srxlev: Current Srxlev (RSRP) value of the serving cell · SrxlevRef: Serving cell reference value set as Srxlev: After (re)selecting a new cell If (SrxlevRef-Srxlev)>0 If the criteria are not met for TSearchDeltaP Note: RAN4 does not generally define accuracy requirements for idle mode measurements. not-at-cell-edge trigger criteria If not-at-cell-edge:SSearchThresholdQ is set, Srxlev>SSearchThresholdP and Squal>SSearchThresholdQ however, - Srxlev = current Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB). - Squal = Current Squal value of the serving cell (dB).

[0037] In Rel-15, for C-DRX operation in RRC connected mode, the UE is provided with a configuration that enables discontinuous PDCCH monitoring as described in 3GPP TS38.321 Section 5.7. In Rel-16, the Wake-up-Signal (WUS) or DCP (a DCI format scrambled with PS-RNTI) was introduced to NR to indicate whether the UE is requested to start the drx-OnDuration Timer. That is, if the UE receives a wake-up indication on a WUS occasion preceding the drx-OnDuration, the UE is requested to be in active time and monitor the PDCCH. If the WUS does not indicate to the UE to wake up / start the timer (e.g., the NW has no DL data or other control to transmit in the next OnDuration for a given UE), the UE can skip PDCCH monitoring during the DRX-OnDuration to achieve power savings.

[0038] Since the UE cannot be scheduled during the measurement gaps, it may be beneficial to take into account the UE's relaxation level (as described above) for scheduling purposes, otherwise the UE 110 may be configured with a non-optimal measurement gap from an UL / DL scheduling perspective, wasting system capacity.

[0039] Currently, measurement gaps are configured based on UE capabilities as described in 3GPP TS38.300: Whether the measurement is non-gap-assisted or gap-assisted depends on the UE capabilities, the UE's active BWP and the current operating frequency: - For SSB-based inter-frequency measurements, if measurement gap requirement information is reported by the UE, the measurement gap configuration can be prepared according to that information. Otherwise, the measurement gap configuration is always prepared in the following cases: - if the UE supports only per-UE measurement gaps; - If the UE supports per-FR measurement gaps and both serving cells are within the same frequency range of the measurement object. - For SSB-based intra-frequency measurements, if measurement gap requirement information is reported by the UE, the measurement gap configuration can be prepared according to this information. Otherwise, the measurement gap configuration is always prepared in the following cases: - If none of the UE configured BWPs other than the first BWP contains a frequency domain resource of the SSB associated with the first DL BWP. In a non-gap-assisted scenario, the UE can perform such measurements without a measurement gap. In a gap-assisted scenario, the UE cannot be assumed to be able to perform such measurements without a measurement gap.

[0040] Measurement gap configuration is described in section 5.5.2.9 of 3GPP TS38.331. See, for example, 3GPP TS38.331 V15.12.0(2020-12). Briefly, to set up GapConfig, the UE is provided with gapFR1 and / or gapFR2 and / or gapUE via the MeasGapConfig IE. The IE GapConfig provides gapOffset to determine the timing location (offset), period, and length of the measurement gap. See Figure 2, which illustrates the IEs MeasGapConfig and GapConfig, and also see Figure 2A, which is a table of field descriptions in Figure 2.

[0041] The possible gap pattern settings (combinations of measurement gap length (MGL, in ms) and measurement gap repetition period (MGRP, in ms)) are listed in 3GPP TS38.133 (Table 9.1.2-1: Gap Pattern Settings). See 3GPP TS38.133 V16.6.0(2020-12) and Figure 2B, which is a table of gap pattern settings (Table 9.1.2-1 from 3GPP TS38.133).

[0042] Having provided an overview of the related technical field, an introduction to exemplary embodiments will be provided, followed by further details.

[0043] By way of introduction, reference is made to Figure 3, which is a logic flow and signaling diagram for radio resource management relaxed reporting and scheduling. This diagram illustrates the operation of an example method, the results of execution of computer program instructions embodied in computer-readable memory, functions performed by logic executed in hardware, and / or interconnected means for performing functions, according to an example embodiment. The blocks of Figure 3 are performed by the UE 110 or a network (NW) node 310 and controlled by their respective control modules 140 or 150. The NW node 310 is an element within the network 100 and may be the RAN node 170 or some element in the RAN node 170, such as an RRH or DU / RU (see 196 in Figure 1).

[0044] In block 320, the UE 110 and the NW node 310 align radio resource measurement mitigation states so that the UE 110 and the network understand at least which measurement gap occasions are considered valid for radio resource management measurements (e.g., valid measurement gap occasions are not used for data transmission / reception). A measurement gap is a period reserved for measurements during which the UE cannot (or is not required to) receive / transmit data from / to the serving cell because the UE is performing measurements elsewhere, such as in a non-serving cell. A measurement gap occasion is a period reserved as a (e.g., known) measurement gap. In block 325, the NW node 310 schedules and creates data transmission / reception accordingly (if a measurement gap is not in progress) based on at least the aligned radio resource measurement mitigation states. In block 330, the UE 110 receives and / or transmits data according to the scheduling and uses measurement gaps (if any) for RRM measurements according to the alignment with the network in block 320. Scheduling of communications between UE 110 and network nodes is well known.

[0045] In block 340, the UE 110 reports the results of the radio resource measurements to the NW node 310. The NW node 310 receives the reporting of the results of the radio resource measurements made by the UE 110 according to the aligned radio resource measurement mitigation state. See block 350. The NW node 310 can perform one or more actions based on the received reporting in block 360. Example actions are described below.

[0046] While Figure 3 illustrates one main set of operations and corresponding signaling for carrying out an example embodiment, two additional main alternatives are described below: In the first alternative (see Figure 4), the UE 110 is essentially configured by coordination with the network 100, while in the second alternative (see Figure 5), the UE 110 determines the measurement gap configuration to use during the coordination process.

[0047] Turning to Figure 4, Figure 4 is a logic flow and signaling diagram for radio resource measurement activity information reporting and scheduling for a first alternative example implementation to Figure 3. Figure 4 also further illustrates the operation of an example method, results of execution of computer program instructions embodied in computer-readable memory, functions performed by logic executed in hardware, and / or interconnected means for performing functions, according to an example embodiment. The blocks of Figure 4 are performed by the UE 110 or the network node 310 and controlled by their respective control modules 140 or 150.

[0048] In this example, the resource management state consistency of block 320 from Figure 3 is marked as being composed of multiple blocks 405 through 435. Additionally, examples of blocks 330, 325, 340, and 350 are shown.

[0049] In block 405, the NW node 310 configures criteria or parameters for the UE 110 to enable the UE 110 to determine whether relaxed measurement conditions are applicable. The UE 110 receives the configuration in block 410. In response, the UE 110 reports information about its currently selected RRM measurement conditions in block 415, which the NW node 310 receives in block 420.

[0050] More generally, the reported information may include one or more indications of a radio resource control measurement relaxation level, or a radio link monitoring measurement level, or low mobility condition information (e.g., whether the condition is met), or not-at-cell-edge condition information (e.g., whether the condition is met), or whether a threshold (e.g., a cell quality threshold or a beam quality threshold) for controlling whether the UE is required to perform measurements on non-serving cells is met, or a selected measurement gap setting, or whether the UE can or cannot relax measurements any further, or a preferred measurement gap setting for the UE. The preferred measurement gap setting may include one or more of the following: a gap for FR1 / FR2; a UE-specific gap that applies to all frequencies; a gap offset; a gap length; a gap repetition period; or a gap timing advancement.

[0051] The RRM measurement mitigation level may include one or more indications of the following: no RRM measurements, or relaxed RRM measurements, or periodic RRM measurements, or relaxed RLM measurements, or periodic RLM measurements.

[0052] The thresholds may include one or more of the cell quality, or one or more sets of ssb-RSRPs used to derive the cell quality level (e.g., RSRPs based on SS / PBCH block measurements), or csi-RSRPs corresponding to cell-level RSRPs based on CSI-RS measurements.

[0053] In block 425, the NW node 310 uses the information received from the UE 110 to configure a preferred measurement gap pattern configuration for the UE. In block 430, the NW node 310 sends the measurement gap pattern configuration to the UE, which is received by the UE 110 in block 435. The NW node 310 schedules and performs data transmission (and / or reception) based on the known measurement gap pattern. See block 440, which is an example of block 325 in FIG. 3. The UE then receives and / or transmits data according to the scheduling and uses the measurement gap pattern configured by the network for RRM measurements. See block 445, which is an example of block 330 in FIG. 3.

[0054] In block 340, the UE 110 reports the results of the radio resource measurements to the NW node 310. The NW node 310 receives the reporting of the results of the radio resource measurements made by the UE 110 according to the aligned radio resource measurement mitigation state. See block 350.

[0055] In terms of information that may be reported by the UE 110 to the NW node 310 in block 415, one or more of the following are possible:

[0056] 1) UE intra / inter-frequency / inter-RAT non-serving cell measurement activity, e.g., whether the UE is relaxed or not relaxed in measurements, or the level of relaxation;

[0057] 2) whether low mobility or not-at-cell-edge or both conditions are satisfied;

[0058] 3) whether a cell quality (or beam quality) threshold is met to control whether the UE is required to perform measurements on non-serving cells; and / or

[0059] 4) A preferred measurement gap setting for the UE, for example based on the amount of non-serving cell measurements (e.g., a large amount of non-serving cell measurements may require a long measurement gap).

[0060] In block 430, the following may be used to send an indication of the measurement gap pattern configuration to the UE:

[0061] 1) A technique similar or identical to the current standard specification in section 5.5.2.9 of 3GPP TS38.331 by configuring the UE with the MeasGapConfig IEs gapFR1 and / or gapFR2 and / or gapUE to set up GapConfig. The IE GapConfig provides gapOffset to determine the timing location (offset), period and length of the measurement gap; or

[0062] 2) The UE may be configured with default and adapted measurement gaps, which are described in more detail below.

[0063] Referring to Figure 5, this figure is a logic flow and signaling diagram for radio resource measurement activity information reporting and scheduling for a second alternative example implementation to Figure 3. Figure 5 also further illustrates the operation of an example method, results of execution of computer program instructions embodied in computer-readable memory, functions performed by logic executed in hardware, and / or interconnected means for performing functions, according to an example embodiment. The blocks of Figure 5 are performed by the UE 110 or the NW node 310 and controlled by their respective control modules 140 or 150.

[0064] Many of the blocks in Figure 5 have been described with reference to Figure 4, so only the differences will be described here. In this example, the network gives more control to the UE, where measurement gap pattern configurations are used. To do this, the NW node 310 sends multiple measurement gap pattern configurations to the UE 110. There are several possibilities for this to happen:

[0065] In a first possibility, the NW node 310 transmits a plurality of measurement gap pattern configurations to the UE in block 507. The UE receives them in block 512.

[0066] As another possibility, the NW node 310 uses the information received from the UE to configure multiple measurement gap pattern configurations for the UE in block 525. The NW node 310 sends an indication of the multiple measurement gap pattern configurations to the UE in block 530. The UE 110 receives the indication in block 535.

[0067] Blocks 507 and 530 may be separate and alternative options. Another possibility is that block 507 may be used to load a large set of measurement gap pattern configurations (e.g., 10 or more) into UE 110, and block 530 may be used by NW node 310 to narrow this down to a smaller set (e.g., a selection of 3 or 4). A further possibility is that block 507 may load an initial set of measurement gap pattern configurations, and block 530 may revise one or more of the measurement gap pattern configurations in that set or completely replace that set with a different set of measurement gap pattern configurations. Other options are possible.

[0068] In block 536, the UE 110 selects a measurement gap pattern configuration from multiple measurement gap pattern configurations. In block 537, the UE 110 reports the selected measurement gap pattern configuration to the NW node 310, which receives the report of the selected measurement gap pattern configuration in block 538. In block 540, the NW node 310 schedules and performs data transmission (and / or reception) based on the selected measurement gap pattern. In block 545, the UE 110 receives and / or transmits data according to the scheduling and uses the selected measurement gap pattern for RRM measurements.

[0069] As previously mentioned, after determining which mitigation state to use, the UE 110 selects its applicable measurement gap configuration based on configuration by the network in block 536. This selection can be performed via:

[0070] 1) The network configures the UE with multiple measurement gap configurations, and the UE selects a measurement gap configuration from them;

[0071] 2) The network configures the UE with a bitmap / field that allows the UE to determine the subset of measurement gaps to be used;

[0072] 3) The network configures the UE with different measurement gap periodicities for different measurement activity conditions, so that the UE adapts a given measurement gap configuration based on the applied measurement activity;

[0073] 4) The network configures the UE with several MeasGapConfig IEs corresponding to the measurement relaxation states to be applied, e.g., MeasGapConfig_lowMob when the UE is in a low mobility state; MeasGapConfig_cellCentre when the UE is in the cell center; MeasGapConfig_inferF when the UE is in a state where all inter-frequency criteria can be stopped or relaxed;

[0074] 5) The measurement gap configuration and unused measurement gap occasions may be associated with C-DRX; and / or

[0075] 6) The network configures the UE with a scaling factor N or M value (described in more detail below) so that the UE can determine which measurement gap occasions are expected to be used for measurements and which can be ignored by the UE.

[0076] How the UE reports its applied measurement gap configuration / pattern to the network (see block 537) may be implemented via:

[0077] 1) The UE reports to the network its applied measurement gap configuration index or whether restrictions apply to the available measurement gap occasions; and / or

[0078] 2) The UE reports the selected / applied measurement gap configuration to the network by using UE assistance information, including: gap for FR1 / FR2, UE-specific gap applicable to all frequencies, gap offset, gap length, gap repetition period, gap timing advancement.

[0079] Now that the introduction has been given, further details will be provided. In one embodiment, the UE reports or is configured to report information regarding intra / inter-frequency / inter-RAT non-serving cell measurement activity. See, e.g., block 415 of Figures 4 and 5.

[0080] In one embodiment, the measurement activity information in the above paragraph can be one or more of the following: UE RRM measurement mitigation (whether the UE is mitigating / not mitigating measurements, or the level of mitigation), whether low mobility or not-at-cell-edge or both conditions are met; whether a cell quality (or beam quality) threshold is met to control whether the UE is required to perform measurements on non-serving cells.

[0081] In an example embodiment, the threshold may be one or more of the cell quality, or one or more sets of ssb-RSRPs used to derive the cell quality level (e.g., RSRPs based on SS / PBCH block measurements), or csi-RSRPs corresponding to cell-level RSRPs based on CSI-RS measurements.

[0082] In one embodiment, the network uses the above information for UL / DL scheduling. In one embodiment, the network uses the above information to configure a preferred measurement gap configuration for the UE. In one embodiment, the network determines whether and which measurement gaps the UE is using based on measurement activity information reported by the UE.

[0083] In one embodiment, the UE is configured with multiple measurement gap configurations, and the UE selects its measurement gap configuration to use, e.g., based on its non-serving cell measurement activity. See, e.g., block 536 of FIG. 5. In some examples, the UE reports the selected measurement gap configuration to the network. See, e.g., block 537 of FIG. 5. See also the following examples: by way of example, the UE may be configured to trigger (or provide an indication of) when the UE relaxes RRM measurements; by way of example, reporting for non-serving cells may relate to inter-frequency cell measurement activity or relaxation for inter-frequency cell measurements. In one embodiment, when the UE determines that it can no longer relax RRM measurements, the UE indicates this fact to the network.

[0084] In one example embodiment, the UE may be configured with a default measurement gap and an adapted measurement gap. If any trigger condition applies, the UE reverts to the default measurement gap. The trigger condition may include one or more of the following:

[0085] 1) In one example, the trigger condition may be when the UE determines that the RRM measurements cannot be relaxed (e.g., an exit condition);

[0086] 2) The UE initiates a RACH (e.g., for SR or BFR);

[0087] 3) The UE triggers SR on the PUCCH;

[0088] 4) A measurement reporting event (e.g., A2 / A3 / A4) has been triggered (e.g., for an inter-frequency cell, or an intra-frequency cell, or both); and / or

[0089] 5) The UE may indicate that it has reverted to the default gap (e.g., based on an explicit indication that the UE does not relax measurements, or implicitly, e.g., based on a RACH / RRC level report, that a reversion may be assumed).

[0090] In one embodiment, a particular gap pattern configuration or set of MG parameters can be associated with the UE's RRM measurement mitigation status. By way of example, a particular status, e.g., relaxed RRM measurements or a non-mitigated status of "normal mode," is associated with a particular set of MG pattern configurations / values. Furthermore, in the case of multiple mitigation levels, each level is associated with at least one measurement gap pattern, and the same gap pattern can be shared by one or more mitigation levels.

[0091] In one embodiment, the UE adapts a given measurement gap configuration based on the applied measurement activity. In one embodiment, the UE is provided with additional parameters to determine which measurement gaps to use (or assume not to be used) or how to adapt the measurement gap pattern. In one possible embodiment, the UE is provided with a bitmap / field to determine the subset of measurement gaps to use (or assume not to be available for measurement). In one embodiment, the UE is provided with different measurement gap periodicities for different measurement activity conditions.

[0092] In one embodiment, the measurement gap configuration and unused measurement gap occasions may be associated with C-DRX as follows:

[0093] 1) For example, the UE may perform measurements according to a relaxed measurement configuration, and the UE may determine not to use at least one measurement gap period in a periodic gap pattern;

[0094] 2) Based on the determination, the UE may further determine whether the C-DRX active time (on duration) fully or at least partially overlaps with a measurement gap that the UE has determined not to use:

[0095] a) If the on-duration overlaps based on the judgment, the UE is assumed to be available for scheduling / the UE is assumed to monitor the PDCCH;

[0096] b) The unused measurement gap durations in the gap pattern are known to the network and the UE, for example based on a UE indication.

[0097] In one embodiment, the UE reports its preferred measurement gap configuration using a UE Assistance Information procedure, e.g., based on the amount of non-serving cell measurements, including one or more of the following: gap for FR1 / FR2, UE-specific gap that applies to all frequencies, gap offset, gap length, gap repetition period, gap timing advancement.

[0098] In one embodiment, measurement gaps occurring during the drx-onDurationTimer, or generally during Active Time, are suppressed based on relaxed RRM metrics. In some examples, the NW can infer which measurement gaps the UE has suppressed based on the UE reporting of the UE report. That is, the suppressed measurement gaps are not reported. In another embodiment, measurement gaps occurring during the drx-onDurationTimer, or generally during Active Time, are prioritized for retention. This ensures that the UE saves the most power during DRX.

[0099] Please note that methods for adapting / triggering relaxed measurement activities for UEs in CONNECTED mode are outside the scope of this document.

[0100] In further detail, in one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the UE provides an RRC message to the network to indicate which measurement configurations apply or whether restrictions apply (or do not apply) to the available measurement gap occasions, for example by indicating an applied measurement gap configuration index (see, for example, block 415 in Figures 4 and 5).

[0101] In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the indication may signal separately for FR1 gaps, FR2 gaps, and / or UE-specific gaps, which may occur, for example, in block 430 of FIG. 4 or in block 530 of FIG. 5.

[0102] In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the UE 110 may be provided by the network with two (or more) MeasGapConfig IEs corresponding to the measurement mitigation states to be applied. This may occur in blocks 507 and / or 530. For example, MeasGapConfig_lowMob, which is applicable when the UE is considered to be in a low mobility state based on defined criteria, and MeasGapConfig_cellCentre, which is applicable when the UE is considered to be in a cell center condition based on defined criteria. A further possibility is MeasGapConfig_inferF, which is applicable when the UE considers itself to be in a condition such that it can stop or mitigate all inter-frequency measurements based on one or more defined criteria. In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the mitigation is applied to intra-frequency measurements so that the measurement gaps allocated for intra-frequency measurements can be adapted.

[0103] In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, to determine which measurement gap occasions are assumed to be available for measurement or blocked, the UE 110 is provided with a bitmap that determines which measurement gaps are assumed to be active / available for measurement within a certain period of time. This bitmap may be provided as a measurement gap pattern setting in block 430, or may be provided in blocks 507 or 530. For example, the UE is provided with a bitmap / field length M that applies to M consecutive measurement gap occasions (and is repeated every M measurement gap periods). In another example, the UE is provided with a bitmap length M and a period (during a measurement gap period) of N, where M>N, and the UE determines which gap to apply based on the most significant bit (or least significant bit) of the bitmap / field.

[0104] In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiments, the following can be used, for example as part of blocks 430, 507, and / or 530, to determine which measurement gap occasions are assumed to be used for measurements or which can be ignored by the UE (i.e., the UE may decide not to use gaps for measurements):

[0105] 1) The network may signal an integer value, e.g., N1=2, which is used by the UE to determine which MG occasions can be ignored / skipped / not used by the UE. A value of 2 means that for every two MG occasions, the UE is not required to perform RRM measurements or the UE can ignore the gaps. In this example, N1=3 means that every third gap can be ignored / not used.

[0106] 2) Alternatively or additionally, the network may signal an integer value, e.g., N1=1 / 2, which is used by the UE to determine which MG occasions can be ignored / skipped / not used by the UE. A value of N2=2 / 3 means that the UE may ignore two out of three gaps.

[0107] 3) Alternatively or additionally, the value used to apply MG length scaling may be provided to the UE. For example, a value N2=2 causes the UE to shorten the MGL (measurement gap length) by half. Alternatively, a fraction N2=1 / 2 or 1 / 3 may be used for the same purpose.

[0108] 4) Alternatively, the numbers may be interpreted the other way around, i.e. N1=2 / 3 means that the UE can ignore one out of three gaps, or N1=3 means that the UE is required to perform measurements every 3 MG occasions in the gap pattern.

[0109] In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiments, the UE determines which measurement gap occasions are unavailable for measurements when measurement relaxation is applied based on their likelihood of overlapping with the C-DRX onDurationTimer. This can be implemented, for example, in block 445 or 545. For example, if measurement relaxation is applied and a measurement gap occasion partially or completely overlaps with the onDurationTimer, the UE assumes that the measurement gap is unavailable for measurements and can be used for data scheduling by the network. In an alternative example, the part of the measurement gap that overlaps with the C-DRX onDurationTimer is assumed to be unavailable for measurements and can be used by the network to schedule data. In some alternative embodiments, whether a measurement gap that overlaps with the C-DRX onDurationTimer can be assumed to be available for measurements depends on the WUS / DCP indication; thus, the UE may assume that (subsequent) measurement gap occasions that overlap with the onDurationTimer are available for inter-frequency measurements if it is not required to start PDCCH monitoring (indicated via the DCP / WUS).

[0110] In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the UE 110 determines the measurement activity to be applied based on applicable measurement requirements, such as measurement reporting delay or measurement accuracy. This is performed in block 536, where a measurement gap pattern configuration is selected. In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the UE measurement requirements for measurement reporting delay and / or measurement accuracy are determined based on requirements defined in 3GPP TS38.133, such that the UE can meet these requirements. In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the UE determines the applicable relaxations to the measurement activity to be applied.

[0111] In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the UE applies relaxations to measurement activities due to adjustments to relaxations applied to measurement requirements, such as measurement evaluation times.

[0112] In one possible implementation of the proposed embodiment, the network determines a subset of configured measurement gaps that can be used to schedule DL ( / UL) data to (from) the UE based on information provided by the UE on the UE RRM mitigation status, where the information relates to the UE's measurement mitigation status or the applied measurement gap configuration applied by the UE. See, e.g., blocks 440 and 540.

[0113] Below are some additional examples:

[0114] Turning now to Figure 6, this figure is a logic flow diagram implemented by user equipment for measurement activity reporting and usage, according to an example embodiment. The diagram illustrates the operation of an example method, results of execution of computer program instructions embodied in computer-readable memory, functions performed by logic executed in hardware, and / or interconnected means for performing functions, according to an example embodiment. The blocks of Figure 6 are implemented by UE 110, controlled by control module 140.

[0115] In block 610, with the UE 110 in a connected mode with a wireless NW 100 (e.g., NW node 310) of a wireless network, the UE 110 transmits activity information to the wireless NW 100. In block 620, the UE 110 performs measurements.

[0116] In the following examples, the logic flow diagram of FIG.

[0117] Example 2. The method of Example 1, wherein the measurement includes one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurements, or radio link monitoring measurements, or serving cell measurements, or non-serving cell measurements.

[0118] Example 3. The method of example 1 or 2, wherein the user equipment performs measurements with or without one or more measurement gaps.

[0119] Example 4. The method of any one of Examples 1-3, further comprising adapting, by the user equipment, measurement gaps provided by the wireless network based on measurement activity applied.

[0120] Example 5. The method of any one of Examples 1-3, further comprising selecting, by the user equipment, a measurement gap based on an applied measurement activity.

[0121] Example 6. The method of any one of Examples 1 to 3, further comprising determining, by the user equipment, whether to use a measurement gap based on an applied measurement activity.

[0122] Example 7. The method of any one of Examples 1 to 6, wherein the measurement activity information is provided via physical layer signaling, or medium access control layer signaling, or radio resource control layer signaling.

[0123] Example 8. The method of example 7, wherein the medium access control layer signaling includes using at least one control element for medium access control.

[0124] Example 9. The method of Example 7, wherein the radio resource control layer signaling includes one or more of a measurement report, user equipment assistance information, or any other radio resource control message.

[0125] Example 10. The method of any one of Examples 1-9, wherein the measured activity information includes an indication for one or more of the following: radio resource management measurement relaxation level or radio link monitoring measurement level or low mobility condition information or not-at-cell-edge condition information or whether a threshold is met to control whether the user equipment is required to perform measurements on non-serving cells or the selected measurement gap setting or whether the user equipment is not able or able to relax measurements any further or the user equipment's preferred measurement gap setting.

[0126] Example 11. The method of example 10, wherein the preferred measurement gap settings include one or more of the following: Gap for frequency range 1, gap for frequency range 2, user equipment specific gap to apply to all frequencies, gap offset, gap length, gap repetition period, or gap timing advancement.

[0127] Example 12. The method of example 10, wherein the radio resource management measurement mitigation level includes an indication of one or more of the following: No radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio resource management measurements, or periodic radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio link monitoring measurements, or periodic radio link monitoring measurements.

[0128] Example 13. The method of example 10, wherein the thresholds include thresholds for one or more of the following: one or more sets of synchronization signal block reference signal received powers used to derive the cell quality, or the cell quality level, or one or more of the channel state information reference signal received powers corresponding to the cell-level reference signal received powers based on one or more channel state information reference signal measurements.

[0129] Example 14. The method of example 10, wherein the preferred measurement gap setting is determined based on an amount of non-serving cell measurements.

[0130] Example 15. The method of example 10, wherein the selection by the user equipment includes selecting a measurement gap configuration from a plurality of measurement gap configurations provided by the wireless network.

[0131] Example 16. The method of any one of Examples 1 to 15, wherein the measurements are radio resource management measurements, and the method further comprises reporting, by the user equipment, results of the radio resource management measurements towards the wireless network.

[0132] Example 17. The method of any one of Examples 1 to 16, wherein the measurement activity information indicates whether the user equipment is relaxing or not relaxing measurements, or indicates a level of relaxation of measurements.

[0133] Example 18. The method of any one of Examples 1-16, further comprising receiving, by the user equipment, a configuration from the network node indicating that the user equipment reports measurement activity information to the network node.

[0134] Referring to Figure 7, this figure is a logic flow diagram implemented by a network node for measurement activity reporting and usage, according to an example embodiment. The diagram illustrates the operation of an example method, the results of execution of computer program instructions embodied in computer-readable memory, functions performed by logic executed in hardware, and / or interconnected means for performing functions, according to an example embodiment. The blocks of Figure 7 are implemented by a network (NW) node 310 and controlled by the control module 150. The NW node 310 is an element in the network 100 and may be the RAN node 170 or some element in the RAN node 170, such as an RRH or DU / RU (see item 196 in Figure 1).

[0135] In block 710, once the NW node 310 has set the UE 110 to a connected mode, measurement activity information is received from the UE 110 by the NW node 310.

[0136] In the following example, the logic flow diagram of FIG.

[0137] Example 20. The method of Example 19, further comprising receiving a report corresponding to measurements made by the user equipment.

[0138] Example 21. The method of example 20, wherein the measurement includes one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurements, or radio link monitoring measurements, or serving cell measurements, or non-serving cell measurements.

[0139] Example 22. The method of example 20 or 21, wherein the user equipment performs measurements with or without one or more measurement gaps.

[0140] Example 23. The method of any one of Examples 19 to 22, further comprising configuring, by the network node, the user equipment so that the user equipment can adapt measurement gaps provided by the network node based on measurement activity applied by the user equipment.

[0141] Example 24. The method of any one of Examples 19-22, further comprising configuring, by the network node, the user equipment to select a measurement gap based on an applied measurement activity.

[0142] Example 25. The method of any one of Examples 19-22, further comprising configuring, by the network node, the user equipment to determine whether to use measurement gaps based on applied measurement activity.

[0143] Example 26. The method of any one of Examples 19 to 25, wherein the measurement activity information is received via physical layer signaling, or medium access control layer signaling, or radio resource control layer signaling.

[0144] Example 27. The method of example 26, wherein the medium access control layer signaling includes using at least one control element for medium access control.

[0145] Example 28. The method of example 26, wherein the radio resource control layer signaling includes one or more of a measurement report, user equipment assistance information, or any other radio resource control message.

[0146] Example 29. The method of any one of Examples 19-28, wherein the measured activity information includes an indication for one or more of the following: radio resource management measurement relaxation level or radio link monitoring measurement level or low mobility condition information or not-at-cell-edge condition information or whether a threshold is met to control whether the user equipment is required to perform measurements on non-serving cells or the selected measurement gap setting or whether the user equipment is not able or able to relax measurements any further or the user equipment's preferred measurement gap setting.

[0147] Example 30. The method of example 29, wherein the preferred measurement gap settings include one or more of the following: Gap for frequency range 1, gap for frequency range 2, user equipment specific gap to apply to all frequencies, gap offset, gap length, gap repetition period, or gap timing advancement.

[0148] Example 31. The method of example 29, wherein the radio resource management measurement mitigation level includes an indication of one or more of the following: No radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio resource management measurements, or periodic radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio link monitoring measurements, or periodic radio link monitoring measurements.

[0149] Example 32. The method of example 29, wherein the thresholds include thresholds for one or more of the following: one or more sets of synchronization signal block reference signal received powers used to derive the cell quality, or the cell quality level, or one or more of the channel state information reference signal received powers corresponding to the cell-level reference signal received powers based on one or more channel state information reference signal measurements.

[0150] Example 33. The method of example 29, wherein the preferred measurement gap setting is determined based on an amount of non-serving cell measurements.

[0151] Example 34. The method of example 29, wherein the selection by the user equipment includes selecting a measurement gap configuration from a plurality of measurement gap configurations provided by the network node.

[0152] Example 35. The method of any one of Examples 19 to 34, wherein the measurements are radio resource management measurements, and the method further comprises receiving, by the network node, results of the radio resource management measurements from the user equipment.

[0153] Example 36. The method of any one of Examples 19 to 35, wherein the measurement activity information indicates whether the user equipment is relaxing or not relaxing measurements, or indicates a level of relaxation of measurements.

[0154] Example 37. The method of any one of Examples 19-36, further comprising the network node configuring the user equipment to report measurement activity information to the network node.

[0155] Example 38. The method of any one of Examples 19 to 37, wherein the user equipment is a single user equipment or a plurality of user equipment.

[0156] Example 39. The method of any one of Examples 19-38, wherein the network node includes one of the following: a gNB, an eNB, a node-forming portion of a gNB, a node-forming portion of an eNB, an ng-eNB, multiple gNBs, multiple eNBs, one or more RRHs, or one or more DUs.

[0157] Example 40. A computer program comprising code for carrying out the method of any one of Examples 1 to 39 when the computer program is run on a computer.

[0158] Example 41. The computer program of Example 40, wherein the computer program is a computer program product including a computer readable medium having computer program code embodied thereon for use on a computer.

[0159] Example 42. The computer program of Example 40, wherein the computer program is directly loadable into the internal memory of the computer.

[0160] Example 43. In a user equipment in a connected mode with a wireless network, transmitting, by the user equipment, measured activity information to the wireless network; performing measurements by the user equipment; An apparatus comprising means for performing the steps of:

[0161] Example 44. The device of example 43, wherein the measurement includes one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurements, or radio link monitoring measurements, or serving cell measurements, or non-serving cell measurements.

[0162] Example 45. The apparatus of example 43 or 44, wherein the user equipment performs measurements with or without one or more measurement gaps.

[0163] Example 46. The apparatus of any one of Examples 43-45, wherein the means is further configured to perform, by the user equipment, adapting measurement gaps provided by the wireless network based on applied measurement activity.

[0164] Example 47. The apparatus of any one of Examples 43-45, wherein the means is further configured to perform, by the user equipment, selecting a measurement gap based on an applied measurement activity.

[0165] Example 48. The apparatus of any one of Examples 43-45, wherein the means is further configured to perform determining, by the user equipment, whether to use a measurement gap based on an applied measurement activity.

[0166] Example 49. The apparatus of any one of Examples 43-48, wherein the measurement activity information is provided via physical layer signaling, or medium access control layer signaling, or radio resource control layer signaling.

[0167] Example 50. The apparatus of example 49, wherein the medium access control layer signaling includes using at least one control element for medium access control.

[0168] Example 51. The apparatus of example 49, wherein the radio resource control layer signaling includes one or more of a measurement report, user equipment assistance information, or any other radio resource control message.

[0169] Example 52. The apparatus of any one of Examples 43-51, wherein the measured activity information includes an indication for one or more of the following: radio resource management measurement relaxation level or radio link monitoring measurement level or low mobility condition information or not-at-cell-edge condition information or whether a threshold is met to control whether the user equipment is required to perform measurements on non-serving cells or the selected measurement gap setting or whether the user equipment is not able or able to relax measurements any further or the user equipment's preferred measurement gap setting.

[0170] Example 53. The apparatus of example 52, wherein the preferred measurement gap settings include one or more of the following: Gap for frequency range 1, gap for frequency range 2, user equipment specific gap to apply to all frequencies, gap offset, gap length, gap repetition period, or gap timing advancement.

[0171] Example 54. The apparatus of example 52, wherein the radio resource management measurement mitigation level includes an indication of one or more of the following: No radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio resource management measurements, or periodic radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio link monitoring measurements, or periodic radio link monitoring measurements.

[0172] Example 55. The apparatus of example 52, wherein the thresholds include thresholds for one or more of the following: one or more sets of synchronization signal block reference signal received powers used to derive the cell quality, or the cell quality level, or one or more of the channel state information reference signal received powers corresponding to the cell-level reference signal received powers based on one or more channel state information reference signal measurements.

[0173] Example 56. The apparatus of example 52, wherein the preferred measurement gap setting is determined based on an amount of non-serving cell measurements.

[0174] Example 57. The apparatus of example 52, wherein the selection by the user equipment includes selecting a measurement gap configuration from a plurality of measurement gap configurations provided by the wireless network.

[0175] Example 58. The apparatus of any one of Examples 43-57, wherein the measurements are radio resource management measurements, and the apparatus further includes reporting, by the user equipment, results of the radio resource management measurements to the wireless network.

[0176] Example 59. The apparatus of any one of Examples 43-58, wherein the measurement activity information indicates whether the user equipment is relaxing or not relaxing measurements, or indicates a level of relaxation of measurements.

[0177] Example 60. The apparatus of any one of Examples 43-58, wherein the means is further configured to perform: receiving, by the user equipment, a configuration from the wireless network indicating that the user equipment reports measurement activity information to the wireless network.

[0178] Example 61. At a network node that has configured a user equipment in a connected mode, receiving, by the network node, measurement activity information from the user equipment. An apparatus comprising means for performing the steps of:

[0179] Example 62. The apparatus of Example 61, wherein the means is further configured to perform receiving a report corresponding to measurements made by the user equipment.

[0180] Example 63. The device of example 62, wherein the measurement includes one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurements, or radio link monitoring measurements, or serving cell measurements, or non-serving cell measurements.

[0181] Example 64. The apparatus of example 62 or 63, wherein the user equipment performs measurements with or without one or more measurement gaps.

[0182] Example 65. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61 to 64, wherein the means is further configured to perform configuring, by the network node, the user equipment so that the user equipment can adapt a measurement gap provided by the network node based on measurement activity applied by the user equipment.

[0183] Example 66. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61-64, wherein the means is further configured to perform: configuring, by the network node, the user equipment to select a measurement gap based on an applied measurement activity.

[0184] Example 67. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61-64, wherein the means is further configured to perform: configuring, by the network node, the user equipment to determine whether to use a measurement gap based on an applied measurement activity.

[0185] Example 68. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61 to 67, wherein the measurement activity information is received via physical layer signaling, or medium access control layer signaling, or radio resource control layer signaling.

[0186] Example 69. The apparatus of example 68, wherein the medium access control layer signaling includes using at least one control element for medium access control.

[0187] Example 70. The apparatus of example 68, wherein the radio resource control layer signaling includes one or more of a measurement report, user equipment assistance information, or any other radio resource control message.

[0188] Example 71. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61-70, wherein the measured activity information includes an indication for one or more of the following: radio resource management measurement relaxation level or radio link monitoring measurement level or low mobility condition information or not-at-cell-edge condition information or whether a threshold is met to control whether the user equipment is required to perform measurements on non-serving cells or the selected measurement gap setting or whether the user equipment is not able or able to relax measurements any further or the user equipment's preferred measurement gap setting.

[0189] Example 72. The apparatus of example 71, wherein the preferred measurement gap settings include one or more of the following: Gap for frequency range 1, gap for frequency range 2, user equipment specific gap to apply to all frequencies, gap offset, gap length, gap repetition period, or gap timing advancement.

[0190] Example 73. The apparatus of example 71, wherein the radio resource management measurement mitigation level includes an indication of one or more of the following: No radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio resource management measurements, or periodic radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio link monitoring measurements, or periodic radio link monitoring measurements.

[0191] Example 74. The apparatus of example 71, wherein the thresholds include thresholds for one or more of the following: one or more sets of synchronization signal block reference signal received powers used to derive the cell quality, or the cell quality level, or one or more of the channel state information reference signal received powers corresponding to the cell-level reference signal received powers based on one or more channel state information reference signal measurements.

[0192] Example 75. The apparatus of example 71, wherein the preferred measurement gap setting is determined based on an amount of non-serving cell measurements.

[0193] Example 76. The apparatus of example 71, wherein the selection by the user equipment includes selecting a measurement gap configuration from a plurality of measurement gap configurations provided by the network node.

[0194] Example 77. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61-76, wherein the measurements are radio resource management measurements, and the apparatus further comprises receiving, by the network node, results of the radio resource management measurements from the user equipment.

[0195] Example 78. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61-77, wherein the measurement activity information indicates whether the user equipment is relaxing or not relaxing measurements, or indicates a level of relaxation of measurements.

[0196] Example 79. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61-78, wherein the means is further configured to: cause the network node to configure the user equipment to report measurement activity information to the network node.

[0197] Example 80. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61 to 79, wherein the user equipment is a single user equipment or a plurality of user equipment.

[0198] Example 81. The apparatus of any one of Examples 61 to 80, wherein the network node includes one of the following: a gNB, an eNB, a node-forming portion of a gNB, a node-forming portion of an eNB, an ng-eNB, a plurality of gNBs, a plurality of eNBs, one or more RRHs, or one or more DUs.

[0199] Example 82. The means are at least one processor; at least one memory containing computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured by at least one processor to cause execution of the apparatus; The device of any one of device examples 43-81, comprising:

[0200] Example 83. An apparatus, one or more processors; one or more memories containing computer program code; and one or more memories, and computer program code configured to be executed by one or more processors in the apparatus. transmitting, by the user equipment in a connected mode with the wireless network, measured activity information to the wireless network; performing measurements by the user equipment; 2. A device configured to:

[0201] Example 84. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer program code embodied thereon for use in a computer, the computer program code comprising: code for transmitting, in a user equipment connected mode with the wireless network, the measured activity information by the user equipment to the wireless network; Code for performing measurements by a user equipment; a computer program product,

[0202] Example 85. An apparatus, one or more processors; one or more memories containing computer program code; and one or more memories, and computer program code configured to be executed by one or more processors in the apparatus. receiving, by the network node, measurement activity information from the user equipment at the network node configuring the user equipment in a connected mode; 2. A device configured to:

[0203] Example 86. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer program code embodied thereon for use in a computer, the computer program code comprising: code for receiving, by the network node, measurement activity information from the user equipment, at a network node that has configured the user equipment in a connected mode; a computer program product,

[0204] Without limiting in any way the scope, interpretation, or application of the examples presented below, a technical effect and advantage of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is improved (e.g., optimized) UL / DL scheduling based on knowledge of UE measurement activity. Another technical effect and advantage of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is improved system capacity due to limited scheduling constraints resulting from measurement gaps.

[0205] As used in this application, the term "circuit" may refer to one or more of the following:

[0206] (a) Hardware-only circuit implementation (e.g., implementation in analog and / or digital circuits only)

[0207] (b) Combinations of hardware circuitry and software, as applicable: (i) combinations of analog and / or digital hardware circuitry and software / firmware, and (ii) any portion of a hardware processor (including a digital signal processor), software, and memory together with software that work together to perform various functions to produce a device such as a mobile phone or server.

[0208] (c) A processor, such as a hardware circuit and / or microprocessor or portion of a microprocessor, that requires software (e.g., firmware) to operate, but the software may not be present when not required for operation.

[0209] This definition of circuit applies to all uses of the term in this application, including any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuit also covers merely a hardware circuit or processor (or processors), or the implementation of a hardware circuit or processor and its (their) accompanying software and / or firmware portions. The term circuit also covers, for example, a baseband-integrated circuit or a processor-integrated circuit for a mobile device or similar integrated circuit on a server, cellular network device, or other computing or network device, where applicable to certain claim elements.

[0210] Embodiments herein may be implemented in software (executed by one or more processors), hardware (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits), or a combination of software and hardware. In an exemplary embodiment, the software (e.g., application logic, instruction set) is maintained on any of various conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this specification, a "computer-readable medium" may be any medium or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transmit instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device such as a computer, an example of which is described and depicted in FIG. 1, for example. Computer-readable media may include computer-readable storage media (e.g., memory 125, 155, 171 or other device), which may be any medium or means that can contain, store, and / or transmit instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device such as a computer. Computer-readable storage media do not include propagating signals.

[0211] If desired, the various functions discussed herein may be performed in a different order and / or simultaneously with one another. Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the functions described above may be optional or may be combined.

[0212] While various aspects have been described above, other aspects include other combinations of features from the described embodiments, not just the combinations described above.

[0213] It should also be noted that although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinabove, these descriptions should not be construed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications that can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0214] The following abbreviations that may appear in the present specification and / or drawings are defined as follows: 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project 5G (5th Generation) 5GC 5G Core Network AMF Access and Mobility Management Functions BFR Beam Failure Recovery BWP Bandwidth Portion C-DRX DRX in connected state CSI Channel State Information CU Central Unit DCI Downlink Control Information DCP PS-RNTI scrambled DCI format DL Downlink (Network to UE) DRX Discontinuous Reception DU Distributed Unit eNB (or eNodeB) Evolved Node B (e.g. LTE base station) EN-DC E-UTRA-NR dual connection en-gNB or En-gNB: A node that provides NR user plane and control plane protocol termination towards the UE and acts as a secondary node in the EN-DC. E-UTRA Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access, or LTE radio access technology FR1.FR2 Frequency range 1, Frequency range 3 eMMB Enhanced Mobile Broadband gNB (or gNodeB) A base station for 5G / NR, i.e., a node that provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards UEs and is connected to 5GC via the NG interface. IE Information Elements I / F interface LTE Long Term Evolution MAC Media Access Control MAC CE MAC Control Element MG Measuring Gap MGL Measurement gap length MME Mobility Management Entity ms milliseconds ng or NG Next Generation ng-eNB or NG-eNB Next Generation eNB NR new radio N / W or NW Network PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol PHY Physical Layer PS-RNTI Power Saving Radio Network Temporary Identifier PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel RAN Radio Access Network Rel or REL Release REDCAP Limited Function Type RLC Radio Link Control RLM Radio Link Monitoring RS reference signal RRH Remote Radio Head RRC Radio Resource Control RRM Radio Resource Management RSRP reference signal received power RSRQ Reference Signal Reception Quality RU Wireless Unit Rx Receiver RACH Random Access Channel SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol SGW Serving Gateway SI Considerations SMF Session Management Facility SSB sync signal block SS / PBCH Synchronization Signal / Physical Broadcast Channel TS Technical Specifications Tx transmitter UE User Equipment (e.g., wireless, typically mobile device) UL Uplink (UE to Network) UPF User Plane Function WI Work Items WUS wake-up signal

Claims

1. 1. A method implemented by a terminal device in a connected mode with a network device, comprising: receiving, from the network device, configuration information instructing the terminal device to report measurement activity information that applies to the terminal device, the measurement activity information indicating whether measurement relaxation in measurements on the network device applies to the terminal device in a connected mode; determining the measurement activity information based on whether a low mobility condition or a cell quality condition is satisfied at the terminal device, wherein the low mobility condition or the cell quality condition is set by the network device for the measurement relaxation in a connected mode; transmitting, by the terminal device, measurement activity information to a wireless network; A method comprising:

2. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurements include one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurements, or radio link monitoring measurements, or serving cell measurements, or non-serving cell measurements.

3. 1. A method implemented by a network device that sets a terminal device in a connected mode, comprising: configuring, by the network device, the terminal device to report to the network device measurement activity information applicable to the terminal device; Setting the measurement activity information to indicate whether measurement relaxations in measurements on the network device are applied to the terminal device; receiving, by the network device, the measured activity information from the terminal device; A method comprising:

4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the measurement activity information is determined based on whether a low mobility condition or a cell quality condition is satisfied at the terminal device, and the low mobility condition or the cell quality condition is set by the network device for the measurement relaxation.

5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein measurements for the measured activity information include one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurements, or radio link monitoring measurements, or serving cell measurements, or non-serving cell measurements.

6. a terminal device in a connection mode with a network device, receiving, from the network device, configuration information instructing the terminal device to report measurement activity information that applies to the terminal device, the measurement activity information indicating whether measurement relaxation in measurements on the network device applies to the terminal device in a connected mode; determining the measurement activity information based on whether a low mobility condition or a cell quality condition is satisfied at the terminal device, wherein the low mobility condition or the cell quality condition is set by the network device for the measurement relaxation in a connected mode; transmitting, by the terminal device, measurement activity information to a wireless network; A terminal device comprising: means for performing

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the measurements include one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurements, or radio link monitoring measurements, or serving cell measurements, or non-serving cell measurements.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the measurement activity information is provided via physical layer signaling, or medium access control layer signaling, or radio resource control layer signaling.

9. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the radio resource control layer signaling includes one or more of a measurement report, user equipment assistance information, or any other radio resource control message.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the measured activity information includes an indication for one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurement relaxation level or radio link monitoring measurement level or low mobility condition information or not-at-cell-edge condition information or whether a threshold for controlling whether the terminal device is required to perform measurements on a non-serving cell is met, or whether the terminal device cannot or can relax the measurements.

11. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the radio resource management measurement mitigation level includes an indication of one or more of the following: No radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio resource management measurements, or periodic radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio link monitoring measurements, or periodic radio link monitoring measurements.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the thresholds include thresholds for one or more of the following: one or more sets of synchronization signal block reference signal received powers used to derive the cell quality, or the cell quality level, or one or more of the channel state information reference signal received powers corresponding to the cell-level reference signal received powers based on one or more channel state information reference signal measurements.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the measurement is a radio resource management measurement, and the apparatus further comprises reporting, by the terminal device, a result of the radio resource management measurement towards a wireless device.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the measurement activity information indicates whether the terminal device relaxes or does not relax the measurements, or indicates a level of relaxation of the measurements.

15. a network node that sets a terminal device in a connected mode, configuring, by a network device, the terminal device to report to the network device measurement activity information applicable to the terminal device; Setting the measurement activity information to indicate whether measurement relaxations in measurements on the network device are applied to the terminal device; receiving, by the network device, the measured activity information from the terminal device; A network node comprising: means for performing

16. The means comprises: receiving reports corresponding to measurements performed by said terminal device; The apparatus of claim 15 , further configured to perform:

17. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein measurements for the measured activity information include one or more of the following: Radio resource management measurements, or radio link monitoring measurements, or serving cell measurements, or non-serving cell measurements.

18. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the measurement activity information is received via physical layer signaling, or medium access control layer signaling, or radio resource control layer signaling.

19. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the radio resource control layer signaling includes one or more of a measurement report, user equipment assistance information, or any other radio resource control message.

20. The apparatus of any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the measured activity information includes an indication for one or more of the following: Whether a radio resource management measurement relaxation level or radio link monitoring measurement level or low mobility condition information or not-at-cell-edge condition information or a threshold for controlling whether the terminal device is required to perform measurements on a non-serving cell is met, or whether the terminal device can or cannot relax the measurements any further.

21. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the radio resource management measurement mitigation level includes an indication of one or more of the following: No radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio resource management measurements, or periodic radio resource management measurements, or relaxed radio link monitoring measurements, or periodic radio link monitoring measurements.

22. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the thresholds include thresholds for one or more of the following: one or more sets of synchronization signal block reference signal received powers used to derive the cell quality, or the cell quality level, or one or more of the channel state information reference signal received powers corresponding to the cell-level reference signal received powers based on one or more channel state information reference signal measurements.

23. The apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the measurement is a radio resource management measurement, and the apparatus further comprises receiving, by the network device, a result of the radio resource management measurement from the terminal device.

24. The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the measurement activity information indicates whether the terminal device relaxes or does not relax the measurements, or indicates a level of relaxation of the measurements.

25. The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the terminal device is a single terminal device or a plurality of terminal devices.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the network device includes one of the following: a gNB, an eNB, a node-forming portion of the gNB, a node-forming portion of the eNB, an ng-eNB, multiple gNBs, multiple eNBs, one or more RRHs, or one or more DUs.

27. The means comprises: at least one processor; at least one memory containing computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code causing execution of the apparatus by the at least one processor; 27. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 14 and 16 to 26, comprising:

28. a terminal device in a connection mode with a network device, one or more processors; one or more memories containing computer program code; wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are written into the apparatus by the one or more processors. receiving, from the network device, configuration information instructing the terminal device to report measurement activity information that applies to the terminal device, the measurement activity information indicating whether measurement relaxation in measurements on the network device applies to the terminal device in a connected mode; determining the measurement activity information based on whether a low mobility condition or a cell quality condition is satisfied at the terminal device, wherein the low mobility condition or the cell quality condition is set by the network device for the measurement relaxation in a connected mode; transmitting, by the terminal device, measurement activity information to a wireless network; The terminal device that is configured to

29. A network device that sets a terminal device in a connected mode, one or more processors; one or more memories containing computer program code; wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are written into the apparatus by the one or more processors. configuring, by the network device, the terminal device to report to the network device measurement activity information applicable to the terminal device; Setting the measurement activity information to indicate whether measurement relaxations in measurements on the network device are applied to the terminal device; receiving, by the network device, the measured activity information from the terminal device; A network device that is configured to

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