Method and apparatus for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection are provided. A wireless device performs measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell. The wireless device determines whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RELAXED MEASUREMENTS BASED ON DUAL CELL SELECTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection.

[0002] 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long-term evolution (LTE) is a technology for enabling high-speed packet communications. Many schemes have been proposed for the LTE objective including those that aim to reduce user and provider costs, improve service quality, and expand and improve coverage and system capacity. The 3GPP LTE requires reduced cost per bit, increased service availability, flexible use of a frequency band, a simple structure, an open interface, and adequate power consumption of a terminal as an upper-level requirement.

[0003] Work has started in international telecommunication union (ITU) and 3GPP to develop requirements and specifications for new radio (NR) systems. 3GPP has to identify and develop the technology components needed for successfully standardizing the new RAT timely satisfying both the urgent market needs, and the more long-term requirements set forth by the ITU radio communication sector (ITU-R) international mobile telecommunications (IMT)-2020 process. Further, the NR should be able to use any spectrum band ranging at least up to 100 GHz that may be made available for wireless communications even in a more distant future.

[0004] The NR targets a single technical framework addressing all usage scenarios, requirements and deployment scenarios including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type-communications (mMTC), ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC), etc. The NR shall be inherently forward compatible.

[0005] In dual cell-based operation, e.g., in RRC_IDLE / INACTIVE, UE first selects a Paging cell among candidate Paging cells and then selects an Access cell among candidate Access cells associated with the selected Paging cell (scenario 2). Alternatively, UE first selects an Access cell among candidate Access cells and then selects a Paging cell among candidate Paging cells associated with the selected Access cell (scenario 1).

[0006] In scenario 2, although the Access cell can be selected only within the Access cells associated with the selected Paging cell, the UE may need to measure even neighbor Access cells which are not associated with the selected Paging cell (but associated with neighbor Paging cell) so that the UE can quickly select an Access cell among Access cells associated with the new serving Paging cell, when the Paging cell is changed.

[0007] However, considering that UE does not need to measure neighbor Access cells which are not associated with the selected Paging cell when the quality of the selected Paging cell is good enough and the Paging cell does not need to be changed, always measuring all neighbor Access cells is not necessary and is not desirable in terms of UE power consumption.

[0008] Therefore, studies for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection are required.

[0009] In an aspect, a method is provided. The method comprises: selecting, by a wireless device, a first type of serving cell among first type of cells; selecting, by the wireless device, a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell; performing, by the wireless device, measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; and determining, by the wireless device, whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0010] In another aspect, an apparatus for implementing the above method is provided.

[0011] The present disclosure can have various advantageous effects.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wireless device could efficiently perform relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection.

[0013] For example, once a Paging cell is selected, a wireless device can save its power by relaxing / skipping measurements on all neighbor Access cells not associated with the selected Paging cell.

[0014] For example, once an Access cell is selected, a wireless device can save its power by relaxing / skipping measurements on all neighbor Paging cells not associated with the selected Access cell.

[0015] For example, by performing relaxed measurements for neighbor access cells or neighbor paging cells, the wireless device can save resources.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wireless communication system could provide an efficient solution for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection.

[0017] Advantageous effects which can be obtained through specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the advantageous effects listed above. For example, there may be a variety of technical effects that a person having ordinary skill in the related art can understand and / or derive from the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specific effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those explicitly described herein, but may include various effects that may be understood or derived from the technical features of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows an example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows an example of a wireless device to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows another example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows an example of UE to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0023] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of protocol stacks in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0024] FIG. 8 shows a frame structure in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0025] FIG. 9 shows a data flow example in the 3GPP NR system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0026] FIG. 10 shows an example of multi-frequencies scenario for paging.

[0027] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show an example of a paging procedure based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 13 shows an example of a method for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 14 shows an example of a scenario for measurement relaxation in dual cell based operation.

[0030] FIG. 15 shows an example of a scenario for serving cell quality in dual cell based operation.

[0031] FIG. 16 shows an example of a scenario for serving cell quality and neighbor cell quality in dual cell based operation.

[0032] FIG. 17 shows an example of a method for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection.

[0033] The following techniques, apparatuses, and systems may be applied to a variety of wireless multiple access systems. Examples of the multiple access systems include a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) system, a time division multiple access (TDMA) system, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system, a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) system, and a multicarrier frequency division multiple access (MC-FDMA) system. CDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) or CDMA2000. TDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as global system for mobile communications (GSM), general packet radio service (GPRS), or enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE). OFDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, or evolved UTRA (E-UTRA). UTRA is a part of a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS). 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) is a part of evolved UMTS (E-UMTS) using E-UTRA. 3GPP LTE employs OFDMA in DL and SC-FDMA in UL. LTE-advanced (LTE-A) is an evolved version of 3GPP LTE.

[0034] For convenience of description, implementations of the present disclosure are mainly described in regards to a 3GPP based wireless communication system. However, the technical features of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, although the following detailed description is given based on a mobile communication system corresponding to a 3GPP based wireless communication system, aspects of the present disclosure that are not limited to 3GPP based wireless communication system are applicable to other mobile communication systems.

[0035] For terms and technologies which are not specifically described among the terms of and technologies employed in the present disclosure, the wireless communication standard documents published before the present disclosure may be referenced.

[0036] In the present disclosure, "A or B" may mean "only A", "only B", or "both A and B". In other words, "A or B" in the present disclosure may be interpreted as "A and / or B". For example, "A, B or C" in the present disclosure may mean "only A", "only B", "only C", or "any combination of A, B and C".

[0037] In the present disclosure, slash ( / ) or comma (,) may mean "and / or". For example, "A / B" may mean "A and / or B". Accordingly, "A / B" may mean "only A", "only B", or "both A and B". For example, "A, B, C" may mean "A, B or C".

[0038] In the present disclosure, "at least one of A and B" may mean "only A", "only B" or "both A and B". In addition, the expression "at least one of A or B" or "at least one of A and / or B" in the present disclosure may be interpreted as same as "at least one of A and B".

[0039] In addition, in the present disclosure, "at least one of A, B and C" may mean "only A", "only B", "only C", or "any combination of A, B and C". In addition, "at least one of A, B or C" or "at least one of A, B and / or C" may mean "at least one of A, B and C".

[0040] Also, parentheses used in the present disclosure may mean "for example". In detail, when it is shown as "control information (PDCCH)", "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information". In other words, "control information" in the present disclosure is not limited to "PDCCH", and "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information". In addition, even when shown as "control information (i.e., PDCCH)", "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information".

[0041] Technical features that are separately described in one drawing in the present disclosure may be implemented separately or simultaneously.

[0042] Although not limited thereto, various descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts of the present disclosure disclosed herein can be applied to various fields requiring wireless communication and / or connection (e.g., 5G) between devices.

[0043] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to drawings. The same reference numerals in the following drawings and / or descriptions may refer to the same and / or corresponding hardware blocks, software blocks, and / or functional blocks unless otherwise indicated.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0045] The 5G usage scenarios shown in FIG. 1 are only exemplary, and the technical features of the present disclosure can be applied to other 5G usage scenarios which are not shown in FIG. 1.

[0046] Three main requirement categories for 5G include (1) a category of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), (2) a category of massive machine type communication (mMTC), and (3) a category of ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC).

[0047] Partial use cases may require a plurality of categories for optimization and other use cases may focus only upon one key performance indicator (KPI). 5G supports such various use cases using a flexible and reliable method.

[0048] eMBB far surpasses basic mobile Internet access and covers abundant bidirectional work and media and entertainment applications in cloud and augmented reality. Data is one of 5G core motive forces and, in a 5G era, a dedicated voice service may not be provided for the first time. In 5G, it is expected that voice will be simply processed as an application program using data connection provided by a communication system. Main causes for increased traffic volume are due to an increase in the size of content and an increase in the number of applications requiring high data transmission rate. A streaming service (of audio and video), conversational video, and mobile Internet access will be more widely used as more devices are connected to the Internet. These many application programs require connectivity of an always turned-on state in order to push real-time information and alarm for users. Cloud storage and applications are rapidly increasing in a mobile communication platform and may be applied to both work and entertainment. The cloud storage is a special use case which accelerates growth of uplink data transmission rate. 5G is also used for remote work of cloud. When a tactile interface is used, 5G demands much lower end-to-end latency to maintain user good experience. Entertainment, for example, cloud gaming and video streaming, is another core element which increases demand for mobile broadband capability. Entertainment is essential for a smartphone and a tablet in any place including high mobility environments such as a train, a vehicle, and an airplane. Other use cases are augmented reality for entertainment and information search. In this case, the augmented reality requires very low latency and instantaneous data volume.

[0049] In addition, one of the most expected 5G use cases relates a function capable of smoothly connecting embedded sensors in all fields, i.e., mMTC. It is expected that the number of potential Internet-of-things (IoT) devices will reach 204 hundred million up to the year of 2020. An industrial IoT is one of categories of performing a main role enabling a smart city, asset tracking, smart utility, agriculture, and security infrastructure through 5G.

[0050] URLLC includes a new service that will change industry through remote control of main infrastructure and an ultra-reliable / available low-latency link such as a self-driving vehicle. A level of reliability and latency is essential to control a smart grid, automatize industry, achieve robotics, and control and adjust a drone.

[0051] 5G is a means of providing streaming evaluated as a few hundred megabits per second to gigabits per second and may complement fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and cable-based broadband (or DOCSIS). Such fast speed is needed to deliver TV in resolution of 4K or more (6K, 8K, and more), as well as virtual reality and augmented reality. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications include almost immersive sports games. A specific application program may require a special network configuration. For example, for VR games, gaming companies need to incorporate a core server into an edge network server of a network operator in order to minimize latency.

[0052] Automotive is expected to be a new important motivated force in 5G together with many use cases for mobile communication for vehicles. For example, entertainment for passengers requires high simultaneous capacity and mobile broadband with high mobility. This is because future users continue to expect connection of high quality regardless of their locations and speeds. Another use case of an automotive field is an AR dashboard. The AR dashboard causes a driver to identify an object in the dark in addition to an object seen from a front window and displays a distance from the object and a movement of the object by overlapping information talking to the driver. In the future, a wireless module enables communication between vehicles, information exchange between a vehicle and supporting infrastructure, and information exchange between a vehicle and other connected devices (e.g., devices accompanied by a pedestrian). A safety system guides alternative courses of a behaviour so that a driver may drive more safely drive, thereby lowering the danger of an accident. The next stage will be a remotely controlled or self-driven vehicle. This requires very high reliability and very fast communication between different self-driven vehicles and between a vehicle and infrastructure. In the future, a self-driven vehicle will perform all driving activities and a driver will focus only upon abnormal traffic that the vehicle cannot identify. Technical requirements of a self-driven vehicle demand ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliability so that traffic safety is increased to a level that cannot be achieved by human being.

[0053] A smart city and a smart home / building mentioned as a smart society will be embedded in a high-density wireless sensor network. A distributed network of an intelligent sensor will identify conditions for costs and energy-efficient maintenance of a city or a home. Similar configurations may be performed for respective households. All of temperature sensors, window and heating controllers, burglar alarms, and home appliances are wirelessly connected. Many of these sensors are typically low in data transmission rate, power, and cost. However, real-time HD video may be demanded by a specific type of device to perform monitoring.

[0054] Consumption and distribution of energy including heat or gas is distributed at a higher level so that automated control of the distribution sensor network is demanded. The smart grid collects information and connects the sensors to each other using digital information and communication technology so as to act according to the collected information. Since this information may include behaviours of a supply company and a consumer, the smart grid may improve distribution of fuels such as electricity by a method having efficiency, reliability, economic feasibility, production sustainability, and automation. The smart grid may also be regarded as another sensor network having low latency.

[0055] Mission critical application (e.g., e-health) is one of 5G use scenarios. A health part contains many application programs capable of enjoying benefit of mobile communication. A communication system may support remote treatment that provides clinical treatment in a faraway place. Remote treatment may aid in reducing a barrier against distance and improve access to medical services that cannot be continuously available in a faraway rural area. Remote treatment is also used to perform important treatment and save lives in an emergency situation. The wireless sensor network based on mobile communication may provide remote monitoring and sensors for parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure.

[0056] Wireless and mobile communication gradually becomes important in the field of an industrial application. Wiring is high in installation and maintenance cost. Therefore, a possibility of replacing a cable with constructible wireless links is an attractive opportunity in many industrial fields. However, in order to achieve this replacement, it is necessary for wireless connection to be established with latency, reliability, and capacity similar to those of the cable and management of wireless connection needs to be simplified. Low latency and a very low error probability are new requirements when connection to 5G is needed.

[0057] Logistics and freight tracking are important use cases for mobile communication that enables inventory and package tracking anywhere using a location-based information system. The use cases of logistics and freight typically demand low data rate but require location information with a wide range and reliability.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes wireless devices 100a to 100f, base stations (BSs) 200, and a network 300. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a 5G network as an example of the network of the communication system 1, the implementations of the present disclosure are not limited to the 5G system, and can be applied to the future communication system beyond the 5G system.

[0059] The BSs 200 and the network 300 may be implemented as wireless devices and a specific wireless device may operate as a BS / network node with respect to other wireless devices.

[0060] The wireless devices 100a to 100f represent devices performing communication using radio access technology (RAT) (e.g., 5G new RAT (NR)) or LTE) and may be referred to as communication / radio / 5G devices. The wireless devices 100a to 100f may include, without being limited to, a robot 100a, vehicles 100b-1 and 100b-2, an extended reality (XR) device 100c, a hand-held device 100d, a home appliance 100e, an IoT device 100f, and an artificial intelligence (AI) device / server 400. For example, the vehicles may include a vehicle having a wireless communication function, an autonomous driving vehicle, and a vehicle capable of performing communication between vehicles. The vehicles may include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (e.g., a drone). The XR device may include an AR / VR / Mixed Reality (MR) device and may be implemented in the form of a head-mounted device (HMD), a head-up display (HUD) mounted in a vehicle, a television, a smartphone, a computer, a wearable device, a home appliance device, a digital signage, a vehicle, a robot, etc. The hand-held device may include a smartphone, a smart pad, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch or a smart glasses), and a computer (e.g., a notebook). The home appliance may include a TV, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. The IoT device may include a sensor and a smart meter.

[0061] In the present disclosure, the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be called user equipment's (UEs). A UE may include, for example, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation system, a slate personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, an ultrabook, a vehicle, a vehicle having an autonomous traveling function, a connected car, an UAV, an AI module, a robot, an AR device, a VR device, an MR device, a hologram device, a public safety device, an MTC device, an IoT device, a medical device, a FinTech device (or a financial device), a security device, a weather / environment device, a device related to a 5G service, or a device related to a fourth industrial revolution field.

[0062] The UAV may be, for example, an aircraft availed by a wireless control signal without a human being onboard.

[0063] The VR device may include, for example, a device for implementing an object or a background of the virtual world. The AR device may include, for example, a device implemented by connecting an object or a background of the virtual world to an object or a background of the real world. The MR device may include, for example, a device implemented by merging an object or a background of the virtual world into an object or a background of the real world. The hologram device may include, for example, a device for implementing a stereoscopic image of 360 degrees by recording and reproducing stereoscopic information, using an interference phenomenon of light generated when two laser lights called holography meet.

[0064] The public safety device may include, for example, an image relay device or an image device that is wearable on the body of a user.

[0065] The MTC device and the IoT device may be, for example, devices that do not require direct human intervention or manipulation. For example, the MTC device and the IoT device may include smart meters, vending machines, thermometers, smart bulbs, door locks, or various sensors.

[0066] The medical device may be, for example, a device used for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, relieving, curing, or preventing disease. For example, the medical device may be a device used for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, relieving, or correcting injury or impairment. For example, the medical device may be a device used for the purpose of inspecting, replacing, or modifying a structure or a function. For example, the medical device may be a device used for the purpose of adjusting pregnancy. For example, the medical device may include a device for treatment, a device for operation, a device for (in vitro) diagnosis, a hearing aid, or a device for procedure.

[0067] The security device may be, for example, a device installed to prevent a danger that may arise and to maintain safety. For example, the security device may be a camera, a closed-circuit TV (CCTV), a recorder, or a black box.

[0068] The FinTech device may be, for example, a device capable of providing a financial service such as mobile payment. For example, the FinTech device may include a payment device or a point of sales (POS) system.

[0069] The weather / environment device may include, for example, a device for monitoring or predicting a weather / environment.

[0070] The wireless devices 100a to 100f may be connected to the network 300 via the BSs 200. An AI technology may be applied to the wireless devices 100a to 100f and the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be connected to the AI server 400 via the network 300. The network 300 may be configured using a 3G network, a 4G (e.g., LTE) network, a 5G (e.g., NR) network, and a beyond-5G network. Although the wireless devices 100a to 100f may communicate with each other through the BSs 200 / network 300, the wireless devices 100a to 100f may perform direct communication (e.g., sidelink communication) with each other without passing through the BSs 200 / network 300. For example, the vehicles 100b-1 and 100b-2 may perform direct communication (e.g., vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) / vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication). The IoT device (e.g., a sensor) may perform direct communication with other IoT devices (e.g., sensors) or other wireless devices 100a to 100f.

[0071] Wireless communication / connections 150a, 150b and 150c may be established between the wireless devices 100a to 100f and / or between wireless device 100a to 100f and BS 200 and / or between BSs 200. Herein, the wireless communication / connections may be established through various RATs (e.g., 5G NR) such as uplink / downlink communication 150a, sidelink communication (or device-to-device (D2D) communication) 150b, inter-base station communication 150c (e.g., relay, integrated access and backhaul (IAB)), etc. The wireless devices 100a to 100f and the BSs 200 / the wireless devices 100a to 100f may transmit / receive radio signals to / from each other through the wireless communication / connections 150a, 150b and 150c. For example, the wireless communication / connections 150a, 150b and 150c may transmit / receive signals through various physical channels. To this end, at least a part of various configuration information configuring processes, various signal processing processes (e.g., channel encoding / decoding, modulation / demodulation, and resource mapping / de-mapping), and resource allocating processes, for transmitting / receiving radio signals, may be performed based on the various proposals of the present disclosure.

[0072] Here, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may include narrowband internet-of-things (NB-IoT) technology for low-power communication as well as LTE, NR and 6G. For example, NB-IoT technology may be an example of low power wide area network (LPWAN) technology, may be implemented in specifications such as LTE Cat NB1 and / or LTE Cat NB2, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. Additionally and / or alternatively, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may communicate based on LTE-M technology. For example, LTE-M technology may be an example of LPWAN technology and be called by various names such as enhanced machine type communication (mMTC). For example, LTE-M technology may be implemented in at least one of the various specifications, such as 1) LTE Cat 0, 2) LTE Cat M1, 3) LTE Cat M2, 4) LTE non-bandwidth limited (non-BL), 5) LTE-MTC, 6) LTE Machine Type Communication, and / or 7) LTE M, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. Additionally and / or alternatively, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may include at least one of ZigBee, Bluetooth, and / or LPWAN which take into account low-power communication, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. For example, ZigBee technology may generate personal area networks (PANs) associated with small / low-power digital communication based on various specifications such as IEEE 802.15.4 and may be called various names.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows an example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 2, a first wireless device 100 and a second wireless device 200 may transmit / receive radio signals to / from an external device through a variety of RATs (e.g., LTE and NR). In FIG. 2, {the first wireless device 100 and the second wireless device 200} may correspond to at least one of {the wireless device 100a to 100f and the BS 200}, {the wireless device 100a to 100f and the wireless device 100a to 100f} and / or {the BS 200 and the BS 200} of FIG. 1.

[0075] The first wireless device 100 may include one or more processors 102 and one or more memories 104 and additionally further include one or more transceivers 106 and / or one or more antennas 108. The processor(s) 102 may control the memory(s) 104 and / or the transceiver(s) 106 and may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. For example, the processor(s) 102 may process information within the memory(s) 104 to generate first information / signals and then transmit radio signals including the first information / signals through the transceiver(s) 106. The processor(s) 102 may receive radio signals including second information / signals through the transceiver(s) 106 and then store information obtained by processing the second information / signals in the memory(s) 104. The memory(s) 104 may be connected to the processor(s) 102 and may store a variety of information related to operations of the processor(s) 102. For example, the memory(s) 104 may store software code including commands for performing a part or the entirety of processes controlled by the processor(s) 102 or for performing the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. Herein, the processor(s) 102 and the memory(s) 104 may be a part of a communication modem / circuit / chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). The transceiver(s) 106 may be connected to the processor(s) 102 and transmit and / or receive radio signals through one or more antennas 108. Each of the transceiver(s) 106 may include a transmitter and / or a receiver. The transceiver(s) 106 may be interchangeably used with radio frequency (RF) unit(s). In the present disclosure, the first wireless device 100 may represent a communication modem / circuit / chip.

[0076] The second wireless device 200 may include one or more processors 202 and one or more memories 204 and additionally further include one or more transceivers 206 and / or one or more antennas 208. The processor(s) 202 may control the memory(s) 204 and / or the transceiver(s) 206 and may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. For example, the processor(s) 202 may process information within the memory(s) 204 to generate third information / signals and then transmit radio signals including the third information / signals through the transceiver(s) 206. The processor(s) 202 may receive radio signals including fourth information / signals through the transceiver(s) 106 and then store information obtained by processing the fourth information / signals in the memory(s) 204. The memory(s) 204 may be connected to the processor(s) 202 and may store a variety of information related to operations of the processor(s) 202. For example, the memory(s) 204 may store software code including commands for performing a part or the entirety of processes controlled by the processor(s) 202 or for performing the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. Herein, the processor(s) 202 and the memory(s) 204 may be a part of a communication modem / circuit / chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). The transceiver(s) 206 may be connected to the processor(s) 202 and transmit and / or receive radio signals through one or more antennas 208. Each of the transceiver(s) 206 may include a transmitter and / or a receiver. The transceiver(s) 206 may be interchangeably used with RF unit(s). In the present disclosure, the second wireless device 200 may represent a communication modem / circuit / chip.

[0077] Hereinafter, hardware elements of the wireless devices 100 and 200 will be described more specifically. One or more protocol layers may be implemented by, without being limited to, one or more processors 102 and 202. For example, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may implement one or more layers (e.g., functional layers such as physical (PHY) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, radio link control (RLC) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, radio resource control (RRC) layer, and service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer). The one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate one or more protocol data units (PDUs) and / or one or more service data unit (SDUs) according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate signals (e.g., baseband signals) including PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure and provide the generated signals to the one or more transceivers 106 and 206. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may receive the signals (e.g., baseband signals) from the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 and acquire the PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.

[0078] The one or more processors 102 and 202 may be referred to as controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or microcomputers. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. As an example, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), one or more digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), one or more programmable logic devices (PLDs), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) may be included in the one or more processors 102 and 202. descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure may be implemented using firmware or software and the firmware or software may be configured to include the modules, procedures, or functions. Firmware or software configured to perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure may be included in the one or more processors 102 and 202 or stored in the one or more memories 104 and 204 so as to be driven by the one or more processors 102 and 202. The descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure may be implemented using firmware or software in the form of code, commands, and / or a set of commands.

[0079] The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and store various types of data, signals, messages, information, programs, code, instructions, and / or commands. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be configured by read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), flash memories, hard drives, registers, cash memories, computer-readable storage media, and / or combinations thereof. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be located at the interior and / or exterior of the one or more processors 102 and 202. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 through various technologies such as wired or wireless connection.

[0080] The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, control information, and / or radio signals / channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, to one or more other devices. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data, control information, and / or radio signals / channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, from one or more other devices. For example, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and transmit and receive radio signals. For example, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, control information, or radio signals to one or more other devices. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data, control information, or radio signals from one or more other devices.

[0081] The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be connected to the one or more antennas 108 and 208 and the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be configured to transmit and receive user data, control information, and / or radio signals / channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, through the one or more antennas 108 and 208. In the present disclosure, the one or more antennas may be a plurality of physical antennas or a plurality of logical antennas (e.g., antenna ports).

[0082] The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may convert received radio signals / channels, etc., from RF band signals into baseband signals in order to process received user data, control information, radio signals / channels, etc., using the one or more processors 102 and 202. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may convert the user data, control information, radio signals / channels, etc., processed using the one or more processors 102 and 202 from the base band signals into the RF band signals. To this end, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may include (analog) oscillators and / or filters. For example, the transceivers 106 and 206 can up-convert OFDM baseband signals to a carrier frequency by their (analogy) oscillators and / or filters under the control of the processors 102 and 202 and transmit the up-converted OFDM signals at the carrier frequency. The transceivers 106 and 206 may receive OFDM signals at a carrier frequency and down-convert the OFDM signals into OFDM baseband signals by their (analogy) oscillators and / or filters under the control of the transceivers 102 and 202.

[0083] In the implementations of the present disclosure, a UE may operate as a transmitting device in uplink (UL) and as a receiving device in downlink (DL). In the implementations of the present disclosure, a BS may operate as a receiving device in UL and as a transmitting device in DL. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is mainly assumed that the first wireless device 100 acts as the UE, and the second wireless device 200 acts as the BS. For example, the processor(s) 102 connected to, mounted on or launched in the first wireless device 100 may be configured to perform the UE behaviour according to an implementation of the present disclosure or control the transceiver(s) 106 to perform the UE behaviour according to an implementation of the present disclosure. The processor(s) 202 connected to, mounted on or launched in the second wireless device 200 may be configured to perform the BS behaviour according to an implementation of the present disclosure or control the transceiver(s) 206 to perform the BS behaviour according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

[0084] In the present disclosure, a BS is also referred to as a node B (NB), an eNodeB B (eNB), or a gNB.

[0085] FIG. 3 shows an example of a wireless device to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0086] The wireless device may be implemented in various forms according to a use-case / service (refer to FIG. 1).

[0087] Referring to FIG. 3, wireless devices 100 and 200 may correspond to the wireless devices 100 and 200 of FIG. 2 and may be configured by various elements, components, units / portions, and / or modules. For example, each of the wireless devices 100 and 200 may include a communication unit 110, a control unit 120, a memory unit 130, and additional components 140. The communication unit 110 may include a communication circuit 112 and transceiver(s) 114. For example, the communication circuit 112 may include the one or more processors 102 and 202 of FIG. 2 and / or the one or more memories 104 and 204 of FIG. 2. For example, the transceiver(s) 114 may include the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 of FIG. 2 and / or the one or more antennas 108 and 208 of FIG. 2. The control unit 120 is electrically connected to the communication unit 110, the memory 130, and the additional components 140 and controls overall operation of each of the wireless devices 100 and 200. For example, the control unit 120 may control an electric / mechanical operation of each of the wireless devices 100 and 200 based on programs / code / commands / information stored in the memory unit 130. The control unit 120 may transmit the information stored in the memory unit 130 to the exterior (e.g., other communication devices) via the communication unit 110 through a wireless / wired interface or store, in the memory unit 130, information received through the wireless / wired interface from the exterior (e.g., other communication devices) via the communication unit 110.

[0088] The additional components 140 may be variously configured according to types of the wireless devices 100 and 200. For example, the additional components 140 may include at least one of a power unit / battery, input / output (I / O) unit (e.g., audio I / O port, video I / O port), a driving unit, and a computing unit. The wireless devices 100 and 200 may be implemented in the form of, without being limited to, the robot (100a of FIG. 1), the vehicles (100b-1 and 100b-2 of FIG. 1), the XR device (100c of FIG. 1), the hand-held device (100d of FIG. 1), the home appliance (100e of FIG. 1), the IoT device (100f of FIG. 1), a digital broadcast terminal, a hologram device, a public safety device, an MTC device, a medicine device, a FinTech device (or a finance device), a security device, a climate / environment device, the AI server / device (400 of FIG. 1), the BSs (200 of FIG. 1), a network node, etc. The wireless devices 100 and 200 may be used in a mobile or fixed place according to a use-example / service.

[0089] In FIG. 3, the entirety of the various elements, components, units / portions, and / or modules in the wireless devices 100 and 200 may be connected to each other through a wired interface or at least a part thereof may be wirelessly connected through the communication unit 110. For example, in each of the wireless devices 100 and 200, the control unit 120 and the communication unit 110 may be connected by wire and the control unit 120 and first units (e.g., 130 and 140) may be wirelessly connected through the communication unit 110. Each element, component, unit / portion, and / or module within the wireless devices 100 and 200 may further include one or more elements. For example, the control unit 120 may be configured by a set of one or more processors. As an example, the control unit 120 may be configured by a set of a communication control processor, an application processor (AP), an electronic control unit (ECU), a graphical processing unit, and a memory control processor. As another example, the memory 130 may be configured by a RAM, a DRAM, a ROM, a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and / or a combination thereof.

[0090] FIG. 4 shows another example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 4, wireless devices 100 and 200 may correspond to the wireless devices 100 and 200 of FIG. 2 and may be configured by various elements, components, units / portions, and / or modules.

[0092] The first wireless device 100 may include at least one transceiver, such as a transceiver 106, and at least one processing chip, such as a processing chip 101. The processing chip 101 may include at least one processor, such a processor 102, and at least one memory, such as a memory 104. The memory 104 may be operably connectable to the processor 102. The memory 104 may store various types of information and / or instructions. The memory 104 may store a software code 105 which implements instructions that, when executed by the processor 102, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the software code 105 may implement instructions that, when executed by the processor 102, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the software code 105 may control the processor 102 to perform one or more protocols. For example, the software code 105 may control the processor 102 may perform one or more layers of the radio interface protocol.

[0093] The second wireless device 200 may include at least one transceiver, such as a transceiver 206, and at least one processing chip, such as a processing chip 201. The processing chip 201 may include at least one processor, such a processor 202, and at least one memory, such as a memory 204. The memory 204 may be operably connectable to the processor 202. The memory 204 may store various types of information and / or instructions. The memory 204 may store a software code 205 which implements instructions that, when executed by the processor 202, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the software code 205 may implement instructions that, when executed by the processor 202, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the software code 205 may control the processor 202 to perform one or more protocols. For example, the software code 205 may control the processor 202 may perform one or more layers of the radio interface protocol.

[0094] FIG. 5 shows an example of UE to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 5, a UE 100 may correspond to the first wireless device 100 of FIG. 2 and / or the first wireless device 100 of FIG. 4.

[0096] A UE 100 includes a processor 102, a memory 104, a transceiver 106, one or more antennas 108, a power management module 110, a battery 1112, a display 114, a keypad 116, a subscriber identification module (SIM) card 118, a speaker 120, and a microphone 122.

[0097] The processor 102 may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The processor 102 may be configured to control one or more other components of the UE 100 to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. Layers of the radio interface protocol may be implemented in the processor 102. The processor 102 may include ASIC, other chipset, logic circuit and / or data processing device. The processor 102 may be an application processor. The processor 102 may include at least one of a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a modem (modulator and demodulator). An example of the processor 102 may be found in SNAPDRAGONTMseries of processors made by Qualcomm®, EXYNOSTMseries of processors made by Samsung®, A series of processors made by Apple®, HELIOTMseries of processors made by MediaTek®, ATOMTMseries of processors made by Intel®or a corresponding next generation processor.

[0098] The memory 104 is operatively coupled with the processor 102 and stores a variety of information to operate the processor 102. The memory 104 may include ROM, RAM, flash memory, memory card, storage medium and / or other storage device. When the embodiments are implemented in software, the techniques described herein can be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, etc.) that perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and / or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The modules can be stored in the memory 104 and executed by the processor 102. The memory 104 can be implemented within the processor 102 or external to the processor 102 in which case those can be communicatively coupled to the processor 102 via various means as is known in the art.

[0099] The transceiver 106 is operatively coupled with the processor 102, and transmits and / or receives a radio signal. The transceiver 106 includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 106 may include baseband circuitry to process radio frequency signals. The transceiver 106 controls the one or more antennas 108 to transmit and / or receive a radio signal.

[0100] The power management module 110 manages power for the processor 102 and / or the transceiver 106. The battery 112 supplies power to the power management module 110.

[0101] The display 114 outputs results processed by the processor 102. The keypad 116 receives inputs to be used by the processor 102. The keypad 16 may be shown on the display 114.

[0102] The SIM card 118 is an　integrated circuit　that is intended to　securely store the　international mobile subscriber identity　(IMSI) number and its related　key, which are used to identify and authenticate subscribers on　mobile telephony　devices (such as　mobile phones　and　computers). It is also possible to store contact information on many SIM cards.

[0103] The speaker 120 outputs sound-related results processed by the processor 102. The microphone 122 receives sound-related inputs to be used by the processor 102.

[0104] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of protocol stacks in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0105] In particular, FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a radio interface user plane protocol stack between a UE and a BS and FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a radio interface control plane protocol stack between a UE and a BS. The control plane refers to a path through which control messages used to manage call by a UE and a network are transported. The user plane refers to a path through which data generated in an application layer, for example, voice data or Internet packet data are transported. Referring to FIG. 6, the user plane protocol stack may be divided into Layer 1 (i.e., a PHY layer) and Layer 2. Referring to FIG. 7, the control plane protocol stack may be divided into Layer 1 (i.e., a PHY layer), Layer 2, Layer 3 (e.g., an RRC layer), and a non-access stratum (NAS) layer. Layer 1, Layer 2 and Layer 3 are referred to as an access stratum (AS).

[0106] In the 3GPP LTE system, the Layer 2 is split into the following sublayers: MAC, RLC, and PDCP. In the 3GPP NR system, the Layer 2 is split into the following sublayers: MAC, RLC, PDCP and SDAP. The PHY layer offers to the MAC sublayer transport channels, the MAC sublayer offers to the RLC sublayer logical channels, the RLC sublayer offers to the PDCP sublayer RLC channels, the PDCP sublayer offers to the SDAP sublayer radio bearers. The SDAP sublayer offers to 5G core network quality of service (QoS) flows.

[0107] In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the MAC sublayer include: mapping between logical channels and transport channels; multiplexing / de-multiplexing of MAC SDUs belonging to one or different logical channels into / from transport blocks (TB) delivered to / from the physical layer on transport channels; scheduling information reporting; error correction through hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) (one HARQ entity per cell in case of carrier aggregation (CA)); priority handling between UEs by means of dynamic scheduling; priority handling between logical channels of one UE by means of logical channel prioritization; padding. A single MAC entity may support multiple numerologies, transmission timings and cells. Mapping restrictions in logical channel prioritization control which numerology(ies), cell(s), and transmission timing(s) a logical channel can use.

[0108] Different kinds of data transfer services are offered by MAC. To accommodate different kinds of data transfer services, multiple types of logical channels are defined, i.e., each supporting transfer of a particular type of information. Each logical channel type is defined by what type of information is transferred. Logical channels are classified into two groups: control channels and traffic channels. Control channels are used for the transfer of control plane information only, and traffic channels are used for the transfer of user plane information only. Broadcast control channel (BCCH) is a downlink logical channel for broadcasting system control information, paging control channel (PCCH) is a downlink logical channel that transfers paging information, system information change notifications and indications of ongoing public warning service (PWS) broadcasts, common control channel (CCCH) is a logical channel for transmitting control information between UEs and network and used for UEs having no RRC connection with the network, and dedicated control channel (DCCH) is a point-to-point bi-directional logical channel that transmits dedicated control information between a UE and the network and used by UEs having an RRC connection. Dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) is a point-to-point logical channel, dedicated to one UE, for the transfer of user information. A DTCH can exist in both uplink and downlink. In downlink, the following connections between logical channels and transport channels exist: BCCH can be mapped to broadcast channel (BCH); BCCH can be mapped to downlink shared channel (DL-SCH); PCCH can be mapped to paging channel (PCH); CCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH; DCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH; and DTCH can be mapped to DL-SCH. In uplink, the following connections between logical channels and transport channels exist: CCCH can be mapped to uplink shared channel (UL-SCH); DCCH can be mapped to UL-SCH; and DTCH can be mapped to UL-SCH.

[0109] The RLC sublayer supports three transmission modes: transparent mode (TM), unacknowledged mode (UM), and acknowledged node (AM). The RLC configuration is per logical channel with no dependency on numerologies and / or transmission durations. In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the RLC sublayer depend on the transmission mode and include: transfer of upper layer PDUs; sequence numbering independent of the one in PDCP (UM and AM); error correction through ARQ (AM only); segmentation (AM and UM) and re-segmentation (AM only) of RLC SDUs; reassembly of SDU (AM and UM); duplicate detection (AM only); RLC SDU discard (AM and UM); RLC re-establishment; protocol error detection (AM only).

[0110] In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the user plane include: sequence numbering; header compression and decompression using robust header compression (ROHC); transfer of user data; reordering and duplicate detection; in-order delivery; PDCP PDU routing (in case of split bearers); retransmission of PDCP SDUs; ciphering, deciphering and integrity protection; PDCP SDU discard; PDCP re-establishment and data recovery for RLC AM; PDCP status reporting for RLC AM; duplication of PDCP PDUs and duplicate discard indication to lower layers. The main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the control plane include: sequence numbering; ciphering, deciphering and integrity protection; transfer of control plane data; reordering and duplicate detection; in-order delivery; duplication of PDCP PDUs and duplicate discard indication to lower layers.

[0111] In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of SDAP include: mapping between a QoS flow and a data radio bearer; marking QoS flow ID (QFI) in both DL and UL packets. A single protocol entity of SDAP is configured for each individual PDU session.

[0112] In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the RRC sublayer include: broadcast of system information related to AS and NAS; paging initiated by 5GC or NG-RAN; establishment, maintenance and release of an RRC connection between the UE and NG-RAN; security functions including key management; establishment, configuration, maintenance and release of signaling radio bearers (SRBs) and data radio bearers (DRBs); mobility functions (including: handover and context transfer, UE cell selection and reselection and control of cell selection and reselection, inter-RAT mobility); QoS management functions; UE measurement reporting and control of the reporting; detection of and recovery from radio link failure; NAS message transfer to / from NAS from / to UE.

[0113] FIG. 8 shows a frame structure in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0114] The frame structure shown in FIG. 8 is purely exemplary and the number of subframes, the number of slots, and / or the number of symbols in a frame may be variously changed. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system, OFDM numerologies (e.g., subcarrier spacing (SCS), transmission time interval (TTI) duration) may be differently configured between a plurality of cells aggregated for one UE. For example, if a UE is configured with different SCSs for cells aggregated for the cell, an (absolute time) duration of a time resource (e.g., a subframe, a slot, or a TTI) including the same number of symbols may be different among the aggregated cells. Herein, symbols may include OFDM symbols (or CP-OFDM symbols), SC-FDMA symbols (or discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbols).

[0115] Referring to FIG. 8, downlink and uplink transmissions are organized into frames. Each frame has Tf= 10ms duration. Each frame is divided into two half-frames, where each of the half-frames has 5ms duration. Each half-frame consists of 5 subframes, where the duration Tsfper subframe is 1ms. Each subframe is divided into slots and the number of slots in a subframe depends on a subcarrier spacing. Each slot includes 14 or 12 OFDM symbols based on a cyclic prefix (CP). In a normal CP, each slot includes 14 OFDM symbols and, in an extended CP, each slot includes 12 OFDM symbols. The numerology is based on exponentially scalable subcarrier spacing △f = 2u*15 kHz.

[0116] Table 1 shows the number of OFDM symbols per slot Nslotsymb, the number of slots per frameNframe,uslot, and the number of slots per subframe Nsubframe,uslotfor the normal CP, according to the subcarrier spacing △f = 2u*15 kHz.

[0117] uNslotsymbNframe,uslotNsubframe,uslot01410111420221440431480841416016

[0118] Table 2 shows the number of OFDM symbols per slot Nslotsymb, the number of slots per frameNframe,uslot, and the number of slots per subframe Nsubframe,uslotfor the extended CP, according to the subcarrier spacing △f = 2u*15 kHz.

[0119] uNslotsymbNframe,uslotNsubframe,uslot212404

[0120] A slot includes plural symbols (e.g., 14 or 12 symbols) in the time domain. For each numerology (e.g., subcarrier spacing) and carrier, a resource grid ofNsize,ugrid,x*NRBscsubcarriers andNsubframe,usymbOFDM symbols is defined, starting at common resource block (CRB)Nstart,ugridindicated by higher-layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling), whereNsize,ugrid,xis the number of resource blocks (RBs) in the resource grid and the subscript x is DL for downlink and UL for uplink.NRBscis the number of subcarriers per RB. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system,NRBscis 12 generally. There is one resource grid for a given antenna portp, subcarrier spacing configurationu, and transmission direction (DL or UL). The carrier bandwidthNsize,ugridfor subcarrier spacing configurationuis given by the higher-layer parameter (e.g., RRC parameter). Each element in the resource grid for the antenna portpand the subcarrier spacing configurationuis referred to as a resource element (RE) and one complex symbol may be mapped to each RE. Each RE in the resource grid is uniquely identified by an indexkin the frequency domain and an indexlrepresenting a symbol location relative to a reference point in the time domain. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system, an RB is defined by 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain.

[0121] In the 3GPP NR system, RBs are classified into CRBs and physical resource blocks (PRBs). CRBs are numbered from 0 and upwards in the frequency domain for subcarrier spacing configurationu. The center of subcarrier 0 of CRB 0 for subcarrier spacing configurationucoincides with 'point A' which serves as a common reference point for resource block grids. In the 3GPP NR system, PRBs are defined within a bandwidth part (BWP) and numbered from 0 toNsizeBWP,i-1, where i is the number of the bandwidth part. The relation between the physical resource block nPRBin the bandwidth part i and the common resource block nCRBis as follows: nPRB= nCRB+NsizeBWP,i, whereNsizeBWP,iis the common resource block where bandwidth part starts relative to CRB 0. The BWP includes a plurality of consecutive RBs. A carrier may include a maximum of N (e.g., 5) BWPs. A UE may be configured with one or more BWPs on a given component carrier. Only one BWP among BWPs configured to the UE can active at a time. The active BWP defines the UE's operating bandwidth within the cell's operating bandwidth.

[0122] The NR frequency band may be defined as two types of frequency range, i.e., FR1 and FR2. The numerical value of the frequency range may be changed. For example, the frequency ranges of the two types (FR1 and FR2) may be as shown in Table 3 below. For ease of explanation, in the frequency ranges used in the NR system, FR1 may mean "sub 6 GHz range", FR2 may mean "above 6 GHz range," and may be referred to as millimeter wave (mmW).

[0123] Frequency Range designationCorresponding frequency rangeSubcarrier SpacingFR1450MHz - 6000MHz15, 30, 60kHzFR224250MHz - 52600MHz60, 120, 240kHz

[0124] As mentioned above, the numerical value of the frequency range of the NR system may be changed. For example, FR1 may include a frequency band of 410MHz to 7125MHz as shown in Table 4 below. That is, FR1 may include a frequency band of 6GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or more. For example, a frequency band of 6 GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or more included in FR1 may include an unlicensed band. Unlicensed bands may be used for a variety of purposes, for example for communication for vehicles (e.g., autonomous driving).

[0125] Frequency Range designationCorresponding frequency rangeSubcarrier SpacingFR1410MHz - 7125MHz15, 30, 60kHzFR224250MHz - 52600MHz60, 120, 240kHz

[0126] In the present disclosure, the term "cell" may refer to a geographic area to which one or more nodes provide a communication system, or refer to radio resources. A "cell" as a geographic area may be understood as coverage within which a node can provide service using a carrier and a "cell" as radio resources (e.g., time-frequency resources) is associated with bandwidth which is a frequency range configured by the carrier. The "cell" associated with the radio resources is defined by a combination of downlink resources and uplink resources, for example, a combination of a DL component carrier (CC) and a UL CC. The cell may be configured by downlink resources only, or may be configured by downlink resources and uplink resources. Since DL coverage, which is a range within which the node is capable of transmitting a valid signal, and UL coverage, which is a range within which the node is capable of receiving the valid signal from the UE, depends upon a carrier carrying the signal, the coverage of the node may be associated with coverage of the "cell" of radio resources used by the node. Accordingly, the term "cell" may be used to represent service coverage of the node sometimes, radio resources at other times, or a range that signals using the radio resources can reach with valid strength at other times.

[0127] In CA, two or more CCs are aggregated. A UE may simultaneously receive or transmit on one or multiple CCs depending on its capabilities. CA is supported for both contiguous and non-contiguous CCs. When CA is configured, the UE only has one RRC connection with the network. At RRC connection establishment / re-establishment / handover, one serving cell provides the NAS mobility information, and at RRC connection re-establishment / handover, one serving cell provides the security input. This cell is referred to as the primary cell (PCell). The PCell is a cell, operating on the primary frequency, in which the UE either performs the initial connection establishment procedure or initiates the connection re-establishment procedure. Depending on UE capabilities, secondary cells (SCells) can be configured to form together with the PCell a set of serving cells. An SCell is a cell providing additional radio resources on top of special cell (SpCell). The configured set of serving cells for a UE therefore always consists of one PCell and one or more SCells. For dual connectivity (DC) operation, the term SpCell refers to the PCell of the master cell group (MCG) or the primary SCell (PSCell) of the secondary cell group (SCG). An SpCell supports PUCCH transmission and contention-based random access, and is always activated. The MCG is a group of serving cells associated with a master node, comprised of the SpCell (PCell) and optionally one or more SCells. The SCG is the subset of serving cells associated with a secondary node, comprised of the PSCell and zero or more SCells, for a UE configured with DC. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not configured with CA / DC, there is only one serving cell comprised of the PCell. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED configured with CA / DC, the term "serving cells" is used to denote the set of cells comprised of the SpCell(s) and all SCells. In DC, two MAC entities are configured in a UE: one for the MCG and one for the SCG.

[0128] FIG. 9 shows a data flow example in the 3GPP NR system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

[0129] Referring to FIG. 9, "RB" denotes a radio bearer, and "H" denotes a header. Radio bearers are categorized into two groups: DRBs for user plane data and SRBs for control plane data. The MAC PDU is transmitted / received using radio resources through the PHY layer to / from an external device. The MAC PDU arrives to the PHY layer in the form of a transport block.

[0130] In the PHY layer, the uplink transport channels UL-SCH and RACH are mapped to their physical channels PUSCH and PRACH, respectively, and the downlink transport channels DL-SCH, BCH and PCH are mapped to PDSCH, PBCH and PDSCH, respectively. In the PHY layer, uplink control information (UCI) is mapped to PUCCH, and downlink control information (DCI) is mapped to PDCCH. A MAC PDU related to UL-SCH is transmitted by a UE via a PUSCH based on an UL grant, and a MAC PDU related to DL-SCH is transmitted by a BS via a PDSCH based on a DL assignment.

[0131] Hereinafter, technical features related to paging are described. Sections of 3GPP TS 38.304 v17.6.0 may be referred.

[0132] Discontinuous Reception for paging

[0133] The UE may use Discontinuous Reception (DRX) in RRC_IDLE and RRC_INACTIVE state in order to reduce power consumption. The UE monitors one paging occasion (PO) per DRX cycle. A PO is a set of PDCCH monitoring occasions and can consist of multiple time slots (e.g. subframe or OFDM symbol) where paging DCI can be sent (TS 38.213 [4]). One Paging Frame (PF) is one Radio Frame and may contain one or multiple PO(s) or starting point of a PO. A L2 U2N Relay UE monitors the paging occasions of its PC5-RRC connected L2 U2N Remote UEs. In this case, the DRX cycle and UE ID mentioned in this clause refer to those of the L2 U2N Remote UE.

[0134] In multi-beam operations, the UE assumes that the same paging message and the same Short Message are repeated in all transmitted beams and thus the selection of the beam(s) for the reception of the paging message and Short Message is up to UE implementation. The paging message is same for both RAN initiated paging and CN initiated paging.

[0135] The UE initiates RRC Connection Resume procedure upon receiving RAN initiated paging. If the UE receives a CN initiated paging in RRC_INACTIVE state, the UE moves to RRC_IDLE and informs NAS. However, if a L2 U2N Relay UE in RRC_INACTIVE state receives a CN initiated paging for a L2 U2N Remote UE, the L2 U2N Relay UE does not move to RRC_IDLE state.

[0136] - The L2 U2N Remote UE does not need to monitor the PO in order to receive the paging message.

[0137] - While the SDT procedure is ongoing in RRC_INACTIVE state, the UE monitors the PO in order to receive only the Short Message.

[0138] The PF and PO for paging are determined by the following formulae:

[0139] SFN for the PF is determined by:

[0140] (SFN + PF_offset) mod T = (T div N)*(UE_ID mod N)

[0141] Index (i_s), indicating the index of the PO is determined by:

[0142] i_s = floor (UE_ID / N) mod Ns

[0143] The PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging are determined according topagingSearchSpaceandfirstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPOandnrofPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionPerSSB-InPOifconfigured. WhenSearchSpaceId= 0 is configured forpagingSearchSpace, the PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging are same as for RMSI.

[0144] WhenSearchSpaceId= 0 is configured forpagingSearchSpace, Ns is either 1 or 2. For Ns = 1, there is only one PO which starts from the first PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging in the PF. For Ns = 2, PO is either in the first half frame (i_s = 0) or the second half frame (i_s = 1) of the PF.

[0145] WhenSearchSpaceIdother than 0 is configured forpagingSearchSpace,the UE monitors the (i_s + 1)thPO. A PO is a set of 'S*X ' consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions where 'S' is the number of actual transmitted SSBs determined according tossb-PositionsInBurstinSIB1and X is thenrofPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionPerSSB-InPOif configured or is equal to 1 otherwise. The [x*S+K]thPDCCH monitoring occasion for paging in the PO corresponds to the Kthtransmitted SSB, where x=0,1, .. ,X-1, K=1,2, .. ,S. The PDCCH monitoring occasions for paging which do not overlap with UL symbols (determined according totdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon) are sequentially numbered from zero starting from the first PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging in the PF. WhenfirstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPOis present, the starting PDCCH monitoring occasion number of (i_s + 1)thPO is the (i_s + 1)thvalue of thefirstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPOparameter; otherwise, it is equal to i_s * S*X. If X > 1, when the UE detects a PDCCH transmission addressed to P-RNTI within its PO, the UE is not required to monitor the subsequent PDCCH monitoring occasions for this PO.

[0146] - A PO associated with a PF may start in the PF or after the PF.

[0147] - The PDCCH monitoring occasions for a PO can span multiple radio frames. WhenSearchSpaceIdother than 0 is configured forpaging-SearchSpacethe PDCCH monitoring occasions for a PO can span multiple periods of the paging search space.

[0148] The following parameters are used for the calculation of PF and i_s above:

[0149] T: DRX cycle of the UE.

[0150] If the UE does not operate in eDRX:

[0151] - T is determined by the shortest of the UE specific DRX value(s), if configured by RRC and / or upper layers or provided in PC5-RRC signalling in case of a L2 U2N Relay UE, and a default DRX value broadcast in system information. In RRC_IDLE state, if UE specific DRX is not configured by upper layers, the default value is applied.

[0152] In RRC_IDLE state, if the UE operates in eDRX and eDRX is configured by upper layers, i.e., TeDRX,CN:

[0153] - If TeDRX,CNis no longer than 1024 radio frames:

[0154] - T = TeDRX,CN;

[0155] - else:

[0156] - During CN configured PTW, T is determined by the shortest of UE specific DRX value, if configured by upper layers, and the default DRX value broadcast in system information.

[0157] In RRC_INACTIVE state, if the UE operates in eDRX and eDRX is configured by RRC, i.e., TeDRX,RAN, and / or upper layers, i.e., TeDRX,CN:

[0158] - If both TeDRX,CNand used TeDRX, RANare no longer than 1024 radio frames, T = min{TeDRX, RAN, TeDRX,CN}.

[0159] - If TeDRX,CNis no longer than 1024 radio frames and no TeDRX, RANis configured or used, T is determined by the shortest of UE specific DRX value configured by RRC and TeDRX,CN.

[0160] - If TeDRX,CNis longer than 1024 radio frames:

[0161] - If TeDRX, RANis not configured or used:

[0162] - During CN configured PTW, T is determined by the shortest of the UE specific DRX value (s), if configured by RRC and / or upper layers, and a default DRX value broadcast in system information. Outside the CN configured PTW, T is determined by the UE specific DRX value configured by RRC;

[0163] - else if used TeDRX, RANis no longer than 1024 radio frames:

[0164] - During CN configured PTW, T is determined by the shortest of the UE specific DRX value, if configured by upper layers and TeDRX, RAN, and a default DRX value broadcast in system information. Outside the CN configured PTW, T is determined by TeDRX, RAN.

[0165] N: number of total paging frames in T

[0166] Ns: number of paging occasions for a PF

[0167] PF_offset: offset used for PF determination

[0168] UE_ID:

[0169] If the UE operates in eDRX:

[0170] - 5G-S-TMSI mod 4096

[0171] else:

[0172] - 5G-S-TMSI mod 1024

[0173] ParametersNs,nAndPagingFrameOffset,nrofPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionPerSSB-InPO, and the length of default DRX Cycle are signaled inSIB1. The values of N and PF_offset are derived from the parameternAndPagingFrameOffset. The parameterfirstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPOis signalled inSIB1for paging in the BWP configured byinitialDownlinkBWP.For paging in a DL BWP other than the BWP configured byinitialDownlinkBWP, the parameterfirst-PDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPOis signaled in the corresponding BWP configuration.

[0174] If the UE has no 5G-S-TMSI, for instance when the UE has not yet registered onto the network, the UE shall use as default identity UE_ID = 0 in the PF and i_s formulas above.

[0175] 5G-S-TMSI is a 48 bit long bit string. 5G-S-TMSI shall in the formulae above be interpreted as a binary number where the left most bit represents the most significant bit.

[0176] In RRC_INACTIVE state, if the UE supportsinactiveStatePO-Determinationand the network broadcastsranPagingInIdlePOwith value "true", the UE shall use the same i_s as for RRC_IDLE state. Otherwise, the UE determines the i_s based on the parameters and formula above.

[0177] In RRC_INACTIVE state, if used eDRX value configured by upper layers is no longer than 1024 radio frames, the UE shall use the same i_s as for RRC_IDLE state.

[0178] In RRC_INACTIVE state, if used eDRX value configured by upper layers is longer than 1024 radio frames, during CN PTW, the UE shall use the same i_s as for RRC_IDLE state. Outside CN PTW, the UE shall use the i_s for RRC_INACTIVE state.

[0179] Paging Early Indication

[0180] The UE may use Paging Early Indication (PEI) in RRC_IDLE and RRC_INACTIVE states in order to reduce power consumption. If PEI configuration is provided in system information, the UE in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state supporting PEI (except for the UEs expecting MBS group notification) can monitor PEI using PEI parameters in system information according to the procedure described below.

[0181] IflastUsedCellOnlyis configured in system information of a cell, the UE monitors PEI in this cell only if the UE most recently receivedRRCReleasewithoutnoLastCellUpdatein this cell. Otherwise (i.e., iflastUsedCellOnlyis not configured in system information of a cell), the UE monitors PEI in the camped cell.

[0182] The UE monitors one PEI occasion per DRX cycle. A PEI occasion (PEI-O) is a set of PDCCH monitoring occasions (MOs) and can consist of multiple time slots (e.g. subframes or OFDM symbols) where PEI can be sent (TS 38.213 [4]). In multi-beam operations, the UE assumes that the same PEI is repeated in all transmitted beams and thus the selection of the beam(s) for the reception of the PEI is up to UE implementation.

[0183] The time location of PEI-O for UE's PO is determined by a reference point and an offset:

[0184] - The reference point is the start of a reference frame determined by a frame-level offset from the start of the first PF of the PF(s) associated with the PEI-O, provided bypei-FrameOffsetin SIB1;

[0185] - The offset is a symbol-level offset from the reference point to the start of the first PDCCH MO of this PEI-O, provided byfirstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPEI-Oin SIB1.

[0186] Subgrouping

[0187] If PEI and subgrouping are configured, UEs monitoring the same PO can be divided into one or more subgroups. With subgrouping, the UE monitors the associated PO if the corresponding bit for subgroup the UE belongs to is indicated as 1 by PEI corresponding to its PO.

[0188] The following parameters are used for the determination of subgroup ID:

[0189] -subgroupsNumPerPO: total number of subgroups for both CN assigned subgrouping (if any) and UE_ID based subgrouping (if any) in a PO, which is broadcasted in system information;

[0190] -subgroupsNumForUEID: number of subgroups for UE_ID based subgrouping in a PO, which is broadcasted in system information.

[0191] UE's subgroup can be either assigned by CN or formed based on UE_ID:

[0192] - IfsubgroupsNumForUEIDis absent insubgroupConfig, the subgroup ID based on CN assigned subgrouping, if available for the UE, is used in the cell.

[0193] - If bothsubgroupsNumPerPOandsubgroupsNumForUEIDare configured, andsubgroupsNumForUEIDhas the same value assubgroupsNumPerPO, the subgroup ID based on UE_ID based subgrouping is used in the cell.

[0194] - If bothsubgroupsNumPerPOandsubgroupsNumForUEIDare configured, andsubgroupsNumForUEID<subgroupsNumPerPO:

[0195] - The subgroup ID based on CN assigned subgrouping, if available for the UE, is used in the cell;

[0196] - Otherwise, the subgroup ID based on UE_ID based subgrouping is used in the cell.

[0197] If a UE has no CN assigned subgroup ID or does not support CN assigned subgrouping, and there is no configuration forsubgroupsNumForUEID, the UE monitors the associated PO.

[0198] CNassignedsubgrouping

[0199] Paging with CN assigned subgrouping is used in the cell which supports CN assigned subgrouping. A UE supporting CN assigned subgrouping in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state can be assigned a subgroup ID (between 0 to 7) by AMF through NAS signalling. The UE belonging to the assigned subgroup ID monitors its associated PEI which indicates the paged subgroup(s).

[0200] UE_ID basedsubgrouping

[0201] Paging with UE_ID based subgrouping is used in the cell which supports UE_ID based subgrouping.

[0202] If the UE is not configured with a CN assigned subgroup ID, or if the UE configured with a CN assigned subgroup ID is in a cell supporting only UE_ID based subgrouping, the subgroup ID of the UE is determined by the formula below:

[0203] SubgroupID = (floor(UE_ID / (N*Ns)) mod subgroupsNumForUEID) + (subgroupsNumPerPO - subgroupsNumForUEID),

[0204] where:

[0205] N: number of total paging frames in T, which is the DRX cycle of RRC_IDLE state

[0206] Ns: number of paging occasions for a PF

[0207] UE_ID: 5G-S-TMSI mod X, where X is 32768, if eDRX is applied; otherwise, X is 8192

[0208] subgroupsNumForUEID: number of subgroups for UE_ID based subgrouping in a PO, which is broadcasted in system information

[0209] In RRC_INACTIVE state with CN configured PTW the SubgroupID used outside CN PTW is the same as the SubgroupID used inside CN PTW.

[0210] The UE belonging to the SubgroupID monitors its associated PEI which indicates the paged subgroup(s).

[0211] Hereinafter, technical features related to cell reselection are described. Sections of 3GPP TS 38.304 v17.6.0 may be referred.

[0212] Cell selection andreselection

[0213] UE shall perform measurements for cell selection and reselection purposes.

[0214] When evaluating Srxlev and Squal of non-serving cells for reselection evaluation purposes, the UE shall use parameters provided by the serving cell and for the final check on cell selection criterion, the UE shall use parameters provided by the target cell for cell reselection.

[0215] The NAS can control the RAT(s) in which the cell selection should be performed, for instance by indicating RAT(s) associated with the selected PLMN, and by maintaining a list of forbidden registration area(s) and a list of equivalent PLMNs. The UE shall select a suitable cell based on RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state measurements and cell selection criteria.

[0216] In order to expedite the cell selection process, stored information for several RATs, if available, may be used by the UE.

[0217] When camped on a cell, the UE shall regularly search for a better cell according to the cell reselection criteria. If a better cell is found, that cell is selected. The change of cell may imply a change of RAT.

[0218] The NAS is informed if the cell selection and reselection result in changes in the received system information relevant for NAS.

[0219] For normal service, the UE shall camp on a suitable cell, monitor control channel(s) of that cell so that the UE can:

[0220] - receive system information from the PLMN or SNPN; and

[0221] - receive registration area information from the PLMN or SNPN, e.g., tracking area information; and

[0222] - receive other AS and NAS Information; and

[0223] - if registered:

[0224] - receive paging and notification messages from the PLMN or SNPN; and

[0225] - initiate transfer to Connected mode.

[0226] For cell selection in multi-beam operations, measurement quantity of a cell is up to UE implementation.

[0227] For cell reselection in multi-beam operations, including inter-RAT reselection from E-UTRA to NR, the measurement quantity of this cell is derived amongst the beams corresponding to the same cell based on SS / PBCH block as follows:

[0228] - ifnrofSS-BlocksToAverage(maxRS-IndexCellQualin E-UTRA) is not configured inSIB2 / SIB4(SIB24in E-UTRA); or

[0229] - ifabsThreshSS-BlocksConsolidation(threshRS-Indexin E-UTRA)is not configured inSIB2 / SIB4(SIB24in E-UTRA); or

[0230] - if the highest beam measurement quantity value is below or equal toabsThreshSS-BlocksConsolidation(threshRS-Indexin E-UTRA):

[0231] - derive a cell measurement quantity as the highest beam measurement quantity value.

[0232] - else:

[0233] - derive a cell measurement quantity as the linear average of the power values of up tonrofSS-BlocksToAverage(maxRS-IndexCellQualin E-UTRA) of highest beam measurement quantity values aboveabsThreshSS-BlocksConsolidation(threshRS-Indexin E-UTRA).

[0234] NOTE: If both suitable cell(s) and suitable L2 U2N Relay UE(s) are available, it is up to L2 U2N Remote UE's implementation to select either a suitable cell or a suitable L2 U2N Relay UE.

[0235] Cell Selection process

[0236] Cell selection is performed by one of the following two procedures:

[0237] a) Initial cell selection (no prior knowledge of which RF channels are NR frequencies):

[0238] 1. The UE shall scan all RF channels in the NR bands according to its capabilities to find a suitable cell.

[0239] 2. On each frequency, the UE need only search for the strongest cell, except for operation with shared spectrum channel access where the UE may search for the next strongest cell(s).

[0240] 3. Once a suitable cell is found, this cell shall be selected.

[0241] b) Cell selection by leveraging stored information:

[0242] 1. This procedure requires stored information of frequencies and optionally also information on cell parameters from previously received measurement control information elements or from previously detected cells.

[0243] 2. Once the UE has found a suitable cell, the UE shall select it.

[0244] 3. If no suitable cell is found, the initial cell selection procedure in a) shall be started.

[0245] Reselectionpriorities handling

[0246] Absolute priorities of different NR frequencies or inter-RAT frequencies may be provided to the UE in the system information, in theRRCReleasemessage, or by inheriting from another RAT at inter-RAT cell (re)selection. In the case of system information, an NR frequency or inter-RAT frequency may be listed without providing a priority (i.e. the fieldcellReselectionPriorityis absent for that frequency). If any fields withcellReselectionPriorityornsag-CellReselectionPriorityare provided in dedicated signalling, the UE shall ignore any fields withcellReselectionPriorityandnsag-CellReselectionPriorityprovided in system information.

[0247] When UE is in camped normally state, if it supports slice-based cell reselection and has received the network slice(s) and NSAG information from NAS to be used for cell reselection, UE shall derive reselection priorities.

[0248] - UE derives reselection priorities also in caseSIB16is not broadcast in the camped cell.

[0249] If UE is incamped on any cellstate, UE shall only apply the priorities provided by system information from current cell, and the UE preserves priorities provided by dedicated signalling anddeprioritisationReqreceived inRRCReleaseunless specified otherwise. When the UE in camped normally state, has only dedicated priorities other than for the current frequency, the UE shall consider the current frequency to be the lowest priority frequency (i.e. lower than any of the network configured values). When the HSDN capable UE is in High-mobility state, the UE shall always consider the HSDN cells to be the highest priority (i.e., higher than any other network configured priorities). When the HSDN capable UE is not in High-mobility state, the UE shall always consider HSDN cells to be the lowest priority (i.e., lower than any other network configured priorities). If the UE is configured to perform both NR sidelink communication and V2X sidelink communication, the UE may consider the frequency providing both NR sidelink communication configuration and V2X sidelink communication configuration to be the highest priority. If the UE is configured to perform NR sidelink communication and not perform V2X communication, the UE may consider the frequency providing NR sidelink communication configuration to be the highest priority. If the UE is configured to perform V2X sidelink communication and not perform NR sidelink communication, the UE may consider the frequency providing V2X sidelink communication configuration to be the highest priority.

[0250] Measurement rules for cell re-selection

[0251] Following rules are used by the UE to limit needed measurements:

[0252] - If the serving cell fulfils Srxlev> SIntraSearchPand Squal > SIntraSearchQ:

[0253] - IfdistanceThreshandreferenceLocationare broadcasted in SIB19, and if UE supports location-based measurement initiation and has obtained its location information:

[0254] - If the distance between UE and the serving cell reference locationreferenceLocationis shorter thandistanceThresh, the UE may not perform intra-frequency measurements;

[0255] - Else, the UE shall perform intra-frequency measurements;

[0256] - Else, the UE may not perform intra-frequency measurements;

[0257] - Else, the UE shall perform intra-frequency measurements.

[0258] - The UE shall apply the following rules for NR inter-frequencies and inter-RAT frequencies which are indicated in system information and for which the UE has priority provided:

[0259] - For a NR inter-frequency or inter-RAT frequency with a reselection priority higher than the reselection priority of the current NR frequency, the UE shall perform measurements of higher priority NR inter-frequency or inter-RAT frequencies.

[0260] - For a NR inter-frequency with an equal or lower reselection priority than the reselection priority of the current NR frequency and for inter-RAT frequency with lower reselection priority than the reselection priority of the current NR frequency:

[0261] - If the serving cell fulfils Srxlev > SnonIntraSearchPand Squal > SnonIntraSearchQ:

[0262] - IfdistanceThreshandreferenceLocationare broadcasted in SIB19, and if UE supports location-based measurement initiation and has obtained its UE location information:

[0263] - If the distance between UE and the serving cell reference locationreferenceLocationis shorter thandistanceThresh, the UE may choose not to perform measurements of NR inter-frequency cells of equal or lower priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of lower priority;

[0264] - Else, the UE shall perform measurements of NR inter-frequency cells of equal or lower priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of lower priority;

[0265] - Else, the UE may choose not to perform measurements of NR inter-frequency cells of equal or lower priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of lower priority;

[0266] - Else,the UE shall perform measurements of NR inter-frequency cells of equal or lower priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of lower priority.

[0267] - If the UE supports relaxed measurement andrelaxedMeasurementis present inSIB2, the UE may further relax the needed measurements.

[0268] If thet-Serviceof the serving cell is present in SIB19, and if UE supports time-based measurement initiation, the UE shall perform intra-frequency, inter-frequency or inter-RAT measurements before the t-Service, regardless of the distance between UE and the serving cell reference location or whether the serving cell fulfils Srxlev > SIntraSearchPand Squal > SIntraSearchQ, or Srxlev > SnonIntraSearchPand Squal > SnonIntraSearchQ, The exact time to start measurement beforet-Serviceis up to UE implementation. UE shall perform measurements of higher priority NR inter-frequency or inter-RAT frequencies regardless of the remaining service time of the serving cell (i.e. time remaining untilt-Service).

[0269] Hereinafter, technical features related to random access procedure are described. Sections of 3GPP TS 38.321 v17.6.0 may be referred.

[0270] Random Access procedure initialization

[0271] The Random Access procedure described in this clause is initiated by a PDCCH order, by the MAC entity itself, or by RRC for the events. There is only one Random Access procedure ongoing at any point in time in a MAC entity. The Random Access procedure on an SCell shall only be initiated by a PDCCH order withra-PreambleIndexdifferent from 0b000000.

[0272] - If a new Random Access procedure is triggered while another is already ongoing in the MAC entity, it is up to UE implementation whether to continue with the ongoing procedure or start with the new procedure (e.g. for SI request).

[0273] - If there was an ongoing Random Access procedure that is triggered by a PDCCH order while the UE receives another PDCCH order indicating the same Random Access Preamble, PRACH mask index and uplink carrier, the Random Access procedure is considered as the same Random Access procedure as the ongoing one and not initialized again.

[0274] Random Access Preamble transmission

[0275] The MAC entity shall, for each Random Access Preamble:

[0276] 1> ifPREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTERis greater than one; and

[0277] 1> if the notification of suspending power ramping counter has not been received from lower layers; and

[0278] 1> if LBT failure indication was not received from lower layers for the last Random Access Preamble transmission; and

[0279] 1> if SSB or CSI-RS selected is not changed from the selection in the last Random Access Preamble transmission:

[0280] 2> incrementPREAMBLE_POWER_RAMPING_COUNTERby 1.

[0281] 1> select the value ofDELTA_PREAMBLE;

[0282] 1> setPREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWERtopreambleReceivedTargetPower+DELTA_PREAMBLE+ (PREAMBLE_POWER_RAMPING_COUNTER- 1) *PREAMBLE_POWER_RAMPING_STEP+POWER_OFFSET_2STEP_RA;

[0283] 1> except for contention-free Random Access Preamble for beam failure recovery request, compute the RA-RNTI associated with the PRACH occasion in which the Random Access Preamble is transmitted;

[0284] 1> instruct the physical layer to transmit the Random Access Preamble using the selected PRACH occasion, corresponding RA-RNTI (if available),PREAMBLE_INDEX, andPREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER.

[0285] 1> if LBT failure indication is received from lower layers for this Random Access Preamble transmission:

[0286] 2> iflbt-FailureRecoveryConfigis configured:

[0287] 3> perform the Random Access Resource selection procedure.

[0288] 2> else:

[0289] 3> incrementPREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTERby 1;

[0290] 3> ifPREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER=preambleTransMax+ 1:

[0291] 4> if the Random Access Preamble is transmitted on the SpCell:

[0292] 5> indicate a Random Access problem to upper layers;

[0293] 5> if this Random Access procedure was triggered for SI request:

[0294] 6> consider the Random Access procedure unsuccessfully completed.

[0295] 4> else if the Random Access Preamble is transmitted on an SCell:

[0296] 5> consider the Random Access procedure unsuccessfully completed.

[0297] 3> if the Random Access procedure is not completed:

[0298] 4> perform the Random Access Resource selection procedure.

[0299] Random Access Response reception

[0300] Once the Random Access Preamble is transmitted and regardless of the possible occurrence of a measurement gap, the MAC entity shall:

[0301] 1> if the contention-free Random Access Preamble for beam failure recovery request was transmitted by the MAC entity:

[0302] 2> if the contention-free Random Access Preamble for beam failure recovery request was transmitted on a non-terrestrial network:

[0303] 3> start thera-ResponseWindowconfigured inBeamFailureRecoveryConfigat the PDCCH occasion.

[0304] 2> else:

[0305] 3> start thera-ResponseWindowconfigured inBeamFailureRecoveryConfigat the first PDCCH occasion from the end of the Random Access Preamble transmission.

[0306] 2> monitor for a PDCCH transmission on the search space indicated byrecoverySearchSpaceIdof the SpCell identified by the C-RNTI whilera-ResponseWindowis running.

[0307] 1> else:

[0308] 2> if the Random Access Preamble was transmitted on a non-terrestrial network:

[0309] 3> start thera-ResponseWindowconfigured inRACH-ConfigCommonat the PDCCH occasion.

[0310] 2> else:

[0311] 3> start thera-ResponseWindowconfigured inRACH-ConfigCommonat the first PDCCH occasion from the end of the Random Access Preamble transmission.

[0312] 2> monitor the PDCCH of the SpCell for Random Access Response(s) identified by the RA-RNTI while thera-ResponseWindowis running.

[0313] 1> if notification of a reception of a PDCCH transmission on the search space indicated byrecoverySearchSpaceIdis received from lower layers on the Serving Cell where the preamble was transmitted; and

[0314] 1> if PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI; and

[0315] 1> if the contention-free Random Access Preamble for beam failure recovery request was transmitted by the MAC entity:

[0316] 2> consider the Random Access procedure successfully completed.

[0317] 1> else if a valid downlink assignment has been received on the PDCCH for the RA-RNTI and the received TB is successfully decoded:

[0318] 2> if the Random Access Response contains a MAC subPDU with Backoff Indicator:

[0319] 3> set thePREAMBLE_BACKOFFto value of the BI field of the MAC subPDU, multiplied withSCALING_FACTOR_BI.

[0320] 2> else:

[0321] 3> set thePREAMBLE_BACKOFFto 0 ms.

[0322] 2> if the Random Access Response contains a MAC subPDU with Random Access Preamble identifier corresponding to the transmittedPREAMBLE_INDEX:

[0323] 3> consider this Random Access Response reception successful.

[0324] 2> if the Random Access Response reception is considered successful:

[0325] 3> if the Random Access Response includes a MAC subPDU with RAPID only:

[0326] 4> consider this Random Access procedure successfully completed;

[0327] 4> indicate the reception of an acknowledgement for SI request to upper layers.

[0328] 3> else:

[0329] 4> apply the following actions for the Serving Cell where the Random Access Preamble was transmitted:

[0330] 5> process the received Timing Advance Command (see clause 5.2);

[0331] 5> indicate thepreambleReceivedTargetPowerand the amount of power ramping applied to the latest Random Access Preamble transmission to lower layers (i.e. (PREAMBLE_POWER_RAMPING_COUNTER- 1) ХPREAMBLE_POWER_RAMPING_STEP);

[0332] 5> if the Random Access procedure for an SCell is performed on uplink carrier wherepusch-Configis not configured:

[0333] 6> ignore the received UL grant.

[0334] 5> else:

[0335] 6> process the received UL grant value and indicate it to the lower layers.

[0336] 4> if the Random Access Preamble was not selected by the MAC entity among the contention-based Random Access Preamble(s):

[0337] 5> consider the Random Access procedure successfully completed.

[0338] 4> else:

[0339] 5> set theTEMPORARY_C-RNTIto the value received in the Random Access Response;

[0340] 5> if this is the first successfully received Random Access Response within this Random Access procedure:

[0341] 6> if the transmission is not being made for the CCCH logical channel:

[0342] 7> indicate to the Multiplexing and assembly entity to include a C-RNTI MAC CE in the subsequent uplink transmission.

[0343] 6> if the Random Access procedure was initiated for SpCell beam failure recovery andspCell-BFR-CBRAwith valuetrueis configured:

[0344] 7> if there is at least one Serving Cell of this MAC entity configured with two BFD-RS sets:

[0345] 8> indicate to the Multiplexing and assembly entity to include an Enhanced BFR MAC CE or a Truncated Enhanced BFR MAC CE in the subsequent uplink transmission.

[0346] 7> else:

[0347] 8> indicate to the Multiplexing and assembly entity to include a BFR MAC CE or a Truncated BFR MAC CE in the subsequent uplink transmission.

[0348] 6> else if the Random Access procedure was initiated for beam failure recovery of both BFD-RS sets of SpCell:

[0349] 7> indicate to the Multiplexing and assembly entity to include an Enhanced BFR MAC CE or a Truncated Enhanced BFR MAC CE in the subsequent uplink transmission.

[0350] 6> obtain the MAC PDU to transmit from the Multiplexing and assembly entity and store it in the Msg3 buffer.

[0351] - If within a Random Access procedure, an uplink grant provided in the Random Access Response for the same group of contention-based Random Access Preambles has a different size than the first uplink grant allocated during that Random Access procedure, the UE behavior is not defined.

[0352] 1> ifra-ResponseWindowconfigured inBeamFailureRecoveryConfigexpires and if a PDCCH transmission on the search space indicated byrecoverySearchSpaceIdaddressed to the C-RNTI has not been received on the Serving Cell where the preamble was transmitted; or

[0353] 1> ifra-ResponseWindowconfigured inRACH-ConfigCommonexpires, and if the Random Access Response containing Random Access Preamble identifiers that matches the transmittedPREAMBLE_INDEXhas not been received:

[0354] 2> consider the Random Access Response reception not successful;

[0355] 2> incrementPREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTERby 1;

[0356] 2> ifPREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER=preambleTransMax+ 1:

[0357] 3> if the Random Access Preamble is transmitted on the SpCell:

[0358] 4> indicate a Random Access problem to upper layers;

[0359] 4> if this Random Access procedure was triggered for SI request:

[0360] 5> consider the Random Access procedure unsuccessfully completed.

[0361] 3> else if the Random Access Preamble is transmitted on an SCell:

[0362] 4> consider the Random Access procedure unsuccessfully completed.

[0363] 2> if the Random Access procedure is not completed:

[0364] 3> select a random backoff time according to a uniform distribution between 0 and thePREAMBLE_BACKOFF;

[0365] 3> if the criteria to select contention-free Random Access Resources is met during the backoff time:

[0366] 4> perform the Random Access Resource selection procedure.

[0367] 3> else if the Random Access procedure for an SCell is performed on uplink carrier wherepusch-Configis not configured:

[0368] 4> delay the subsequent Random Access transmission until the Random Access Procedure is triggered by a PDCCH order with the samera-PreambleIndex,ra-ssb-OccasionMaskIndex, and UL / SUL indicator.

[0369] 3> else:

[0370] 4> perform the Random Access Resource selection procedure after the backoff time.

[0371] The MAC entity may stopra-ResponseWindow(and hence monitoring for Random Access Response(s)) after successful reception of a Random Access Response containing Random Access Preamble identifiers that matches the transmittedPREAMBLE_INDEX.

[0372] HARQ operation is not applicable to the Random Access Response reception.

[0373] Completion of the Random Access procedure

[0374] Upon completion of the Random Access procedure, the MAC entity shall:

[0375] 1> discard any explicitly signalled contention-free Random Access Resources for 2-step RA type and 4-step RA type except the 4-step RA type contention-free Random Access Resources for beam failure recovery request, if any;

[0376] 1> flush the HARQ buffer used for transmission of the MAC PDU in the Msg3 buffer and the MSGA buffer.

[0377] Upon successful completion of the Random Access procedure initiated for DAPS handover, the target MAC entity shall:

[0378] 1> indicate the successful completion of the Random Access procedure to the upper layers.

[0379] Hereinafter, technical features related to Relaxed measurement are described.

[0380] Relaxed measurement rules

[0381] When the UE is required to perform measurements of intra-frequency cells or NR inter-frequency cells or inter-RAT frequency cells according to the measurement rule:

[0382] - if lowMobilityEvaluation is configured and cellEdgeEvaluation is not configured; and

[0383] - if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least TSearchDeltaP after (re-)selecting a new cell; and

[0384] - if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility is fulfilled for a period of TSearchDeltaP:

[0385] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for intra-frequency cells, NR inter-frequency cells or inter-RAT frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

[0386] - if cellEdgeEvaluation is configured and lowMobilityEvaluation is not configured; and

[0387] - if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is fulfilled:

[0388] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for intra-frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

[0389] - if the serving cell fulfils Srxlev ≤ SnonIntraSearchP or Squal ≤ SnonIntraSearchQ:

[0390] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for NR inter-frequency cells or inter-RAT

[0391] frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

[0392] - if both lowMobilityEvaluation and cellEdgeEvaluation are configured:

[0393] - if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least TSearchDeltaP after (re-)selecting a new cell; and

[0394] - if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility is fulfilled for a period of TSearchDeltaP; and

[0395] - if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is fulfilled:

[0396] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for NR intra-frequency cells, inter-frequency cells

[0397] or inter-RAT frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

[0398] - else:

[0399] - if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least TSearchDeltaP after (re-)selecting a new cell, and the relaxed measurement criterion is fulfilled for a period of TSearchDeltaP; or,

[0400] - if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is fulfilled:

[0401] - if combineRelaxedMeasCondition is not configured:

[0402] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for intra-frequency cells, NR inter-frequency cells of equal or lower priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of lower priority according to relaxation methods;

[0403] - if the serving cell fulfils Srxlev ≤ SnonIntraSearchP or Squal ≤ SnonIntraSearchQ:

[0404] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurement for NR inter-frequency cells of higher priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of higher priority according to relaxation methods;

[0405] - if the UE is a RedCap UE; and

[0406] - if stationaryMobilityEvaluation is configured and cellEdgeEvaluationWhileStationary is not configured; and

[0407] - if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least TSearchDeltaP-Stationary after (re-)selecting a new cell; and

[0408] - if the relaxed measurement criterion for a stationary RedCap UE is fulfilled for a period of TSearchDeltaP-Stationary:

[0409] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for intra-frequency cells, NR inter-frequency cells, or inter-RAT frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

[0410] - if the UE is a RedCap UE; and

[0411] - if both stationaryMobilityEvaluation and cellEdgeEvaluationWhileStationary are configured:

[0412] - if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least TSearchDeltaP-Stationary after (re-)selecting a new cell; and

[0413] - if the relaxed measurement criterion for a stationary RedCap UE not at cell edge is fulfilled:

[0414] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for intra-frequency cells, NR inter-frequency cells, or inter-RAT frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

[0415] - else:

[0416] - if combineRelaxedMeasCondition2 is not configured:

[0417] - if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least TSearchDeltaP-Stationary after (re-)selecting a new cell; and

[0418] - if the relaxed measurement criterion for a stationary RedCap UE is fulfilled for a period of TSearchDeltaP-Stationary:

[0419] - the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for intra-frequency cells, NR inter-frequency cells, or inter-RAT frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

[0420] - It is up to UE implementation when to start performing relaxed measurements in RRC Idle / Inactive if multiple methods are configured.

[0421] - It is up to UE implementation which relaxation method to perform based on the "allowed" cases for RRC Idle / Inactive if multiple methods are configured.

[0422] The above relaxed measurements and no measurement are not applicable for frequencies that are included in VarMeasIdleConfig, if configured and for which the UE supports dual connectivity or carrier aggregation between those frequencies and the frequency of the current serving cell.

[0423] Relaxed measurement criterion forUEwith low mobility

[0424] The relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility is fulfilled when:

[0425] - (SrxlevRef - Srxlev) < SSearchDeltaP,

[0426] Where:

[0427] - Srxlev = current Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB).

[0428] - SrxlevRef = reference Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB), set as follows:

[0429] - After selecting or reselecting a new cell, or

[0430] - If (Srxlev - SrxlevRef) > 0, or

[0431] - If the relaxed measurement criterion has not been met for TSearchDeltaP:

[0432] - The UE shall set the value of SrxlevRef to the current Srxlev value of the serving cell.

[0433] Relaxed measurement criterion forUEnot at cell edge

[0434] The relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is fulfilled when:

[0435] - Srxlev > SSearchThresholdP, and,

[0436] - Squal > SSearchThresholdQ, if SSearchThresholdQ is configured,

[0437] Where:

[0438] - Srxlev = current Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB).

[0439] - Squal = current Squal value of the serving cell (dB).

[0440] Relaxed measurement criterion for a stationaryRedCapUE

[0441] The relaxed measurement criterion for a stationary RedCap UE is fulfilled when:

[0442] - (SrxlevRefStationary - Srxlev) < SSearchDeltaP-Stationary,

[0443] Where:

[0444] - Srxlev = current Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB).

[0445] - SrxlevRefStationary = reference Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB), set as follows:

[0446] - After selecting or reselecting a new cell, or

[0447] - If (Srxlev - SrxlevRefStationary) > 0, or

[0448] - If the relaxed measurement criterion has not been met for TSearchDeltaP-Stationary:

[0449] - The UE shall set the value of SrxlevRefStationary to the current Srxlev value of the serving cell.

[0450] Relaxed measurement criterion for a stationaryRedCapUEnot at cell edge

[0451] The relaxed measurement criterion for a stationary RedCap UE not at cell edge is fulfilled when:

[0452] - the relaxed measurement criterion for a stationary RedCap UE is fulfilled for a period of TSearchDeltaP-Stationary,

[0453] - Srxlev > SSearchThresholdP2, and,

[0454] - Squal > SSearchThresholdQ2, if SSearchThresholdQ2 is configured.

[0455] Where:

[0456] - Srxlev = current Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB).

[0457] - Squal = current Squal value of the serving cell (dB).

[0458] Hereinafter, technical features related to dual cell selection are described.

[0459] In multi-frequencies scenario, different UEs can camp on different cells operating on different frequencies. The network should transmit the paging information on all cells, i.e. on all frequency layers, so that all UEs can receive it from its serving cell. Generally, cells with different frequencies located in the same area belong to the same paging area. This means the network consumes the radio resources and its energy by transmitting the same paging information on multi-frequencies.

[0460] FIG. 10 shows an example of multi-frequencies scenario for paging.

[0461] If UEs are allowed to camp on only one of these cells, the network would only need to transmit the paging information from this cell, thereby saving radio resource and network energy. Then, however, all UEs would perform the random access on the same cell, and the RACH congestion would become severe.

[0462] UE selects a first cell among a first type of cells and a second cell among a second type of cells, performs the paging procedure on the first cell, and accesses to the second cell, if the RRC connection setup / resume is triggered.

[0463] The first type of cell is a cell which transmits paging information, e.g. paging message and / or paging DCI. If UE selects a first type of cell, the UE receives paging information from the cell.

[0464] The second type of cell is one where UE can establish / resume the RRC connection. If UE selects a second type of cell, the UE performs the RRC connection setup / resume, if triggered.

[0465] A single first type of cell can be associated with one or more second type of cells.

[0466] UE receives the information on the first type of cells and the second type of cells from network, e.g., via system information. The information may indicate which neighbor frequency is the first type of frequency or the second type of frequency, and / or which neighbor cell is the first type of cell or the second type of cell. If a frequency is indicated as the first type of frequency, all cells on the frequency is the first type of cell. If a frequency is indicated as the second type of frequency, all cells on the frequency is the second type of cell.

[0467] Paging cell (re-)selection

[0468] UE selects or reselects a cell, i.e. Paging cell, among the first type of cells. UE performs ranking of all the first type of cells that fulfil a radio condition, e.g. cell selection criterion S, and selects the highest ranked cell as a Paging cell.

[0469] Measurement for Paging cell selection

[0470] UE determines whether to perform measurements on the first type of neighbor cells / frequencies based on the measurement results of the Paging cell. For instance, if the measurement result of the Paging cell are lower than a first threshold which is configured by network, the UE performs measurements on the first type of neighbor cells / frequencies. If the measurement result of the Paging cell is higher than the first threshold, the UE does not perform measurements on the first type of neighbor cells / frequencies.

[0471] Access cell (re-)selection

[0472] UE selects / reselects a cell, i.e. Access cell, among the second type of cells.

[0473] For example, UE considers only the second type of cells as candidates for cell selection / reselection, and selects / re-selects an Access cell by performing the cell selection / reselection procedure.

[0474] Alternatively, UE performs ranking of all the second type of cells that fulfil a radio condition, e.g. cell selection criterion S, and selects the highest ranked cell as an Access cell.

[0475] The Access cell (re-)selection can be dependent of the Paging cell (re-)selection.

[0476] After (re-)selecting a Paging cell, the UE acquires an information on the second type of cells associated with the Paging cell, from network. Based on the information, the UE selects an Access cell among the second type of cells associated with the Paging cell.

[0477] For instance, UE considers only the second type of cells associated with the Paging cell as candidates for cell selection / reselection, and selects / re-selects an Access cell by performing the cell selection / reselection procedure.

[0478] Alternatively, UE performs ranking of all the second type of cells which is associated with the Paging cell and fulfil a radio condition, e.g. cell selection criterion S, and selects the highest ranked cell as an Access cell.

[0479] Alternatively, UE randomly selects a cell among the second type of cells associated with the Paging cell.

[0480] Measurement for Access cell selection

[0481] UE determines whether to perform measurements on the second type of cells / frequencies based on the measurement result of the Access cell.

[0482] For instance, if the measurement result of the Access cell is higher than a second threshold which is configured by network, the UE does not perform measurements on the second type of cells on the intra-frequency. If the measurement result of the Access cell are lower than the second threshold, the UE performs measurements on the second type of cells on the intra-frequency.

[0483] For the second type of inter-frequency with a reselection priority higher than the reselection priority of the frequency of the Access cell, the UE performs measurements regardless of the measurement result of the Access cell.

[0484] For the second type of inter-frequency with an equal or lower reselection priority than the reselection priority of the frequency of the Access cell, if the measurement result of the Access cell is higher than a third threshold which is configured by network, the UE does not perform measurements. If the measurement result of the Access cell are lower than the third threshold, the UE performs measurements.

[0485] Performing Random Access procedure

[0486] When the random access procedure is triggered, the UE selects a cell based on the reason that the random access procedure is initiated, and performs the random access on the selected cell.

[0487] If the Random Access is initiated to request system information from the Paging cell, the UE performs the Random Access procedure on the Paging cell. If the system information of the Paging cell is transmitted by another cell, i.e. SI cell, the UE can transmit MSG1 for SI request to the SI cell.

[0488] If Random Access is triggered for RRC connection setup / resume, the UE performs the Random Access procedure on the Access Cell.

[0489] System information acquisition

[0490] Option 1. SI acquisition only from the Paging cell

[0491] UE acquires the information required to perform the RRC connection setup / resume on the Access cell, e.g. random access configuration and / or information relevant when evaluating if a UE is allowed to access a cell, via system information of the Paging cell. In this option, the UE does not receive any system information from the Access cell. For instance, full or partial MIB and / or SIB1 of the Access cell can be transmitted via SIB x of the Paging cell.

[0492] Option 2. SI acquisition from both the Paging cell and the Access cell

[0493] UE can acquire the information required to perform the RRC connection setup / resume on the Access cell via system information of the Access cell. In this option, the UE should ensure having both valid system information of the Access cell, which is required to perform the RRC connection setup / resume on the Access cell, and valid system information of the Paging cell, which is required to receive paging from the Paging cell.

[0494] The paging information, e.g. short message or paging DCI, of the Paging cell indicates the change of system information of the second type of cells associated with the Paging cell. If an UE receives the system information change indication of the Access cell from the Paging cell, the UE tries to acquire the updated system information of the Access cell from the Access cell, if needed.

[0495] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show an example of a paging procedure based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0496] In FIG. 11, in a certain area, three cells, i.e. cell A, B, and C, are operated on different frequencies, i.e. frequency 1, 2, and 3. Among them, the paging information is transmitted only from cell A.

[0497] The UE A, B, and C acquires information that the cell A is the first type of cell and the cell A, B and C are the second type of cell. The UE A, B, and C select cell A as the Paging cell. The UE A, B, and C select Cell A, B, and C as the Access cell.

[0498] In FIG. 12, the UE A, B, and C receive the paging information from the cell A.

[0499] If RRC connection setup is triggered, UE A, B, and C perform the RRC connection setup on cell A, B, and C, respectively.

[0500] Meanwhile, in dual cell-based operation, e.g., in RRC_IDLE / INACTIVE, UE first selects a Paging cell among candidate Paging cells and then selects an Access cell among candidate Access cells associated with the selected Paging cell (scenario 2). Alternatively, UE first selects an Access cell among candidate Access cells and then selects a Paging cell among candidate Paging cells associated with the selected Access cell (scenario 1).

[0501] In scenario 2, although the Access cell can be selected only within the Access cells associated with the selected Paging cell, the UE may need to measure even neighbor Access cells which are not associated with the selected Paging cell (but associated with neighbor Paging cell) so that the UE can quickly select an Access cell among Access cells associated with the new serving Paging cell, when the Paging cell is changed.

[0502] However, considering that UE does not need to measure neighbor Access cells which are not associated with the selected Paging cell when the quality of the selected Paging cell is good enough and the Paging cell does not need to be changed, always measuring all neighbor Access cells is not necessary and is not desirable in terms of UE power consumption.

[0503] Therefore, studies for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection are required.

[0504] Hereinafter, a method for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described with reference to the following drawings.

[0505] The following drawings are created to explain specific embodiments of the present disclosure. The names of the specific devices or the names of the specific signals / messages / fields shown in the drawings are provided by way of example, and thus the technical features of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific names used in the following drawings. Herein, a wireless device may be referred to as a user equipment (UE).

[0506] FIG. 13 shows an example of a method for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0507] In particular, FIG. 13 shows an example of a method performed by a wireless device in a wireless communication system.

[0508] In step S1301, the wireless device may select a first type of serving cell among first type of cells.

[0509] In step S1302, the wireless device may select a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell.

[0510] For example, the first type of cells may be paging cells and the second type of cells may be access cells. For example, the wireless device may select a serving paging cell in step S1301. The wireless device may select a serving access cell among access cells associated with the selected serving paging cell, in step S1302,

[0511] For example, the first type of cells may be access cells and the second type of cells may be paging cells. For example, the wireless device may select a serving access cell in step S1301. The wireless device may select a serving paging cell among paging cells associated with the selected serving access cell, in step S1302,

[0512] In step S1303, the wireless device may perform measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0513] For example, the wireless device may derive measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0514] For example, the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell may include reference signal received power (RSRP) and / or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0515] In step S1304, the wireless device may determine whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0516] For example, the wireless device may determine to perform the relaxed measurements for second type of neighbor cells among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the second type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a first threshold. The wireless device may perform the relaxed measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0517] For example, the wireless device may determine to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a second threshold. In this case, the wireless device may perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and the wireless device may perform normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0518] For example, the wireless device may determine not to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are lower than a second threshold. In this case, the wireless device may perform normal measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0519] For example, the wireless device may determine to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that difference between the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and measurement results for first type of reference cell is larger than or equal to a third threshold. In this case, the wireless device may perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and the wireless device may perform normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0520] For example, the relaxed measurements may include (i) extending measurements period and / or (ii) no measurements. For example, the wireless device may perform relaxed measurements for at least one cell and / or at least one frequency by extending measurements period. For example, the wireless device may perform relaxed measurements for at least one cell and / or at least one frequency by not performing measurements.

[0521] For example, when the measurement results for the second type of serving cell are lower than a first threshold, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a second threshold, the wireless device may determine to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells. In this case, the wireless device may perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and the wireless device may perform normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0522] For example, when the measurement results for the second type of serving cell are lower than a first threshold, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are lower than a second threshold, the wireless device may determine not to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells. In this case, the wireless device may perform normal measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0523] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wireless device may be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.

[0524] Hereinafter, technical features related to measurement relaxation in dual cell based operation are described.

[0525] UE relaxes measurements on the second type of cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell depending on the measurement results of the first type of serving cell.

[0526] In scenario 1, the first type of cell and the second type of cell is Access cell and Paging cell, respectively. That is, UE relaxed measurements on the neighbor Paging cells which are not associated with the serving Access cell depending on the measurement results of the serving Access cell.

[0527] In scenario 2, the first type of cell and the second type of cell is Paging cell and Access cell, respectively. That is, UE relaxed measurements on the neighbor Access cells which are not associated with the serving Paging cell depending on the measurement results of the serving Paging cell.

[0528] The first type of cell is either Paging cell or Access cell. The second type of cell is either Paging cell or Access cell. If the first type of cell is Paging cell, then the second type of cell is the Access cell. If the first type of cell is the Access cell, then the second type of cell is the Paging cell.

[0529] UE selects a first type of cell as a first type of serving cell. Other first type of cells except first type of serving cell are first type of neighbor cell.

[0530] UE selects a second type of cell as a second type of serving cell. Other second type of cells except second type of serving cell are second type of neighbor cell.

[0531] UE receives the paging information from the Paging serving cell.

[0532] UE performs the Random Access on the Access serving cell, if the Random Access is triggered for RRC connection setup / resume.

[0533] Absolute quality-based measurement relaxation

[0534] If the quality of the first type of serving cell, e.g. RSRP or RSRQ measurement results of the first type of serving cell, is higher than a first threshold, the UE relaxes measurements on second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0535] If the quality of the first type of serving cell are lower than a second threshold, the UE does not relax measurements on second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell, for example, performs normal measurement on those cells.

[0536] UE performs normal measurements on second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell, regardless of the quality of the first type of serving cell.

[0537] FIG. 14 shows an example of a scenario for measurement relaxation in dual cell based operation.

[0538] For example, the first type of serving cell is associated not only with the second type of serving cell but also with second type of neighbor cell1 and 2, as shown in FIG. 14. The first type of neighbor cell is associated with the second type of neighbor cell 3, 4, and 5.

[0539] FIG. 15 shows an example of a scenario for serving cell quality in dual cell based operation.

[0540] When the quality of the first type of serving cell, e.g. RSRP or RSRQ measurement results of the first type of serving cell, is higher than the threshold A (for example, from T0 to T1 in FIG. 15), UE relaxes measurements on the second type of neighbor cell 3, 4, and 5.

[0541] When the quality of the first type of serving cell, e.g. RSRP or RSRQ measurement results of the first type of serving cell, are lower than the threshold A (for example, from T1 in FIG. 15), UE does not relax measurements on the second type of neighbor cell 3, 4, and 5, and performs normal measurements.

[0542] UE performs the normal measurements on the second type of neighbor cell 1 and 2, regardless of the quality of the first type of serving cell (for example, from T0 in FIG. 15).

[0543] Relative quality-based measurement relaxation

[0544] If the quality difference between the first type of serving cell and a first type of reference cell is larger than a third threshold, the UE relaxes measurements on second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell. The first type of reference cell may be a highest ranked cell on inter- / intra-frequency.

[0545] If the quality difference between the first type of serving cell and a first type of reference cell is smaller than a fourth threshold, the UE does not relax measurements on second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell, for example, performs normal measurements on those cells.

[0546] UE performs normal measurements on second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell, regardless of the quality of the first type of serving cell.

[0547] For example, the first type of serving cell is associated not only with the second type of serving cell but also with second type of neighbor cell1 and 2, as shown in FIG. 14. The first type of neighbor cell is associated with the second type of neighbor cell 3, 4, and 5.

[0548] FIG. 16 shows an example of a scenario for serving cell quality and neighbor cell quality in dual cell based operation.

[0549] When the quality difference between the first type of serving cell and the first type of neighbor cell is larger than the threshold A (for example, from T0 to T1 in FIG. 16), UE relaxes measurements on the second type of neighbor cell 3, 4, and 5.

[0550] When the quality difference between the first type of serving cell and the first type of neighbor cell is smaller than the threshold A (for example, from T1 in FIG. 16), UE does not relax measurements on the second type of neighbor cell 3, 4, and 5, and performs normal measurements.

[0551] UE performs the normal measurements on the second type of neighbor cell 1 and 2, regardless of the quality of the first type of serving cell (for example, from T0 in FIG. 16).

[0552] Measurement relaxation

[0553] 1) If a UE relaxes measurements on a cell / frequency, this means the UE measures the cell / frequency using a relaxed measurement requirement, e.g. longer measurement period.

[0554] 2) If a UE relaxes measurements on a cell / frequency, this means the UE does not measure the cell / frequency.

[0555] Association between the first type of cell and the second type of cell

[0556] In dual cell-based operation, UE first selects a first type of cell and acquires information on second type of cell associated with the selected first type of cell. After the first type of cell selection, the UE selects a second type of cell among the second type of cells associated with the selected first type of cell. The selected first type of cell, for example, first type of serving cell, may provide configuration for the associated second type of cells. When the configuration of the selected second type of cell, for example, second type of serving cell, is updated, UE can it from the selected first type of cell.

[0557] In scenario 1, the first type of cell and the second type of cell is Access cell and Paging cell, respectively. That is, UE first selects an Access cell and then, acquires Paging cell list and configuration for listed Paging cells from the selected Access cell. The UE selects a Paging cell among the listed Paging cells.

[0558] In scenario 2, the first type of cell and the second type of cell is Paging cell and Access cell, respectively. That is, UE first selects a Paging cell and then, acquires Access cell list and configuration for listed Access cells from the selected Paging cell. The UE selects an Access cell among the listed Access cells.

[0559] Measurement relaxation based on the quality of the first type of serving cell and the second type of serving cell

[0560] UE relaxes measurements on all the second type of neighbor cells based on the quality of the second type of serving cell. For instance, UE relaxes measurements on all the second type of neighbor cells, if the quality of the second type of serving cell is higher than threshold 1 (because the second type of serving cell does not need to be change to a better second type of cell.).

[0561] If the quality of the second type of serving cell are lower than threshold 1, the UE determines whether to relax measurements on the second type of neighbor cells not associated with the first type of serving cell, based on the quality of the first type of serving cell. For instance, if the quality of the first type of serving cell is higher than threshold 2, the UE relaxes measurements on the second type of neighbor cells not associated with the first type of serving cell (because the first type of serving cell does not need to be change to a better first type of cell.). the UE performs normal measurements on the second type of neighbor cells associated with the first type of serving cell (because the second type of serving cell may need to be changed to a better one.).

[0562] If the quality of the second type of serving cell are lower than threshold 1 and the quality of the first type of serving cell are lower than threshold 2, the UE performs normal measurements on all the second type of neighbor cells.

[0563] For the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cellFor the second type of cells not associated with the first type of serving cellThe quality of the second type of serving cell > threshold 1Performing relaxed (or no) measurementsPerforming relaxed (or no) measurementsThe quality of the second type of serving cell < threshold 1, andThe quality of the first type of serving cell > threshold 2Performing normal measurementsPerforming relaxed (or no) measurementsThe quality of the second type of serving cell < threshold 1, andThe quality of the first type of serving cell < threshold 2Performing normal measurementsPerforming normal measurements

[0564] FIG. 17 shows an example of a method for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection.

[0565] In particular, FIG. 17 shows an example of a method performed by a wireless device in a wireless communication system.

[0566] In step S1701, the wireless device may select a first type of serving cell among the first type of cells.

[0567] For example, the first type of cell is either Paging cell or Access cell.

[0568] In step S1702, the wireless device may receive information on the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0569] For example, the second type of cell is either Access cell or Paging cell.

[0570] In step S1703, the wireless device may perform measurements on the first type of serving cell.

[0571] In step S1704, the wireless device may perform measurements on the second type of cells not associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0572] In step S1705, the wireless device may determine, based on the measurement result of the first type of serving cell, whether to perform measurements on the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0573] In step S1706, the wireless device may perform measurements on the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell based on the determination.

[0574] In step S1707, the wireless device may select a second type of serving cell among the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell based on the measurements.

[0575] Some of the detailed steps shown in the examples of FIGS. 13 - 17 may not be essential steps and may be omitted. In addition to the steps shown in FIGS. 13 - 17, other steps may be added, and the order of the steps may vary. Some of the above steps may have their own technical meaning.

[0576] Hereinafter, an apparatus for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described. Herein, the apparatus may be a wireless device (100 or 200) in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 10.

[0577] For example, a wireless device may perform methods described above. The detailed description overlapping with the above-described contents could be simplified or omitted.

[0578] Referring to FIG. 5, a wireless device 100 may include a processor 102, a memory 104, and a transceiver 106.

[0579] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor 102 may be configured to be coupled operably with the memory 104 and the transceiver 106.

[0580] For example, the wireless device may include at least one transceiver, at least one processor, and at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, perform operations.

[0581] The operations comprise: selecting a first type of serving cell among first type of cells; selecting a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell; performing measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; and determining whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0582] For example, the first type of cells are paging cells and the second type of cells are access cells.

[0583] For example, the first type of cells are access cells and the second type of cells are paging cells.

[0584] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for second type of neighbor cells among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the second type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a first threshold.

[0585] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0586] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a second threshold.

[0587] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and performing normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0588] For example, the operations further comprise: determining not to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are lower than a second threshold.

[0589] For example, the operations further comprise: performing normal measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0590] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that difference between the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and measurement results for first type of reference cell is larger than or equal to a third threshold.

[0591] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and performing normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0592] For example, the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell includes reference signal received power (RSRP) and / or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0593] For example, the relaxed measurements includes (i) extending measurements period and / or (ii) no measurements.

[0594] For example, the processor may be adapted to be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.

[0595] Hereinafter, a processor for a wireless device for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described.

[0596] The processor may be adapted to control the wireless device to perform operations.

[0597] The operations comprise: selecting a first type of serving cell among first type of cells; selecting a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell; performing measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; and determining whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0598] For example, the first type of cells are paging cells and the second type of cells are access cells.

[0599] For example, the first type of cells are access cells and the second type of cells are paging cells.

[0600] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for second type of neighbor cells among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the second type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a first threshold.

[0601] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0602] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a second threshold.

[0603] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and performing normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0604] For example, the operations further comprise: determining not to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are lower than a second threshold.

[0605] For example, the operations further comprise: performing normal measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0606] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that difference between the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and measurement results for first type of reference cell is larger than or equal to a third threshold.

[0607] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and performing normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0608] For example, the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell includes reference signal received power (RSRP) and / or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0609] For example, the relaxed measurements includes (i) extending measurements period and / or (ii) no measurements.

[0610] For example, the processor may be adapted to control the wireless device to be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.

[0611] Hereinafter, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has stored thereon a plurality of instructions for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described.

[0612] According to some embodiment of the present disclosure, the technical features of the present disclosure could be embodied directly in hardware, in a software executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. For example, a method performed by a wireless device in a wireless communication may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, a software may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other storage medium.

[0613] Some example of storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. For another example, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components.

[0614] The computer-readable medium may include a tangible and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0615] For example, non-transitory computer-readable media may include random access memory (RAM) such as synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), FLASH memory, magnetic or optical data storage media, or any other medium that can be used to store instructions or data structures. Non-transitory computer-readable media may also include combinations of the above.

[0616] In addition, the method described herein may be realized at least in part by a computer-readable communication medium that carries or communicates code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed, read, and / or executed by a computer.

[0617] According to some embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has stored thereon a plurality of instructions. The stored a plurality of instructions may be executed by a processor of a wireless device. The stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to perform operations.

[0618] The operations comprise: selecting a first type of serving cell among first type of cells; selecting a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell; performing measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; and determining whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0619] For example, the first type of cells are paging cells and the second type of cells are access cells.

[0620] For example, the first type of cells are access cells and the second type of cells are paging cells.

[0621] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for second type of neighbor cells among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the second type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a first threshold.

[0622] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0623] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a second threshold.

[0624] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and performing normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0625] For example, the operations further comprise: determining not to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are lower than a second threshold.

[0626] For example, the operations further comprise: performing normal measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0627] For example, the operations further comprise: determining to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that difference between the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and measurement results for first type of reference cell is larger than or equal to a third threshold.

[0628] For example, the operations further comprise: performing the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; and performing normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.

[0629] For example, the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell includes reference signal received power (RSRP) and / or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0630] For example, the relaxed measurements includes (i) extending measurements period and / or (ii) no measurements.

[0631] For example, the stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.

[0632] Hereinafter, a method performed by a base station (BS) for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described.

[0633] The method comprises: providing, by a base station to a wireless device, a first configuration including information related to a first type of cells and information related to a second type of cells, wherein the wireless device selects a first type of serving cell among the first type of cells; and providing, by the base station to the wireless device, a second configuration including information related to a second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell, wherein the wireless device selects a second type of serving cell among the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell, wherein the wireless device performs measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; and wherein the wireless device determines whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0634] Hereinafter, a base station (BS) for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described.

[0635] The BS may include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory.

[0636] The processor may be adapted to control the transceiver to provide, to a wireless device, a first configuration including information related to a first type of cells and information related to a second type of cells, wherein the wireless device selects a first type of serving cell among the first type of cells. The processor may be adapted to control the transceiver to provide, to the wireless device, a second configuration including information related to a second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell, wherein the wireless device selects a second type of serving cell among the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell, wherein the wireless device performs measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; and wherein the wireless device determines whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

[0637] The present disclosure can have various advantageous effects.

[0638] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wireless device could efficiently perform relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection.

[0639] For example, once a Paging cell is selected, a wireless device can save its power by relaxing / skipping measurements on all neighbor Access cells not associated with the selected Paging cell.

[0640] For example, once an Access cell is selected, a wireless device can save its power by relaxing / skipping measurements on all neighbor Paging cells not associated with the selected Access cell.

[0641] For example, by performing relaxed measurements for neighbor access cells or neighbor paging cells, the wireless device can save resources.

[0642] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wireless communication system could provide an efficient solution for relaxed measurements based on dual cell selection.

[0643] Advantageous effects which can be obtained through specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the advantageous effects listed above. For example, there may be a variety of technical effects that a person having ordinary skill in the related art can understand and / or derive from the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specific effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those explicitly described herein, but may include various effects that may be understood or derived from the technical features of the present disclosure.

[0644] Claims in the present disclosure can be combined in a various way. For instance, technical features in method claims of the present disclosure can be combined to be implemented or performed in an apparatus, and technical features in apparatus claims can be combined to be implemented or performed in a method. Further, technical features in method claim(s) and apparatus claim(s) can be combined to be implemented or performed in an apparatus. Further, technical features in method claim(s) and apparatus claim(s) can be combined to be implemented or performed in a method. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

A method, comprising:selecting, by a wireless device, a first type of serving cell among first type of cells;selecting, by the wireless device, a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell;performing, by the wireless device, measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; anddetermining, by the wireless device, whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.The method of claim 1,wherein the first type of cells are paging cells and the second type of cells are access cells.The method of claim 1,wherein the first type of cells are access cells and the second type of cells are paging cells.The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprising:determining, by the wireless device, to perform the relaxed measurements for second type of neighbor cells among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the second type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a first threshold.The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprising:performing, by the wireless device, the relaxed measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprising:determining, by the wireless device, to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a second threshold.The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprising:performing, by the wireless device, the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; andperforming, by the wireless device, normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprising:determining, by the wireless device, not to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are lower than a second threshold.The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprising:performing, by the wireless device, normal measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprising:determining, by the wireless device, to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that difference between the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and measurement results for first type of reference cell is larger than or equal to a third threshold.The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprising:performing, by the wireless device, the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; andperforming, by the wireless device, normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.The method of claim 1,wherein the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell includes reference signal received power (RSRP) and / or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.The method of claim 1,wherein the relaxed measurements includes (i) extending measurements period and / or (ii) no measurements.The method of claim 1,wherein the wireless device is in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.A wireless device, comprising:at least one transceiver;at least one processor; andat least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, perform operations comprising:selecting a first type of serving cell among first type of cells;selecting a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell;performing measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; anddetermining whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.The wireless device of claim 15,wherein the first type of cells are paging cells and the second type of cells are access cells.The wireless device of claim 15,wherein the first type of cells are access cells and the second type of cells are paging cells.The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprising:determining to perform the relaxed measurements for second type of neighbor cells among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the second type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a first threshold.The wireless device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprising:performing the relaxed measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprising:determining to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are higher than or equal to a second threshold.The wireless device of claim 20, wherein the operations further comprising:performing the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; andperforming normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprising:determining not to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that the measurement results for the first type of serving cell are lower than a second threshold.The wireless device of claim 22, wherein the operations further comprising:performing normal measurements for (i) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell and (ii) the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprising:determining to perform the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of cell among the second type of cells, based on that difference between the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and measurement results for first type of reference cell is larger than or equal to a third threshold.The wireless device of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprising:performing the relaxed measurements for the at least one second type of neighbor cells which are not associated with the first type of serving cell; andperforming normal measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cells which are associated with the first type of serving cell.The wireless device of claim 15,wherein the measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell includes reference signal received power (RSRP) and / or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.The wireless device of claim 15,wherein the relaxed measurements includes (i) extending measurements period and / or (ii) no measurements.The wireless device of claim 15,wherein the wireless device is in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.A processor for a wireless device in a wireless communication system, wherein the processor is adapted to control the wireless device to perform operations comprising:selecting a first type of serving cell among first type of cells;selecting a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell;performing measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; anddetermining whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a wireless device, cause the wireless device to perform operations, the operations comprising,selecting a first type of serving cell among first type of cells;selecting a second type of serving cell among second type of cells related to the first type of serving cell;performing measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; anddetermining whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.A method, the method comprising,providing, by a base station to a wireless device, a first configuration including information related to a first type of cells,wherein the wireless device selects a first type of serving cell among the first type of cells; andproviding, by the base station to the wireless device, a second configuration including information related to a second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell,wherein the wireless device selects a second type of serving cell among the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell,wherein the wireless device performs measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; andwherein the wireless device determines whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.A base station, comprising:a transceiver;a memory; andat least one processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, and adapted to perform operations, the operations comprising:providing, to a wireless device, a first configuration including information related to a first type of cells,wherein the wireless device selects a first type of serving cell among the first type of cells; andproviding, to the wireless device, a second configuration including information related to a second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell,wherein the wireless device selects a second type of serving cell among the second type of cells associated with the first type of serving cell,wherein the wireless device performs measurements for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell; andwherein the wireless device determines whether to perform relaxed measurements for at least one second type of neighbor cell among second type of cells, based on measurement results for the first type of serving cell and / or the second type of serving cell.

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