Signal measurements

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a solution for signal measurements. In an aspect, a terminal device detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. The terminal device also filters the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device also adjusts which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device also transmits to a network device, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured. The terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

Description

SIGNAL MEASUREMENTSFIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments relate to the field of communication and in particular, to devices, methods, apparatuses, and a computer-readable storage medium for signal measurements.BACKGROUND

[0002] A communication network can be seen as a facility that enables communications between two or more communication devices, or provides communication devices access to a data network. A mobile or wireless communication network is one example of a communication network.

[0003] Such communication networks operate in accordance with standards, such as those promulgated by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Examples of such standards include the so-called 5G (5th Generation) standard or other standards promulgated by 3GPP.SUMMARY

[0004] In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for signal measurements, especially, for a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell measurements for periodicity extension of signal suitable for measurement, such as synchronization signal / PBCH (SSB), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), etc.

[0005] In a first aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to detect one or more signals suitable for measurement. The terminal device is also caused to filter the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device is also caused to adjust which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The term “suitable for measurements” means it can be detected. That is then in the method filtered to a subset in the next period.

[0006] In a second aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to transmit to the terminal device, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. “A new signalsuitable for measurement detection procedure” is a new signal for measurement detection procedure.

[0007] In a third aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a terminal device. The method comprises detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The method also comprises filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The method also comprises adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0008] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a network device. The method comprises transmitting to the terminal device, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0009] In a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The apparatus also comprises means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0010] In a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for transmitting to the terminal device, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0011] In a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of the above third or fourth aspect.

[0012] In an eighth aspect, there is provided a circuit. The circuit is configured to perform the method of the obove third or fourth aspect.In a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer program product. The computer program product tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium and comprises computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause an apparatus to perform the method of the above third or fourth aspect.

[0013] In a tenth aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to detect one or more signals suitable for measurement. The terminal device is also caused to filter the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device is also caused to adjust which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) IDLE mode.

[0014] In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to transmit to a terminal device in RRC IDLE mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0015] In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a terminal device. The method comprises detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The method also comprises filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The method also comprises adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) IDLE mode.

[0016] In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a network device. The method comprises transmitting to a terminal device in RRC IDLE mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0017] In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The apparatus also comprises means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus is in a radio resource control (RRC) IDLE mode.

[0018] In a fifteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for transmitting to a terminal device in RRC IDLE mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0019] In a sixteenth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of the above twelfth or thirteenth aspect.

[0020] In a seventeenth aspect, there is provided a circuit. The circuit is configured to perform the method of the obove twelfth or thirteen aspect.

[0021] In an eignteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product. The computer program product tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium and comprises computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause an apparatus to perform the method of the above twelfth or thirteen aspect.

[0022] In a ninteenth aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to detect one or more signals suitable for measurement. The terminal device is also caused to filter the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device is also caused to adjust which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device is also caused to transmit to the network device, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured. The terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

[0023] In a twentieth aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to transmit to a terminal device in RRC CONNECTED mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0024] In a twenty first aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a terminal device. The method comprises detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The method also comprises filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The method also comprises adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The method also comprises transmitting to the network device, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured. The terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

[0025] In a twenty second aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a network device. The method comprises transmitting to a terminal device in RRC CONNECTED mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0026] In a twenty third aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The apparatus also comprises means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the network device, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured. The apparatus is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

[0027] In a twenty fourth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for transmitting to a terminal device in RRC CONNECTED mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0028] In a twenty fifth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of the above twenty first or twenty second aspect.

[0029] In a twenty sixty aspect, there is provided a circuit. The circuit is configured to perform the method of the obove twenty first or twenty second aspect.

[0030] In an twenty seventh aspect, there is provided a computer program product. The computer program product tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium and comprises computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause an apparatus to perform the method of the above twenty first or twenty second aspect.

[0031] In a twenty eighth aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to detect one or more signals suitable for measurement. The terminal device is also caused to filter the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device is also caused to skip a subset of signal suitable for measurement-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC) windows and associated measurements based on past measurements and a preconfigured filtering configuration. The past measurements comprise full measurements of signals suitable for measurement.

[0032] In a twenty ninth aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to transmit to a terminal device, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. The terminal device is in RRC CONNECTED mode or RRC IDLE mode.

[0033] In a thirtieth aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a terminal device. The method comprises detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The method also comprises filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The method also comprises skipping a subset of signal suitable for measurement-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC) windows and associated measurements based on past measurements and a pre-configured filtering configuration. The past measurements comprise fullmeasurements of signals suitable for measurement.

[0034] In a thirty first aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a network device. The method comprises transmitting to a terminal, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. The terminal device is in RRC CONNECTED mode or RRC IDLE mode.

[0035] In a thirty second aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The apparatus also comprises means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for skipping a subset of signal suitable for measurement-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC) windows and associated measurements based on past measurements and a pre-configured filtering configuration. The past measurements comprise full measurements of signals suitable for measurement.

[0036] In a thirty third aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for transmitting to a terminal device, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. The terminal device is in RRC CONNECTED mode or RRC IDLE mode.

[0037] In a thirty fourth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of the above thirty or thirty first aspect.

[0038] In a thirty fifty aspect, there is provided a circuit. The circuit is configured to perform the method of the obove twenty first or twenty second aspect.

[0039] In an thirty sixth aspect, there is provided a computer program product. The computer program product tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium and comprises computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause an apparatus to perform the method of the above twenty first or twenty second aspect.

[0040] It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] Fig. 1 illustrates an example communication system in which embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be implemented;

[0043] Fig. 2 illustrates SSBs transmissions belonging to different beams of the same cell related to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0044] Fig. 3 illustrates measurement windows periodicities for two different configurations related to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0045] Fig. 4 illustrates a terminal device located in a serving cell surrounded by neighbor cells under the same satellite related to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0046] Fig. 5 illustrates cells that the terminal device in Fig. 3 can actually detect after performing cell measurements;

[0047] Fig. 6 illustrates SMTC windows for TN and NTN;

[0048] Fig. 7A illustrates a signaling flowchart according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, illustrating NTN cell measurements for SSB periodicity extension;

[0049] Fig. 7B illustrates a signaling flowchart according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, illustrating NTN cell measurements for SSB periodicity extension;

[0050] Fig. 7C illustrates a signaling flowchart according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, illustrating NTN cell measurements for SSB periodicity extension;

[0051] Fig. 7D illustrates a signaling flowchart according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, illustrating NTN cell measurements for SSB periodicity extension;

[0052] Fig. 8 illustrates terminal device-based SSB detection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0053] Fig. 9 illustrates SMTC scanning outcome based on terminal device-based SSB detection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0054] Fig. 10 illustrates SMTC window length reconfiguration based on terminal device-based SSB detection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0055] Fig. 11 illustrates the terminal device re-evaluating the SMTC window length based on a full scan of all available cells according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0056] Fig. 12 illustrates the terminal device in IDLE mode skipping SMTC occasions based on detectability of previous measurements according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0057] Fig. 13 illustrates the terminal device in CONNECTED mode skipping SMTC occasions based on detectability of previous measurements and reporting configuration adjustments to the network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0058] Fig. 14 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0059] Fig. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0060] Fig. 16 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0061] Fig. 17 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0062] Fig. 18 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0063] Fig. 19 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0064] Fig. 20 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0065] Fig. 21 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0066] Fig. 22 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0067] Fig. 23 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0068] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] The principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0070] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of the ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0071] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0072] It shall be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0073] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof. As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0074] As used in the present disclosure, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be presentwhen it is not needed for operation.

[0075] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in the present disclosure, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in the present disclosure, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example, and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0076] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as long term evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), narrow band internet of things (NB- loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5G advanced, or the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0077] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology.

[0078] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehiclemounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE),laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0079] Fig. 1 illustrates an example communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In the communication system 100, a terminal device 110 can communicate with a network device 110 in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) with a link 115. The network device 110 can be a gNB on a satellite. The network device 110 can also be a gNB on the ground, and the satellite acts as a relay node. The network device 105 can have multiple cells with reference singals such as SSBs. There may be multiple network devices in communication system 100.

[0080] In the non-terrestrial network (NTN) for new radio (NR) phase 3, work item is the study of downlink coverage enhancements (RP-241789). The main topic of interest for RAN2 is the SSB period extension to achieve full service coverage within a satellite with limited amount of energy to support simultaneously activity of all satellite beams.

[0081] 5G NR has introduced cell signal measurement by using SS / PBCH Block (SSB). The maximum number of SSB in one burst depend on the operating frequency. If the operating frequency (fc) is < 3GHz (FR1 ) the number of SSB is 4. For fc = 3GHz to 6 GHz (FR1 ), the number of SSB is 8, and for fc >6 GHz mm-wave, the number of SSB is up to 64 within one burst.

[0082] Fig. 2 illustrates SSBs transmissions belonging to different beams of the same cell related to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0083] In scenario 200, for the NR cell “A” 215 such as from the network device 105, in scenario 210, there are 4 beams SB#0, SB#1 , SB#2, SB#3 in the SS burst set 220. For the NR cell “B” 235 such as from the network device 105, in scenario 230, there are 8 beams SB#0, SB#1 , , SB#7 in the SS burst set 240. The SSB periodicity can be configured for each cell in the range of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 or 160 ms. However, a mobile device such as the terminal device 110 does not need to measure the cell reference signal with the same periodicity as the SSB and the appropriate measurement periodicity can be configured according to the channel condition, terminal device mobility state etc. This is desirable and can help to avoid unnecessary measurements and reduce the energy consumption on the terminal device 110.

[0084] According to measurement gaps and SMTC window configuration, for measuring neighbour cells, the 3rdgeneration partnership project (3GPP) introduced SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration window (called SMTC window) to notify the terminal device 110 regardingthe measurement periodicity and timings of SSBs that the terminal device 110 can use for measurements. This window may be contained within a measurement gap and the network device 105 configures the gap length and the SMTC window based on the SSB periodicity. The measurement gap may be needed when the terminal device 110 is unable to transmit / receive on the serving cell and perform neighbor cell measurements at the same time, e.g. in case the neighbor cell is operating a different frequency than the serving cell. Measurement gaps might also be needed when the serving cell is operating in a different satellite than the neighbor cell to be measured in the context of non-terrestrial networks.

[0085] The measurement gaps are thus time opportunities for the terminal device 110 to perform measurements on neighbor cells, when such measurements cannot be performed simultaneously with the terminal device 110 operation (for example, some terminal devices cannot measure inter-frequency layers, while monitoring the current serving DL frequency layer and a measurement gap is needed). The measurement gaps, as well as the SMTC windows, are configured by the network device 105 via RRC signaling. They are configured such that they do not overlap with the terminal device’s scheduled data (i.e., the “gap” represents a configured interruption in the terminal device activities on UL and DL towards / from the serving cell).

[0086] Measurement gaps are periodic and a single terminal device can be configured with multiple gaps. A measurement gap configuration contains, among others, the following elements:Measurement Gap Repetition Period (MGRP): specifies the gap period (e.g., 20, 40, 80, or 160 ms). Gap Offset: specifies when the gap starts with respect the start of the subframe.Measurement Gap Length (MGL): specifies the duration of the gap in milliseconds.

[0087] Fig. 3 illustrates measurement windows periodicities for two different configurations related to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0088] In scenario 300, the SMTC window can be configured with a periodicity (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 ms), a window duration (1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5 ms) and an offset (from which the measurement activity starts). The SMTC configuration depends on the configuration of the SSBs transmitted by the cells to be measured. For the NR cell “A” 315, there is a SS burst set 320 comprising 4 beams, which is measured with detection window 330, with the window duration 330, and the window periodicity 325 configured in the SMTC. For the NR cell “B” 345, there is a SS burst set 350 comprising 8 beams, which is measured with the detection window 360, with the window duration 365, and the window periodicity 355 configured in the SMTC. The window duration 330 can be different with the window duration 365, and the window periodicity 325 can be different with the window periodicity 355. When configured with the SMTC, the terminal device 110 performs the measurements of the neighbor cells within the configured window, and typically is only required to attempt to detect and measure SSBs within that window.

[0089] It can be understood that for NTN the number of beams and SSBs per cell is typically one, but one cell may carry up to 4 or 8 beams, and use the NR SSB-based beam framework for providing control of different satellite beams. In some embodiments, it can be one beam per cell. Furthermore, there is an NTN specific SMTC list SSB-MTC4List-r17, which can contain up to 3 SMTC configurations: (TS 38.331). This was standardized to enable the terminal device 110 to measure SSBs of cells from different satellites.

[0090] According to current radio access network (RAN) progress, when discussing increasing the SSB periodicity enhancements, it is firstly relevant to determine how long the maximum duration should be. From latest RAN1 agreements (from RAN1 #118), the following was captured as an agreement.

[0091] As part of the NTN DL coverage enhancements at both system level and link level, RAN1 to consider:

[0092] -Extending the periodicity of the half frames with SS / PBCH blocks assumed by UE during initial access.

[0093] o Default value[s] with extended periodicity assumed by NTN UE for initial access can be:

[0094] • One [or more] values from the list {40ms, 80 ms, 160 ms, 320ms, 640ms}

[0095] -Potential enhancements for transmitting the DL common channels using a wider beam footprint, while DL / UL dedicated channels (incl. PRACH) may be transmitted using a narrower beam footprint

[0096] -Link-level enhancements for the following channels:

[0097] - PDCCH

[0098] - PDSCH with Msg 4

[0099] - PDSCH with SIB1 / SIB19.

[0100] - Note: link-level enhancements for PDSCH with SIB1 / SIB19 may be applicable to other SIBs, without additional specification impact.

[0101] - Note: the above does not imply that all the channels above will be enhanced, but all of them should be considered based on this agreement.

[0102] As can be seen from this agreement, a relatively large set of candidate values for SSB periodicity extension are considered. Further, it is to be noted that if or when SSB periodicity extension happens, one or more of the candidate values may be chosen.

[0103] When configuring the SSB periodicity within the cells, an obvious solution would be to align all the SSBs in time with the serving cell. However, given the fact that all cells, neighbor cells, and neighbors neighbor cells for the mega-satellite scenario are mostly covered by the same satellite with the same limited amount of energy, such configuration is far from trivial or even possible. Furthermore, it may result in thetime-distance between the SSB of a cell and the active period of said cell could become so long that the synchronization obtained based on the SSB reception is not practically usable when receiving and transmitting during the active period. Concern for multiple satellites was first brought up in R1 -2401937. For DL coverage study, consider the following additional reference satellite parameters scenarios for LEO600km Set1 in FR1 (i.e., S-band), referred to as Set1 -1 FR1, Set1 -2 FR1 and Set1 -3 FR1. With each set mentioning either

[0104] - 1058 beam footprints with 106 simultaneous beams on.

[0105] - 1058 beam footprints with 16 simultaneous beams on.

[0106] One issue is, that the terminal device 110 does not know where cells are located relative to its own location, and thus neighbor cell SSB configuration still requires the terminal device 110 to wake up and measure for all configured neighbor cell measurements.

[0107] An example of this can be seen in Fig. 4. In the scenario 400, the terminal device 440 can be an implementation of the terminal device 110 in Fig. 1 , and the cells #0-#6 are created by the network device 105 in Fig. 1 , such as the gNB and the satellite. The terminal device 440 is located at the top-right location of the serving cell (i.e., cell #0 (405)). At this location, the terminal device 440 may require to only measure neighbour cells #1 (410) and #2 (415), however, since the network device 105 is not aware of location of the terminal device 440, it has to configure the terminal device 440 to measure all the potential neighbour cells (in this case up to 6 cells). Such sub-optimal configuration leads to larger signalling overhead and an increase of the UE energy consumption, because the terminal device 440 will monitor in vain for SSBs from the faraway cells (e.g. cell #4 (425) and #5 (430) - and potentially cell #3 (420) and #6 (435) for this case).

[0108] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the term “SSB offset” is used to describe the time difference considering the serving cell and the reference cell.

[0109] Considering the scenario 400 using 640 ms SSB periodicity as a reference, where serving cell 0 (405) is the first to be deployed, it may be possible to configure the SSBs of all cells #0 (405) -#6 (435) in an optimal manner either for SMTC grouping or multiple SMTC windows. But since all cells are restricted by the same satellite, suddenly neighbors to i.e. cell #1 (410) cannot be easily configured in a similar way of #0 (405) -#6 (435), as cell #2 (415), #0 (405), and #6 (435) are fixed neighbors.

[0110] Fig. 5 illustrates cells that the terminal device in Fig. 3 can actually detect after performing cell measurements.

[0111] In the scenario 500, RSRPs 505, 510, , 535 corresponding to signals suitable for measurement such as SSBs of different cells are received by the terminal device 110. The RSRPs 505, 510, and 515 are above the detectability threshold 540, which correspond to cells #0 (405), #1 (415), and #2 (415) respectively.

[0112] Fig. 6 illustrates the use of SMTC windows in terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. In theterrestrial network scenario 610, the SSB periodicity is in the legacy range (5-160 ms) and the SSB transmissions 615, 617 of cell A, SSB transmissions 620, 622 of cell B, and SSB transmissions 625, 627 may be aligned across cells such that the terminal device 110 can measure cells A, B, and C using a single SMTC window. For example, the terminal device 110 can detect SSB transmission 615, 620, and 625 with the same SMTC window 632, and the terminal device 110 can detect SSB transmission 617, 622, and 627 with the same SMTC window 635. The SMTC periodicity 637 is the interval between the SMTC windows 632 and 635. In the envisioned NTN case, the SSB periodicity is longer and there is a cell-specific offset (phase) among the SSB transmissions 647, 647 of cell A, the SSB transmissions 650, 652 of cell B, and the SSB transmissions 655, 657 of cell C, such that terminal device 110 such as the satellite (hosting cells A, B, and C) can perform beam hopping. The challenge is that the terminal device 110 may need a SMTC window per cell. Such as, the terminal device 110 needs to detect the SSB transmissions 645, 650, 655, 647, 652, and 657 with SMTC windows 662, 665, 667, 670, 672, and 675 respectively. The SMTC periodicity 677 for the non-terrestrial network is shorter than the SMTC periodicity 637 for the terrestrial network. As a result of the fact earlier described, SSB in NTN can be spread irregularely. This will increase UE energy consumption due to measurements.

[0113] Some embodiments of the present disclosure propose for a solution for signal measurements, especially, for a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell measurements for synchronization signal / PBCH (SSB) periodicity extension. In some embodiments, a method is proposed for handling sparse SSB transmissions allowing the terminal device 110 to measure only a subset of relevant SSB bursts, where relevant is considered based on i.e. RSRP.

[0114] Fig. 7A illustrates a signaling flowchart according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, illustrating NTN cell measurements for SSB periodicity extension .

[0115] In the signaling flowchart 700, the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 are the same with the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 in Fig. 1 respectively.

[0116] In the signaling flowchart 700, the network device 105 transmits (701) an indication to initiate a “new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure” 702. The indication 702 can be a new measurement configuration, which indicates the terminal device 110 to start with a full scan. The full scan can be configured with a timing measurement configuration. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. At 705, the terminal device 110 detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. At 707, the terminal device 110 filter the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. At 710, the terminal device 110 adjusts which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The signal suitable for measurement can be SSB, or channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or other referencesignals, etc. The occasion of timing measurememt configuration can be measurement occasion for the signal suitable for measurement. This way, the terminal device 110 can adjust the number of signals for detection, therefore saving power consumption, and making the detection more flexible.

[0117] Fig. 7B illustrates a signaling flowchart according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, illustrating NTN cell measurements for SSB periodicity extension .

[0118] In the signaling flowchart 720, the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 are the same with the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 in Fig. 1 respectively. The terminal device 110 is in RRC IDLE mode.

[0119] In the signaling flowchart 720, the network device 105 transmits (721) an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure 722. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. At 725, the terminal device 110 detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. At 727, the terminal device 110 filter the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. At 730, the terminal device 110 adjusts which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device 110 is in RRC IDLE mode.The signal suitable for measurement can be SSB, or channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or other reference signals, etc. The occasion of timing measurememt configuration can be measurement occasion for the signal suitable for measurement. This way, the terminal device 110 in IDLE mode can adjust the number of signals for detection, therefore saving power consumption, and making the detection more flexible.

[0120] Fig. 7C illustrates a signaling flowchart according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, illustrating NTN cell measurements for SSB periodicity extension .

[0121] In the signaling flowchart 740, the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 are the same with the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 in Fig. 1 respectively. The terminal device 110 is in RRC CONNECTED mode.

[0122] In the signaling flowchart 740, the network device 105 transmits (741 ) an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure 742. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. At 745, the terminal device 110 detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. At 747, the terminal device 110 filter the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. At 750, the terminal device 110 adjusts which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device 110 is in CONNECTED IDLE mode. The terminal device 110 transmits (751) to the network device 105, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured. The signalsuitable for measurement can be SSB, or channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or other reference signals, etc. The occasion of timing measurememt configuration can be measurement occasion for the signal suitable for measurement. This way, the terminal device 110 in CONNECTED mode can adjust the number of signals for detection, therefore saving power consumption, and making the detection more flexible.

[0123] Fig. 7D illustrates a signaling flowchart according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, illustrating NTN cell measurements for SSB periodicity extension .

[0124] In the signaling flowchart 760, the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 are the same with the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 in Fig. 1 respectively. The terminal device 110 is in RRC CONNECTED mode or RRC IDLE mode.

[0125] In the signaling flowchart 760, the network device 105 transmits (761 ) an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure 762. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. At 765, the terminal device 110 detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. At 767, the terminal device 110 filter the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. At 770, the terminal device 110 skips a subset of signal suitable for measurement-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC) windows and associated measurements based on past measurements and a pre-configured filtering configuration. The past measurements comprise full measurements of signals suitable for measurement. The signal suitable for measurement can be SSB, or channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or other reference signals, etc. The occasion of timing measurememt configuration can be measurement occasion for the signal suitable for measurement. This way, the terminal device 110 can adjust the number of signals for detection, therefore saving power consumption, and making the detection more flexible.

[0126] Some embodiments of the present disclosure propose methods to handle neighbor cell measurements during NR NTN extended SSB periodicities. The whole process is implemented with the following steps.

[0127] At step 1 , the network device 105 may configure the terminal device 110 with SMTC with a short periodicity based on the periodicity between neighbor cells’ SSB transmissions (i.e. aligning the SMTC periodicity to the interval between SSBs of different neighbor cells)

[0128] At step 2, the terminal device 110 performs a neighbour cell scanning using the SMTC configuration i.e. The terminal device 110 attempts to detect SSBs in all configured SMTC occasions. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may use a network configured duration for this.

[0129] At step 3, the terminal device 110 determines the detectable (i.e. relevant) SSBs, and thus is ableto determine the relevant SSB bursts to measure by use of a subset of the SMTC occasions.

[0130] In some embodiments, the terminal device can determine the detectable SSBs according to at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The at least one pre-configured filtering criterion comprises at least one of the following: a measured signal quality, a signal position in time, or a measured signal power. In details, a relevant SSB burst may be based on measured signal quality / power e.g. reference signal reception quality (RSRQ) / reference signal reception power (RSRP) value, e.g. exceeding a network configured threshold or the terminal device 110 may simply pick the x cells with the best RSRQ / RSRP values. This way, the terminal device 110 may determine the detectable SSBs accurately, therefore saving power consumption, and improving wireless performance.

[0131] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determine a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement. In details, any of the detected SSB bursts may be associated with a specific SSB ID or SSB periodicity identifier, allowing for the terminal device 110 to be aware of the periodicity in case different cells has different periodicities. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 determines the SSB periodicity based on a mapping between the PCI of the SSB and the SMTC configuration / neighbor cell measurement configuration (implying such configuration defines the SSB periodicity per PCI). This way, the terminal device 110 can detect the SSB accurately with PCI.

[0132] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 in RRC Connected mode informs the network device 105 about which SMTC occasions the terminal device 110 will use and which occasions are unused or skipped. The latter will then not impose scheduling restrictions in case a measurement gap is linked to the SMTC window. This way, the network device 105 can get accurate status of the terminal device 110, therefore managing the terminal device 110 efficiently

[0133] At step 4, the terminal device 110 measures the SSBs in the identified subset of SMTC occasions and omits measurements in the other SMTC windows. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 measures in the other SMTC windows with a longer periodicity. This way, the terminal device 110 can change the SMTC windows flexibly, to make the SSB detection more reliable.

[0134] At step 5, at regular intervals or upon detecting specific conditions are met, the terminal device 110 may re-evaluate the situation and perform a new determination of which SSB bursts that are considered relevant i.e. repeat step 2 and 3.

[0135] In some embodiments, the condition may be a timer, which at expiry triggers the SSB detection procedure. In some embodiments, the condition may be related to serving cell measurements being below a threshold, neighbor cell measurements being below a threshold. In some embodiments, the condition may be related to UE mobility, e.g. based on serving cell RSRP variation, position variation (for example GNSS- based), or cell reselection. The condition may also be similar to conditional event D1 i.e. a distance-measurerelative to cell reference locations.

[0136] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may receive a trigger from the network device 105, to perform a new scan (i.e. repeat step 2+3), such as based on one or more cells changing the SSB periodicity.

[0137] Fig. 8 illustrates terminal device-based SSB detection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0138] At block 810, the terminal device 110 is (pre)configured with an initial scan SMTC period matching the SSB periods from the network device 105, allowing the terminal device 110 to detect any neighbour cell SSB bursts based on the periodicity.

[0139] In some embodiment, the (pre)configuration is based on shorter equally spaced, legacy like, periodicities i.e. 20 ms. Allowing the terminal device 110 to detect any SSB burst irrespectively of period. Such configuration is more energy consuming at the terminal device 110, but may be easier to support using legacy configuration. The increased energy consumption may be countered by the fact that the UE later only scans for detected SSBs.

[0140] In some embodiments, the configuration is based on neighbor cells periodicities e.g. the lowest common denominator of all offsets related to the serving cell. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 scan continuously for a period, where the period is configured by the network.

[0141] In some embodiments, the configured window size is based on potential outliers with respect to the least common denominator.

[0142] In some embodiments, as seen in Fig. 10, the SSB bursts for the neighbour cells are bundled within a short timeframe, and thus only a single SMTC window is configured with a longer duration. Based on detection of the SSBs within the window, the window 1015 is shortened to the window 1020, to fit only SSBs within the window. This can make the window shorter, therefore enabling power saving.

[0143] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may split the long SMTC window into multiple SMTC windows such as 1035, 1037, , 1050 for SSB C#0 - SSB C#6 with suitable duration, based on detection. Later on, only SMTC windows 1052, 1055, and 1057 are detected. With the window splitting, the power can be saved at the terminal device 110.

[0144] In some embodiments, assumes neigbour cell SSB offsets of [60, 120, 180, 210, 240, 300, 360] the lowest common denominator would be 60, if not for the difference between 180 and 210 being 30. However, by setting the SMTC window length to 30, the periodicity may be maintained as 60.

[0145] At block 820, upon neighbour cell scans initiation, the terminal device 110 scans for any SSB bursts using the initial (pre)configuration, enabling detection of all possible neighbour cell SSB bursts, irrespectively of UE position. This initial configuration may be used for a certain period, where the period is defined by thenetwork device 105. This way, the network device 105 can initiate the terminal device 110 accurately for scanning.

[0146] At block 830, after one or more scanning durations, the terminal device 110 filters the SSBs with a detection level above a threshold as relevant SSB bursts as indicated in Fig. 9. In 910, in multiple RSRPs 915-945 for different SSBs of different cells, some are above the detectability threshold 950, some are lower than the detectability threshold 950. Only RSRPs above the detectability threshold 950 are chosen for further detection, corresponding to RSRPs 965, 970, and 975. Therefore, the terminal device can choose SSBs above the threshold for further filtering and detection, thus saving power.

[0147] At block 840, the terminal device 110 may filter the x SSBs with the best RSRP / RSRQ values. In some embodiments, multiple scans are used to determine the periodicities of each detected SSB burst. In some embodiments, each SSB burst is related to a (pre)configured (set) of SSB burst periodicities, and the terminal device 110 needs only a single initial scan procedure. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may store the location upon successfully detection of SSBs and related periodicities. With only scanning the SSBs with the best RSRP / RSRQ values, the terminal device can detect less SSBs, therefore saving power. With only one initial scan, the process can be simplified.

[0148] At block 850, based on a timer, or the terminal device 110 moving a (pre)configured distance compared to the reference distance stored upon initial SSB detection, the terminal device 110 determines whether going back to block 820 for initial scanning. If timer expired, or the reference distance exceeds a threshold, the terminal device 110 initiates a new initial scan to enable detection of potential new SSB bursts and periodicities. Else, the terminal device 110 continues to measure SSB bursts based on the detected offset and period. This way, when the timer expires or the terminal device 110 moves a long distance, the terminal device 110 takes the initial scanning again, thus choosing accurate best SSBs with change condition. Therefore, the power can be saved, and better wireless performance can be achieved.

[0149] Fig. 9 illustrates SMTC scanning outcome based on terminal device-based SSB detection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0150] In embodiment 910, in multiple RSRPs 915-945 for different SSBs of different cells, some are above the detectability threshold 950, some are lower than the detectability threshold 950. Only RSRPs above the detectability threshold 950 are chosen for further detection, corresponding to RSRPs 965, 970, and 975. Therefore, the terminal device can choose SSBs above the threshold for further filtering and detection, thus saving power.

[0151] Fig. 10 illustrates SMTC window length reconfiguration based on terminal device-based SSB detection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0152] In embodiment 1000, if the SSBs are transmitted in bundle as in 1010, after initial scanning, theSMTC window 1015 can be shortened to the SMTC window 1020, only covering the SSB C#0, SSB C#1 , and SSB C#2 above the threshold. If the SSBs are transmitted in distribution as in 1030, SSBs are initially scanned with short SMTC windows 1035-1050. After filtering, the terminal device 110 only detect SSB in SMTC windows 1052, 1055, and 1057, corresponding to SSBs above the threshold in the initial scanning. This way, power consumption can be saved according to different SSB situations.

[0153] Fig. 11 illustrates the terminal device re-evaluating the SMTC window length based on a full scan of all available cells according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0154] In embodiment 1100, the UE 1105 can be an implementation of the terminal device 110. The serving cell (s-cell) #0 (1107), the neighboring cell (n-cell) #1 (1110), and the n-cell #N (1112) can corresponds to the network device 105. The s-cell #0 (1107) transmits (1116) measurement configuration 1115 to the UE 1105. The measurement configuration 1115 can include timer, radio and distance threshold. The UE 1105 detects SSB 1117, SSB 1120, and SSB 1122 from the s-cell #0 (1107), n-cell #1 (1110), and n-cell #N (1112) respectively, with the same SMTC window 1125. The n-cell #1 (1110) may transmits (1128) SSB periodicity change notification 1127 to the s-cell #0 (1107), or the n-cell #N (1112) may transmits (1131) SSB periodicity change notification 1130 to the s-cell #0 (1107). According to SSB periodicity change notification 1127 and / or SSB periodicity change notification 1130, the s-cell #0 (1107) transmits (1133) SSB periodicity change notification 1132 to the UE 1105, indicating the UE 1105 about the SSB periodicity change. At 1135, the UE 1105, the serving cell (s-cell) #0 (1107), the neighboring cell (n-cell) #1 (1110), and the n-cell #N (1112) can synchronize about the SSB periodicity change. At 1137, the UE 1105 measures configured cells with full scanning. The UE 1105 scans the SSB 1140, 1142, and 1145 with the SMTC window 1147. At 1150, the UE 1105 evaluates measurement and adjusts SMTC window length and periodicity. Then the UE 1105 detects SSB 1152 and 1155 with short SMTC window 1160, and skipping SSB 1157 below the threshold. At 1162, the UE 1105 determines timer expired, or UE distance above threshold. Then UE 1105 scans SSBs 1165, 1167, and 1170 in full canning, with long SMTC window 1172. This way, UE can change SMTC window dynamically with the initial scanning result, for power saving. If the UE 1105 determines timer expired, or UE distance above threshold, the UE 1105 takes full scanning again, to catch the changing wireless condition.

[0155] Fig. 12 illustrates the terminal device in IDLE mode skipping SMTC occasions based on detectability of previous measurements according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0156] In embodiment 1200, the UE 1205 in IDLE mode can be an implementation of the terminal device 110. The serving cell (s-cell) #0 (1207), the neighboring cell (n-cell) #1 (1210), and the n-cell #N (1212) can corresponds to the network device 105. The s-cell #0 (1207) transmits (1216) measurement configuration 1215 to the UE 1205. The measurement configuration 1115 can include timer, radio and distance threshold. The UE 1205 detects SSB 1217, SSB 1225, and SSB 1230 from the s-cell #0 (1207), n-cell #1 (1210), and n-cell #N (1212) respectively, with different SMTC windows 1220, 1227, and 1232. At 1235, the UE 1205evaluates measurement and adjusts SMTC window length and periodicity. Then the UE 1205 detects SSB 1237 and 1242 with SMTC windows 1240 and 1245 respectively, and skipping SSB 1247 below the threshold. At 1250, the UE 1205 determines timer expired, or UE distance above threshold. Then UE 1205 scans SSBs 1252, 1257, and 1262 in full canning, with SMTC windows 1255, 1260, and 1265 respectively. This way, UE can choose SMTC window dynamically with the initial scanning result, for power saving. If the UE 1105 determines timer expired, or UE distance above threshold, the UE 1105 takes full scanning again, to catch the changing wireless condition.

[0157] Fig. 13 illustrates the terminal device in CONNECTED mode skipping SMTC occasions based on detectability of previous measurements and reporting configuration adjustments to the network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0158] In embodiment 1300, the UE 1305 in CONNECTED mode can be an implementation of the terminal device 110. The serving cell (s-cell) #0 (1307), the neighboring cell (n-cell) #1 (1310), and the n-cell #N (1312) can corresponds to the network device 105. At 1315, the UE works in CONNECTED mode. The s-cell #0 (1307) transmits (1318) measurement configuration 1317 to the UE 1305. The measurement configuration 1317 can include timer, radio and distance threshold. The UE 1305 scans SSB 1320, SSB 1325, and SSB 1330 from the s-cell #0 (1307), n-cell #1 (1310), and n-cell #N (1312) respectively, with different SMTC windows 1322, 1327, and 1332. At 1335, the UE 1305 evaluates measurement and adjusts SMTC window length and periodicity. Then the UE 1305 detects SSB 1337 and 1342 with short SMTC windows 1340 and 1345 respectively, and skipping SSB 1347 below the threshold. The UE 1305 transmits (1351) SMTC adjustment report 1350 to the s-cell #0 (1307). This way, UE can choose SMTC window dynamically with the initial scanning result, for power saving. The UE 1105 can also transmit SMTC adjustment report to the s-cell #0 of the network device 105, to report the accurate status to the network device 105. Therefore, the network device 105 can make accurate management.

[0159] Fig. 14 shows a flowchart of an example method 1400 implemented at a terminal device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal device may be specific implementations of the terminal device 110. For the illustration purposes, the method 1400 will be described from the perspective of the terminal device 110 with reference to Fig. 1 as an example.

[0160] At block 1410, the terminal device 110 detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. At 1420, the terminal device 110 filters the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one preconfigured filtering criterion. At 1430, the terminal device 110 adjusts which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one preconfigured filtering criterion.

[0161] In some embodiments, detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement is based on a timing measurement configuration, which is received by the terminal device

[0162] In some embodiments, the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion comprises one or more of: a measured signal quality, a signal position in time, or a measured signal power. The signal suitable for measurement comprises one or more of: a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB), or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

[0163] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

[0164] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

[0165] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 measures one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, and skips one or more occasion of timing measurement configurations according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0166] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 measures one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0167] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode, and the terminal device 110 transmits, to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement .

[0168] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 is in an RRC CONNECTED mode, and the terminal device 110 transmits to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to detect, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0169] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 performs a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure with full signal suitable for measurement scanning, based on one or more of: a preconfigured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

[0170] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises expiry of a timer that triggers the new signalsuitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0171] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises one or more of: a serving cell measurement being below a threshold, or a neighbor cell measurement being below the threshold.

[0172] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises a terminal device mobility event, the terminal device mobility event comprises one or more of: a received signal strength variation at the terminal device, a position variation at the terminal device, or a cell reselection.

[0173] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 receives, from the network device 105, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0174] Fig. 15 shows a flowchart of an example method 1500 implemented at a network device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network device may be specific implementations of the network device 105. For the illustration purposes, the method 1500 will be described from the perspective of the network device 105 with reference to Fig. 1 as an example.

[0175] At block 1510, the network device 105 transmits to the terminal device 110, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0176] In some embodiments, the network device 105 receives from the terminal device 110, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will measure with longer periodicity.

[0177] In some embodiments, the network device 105 transmits to the terminal device 110, at least one pre-configured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

[0178] Fig. 16 shows a flowchart of an example method 1600 implemented at a terminal device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal device may be specific implementations of the terminal device 110. For the illustration purposes, the method 1600 will be described from the perspective of the terminal device 110 with reference to Fig. 1 as an example.

[0179] At block 1610, the terminal device 110 detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. At 1620, the terminal device 110 filters the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one preconfigured filtering criterion. At 1630, the terminal device 110 adjusts which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in the coming occasion of timing measurement configurations according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The terminal device 110 is in a radio resource control (RRC) IDLE mode.

[0180] In some embodiments, the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion comprises one or more of:a measured signal quality, a signal position in time, or a measured signal power. The signal suitable for measurement comprises one or more of: a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB), or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

[0181] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

[0182] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

[0183] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 measures one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, and skips one or more occasions of timing measurement configuration according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0184] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 measures one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0185] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 performs a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure with full signal suitable for measurement scanning, based on one or more of: a preconfigured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

[0186] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises expiry of a timer that triggers the new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0187] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises one or more of: a serving cell measurement being below a threshold, or a neighbor cell measurement being below the threshold.

[0188] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises a terminal device mobility event, the terminal device mobility event comprises one or more of: a received signal strength variation at the terminal device, a position variation at the terminal device, or a cell reselection.

[0189] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 receives, from the network device 105, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0190] Fig. 17 shows a flowchart of an example method 1700 implemented at a network device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network device may be specific implementations of the network device 105. For the illustration purposes, the method 1700 will bedescribed from the perspective of the network device 105 with reference to Fig. 1 as an example.

[0191] At block 1710, the network device 105 transmits to the terminal device 110 in a radio resource control (RRC) IDLE mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0192] In some embodiments, the network device 105 transmits to the terminal device 110, at least one pre-configured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

[0193] Fig. 18 shows a flowchart of an example method 1800 implemented at a terminal device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal device may be specific implementations of the terminal device 110. For the illustration purposes, the method 1800 will be described from the perspective of the terminal device 110 with reference to Fig. 1 as an example.

[0194] At block 1810, the terminal device 110 detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. At 1820, the terminal device 110 filters the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one preconfigured filtering criterion. At 1830, the terminal device 110 adjusts which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one preconfigured filtering criterion. At 1840, the terminal device 110 transmit to the network device 105, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured. The terminal device 110 is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

[0195] In some embodiments, the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion comprises one or more of: a measured signal quality, a signal position in time, or a measured signal power. The signal suitable for measurement comprises a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB).

[0196] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

[0197] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

[0198] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 measures one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, and skips one or more occasions of timing measurement configuration according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0199] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 measures one or more signals suitable formeasurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0200] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 transmits, to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement .

[0201] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 transmits to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to detect, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0202] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 performs a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure with full signal suitable for measurement scanning, based on one or more of: a preconfigured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

[0203] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises expiry of a timer that triggers the new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0204] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises one or more of: a serving cell measurement being below a threshold, or a neighbor cell measurement being below the threshold.

[0205] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises a terminal device mobility event, the terminal device mobility event comprises one or more of: a received signal strength variation at the terminal device, a position variation at the terminal device, or a cell reselection.

[0206] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 receives, from the network device 105, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0207] Fig. 19 shows a flowchart of an example method 1900 implemented at a network device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network device may be specific implementations of the network device 105. For the illustration purposes, the method 1900 will be described from the perspective of the network device 105 with reference to Fig. 1 as an example.

[0208] At block 1910, the network device 105 transmits to the terminal device 110 in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0209] In some embodiments, the network device 105 receives from the terminal device 110, informationabout one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will measure with longer periodicity.

[0210] In some embodiments, the network device 105 transmits to the terminal device 110, at least one pre-configured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

[0211] Fig. 20 shows a flowchart of an example method 2000 implemented at a terminal device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal device may be specific implementations of the terminal device 110. For the illustration purposes, the method 2000 will be described from the perspective of the terminal device 110 with reference to Fig. 1 as an example.

[0212] At block 2010, the terminal device 110 detects one or more signals suitable for measurement. At 2020, the terminal device 110 filters the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one preconfigured filtering criterion. At 2030, the terminal device 110 skips a subset of signal suitable for measurement-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC) windows and associated measurements based on past measurements and a pre-configured filtering configuration. The past measurements comprise full measurements of signals suitable for measurement.

[0213] In some embodiments, the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion comprises one or more of: a measured signal quality, a signal position in time, or a measured signal power. The signal suitable for measurement comprises one of more of: a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB), or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

[0214] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

[0215] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

[0216] In some embodiments, skipping the subset of SMTC windows comprises: measuring one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the pre-configured filtering criterion, and skipping one or more occasion of timing measurement configurations according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0217] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 measures one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, and skips one or more occasionsof timing measurement configuration according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0218] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 measures one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0219] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode, and the terminal device 110 transmits, to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0220] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 is in an RRC CONNECTED mode, and the terminal device 110 transmits to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to detect, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0221] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 performs a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure with full signal suitable for measurement scanning, based on one or more of: a preconfigured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

[0222] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises expiry of a timer that triggers the new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0223] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises one or more of: a serving cell measurement being below a threshold, or a neighbor cell measurement being below the threshold.

[0224] In some embodiments, the specific condition comprises a terminal device mobility event, the terminal device mobility event comprises one or more of: a received signal strength variation at the terminal device, a position variation at the terminal device, or a cell reselection.

[0225] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 receives, from the network device 105, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0226] Fig. 21 shows a flowchart of an example method 2100 implemented at a network device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network device may be specific implementations of the network device 105. For the illustration purposes, the method 2100 will be described from the perspective of the network device 105 with reference to Fig. 1 as an example.

[0227] At block 2110, the network device 105 transmits to the terminal device 110, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. The terminal device is in RRC CONNECTED mode or RRC IDLE mode.

[0228] In some embodiments, the network device 105 receives from the terminal device 110, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will measure with longer periodicity.

[0229] In some embodiments, the network device 105 transmits to the terminal device 110, at least one pre-configured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

[0230] In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus such as a terminal apparatus, comprising means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The apparatus also comprises means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0231] The apparatus also comprises means for determining a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

[0232] The apparatus also comprises means for determining a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

[0233] The apparatus also comprises means for measuring one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, and skips one or more occasion of timing measurement configurations according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0234] The apparatus also comprises means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0235] In some embodiments, the apparatus is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode. The apparatus also comprises means for transmitting, to the network device 105, information about one ormore of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement .

[0236] In some embodiments, the apparatus is in an RRC CONNECTED mode. The apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to detect, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0237] The apparatus also comprises means for performing a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure with full signal suitable for measurement scanning, based on one or more of: a preconfigured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

[0238] The apparatus also comprises means for receiving from the network device 105, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0239] In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus such as a network apparatus, comprising means for transmitting to the terminal device, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0240] The apparatus also comprises means for receiving from the terminal device 110, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will measure with longer periodicity.

[0241] The apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the terminal device 110, at least one preconfigured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

[0242] In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus such as a terminal apparatus, comprising means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The apparatus also comprises means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus is in a radio resource control (RRC) IDLE mode.

[0243] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for determining a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configuredfiltering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

[0244] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for determining a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

[0245] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for measuring one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, and skips one or more occasions of timing measurement configuration according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0246] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0247] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for performing a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure with full signal suitable for measurement scanning, based on one or more of: a pre-configured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

[0248] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for receiving, from the network device 105, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0249] In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus such as a network apparatus, comprising means for transmitting to a terminal device in RRC IDLE mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0250] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the terminal device 110, at least one pre-configured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

[0251] In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus such as a terminal apparatus, comprising means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The apparatus also comprises means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the network device, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured. The apparatus is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

[0252] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for determining a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

[0253] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for determining a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

[0254] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for measuring one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, and skips one or more occasions of timing measurement configuration according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0255] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0256] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for transmitting, to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement .

[0257] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to detect, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0258] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for performing a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure with full signal suitable for measurement scanning, based on one or more of: a pre-configured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

[0259] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for receiving, from the network device 105, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0260] In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus such as a network apparatus, comprising means for transmitting to a terminal device in RRC CONNECTED mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cellschanging the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0261] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for receiving from the terminal device 110, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will measure with longer periodicity.

[0262] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the terminal device 110, at least one pre-configured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

[0263] In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus such as a terminal apparatus, comprising means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement. The apparatus also comprises means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on at least one pre-configured filtering criterion. The apparatus also comprises means for skipping a subset of signal suitable for measurement-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC) windows and associated measurements based on past measurements and a pre-configured filtering configuration. The past measurements comprise full measurements of signals suitable for measurement.

[0264] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for determining a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of a signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

[0265] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for determining a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

[0266] In some embodiments, the means for skipping the subset of SMTC windows comprises: means for measuring one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the pre-configured filtering criterion, and means for skipping one or more occasion of timing measurement configurations according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0267] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for measuring one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, and means for skipping one or more occasions of timing measurement configuration according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

[0268] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for detecting one or more signalssuitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0269] In some embodiments, the apparatus is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode. In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for transmitting, to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0270] In some embodiments, the apparatus is in an RRC CONNECTED mode. In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the network device 105, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device 110 is to detect, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with a longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

[0271] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for performing a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure with full signal suitable for measurement scanning, based on one or more of: a pre-configured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

[0272] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for receiving, from the network device 105, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

[0273] In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus such as a network apparatus, comprising means for transmitting to a terminal device, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure. The indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing the periodicity of signal suitable for measurement. The terminal device is in RRC CONNECTED mode or RRC IDLE mode.

[0274] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for receiving from the terminal device 110, information about one or more of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will measure with longer periodicity.

[0275] In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to the terminal device 110, at least one pre-configured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

[0276] FIG. 22 is a simplified block diagram of a device 2200 that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 2200 may be provided to implement the communication device, for example, the terminal device 110, or the network device 105 as shown in Fig. 1 . As shown, thedevice 2200 includes one or more processors 2210, one or more memories 2220 coupled to the processor 2210, and one or more communication modules 2240 coupled to the processor 2210.

[0277] The communication module 2240 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 2240 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements.

[0278] The processor 2210 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 2200 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0279] The memory 2220 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 2224, an electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 2222 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0280] A computer program 2230 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 2210. The program 630 may be stored in the ROM 2220. The processor 2210 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 2230 into the RAM 2220.

[0281] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 2230 so that the device 2200 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to Figs. 1 to 21 . The embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0282] In some embodiments, the program 2230 may be tangibly contained in a computer-readable medium which may be included in the device 2200 (such as in the memory 2220) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 2200. The device 2200 may load the program 2230 from the computer- readable medium to the RAM 2222 for execution. The computer-readable medium may include any types of tangible non-volatile storage, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. Fig. 23 shows an example of the computer-readable medium 2300 in form of CD or DVD. The computer- readable medium has the program 2230 stored thereon.

[0283] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by acontroller, microprocessor or other computing device. While various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0284] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the processes 700, or methods 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, and / or as described above with reference to Figs. 1-21. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0285] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0286] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program codes or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0287] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an opticalstorage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The term “non- transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0288] Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation detail are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0289] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1 . A terminal device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to: detect one or more signals suitable for measurement; filter the signals suitable for measurement based on a pre-configured filtering criterion; adjust which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in the coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the pre-configured filtering criterion; and transmit to a network device, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

2. The terminal device of claim 1 , wherein the pre-configured filtering criterion comprises at least one of the following: a measured signal quality, a signal position in time, or a measured signal power, and the signal suitable for measurement comprises at least one of: a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB), or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

3. The terminal device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: determine a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion based on an ID of the signal suitable for measurement.

4. The terminal device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: determine a periodicity of each signal suitable for measurement meeting the at least one preconfigured filtering criterion based on a mapping between a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the signal suitable for measurement and a SSB-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement timing configuration (SMTC).

5. The terminal device of any of claims 1 -4, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: measure one or more signals suitable for measurement that meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion, andskip one or more occasions of timing measurement configurations according to one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the at least one pre-configured filtering criterion.

6. The terminal device of any of claims 1 -4, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: detect one or more signals suitable for measurement that do not meet the pre-configured filtering criterion with longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

7. The terminal device of claim 1 or 5, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: transmit to the network, information about at least one of the following: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

8. The terminal device of claim 1 or 6, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: transmit to the network, information about at least one of the following: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to detect, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device is to measure with longer periodicity than the determined periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

9. The terminal device of any of claims 1 -8, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: perform a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure full signal suitable for measurement scanning based on at least one of: a pre-configured regular interval, or detecting a specific condition.

10. The terminal device of claim 9, wherein the specific condition comprises: expiry of a timer that triggers the new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.11 . The terminal device of claim 9, wherein the specific condition comprises at least one of the following: a serving cell measurement being below a threshold, or a neighbor cell measurement being below the threshold.

12. The terminal device of claim 9, wherein the specific condition comprises a terminal device mobility event, the terminal device mobility event comprises at least one of the following: a received signal strength variation at the terminal device, a position variation at the terminal device, or a cell reselection.

13. The terminal device of any of claims 1-12, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: receive from the network device, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure.

14. A network device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to: transmit to a terminal device in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure, wherein the indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

15. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the network device is further caused to: receive from the terminal device, information about at least one of: at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will detect, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will skip, or at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that the terminal device will measure with longer periodicity.

16. The network device of claim 14 or 15, wherein the network device is further caused to: transmit to the terminal device, at least one pre-configured filtering criterion for the terminal device to filter signals suitable for measurement.

17. A method comprising: detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement; filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on a pre-configured filtering criterion; adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in the coming occasion of timing measurement configurations according to the pre-configured filtering criterion; andtransmitting to a network device, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

18. A method comprising: transmit to a terminal device in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure, wherein the indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.

19. An apparatus, comprising: means for detecting one or more signals suitable for measurement; means for filtering the signals suitable for measurement based on a pre-configured filtering criterion; means for adjusting which signals suitable for measurement to be measured in the coming occasions of timing measurement configuration according to the pre-configured filtering criterion; and means for transmitting to a network device, at least one occasion of timing measurement configuration that is to be skipped or measured, wherein the terminal device is in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode.

20. An apparatus, comprising: means for transmit to a terminal device in a radio resource control (RRC) CONNECTED mode, an indication to initiate a new signal suitable for measurement detection procedure, wherein the indication is based on one or more neighboring cells changing a periodicity of signal suitable for measurement.21 . A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the method of claim 17 or 18.

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