Cell switching

Abstract

Various examples of the disclosure provide a User Equipment, UE, (110) comprising: at least one processor (12); and at least one memory (13) including computer program code (14), the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the UE to perform at least the following: receiving (1001), from a node of a Radio Access Network, RAN (120), configuration information (1002) comprising: a set of one or more resources (1003) for one or more beams (1004) of one or more cells, and information (1005) for configuring the UE to: generate a report (1012) of at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, and perform indexing of at least one resource indicator of the at least one resource, wherein the indexing is based at least in part on a subset of the set of resources; generating (1006) the report in accordance with the configuration information, wherein generating the report comprises: creating the subset of the set of resources, and performing indexing of the at least one resource indicator based at least in part on the subset of the set of resources; and sending (1011) the report to the node of the RAN.

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] CELL SWITCHING

[0003] TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0004] Certain examples of the disclosure relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for switching cells. Certain examples of the disclosure relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for Layer 1 Layer 2 Triggered Mobility, LTM, in a Radio Access Network, RAN based on predicted beam measurements.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Conventional apparatuses and procedures for switching cells (i.e. performing a mobility / handover procedure - such as LTM - in which a User Equipment, UE, moves from one cell to another cell), are not always optimal. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to reduce signaling overhead in cell switching procedures. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to provide improved apparatuses, method and computer programs for cell switching.

[0007] The listing or discussion of any prior-published document or any background in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document or background is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. One or more aspects / examples of the present disclosure may or may not address one or more of the background issues.

[0008] BRIEF SUMMARY

[0009] The invention is defined in the independent claims.

[0010] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there are provided examples as claimed in the appended claims. Any examples and features described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

[0011] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and discarding the configuration information, wherein the discarding is based at least in part on determining at least one of: an initiation the cell switch operation, or a completion of the cell switch operation.

[0012] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0013] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0014] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method. According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising means for perform the above-mentioned method.

[0015] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0016] The following portion of this ‘Brief Summary’ section describes various features that can be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the ‘Brief Summary’ section mutatis mutandis. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform that function.

[0017] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving a serving cell configuration, wherein the serving cell configuration comprises the configuration information.

[0018] In some but not necessarily all examples, the configuration information comprises an indication that the UE should discard the configuration information upon initiation or completion of the cell switch operation.

[0019] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: applying, based at least in part on the initiation or completion of the cell switch operation, second configuration information, wherein the second configuration information comprises: at least one third set of resources for at least one third set of one or more beams of at least one third set of one or more cells; and at least one fourth set of resources for at least one fourth set of one or more beams of at least one fourth set of one or more cells.

[0020] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving at least one of the following: a serving cell configuration, or a configuration for one or more candidate cells of the second set of cells; and wherein the configuration information is comprised in at least one of the following: the serving cell configuration, or the configuration for the cell of the second set of cells that the UE switched to.

[0021] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving, from the first node of the RAN, configuration information for configuring the reporting by the UE.

[0022] In some but not necessarily all examples, the reporting configuration information comprises an indication for the UE to report at least one of: the one or more predicted measurements; or the one or more measurements.

[0023] In some but not necessarily all examples, the reporting configuration information comprises an indication for the UE to: report the one or more predicted measurements, and not to report the one or more measurements.

[0024] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving Channel State Information, CSI, resource configuration for performing one or more measurements in a serving cell of the UE; and wherein the information indicative of the at least one first set of resources indicates the at least one first set of resources with reference to the CSI resource configuration.

[0025] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: transmitting, towards the first node of the RAN, information indicative of a capability of the UE to determine at least one predicted measurement of at least one beam based at least in part on a measurement of at least one other beam.

[0026] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one other beam is at least one of the following: at least one beam of the same cell as the at least one beam; at least one beam that belongs to the same resource set as used by the at least one beam; or at least one beam of the second set of cells. In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one other beam is at least one of the following: at least one beam of a cell that is different to the cell of the at least one beam; or at least one beam that uses a resource set that is different to a resource set used by the at least one beam.

[0027] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one beam and the at least one other beam are beams of a cell that is serving the UE.

[0028] In some but not necessarily all examples, wherein the reporting, to the second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements further comprises reporting, to the second node of the RAN, information indicative of the resources for the at least one beam of the at least one cell associated with the at least one of the one or more predicted measurements.

[0029] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one first set of resources and the at least one second set of resources are separate sets.

[0030] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one first set of resources and the at least one second set of resources are subsets of a third set of resources.

[0031] In some but not necessarily all examples: the first node of the RAN comprises at least one of: a Centralized Unit, CU, or a Base Station, BS; and the second node of the RAN comprises at least one of: a Distributed Unit, DU, or the BS.

[0032] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: receiving, at a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, from at least one second node of the RAN, at least one first configuration information, wherein the at least one configuration information comprises at least one of: at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells; or at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; generating second configuration information, based at least in part on at least one of: the at least one first configuration information, or the at least one second set of cells; and transmitting the second configuration information towards a User Equipment, UE.

[0033] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0034] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0035] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0036] According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising means for perform the above-mentioned method.

[0037] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0038] The following portion of this ‘Brief Summary’ section describes various features that can be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the ‘Brief Summary’ section mutatis mutandis. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform that function.

[0039] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises at least one of the following: transmitting, towards the at least one second node of the RAN, a request to prepare for a mobility operation; or transmitting, towards the at least one second node of the RAN, a request for at least one first configuration information.

[0040] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving, from the at least one second node of the RAN, configuration information for configuring the UE to report at least one of: the one or more predicted measurements; or one or more measurements.

[0041] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: receiving, at a node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, from a User Equipment, UE, one or more predicted measurements of a one or more beams of at least one set of one or more cells; and triggering, based at least in part on the one or more predicted measurements, a cell switch operation.

[0042] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0043] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0044] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method. According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising means for perform the above-mentioned method.

[0045] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0046] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and maintaining the configuration information for further use.

[0047] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0048] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0049] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0050] According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising means for perform the above-mentioned method.

[0051] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0052] The following portion of this ‘Brief Summary’ section describes various features that can be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the ‘Brief Summary’ section mutatis mutandis. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform that function.

[0053] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving a mobility configuration, wherein the mobility configuration comprises the configuration information.

[0054] In some but not necessarily all examples, the mobility configuration is received separately from at least one of the following: a serving cell configuration; or a candidate cell configuration.

[0055] In some but not necessarily all examples, the mobility configuration comprises at least one of the following: a Layer 1 Layer 2 Triggered Mobility, LTM, configuration; or an LTM configuration that is common to the at least one first and second sets of one or more cells. In some but not necessarily all examples, the configuration information comprises an indication that the UE should maintain the configuration information upon initiation completion of the operation.

[0056] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving, from the first node of the RAN, configuration information for configuring the reporting by the UE.

[0057] In some but not necessarily all examples, the reporting configuration information comprises an indication for the UE to report at least one of: the one or more predicted measurements; or the one or more measurements.

[0058] In some but not necessarily all examples, the reporting configuration information comprises an indication for the UE to: report the one or more predicted measurements, and not to report the one or more measurements.

[0059] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving Channel State Information, CSI, resource configuration for performing one or more measurements in a serving cell of the UE; and wherein the information indicative of the at least one first set of resources indicates the at least one first set of resources with reference to the CSI resource configuration.

[0060] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: transmitting, towards the first node of the RAN, information indicative of a capability of the UE to determine at least one predicted measurement of at least one beam based at least in part on a measurement of at least one other beam.

[0061] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one other beam is at least one of the following: at least one beam of the same cell as the at least one beam; at least one beam that belongs to the same resource set as used by the at least one beam; or at least one beam of the second set of cells.

[0062] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one other beam is at least one of the following: at least one beam of a cell that is different to the cell of the at least one beam; or at least one beam that uses a resource set that is different to a resource set used by the at least one beam.

[0063] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one beam and the at least one other beam are beams of a cell that is serving the UE.

[0064] In some but not necessarily all examples, the reporting, to the second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements further comprises reporting, to the second node of the RAN, information indicative of the resources for the at least one beam of the at least one cell associated with the at least one of the one or more predicted measurements.

[0065] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one first set of resources and the at least one second set of resources are separate sets.

[0066] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one first set of resources and the at least one second set of resources are subsets of a third set of resources.

[0067] In some but not necessarily all examples, wherein: the first node of the RAN comprises at least one of: a Centralized Unit, CU, or a Base Station, BS; and the second node of the RAN comprises at least one of: a Distributed Unit, DU, or the BS.

[0068] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and determining whether to discard or maintain the configuration information, wherein the determining is based at least in part on receiving an indication from the RAN node whether to discard or maintain the configuration information.

[0069] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0070] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0071] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0072] According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising means for perform the above-mentioned method.

[0073] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0074] The following portion of this ‘Brief Summary’ section describes various features that can be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the ‘Brief Summary’ section mutatis mutandis. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform that function.

[0075] In some but not necessarily all examples, the configuration information is received separately from at least one of the following: a serving cell configuration; a Layer 1 Layer 2 Triggered Mobility, LTM, configuration; or a candidate cell configuration.

[0076] In some but not necessarily all examples, the configuration information comprises an indication that the UE should determine whether to discard or maintain the configuration information based at least in part on receiving the indication from the RAN.

[0077] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: receiving, from the first node of the RAN, configuration information for configuring the reporting by the UE.

[0078] In some but not necessarily all examples, the reporting configuration information comprises an indication for the UE to report at least one of: the one or more predicted measurements; or the one or more measurements.

[0079] In some but not necessarily all examples, the reporting configuration information comprises an indication for the UE to: report the one or more predicted measurements, and not to report the one or more measurements.

[0080] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving Channel State Information, CSI, resource configuration for performing one or more measurements in a serving cell of the UE; and wherein the information indicative of the at least one first set of resources indicates the at least one first set of resources with reference to the CSI resource configuration.

[0081] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting, towards the first node of the RAN, information indicative of a capability of the UE to determine at least one predicted measurement of at least one beam based at least in part on a measurement of at least one other beam.

[0082] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one other beam is at least one of the following: at least one beam of the same cell as the at least one beam; at least one beam that belongs to the same resource set as used by the at least one beam; or at least one beam of the second set of cells.

[0083] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one other beam is at least one of the following: at least one beam of a cell that is different to the cell of the at least one beam; or at least one beam that uses a resource set that is different to a resource set used by the at least one beam.

[0084] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one beam and the at least one other beam are beams of a cell that is serving the UE.

[0085] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises:

[0086] In some but not necessarily all examples, the reporting, to the second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements further comprises reporting, to the second node of the RAN, information indicative of the resources for the at least one beam of the at least one cell associated with the at least one of the one or more predicted measurements. In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one first set of resources and the at least one second set of resources are separate sets.

[0087] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one first set of resources and the at least one second set of resources are subsets of a third set of resources.

[0088] In some but not necessarily all examples: the first node of the RAN comprises at least one of: a Centralized Unit, CU, or a Base Station, BS; and the second node of the RAN comprises at least one of: a Distributed Unit, DU, or the BS.

[0089] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: receiving, from a node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information comprising: a set of one or more resources for one or more beams of one or more cells, and information for configuring the UE to: generate a report of at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, and perform indexing of at least one resource indicator of the at least one resource, wherein the indexing is based at least in part on a subset of the set of resources; generating the report in accordance with the configuration information, wherein generating the report comprises: creating the subset of the set of resources, and performing indexing of the at least one resource indicator based at least in part on the subset of the set of resources; and sending the report to the node of the RAN.

[0090] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method. According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0091] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0092] According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising means for perform the above-mentioned method.

[0093] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above- mentioned method.

[0094] The following portion of this ‘Brief Summary’ section describes various features that can be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the ‘Brief Summary’ section mutatis mutandis. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform that function.

[0095] In some but not necessarily all examples, the set of one or more resources comprises at least one of: at least one first set of resources, for measurement by the UE, comprising at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells; or at least one second set of resources, for predicted measurement by the UE, for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells.

[0096] In some but not necessarily all examples, creating the subset of the set of resources comprises creating one or more subsets wherein each subset is at least one of: a set of resources of a cell; a set of resources of a same type; a set of resources of predicted measurements.

[0097] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: generating a first bitmap, wherein at least one bit of the first bitmap represents at least one index of the at least one resource indicator.

[0098] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: the report comprises the first bitmap.

[0099] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: create a plurality of subsets of the set of resources; and generating a second bitmap, wherein the second bitmap represents the plurality of subsets and the first bitmap.

[0100] In some but not necessarily all examples, the report comprises the second bitmap.

[0101] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: the at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, comprises at least one predicted measurement of the least one resource of the set of resources, wherein the predicted measurement is predicted, by the UE, based at least in part on at least one measurement, by the UE, of at least one other resource of the set of resources.

[0102] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: the report further comprises at least one indication of at least one resources of the set of resources whose at least one measurement was used to determine the at least one predicted measurement of the set of resources.

[0103] In some but not necessarily all examples, the method further comprises: transmitting, towards the first node of the RAN, information indicative of a capability of the UE to generate the report in accordance with the configuration information. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided: an apparatus, a module, circuitry, a chipset comprising processing circuitry, a device and / or a system configured to (or comprising means for) perform(ing) at least a part of one or more methods described herein.

[0104] The description herein of a function and / or action should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function and / or action. Functions and / or actions described herein can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method.

[0105] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there are provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

[0106] While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. It is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa. Also, it is to be appreciated that any one or more or all the features, in any combination, may be implemented by / comprised in / performable by an apparatus, a method, and / or computer program instructions as desired, and as appropriate. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function.

[0107] BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0108] Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0109] FIG. 1 shows an example of the subject matter described herein;

[0110] FIG. 2 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 3 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 4 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 5 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 6 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 7 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 8 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 9 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 10 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0111] FIG. 11 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; and FIG. 12 shows another example of the subject matter described herein.

[0112] The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures.

[0113] In the description and drawings, a reference number without a subscript (e.g. 123) can be used as a generic reference to a feature or class / set of features. A reference number with a subscript (e.g. 123_1 ) can be used as a specific reference, e.g. to differentiate different instances of a feature or class / set of features. The subscript can comprise two digits including a first digit that labels a group of instances and a second digit that labels different instances in the group. A numerical type subscript index (e.g. 123_1 ) can be used to indicate a specific instance of a class / a member of a set; and a non-specific instance of the class (member of the set) can be referenced using the reference number with a variable type subscript index (e.g. 123_i).

[0114] ABBREVIATIONS / DEFINITIONS

[0115] 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

[0116] 5G 5th Generation Al Artificial Intelligence BS Base Station CSI Channel State Information CRI CSI-RS Resource Indicator CU Centralized Unit / Control Unit

[0117] DU Distributed Unit gNB Next generation NodeB, 5G / NR base station L1 Layer 1 LTM Layer 1 / 2 Triggered Mobility (Lower Layer Triggered

[0118] Mobility)

[0119] MAC CE Medium Access Control Control Element

[0120] ML Machine Learning

[0121] NE Network Entity

[0122] NR New Radio

[0123] NW Network RAN Radio Access Network

[0124] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0125] RS Reference Signal

[0126] Rx Receive / Receiver

[0127] RSRP Reference Signal Received Power

[0128] SSB Synchronization Signal Block

[0129] SSBRI Synchronization Signal Block Resource Indicator

[0130] TRP Transmission Reception Point

[0131] Tx Transmit / transmitter

[0132] UE User Equipment

[0133] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0134] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a network 100 suitable for use with examples of the present disclosure. The network (which may be referred to as NW) comprises a plurality of network entities (each of which may be referred to as NE), including:

[0135] • terminal apparatuses 110 (which may be referred to as terminal nodes or User Equipment, UE);

[0136] • access apparatuses 120 (which may be referred to as access nodes, gNodeBs, gNBs, or Base Stations, BSs);

[0137] • one or more core network apparatuses 130 (which may be referred to as core nodes, core functions, core entities, core network entities - one core node / function / entity of which being an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF).

[0138] The terminal nodes 110 and access nodes 120 communicate with each other. The access nodes 120 communicate with the core nodes 130. The access nodes 120 and LMF 140 may communicate directly with each other. One or more access nodes 120 may, in some but not necessarily all examples, communicate with each other. One or more core network nodes 130 may, in some but not necessarily all examples, communicate with each other.

[0139] The network 100, in the example illustrates in FIG. 1 , comprises a radio telecommunications network in which at least some of the terminal nodes 110 and access nodes 120 communicate with each other using transmission / reception of radio waves. In this regard, the network 100 comprises a Radio Access Network, RAN, such as a cellular network comprising a plurality of cells 122 each served by an access node 120. The access nodes 120 comprise cellular radio transceivers. The terminal nodes 110 comprise cellular radio transceivers. In the example illustrated and discussed below, the network 100 is a New Radio, NR, network of the Third Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, and its fifth generation, 5G, New Radio, NR, technology. It is to be appreciated, however, that in other examples, the network 100 may be a network beyond 5G, for example a next generation (i.e. sixth generation, 6G) Radio Network that is currently under development (i.e. an evolution of the NR network and its 5G technology).

[0140] The interfaces between the terminal nodes 110 and the access nodes 120 are radio interfaces 124 (e.g., llu interfaces). The interfaces between the access nodes 120 and one or more core nodes 130 are backhaul interfaces 128 (e.g., S1 and / or Next Generation, NG, interfaces).

[0141] Depending on the exact deployment scenario, the access nodes 120 may be RAN nodes such as NG-RAN nodes. NG-RAN nodes may be gNodeBs, gNBs, that provide NG user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE. The gNBs are connected by means of NG interfaces to a 5G Core, 5GC, not least for example to an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, by means of an NG Control Plane, NG-C, interface and to a User Plane Function, UPF, by means of an NG User Plane, NG-ll, interface. The AMF may be connected by means of an N1 interface to the UE (not shown). The access nodes 120 may be interconnected with each other by means of Xn interfaces 126.

[0142] The cellular network 100 may be configured to operate in licensed frequency bands, or unlicensed frequency bands (not least such as: unlicensed bands that rely upon a transmitting device to sense the radio resources / medium before commencing transmission, such as via a Listen Before Talk, LBT, procedure; and a 60GHz unlicensed band where beamforming may be required to achieve required coverage).

[0143] The access nodes 120 may be deployed in an NG standalone operation / scenario. The access nodes 120 may be deployed in a NG non- standalone operation / scenario. The access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Carrier Aggregation, CA, operation / scenario. The access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Dual Connectivity, DC, operation / scenario, i.e., Multi Radio Access Technology - Dual Connectivity, MR-DC, or NR-DC. The access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Multi Connectivity, MC, operation / scenario. In such non-standalone / dual connectivity deployments, the access nodes 120 may be interconnected to each other by means of X2 or Xn interfaces, and connected to an Evolved Packet Core, EPC, by means of an S1 interface or to the 5GC by means of a NG interface.

[0144] A terminal node 110, in addition to being capable of communicating (i.e. with other terminal nodes) via access nodes 120 of the network 100, may also be capable of and configured to communicate directly with one or more other terminal nodes. In this regard, the terminal node may be capable of and configured to perform device-to-device, D2D, communication - which may be referred to as Sidelink, SL, communication. Such D2D / SL communication may use a PC5 interface. PC5 refers to a reference point where the terminal node communicates directly with another terminal node over a direct channel (i.e. communication via an access node is not required). D2D communications may be short-range, network-less, direct communications. SL in New Radio (NR) is defined in 3GPP’s release 16 of 5G NR.

[0145] In the example of FIG. 1 the core node 130 is shown as a single entity. In some examples the core node 130 could be distributed across a plurality of entities. For example, the core node 130 could be cloud based or distributed in any other suitable manner. The core node / core entities may provide one or more functions, not least such as: User Plane Function UPF, Session Management Function SMF, Policy Control Function PCF, Application Function AF, Location Management Function, LMF, and Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF.

[0146] The access nodes 120 are network elements in the network responsible for radio transmission and reception in one or more cells 122 to or from the terminal nodes 110. The access nodes 120 are the network termination of a radio link. Each access node may be a Transmission Reception Point, TRP, or may host one or more TRPs.

[0147] An access node 120 may be implemented as a single network equipment, or have a split architecture that is disaggregated / distributed over two or more access nodes, such as a Centralized / Control Unit, CU, a Distributed Unit, DU, a Remote Radio Head-end, RRH, using different functional-split architectures and different interfaces.

[0148] The terminal nodes 110 are network elements in the network that terminate the user side of the radio link. They are devices allowing access to network services. Terminal node 110 functionalities may be performed also by Mobile Termination, MT, part of an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, node. The terminal nodes 110 may be referred to as User Equipment, UE, mobile equipment, mobile terminals, or mobile stations.

[0149] The term ‘User Equipment’ may be used to designate mobile equipment comprising means, such as a smart card, for authentication / encryption etc. such as a Subscriber Identity Module, SIM. A SIM / SIM card can be a memory chip, a module, or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM). In some examples, the term ‘User Equipment’ can be used to designate a location / position tag, a hyper / smart, a hyper / smart sensor, or a mobile equipment comprising circuitry embedded as part of the user equipment for authentication / encryption such as a software SIM.

[0150] The location server 140 is a device that manages the support of different location services for UEs, including positioning of UEs and delivery of assistance data to UEs. The location server can be connected to the core node and the Internet. The location server can be implemented as one or more servers. The location server is configured to support one or more location services for UEs 110 that can connect to the location server 140 via the core network 130 and / or via the Internet. The location server may be referred to as Location Management Function, LMF, which is a defined network function within the 5GC.

[0151] In the following description, a terminal node may be referred to simply as UE 110.

[0152] In the following description, an access apparatus / access node to a RAN (e.g. a cellular network not least such as a 5G or 6G next generation RAN) may be referred to interchangeably as BS 120 or gNB 120.

[0153] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of an access node 120 (e.g. gNB). In this example, the access node has a disaggregated (split) architecture.

[0154] The gNB 120 comprises one or more Distributed Units (gNB-DU) 220 and a Centralized Unit (gNB-CU) 210.

[0155] The gNB-CU 210 is a logical node, which may be referred to as a central node, configured to host a Radio Resource Connection (RRC) layer and other layers of the gNB 120. The gNB-CU 210 controls the operation of one or more gNB-DUs 220. The gNB-Dll 220 is a logical node, which may be referred to as a distributed node, configured to host Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol layer, Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and Physical (PHY) layer of the access node (gNB) 120.

[0156] The gNB-Cll 210 and a gNB-Dll 220 communicate via a dedicated interface 250, the F1 interface. The F1 interface 250 connects a Radio Resource Connection (RRC) layer hosted by the gNB-Cll 210 to the different, lower layers (e.g. layer 1 and layer 2) hosted by the gNB-Dll 220. The F1 interface functions are divided into F1 -Control Plane Function (F1-C) and F1-User Plane Function (F1-LI).

[0157] The gNB-Cll and gNB-DU(s) may be co-located or physically separated. One gNB-Dll 220 can support one or multiple cells 122 (not illustrated in the figure). One cell is supported by only one gNB-Dll 220.

[0158] In the following description: a centralized unit or a control unit of a gNB (i.e. gNB-Cll) will be referred to as CU 210, a distributed unit of a gNB (i.e. gNB- Dll) will be referred to as DU 220, and a terminal node 110 will be referred to as UE 110.

[0159] There now follows a brief discussion of L1 / L2 Triggered Mobility- LTM.

[0160] LTM is a cell switch procedure wherein a UE’s serving cell (i.e. Primary Cell, PCell, or Primary Secondary Cell, PSCell) is switched by the network by sending an LTM cell switch command. An LTM switch command may be delivered via MAC signaling using a MAC CE (i.e. as compared to the cell switching command being delivered via RRC signaling such as is the case for an L3 based handover).

[0161] An LTM cell switch decision is based on measurements (for example L1 measurements) that are performed and reported (for example in an L1 measurement report) by the UE. Measurements and reporting may be based on an LTM candidate cell configuration provided by the network (e.g. gNB) for one or more LTM candidate cells. An LTM candidate cell may be neighbouring cells or a UE’s current serving cells (e.g. Secondary Cells, SCells). An LTM candidate cell may be a cell that the UE can execute handover to - e.g. reactive to a cell switch command, reactive to evaluating a condition, or reactive to detecting a failure. In 3GPP’s Release-18, LTM measurements on a neighbouring candidate cell are performed using Synchronization Signal Blocks, SSBs, that are transmitted by a candidate cell for which an SSB configuration has been provided to the UE. This is being extended to Channel State Information Reference Signal, CSI-RS, based measurements in Release-19, which is currently in development.

[0162] Before a cell switch, the network may optionally activate one or more TCI state(s) for one or more candidate cells. Once a candidate cell TCI state is activated, the UE may start tracking time / frequency synchronization using reference signals associated with the activated TCI state(s). The UE may also perform early uplink, UL, synchronization before a cell switch if this is requested by the network.

[0163] Technical Specification, TS, 38.300 V18.0.0 sets out an LTM procedure. In overview, a signaling procedure for LTM (which only covers Intra-CU LTM handovers) is as follows:

[0164] 1 . UE sends a MeasurementReport message to gNB. The gNB decides to configure LTM and initiates LTM preparation.

[0165] 2. gNB transmits an RRCReconfiguration message to UE including LTM candidate configurations.

[0166] 3. UE stores LTM candidate configurations and transmits an RRCReconfigurationComplete message to gNB.

[0167] 4a. UE performs DL synchronization with candidate cell(s) before receiving a cell switch command.

[0168] 4b. UE performs early Timing Advance, TA, acquisition with candidate cell(s) as requested by the network before receiving the cell switch command (as specified in clause 9.2.6 [TS 38.300]). This is done via Contention-Free Random Access, CFRA, triggered by a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, order from a source cell, following which UE sends preamble towards an indicated candidate cell. In order to minimize data interruption of source cell due to CFRA towards candidate cell(s), UE does not receive random access response from the network for the purpose of TA value acquisition and the TA value of the candidate cell is indicated in the cell switch command. The UE does not maintain a TA timer for the candidate cell and relies on network implementation to guarantee the TA validity. 5. UE performs L1 measurements on configured candidate cell(s) and transmits L1 measurement reports to gNB. L1 measurement should be performed as long as RRC reconfiguration (step 2) is applicable.

[0169] 6. gNB decides to execute cell switch to a target cell and transmits a MAC CE triggering cell switch by including the candidate configuration index of the target cell. The UE switches to the target cell and applies the configuration indicated by candidate configuration index.

[0170] 7. UE performs random-access procedure towards target cell, if UE does not have valid TA of the target cell (as specified in clause 6.1.3.75 of TS 38.321 ).

[0171] 8. UE completes LTM cell switch procedure by sending RRCReconfigurationComplete message to target cell. If UE has performed a RA procedure in step 7 UE considers that LTM cell switch execution is successfully completed when random-access procedure is successfully completed. For RACH-less LTM, UE considers that LTM cell switch execution is successfully completed when UE determines that the network has successfully received its first UL data.

[0172] The steps 4-8 can be performed multiple times for subsequent LTM using the LTM candidate configuration(s) provided in step 2.

[0173] The procedure over the air interface described above can be applicable to both intra-gNB-DU LTM and inter-gNB-DU LTM. The overall LTM procedures over F1-C interface are captured in TS 38.401 .

[0174] There now follows a brief discussion of LTM measurements and reporting.

[0175] In order to select appropriate candidate cells and beams for early uplink and downlink synchronization and cell switching in LTM, both intra and interfrequency L1 measurements using SSB transmissions from the candidate cells are supported.

[0176] For L1 measurements, L1 Reference Signal Received Power, L1 -RSRP, is used as the measurement quantity. For each prepared candidate cell, the configuration information of the SSBs is provided to the UE. One or more measurement RS sets, each containing SSB indices to be measured from one or more candidate cells, are provided to the UE. This configuration is provided in a common LTM configuration outside of any candidate or current source cell configuration so that it can be used over multiple cell switches [TS 38.331 ],

[0177] Additionally, to trigger the UE to make measurements, reporting needs to be activated. For LTM, similar to serving cell Channel State Information, CSI, measurement reporting, different types of L1 reporting, including periodic reporting, semi-persistent reporting, and aperiodic reporting, can be enabled [TS 38.214, TS 38.331 ],

[0178] A set of reporting configurations can be provided within each cell's respective configuration because a reporting configuration can contain the details of cellspecific uplink resources to send reports - especially when the reports are configured to be sent on uplink control channels with pre-configured resources.

[0179] A reporting configuration also contains a reference to a measurement Reference Signal, RS, set located in the common LTM configuration to be considered for measurements. The details of the reporting content include: a number of candidate cells (L) and a number of SSBs per candidate cell (M) to be reported from the measurements made by the UE.

[0180] In each LTM report, the UE can send L x M measurements (L1 -RSRPs) where the supported values for each M and L can be {1 , 2, 3, 4}. The reporting format follows the beam management reporting format, where the largest L1-RSRP is reported as the absolute value using 7 bits, while other L1 -RSRPs are reported using 4-bit differential values [TS 38.212], For each measurement, the respective index of the SSB within the measurement RS set is provided as shown in table 1 below.

[0181] Table 1

[0182] For cell switch decisions, the relative quality of a candidate cell compared to the source cell is more important than the absolute quality. Although the source cell quality can be acquired from UE measurement reports configured separately from LTM for serving cell beam management, in LTM, in a reporting configuration, the UE can additionally be configured to report the measurements of the source cell (source SpCell) along with the candidate cells [TS 38.214, TS 38.331], In such a scenario, the SSBs to be measured from the source cell are included in the measurement RS set linked with the reporting configuration.

[0183] The measurement RS sets are prepared by the control / centralized unit, CU, of the distributed units, DUs, controlling the source and candidate cells and sent to each candidate and source cell to prepare cell-specific reporting configurations. These configurations are then sent back to the CU, which can finally add them to the complete LTM RRC Reconfiguration and send them to the UE [TS 38.401 , TS 38.473],

[0184] The size of SSBRI maps to the number of SSBs configured in the resource set to be reported. By way of an example, if the reporting configuration maps to a resource set with 6 SSBs then the SSBRI will use 3 bits to indicate each resource in the resource set. With different resource sets being associated with different reporting configurations, this enables the size of SSBRI to be optimized to limit the signaling overhead.

[0185] There now follows a brief discussion of beam management with Artificial Intelligence, Al Machine Learning, ML.

[0186] AI / ML for beam management is currently in development in Rel-19 and the work is based on AI / ML techniques for NR air interface that have been studied in FS_NR_AIML_Air [Technical Report, TR, 38.843],

[0187] RAN 1 / 2 currently focuses on two beam management sub-use cases: Spatial-domain DL Tx beam prediction for Set A of beams based on measurement results of Set B of beams (“BM-Case1”), and Temporal DL Tx beam prediction for Set A of beams based on the historic measurement results of Set B of beams (“BM-Case2”).

[0188] Specification support for both a UE-sided model and an NW-sided model are currently being considered. For a UE-sided model, the AI / ML model training and inference occur at UE side. For NW-sided model, the AI / ML model training and inference occur at NW side.

[0189] With regards to the relationship among different beams in Set A and Set B, RAN1 consider the following alternatives:

[0190] Alternative i): Set A and Set B are different (Set B is NOT a subset of Set A).

[0191] Alternative ii): Set B is a subset of Set A.

[0192] Alternative iii): Set A and Set B are the same is considered for BM- Case2.

[0193] RAN1 currently interprets the scope of beam prediction for beam management use-cases in intra-cell scenario with a single TRP / single cell.

[0194] In summary, for BM-Case1 and BM-Case2 with a UE-side AI / ML model, currently the following aspects are either agreed or considered by RAN1 / RAN2:

[0195] - Enabling inference operation (configure RS resource sets in CSI reporting, report inference reporting quantities using CSI reporting framework, etc...) by using NR beam measurement and reporting framework.

[0196] - Supporting performance monitoring of the inference operation (support of UE-assisted and NW-sided performance monitoring modes, configure monitoring RS resource set, reporting quantities / metrics for monitoring including details accuracy metrics, etc.)

[0197] - Supporting a framework for data collection (content of the data for model training, procedure of data collection, etc.) for UE-side model training

[0198] - Ensuring consistency between training and inference related to NW-side additional conditions (supporting associated-ID in both training and inference stages)

[0199] - Changes to beam indication (mainly for BM-Case2 as multiple TCI states to be indicated in one beam indication)

[0200] - Life cycle handling (LCM) aspects (switching / activating / deactivating AI / ML operation and applicable functionality reporting)

[0201] For BM-Case1 and BM-Case2 with a NW-side AI / ML model, currently the following aspects are either agreed or considered by the RAN1 / RAN2: - Enabling inference operation (reporting enhancements on number of reported beams and reporting history of measured beams) by using NR beam measurement and reporting framework

[0202] - Supporting performance monitoring of the inference operation (any enhancements to support NW-sided performance monitoring)

[0203] - Supporting a framework for data collection (content of the data for model training, procedure of data collection, etc...) for NW-side model training

[0204] Whilst the use of AI / ML has been considered for beam management procedures, the use of AI / ML has not been considered for cell switching procedures such as LTM.

[0205] Conventionally, in LTM, in order to enable L1 measurements on one or more beams of one or more candidate cells (or candidate target cells), the UE can be configured with one or more LTM CSI reporting configurations, wherein each reporting configuration contains an LTM CSI resource configuration containing information of resources / beams to be used for channel measurements (L1-RSRP measurements).

[0206] For each reporting configuration, the UE may be configured to report M beams, from each of the L candidate cells. Each LTM CSI resource comprises of a list of SSB indices, and a list of corresponding candidate cell indices associated with the SSB indices. With Release 19 measurement enhancements, it is proposed that this framework will be enhanced to enable CSI-RS based measurements.

[0207] With the LTM candidate cell measurement procedures in beam based systems, overhead and latency may be associated with the beam measurements and reporting process, especially in higher frequencies (i.e., Frequency Range 2, FR2) and beyond). Candidate cells may need to transmit a large number of reference signal like CSI-RSs, which may cause overhead as each beam is associated to a different SSB or CSI-RS resource. The UE has to measure candidate beams with L1 measurements at the same time as doing L3 measurements for neighbor detection and monitoring on the same frequency band. Optimizations such as s-measure do not apply to L1 measurements as such UE has to measure L1 candidate cell measurements continuously once they are configured. Similarly, with Rel. 18, a UE also has to report frequently the L1 measurements of candidate cells. Both of these aspects would greatly affect the energy consumption of the UE with these procedures. Rel. 19 is currently looking at using event based reporting to decrease a reporting load. However, the amount of measurements the UE does would stay the same.

[0208] Accordingly, current LTM procedures suffer from issues such as high UE energy consumption, i.e. due to the large number of measurements required for the LTM procedure. Also, currently LTM procedures may incur a large latency as the time required to find the best or a good beam pair (Tx and Rx) between a candidate cell and the UE may often require multiple rounds of measurements.

[0209] Various examples of the present disclosure seek to provide improved LTM. Various examples of the present disclosure seek to provide an LTM procedure that reduces UE energy consumption, e.g. both in relation to LTM measurement and reporting performed by the UE. Various examples of the present disclosure seek to provide an LTM procedure that reduces network overhead, e.g. in relation to the quantity of RS signals needed to be transmitted by candidate cell(s) for LTM cell switching (handover).

[0210] As will be discussed further below, examples of the present disclosure use predicted measurements for LTM cell switching (handover), i.e. use predicted measurements for measurement RSs / beams of a candidate cell to decide / trigger a cell switch.

[0211] As will be discussed in further detail below, in examples of the present disclosure, a new configuration, which may be referred to as an ‘LTM prediction configuration’ is proposed for use in LTM procedures. The LTM prediction configuration comprises: i) a configuration for “measurements for prediction” (i.e. a first set of resources for a first set of one or more measurement RSs / beams to be measured), and ii) a configuration for “prediction” (i.e. a second set of resources for a second set of one or more measurement RSs / beams whose measurements are to be predicted based on measurements of the first set of resources).

[0212] The LTM prediction configuration may define, depending on a use case, whether the LTM prediction configuration should be maintained by a UE following initiation of an LTM procedure or completion of a successful LTM procedure (i.e. handing over the UE from a source cell to a target cell), or if a further / new LTM procedure configuration is to be provided by the target cell. Also, as will be discussed in further detail below, various examples of the present disclosure seek to provide reporting configuration and a reporting format that enables a UE to group a. predicted beams versus non-predicted beams b. each candidate cell’s beams separately in order to indicate, to the network, beams belonging to a group with fewer number of bits. This may thereby minimize a total size of a report of measurement(s) / predicted measurement(s) to the network.

[0213] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example of a mobility / handover procedure 300 and a signaling framework, between: a first apparatus (in this example a UE 110), a second apparatus (in this example a first node of a RAN, e.g. a CU 210 such as a CU of a gNB serving the UE), and a third apparatus (in this example a second node of the RAN, e.g. a DU 220 such as a DU / source DU of the gNB serving the UE) for supporting the procedure.

[0214] Whilst reference above is made to a second apparatus (first node of a RAN) and a third apparatus (second node of a RAN), it is to be appreciated that the second and third apparatuses could be the same apparatus, e.g. a gNB 120 (that comprises the CU 210 and the DU 220). Likewise the first and second nodes of the RAN could also be the same node of the RAN, e.g. gNB 120 comprising the CU 210 and the DU 220.

[0215] As will be discussed below, the procedure 300 is an LTM procedure wherein the DU’s decision regarding whether to trigger a cell switch is based on predicted measurements of measurement RSs / beams of a second set of cells (i.e. candidate cells, namely cells that the UE may: execute handover to, reactive to, or receive a cell switch command from), wherein the predicted measurements are based on measurements of measurement RSs / beams of a first set of cells. The predicted measurements can be also used in combination with reported measurements.

[0216] In block 301 , the UE 110 receives, from the CU 210, configuration information 302. The configuration information (which may be referred to herein as “prediction configuration” or “LTM prediction configuration”) may comprise information for supporting the UE to perform its role in the prediction measurement-based LTM procedure, i.e., to support the UE in determining (and reporting) the prediction measurements. The configuration information 302 comprises: i) information indicative of at least one first set of resources 303 for at least one first set of one or more beams 304 of at least one first set of one or more cells. This set of resources may be referred to herein as “prediction measurement resource set”. This set of resources may comprise a first set of resources, wherein the first set of resources may refer to a first set of RSs (e.g. measurement RSs such as SSBs or CSI-RSs) of the first set of beams which are to be measured by the UE and whose measurements (e.g. RSRP of the RSs, or CSI measurements) are used to make predictions of measurements for the below-mentioned second set of beams); and ii) information indicative of at least one second set of resources 305 for at least one second set of one or more beams 306 (i.e. candidate beams) of at least one second set of one or more cells (i.e. candidate cells). This set of resources may be referred to herein as “for prediction resource set”. This set of resources may comprise RSs (e.g. measurement RSs such as SSBs or CSI-RSs) of the second set of beams, whose measurements (e.g. RSRP of RS or CSI measurements) are to be predicted by the UE based on CSI measurements of the first set of beams.

[0217] The configuration information may also comprise configuration information for configuring the UE to perform the LTM procedure.

[0218] In block 307, the UE uses the first set of resources 303 of the first set of beams 304 and performs measurements on the same to obtain a first set of measurements 308. In this regard the UE may perform measurements such as: beam measurements, channel measurements, and measuring L1 RSRP of CRI-RS. In some examples, the UE may measure L1 RSRP of SSB.

[0219] In block 309, the UE determinises / predicts, based at least in part on the second set of resources 305 and the measurements 308, predicted measurements 310 for the second set of beams. In this regard, the UE may predict, or estimate, predicted measurements 310 for the second set of beams based at least in part the measurements 308 on the first set of resources. The UE may comprise a model, e.g. a UE-sided model such as an AI / ML model that has been trained to predict measurements (e.g. RS measurements such as SSB measurements or CSI-RS measurements) of a second set of beams / second set of resources (e.g. RS resources such as SSB resources or CSI-RS resources) based on RS measurements of a first set of resources / first set of beams. In block 311 , the UE sends a report 312, to the DU 220 (i.e., a source DU that is currently serving the UE), comprising information indicative of predicted measurements 310.

[0220] The report may comprise information indicative of predicted measurements along with an identifier of the resources of the second set of resources associated with the predicted measurements. In this regard, the UE may report a “predicted CRI-RSRP”, i.e. a predicted RSRP for a CRI (CSI-RS Resource Indicator, an index used to indicate a resource to the network, as such the network knows that the CRI report or measurement value is of a resource namely, beam) of the second set of resources, i.e. the “for prediction resource set”. In some examples, the UE may report a “predicted SSBRI- RSRP”, i.e. a predicted RSRP for an SSBRI of the second set of resources “for prediction resource set”.

[0221] The report may further comprise information indicative of information indicative of the resources of the second set of resources associated with the predicted beam measurements.

[0222] The DU 220, upon receiving the report 312, decides whether to trigger a cell switch operation to switch the UE to one of the cells of the second set of cells (i.e. one of the candidate cells) based on the predicted measurements. For instance, the DU may trigger a cell switch based on a determination that one or more of the predicted beam measurements of one or more candidate beams of one or more candidate cells meet one or more criteria (e.g. an RSRP value of a candidate beam of a candidate cell that crosses / exceeds a threshold). In this regard, the DU can determine whether to perform LTM based on predicted measurements (i.e. prediction-based LTM).

[0223] In block 313, the UE receives, from the DU, an indication 314 to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell (i.e. a target cell) of the second set of cells.

[0224] The UE may undergo / carryout the cell switch operation to the cell / target cell of the second set of cells responsive to the indication (not shown).

[0225] In block 315, upon determining an initiation or a completion of the cell switch operation, the UE discards the configuration information 302. In this regard, the UE, upon receiving the configuration information 302 in block 301 , may store the configuration information 302; and block 315 the UE may automatically delete / remove the stored configuration information responsive to determining an initiation of the cell switch operation or a successful completion of the cell switch operation (i.e. the determination of an initiation of the cell switch operation or the successful completion of the cell switch operation triggers the discarding / removal of the configuration information).

[0226] The UE may automatically delete / remove the stored configuration information responsive, at least in part, to receiving block 313.

[0227] In some examples, the configuration information 302 (i.e. the “LTM prediction configuration”) is received, in block 301 , in a serving cell configuration.

[0228] As part of the cell switch operation, the UE receives a further / new serving cell configuration for the new serving cell [i.e. the former target cell of the successfully completed cell switch operation]). Since, in accordance with the example procedure of FIG. 3, an LTM prediction configuration is contained in a serving cell configuration, the further / new serving cell configuration (which is received by the UE during preparation operation) comprises a further / new LTM prediction configuration. The preparation operation is not shown in the figure but may take place at block 301 . The CU provides the candidate further / new configuration to be applied responsive to message 313.1

[0229] Upon initiation or completion of the cell switch operation, the LTM prediction configuration of the previous serving cell’s serving cell configuration is discarded. Also, upon completion of the cell switch operation, the UE applies the further / new LTM prediction configuration. In this regard, the UE may apply, following completion of the cell switch operation, second configuration information (i.e. the further / new LTM prediction configuration) that comprises: a third set of resources for a third set of beams of a third set of cells (i.e. a further / new prediction measurement resource set); and a fourth set of resources for a fourth set of beams (i.e. a further / new set of candidate beams) of a fourth set of cells (i.e. a further / new set of candidate cells).

[0230] In other words, the discarding of the in itial / former LTM prediction configuration of the initial / former serving cell’s serving cell configuration comprises deleting the initial / former LTM prediction configuration and replacing / overwriting it with, and / or applying, the new LTM prediction configuration of the new serving cell’s serving cell configuration.

[0231] In some examples, the configuration information 302 (i.e. the “LTM prediction configuration”) is received, in block 301 , in a configuration for the cell of the second set of cells that the UE switched to (i.e. a candidate cell configuration of the former target cell that, following the cell switch, is now the new serving cell). The UE may have previously received the candidate cell configuration when receiving configuration information for configuring the LTM procedure. In this regard, the discarding of the initial / former LTM prediction configuration of the initial / former serving cell’s serving cell configuration is replaced / overwritten by the LTM prediction configuration of the candidate cell configuration.

[0232] In some examples, the configuration information 302 may comprise an indication that the UE should discard the configuration information upon completion of the cell switch operation.

[0233] In some examples, the UE may also receive (not shown), from the CU, reporting configuration information for configuring the UE’s reporting in block 311 . This reporting configuration may be set by each candidate DU that determines the lower layer configuration of each candidate cell.

[0234] The reporting configuration information may comprises an indication for the

[0235] UE to report at least one of: the one or more predicted measurements 310; or the one or more measurements 308.

[0236] This is discussed further below in relation to “Scenario R1” reporting mechanism.

[0237] The reporting configuration information may comprise an indication for the UE: to report the one or more predicted measurements 310, and not to report the one or more measurements 308.

[0238] This is discussed further below in relation to “Scenario R2” reporting mechanism.

[0239] In some examples, the UE receives CSI resource configuration for performing one or more measurements in a serving cell of the UE, and the information indicative of the first set of resources 303 indicates the first set of resources with reference to the CSI resource configuration.

[0240] In some examples (not shown), prior to block 301 , the UE may transmit, towards the CU, information indicative of the UE’s capability / support of performing prediction-based LTM. In this regard, the UE may send, to the CU, capability information indicative of the UE’s capability of determining predicted beam measurements of the second set of beams (i.e. candidate beams) based on a measurements performed on the first set of beams. In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set are from the same cell as the beams of the first set. In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set belong to the same resource set as the beams of the first set.

[0241] This is discussed further below in relation to “Type 1” UE capability.

[0242] In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set are from a different cell to that of the beams of the first set. In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set are indicated by a resource set that is different to a resource set used by the beams of the first set.

[0243] This is discussed further below in relation to “Type 2” UE capability.

[0244] In some examples, the UE may only be able to predict measurements for candidate beams with respect to measurements of performed on RSs / beams of a cell currently serving the UE. In this regard, the beams of the first set of beams are beams of the UE’s serving cell.

[0245] In some examples, the first set of resources and second set of resources are separate sets of resources. In some examples, the first set of beams may be a separate set of beams to the second set of beams.

[0246] This is discussed further below in relation to “Option A” reporting mechanism.

[0247] In some examples, the first set of resources and the second set of resources are subsets of a third set of resources.

[0248] This is discussed further below in relation to “Option B” reporting mechanism.

[0249] Advantageously, with LTM procedures according to examples of the present disclosure, a cell switch / LTM may be triggered based on predicted measurements. Since the UE predicts measurements for the RSs of the second set of beams (rather than measuring the RSs of the second set of beams), the UE may perform fewer measurements and UE power consumption may thereby be reduced.

[0250] Moreover, since the UE predicts measurements for the RSs of the second set of beams (rather than measuring the RSs of the second set of beams), the RSs of the second set of beams do not in fact necessarily need to be transmitted. Hence, fewer RSs may be transmitted and network overhead may thereby be reduced. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of a mobility / handover procedure 400 and a signaling framework, between: a first apparatus (in this example a UE 110), a second apparatus (in this example a CU 210, e.g. a CU of a gNB serving the UE), and a third apparatus (in this example a DU 220, e.g. a DU / source DU of a gNB serving the UE) for supporting the procedure.

[0251] Whilst reference above is made to a second apparatus (first node of a RAN) and a third apparatus (second node of a RAN), it is to be appreciated that the second and third apparatuses could be the same apparatus, e.g. a gNB 120 (that comprises the CU 210 and the DU 220). Likewise the first and second nodes of the RAN could also be the same node of the RAN, e.g. gNB 120 comprising the CU 210 and the DU 220.

[0252] As will be set out below, the procedure 400 that is broadly similar to the procedure 300 of FIG. 3, namely an LTM procedure wherein the DU’s decision regarding whether to trigger a cell switch is based on predicted measurements of measurement RSs / beams of a second set of cells (i.e. candidate cells), wherein the predicted measurements are based on measurements of measurement RSs / beams of a first set of cells. This is referred to as ‘prediction-based LTM’.

[0253] However, rather than discarding the LTM prediction configuration in block 315 of FIG. 3, instead, in block 415 of FIG. 4, the UE maintains the LTM prediction configuration. In this regard, the UE keeps the LTM prediction configuration as part of an active configuration and continues to use it.

[0254] Moreover, rather than receiving the configuration information (“LTM prediction configuration”) in a serving cell configuration or a candidate cell configuration, instead the configuration information (“LTM prediction configuration”) is received, in block 401 , separately of a serving cell configuration or a candidate cell configuration. In this regard, the configuration information / LTM prediction configuration may be received in a mobility configuration, such as an LTM configuration for configuring the UE for an LTM procedure.

[0255] In block 401 , the UE 110 receives, from the CU 210, configuration information 402. The configuration information (which may be referred to herein as “prediction configuration” or “LTM prediction configuration”) may comprise information for supporting the UE to perform its role in the prediction measurement-based LTM procedure, i.e.to support the UE in determining (and reporting) the prediction measurements.

[0256] The configuration information 402 comprises: i) information indicative of at least one first set of resources 403 for at least one first set of one or more beams 404 of at least one first set of one or more cells. This set of resources may be referred to herein as “prediction measurement resource set”. This set of resources may comprise a first set of resources such as a first set of RSs (e.g. measurement RSs such as SSBs or CSI-RSs) of the first set of beams which are to be measured by the UE and whose measurements (e.g. RSRP of the RSs, or CSI measurements) are used to make predictions of measurements for the below- mentioned second set of beams); and ii) information indicative of at least one second set of resources 405 for at least one second set of one or more beams 406 (i.e. candidate beams) of at least one second set of one or more cells (i.e. candidate cells). This set of resources may be referred to herein as “for prediction resource set”. This set of resources may comprise RSs (e.g. measurement RSs such as SSBs or CSI-RSs) of the second set of beams, whose measurements (e.g. RSRP of RS or CSI measurements) are to be predicted by the UE based on CSI measurements of the first set of beams.

[0257] The configuration information may also comprise configuration information for configuring the UE to perform the LTM procedure.

[0258] In block 407, the UE uses the first set of resources 403 of the first set of beams 404 and performs measurements on the same to obtain a first set of measurements 408. In this regard the UE may perform measurements such as: beam measurements, channel measurements, and measuring L1 RSRP of CRI-RS. In some examples, the UE may measure L1 RSRP of SSB.

[0259] In block 409, the UE determinises / predicts, based at least in part on the second set of resources 405 and the measurements 408, predicted measurements 410 for the second set of beams. In this regard, the UE may predict, or estimate, predicted measurements 410 for the second set of beams based at least in part the measurements 408 on the first set of resources. The UE may comprise a model, e.g. a UE-sided model such as an AI / ML model that has been trained to predict measurements (e.g. RS measurements such as SSB measurements or CSI-RS measurements) of a second set of beams / second set of resources (e.g. RS resources such as SSB resources or CSI-RS resources) based on RS measurements of a first set of resources / first set of beams.

[0260] In block 411 , the UE sends a report 412, to the DU 220 (i.e. a source DU that is currently serving the UE), comprising information indicative of predicted measurements 410.

[0261] The report may comprise information indicative of predicted measurements along with an identifier of the resources of the second set of resources associated with the predicted measurements. In this regard, the UE may report a “predicted CRI-RSRP”, i.e. a predicted RSRP for a CRI of the second set of resources, i.e. the “for prediction resource set”. In some examples, the UE may report a “predicted SSBRI-RSRP”, i.e. a predicted RSRP for an SSBRI of the second set of resources “for prediction resource set”.

[0262] The report may further comprise information indicative of information indicative of the resources of the second set of resources associated with the predicted beam measurements.

[0263] The DU 220, upon receiving the report 412, decides whether to trigger a cell switch operation to switch the UE to one of the cells of the second set of cells (i.e. one of the candidate cells) based on the predicted measurements. For instance, the DU may trigger a cell switch based on a determination that one or more of the predicted beam measurements of one or more candidate beams of one or more candidate cells meet one or more criteria (e.g. an RSRP value of a candidate beam of a candidate cell that crosses / exceeds a threshold). In this regard, the DU can determine whether to perform LTM based on predicted measurements (i.e. prediction-based LTM).

[0264] In block 413, the UE receives, from the DU, an indication 414 to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell (i.e. a target cell) of the second set of cells.

[0265] The UE may undergo / carryout the cell switch operation to the cell / target cell of the second set of cells responsive to the indication (not shown).

[0266] In block 415, following initiation or completion of the cell switch operation (e.g. following a determination by the UE that the cell switch operation has been initiated or completed), the UE maintains the configuration information 402 for further use. In this regard, the UE, upon receiving the configuration information 402 in block 401 , may store the configuration information 402; and in block 415 the UE keeps / maintains, at the UE, (i.e. does not automatically delete / remove) the stored configuration information. In this manner, the configuration information 402 can be continued to be used by the UE and the network, i.e. it can be re-utilised in performing a further prediction-based LTM procedure. The UE may decide to maintain / keep / store the configuration information responsive, at least in part, to receiving block 413.

[0267] In some examples, the configuration information 402 (i.e. the “LTM prediction configuration”) is received, in block 401 , in a mobility configuration. The mobility configuration may be an LTM configuration. The LTM configuration may be common to the first and second sets of cells.

[0268] The mobility configuration may be received separately from: a serving cell configuration; and / or a candidate cell configuration.

[0269] In this regard, since the LTM prediction configuration is received in a mobility configuration, which itself is received separately of / outside of a serving cell configuration and / or a candidate cell configuration, upon completion of a cell switch operation and receipt of a further / new serving cell configuration for the new serving cell (i.e. the former target cell of the successfully completed cell switch operation), the LTM prediction configuration of the mobility configuration can be maintained (and, unlike the procedure 300 of FIG. 3 in which the LTM prediction configuration is received in a serving cell configuration and / or a candidate cell configuration, when a new serving cell configuration is received, the LTM prediction configuration of the mobility configuration is not replaced / overwritten by an LTM prediction configuration within the serving cell configuration)

[0270] In some examples, the configuration information 402 may comprise an indication that the UE should maintain the configuration information upon completion of the cell switch operation.

[0271] In some examples, the UE may also receive (not shown), from the CU, reporting configuration information for configuring the UE’s reporting in block 411.

[0272] The reporting configuration information may comprises an indication for the

[0273] UE to report at least one of: the one or more predicted measurements 410; or the one or more measurements 408.

[0274] This is discussed further below in relation to “Scenario R1” reporting mechanism.

[0275] The reporting configuration information may comprise an indication for the UE: to report the one or more predicted measurements 410, and not to report the one or more measurements 408.

[0276] This is discussed further below in relation to “Scenario R2” reporting mechanism.

[0277] In some examples, the UE receives CSI resource configuration for performing one or more measurements in a serving cell of the UE, and the information indicative of the first set of resources 403 indicates the first set of resources with reference to the CSI resource configuration.

[0278] In some examples (not shown), prior to block 401 , the UE may transmit, towards the CU, information indicative of the UE’s capability / support of performing prediction-based LTM. In this regard, the UE may send, to the CU, capability information indicative of the UE’s capability of determining predicted beam measurements of the second set of beams (i.e. candidate beams) based on a measurements performed on the first set of beams.

[0279] In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set are from the same cell as the beams of the first set. In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set use the same resource set as the beams of the first set.

[0280] This is discussed further below in relation to “Type 1” UE capability.

[0281] In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set are from a different cell to that of the beams of the first set. In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set use a resource set that is different to a resource set used by the beams of the first set.

[0282] This is discussed further below in relation to “Type 2” UE capability.

[0283] In some examples, the UE may only be able to predict measurements for candidate beams with respect to measurements of performed on RSs / beams of a cell currently serving the UE. In this regard, the beams of the first set of beams are beams of the UE’s serving cell. In some examples, the first set of resources and second set of resources are separate sets of resources. In some examples, the first set of beams may be a separate set of beams to the second set of beams.

[0284] This is discussed further below in relation to “Option A” reporting mechanism.

[0285] In some examples, the first set of resources and the second set of resources are subsets of a third set of resources.

[0286] This is discussed further below in relation to “Option B” reporting mechanism.

[0287] Advantageously, with LTM procedures according to examples of the present disclosure, a cell switch / LTM may be triggered based on predicted measurements. Since the UE predicts measurements for the RSs of the second set of beams (rather than measuring the RSs of the second set of beams), the UE may perform fewer measurements and UE power consumption may thereby be reduced.

[0288] Moreover, since the UE predicts measurements for the RSs of the second set of beams (rather than measuring the RSs of the second set of beams), the RSs of the second set of beams do not if fact necessarily actually need to be transmitted. Hence, fewer RSs may be transmitted and network overhead may thereby be reduced.

[0289] Yet moreover, since the configuration information is maintained following a cell switch, the configuration information may be re-used by the UE / network in performing a further prediction-based LTM.

[0290] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example of a mobility / handover procedure 500 and a signaling framework, between: a first apparatus (in this example a UE 110), a second apparatus (in this example a CU 210, e.g. a CU of a gNB serving the UE), and a third apparatus (in this example a DU 220, e.g. a DU / source DU of a gNB serving the UE) for supporting the procedure.

[0291] Whilst reference above is made to a second apparatus (first node of a RAN) and a third apparatus (second node of a RAN), it is to be appreciated that the second and third apparatuses could be the same apparatus, e.g. a gNB 120 (that comprises the CU 210 and the DU 220). Likewise the first and second nodes of the RAN could also be the same node of the RAN, e.g. gNB 120 comprising the CU 210 and the DU 220. As will be set out below, the procedure 500 that is broadly similar to the procedures 300 and 400 of FIGs. 3 and 4, namely an LTM procedure wherein the Dll’s decision regarding whether to trigger a cell switch is based on predicted measurements of measurement RSs / beams of a second set of cells (i.e. candidate cells), wherein the predicted measurements are based on measurements of measurement RSs / beams of a first set of cells. This is referred to as ‘prediction-based LTM’.

[0292] However, instead of automatically discarding or maintaining the LTM prediction configuration in blocks 315 or 415, in block 517 of FIG. 5 the UE determined whether to discard or maintain the LTM prediction configuration based on receipt of an indication, e.g. from the CU or serving gNB. Moreover, the configuration information (“LTM prediction configuration”) received in block 501 may be stored independently and / or separately of the storage of a serving cell configuration or a candidate cell configuration. Since the LTM prediction configuration is stored independently / separately of the serving cell configuration or a candidate cell configuration, when a new / further serving cell configuration or a candidate cell configuration is received and stored, it does not replace / overwrite the independently / separately stored LTM configuration.

[0293] In block 501 , the UE 110 receives, from the CU 210, configuration information 502. The configuration information (which may be referred to herein as “prediction configuration” or “LTM prediction configuration”) may comprise information for supporting the UE to perform its role in the prediction measurement-based LTM procedure, i.e.to support the UE in determining (and reporting) the prediction measurements.

[0294] The configuration information 502 comprises: i) information indicative of at least one first set of resources 503 for at least one first set of one or more beams 504 of at least one first set of one or more cells. This set of resources may be referred to herein as “prediction measurement resource set”. This set of resources may comprise a first set of resources, e.g. a first set of RSs (e.g. measurement RSs such as SSBs or CSI-RSs) of the first set of beams which are to be measured by the UE and whose measurements (e.g. RSRP of the RSs, or CSI measurements) are used to make predictions of measurements for the below- mentioned second set of beams); and ii) information indicative of at least one second set of resources 505 for at least one second set of one or more beams 506 (i.e. candidate beams) of at least one second set of one or more cells (i.e. candidate cells). This set of resources may be referred to herein as “for prediction resource set”. This set of resources may comprise RSs (e.g. measurement RSs such as SSBs or CSI-RSs) of the second set of beams, whose measurements (e.g. RSRP of RS or CSI measurements) are to be predicted by the UE based on CSI measurements of the first set of beams.

[0295] The configuration information may also comprise configuration information for configuring the UE to perform the LTM procedure.

[0296] In block 507, the UE uses the first set of resources 503 of the first set of beams 504 and performs measurements on the same to obtain a first set of measurements 508. In this regard the UE may perform measurements such as: beam measurements, channel measurements, and measuring L1 RSRP of CRI-RS. In some examples, the UE may measure L1 RSRP of SSB.

[0297] In block 509, the UE determinises / predicts, based at least in part on the second set of resources 505 and the measurements 508, predicted measurements 510 for the second set of beams. In this regard, the UE may predict, or estimate, predicted measurements 510 for the second set of beams based at least in part the measurements 508 on the first set of resources. The UE may comprise a model, e.g. a UE-sided model such as an AI / ML model that has been trained to predict measurements (e.g. RS measurements such as SSB measurements or CSI-RS measurements) of a second set of beams / second set of resources (e.g. RS resources such as SSB resources or CSI-RS resources) based on RS measurements of a first set of resources / first set of beams.

[0298] In block 511 , the UE send a report 512, to the DU 220 (i.e. a source DU that is currently serving the UE), comprising information indicative of predicted measurements 510.

[0299] The report may comprise information indicative of predicted measurements along with an identifier of the resources of the second set of resources associated with the predicted measurements. In this regard, the UE may report a “predicted CRI-RSRP”, i.e. a predicted RSRP for a CRI of the second set of resources, i.e. the “for prediction resource set”. In some examples, the UE may report a “predicted SSBRI-RSRP”, i.e. a predicted RSRP for an SSBRI of the second set of resources / “for prediction resource set”. The report may further comprise information indicative of information indicative of the resources of the second set of resources associated with the predicted beam measurements.

[0300] The DU 220, upon receiving the report 512, decides whether to trigger a cell switch operation to switch the UE to one of the cells of the second set of cells (i.e. one of the candidate cells) based on the predicted measurements. For instance, the DU may trigger a cell switch based on a determination that one or more of the predicted beam measurements of one or more candidate beams of one or more candidate cells meet one or more criteria (e.g. an RSRP value of a candidate beam of a candidate cell that crosses / exceeds a threshold). In this regard, the DU can determine whether to perform LTM based on predicted measurements (i.e. prediction-based LTM).

[0301] In block 513, the UE receives, from the DU, an indication 514 to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell (i.e. a target cell) of the second set of cells.

[0302] The UE may undergo / carryout the cell switch operation to the cell / target cell of the second set of cells responsive to the indication (not shown).

[0303] In block 515, the UE receives, from the CU, an indication 516 from the RAN whether to discard or maintain the configuration information. Whilst in the example shown in FIG. 5, the indication 516 is shown as being received after the indication 514. However, it is to be appreciated that the indication 516 could be provided prior to, or even at the same time as / along with, the indication 514.

[0304] In some examples, the indication 516 is included in the configuration information 502 received in block 501 , in which case, the UE may determine to store the configuration information 502 separately / independently of a serving cell or candidate information such that the serving cell or candidate information can be separately updated / replaced / overwritten without affecting the separately / independently stored configuration information 502.

[0305] In block 517, following completion of the cell switch operation, the UE determines whether to discard the configuration information 502 or maintain it for further use. In this regard, the UE may determine whether to delete / remove the configuration information or keep / maintain it so that it can be re-utilised in performing a further prediction-based LTM procedure. In some examples, the configuration information 502 (i.e. the “LTM prediction configuration”) is received, in block 501 , in one or more of: a serving cell configuration; a candidate cell configuration; or a mobility configuration (wherein the mobility configuration may be an LTM configuration, that may be common to the first and second sets of cells).

[0306] In some examples, the configuration information 502 (i.e. the “LTM prediction configuration”) is stored independently and / or separately of the at least one of the following: a serving cell configuration; or a candidate cell configuration.

[0307] In some examples, the UE may also receive (not shown), from the CU, reporting configuration information for configuring the UE’s reporting in block 511.

[0308] The reporting configuration information may comprises an indication for the UE to report at least one of: the one or more predicted measurements 510; or the one or more measurements 508.

[0309] This is discussed further below in relation to “Scenario R1” reporting mechanism.

[0310] The reporting configuration information may comprise an indication for the UE: to report the one or more predicted measurements 510, and not to report the one or more measurements 508.

[0311] This is discussed further below in relation to “Scenario R2” reporting mechanism.

[0312] In some examples, the UE receives CSI resource configuration for performing one or more measurements in a serving cell of the UE, and the information indicative of the first set of resources 503 indicates the first set of resources with reference to the CSI resource configuration.

[0313] In some examples (not shown), prior to block 501 , the UE may transmit, towards the CU, information indicative of the UE’s capability / support of performing prediction-based LTM. In this regard, the UE may send, to the CU, capability information indicative of the UE’s capability of determining predicted beam measurements of the second set of beams (i.e. candidate beams) based on a measurements performed on the first set of beams.

[0314] In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set are from the same cell as the beams of the first set. In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set use the same resource set as the beams of the first set.

[0315] This is discussed further below in relation to “Type 1” UE capability.

[0316] In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set are from a different cell to that of the beams of the first set. In some examples, the beams / candidate beams of the second set use a resource set that is different to a resource set used by the beams of the first set. This is discussed further below in relation to “Type 2” UE capability.

[0317] In some examples, the UE may only be able to predict measurements for candidate beams with respect to measurements of performed on RSs / beams of a cell currently serving the UE. In this regard, the beams of the first set of beams are beams of the UE’s serving cell.

[0318] In some examples, the first set of resources and second set of resources are separate sets of resources. In some examples, the first set of beams may be a separate set of beams to the second set of beams.

[0319] This is discussed further below in relation to “Option A” reporting mechanism.

[0320] In some examples, the first set of resources and the second set of resources are subsets of a third set of resources.

[0321] This is discussed further below in relation to “Option B” reporting mechanism.

[0322] Advantageously, with LTM procedures according to examples of the present disclosure, a cell switch / LTM may be triggered based on predicted measurements. Since the UE predicts measurements for the RSs of the second set of beams (rather than measuring the RSs of the second set of beams), the UE may perform fewer measurements and UE power consumption may thereby be reduced.

[0323] Moreover, since the UE predicts measurements for the RSs of the second set of beams (rather than measuring the RSs of the second set of beams), the RSs of the second set of beams do not if fact necessarily actually need to be transmitted. Hence, fewer RSs may be transmitted and network overhead may thereby be reduced.

[0324] Yet moreover, since the configuration information is maintained following a cell switch, the configuration information may be re-used by the UE / network in performing a further prediction-based LTM.

[0325] FIG. 6 shows a schematic example of a source cell and candidate cells of a prediction-based LTM procedure, as well as respective beams of the cells for “Type 1” beam predictions.

[0326] Type 1 beam prediction can be applied for a given candidate cell. On other words, Type 1 beam prediction is cell-specific, i.e. the prediction is done using measurements associated with the same cell. In this regard, the first set of resources (“prediction measurement” resources) for RSs / beams and the second set of resources (“for prediction” resources) for RSs / beams belong to the same cell.

[0327] As shown in FIG. 6, Candidate Cell 1 , has: a first set of beams 604_1 which are to be measured (i.e. the resources / RSs for the first set of beams 604_1 are to be measured), a second set of beams 606_1 which are to be predicted (i.e. the measurements of the resources / RSs for the second set of beams 606_1 are to be predicted based on the measurements of the first set of beams 604_1).

[0328] Similarly, candidate Cell 2, has: a first set of beams 604_2 which are to be measured (i.e. the resources / RSs for the first set of beams 604_2 are to be measured). a second set of beams 606_2 which are to be predicted (i.e. the measurements of the resources / RSs for the second set of beams 606_2 are to be predicted based on the measurements of the first set of beams 604_2).

[0329] For Type 1 , each predicted beam is predicted based on measurements of other beams in the same cell as the predicted beam.

[0330] In FIG. 6, for each of candidate cell 1 and candidate cell 2, RSs / beams for “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” are from the same cell. FIG. 7 shows a schematic example of a source cell and candidate cells of a prediction-based LTM procedure, as well as respective beams of the cells for “Type 2” beam predictions.

[0331] Type 2 beam prediction may be applied across cells. In other words, Type 2 beam prediction is not cell-specific but be across candidate cells or across serving and candidate cells, i.e. the prediction may be done using measurements associated with one or more cells including a different cell. In this regard, the first set of resources (“prediction measurement” resources) for RSs / beams and the second set of resources (“for prediction” resource) for RSs / beams may contain RSs / Beams from different cells.

[0332] As shown in FIG. 7:

[0333] Source Cell has: a first set of beams 704_1 which are to be measured (i.e. the resources / RSs for the first set of beams 704_1 are to be measured) Candidate Cell 1 , has: a first set of beams 704_2 which are to be measured (i.e. the resources / RSs for the first set of beams 704_2 are to be measured).

[0334] Candidate Cell 2 has: a first set of beams 704_3 which are to be measured (i.e. the resources / RSs for the first set of beams 704_3 are to be measured) and a second set of beams 706 which are to be predicted (i.e. the measurements of the resources / RSs for the second set of beams 706 are to be predicted based on the measurements of one or more of the three first sets of beams 704_1 , 704_2 and 704_3).

[0335] For Type 2, each predicted beam can be predicted based on measurements of other beams in a different cell (and / or or the same cell) as the predicted beam.

[0336] In FIG. 7, with respect to candidate cell 2, RSs / beams for “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” may belong to other cells (serving and / or another candidate cell).

[0337] It is to be noted that Type 1 and 2 may have different data collection requirements and processes (e.g. with regards to the AI / ML models used for Type 1 and 2 predictions). Type 1 requires measurements corresponding to “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets being from one candidate cell (i.e. the candidate cell applicable for prediction), whereas Type 2 requires measurements corresponding to “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets from one or more cells.

[0338] A UE’s capability of supporting Type-1 or Type-2 beam prediction (i.e. Type-1 or Type-2 spatial domain beam prediction for candidate cell measurements and reporting) may also be applicable for data collection process (i.e. with regards to data collection for the AI / ML models used for Type 1 and 2 predictions).

[0339] It is also to be noted that when the UE collects data in a general manner (i.e. for multiple candidate cells and source), model development for inference (i.e. for the beam prediction) can still be up to the UE implementation, i.e. with regards to whether the UE supports Type 1 or Type 2 beam predictions for inference operation.

[0340] The UE may report its capability for beam prediction and reporting to the network. In this regard, the UE may report a capability of supporting spatial domain beam prediction for candidate cell measurements and reporting. The UE may also report sub capabilities, such as whether the UE can predict a candidate cell beam with respect to only a serving cell.

[0341] This information may be used by the network to prepare the “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets (e.g. which are received in blocks 301 , 401 and 501 of FIGs. 3 to 5).

[0342] Having duly prepared the “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets, the network sends the same to the UE.

[0343] In this regard, the UE receives a configuration for prediction (i.e. “LTM prediction configuration” 302, 402, or 502) comprising one or more resource sets that may contain one of more beams associated with a serving cell and one or more beams associated with at least one candidate cell.

[0344] One of the following possible 3 options is possible:

[0345] • Option 1 - The LTM prediction configuration (comprising the “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets) is configured within (i.e. is comprised in) the serving cell configuration (which may be the same location as the LTM reporting configuration) - i.e. as per the procedure 300 of FIG. 3

[0346] • Option 2 - The LTM prediction configuration (comprising the “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets) is configured within (i.e. is comprised in) a (common) LTM configuration (outside of any serving or candidate cell configuration) - i.e. as per the procedure 400 of FIG. 4

[0347] • Option 3 - The “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets are received as part of a prediction configuration - i.e. as per the procedure 500 of FIG. 5

[0348] The configuration of either of these options dictates how the UE treats the resource sets for inference operation (i.e. “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets used for beam prediction).

[0349] For instance, in Option 1 , the “prediction measurement” resource set for each candidate cell is determined by the candidate cell itself. This is configured in a candidate cell configuration. Only the “prediction measurement” resource set for beams of the serving cell that are to be measured are included in the serving cell configuration. After a cell switch operation, a new ’’prediction measurement” resource set is obtained from the serving cell configuration.

[0350] In Option 2, a common LTM configuration is used for the resource sets to be configured for inference operation (i.e. for the beam prediction). This means that: all candidate cells are involved in the formation of the resource set configuration, and after cell change the resource set is maintained.

[0351] In Option 3, this, option is similar to LTM operation, however, the prediction configuration is kept as a separate configuration (i.e. separate to the LTM configuration), as such the UE can be configured with a framework for prediction of neighbor cells irrespective of the LTM operation. In option 3, the network may indicate the UE to keep or maintain the prediction configuration. This procedure maybe used for other inter-cell beam procedures.

[0352] The UE could be configured (e.g. via the receipt of configuration information) such that, following a cell switch, the UE either:

[0353] Option 1 - automatically discard the prediction configuration,

[0354] Option 2 - keep / maintain the prediction configuration, or

[0355] Option 3 - discard or maintain the prediction responsive to indication to discard or maintain the same.

[0356] Alternatively, the UE could pre-programmed / preconfigured / preset to perform one of the above, e.g. due to the 3GPP standard / specification dictating that one of the options is to be implemented / employed. The 3GPP standard / specification may dictate which option is implemented / employed.

[0357] For a UE with Type 1 capability:

[0358] • the UE is configured with a set of beams “for prediction” where one or more beams are associated with the same candidate cell o this may be configured in a (common) LTM configuration (outside of any serving or candidate cell configuration)

[0359] • the UE does beam prediction for the candidate cell based on corresponding “prediction measurements” (configured as the “prediction measurement” beams) associated with the same candidate cell.

[0360] For a UE with Type 2 capability

[0361] • the UE is configured with a set of beams “for prediction” where one or more beams are associated with one or more candidate cells or serving cell o this may be configured in the (common) LTM configuration (outside of any serving or candidate cell configuration)

[0362] • the UE does the beam prediction for one or more beams associated with one or more candidate cells based on “prediction measurements” (configured as the “prediction measurement” beams) associated with serving or / and one or more candidate cells. o Another UE capability may indicate that UE may predict Y candidate beams or cells using measurement of X candidate beams, or cells.

[0363] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a signaling diagram showing signaling (between a UE 110, a [source] CU 210, a first [source] DU 220_1 , and second [candidate / target] DU 220_2 [having two candidate cells - cell 2 and cell 3) and a procedure 800 for prediction-based LTM.

[0364] FIG. 8 shows a message sequence chart wherein: a CSI “prediction measurement” resources configuration, a “for prediction” resources configuration, and a CSI prediction reporting configuration are provided by the source CU, via DU 1 , to the UE.

[0365] The procedure 800 can be considered as suitable for “Type 2” beam predictions as discussed above. In the procedure of 800, the “prediction measurement” resource configuration is the serving resource configuration. In Type 2, the “for prediction” resources can be any candidate cell. The procedure 800 can also be considered as effecting an “Option 1” scenario as discussed above (it being noted that the procedure 300 of FIG. 3 is likewise suitable for the “Option 1” scenario ).

[0366] In steps 1 and 2, the UE sends, towards the CU via DU 1 , an L3 measurement report with the measurement results of candidate cells cell 2 and cell 3. This may be sent via RRC signaling / an RRC message

[0367] In this example, the UE has previously reported to the network, its capability of prediction of candidate measurements based on cell measurements.

[0368] In step 3, the CU decides to prepare LTM and decides to base the triggering of LTM on predicted candidate measurements. In this regard, the CU decides to prepare cell 2 and cell 3 for L1 / L2 inter-cell mobility prediction.

[0369] In step 4, the CU sends, in a UE Context Setup Request message, a request to the source DU (DU 1) for CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configuration for each of candidate cell 2 and candidate cell 3 of DU 2.

[0370] In step 5, responsive to the request, the source DU may provide a UE Context Setup Response message to the source CU, which comprises the requested CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” reporting configurations. The CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” reporting configurations may be dedicated to each candidate cell.

[0371] • In one alternative, the source DU provides the source CU with a single CSI prediction reporting configuration and in each report it indicates whether the prediction is for cell 2 or cell 3.

[0372] The source DU may also provide, to the source CU, the CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configuration via a UE Context Setup Response message.

[0373] • In a first alternative, the source DU provides, to the source CU, a separate CSI “prediction measurement” resource configuration for each candidate cell.

[0374] • In a second alternative, the source DU provides, to the source CU, a single CSI “prediction measurement” resource configuration and the source DU indicates for each resource for which candidate cell this resource can be used. • In a third alternative, the source DU provides, to the source CU, a “prediction measurement” resource mapping. The prediction measurement resource mapping is an indication of which of the serving cell CSI measurement resources can be used for “prediction measurement”.

[0375] In step 6, the source CU sends a UE Context Setup Request message to a target DU to request for LTM preparation. In the request, the source CU indicates that the CSI measurement resource configuration for LTM triggering does not need to be provided as the prediction is taking place over source cell measurement resources.

[0376] In step 7, in one alternative, the target DU may refrain from providing CSI measurement resource configuration for LTM triggering. In this option, the target DU may advantageously save resource overhead such as transmissions of CSI-RS signals.

[0377] In one alternative, the target DU may include a “prediction measurement” resource configuration in a candidate configuration.

[0378] In another (second) alternative, (also incurring steps 9-10-11 ) the target DU may provide all resources to the CU, in step 8 via a UE Context Setup Response message, and it is left to source CU to decide which resource to configure to the UE. In this alternative the source CU may inform the target DU back about which of the resource configurations are provided to the UE or not. Using this feedback information, the target DU may decide to stop transmission of some reference signals or change the periodicity of its reference signal transmissions.

[0379] In yet another (third) alternative, the pruning / reduction of the prediction resources is left to UE implementation.

[0380] In some examples, the target DU may include “for prediction” and “prediction measurement” resource configuration in the candidate configuration according to “Option A”. As will be discussed in further detail below, Option A relates to a reporting configuration option wherein the reporting configuration includes information of resource configurations for “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” by indicating a linkage / mapping between the “prediction measurement” resource configuration and the “for prediction” resource configuration. Option A may be suitable for scenarios in which the “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configurations are configured separately (or at different configuration locations). The linkage / mapping can be at the level of beams or candidate cells. With Option A, after the cell switch (of step 14) takes place, the UE may use the resource configurations for a further prediction operation, i.e. another prediction-based LTM procedure.

[0381] In step 9, the source CU creates a CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configuration using information provided by the source and target Dlls. The CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configuration may be created by the source CU using:

[0382] • the separate CSI “prediction measurement” resource configuration for each candidate cell provided by the source DU in the first alternative of step 5,

[0383] • the single CSI “prediction measurement” resource configuration and the indication of each resource for which candidate cell this resource can be used provided by the source DU in the second alternative of step 5, or

[0384] • the “prediction measurement” resource mapping provided by the source DU in the third alternative of step 5.

[0385] The source CU also creates and provides the UE with a CSI prediction reporting configuration using information provided by the source DU in step 5. During this step, the source CU may form a separate “prediction measurement” configuration for each candidate cell and include it in the candidate cell configuration. Before doing that, the CU may indicate, to each candidate DU, the cell specific “prediction measurement” configuration as such the reporting configuration for each candidate configuration can be included accordingly.

[0386] In step 10, the CU provides the UE with: CSI “prediction measurement” resource configuration, “for prediction” resource configuration, and CSI prediction reporting configuration. These are provided to the UE in an RRCReconfiguration message. This RRCReconfiguration message may correspond to a serving cell configuration that can also contain target cell configurations in a container and / or candidate configurations.

[0387] In step 11 , the UE acknowledges the reception of the RRCReconfiguration and the UE’s completion of applying the configurations therein with a Reconfiguration Complete message.

[0388] In step 12, the UE starts measurement and predictions according to the CSI “prediction measurement” resource configuration and “for prediction” resource configuration received in step 10. In this regard, the UE measures the CSI “prediction measurement” resources and generates predictions from those measurements for “for prediction” resources. Once the predictions have been determ ined / obtained by the UE, the UE reports the predicted measurements, in an L1 measurement report, in accordance with the reporting configuration received in step 10.

[0389] In step 13, the network / CU can use the predicted measurements to trigger an LTM cell switch by sending a MAC CE Command to the UE to trigger the cell switch. The network may distinguish predicted and non-predicted measurements for determination of cell switch, as such the network may determine to delay a cell switch decision based on the prediction.

[0390] In step 14, the cell switch is performed.

[0391] In step 15, after completion of the cell switch, the UE deletes the previous “for prediction” and “prediction measurement” resources it was configured by the source cell. UE takes the “for prediction” and “prediction measurement” resource configuration from the candidate configuration that it triggered a cell switch to. UE may start doing new measurements and predictions towards other candidate cell beams using the same.

[0392] This procedure may enable each cell to have full control on which resources are used for which predictions, thereby enabling a detailed fine-tuning of the prediction operation dedicated to each cell.

[0393] This may require that UE uses a different prediction algorithm / method for each cell that can be indicated to the UE.

[0394] This procedure may require a larger storage at the UE side as the prediction configuration of each cell will be indicated to the UE separately.

[0395] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a signaling diagram showing signaling (between a UE 110, a [source] CU 210, a first [source] DU 220_1 , a second [candidate] DU 220_2 and a third [candidate] DU 220_3) and a procedure 900 for prediction-based LTM.

[0396] FIG. 9 shows a message sequence chart wherein: a CSI “prediction measurement” resources configuration, a “for prediction” resources configuration are provided by candidate DUs, and wherein a CSI prediction reporting configuration is provided by the source CU.

[0397] The procedure 900 can be considered as suitable for “Type 1” beam predictions as discussed above. In Type 1 , the “for prediction” resources need to be in the same cell as the “prediction measurement” resources. In the procedure of 900, the “prediction measurement” resource configuration are configured in an LTM configuration. The procedure 800 can also be considered as effecting an “Option 2” scenario as previously discussed (it being noted that the procedure 400 of FIG. 4 is likewise suitable for the “Option 4” scenario).

[0398] In steps 1 and 2, the UE sends, towards the CU via DU 1 , an L3 measurement report with the measurement results of candidate cells (i.e. cell 2 and cell 3 of DU 2 and DU 3 respectively). This may be sent via RRC signaling / an RRC message

[0399] In this example, the UE has previously reported to the network, its capability of prediction of candidate measurements based on cell measurements.

[0400] In step 3, the CU decides to prepare LTM and decides to base the triggering of LTM on predicted candidate measurements. In this regard, the CU decides to prepare cell 2 and cell 3 for L1 / L2 inter-cell mobility prediction.

[0401] In step 4, the CU sends, in a UE Context Setup Request message, a request to target DU 2 for CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configuration for candidate cell 2.

[0402] In step 5, responsive to the request, target DU 2 provides a UE Context Setup Response message to the source CU, which comprises the requested CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” reporting configurations for its cell 2.

[0403] In step 6, the CU sends, in a UE Context Setup Request message, a request to target DU 3 for CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configuration for candidate cell 3.

[0404] In step 7, responsive to the request, the target DU 3 provides a UE Context Setup Response message to the source CU, which comprises the requested CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” reporting configurations for its candidate cell 3. Since Option 2 is used to provide the UE with a common resource configuration in the LTM configuration, each target DU refrains from adding any “"Prediction measurement" and "for prediction" resource configuration in its respective candidate cell configurations.

[0405] In step 8, the source CU creates a CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configuration merging the CSI “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource configuration of cell 2 and cell 3 (respectively provided by target DU 2 and D3) and include the same in an LTM configuration.

[0406] In step 9, the source CU indicates to the source DU that LTM preparation is being done and shares the CSI "Prediction measurement" and "for prediction" resource configuration of cell 2 and cell 3. The source CU may also indicate that the prediction towards a cell should be limited to use the “prediction measurement" resources of that cell (i.e. so as to conform / comply with the limitations of Type 1 beam predictions).

[0407] In step 10, the source DU generates a CSI measurement configuration (e.g. CSI-MeasConfig) that includes a prediction reporting configuration for L1 / L1 Inter-cell mobility. The prediction reporting configuration may involve provisioning of the DU’s uplink resources.

[0408] In step 11 , the source DU indicates the CSI measurement configuration that includes the prediction reporting configuration to the source CU.

[0409] In step 12, the source CU sends, via RRC Reconfiguration message(s), the UE the CSI “prediction measurement” resource configuration and the “for prediction” resource configuration separately (i.e. within different containers) and the CSI prediction reporting configuration is indicated as part of CSI- MeasConfig of the UE.

[0410] In step 13, the UE acknowledges the reception of the RRC Reconfiguration and the UE’s completion of applying the configurations therein with a Reconfiguration Complete message.

[0411] In step 14, the UE starts measurement and predictions according to the CSI “prediction measurement” resource configuration and “for prediction” resource configuration received in step 12. In this regard, the UE measures the CSI “prediction measurement” resources and generates predictions from those measurements for “for prediction” resources for each respective cell. Once the predictions have been determ ined / obtained by the UE, the UE reports the predicted measurements, in an L1 measurement report, in accordance with the reporting configuration received in step 12.

[0412] In step 15, the network / CU can use the predicted measurements to trigger an LTM cell switch. In this regard, the network / CU may compare the predicted beam report with non-predicted beam report to determine whether the prediction is reliable for the network. If the network deems the prediction is reliable. Then the network can use the report to trigger cell switch.

[0413] In step 16, the network / CU triggers an LTM cell switch by sending a MAC CE Command to the UE to trigger the cell switch.

[0414] In step 17, the cell switch is performed.

[0415] In step 18, after completion of the cell switch, the UE keeps the previous “for prediction” and “prediction measurement” resources it was configured by the source cell.

[0416] This procedure may enable the UE to use a single prediction algorithm / method and can provide a simpler procedure than that of FIG. 8.

[0417] This procedure may require less storage at the UE side (i.e. as compared to the procedure of FIG. 8).

[0418] There now follows a discussion of possible options for the reporting configuration.

[0419] As mentioned in the above described examples, the UE receives (not least for example in step 12 of FIG. 9) a reporting configuration that enables prediction-based candidate cell reporting (e.g. a cell specific configuration), where the UE may be enabled to report one or more beam-related information (beam IDs, RSRP, etc.) based on beam prediction.

[0420] The reporting configuration may include information of beams for “prediction measurement” and information “for prediction”. This enables the network to know which reported beam is an actual measurement and which is a prediction.

[0421] The information of beams for “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” may be provided in the reporting configuration via one of the following options: • Option A: A linkage / mapping between “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets may be indicated, when they are configured separately (or at different configuration locations). The linkage can be at the level of beams or candidate cells.

[0422] • Option B: the same CSI resource configuration contains both “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” resource sets. This may only be applicable when both are configured in a (common) LTM configuration.

[0423] • Option C: the CSI resource configuration (used for measurements) for the serving cell is re-used for “prediction measurements” beams. The prediction beams may be indicated separately to the UE.

[0424] There now follows a discussion of a reporting framework / mechanism for use in the above described examples.

[0425] Based on the measurement of beams and / or prediction of the best beams, a reporting framework may be based on:

[0426] • Scenario R1 : the report contains information of beams from both “prediction measurement” and “for prediction” sets

[0427] • Scenario R2: the report contains information of beams from only “for prediction” set.

[0428] Each of the above Scenarios R1 and R2 are applicable to any of the procedures of FIGs. 3 to 5, 8 and 9.

[0429] There now follows a discussion of optimization, namely optimizing the reporting by using a new / optimized report format that involves the creation of a virtual set of resources for a cell (i.e. a subset of a set of resources / RSs for one or more cells [which includes at least the cell], such as a subset of CSI- RSs and SSBs for the one or more cells) and performing indexing for resource indicators (e.g. CRI / SSBRI) based on the virtual / subset of resources (rather than indexing based on all the resources / the entire set of resources).

[0430] The virtual set can be considered to comprise a set of virtual resources for RSs or a virtual set of RSs.

[0431] For example, consider a scenario wherein 2 candidate cells, with 4 beams each, are included in a resource set: o Cell 1 : beam 1 , beam 2, beam 3 and beam 4 o Cell 2: beam 5, beam 6, beam 7 and beam 8 By creating, for each cell, a virtual set of just the beams of the respective cell, the UE can consider only beams from the respective cell for SSBRI. As such, only 4 beams would need to be considered instead of all of the 8 beams of the resource set.

[0432] Thus, when reporting, the UE can indicate: 00, 01 , 10 and 11 for the 4 beams of each cell (i.e. using 2 bits to indicate each beam of the virtual set of 4 beams, as opposed to needing to use 3 bits to indicate each beam of the 8 beams of the resource set).

[0433] The UE can map cell IDs to another index, that may follow an increasing Physical Cell ID, PCI, of a cell ID, or an increasing candidate ID of each cell.

[0434] By way of an example, if one were to take PCI for cell 1 , the UE would report 0. For cell 2, the UE would report 1 .

[0435] Thus the report format would be as follows:

[0436] 0, 00 [RSRP], 01 [RSRP], 10 [RSRP], 11 [RSRP]

[0437] 1 , 00 [RSRP], 01 [RSRP], 10 [RSRP], 11 [RSRP]

[0438] Wherein [RSRP] indicates typical RSRP reporting in L1 reporting format, further details on which are mentioned above not least with regard to Table 1 )

[0439] Without a virtual resource set, the SSBRI would take all 8 beams in to account and at least 3 bits would be needed to report each beam of the 8 beams. This would result in 8 x 3 = 24 bits to be used for reporting. This represents an overhead to indicate which beam is reported.

[0440] However, with the use of a virtual resource set, 8 x 2 plus 2 bits = 18 bits can be used for reporting. This represents an overhead to indicate which beam is reported, which is less than the above overhead that does not use virtual resource sets.

[0441] Similar virtual sets can be constructed for predicted measurements versus non-predicted measurements for further efficiency.

[0442] It is noted that the above discussed virtual set is effectively a grouping method.

[0443] In situations where a number of beams is larger than a number of categories, the use of such virtual resource sets would make sense / would provide a benefit in overhead reduction. However, in situations where a number of beams is less than a number of categories, the use of such virtual resource sets would not make sense / would not provide a benefit in overhead reduction.

[0444] For instance, if there were a single beam from each of 4 candidate cells, then it would not make sense to use 2 bits to indicate candidate cell ID, and 1 bit to indicate SSBRI. This would make in total 3 x 4 = 12 bits to be reported.

[0445] Whereas, without virtual sets, there are total of 4 beams, that can be reported agnostic to which cell they are related in. This would require 2 bits to represent each beam. In total 4 beams would be reported, resulting in 2 x 4 = 8 bits would have been used for reporting.

[0446] Table 2 below shows various possible combinations / alternatives of: Options A and B in relation to Scenarios R1 and R2 as well as the use / non-use of optimization (i.e. virtual sets) for reporting:

[0447]

[0448] Table 2 It is noted that, references above to a candidate cell specific virtual set relates to separate virtual RS sets being created, by the UE, for each candidate cell by considering corresponding beams associated with only that candidate cell. Then SSBRI / CRI indexing is independently done separately within each virtual set.

[0449] Each of the Options A and B, and Scenarios R1 and R2 are applicable to any of the example procedures of FIGs. 3 to 5, 8 and 9.

[0450] In some examples, instead of reporting SSBRI / CRI, the UE may be configured to report a bit map which may be relative to / related to the index(es) of the RS resource(s) within a RS resource set or a virtual RS resource set. This too may reduce the overhead in reporting.

[0451] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an example of a procedure 1000 and a signaling framework, between: a first apparatus (in this example a UE 110), a second apparatus (in this example a gNB 120, which may comprise a CU 210 and a DU 220 [not shown]) for supporting the procedure.

[0452] As will be discussed below, the procedure 1000 is a procedure for reporting measurements (i.e. predicted measurements) for a prediction-based LTM procedure (such as those of FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9). In this regard, a decision regarding whether to trigger a cell switch is based on a report, from the UE, of predicted measurements of measurement RSs / beams of candidate cells, wherein the predicted measurements are based on measurements of measurement RSs / beams of a first set of cells.

[0453] In block 1001 , the UE 110 receives, from the gNB 120 (e.g. from a CU 210 of the gNB 120 - not shown), configuration information 1002. The configuration information comprises information for supporting the UE to perform its role in the prediction measurement-based LTM procedure, namely in relation to configuring the UE’s reporting of the prediction measurements.

[0454] The configuration information 1002 comprises: i) information indicative of a set of resources 1003 for one or more beams 1004 of one or more cells 122. ii) information 1005 for configuring the UE to: generate a report of the one or more predicted measurements of the one or more resources of the second set of one or more resources, wherein the one or more predicted measurements are based at least in part on at least one measurement of at least one resource of the first set of one or more resources, and one or more resource indicators for the one or more resources of the second set that are associated with the one or more predicted measurements.

[0455] The set of resources 1003 may comprise at least one of: at least one first set of resources, for measurement by the UE, comprising at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells; or at least one second set of resources, for predicted measurement by the UE, for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells.

[0456] In this regard, the set of resources 1003 may comprise: a “prediction measurement resource set”, and a “for prediction resource set”.

[0457] The “prediction measurement resource set” may comprise a first set of resources, such as a first set of RSs (e.g. measurement RSs such as SSBs or CSI-RSs) of a first set of beams which are to be measured by the UE and whose measurements (e.g. RSRP of the RSs, or CSI measurements) are used to make predictions of measurements for a second set of beams (i.e. candidate beams) of the second set of cells (i.e. candidate cells).

[0458] The “for prediction resource set” may comprise the second set of resources for the second set of beams / candidate beams of the second set of cells / candidate cells whose measurement are to be predicted based on the measurements of the first set of resources.

[0459] The information 1005 further comprises configuration information for configuring the UE to: generate a report 1012 comprising measurement(s) 1010, i.e. predicted measurements, of resource(s) of the set of resources, and perform indexing of resource indicator(s) of the resource(s), wherein the indexing is based at least in part on a subset of the set of resources.

[0460] The UE performs measurements using various for the resources of the set and also determ ines / predicts prediction of measurements for other resources of the set - not shown. Such actions may be performed in a manner similar to that disused above not least with regards to block 307 and 309, 407 and 409, and 507 and 509 of FIGs. 3 to 5.

[0461] In block 1006, the UE generates the report 1012 in accordance with the reporting configuration information 1005, wherein generating the report comprises: creating the subset of the set of resources, and performing indexing of the at least one resource indicator based at least in part on the subset of the set of resources.

[0462] The creation of the subset of resources may comprise determining: a particular cell associated with each resource of the set, a particular type of resource of the set (e.g. if a resource for CSI-RS or a resource for SSB), and / or whether resource(s) of the set are resource(s) for predicted measurements.

[0463] In this regard, the created subset of resources may comprise correspond to: a set of resources of a cell; a set of resources of a same type; a set of resources of predicted measurements (i.e. a “for prediction” resource set).

[0464] The subset may be considered as a virtual set of resources, which is used in the indexing operation for indexing resource indicators for use in the report. In this regard, the UE may create a virtual set / subset of resources based at least in part on one or more criteria (e.g. cell associated with resource, type of resource, if resource is a “for prediction” resource, if resource is a “for measurement” resource), and the indexing of the resource indicators is based on the virtual set / subset of resources (i.e. as compared to the indexing being based on the entire set of resources 1003). Such a virtual set of resources may thereby be used to optimize the reporting and effect the optimization discussed above and referred to in Table 2.

[0465] The information 1005 may further comprise information for configuring a format of the report, such as representing the measurements / predicted measurements via a bitmap wherein bits of the bitmap represent the indexes generated in the above-mentioned indexing step (wherein indexing of resource indicators is based on the subset of the set of resources). In this regard, the UE may generate a first bitmap, wherein at least one bit of the first bitmap represents at least one index of the at least one resource indicator.

[0466] The UE may create a plurality of subsets of the set of resources and generate a second bitmap, wherein the second bitmap represents the plurality of subsets and the first bitmap.

[0467] In block 1011 , the UE sends the report to the gNB (e.g. to a serving DU 220 of the gNB 120 - not shown).

[0468] The report may comprise the first and / or second bitmaps.

[0469] The report may comprise information indicating predicted measurements of certain specified resources of the set of resources, wherein the predicted measurements are predicted, by the UE, based one measurements, by the UE, of other resources of the set of resources.

[0470] The report may comprise information indicating the other resources of the set of resources whose measurements were used to predict the predicted measurements.

[0471] The reporting configuration 1005 may configure the UE to perform the above discussed generation of the report, which involves the creation of virtual sets / subsets and using the same in the indexing used in the report.

[0472] The signaling diagrams of FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 can be considered to illustrate a plurality of methods, in the sense that each signaling diagram can be considered to illustrate one or more actions, processes or procedures performed by / at a plurality of actors / entities (e.g. UE 110, CU 210 and DU 220). The signaling diagrams can therefore be considered to illustrate a plurality of individual methods performed by each respective individual actor / entity of the plurality of the actors / entities. As such the report 1012 of FIG. 10 may be the same report 312, 412 and 512 of FIGs. 3, 4 and 5.

[0473] The above described component blocks and step (e.g. of the signaling diagrams) are functional and the functions, along with the further functions / functionalities described above, can be performed by a single physical entity (such as an apparatus as is described with reference to FIG.

[0474] 11 - embodied in / as a UE, gNB, CU or DU). The functions described can also be implemented by a computer program (such as is described with reference to FIG. 12 - for execution by a processor of a UE, gNB, CU of DU).

[0475] FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 10 for performing the methods, processes, procedures and signaling described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10. In this regard the apparatus can perform the roles of an entity (such as: UE, gNB, CU or DU) in the illustrated and described methods.

[0476] The component blocks of FIG. 11 are functional and the functions described can be performed by a single physical entity, not least such as a UE, gNB, CU or DU.

[0477] The apparatus comprises a controller 11 , which could be provided within a device / entity, not least such as a UE, gNB, CU or DU.

[0478] The controller 11 can be embodied by a computing device, not least such as those mentioned above. In some, but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus can be embodied as a chip, chip set, circuitry or module, i.e. for use in any of the foregoing. As used here ‘module’ refers to a unit or apparatus that excludes certain parts / components that would be added by an end manufacturer or a user.

[0479] Implementation of the controller 11 can be as controller circuitry. The controller 11 can be implemented in hardware alone, have certain aspects in software including firmware alone or can be a combination of hardware and software (including firmware).

[0480] The controller 11 can be implemented using instructions that enable hardware functionality, for example, by using executable instructions of a computer program 14 in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor 12 that can be stored on a computer readable storage medium 13, for example memory, or disk etc, to be executed by such a processor 12.

[0481] The processor 12 is configured to read from and write to the memory 13. The processor 12 can also comprise an output interface via which data and / or commands are output by the processor 12 and an input interface via which data and / or commands are input to the processor 12. The apparatus can be coupled to or comprise one or more other components 15 (not least for example: a radio transceiver, sensors, input / output user interface elements and / or other modules / devices / components for inputting and outputting data / commands).

[0482] The memory 13 stores instructions such as a computer program 14 comprising such instructions (e.g. computer program instructions / code) that controls the operation of the apparatus 10 when loaded into the processor 12. The instructions of the computer program 14, provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus to perform the methods, processes and procedures described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10. The processor 12 by reading the memory 13 is able to load and execute the computer program 14.

[0483] The instructions may be comprised in a computer program, a non-transitory computer readable medium, a computer program product, a machine readable medium. 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). In some but not necessarily all examples, the computer program instructions may be distributed over more than one computer program.

[0484] Although the memory 13 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it can be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which can be integrated / removable and / or can provide permanent / semi- permanent / dynamic / cached storage.

[0485] Although the processor 12 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it can be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which can be integrated / removable. The processor 12 can be a single core or multi-core processor.

[0486] The apparatus can include one or more components for effecting the methods, processes and procedures described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10. It is contemplated that the functions of these components can be combined in one or more components or performed by other components of equivalent functionality. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function. Where a structural feature has been described, it can be replaced by means for performing one or more of the functions of the structural feature whether that function or those functions are explicitly or implicitly described.

[0487] Although examples of the apparatus have been described above in terms of comprising various components, it should be understood that the components can be embodied as or otherwise controlled by a corresponding controller or circuitry such as one or more processing elements or processors of the apparatus. In this regard, each of the components described above can be one or more of any device, means or circuitry embodied in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to perform the corresponding functions of the respective components as described above.

[0488] The apparatus can, for example, be: a user equipment, base station or network node of a mobile cellular telecommunication system. The apparatus can be embodied by a computing device, not least such as those mentioned above. However, in some examples, the apparatus can be embodied as a chip, chip set, circuitry or module, i.e. for use in any of the foregoing.

[0489] In one example, the apparatus is embodied on a client device, a UE, a mobile cellular telephone, a hand held portable electronic device, a mobile communication device, a wearable computing device or a personal digital assistant, that can additionally provide one or more audio / text / video communication functions (for example tele-communication, videocommunication, and / or text transmission (Short Message Service (SMS) / Multimedia Message Service (MMS)Zemailing) functions), interactive / non- interactive viewing functions (for example web-browsing, navigation, TV / program viewing functions), music recording / playing functions (for example Moving Picture Experts Group-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) or other format and / or (frequency modulation / amplitude modulation) radio broadcast recording / playing), downloading / sending of data functions, image capture function (for example using a (for example in-built) digital camera), and gaming functions, or any combination thereof.

[0490] In some examples (such as wherein the apparatus is provided within a UE 110), the apparatus 10 comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus at least to: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and discarding the configuration information, wherein the discarding is based at least in part on determining at least one of: an initiation the cell switch operation, or a completion of the cell switch operation.

[0491] In some examples (such as wherein the apparatus is provided within a CU 210 or a gNB 120), the apparatus 10 comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus at least to: receiving, from at least one second node of the RAN, at least one first configuration information, wherein the at least one configuration information comprises at least one of: at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells; or at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; generating second configuration information, based at least in part on at least one of: the at least one first configuration information, or the at least one second set of cells; and transmitting the second configuration information towards a User Equipment, UE.

[0492] In some examples (such as wherein the apparatus is provided within a DU

[0493] 220 or a gNB 120), the apparatus 10 comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus at least to: receiving, from a User Equipment, UE, one or more predicted measurements of a one or more beams of at least one set of one or more cells; and triggering, based at least in part on the one or more predicted measurements, a cell switch operation.

[0494] In some examples (such as wherein the apparatus is provided within a UE 110), the apparatus 10 comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus at least to: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and maintaining the configuration information for further use.

[0495] In some examples (such as wherein the apparatus is provided within a UE 110), the apparatus 10 comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus at least to: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and determining whether to discard or maintain the configuration information, wherein the determining is based at least in part on receiving an indication from the RAN node whether to discard or maintain the configuration information. In some examples (such as wherein the apparatus is provided within a UE 110), the apparatus 10 comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus at least to: receiving, from a node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information comprising: a set of one or more resources for one or more beams of one or more cells, and information for configuring the UE to: generate a report of at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, and perform indexing of at least one resource indicator of the at least one resource, wherein the indexing is based at least in part on a subset of the set of resources; generating the report in accordance with the configuration information, wherein generating the report comprises: creating the subset of the set of resources, and performing indexing of the at least one resource indicator based at least in part on the subset of the set of resources; and sending the report to the node of the RAN.

[0496] The above described examples find application as enabling components of: telecommunication systems; tracking systems, automotive systems; electronic systems including consumer electronic products; distributed computing systems; media systems for generating or rendering media content including audio, visual and audio visual content and mixed, mediated, virtual and / or augmented reality; personal systems including personal health systems or personal fitness systems; navigation systems; user interfaces also known as human machine interfaces; networks including cellular, non-cellular, and optical networks; ad-hoc networks; the internet; the internet of things (IOT); Vehicle-to-everything (V2X), virtualized networks; and related software and services.

[0497] The apparatus can be provided in an electronic device, for example, a mobile terminal, according to an example of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that a mobile terminal is merely illustrative of an electronic device that would benefit from examples of implementations of the present disclosure and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of the present disclosure to the same. While in certain implementation examples, the apparatus can be provided in a mobile terminal, other types of electronic devices, such as, but not limited to: mobile communication devices, hand portable electronic devices, wearable computing devices, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, mobile computers, desktop computers, televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, GPS devices and other types of electronic systems, can readily employ examples of the present disclosure. Furthermore, devices can readily employ examples of the present disclosure regardless of their intent to provide mobility.

[0498] FIG. 12, illustrates a computer program 14 which may be conveyed via a delivery mechanism 20. The delivery mechanism 20 can be any suitable delivery mechanism, for example, a machine readable medium, a computer- readable medium, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a solid-state memory, a record medium such as a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) or a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or an article of manufacture that comprises or tangibly embodies the computer program 14. The delivery mechanism can be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program. An apparatus can receive, propagate or transmit the computer program as a computer data signal.

[0499] In certain examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus (e.g. UE 110), cause the apparatus to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and discarding the configuration information, wherein the discarding is based at least in part on determining at least one of: an initiation the cell switch operation, or a completion of the cell switch operation.

[0500] In certain examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus (e.g. CU 210 or gNB 120), cause the apparatus to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: receiving, from at least one second node of the RAN, at least one first configuration information, wherein the at least one configuration information comprises at least one of: at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells; or at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; generating second configuration information, based at least in part on at least one of: the at least one first configuration information, or the at least one second set of cells; and transmitting the second configuration information towards a User Equipment, UE.

[0501] In certain examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus (e.g. DU 220 or gNB 120), cause the apparatus to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: receiving, from a User Equipment, UE, one or more predicted measurements of a one or more beams of at least one set of one or more cells; and triggering, based at least in part on the one or more predicted measurements, a cell switch operation. In certain examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus (e.g. UE 110), cause the apparatus to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and maintaining the configuration information for further use.

[0502] In certain examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus (e.g. LMF 140), cause the apparatus to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: receiving, from a first node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises: information indicative of at least one first set of resources for at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells, and information indicative of at least one second set of resources for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells; performing, based at least in part on the at least one first set of resources, one or more measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one first set of one or more cells; determining, based at least in part on the at least one second set of resources and the one or more measurements, one or more predicted measurements of the one or more beams of the at least one second set of one or more cells; reporting, to a second node of the RAN, information indicative of at least one of the one or more predicted measurements; receiving, from the second node of the RAN, an indication to perform a cell switch operation to switch to a cell of the second set of cells, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one of the reported one or more predicted measurements; and determining whether to discard or maintain the configuration information, wherein the determining is based at least in part on receiving an indication from the RAN node whether to discard or maintain the configuration information.

[0503] In certain examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus (e.g. LMF 140), cause the apparatus to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: receiving, from a node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information comprising: a set of one or more resources for one or more beams of one or more cells, and information for configuring the UE to: generate a report of at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, and perform indexing of at least one resource indicator of the at least one resource, wherein the indexing is based at least in part on a subset of the set of resources; generating the report in accordance with the configuration information, wherein generating the report comprises: creating the subset of the set of resources, and performing indexing of the at least one resource indicator based at least in part on the subset of the set of resources; and sending the report to the node of the RAN.

[0504] References to ‘computer program’, ‘computer-readable storage medium’, ‘computer program product’, ‘tangibly embodied computer program’ etc. or a ‘controller’, ‘computer’, ‘processor’ etc. should be understood to encompass not only computers having different architectures such as single / multiprocessor architectures and sequential (Von Neumann) / parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices and other devices. References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for a programmable processor or firmware such as, for example, the programmable content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settings for a fixed- function device, gate array or programmable logic device etc.

[0505] As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ can refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0506] (a) hardware-only circuitry implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and

[0507] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

[0508] (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and

[0509] (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

[0510] (c) hardware circuit(s) and / or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (for example firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0511] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely 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 a particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device. Although various examples of the present disclosure have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the claims.

[0512] The blocks illustrated in FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 can represent actions in a method, functionality performed by an apparatus, and / or sections of instructions / code in a computer program. The illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some blocks to be omitted.

[0513] It will be understood that each block and combinations of blocks illustrated in FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 as well as the further functionality described above, can be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, and / or software including one or more computer program instructions. For example, one or more of the functions described above can be performed by a duly configured apparatus (such as an apparatus [as shown in FIG. 11] comprising means for performing the above described functionality). One or more of the functions / functionality described above can be embodied by a duly configured computer program (such as a computer program [as shown in FIG. 12] comprising computer program instructions which embody the functions / functionality described above and which can be stored by a memory storage device and performed by a processor).

[0514] As will be appreciated, any such computer program instructions can be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus (i.e. hardware) to produce a machine, such that the instructions when performed on the programmable apparatus create means for implementing the functions / functionality specified in the blocks. These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the blocks. The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a programmable apparatus to cause a series of operational actions to be performed on the programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which are performed on the programmable apparatus provide actions for implementing the functions / functionality specified in the blocks. Various, but not necessarily all, examples of the present disclosure can take the form of a method, an apparatus, or a computer program. Accordingly, various, but not necessarily all, examples can be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

[0515] Various, but not necessarily all, examples of the present disclosure are described using flowchart illustrations and schematic block diagrams. It will be understood that each block (of the flowchart illustrations and block diagrams), and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by computer program instructions of a computer program. These program instructions can be provided to one or more processor(s), processing circuitry or controller(s) such that the instructions which execute on the same create means for causing implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks, i.e. such that the method can be computer implemented. The computer program instructions can be executed by the processor(s) to cause a series of operational block / steps / actions to be performed by the processor(s) to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the processor(s) provide block / steps for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks.

[0516] Accordingly, the blocks support: combinations of means for performing the specified functions; combinations of actions for performing the specified functions; and computer program instructions / algorithm for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by special purpose hardwarebased systems which perform the specified functions or actions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer program instructions.

[0517] Various, but not necessarily all, examples of the present disclosure provide both a method and corresponding apparatus comprising various modules, means or circuitry that provide the functionality for performing / applying the actions of the method. The modules, means or circuitry can be implemented as hardware, or can be implemented as software or firmware to be performed by a computer processor. In the case of firmware or software, examples of the present disclosure can be provided as a computer program product including a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program instructions (i.e. the software or firmware) thereon for performing by the computer processor. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

[0518] Features described in the preceding description can be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

[0519] Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions can be performable by other features whether described or not.

[0520] Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features can also be present in other examples whether described or not. Accordingly, features described in relation to one example / aspect of the disclosure can include any or all of the features described in relation to another example / aspect of the disclosure, and vice versa, to the extent that they are not mutually inconsistent.

[0521] The term ‘comprise’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X can comprise only one Y or can comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use ‘comprise’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to “comprising only one ...” or by using “consisting”.

[0522] In this description, the wording ‘connect’ and ‘communication’ and their derivatives mean operationally connected / in communication. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist (including no intervening components), i.e. so as to provide direct or indirect connection / coupling / communication. Any such intervening components can include hardware and / or software components.

[0523] As used herein, the term "determ ine / determining" (and grammatical variants thereof) can include, not least: evaluating, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, identifying, looking up (for example, looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, "determining" can include receiving (for example, receiving information), retrieving / accessing (for example, retrieving / accessing data in a memory), obtaining and the like. Also, " determine / determining" can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, inferring and the like.

[0524] As used herein, a description of an action should also be considered to disclose enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling that action. For example, a description of transmitting information should also be considered to disclose enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling transmitting information.

[0525] Similarly, for example, a description of an apparatus transmitting information should also be considered to disclose at least one means or controller of the apparatus enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling the apparatus to transmit the information.”

[0526] The term “means” as used in the description and in the claims may refer to one or more individual elements configured to perform the corresponding recited functionality or functionalities, or it may refer to several elements that perform such functionality or functionalities. Furthermore, several functionalities recited in the claims may be performed by the same individual means or the same combination of means. For example performing such functionality or functionalities may be caused in an apparatus by a processor that executes instructions stored in a memory of the apparatus.

[0527] References to a parameter, or value of a parameter, should be understood to refer to “data indicative of”, “data defining” or “data representative of” the relevant parameter / parameter value if not explicitly stated (unless the context demands otherwise). The data may be in any way indicative of the relevant parameter / parameter value, and may be directly or indirectly indicative thereof.

[0528] In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term ’example’ or ‘for example’, ‘can’ or ‘may’ in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some or all other examples. Thus ‘example’, ‘for example’, ‘can’ or ‘may’ refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all of the instances in the class.

[0529] In this description, references to “a / an / the” [feature, element, component, means ...] are used with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning and are to be interpreted as “at least one” [feature, element, component, means ...] unless explicitly stated otherwise. That is any reference to X comprising a / the Y indicates that X can comprise only one Y or can comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use ‘a’ or ‘the’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of ‘at least one’ or ‘one or more’ can be used to emphasise an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning. 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.

[0530] The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature (or combination of features) itself and also to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result.

[0531] In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described.

[0532] In the above description, the apparatus described can alternatively or in addition comprise an apparatus which in some other examples comprises a distributed system of apparatus, for example, a client / server apparatus system. In examples where an apparatus provided forms (or a method is implemented as) a distributed system, each apparatus forming a component and / or part of the system provides (or implements) one or more features which collectively implement an example of the present disclosure. In some examples, an apparatus is re-configured by an entity other than its initial manufacturer to implement an example of the present disclosure by being provided with additional software, for example by a user downloading such software, which when executed causes the apparatus to implement an example of the present disclosure (such implementation being either entirely by the apparatus or as part of a system of apparatus as mentioned hereinabove).

[0533] The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure.

[0534] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of examples of the present disclosure believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

[0535] The examples of the present disclosure and the accompanying claims can be suitably combined in any manner apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Separate references to an “example”, “in some examples” and / or the like in the description do not necessarily refer to the same example and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and / or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For instance, a feature, structure, process, block, step, action, or the like described in one example may also be included in other examples, but is not necessarily included.

[0536] Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the present disclosure. Further, while the claims herein are provided as comprising specific dependencies, it is contemplated that any claims can depend from any other claims and that to the extent that any alternative embodiments can result from combining, integrating, and / or omitting features of the various claims and / or changing dependencies of claims, any such alternative embodiments and their equivalents are also within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

87CLAIMS1. A User Equipment, UE, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the UE to perform at least the following: receiving, from a node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information comprising: a set of one or more resources for one or more beams of one or more cells, and information for configuring the UE to: generate a report of at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, and perform indexing of at least one resource indicator of the at least one resource, wherein the indexing is based at least in part on a subset of the set of resources; generating the report in accordance with the configuration information, wherein generating the report comprises: creating the subset of the set of resources, and performing indexing of the at least one resource indicator based at least in part on the subset of the set of resources; and sending the report to the node of the RAN.

2. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the set of one or more resources comprises at least one of: at least one first set of resources, for measurement by the UE, comprising at least one first set of one or more beams of at least one first set of one or more cells; or at least one second set of resources, for predicted measurement by the UE, for at least one second set of one or more beams of at least one second set of one or more cells.

3. The UE of any previous claim, wherein creating the subset of the set of resources comprises creating one or more subsets wherein each subset is at least one of: a set of resources of a cell; a set of resources of a same type;88 a set of resources of predicted measurements.

4. The UE of any previous claim, wherein the at least one memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: generating a first bitmap, wherein at least one bit of the first bitmap represents at least one index of the at least one resource indicator.

5. The UE of any of claim 4, wherein the report comprises the first bitmap.

6. The UE of any of claims 4 or 5, wherein the at least one memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: create a plurality of subsets of the set of resources; and generating a second bitmap, wherein the second bitmap represents the plurality of subsets and the first bitmap.

7. The UE of any of claim 6, wherein the report comprises the second bitmap.

8. The UE of any previous claim, wherein the at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, comprises at least one predicted measurement of the least one resource of the set of resources, wherein the predicted measurement is predicted, by the UE, based at least in part on at least one measurement, by the UE, of at least one other resource of the set of resources.

9. The UE of any previous claim, wherein the report further comprises at least one indication of at least one resources of the set of resources whose at least one measurement was used to determine the at least one predicted measurement of the set of resources.

10. The UE of any previous claim, wherein the at least one memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting, towards the first node of the RAN, information indicative of a capability of the UE to generate the report in accordance with the configuration information.8911. A method comprising: receiving, from a node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information comprising: a set of one or more resources for one or more beams of one or more cells, and information for configuring the UE to: generate a report of at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, and perform indexing of at least one resource indicator of the at least one resource, wherein the indexing is based at least in part on a subset of the set of resources; generating the report in accordance with the configuration information, wherein generating the report comprises: creating the subset of the set of resources, and performing indexing of the at least one resource indicator based at least in part on the subset of the set of resources; and sending the report to the node of the RAN.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from a node of a Radio Access Network, RAN, configuration information comprising: a set of one or more resources for one or more beams of one or more cells, and information for configuring the UE to: generate a report of at least one measurement of at least one resource of the set of resources, and perform indexing of at least one resource indicator of the at least one resource, wherein the indexing is based at least in part on a subset of the set of resources; generating the report in accordance with the configuration information, wherein generating the report comprises: creating the subset of the set of resources, and performing indexing of the at least one resource indicator based at least in part on the subset of the set of resources; and sending the report to the node of the RAN.

Images