Predictive user equipment indication for conditional cell switch

Abstract

A method performed by a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes receiving a configuration that includes candidate configuration(s) for candidate cell(s), and condition(s) for a conditional cell switch. The method includes performing an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell is determined. The method includes sending a radio resource control (RRC) message toward a source radio access network (RAN) node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell. The method includes determining a condition for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell. And the method includes applying a candidate configuration that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch, and performing the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

Description

PREDICTIVE USER EQUIPMENT INDICATION FOR CONDITIONAL CELL SWITCH TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunications and, in particular, to conditional lower-layer triggered mobility (CLTM) in a telecommunications system.BACKGROUND

[0002] Telecommunications systems can be seen as facilities that enable communications between two or more entities such as between two user equipment, between a user equipment and a base station, between two base stations, a user equipment and a network function of a communication network and / or a base station and other nodes. A telecommunications system can include a communication network and one or more user equipment. The communication sessions may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, video, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and / or content data and so on. Non-limiting examples of services provided comprise two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services and access to a data network system, such as the Internet.

[0003] In a telecommunications system that includes a wireless communication network, at least a part of a communication session between at least two stations occurs over a wireless link. Examples of wireless communication networks comprise public land mobile networks (PLMN), satellite based communication networks and different wireless local networks, for example wireless local area networks (WLAN). Some wireless communication networks can be divided into cells, and are therefore often referred to as cellular networks.

[0004] A user can access the telecommunications system by means of an appropriate communication device or terminal. A communication device of a user may be referred to as user equipment (UE) or user device. A communication device is provided with an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting apparatus for enabling communications, for example enabling access to a communication network or communications directly with other users. The communication device may access a carrier provided by, for example, a base station of a cell, and transmit and / or receive communications on the carrier.

[0005] Telecommunications systems have evolved through multiple generations, each bringing advancements in speed, capacity, and functionality. The Evolved Packet System (EPS) represents the 4G architecture, which includes Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE- A) as its radio access technologies. The 5G System (5GS) builds upon EPS, introducing 5G New Radio (5G NR) for enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications. The future 6G System (6GS) is expected to further revolutionize telecommunications with even more advanced capabilities. These systems are interconnected, with 5GS designed to interwork with EPS for seamless service continuity. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining standards for these telecommunications systems, ensuring global interoperability and evolution from Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) (3G) through to the ongoing development of 6G technologies.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] Example implementations of the present disclosure are directed to telecommunications and, in particular, to conditional lower-layer triggered mobility (CLTM) in a telecommunications system. The present disclosure includes, without limitation, the following example implementations.

[0007] Some example implementations provide an apparatus to implement a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; perform an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined; send, toward a source radio access network (RAN) node, an indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell; determine a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell; apply a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; and perform the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

[0008] Some example implementations provide a method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; performing an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined; sending, toward a source radio access network (RAN) node, an indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell; determining a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell; applying a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; and performing the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

[0009] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: configure a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; receive, from the UE, an indication of at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; and send at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0010] Some example implementations provide a method comprising: configuring a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; receiving, from the UE, an indication of at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; and sending at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least onecandidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0011] Some example implementations provide an apparatus to implement a radio access network (RAN) node, the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a notification that indicates a predicted conditional cell switch of a user equipment (UE) to a candidate cell provided by the RAN node; provide a dynamic uplink grant to the UE, or start to monitor or activate a configured uplink grant, for a conditional cell switch triggered by the notification; and receive a radio resource control (RRC) complete message from the UE using the dynamic uplink grant or the configured uplink grant in connection with the conditional cell switch that is performed by the UE when a condition of one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0012] Some example implementations provide a method performed by a radio access network (RAN) node, the method comprising: receiving a notification that indicates a predicted conditional cell switch of a user equipment (UE) to a candidate cell provided by the RAN node; providing a dynamic uplink grant to the UE, or starting to monitor or activating a configured uplink grant, for a conditional cell switch triggered by the notification; and receiving a radio resource control (RRC) complete message from the UE using the dynamic uplink grant or the configured uplink grant in connection with the conditional cell switch that is performed by the UE when a condition of one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0013] Some example implementations provide an apparatus to implement a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; perform an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidatecells is determined; send a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or an uplink control information (UCI) toward a source radio access network (RAN) node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell; determine a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell; apply a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; and perform the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

[0014] Some example implementations provide a method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; performing an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined; sending a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or an uplink control information (UCI) toward a source radio access network (RAN) node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell; determining a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell; applying a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; and performing the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

[0015] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: configure a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; receive a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or an uplink control information (UCI) from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; and send at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell ofthe at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0016] Some example implementations provide a method comprising: configuring a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; receiving a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or an uplink control information (UCI) from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; and sending at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0017] Some example implementations provide an apparatus performed by a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; perform an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined; send a radio resource control (RRC) message toward a source radio access network (RAN) node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell; determine a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell; apply a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; and perform the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

[0018] Some example implementations provide a method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditionalcell switch; performing an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined; sending a radio resource control (RRC) message toward a source radio access network (RAN) node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell; determining a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell; applying a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; and performing the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

[0019] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: configure a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; receive a radio resource control (RRC) message from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; and send at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0020] Some example implementations provide a method comprising: configuring a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; and sending at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for theconditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0021] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying figures, which are briefly described below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined or otherwise recited in a specific example implementation described herein. The present disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable features or elements of the disclosure, in any of its aspects and example implementations, should be viewed as combinable unless the context of the disclosure clearly dictates otherwise.

[0022] It will therefore be appreciated that this Brief Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example implementations so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described example implementations are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. Other example implementations, aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of some described example implementations.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE(S)

[0023] Having thus described example implementations of the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a telecommunications system that includes one or more public land mobile networks (PLMNs) coupled to one or more external data networks, according to some example implementations of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a PLMN, according to some example implementations;

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a scenario in which a user equipment (UE) may indicate at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell, according to some example implementations;

[0027] FIGS. 4Aand 4B illustrate a diagram of a procedure for conditional lower-layer triggered mobility (CLTM) of a UE to a candidate cell, according to some example implementations;

[0028] FIGS. 5 A, 5B, 5C and 5D are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method performed by a UE, according to various example implementations;

[0029] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method according to various example implementations;

[0030] FIGS. 7Aand 7B are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method performed by a radio access network (RAN) node, according to various example implementations; and

[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates an apparatus according to some example implementations.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Some implementations of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which some, but not all implementations of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, various implementations of the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein; rather, these example implementations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0033] Unless specified otherwise or clear from context, references to first, second or the like should not be construed to imply a particular order. A feature described as being above another feature (unless specified otherwise or clear from context) may instead be below, and vice versa; and similarly, features described as being to the left of another feature else may instead be to the right, and vice versa. Also, while reference may be made herein to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships or the like, unless otherwise stated, any one or more if not all of these may be absolute or approximate to account for acceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to engineering tolerances or the like.

[0034] As used herein, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, the “or” of a set of operands is the “inclusive or” and thereby true if and only if one or more of the operands is true, as opposed to the “exclusive or” which is false when all of the operands are true. Thus, for example, “[A] or [B]” is true if [A] is true, or if [B] is true, or if both [A] and [B] are true.Further, the articles “a” and “an” mean “one or more,” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Furthermore, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified, the terms “data,” “content,” “digital content,” “information,” and similar terms may be at times used interchangeably. The term “network” may refer to a group of interconnected computers including clients and servers; and within a network, these computers may be interconnected directly or indirectly by various means including via one or more switches, routers, gateways, access points or the like.

[0035] The present disclosure discusses telecommunication systems and mobile or cellular networks and user equipment thereof, and while specific terms may be used, are broadly applicable across various technologies. For instance, while the present disclosure may reference radio access technologies such as 5GNR and 5G Advanced, the present disclosure is equally relevant to next generation radio access technologies, such as 6G. Example implementations of the present disclosure described herein also mention public land mobile networks (PLMNs) and mobile network operators (MNOs), but example implementations are similarly applicable to standalone non-public networks (SNPNs).

[0036] Although some examples and figures focus on radio access networks (RANs) and in particular radio access networks that operate in accordance with the 3 GPP standard for 5G NR (generally referred to as 3 GPP access or 3 GPP access networks), example implementations are applicable to any type of access networks. This includes not only 3 GPP access networks but also non-3GPP access networks, such as wireline access, untrusted non-3GPP access network, and trusted non-3GPP access network using wireless access gateway function (W-AGF), non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF), or trusted non-3GPP gateway function (TNGF) to connect to a core network (e.g., a 5G core network (5GC) or a 6G core network (6GC)) of a mobile or cellular network.

[0037] Further, as used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry); (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions); or (c) hardwarecircuit(s) and / or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0038] The above 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 (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a telecommunications system 100 according to various example implementations of the present disclosure. Examples of suitable telecommunications systems include UMTS, EPS and 5GS, as well as the future 6GS. The telecommunications system (otherwise referred to as a system) generally includes one or more mobile or cellular networks, and these mobile or cellular networks may interwork between telecommunications systems. As shown, for example, the system includes one or more PLMNs 102 coupled to one or more other external data networks 104 - notably including a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. As will be appreciated, a PLMN may be a standalone PLMN that includes a 5GC, or may be a non-standalone PLMN that includes both an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and a 5GC connected to a RAN.

[0040] Each of the PLMNs 102 includes a core network (CN) 106, such as the EPC, the 5GC, or a 6GC; and each CN is coupled to one or more RANs 108 that implement one or more radio access technologies (RATs). Examples of these RANs include the evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) of 4G LTE, the next generation (NG) radio access network (NG-RAN) of 5G NR, and the 6G RAN. As used herein, a “network device” refers to any suitable device of a RAN or a core network of a telecommunications system. Examples of suitable network devices are described in greater detail below.

[0041] Examples of RATs include 3GPP radio access technologies such as GSM, CDMA2000 IxEV-DO (HRPD), CDMA2000 lx (IxRTT), UTRA, E-UTRA, 5GNR, 5G Advanced, and 6G. Other examples of RATs include IEEE 802 technologies such as IEEE802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.15 (including 802.15.1 (WPAN / Bluetooth), 802.15.4 (Zigbee) and 802.15.6 (WBAN)), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ultra wideband (UWB), and the like. Generally, a RAT may refer to any 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G or higher generation RAT and their different versions, as well as to any other RAT that may be arranged to interwork with such a RAT to provide access to the CN 106 of a MNO.

[0042] The telecommunications system 100 also includes one or more communication devices that may be varyingly known as user equipment (UE) 110, terminal device, terminal equipment, mobile station or the like. The UE is generally a device configured to communicate with a network device (e.g., an access node such as a RAN node of RAN 108) or a or a further UE in the telecommunications system. The UE may be a portable computer (e.g., laptop, notebook, tablet computer), mobile phone (e.g., cell phone, smartphone), wearable computer (e.g., smartwatch), or the like. In other examples, the UE may be an Internet of things (loT) device, an industrial loT (IIoT device), a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technology, or the like. In some examples, as referenced by 3GPP, the UE may be a narrowband loT (NB-IoT) device, an enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) device, a reduced capability (RedCap) device, an ambient loT device, or the like.

[0043] In operation, these UEs 110 may connect to one or more RAN nodes of the RANs 108 according to their particular RATs to thereby access a particular CN 106 of a PLMN 102, or to access one or more of the external data networks 104 (e.g., the Internet) or services provided by the PLMN. The external data network may provide Internet access, or 3rd party services. For example, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has classified 5G mobile network services (e.g., services provided by a 5G mobile network) into three categories: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low- latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine type communications (mMTC) or massive internet of things (MIoT).

[0044] In various examples, a RAN 108 may be configured to provide one or more macrocells, microcells, picocells, femtocells or the like. The RAN may generally include one or more RAN nodes that interact with UEs 110. In various examples, a RAN node may be referred to as a base station (BS), access point (AP), base transceiver station (BTS). Examples of RAN nodes includes a Node B (NB), evolved NB (eNB), macro BS, NB (MNB) or eNB(MeNB), home BS, NB (HNB) or eNB (HeNB), next generation NB (gNB), enhanced gNB (en-gNB), next generation eNB (ng-eNB), 6G NB (6gNB), or the like. The term ‘gNB’ in 5G NR may correspond to the eNB in 4G LTE. Also, a NG-RAN node may refer to a gNB or a ng-eNB. And unless otherwise specified, a gNB in 5G NR or a 6gNB in 6G may at times be more generally referred to as a (6)gNB or more simply a gNB.

[0045] The RAN 108 may include some type of network controlling / governing entity responsible for control of the RAN nodes. The network controlling / governing entity and RAN node may be separate or integrated into a single apparatus. The network controlling / governing entity may include processing circuity configured to carry out various management functions for controlling RAN nodes of the RAN. The processing circuity may be associated with a memory, computer-readable storage medium or a data storage device comprising a database for maintaining information required in the various management functions.

[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a PLMN 102, such as 4G LTE, 5G NR or 6G PLMN that communicates with a UE 110 and an external data network 104 of the telecommunications system 100. As shown, the RAN 108 (e.g., E-UTRAN, NG-RAN, 6G RAN) includes one or more RAN nodes 202 configured to connect one or more UEs to the RAN to thereby access the CN 106 (e g., EPC, 5GC, 6GC). In 4G LTE, the UE, E-UTRAN and EPC compose EPS. Similarly, in 5GNR, the UE, NG-RAN and 5GC compose the 5GS. And in 6G, the UE, 6G RAN and 6GC compose the 6GS.

[0047] In some implementations, operations of a gNB or other a RAN node may be distributed or functionally split into components including one or more remote radio head (RRHs) or radio units (RUs), and a baseband unit (BBU); and in some implementations, the BBU may be split into a central / centralized unit (CU) (central node) and a distributed unit (DU) (distributed node). The CU may be, for example, a server, host or node. In some implementations, the RRH / RU and DU may be collocated at a network device. It is also possible that operations of a gNB or RAN node may be distributed among a plurality of servers, hosts or nodes.

[0048] It should also be understood that the distribution of work between core network operations and RAN node operations may vary depending on implementation. A 5G or 6G network architecture, for example, may be based on a so-called CU-DU split. One gNB-CU (a CU 204) may control one or more gNB-DUs (DUs 206). The gNB-CU may control a pluralityof spatially separated gNB-DUs, acting at least as transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) nodes. In some example implementations, however, the gNB-DUs may include, for example, a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the gNB-CU may include the layers above the RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC), and an internet protocol (IP) layer. Other functional splits are also possible. It is considered that skilled person is familiar with the open systems interconnection (OSI) model and the functionalities within each layer.

[0049] In some example implementations, the server or CU 204 may generate a virtual network through which the server communicates with the radio node. In general, virtual networking may involve a process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, a virtual network. Such virtual network may provide flexible distribution of operations between the server and the radio head / node. In practice, any digital signal processing task may be performed in either the CU or the DU 206, and the boundary where the responsibility is shifted between the CU and the DU may be selected according to implementation.

[0050] Currently in 3 GPP, mainstream mobility has been conducted using higher layer mobility, such as layer 3 (L3) or RRC controlled mobility. In this regard, L3 handover based mobility is a well-known and proven method for ensuring a robust way of handing over the UE 110 from one serving cell (source cell) of a RAN node 202 to a new serving cell (target cell) of the same or another RAN node. The method has been used at least since GSM and is still in use in 5GNR. It is expected that L3 mobility (legacy handover) will also be commonly used in the future.

[0051] Ll / L2-triggered mobility, or lower-layer triggered mobility (LTM), moves the execution of the ‘handover’ from one cell to another from higher layers (L3), such as RRC, to lower layers. These lower layers may be either PHY (or layer 1 - (LI)) or MAC (or layer 2 (L2)). In LTM, the network (RAN 108) configures the UE 110 with up to eight candidate cells, and eventually sends a cell switch command to the UE to perform a cell switch to a target cell among the candidate cells. The cell switch decision may be based on LI or L3 measurements reported by the UE. In a CU-DU split architecture, LTM may support one or more of intra-DU mobility, intra-CU inter-DU mobility, or inter-CU inter-DU mobility.

[0052] LTM may reduce latency, overhead and interruption time when compared to L3 handover based mobility. The reduced latency in LTM is achieved at least in part through different early procedures, including early downlink (DL) synchronization, early uplink (UL) synchronization, and early abstract syntax notation one (ASN.l) decoding and validity check.

[0053] Early DL synchronization may be supported through early transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state activation for one or more candidate cells before the cell switch command. In this regard, the network may send, to the UE 110, a candidate cell specific MAC control element (CE) to activate one or more TCI states for a candidate cell. If the network wants to activate TCI states for more than one candidate cell, the network may send a separate MAC CE for each of those cells. At the time of receiving the TCI state activation MAC CE, the UE may performs DL synchronization with one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSB) or tracking reference signals (TRSs) associated to the target TCI state(s).

[0054] When a TCI state is considered active and the UE 110 has DL synchronization of the target TCI state, cell switch delay may not comprise time for DL synchronization. When TCI state is not on the active TCI state list or when the UE does not have DL synchronization of the target TCI state, the UE may be allowed time to perform DL synchronization during the cell switch.

[0055] Early UL synchronization may be supported through physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)-ordered random access channel (RACH)-based timing advance (TA) estimation. The network may send a PDCCH order to the UE 110 for a candidate cell, and UE may perform RACH transmission on that cell before the cell switch. The target candidate RAN node 202 may send the TA value to the source RAN node, which may then give the TA value to the UE in the cell switch command. UE may apply the TA value for the first UL transmission on the target cell, and thereby perform a RACH-less cell switch.

[0056] Early UL synchronization may also be supported through UE autonomous TA estimation (UE-based TA estimation) in which the network may configure the UE 110 to autonomously estimate the TA value for one or more candidate cells. When the UE receives a cell switch command for one of these candidate cells without a TA value, the UE may apply the UE-estimated TA for the first UL transmission and, again, perform a RACH-less cell switch. In some cases, the network may also use the serving cell TA value or give the UE a TAvalue = 0 in the cell switch command, which may also lead to a RACH-less cell switch. But if the UE is not otherwise able to acquire the TA value for the candidate cell, the UE may instead perform a RACH-based cell switch in which a RACH procedure is performed to acquire the TA value after the UE receives the cell switch command.

[0057] Reduced latency in LTM may also be achieved through ASN.1 decoding and validity check. During LTM preparation, the UE 110 may receive the RRC configurations of the candidate cells. The RRC configuration of a candidate cell is only used if the UE switches to the candidate cell. In legacy mobility procedures other than LTM, like conditional handover (CHO), after the cell switch to a candidate cell is triggered, the UE processes the RRC configuration of the candidate cell and checks that the RRC configuration is valid and can be applied to the UE. This procedure takes time, which is added to the interruption time of the cell switch.

[0058] It may therefore be beneficial for the UE to perform the ASN.1 decoding and validity check procedure before the cell switch is triggered. Since processing multiple candidate RRC configurations before a cell switch requires additional processing power and memory at the UE, a UE may have the capability to perform this procedure for a limited number of candidate cells. In this regard, the UE may be triggered to perform early ASN.1 decoding and validity check for a candidate cell by receiving a TCI state activation command or PDCCH order for the candidate cell by the network, or the UE may be triggered autonomously, such as upon performing UE-based TA acquisition.

[0059] LTM was introduced in 3 GPP Release 18 and offers improvements in handover latency and interruption time compared to L3 mobility. But LTM as introduced also has a number of limitations relative to L3 mobility. In Release 19, a number of enhancements of LTM have been discussed to address these limitations. One of the enhancements under discussion is support for conditional LTM (CLTM or C-LTM). The details of CLTM are currently under discussion, but it has been agreed that at least the baseline of conditional handover CHO will be reused. In this regard, the UE 110 may be configured with one or more (LI or L3 based) conditions for one or more candidate cells or RSs associate with one or more candidate cells. The conditions can be provided in the common LTM configuration or can be candidate cell / reference signal (RS) specific. At the event of such condition becoming met, the UE may execute a CLTM cell switch to a candidate cell for which the condition was met.

[0060] A Release 18 study on artificial intelligence (Al) / machine learning (ML) explored the benefits of augmenting the 5G NR air-interface with features enabling improved support of AI / ML. The 3GPP framework for AI / ML was studied for the air-interface corresponding to each target use case regarding aspects such as performance, complexity, and potential specification impact. One of the studied use cases was beam management (BM), focusing on evaluation of potential benefits of AI / ML-based BM and analysis of potential enhancements to enable AI / ML for BM.

[0061] During the study, a case for spatial-domain DL beam prediction (BM-Casel) and a case for temporal-domain DL beam prediction (BM-Case2) were selected as the representative sub use cases. After evaluating the necessity, feasibility, benefit and potential specification impacts of potential enhancements to enable AI / ML for beam management, a number of recommendations were made for normative work in Release 19, which is currently ongoing.

[0062] The recommendations and currently ongoing normative work includes spatial-domain DL transmit beam prediction for one set of beams based on measurement results of another set of beams, as well as temporal DL transmit beam prediction for one set of beams based on the historic measurement results of another set of beams. The normative work also includes DL transmit beam prediction for both a UE-sided model and a network (NW)-sided model, each of which may also be referred to as a AI / ML model, ML model, or more simply as a “model.” Further normative work includes necessary signaling / mechanism(s) to facilitate data collection, model inference, and performance monitoring for both a UE-sided model and a NW-sided model; and signaling / mechanism(s) to facilitate necessary life cycle management (LCM) operations via 3GPP signaling for a UE-sided model.

[0063] A Release 19 study has also been introduced for mobility in 5GNR. The study has a stated focus on mobility enhancement in the RRC CONNECTED mode over air interface by following the existing mobility framework in which the handover decision is made in the network. The study aims to evaluate potential benefits and gains of AI / ML-aided mobility for network-triggered L3-based handover, considering a number of aspects. These aspects include AI / ML-based radio resource management (RRM) measurement and event prediction, such as for handover failure / radio link failure (RLF) prediction (UE-sided model). The aspects considered also include the need / benefits of any other UE assistance information for the NW-sided model.

[0064] In the Release 19 study on AI / ML mobility, a number of agreements have been made with respect to inputs / outputs for measurement- event predictions. For indirect measurement event prediction, the intermediate output (i.e., the output of RRM prediction model) is reference signal received power (RSRP) of serving / neighboring cells. The final output is the expected occurrence time of a certain measurement event (e.g., event A3). For direct measurement event prediction, the model output is the probability of event occurrence within a time window. And A3 event prediction should follow legacy rules (i.e., the “predicted” conditions have to persist for the duration of the time to trigger (TTT) for an A3 event).

[0065] In CLTM, the cell switch is triggered by the UE 110 based on conditions configured by the network (RAN 108). Since the cell switch decision is not made on the network side, the network does not know when to provide a dynamic UL grant (DG) or start monitoring or activate a configured UL grant (CG) at the target cell for a RACH-less cell switch. The problem is more pronounced for dynamic UL grants, where the network (i.e., the target cell) must send a PDCCH providing the grant “blindly” to the UE upon the cell switch to the target cell. Existing solutions to this problem are suboptimal. As one existing solution to the problem, the network (i.e., the target cell) starts monitoring all beams associated with a configured UL grant from the moment that the RRC configuration is provided to the UE, but this leads to a prolonged resource reservation and monitoring period.

[0066] Another existing solution is for the network (i.e., the target cell) to start monitoring or activate a configured UL grant or provide a dynamic UL grant after an early synchronization-related event, such as when the TA value for a candidate cell is acquired. But early synchronization does not always take place, and even when early synchronization does take place, there may still be the potential for resource waste for UL grant and PDCCH providing the until the UE actually accesses the target. In yet another existing solution, the UE may send a “bye” message to the network when a certain condition is satisfied, and the message may trigger the network to start monitoring or activate a configured UL grant or provide a dynamic UL grant. But the source-UE link may already be broken when the condition is satisfied, and the network may therefore fail to receive the message.

[0067] In view of the foregoing, example implementations of the present disclosure provide solution(s) in which an inference operation may be performed to determine at leastone predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell. As described in greater detail below, the inference operation may be performed by the UE 110, such as using a UE-side AI / ML model. In other suitable examples, however, the inference operation may be performed at the NW-side, such as using a NW-side AI / ML model and UE measurements as model inputs.

[0068] In examples in which the UE 110 may perform the inference operation, the UE may send an indication of the predicted conditional cell switch(es) toward the source RAN node 202 for the source RAN node to trigger the candidate cell(s) to start monitoring or activate configured UL grant(s) or provide dynamic UL grant(s). This indication may at times be referred to as a conditional cell switch prediction indication. If the UE later determines a condition for a conditional cell switch is satisfied for one of the candidate cell(s), the UE may apply a candidate configuration for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch, and perform the conditional cell switch using the configured UL grant or dynamic UL grant for the candidate cell as the target cell.

[0069] In some examples, the UE 110 may perform the inference operation using a UE-side AI / ML model. For each predicted conditional cell switch, the AI / ML model may be used to predict the candidate cell to which a conditional cell switch is predicted to occur, the time or time window the conditional cell switch is predicted to occur, a beam associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur, and / or a confidence level associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur. In some examples, the confidence level corresponds to an estimated probability that the conditional cell switch to the candidate cell (e.g., with the indicated beam) occurs (e.g., at or within the indicated time or time window). FIG. 3 illustrates a scenario in which the UE served by a first cell 302 may indicate a predicted conditional cell switch to each of a second cell 304 and a third cell 306 at different times (or time windows), on different beams, and with different confidence levels.

[0070] In some examples, the UE 110 may directly predict the (each) conditional cell switch, such as based on classification. In this regard, the UE may predict whether or not a conditional cell switch will occur. In some other examples, the UE may indirectly predict the (each) conditional cell switch, such as based on regression. In these other examples, the UE may predict measurements (e.g., LI or L3 measurements), and then use the predicted measurements to determine whether or not a conditional cell switch will occur.

[0071] Data for training a UE-side AI / ML model to predict a conditional cell switch may be collected in a number of different manners. In some examples, the network (RAN 108) or a third party (e.g., an over-the-top (OTT) server outside the 3GPP system) may collect data from many different UEs over an extended period of time sufficient to observe a sufficient number of conditional cell switch occurrences. The data may include, for example, Ll-RSRP measurements, Ll-signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (Ll-SINR) measurements, “bye” messages, or the like.

[0072] An AI / ML model may be trained on the data at the NW-side, and transferred to the UE as the UE-side AI / ML model. In some examples involving supervised learning, as the measurement prediction is in the time domain, the model inputs / labels may be constructed as temporally-ordered sequences of observed signal qualities (e.g., Ll-RSRPs, Ll-SINRs) from serving / candidate cells / beams for indirect prediction. For direct prediction, the labels may be constructed as “conditional cell switch” / “no conditional cell switch” (at a certain time or within a certain time window). As the UE-side AI / ML model may be trained on data from many different UEs, the model may be able to determine a predicted conditional cell switch with higher prediction accuracy, which may be reflected in a higher confidence level.

[0073] In some other examples, the data for training the UE-side AI / ML model may be collected at the UE 110, and the AI / ML model may be trained on the data at the UE. In these examples, the model may be trained in a manner similar to described above at the NW-side, but over a longer period of time, as a single UE may observe less frequent conditional cell switches than observed across many UEs. Despite this longer training period, the data collection does not rely on signaling the data to the network RAN 108), which as indicated above may be problematic if the source-UE link is already broken when the condition for the conditional cell switch is satisfied.

[0074] The UE 110 may provide the indication of the predicted conditional cell switch(es) in a number of different manners. In some examples, the UE may send the indication in an enhanced “bye” message or other suitable message before the source-UE link is broken. For example, the UE may send the indication when the source-UE link has a good link quality, such as when LI measurement on the RS associated with a current serving beam is above a threshold. As indicated above, the indication may include information which, for each conditional cell switch that is predicted, may identify or indicate the candidate cell (e.g.,candidate cell ID), beam (e.g., beam index), time or time window for the conditional cell switch, and / or confidence level (e.g., probability the conditional cell switch occurs).

[0075] The UE 110 may likewise send the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch toward the source RAN node 202 in a number of different manners. In some examples, the UE may send a MAC CE or an uplink control information (UCI) toward the source RAN node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell. In some other examples, the UE may send a RRC message toward the source RAN node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell.

[0076] In some examples, the network (RAN 108) may configure the UE 110 with a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction. In these examples, the UE may perform the inference operation, and send the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch toward the source RAN node, according to the configuration. In some examples, the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction may indicate a configuration of at least one trigger condition on which the inference operation is performed. For example, the network may configure the UE to perform the inference operation after receiving RRC configuration(s) of the candidate cell(s), after an early synchronization-related event, or after a measurementbased event (e.g., source and / or candidate cell measurement-based event).

[0077] Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction may indicate a configuration of a prediction window for the inference operation. In another example, the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction may additionally or alternatively indicate a configuration of at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node 202. Examples of suitable trigger conditions include a measurement event associated with at least one of measurements or measurement predictions of at least one of a source cell or the one or more candidate cells, a threshold confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch, and the like.

[0078] Even further, in some examples, the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction may additionally or alternatively indicate a configuration of a content of the indication sent toward the source RAN node. The configuration of the content may include, for example, a minimum confidence level associated with the at least one predictedconditional cell switch indicated by the indication. In another example, the configuration of the content may include a maximum number of at least one of the at least one candidate cell or at least one beam of the at least one candidate cell for the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication. In yet another example, the configuration of the content may include at least one criterion for selection of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication (e.g., two most likely, two fastest).

[0079] As indicated above, the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch may be used by the network in a number of different manners. For example, a candidate cell for which a conditional cell switch is predicted may use the indication to provide a dynamic UL grant or start monitoring or activate a configured UL grant. In some examples, multiple candidate cells for which conditional cell switch is predicted may provide respective dynamic UL grants or start monitoring or activate respective configured UL grants on one or more beams, such as based on the confidence levels associated with the predicted conditional cell switches.

[0080] FIGS. 4 and 4B illustrate a diagram of a procedure for CLTM in a CU-DU split architecture, including a CU 204, a source DU (S-DU) 206A for a serving cell, and a candidate DU (C-DU) 206B for a candidate cell. The CLTM procedure is shown as an intra-CU procedure, although it should be understood that the CLTM procedure may also be performed as an inter- CU procedure.

[0081] During preparation for CLTM, as shown in FIG. 4A, at step 401, the UE 110 may send a L3 measurement report to the CU 204 via the S-DU 206A. The CU may at step 402 decide prepare one or more candidate cells (DUs) for LTM, and the candidate cell(s) may include a cell provided by the C-DU 206B. In some examples, the CU at step 403 may prepare one or more execution conditions to trigger CLTM, such as when the execution condition(s) are based on L3 measurements. The execution condition(s) may also at times be referred to as CLTM condition(s) or condition(s) for a CLTM cell switch. The CU may also prepare a configuration for CLTM cell switch prediction (a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction), which may include one or more configurations for a CLTM cell switch prediction and an indication that indicates the CLTM cell switch prediction, as described above.

[0082] The CU 204 may at steps 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409 proceed with the UE context setup / modification procedures with the S-DU 206A and C-DU 206B. In some otherexamples, the execution condition(s) to trigger CLTM may be prepared by the DUs, such as when the execution conditions are based on LI measurements. In some of these examples, the CU may request execution condition(s) to trigger CLTM to cells provided by the respective DUs, which may prepare the execution condition(s) based on the request. The CU may also request a configuration for CLTM cell switch prediction from the respective DUs, which may provide respective configurations to the CU.

[0083] The CU 204 may prepare an RRC reconfiguration message which includes a CLTM configuration. The CLTM configuration may include candidate configuration(s) of the candidate cell(s), and the execution condition(s) to trigger CLTM (prepared by the CU or the DUs 206A, 206B). In some examples, the candidate configuration(s) may include configured UL grant(s) for the UE 110. The RRC reconfiguration message may also include the configuration for CLTM cell switch prediction (prepared by the CU or aggregated from respective configurations provided by the DUs). The CU may at steps 410, 411 provide the RRC reconfiguration message to the UE 110 via the S-DU 206A. The UE may receive the RRC reconfiguration message, and the UE may at steps 412, 413 send a RRC reconfiguration complete to the CU via the S-DU. The UE may also start evaluating the CLTM condition(s) to trigger CLTM as included in the RRC reconfiguration message, such as in a manner similar to legacy CHO.

[0084] In some examples, the CU 204 may configure the UE 110 to start to predict CLTM cell switch after receiving RRC configuration(s) of the candidate cell(s) at step 411, and the UE may at step 414 start to perform an inference operation to predict at least one CLTM cell switch to at least one candidate cell. In other examples, the UE may start to predict CLTM cell switch after an early synchronization-related event, or after a measurement-based event (e.g., source and / or candidate cell measurement-based event).

[0085] As shown in FIG. 4B, at step 415, the UE 110 may send a LI measurement report to the S-DU 206A, or the UE may send a L3 measurement report to the CU 204. Early DL and UL synchronization may then take place at steps 416, 417, such as based on the L1 / L3 measurement report provided by the UE, or upon a UE-side event trigger. Early DL and UL synchronization may take place in a number of different manners, such as described above for LTM. For CLTM, different ways of early TCI state activation may be considered for early DL synchronization. In this regard, the early TCI state activation may be triggered by MAC CE orother early TCI state activation command from the S-DU. In another example, however, the UE may activate configured TCI states for the candidate cell(s) autonomously.

[0086] As shown at step 418, an indication of at least one predicted CLTM cell switch (a conditional cell switch prediction indication) may be triggered based on the configuration for CLTM cell switch prediction (e.g., trigger condition on which the indication is sent toward the source RAN node 202). The UE 110 may at step 419 send the indication toward the source RAN node. In some examples, the indication may be sent to the S-DU 206A, such as when the indication is contained in a MAC CE or UCI. In some other examples, the indication may be sent to the CU 204, such as when the indication is contained in a RRC message.

[0087] As indicated above, the content of the indication may be indicated in the configuration for CLTM cell switch prediction. The indication may include information which, for each CLTM cell switch that is predicted, may identify or indicate the candidate cell (e.g., candidate cell ID), beam (e.g., beam index), time or time window for the CLTM cell switch, and / or confidence level (e.g., probability the CLTM cell switch occurs). In some examples, if the configuration of the content of the indication does not include a minimum confidence level, the UE 110 may autonomously decide whether to include a CLTM cell switch prediction by comparing its confidence level to an internally set threshold confidence level.

[0088] In examples in which the indication is sent by the UE 110 to the S-DU 206A, the S-DU may at step 420 send a corresponding indication to the CU 204, such as by a DU-CU predicted cell switch notification. For each CLTM cell switch that is predicted, the corresponding indication may identify or indicate, for example, a target cell (e.g., target cell ID), TCI state (e.g., TCI state ID), time or time window for the CLTM cell switch, and / or confidence level. Notifications for more than one predicted CLTM cell switch may be sent jointly or in separate messages. The CU may at step 421 send a notification toward the at least one candidate cell (including the candidate cell provided by C-DU 206B) that indicates the at least one predicted CLTM cell switch, such as by a CU-DU cell switch notification. For an inter-CU CLTM cell switch, the CU may send at least one similar notification to at least one target CU for the at least one target CU to notify respective DUs.

[0089] As shown at step 422, the C-DU 206B for a candidate cell to which a CLTM cell switch is predicted may be triggered by the notification to determine to provide a dynamic UL grant to the UE 110, or starting to monitor or activate a configured UL grant (e.g., provided inthe candidate configuration), for the CLTM cell switch. In some examples, the C-DU may determine to provide the dynamic UL grant or monitor or activate the configured UL grant based on one or more factors such as the confidence level associated with the CLTM cell switch that is predicted, availability of resources at the candidate cell, or the like. For example, if the CLTM cell switch is predicted to happen with a confidence level corresponding to a medium probability (e.g., 40%), and there are many available UL resources at the predicted time (or time window) of the CLTM cell switch, the C-DU may decide to provide the dynamic UL grant or monitor or activate the configured UL grant at or before the predicted time (or within the time window).

[0090] The UE 110 may continue to evaluate the CLTM condition(s); and at step 423, the UE may determine a CLTM condition of the CLTM condition(s) is satisfied or otherwise fulfilled for the candidate cell provided by the C-DU 206B. In some cases, the CLTM condition may be satisfied at or around the time (or time window) of the predicted CLTM cell switch to the candidate cell. To perform the CLTM cell switch, the UE may apply the candidate configuration for the candidate cell as a target cell for the CLTM cell switch. In examples in which the C-DU is to provide a dynamic UL grant based on the indication of the predicted CLTM cell switch, the C-DU may also at step 424 provide the dynamic UL grant (DG) at or before the predicted time (or within the time window). The UE may then at steps 426, 427 send a RRC reconfiguration complete message to the CU 204 via the C-DU using the dynamic UL grant. The CLTM cell switch may then be completed at steps 428, 429 with a UE context release command and UE context release complete.

[0091] FIGS. 5A - 5D are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 500 performed by a user equipment (UE), according to various example implementations. The method includes receiving a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch, as shown at block 502 of FIG. 5 A. The method includes performing an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined, as shown at block 504. The method includes sending, toward a source radio access network (RAN) node, an indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell, as shown at block 506. The method includes determining a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switchis satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell, as shown at block 508. The method includes applying a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch, as shown at block 510. And the method includes performing the conditional cell switch to the target cell, as shown at block 512.

[0092] In some examples, sending the indication at block 506 comprises sending a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or an uplink control information (UCI) toward the source RAN node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell, as shown in FIG. 5B.

[0093] In some examples, sending the indication at block 506 comprises sending a radio resource control (RRC) message toward the source RAN node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell, as shown in FIG. 5C.

[0094] In some examples, the method 500 further includes receiving a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction. In some of these examples, the inference operation is performed at block 504, and the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node at block 506, according to the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction.

[0095] In some examples, the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction indicates a configuration of at least one of at least one trigger condition on which the inference operation is performed, a prediction window for the inference operation, at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node, or a content of the indication sent toward the source RAN node.

[0096] In some examples, the configuration of the at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node includes at least one of a measurement event associated with at least one of measurements or measurement predictions of at least one of a source cell or the one or more candidate cells, or a threshold confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

[0097] In some examples, the configuration of the content of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one of a minimum confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication, a maximum numberof at least one of the at least one candidate cell or at least one beam of the at least one candidate cell for the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication, or at least one criterion for selection of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication.

[0098] In some examples, the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur. In some of these examples, the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of the at least one candidate cell, at least one time or time window the at least one conditional cell switch is predicted to occur, at least one beam associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur, or at least one confidence level associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

[0099] In some examples, the method 500 further includes determining to include the at least one predicted conditional cell switch in the indication based on a confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

[0100] In some examples, the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node at block 506 for the source RAN node to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant. In some of these examples, the conditional cell switch is performed at block 512 using a configured uplink grant of the at least one configured uplink grant that is for the candidate cell as the target cell.

[0101] In some examples, the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node at block 506 for the source RAN node to trigger the at least one candidate cell to provide at least one dynamic uplink grant. In some of these examples, the method 500 further includes receiving the at least one dynamic uplink grant for the at least one candidate cell, as shown at block 518 of FIG. 5D. Also in some of these examples, the conditional cell switch is performed at block 512 using a dynamic uplink grant of the at least one dynamic uplink grant that is for the candidate cell as the target cell.

[0102] FIGS. 6A - 6C are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 600 according to various example implementations. The method includes configuring a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or morecandidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch, as shown at block 602 of FIG. 6A. The method includes receiving, from the UE, an indication of at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation, as shown at block 604. And the method includes sending at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell, as shown at block 606.

[0103] In some examples, receiving the indication at block 604 comprises receiving a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or an uplink control information (UCI) from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation, as shown in FIG. 6B.

[0104] In some examples, receiving the indication at block 604 comprises receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation, as shown in FIG. 6C.

[0105] In some examples, the method 600 further includes configuring the UE with a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction. In some of these examples, the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is received at block 604 from the UE according to the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction.

[0106] In some examples, the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction indicates a configuration of at least one of at least one trigger condition on which the inference operation is performed by the UE, a prediction window for the inference operation, at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent by the UE, or a content of the indication sent by the UE.

[0107] In some examples, the configuration of the at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent by the UE includes at least one of a measurement event associated with at least one of measurements ormeasurement predictions of at least one of a source cell or the one or more candidate cells, or a threshold confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

[0108] In some examples, the configuration of the content of the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one of a minimum confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication, a maximum number of at least one of the at least one candidate cell or at least one beam of the at least one candidate cell for the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication, or at least one criterion for selection of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication.

[0109] In some examples, the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur. In some of these examples, the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of the at least one candidate cell, at least one time or time window the at least one conditional cell switch is predicted to occur, at least one beam associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur, or at least one confidence level associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

[0110] In some examples, the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur. In some of these examples, each of the at least one notification sent toward a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of the candidate cell, a time or time window a conditional cell switch of the at least one conditional cell switch that is to the candidate cell is predicted to occur, a beam associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur, or a confidence level associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

[0111] FIGS. 7 A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 700 performed by a radio access network (RAN) node, according to various example implementations. The method includes receiving a notification that indicates a predicted conditional cell switch of a user equipment (UE) to a candidate cell provided by the RAN node, as shown at block 702 of FIG. 7A. The method includes providing a dynamic uplink grant to the UE, or starting to monitor or activating a configured uplink grant, for a conditionalcell switch triggered by the notification, as shown at block 704. And the method includes receiving a radio resource control (RRC) complete message from the UE using the dynamic uplink grant or the configured uplink grant in connection with the conditional cell switch that is performed by the UE when a condition of one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for the candidate cell, as shown at block 706.

[0112] In some examples, the predicted conditional cell switch includes a conditional cell switch to the candidate cell that is predicted to occur. In some of these examples, the notification includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of the candidate cell, a time or time window the conditional cell switch to the candidate cell is predicted to occur, a beam associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur, or a confidence level associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

[0113] In some examples, the method 700 further includes making a determination to provide the dynamic uplink grant for the conditional cell switch based on the notification, as shown at block 708 of FIG. 7B. In some of these examples, the dynamic uplink grant is provided to the UE at block 704, and the RRC complete message is received from the UE at block 706 using the dynamic uplink grant.

[0114] In some examples, the determination to provide the dynamic uplink grant is made at block 708 based on at least one of the confidence level associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur, or resource availability for the candidate cell.

[0115] In some examples, the dynamic uplink grant is provided at block 704 at or before the time or time window the conditional cell switch to the candidate cell is predicted to occur.

[0116] According to example implementations of the present disclosure, a telecommunications system 100 or PLMN 102, and its components such as a UE 110, CN 106, RAN 108, RAN node 202, CU 204 and / or DU 206, may be implemented by various means. Means for implementing the system and its components may include hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. In some examples, one or more apparatuses may be configured to function as or otherwise implement the system and its components shown and described herein. In examples involving more than one apparatus, the respective apparatuses may be connected to or otherwise in communication with one another in a number of different manners, such as directly or indirectly via a wired or wireless network or the like.

[0117] According to some example implementations, at least some of the method 500 described with respect to FIGS. 5A - 5D may be carried out by an apparatus comprising means for performing functions corresponding steps of the method. Similarly, at least some of the method 600 described with respect to FIGS. 6A - 6C may be carried out by an apparatus comprising means for performing functions corresponding steps of the method. At least some of the method 700 described with respect to FIGS. 7A and 7B may be carried out by an apparatus comprising means for performing functions corresponding steps of the method. Examples of a suitable apparatus may include a user equipment, user device, user terminal or the like. Other examples of a suitable apparatus may include a RAN node (e.g., ng-eNB, gNB, gNB-DU, gNB-CU) or any suitable apparatus, such as a server, host or node.

[0118] FIG. 12 illustrates an apparatus 800 in which means for performing various operations includes hardware, alone or under direction of one or more computer programs from a computer-readable storage medium or other memory, such as computer memory, according to some example implementations of the present disclosure. The apparatus may include one or more of each of a number of components such as, for example, processing circuitry 802 connected to computer-readable storage medium or other memory 804.

[0119] The processing circuitry 802 may be composed of one or more processors alone or in combination with one or more computer-readable storage media. The processing circuitry is generally any piece of computer hardware that is capable of processing information such as, for example, data, computer programs, computer code and / or other suitable electronic information. The processing circuitry is composed of a collection of electronic circuits some of which may be packaged as an integrated circuit or multiple interconnected integrated circuits (an integrated circuit at times more commonly referred to as a “chip”). The processing circuitry may be configured to execute computer programs, which may be stored onboard the processing circuitry or otherwise stored in the memory 804 (of the same or another apparatus).

[0120] The processing circuitry 802 may comprise a number of processors, a multi-core processor or some other type of processor, such as a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a tensor processing, unit, or an accelerator, depending on the particular implementation. Further, the processing circuitry may be implemented using a number of heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor is present with one or more secondary processors on a single chip. As another illustrative example, the processing circuitrymay be a symmetric multi-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type. In yet another example, the processing circuitry may be embodied as or otherwise include one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or the like. Thus, although the processing circuitry may be capable of executing a computer program to perform one or more functions, the processing circuitry of various examples may be capable of performing one or more functions without the aid of a computer program. In either instance, the processing circuitry may be appropriately programmed to perform functions or operations according to example implementations of the present disclosure.

[0121] The memory 804 is generally any piece of computer hardware that is capable of storing information such as, for example, data, computer programs, instructions 806 (e.g., computer-readable program code) and / or other suitable information either on a temporary basis and / or a permanent basis. The memory may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory, and may be fixed or removable. Examples of suitable memory include recording media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a hard drive, a flash memory, a thumb drive, a removable computer diskette, an optical disk or some combination thereof.

[0122] The memory 804 is a non-transitory device capable of storing information. One example of a suitable memory is a computer-readable storage medium, which is distinguishable from a computer-readable transmission medium capable of carrying information from one location to another. Examples of suitable computer-readable transmission media comprise electronic carrier signals, telecommunications signals, or some combination thereof. As used herein, the term “non-transitory” 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 versus ROM). A computer-readable medium as described herein generally refers to a computer-readable storage medium or computer-readable transmission medium. A computer-readable medium is any entity or device capable in which information, such as one or more computer programs or portions thereof, may be stored and carried.

[0123] In addition to the memory 804 (e.g., computer-readable storage medium), the processing circuitry 802 may also be connected to one or more interfaces for displaying, transmitting and / or receiving information. The interfaces may include a communications interface 808 and / or one or more user interfaces. The communications interface may beconfigured to transmit and / or receive information, such as to and / or from other apparatus(es), network(s) or the like. The communications interface may be configured to transmit and / or receive information by physical (wired) and / or wireless communications links. Examples of suitable communication interfaces include a network interface controller (NIC), wireless NIC (WNIC) or the like.

[0124] The user interfaces may include a display 810 and / or one or more user input interfaces 812. The display may be configured to present or otherwise display information to a user, suitable examples of which include a liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display, organic LED (OLED) display, active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) or the like. The user input interfaces may be wired or wireless, and may be configured to receive information from a user into the apparatus, such as for processing, storage and / or display. Suitable examples of user input interfaces include a microphone, image or video capture device, keyboard or keypad, joystick, touch-sensitive surface (separate from or integrated into a touchscreen), biometric sensor or the like. The user interfaces may further include one or more interfaces for communicating with peripherals such as printers, scanners or the like.

[0125] Execution of the instructions 806 by the processing circuitry 802, or storage of the instructions in the memory 804, supports combinations of operations for implementing example implementations of the present disclosure. In this manner, an apparatus 800 may comprise at least one processing circuitry and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processing circuitry, where the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute instructions stored in the at least one memory. It will also be understood that one or more functions, and combinations of functions, may be implemented by special purpose hardwarebased computer systems and / or processing circuitry which perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and program code instructions.

[0126] Some example implementations of the present disclosure may also be carried out in the form of a computer process defined by one or more computer programs or portions thereof. Example implementations of the present disclosure may be carried out by executing at least one portion of a computer program comprising instructions. The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form. The computer program may be stored in a computer-readable medium that is readable by a computer, processing circuitry or other suitable apparatus. As indicated above, for example, the computerprogram may be stored in a memory, such as a computer-readable storage medium.Additionally or alternatively, for example, the computer program may be stored in a computer-readable transmission medium. The coding of software for carrying out example implementations of the present disclosure is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0127] As will be appreciated, any suitable instructions may be loaded onto a computer, a processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus from a memory or a computer-readable medium (e.g., computer-readable storage medium, computer-readable transmission medium) to produce a particular machine, such that the particular machine becomes a means for implementing the functions specified herein. The instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer, a processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner to thereby generate a particular machine or particular article of manufacture. In some examples, the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium may produce an article of manufacture, where the article of manufacture becomes a means for implementing functions described herein. The instructions may be retrieved from a computer-readable medium and loaded into a computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to configure the computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to execute operations to be performed on or by the computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus.

[0128] Retrieval, loading and execution of instructions comprising program code instructions may be performed sequentially such that one instruction is retrieved, loaded and executed at a time. In some example implementations, retrieval, loading and / or execution may be performed in parallel such that multiple instructions are retrieved, loaded, and / or executed together. Execution of the program code instructions may produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions executed by the computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus provide operations for implementing functions described herein.

[0129] As explained above and reiterated below, the present disclosure includes, without limitation, the following example implementations.

[0130] Clause 1. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; performing aninference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined; sending, toward a source radio access network (RAN) node, an indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell; determining a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell; applying a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; and performing the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

[0131] Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein sending the indication comprises sending a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or an uplink control information (UCI) toward the source RAN node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell.

[0132] Clause 3. The method of clause 1 or clause 2, wherein sending the indication comprises sending a radio resource control (RRC) message toward the source RAN node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell.

[0133] Clause 4. The method of any of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the method further comprises receiving a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction, and wherein the inference operation is performed, and the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node, according to the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction.

[0134] Clause 5. The method of clause 4, wherein the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction indicates a configuration of at least one of at least one trigger condition on which the inference operation is performed; a prediction window for the inference operation; at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node; or a content of the indication sent toward the source RAN node.

[0135] Clause 6. The method of clause 5, wherein the configuration of the at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node includes at least one of a measurement event associated with at least one of measurements or measurement predictions of at least one of a source cellor the one or more candidate cells; or a threshold confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

[0136] Clause 7. The method of clause 5 or clause 6, wherein the configuration of the content of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one of: a minimum confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication; a maximum number of at least one of the at least one candidate cell or at least one beam of the at least one candidate cell for the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication; or at least one criterion for selection of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication.

[0137] Clause 8. The method of any of clauses 1 to 7, wherein the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of the at least one candidate cell; at least one time or time window the at least one conditional cell switch is predicted to occur; at least one beam associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; or at least one confidence level associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

[0138] Clause 9. The method of any of clauses 1 to 8, wherein the method further comprises determining to include the at least one predicted conditional cell switch in the indication based on a confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

[0139] Clause 10. The method of any of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node for the source RAN node to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant, and wherein the conditional cell switch is performed using a configured uplink grant of the at least one configured uplink grant that is for the candidate cell as the target cell.

[0140] Clause 11. The method of any of clauses 1 to 10, wherein the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node for the source RAN node to trigger the at least one candidate cell to provide at least one dynamic uplink grant, wherein the method further comprises receiving the at least one dynamic uplink grantfor the at least one candidate cell, the conditional cell switch is performed using a dynamic uplink grant of the at least one dynamic uplink grant that is for the candidate cell as the target cell.

[0141] Clause 12. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 11.

[0142] Clause 13. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 1 to 11.

[0143] Clause 14. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 11.

[0144] Clause 15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 11.

[0145] Clause 16. A computer program comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 11.

[0146] Clause 17. A method comprising: configuring a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch; receiving, from the UE, an indication of at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; and sending at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0147] Clause 18. The method of clause 17, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or an uplink control information (UCI) from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch toat least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation.

[0148] Clause 19. The method of clause 17 or clause 18, wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation.

[0149] Clause 20. The method of any of clauses 17 to 19, wherein the method further comprises configuring the UE with a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction, and wherein the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is received from the UE according to the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction.

[0150] Clause 21. The method of clause 20, wherein the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction indicates a configuration of at least one of at least one trigger condition on which the inference operation is performed by the UE; a prediction window for the inference operation; at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent by the UE; or a content of the indication sent by the UE.

[0151] Clause 22. The method of clause 21, wherein the configuration of the at least one trigger condition on which the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent by the UE includes at least one of a measurement event associated with at least one of measurements or measurement predictions of at least one of a source cell or the one or more candidate cells; or a threshold confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

[0152] Clause 23. The method of clause 21 or clause 22, wherein the configuration of the content of the indication of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one of a minimum confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication; a maximum number of at least one of the at least one candidate cell or at least one beam of the at least one candidate cell for the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication; or at least one criterion for selection of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated by the indication.

[0153] Clause 24. The method of any of clauses 17 to 23, wherein the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and the indication of the at least one predictedconditional cell switch includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of the at least one candidate cell; at least one time or time window the at least one conditional cell switch is predicted to occur; at least one beam associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; or at least one confidence level associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

[0154] Clause 25. The method of any of clauses 17 to 24, wherein the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and each of the at least one notification sent toward a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of the candidate cell; a time or time window a conditional cell switch of the at least one conditional cell switch that is to the candidate cell is predicted to occur; a beam associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; or a confidence level associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

[0155] Clause 26. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 17 to 25.

[0156] Clause 27. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 17 to 25.

[0157] Clause 28. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 17 to 25.

[0158] Clause 29. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 17 to 25.

[0159] Clause 30. A computer program comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 17 to 25.

[0160] Clause 31. A method performed by a radio access network (RAN) node, the method comprising: receiving a notification that indicates a predicted conditional cell switch of a user equipment (UE) to a candidate cell provided by the RAN node; providing a dynamicuplink grant to the UE, or starting to monitor or activating a configured uplink grant, for a conditional cell switch triggered by the notification; and receiving a radio resource control (RRC) complete message from the UE using the dynamic uplink grant or the configured uplink grant in connection with the conditional cell switch that is performed by the UE when a condition of one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for the candidate cell.

[0161] Clause 32. The method of clause 31, wherein the predicted conditional cell switch includes a conditional cell switch to the candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and the notification includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of the candidate cell; a time or time window the conditional cell switch to the candidate cell is predicted to occur; a beam associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; or a confidence level associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

[0162] Clause 33. The method of clause 31 or clause 32, wherein the method further comprises making a determination to provide the dynamic uplink grant for the conditional cell switch based on the notification, and wherein the dynamic uplink grant is provided to the UE, and the RRC complete message is received from the UE using the dynamic uplink grant.

[0163] Clause 34. The method of clause 33, wherein the determination to provide the dynamic uplink grant is made based on at least one of the confidence level associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur, or resource availability for the candidate cell.

[0164] Clause 35. The method of clause 33 or clause 34, wherein the dynamic uplink grant is provided at or before the time or time window the conditional cell switch to the candidate cell is predicted to occur.

[0165] Clause 36. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 31 to 35.

[0166] Clause 37. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 31 to 35.

[0167] Clause 38. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 31 to 35.

[0168] Clause 39. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 31 to 35.

[0169] Clause 40. A computer program comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 31 to 35.

[0170] Many modifications and other implementations of the disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated figures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific implementations disclosed and that modifications and other implementations are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated figures describe example implementations in the context of certain example combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and / or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus performed by a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; andat least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least:receive a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch;perform an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined;send a radio resource control (RRC) message toward a source radio access network (RAN) node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell;determine a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell;apply a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; andperform the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further receive a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction, andwherein the inference operation is performed, and the RRC message is sent toward the source RAN node, according to the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction indicates a configuration of at least one of:at least one trigger condition on which the inference operation is performed;a prediction window for the inference operation;at least one trigger condition on which the RRC message is sent toward the source RAN node; ora content of the RRC message sent toward the source RAN node.

424. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the configuration of the at least one trigger condition on which the RRC message is sent toward the source RAN node includes at least one of:a measurement event associated with at least one of measurements or measurement predictions of at least one of a source cell or the one or more candidate cells; ora threshold confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the configuration of the content of the RRC message includes at least one of:a minimum confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated in the RRC message;a maximum number of at least one of the at least one candidate cell or at least one beam of the at least one candidate cell for the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated in the RRC message; orat least one criterion for selection of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated in the RRC message.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and the RRC message that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of:the at least one candidate cell;at least one time or time window the at least one conditional cell switch is predicted to occur;at least one beam associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; orat least one confidence level associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

437. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further determine to indicate the at least one predicted conditional cell switch in the RRC message based on a confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RRC message that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node for the source RAN node to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant, andwherein the conditional cell switch is performed using a configured uplink grant of the at least one configured uplink grant that is for the candidate cell as the target cell.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RRC message that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node for the source RAN node to trigger the at least one candidate cell to provide at least one dynamic uplink grant, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further receive the at least one dynamic uplink grant for the at least one candidate cell, the conditional cell switch is performed using a dynamic uplink grant of the at least one dynamic uplink grant that is for the candidate cell as the target cell.

10. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch;performing an inference operation in which at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells is determined;sending a radio resource control (RRC) message toward a source radio access network (RAN) node that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell;determining a condition of the one or more conditions for the conditional cell switch is satisfied for a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell;applying a candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations that is for the candidate cell as a target cell for the conditional cell switch; andperforming the conditional cell switch to the target cell.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises receiving a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction, andwherein the inference operation is performed, and the RRC message is sent toward the source RAN node, according to the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and the RRC message that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of:the at least one candidate cell;at least one time or time window the at least one conditional cell switch is predicted to occur;at least one beam associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; orat least one confidence level associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises determining to indicate the at least one predicted conditional cell switch in the RRC message based on a confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the RRC message that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node for the source RAN node to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant, andwherein the conditional cell switch is performed using a configured uplink grant of the at least one configured uplink grant that is for the candidate cell as the target cell.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the RRC message that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch is sent toward the source RAN node for the source RAN node to trigger the at least one candidate cell to provide at least one dynamic uplink grant, wherein the method further comprises receiving the at least one dynamic uplink grant for the at least one candidate cell, the conditional cell switch is performed using a dynamic uplink grant of the at least one dynamic uplink grant that is for the candidate cell as the target cell.

16. An apparatus comprising:at least one memory configured to store instructions; andat least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least:configure a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch;receive a radio resource control (RRC) message from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; andsend at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further configure the UE with a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction, andwherein the RRC message is received from the UE according to the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction indicates a configuration of at least one of:at least one trigger condition on which the inference operation is performed by the UE; a prediction window for the inference operation;at least one trigger condition on which the RRC message is sent by the UE; or a content of the RRC message sent by the UE.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the configuration of the at least one trigger condition on which the RRC message is sent by the UE includes at least one of:a measurement event associated with at least one of measurements or measurement predictions of at least one of a source cell or the one or more candidate cells; ora threshold confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the configuration of the content of the RRC message includes at least one of:a minimum confidence level associated with the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated in the RRC message;a maximum number of at least one of the at least one candidate cell or at least one beam of the at least one candidate cell for the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated in the RRC message; orat least one criterion for selection of the at least one predicted conditional cell switch indicated in the RRC message.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and the RRC message that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of:the at least one candidate cell;at least one time or time window the at least one conditional cell switch is predicted to occur;at least one beam associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; orat least one confidence level associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and each of the at least one notification sent toward a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of: the candidate cell;a time or time window a conditional cell switch of the at least one conditional cell switch that is to the candidate cell is predicted to occur;a beam associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; or a confidence level associated with the conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.

23. A method comprising:configuring a user equipment (UE) with a configuration that includes one or more candidate configurations for one or more candidate cells, and one or more conditions for a conditional cell switch;receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message from the UE that indicates at least one predicted conditional cell switch to at least one candidate cell of the one or more candidate cells determined at the UE by an inference operation; andsending at least one notification toward the at least one candidate cell that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch to trigger the at least one candidate cell to start monitoring or activate at least one configured uplink grant or provide at least one dynamic uplink grant to the UE for the conditional cell switch to a candidate cell of the at least one candidate cell when a condition of the one or more conditions is satisfied for the candidate cell.4824. The method of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises configuring the UE with a configuration for conditional cell switch prediction, andwherein the RRC message is received from the UE according to the configuration for conditional cell switch prediction.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes at least one conditional cell switch to the at least one candidate cell that is predicted to occur, and the RRC message that indicates the at least one predicted conditional cell switch includes information that identifies or indicates at least one of:the at least one candidate cell;at least one time or time window the at least one conditional cell switch is predicted to occur;at least one beam associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur; orat least one confidence level associated with the at least one conditional cell switch that is predicted to occur.49

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