Cell measurement

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to cell measurement. A method comprises receiving, at an apparatus from a network device, first configuration information for a cell; determining, based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable; and in response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, refraining from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

Description

[0001] CELL MEASUREMENT

[0002] FIELD

[0003] [1] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to cell measurement.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] [2] A communication network may serve as a facility that enables communications between two or more communication devices or provides communication devices access to a data network. A mobile or wireless communication network is one example of a communication network. The communication network may operate in accordance with standards such as those provided by Third Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) or European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Examples of standards provided by 3GPP are the so-called 3GPP standards for cellular technology generations, such as 3GPP standards for 4G technology, 5G technology, 6G technology etc.

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] [3] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a network device, first configuration information for a cell; determine, based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable; and in response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, refrain from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

[0008] [4] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, at an apparatus and from a network device, first configuration information for a cell; determining, based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable; and in response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, refraining from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

[0009] [5] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus. Theapparatus comprises means for receiving, from a network device, first configuration information for a cell; means for determining based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable; and means for in response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, refraining from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

[0010] [6] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the second aspect.

[0011] [7] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] [8] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0014] [9] FIGS. 1A to ID illustrate schematic diagrams of applications of different carriers based on different distances from a cell center;

[0015]

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates example cases of switching between carriers;

[0016]

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates schematic diagrams of carrier switching between the frequency division duplexing (FDD) and supplementary downlink (SDL) carriers;

[0017]

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates examples of band combinations suitable for low-low band carrier aggregation (CA);

[0018]

[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0019]

[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process for cell measurement disabling in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020]

[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process for cell measurement control in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process for measurement requirement disabling in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021]

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process for SCell measurement in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022]

[0018] FIG. 10 illustrates a signaling flow of another example process for SCell measurement in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023]

[0019] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024]

[0020] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025]

[0021] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026]

[0022] FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027]

[0023] FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at an apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028]

[0024] FIG. 16 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0029]

[0025] FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030]

[0026] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032]

[0027] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the onesdescribed below.

[0033]

[0028] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0034]

[0029] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0035]

[0030] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” ..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0036]

[0031] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0037]

[0032] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0038]

[0033] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0039]

[0034] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0040] (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and

[0041] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

[0042] (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and

[0043] (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

[0044] (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0045]

[0035] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (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.

[0046]

[0036] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on.Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5.5G, the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0047]

[0037] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0048]

[0038] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, musicstorage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0049]

[0039] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0050]

[0040] Low-band (LB) carriers generally refer to electromagnetic waves with relatively low frequencies that are used to carry communication signals. LB carriers have long wavelengths and low propagation losses, enabling signals to travel over long distances. This gives them an advantage in long-distance communication, such as in rural areas. Additionally, LB carriers can penetrate buildings relatively well, making them suitable for scenarios where signals need to pass through obstacles, such as indoor communication in urban areas.

[0051]

[0041] Mid-band (MB) carriers, high-band (HB) carriers, and ultra-high band (UHB) carriers also have corresponding advantages in specific scenarios. FIGS. 1A to ID show schematic diagrams of applications of different carriers based on different distances froma cell center. As shown in FIG. 1 A, MB carriers are more useful in areas near base stations, while LB carriers are more useful in areas far from base stations and for indoor communication in urban areas. As shown in FIG. IB, in the near field, LB, MB and HB carriers have approximately the same level of activity, and UHB carrier is also active. As shown in FIG. IB, in the transition field, LB, MB and HB carriers are all active as well. However, as shown in FIG. ID, in the far field, almost only LB carriers are active.

[0052]

[0042] The amount of mid-band spectrum held by operators is typically 10 to 20 times that of low-band spectrum. Therefore, in urban (indoor) and rural areas, LB carries a large volume of traffic, which leads to low-band congestion and severely degrades customer experience.

[0053]

[0043] To this end, a solution has been proposed to enable the utilization of SDL through a low-low band carrier aggregation (LBCA) approach with minimal impact on UE. As shown in FIG. 2, in this solution, the UE may switch its configuration between two states of the radio frequency (RF) front-end, defined as case 1 and case 2. In case 1, two-way communication, RX / TX, is carried out on the FDD carrier, while there is no reception on the SDL carrier. In case 2, reception operations are carried out on the SDL carrier, and there is no transmission and no reception on the FDD carrier.

[0054]

[0044] Switching between the two carriers may be further described below with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the transceiver of the UE may switch between the FDD band and SDL band in terms of transmission time interval (TTI). In TTI Nl, the transceiver may perform the transmission and reception on the FDD band. In TTI N2, the transceiver may switch to perform the reception on the SDL band. There is no UL transmission on the SDL band. After SDL scheduled reception interval is finished, the transceiver may switch back to FDD duplexer to perform the transmission and reception in TTI N3.

[0055]

[0045] To implement this solution, some requirements may be put forward for the UE. It may monitor FDD downlink (DL) physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) downlink control information (DCI), which could have both FDD and SDL scheduling or the SDL carries a PDCCH of its own for the SDL scheduling. The UE may need to support TTI level switching. When the secondary cell (SCell) is received, the UE need to switch to the SCell RF setting. During the scheduled period, there may be no simultaneous Tx / Rx between the primary cell (PCell) and the SCell. After the SCell scheduled period isfinished, the UE may switch back to the PCell RF setting.

[0056]

[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates some band combinations suitable for low-low band CA. For CA_nl2A-n29A, it is noted that there is no incumbent narrowband service in the bandgap between n29 and nl2 DL (728-729 MHz) in some regions. For CA_n28A-n67A, in some regions, band n28 spectrum is restricted to 703-733 MHz UL and 758-788 MHz DL. And requirements will be introduced for band n28, assuming full band duplexer architecture. CA_n5A-n29A is already specified. Fractional bandwidth of a single antenna to support this combination represents a practical implementation challenge. CA_n29A-n71A is also specified. Fractional bandwidth of a single antenna to support this combination is 16.5% and represents a practical implementation challenge. It is important to note that the challenges in these combinations are not of an equal nature (hardware / software solution). Some aspects may concern antenna design, while others may be about duplex filters and gap sizes.

[0057]

[0047] The above discusses example CA operations such as carrier switching and Low band - low band CA combinations. For carrier or cell measurement, when the network wants to request the UE to measure a carrier or cell, for example for the purpose of using a cell on that carrier as SCell (in CA), the network may configure the UE to measure the carrier. Such measurement may be inter-frequency measurements. They may be measured either by use of measurements gaps (MGs) (if the UE indicates that it needs gaps to measure the configured carrier) or without need for measurement gaps. Some UEs not in need of measurement gaps for measuring the carrier might cause interruptions (of serving carrier(s)) due to performing such measurements.

[0058]

[0048] However, once the SCell is configured it is a serving cell and the carrier is regarded as serving. This means that intra-frequency (serving cell / carrier) measurement requirements may apply. This may apply also when the SCell is configured but deactivated.

[0059]

[0049] As an example, for a deactivated SCell, measurements according to the following Table 1 and Table 2 may be performed on a carrier / cell in frequency range 1 (FR1). Denotations of some parameters in the Table 1 and Table 2 are listed below.Table 1: Time period for Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) / Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS detection) for deactivated SCell in FR1

[0060] <

[0061] >

[0062]

[0063] Table 2: Measurement period for intra-frequency measurements without gaps (deactivated SCell) (FR1)

[0064] < >

[0065]

[0066]

[0050] Kpis the scaling factor for an SSB frequency layer to be measured without GAP.

[0067]

[0051] When intra-frequency Synchronization Signal / Physical Broadcast Channel Block Measurement Timing Configuration (SMTC) is fully non overlapping with measurement gaps or network controlled small gap (NCSG), or intra-frequency SMTC is fully overlapping with MGs or NCSG, Kp=l;

[0068]

[0052] When intra-frequency SMTC is partially overlapping with measurement gaps, Kp = 1 / (1- (SMTC period / Measurement Gap Repeating Period (MGRP))), where SMTC period < MGRP;

[0069]

[0053] When intra-frequency SMTC is partially overlapping with NCSG, Kp = 1 / (1- (SMTC period / Visible Interruption Repetition Period (VIRP))), where SMTC period < VIRP.

[0070]

[0054] CSSFintra: it is a carrier specific scaling factor and is determined according to CSSFoutside_gap,i for measurement conducted outside measurement gaps, i.e.,

[0071]

[0055] When intra-frequency SMTC is fully non overlapping or partially overlapping with GAP, or

[0072]

[0056] When intra-frequency SMTC is fully non overlapping with GAP for UE indicating no-gap-with-interruption, or

[0057] When intra-frequency SMTC is fully non overlapping or partially overlapping with GAP for UE indicating no-gap-no-interruption, or

[0073]

[0058] For a UE that supports Pre-MG, an SMTC occasion is only considered to be overlapped by Pre-MG if the Pre-MG is activated.

[0074]

[0059] measCycleScell: This parameter may be used only when an SCell is configured on the frequency indicated by the measObjectNR and is in deactivated state. The gNB may configure the parameter whenever an SCell is configured on the frequency indicated by the measObjectNR, but the measCycleScell may also be signalled when an SCell is not configured. Possible values of this parameter may be sfl60, sf256, sf320, sf512, sf640, sfl024, and sfl280. Value sfl60 may correspond to 160 sub-frames, value sf256 may correspond to 256 sub-frames and so on.

[0075]

[0060] A problem may occur in scenarios where the UE is only capable of receiving from one component carrier (CC) simultaneously, e.g., when a UE is configured in a low-band low-band CA configuration as discussed above. Such UE may need a switching mechanism or pattern between the CCs. Currently, 3GPP is discussing having a semistatic switching pattern. However, similar problems may exist for any switching pattern.

[0076]

[0061] Looking at the scenario where the SCell is deactivated, if the switching pattern is not active, the UE cannot receive a necessary reference signal (RS) for measurements from the deactivated SCell carrier (SCC). If the switching pattern is active for the deactivated SCC, this may enable the UE to measure the SCC. However, enabling the switching pattern, which is designed for scheduling, may have significant negative impact on the PCell scheduling opportunities. Thus, a solution is needed to address the problem.

[0077]

[0062] According to example embodiments of the present disclosure, solutions are proposed for cell measurement. In a solution, a first apparatus receives, from a network device, configuration information for performing a measurement on a cell. The first apparatus determines that the configuration information indicates unavailability of a measurement parameter, or a predefined value of the measurement parameter. In response to the determination of the unavailability of the measurement parameter or the predefined value of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus refrains from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0078]

[0063] In another solution, a first apparatus receives, from a network device, configurationinformation for performing a measurement on a cell, and determines whether the configuration information indicates availability of a measurement parameter. In response to the determination of the availability of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus performs the measurement on the cell. In response to the determination of unavailability of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus refrains from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0079]

[0064] In another solution, a first apparatus determines that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on a cell is unavailable. In response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, the first apparatus refrains from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

[0080]

[0065] With the solutions of the present disclosure, the cell measurement can be controlled efficiently. As a non-limiting example, the cell measurement can be disabled or enabled based on availability or unavailability of a measurement parameter, thereby reducing the negative impact on the scheduling opportunities of the serving cell and interruption on the serving cell.

[0081]

[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example communication environment 500 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 500, a plurality of communication devices, including a terminal device 510 and a network device 520, may communicate with each other.

[0082]

[0067] In the example of FIG. 5, the terminal device 510 may be a UE and the network device 520 may be a base station serving the UE. The serving area of the network device 520 may be called cells. The cells may include a PCell 502-1 and a SCell 502-2. The network device 520 operates in a radio access network (RAN) and thus is also referred to as a RAN network device.

[0083]

[0068] It is to be understood that the number of devices and their connections shown in FIG. 5 are only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 500 may include any suitable number of devices configured to implement example embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional devices may be located in the PCell 502-1 and the SCell 502-2, and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 500. It is noted that although illustrated as a base station, the network device 520 may be another device than a base station. Although illustrated as aUE, the terminal device 510 may be another device than a UE.

[0084]

[0069] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with a terminal device 510 operating as a UE and a network device 520 operating as a base station, e.g., gNB. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0085]

[0070] In some example embodiments, a communication direction from the network device 520 to the terminal device 510 is referred to as a DL, while a communication direction from the terminal device 510 to the network device 520 is referred to as a UL. In DL, the network device 520 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the terminal device 510 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the terminal device 510 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the network device 520 is an RX device (or a receiver).

[0086]

[0071] Communications in the communication environment 500 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0087]

[0072] Some example procedures are now described. FIG. 6 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process 600 for cell measurement disabling according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the process 600 may involve a first apparatus 601 and a second apparatus 602. For the purposes of discussion, the process 600 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 5. The first apparatus 601 maybe an example of the terminal device 510 or comprised in the terminal device 510, and second apparatus 602 may be an example of the network device 520 or comprised in the network device 520.

[0088]

[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the process 600, the second apparatus 602 transmits 605 from a network device to the first apparatus 601 configuration information for performing a measurement on a cell.

[0089]

[0074] On the other side, the first apparatus 601 receives 610 the configuration information from the network device and determines 615 that the configuration information indicates unavailability of a measurement parameter, or the configuration information indicates a predefined value of the measurement parameter. In response to the determination of the unavailability of the measurement parameter or the predefined value of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus 601 refrains 620 from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0090]

[0075] In some embodiments, the second apparatus 602 may transmit 605 the configuration information indicating the unavailability of the measurement parameter or indicating the predefined value of the measurement parameter based on determining 603 to disable a measurement by the terminal device on the cell.

[0091]

[0076] In some embodiments, the cell on which the measurement is to be disabled may be a SCell or a primary secondary cell (PSCell). In some embodiments, the cell on which the measurement is to be disabled may be activated or deactivated. As an example, the cell may be a deactivated SCell in the LBCA scenario. However, the cell is not restricted to deactivated SCell but may be an activated SCell. As another example, the cell may be a deactivated PCSell (in secondary cell group) or in general any type of cell which is considered not active.

[0092]

[0077] In some embodiments, the first apparatus 601 may determine the unavailability of the measurement parameter by determining that the configuration information comprises an inapplicable value of the measurement parameter. As an example, a specific value, e.g., an infinite value may be considered inapplicable for the measurement parameter. As another example, a range of values of the measurement parameter may be predefined, and a value not in the predefined range may be considered inapplicable for the measurement parameter.

[0078] In some embodiments, the first apparatus 601 may determine the unavailability of the measurement parameter by determining that the configuration information lacks a value of the measurement parameter. For example, if the configuration information does not include any value of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus 601 may determine the unavailability of the measurement parameter.

[0093]

[0079] In some embodiments, the first apparatus 601 may determine the unavailability of the measurement parameter by determining that the configuration information lacks an information element (IE) for the measurement parameter. For example, if the configuration information does not include a field designed for carrying the value of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus 601 may determine the unavailability of the measurement parameter.

[0094]

[0080] In the present disclosure, the measurement parameter may also refer to a measurement configuration indicating one or more parameters. In some embodiments, the measurement parameter may comprise a measurement cycle for the measurement on the cell, e.g., the parameter measCycleScell as discussed above. In this case, if the network configures the UE with a measCycleScell with a newly introduced value indicating that the UE is not required to measure the deactivated SCell, the UE may decide to refrain from performing the measurement on the cell. Such value may be for example ‘infinite’. Alternatively, if the network does not configure the SCell with any value for measCycleScell, the UE may decide to refrain from performing the measurement on the cell. Alternatively, if the network does not include any measCycleScell configuration or IE in the SCell configuration, the UE may decide to refrain from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0095]

[0081] Alternatively, or in addition, the measurement parameter may comprise a measurement gap during which communication with a serving cell is suspended. For example, if the configuration information does not include any configuration (e.g., value) for a measurement gap, the UE may decide to refrain from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0096]

[0082] Alternatively, or in addition, the measurement parameter may comprise a switching pattern for switching between the cell and a serving cell. For example, if the configuration information does not configure a switching pattern, the UE may decide to refrain from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0083] Note that, in some embodiments, the measurement parameter may be any suitable parameter in a measurement configuration for a cell, for example, in an SCell measurement configuration. In some embodiments, unavailability of the measurement configuration may mean unavailability of the measurement configuration. For example, if the parameter “measCycleScell” is unavailable for a specific Scell, the Scell measurement configuration for the specific Scell is unavailable. Also note that, the measurement parameter may be configured by any suitable cell, for example, by PCell. In an example, the measurement gap and / or the switching pattern may be configured by the PCell. In some embodiments, the measurement on the cell may comprise at least one of synchronization signal detection on the cell, or reference signal measurement on the cell. For example, one or more of cell detection (e.g., PSS / SSS detection) and measurements for ‘a round of measurements’, i.e., a measurement period, may be disabled based on the unavailability of the measurement parameter, or the predefined value of the measurement parameter.

[0097]

[0084] FIG. 7 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process 700 for cell measurement control according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of discussion, the process 700 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the process 700 involves the first apparatus 601 and the second apparatus 602.

[0098]

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the process 700, the second apparatus 602 transmits 705 from a network device to the first apparatus 601 configuration information for performing a measurement on a cell.

[0099]

[0086] On the other side, the first apparatus 601 receives 710 the configuration information from the network device and determines 715 whether the configuration information indicates availability of a measurement parameter.

[0100]

[0087] In response to the determination of the availability of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus 601 performs 720 the measurement on the cell. In response to the determination of unavailability of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus 601 refrains 725 from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0101]

[0088] In some embodiments, the second apparatus 602 may transmit 705 the respective configuration information indicating the unavailability of the measurement parameter or indicating the predefined value of the measurement parameter based on determining 603 whether to enable a measurement by a terminal device on a cell.

[0089] In response to the determination of disabling the measurement, the second apparatus 602 may transmit 705, to the terminal device, configuration information for performing the measurement to indicate unavailability of a measurement parameter. The second apparatus 602 may generate the configuration information lacking a value of the measurement parameter and / or an information element for the measurement parameter to indicate the unavailability of the measurement parameter.

[0102]

[0090] In response to the determination of enabling the measurement, the second apparatus 602 may transmit 705, to the terminal device, the configuration information for performing the measurement to indicate availability of a measurement parameter. The second apparatus 602 may generate the configuration information comprising a value of the measurement parameter and / or an information element for the measurement parameter to indicate the availability of the measurement parameter.

[0103]

[0091] The process 700 may apply in a case where the network configures a measurement parameter (e.g., measCycleScell) to the UE only if the network wants the UE to perform measurements on the cell. For example, the UE by default does not measure the deactivated SCell unless it is explicitly configured to do so.

[0104]

[0092] In some embodiments, the first apparatus 601 may determine the availability of the measurement parameter based on that the configuration information comprises a value of the measurement parameter. Alternatively, or in addition, the first apparatus 601 may determine the availability of the measurement parameter based on that the configuration information comprises an information element for the measurement parameter. For example, the network may configure a measCycleScell value only if the network requests the UE to perform measurements on the deactivated SCell.

[0105]

[0093] The first apparatus 601 may determine the unavailability of the measurement parameter in a similar way to the above discussion with reference to FIG. 6. Details of the cell, the measurement parameter and measurement on the cell are also similar to the discussion with reference to FIG. 6.

[0106]

[0094] FIG. 8 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process 800 for measurement requirement disabling according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of discussion, the process 800 will be discussed with reference to FIG.

[0107] 5 to 7. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the process 800 involves the first apparatus 601 and the second apparatus 602.

[0095] As illustrated in FIG. 8, in the process 800, the second apparatus 602 transmits 805, to the first apparatus 601, first configuration information for a cell. The first apparatus 601 receives 810 the first configuration information and determines 815, based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable. In response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, the first apparatus 601 refrains 820 from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

[0108]

[0096] In the present disclosure, the requirement for the measurement may be also referred to as a measurement requirement. The measurement requirement may comprise a time period for the synchronization signal detection, and / or a time period for the reference signal measurement. For example, the measurement requirement may comprise the detection period shown in Table 1 and the measurement period in Table 2.

[0109]

[0097] In some embodiments, the first apparatus 601 may receive, from the second apparatus 602, second configuration information for the cell. The first apparatus 601 may determine whether the second configuration information indicates availability of the measurement parameter. In response to the determination of the availability of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus 601 may perform the measurement on the cell based on the requirement for the measurement. In other words, based on the availability of the measurement parameter, the measurement requirement may be applied.

[0110]

[0098] The process 800 may apply to a case where a UE measurement and / or measurement requirement only applies if the UE is configured with a suitable measurement requirement. For example, if measCycleScell is not provided, the UE may determine that no PSS / SSS detection requirements will apply for a deactivated SCC. Alternatively, or in addition, if measCycleScell is not provided, the UE may determine that no measurement requirements will apply for a deactivated SCC. The process 800 may apply to a case where a terminal device is incapable of receiving from more than one cell simultaneously. For example, in the LBCA, there may be a need to measure the deactivated SCell either by use of measurement gaps or by use of a defined switching pattern.

[0111]

[0099] In some cases, standards such as 3GPP standards may agree on the process 800 being applicable for the operation of an SCell in the LBCA where the UE can only operate one CC at a time (i.e. time domain CC switching is assumed being necessary).

[0112]

[0100] In such case, by applying the solution of the presentation to this scenario, it may beassumed that the network only configures measCycleScell if the network wants the UE to measure the deactivated SCell. However, this may still need some support from the standards clarifying the UE behavior when measCycleScell is not provided to the UE with the SCell configuration.

[0113]

[0101] As an example, what the UE shall use as measCycleScell if the value is not included in the SCell configuration may be standardized. For example, if the value is not included in the SCell configuration, the UE shall assume measCycleScell = 0.

[0114]

[0102] As another example, one way to support such UE behavior may be to update the cell measurement requirement. For example, NR intra-frequency measurement requirements defined in 3 GPP standards may be updated. As an example, Table 1 stating the UE cell detection requirements as discussed above may be updated to be Table 3 as follows.

[0115] Table 3: Time period for Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) / Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS detection) for deactivated SCell in FR1

[0116] <

[0117] >

[0118]

[0119]

[0103] Similarly, Table 2 stating the UE measurement requirements as discussed above may be updated to be Table 4 as follows.

[0120] Table 4: Measurement period for intra-frequency measurements without gaps (deactivated SCell) (FR1)

[0121] < >

[0122]

[0123]

[0104] Alternatively, there may be no such clarification in the standards. The network may only configure measCycleScell if the network wants the UE to measure the deactivated SCell based on the network implementation. At the UE side, the UE may determine to not apply cell detection or measurement requirements based on the UE implementation if measCycleScell is not provided to the UE.

[0105] With reference to the above FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, the solutions of cell measurement according to embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed. The solutions of the present disclosure provide a generic way of how to control whether the UE is required to perform measurements on an SCell (or PSCell). For example, a method is proposed where the network can configure the UE, per SCell configuration, whether the UE is required to perform measurements. As discussed above, this can be enabled by different means using the network configured measurement cycle for the deactivated SCell. For example, SCell measurements may be enabled by configuring measCycleScell and the SCell measurements may be disabled by not configuring measCycleScell or configuring measCycleScell with an infinite value.

[0124]

[0106] Note that the SCell and measCycleScell are used as non-limiting examples only. The solutions can also be applied for a deactivated PCSell (SCG) or in general for any type of cell which is considered not active. The solutions are not restricted to deactivated SCell but may be applied also for an activated SCell. These solutions are not limited to 5G but can be used also in other radio technology generations like 6G.

[0125]

[0107] The solutions of the present disclosure are discussed by taking the LBCA as an example to illustrate how these solutions can be realized using 5G. Detailed examples are illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 in the following.

[0126]

[0108] FIG. 9 illustrates a signaling flow of an example process 900 for SCell measurement in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 900 may be considered as an example of the process 600 of FIG. 6. For the purpose of illustration, the process 900 will be described with respect to FIG. 5. The process 900 involves a UE 901, a PCell 902 and an SCell 903. The UE 901 may be an example of the terminal device 510 in FIG. 5. The PCell 902 and the SCell 903 may be provided by a network device, such as the network device 520.

[0127]

[0109] As shown in FIG. 9, at Step 911, the UE 901 is in connected mode. At Box 912, current behavior is illustrated for comparison. In the current behavior, the UE 901 is in connected mode with the PCell 902 and one SCell 903 configured. At Step 913, the SCell 903 is in deactivated state. At Step 914, the network configures the SCell 903 (in deactivate state) with a given measCycleScell value. For example, the PCell 902 may transmit an RRC reconfiguration comprising the SCell configuration and the SCell configuration indicates the measCycleScell. At Box 915, the UE 901 will measure thedeactivated SCell 903 according to the configured measCycleScell. At Step 916, the UE 901 measures the SCell 903 every measCycleScell (e.g. 320ms). For example, the SCell 903 may transmit a synchronization signal block (SSB) , and the UE 901 may measure the SSB. Note that for each SCell measurement there would need to be a CC switch, gap or interruption on other serving cells (e.g., PCell 902) depending on the scenario (for example LBCA or other CA) and UE capability.

[0128]

[0110] Compared to the current behavior at Box 912, several example behaviors according to embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated at Box 917, Box 921 and Box 925.

[0129] [Hl] At Box 917, a first example behavior is illustrated as alternative 1. In this example behavior, the network configures the UE 901 with a measCycleScell by introducing a new value indicating that the UE 901 is not required to measure the deactivated SCell 903. Such value could for example be 'infinite'.

[0130]

[0112] At Step 918, the SCell 903 is in deactivated state. At Step 919, the network configures the SCell 903 (in deactivate state) with a given measCycleScell value ‘infinite’. For example, the PCell 902 may transmit an RRC reconfiguration comprising the SCell configuration and the SCell configuration indicates the measCycleScell value ‘infinite’. At Step 920, based on the measCycleScell=infinite, the UE 901 will not measure the deactivated SCell 903. For example, the SCell 903 may or may not transmit an SSB , and the UE 901 does not measure the SSB. Note that for each SCell measurement there is no longer a need for a CC switch, gap or interruption on other serving cells (e.g., PCell 902).

[0131]

[0113] At Box 921, a second example behavior is illustrated as alternative 2. In this example behavior, the network does not configure the SCell 903 without any value for measCycleScell. At Step 922, the SCell 903 is in deactivated state. At Step 923, the network configures the SCell 903 (in deactivate state) without any measCycleScell value. For example, the PCell 902 may transmit an RRC reconfiguration comprising the SCell configuration and the SCell configuration does not indicate any measCycleScell value.

[0132]

[0114] At Step 924, based on not being configured with a measCycleScell, the UE 901 will not measure the deactivated SCell 903. For example, the SCell 903 may or may not transmit an SSB, and the UE 901 does not measure the SSB. Note that for each SCell measurement there is no longer a need for a CC switch, gap or interruption on other serving cells (e.g., PCell 902).

[0115] At Box 925, a third example behavior is illustrated as alternative 3. In this example behavior, the network does not include any measCycleScell configuration or measCycleScell IE in the SCell configuration.

[0133]

[0116] At Step 926, the SCell 903 is in deactivated state. At Step 927, the network configures the SCell 903 (in deactivate state) without any measCycleScell IE. For example, the PCell 902 may transmit an RRC reconfiguration comprising the SCell configuration and the SCell configuration does not include any measCycleScell IE.

[0134]

[0117] At Step 928, based on not being configured with a measCycleScell IE, the UE 901 will not measure the deactivated SCell 903. For example, the SCell 903 may or may not transmit an SSB, and the UE 901 does not measure the SSB. Note that for each SCell measurement there is no longer a need for a CC switch, gap or interruption on other serving cells (e.g., PCell 902).

[0135]

[0118] FIG. 10 illustrates a signaling flow of another example process 1000 for SCell measurement in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 1000 may be considered as an example of the process 700 of FIG. 7. For the purpose of illustration, the process 1000 will be described with respect to FIG. 5 and FIG.

[0136] 9. The process 900 involves the UE 901, PCell 902 and SCell 903.

[0137]

[0119] As illustrated in FIG. 10, at Box 1019, a fourth example behavior according to embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated as alternative 4. In this example behavior, the network configures a measCycleScell value if the network requests the UE 901 to perform measurements on the deactivated SCell 903.

[0138]

[0120] At Step 1020, the SCell 903 is in deactivated state. At Step 1021, the network configures the SCell 903 (in deactivate state) without any measCycleScell information. For example, the PCell 902 may transmit an RRC reconfiguration comprising the SCell configuration and the SCell configuration does not include any measCycleScell information. In this example behavior, default is now that UE 901 does not measure the deactivated SCell 903 unless explicitly configured to do so. Thus, at Step 1022, based on not being configured with any measCycleScell information, the UE 901 will apply the default operation, i.e., not measure the deactivated SCell 903. For example, the SCell 903 may or may not transmit an SSB, and the UE 901 does not measure the SSB. Note that for each SCell measurement there is no longer a need for a CC switch, gap or interruption on other serving cells (PCell 902).

[0121] At Box 1023, the case where the network actively decides that the UE 901 shall measure the deactivated SCell 903 is illustrated. That is, in this case, the network wants the UE 901 to measure the SCell 903.

[0139]

[0122] At Step 1024, the network configures the SCell 903 (in deactivate state) with measCycleScell information. For example, the PCell 902 may transmit an RRC reconfiguration comprising the SCell configuration and the SCell configuration includes measCycleScell information.

[0140]

[0123] At Box 1025, based on being configured with the measCycleScell information, the UE 901 will measure the deactivated SCell 903 according to the configured measCycleScell. At Step 1026, the UE 901 measures the SCell 903 every measCycleScell (e.g. 320ms). For example, the SCell 903 may transmit an SSB 901, and the UE 901 measures the SSB. Note that for each SCell measurement there would need to be a CC switch, gap or interruption on other serving cells (e.g., PCell 902) depending on the scenario (for example LBCA or other CA) and UE capability.

[0141]

[0124] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an example method 1100 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1100 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus, for example, the terminal device 510.

[0142]

[0125] At block 1110, the first apparatus receives, from a network device, configuration information for performing a measurement on a cell.

[0143]

[0126] At block 1120, the first apparatus determines that the configuration information indicates unavailability of a measurement parameter, or a predefined value of the measurement parameter.

[0144]

[0127] At block 1130, in response to the determination of the unavailability of the measurement parameter or the predefined value of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus refrains from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0145]

[0128] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may determine that the configuration information comprises an inapplicable value of the measurement parameter.

[0146]

[0129] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may determine that the configuration information lacks a value of the measurement parameter.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may determine that the configuration information lacks an information element for the measurement parameter.

[0147]

[0131] In some example embodiments, the measurement parameter comprises at least one of a measurement cycle for the measurement on the cell, a measurement gap during which communication with a serving cell is suspended, or a switching pattern for switching between the cell and a serving cell.

[0148]

[0132] In some example embodiments, the measurement on the cell comprises at least one of synchronization signal detection on the cell, or reference signal measurement on the cell.

[0149]

[0133] In some example embodiments, the cell is activated or deactivated.

[0150]

[0134] In some example embodiments, the cell comprises at least one of a secondary cell or a primary secondary cell.

[0151]

[0135] FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of an example method 1200 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1200 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus, for example, the network device 520.

[0152]

[0136] At block 1210, the second apparatus determines to disable a measurement by a terminal device on a cell.

[0153]

[0137] At block 1220, the second apparatus transmits, to the terminal device, configuration information for performing the measurement for the cell, wherein the configuration information indicates unavailability of a measurement parameter or a predefined value of the measurement parameter.

[0154]

[0138] In some example embodiments, the configuration information comprises an inapplicable value of the measurement parameter.

[0155]

[0139] In some example embodiments, the configuration information lacks a value of the measurement parameter.

[0156]

[0140] In some example embodiments, the configuration information lacks an information element for the measurement parameter.

[0157]

[0141] In some example embodiments, the measurement parameter comprises at least one of a measurement cycle for the measurement on the cell, a measurement gap during whichcommunication with a serving cell is suspended, or a switching pattern for switching between the cell and a serving cell.

[0158]

[0142] In some example embodiments, the measurement on the cell comprises at least one of: synchronization signal detection on the cell, or reference signal measurement on the cell.

[0159]

[0143] In some example embodiments, the cell is activated or deactivated.

[0160]

[0144] In some example embodiments, the cell comprises at least one of: a secondary cell or a primary secondary cell.

[0161]

[0145] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 1100 (for example, the terminal device 510 in FIG. 5) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1100 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the terminal device 510 in FIG. 5.

[0162]

[0146] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 1200 (for example, the network device 520 in FIG. 5) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1200and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the network device 520 in FIG. 5.

[0163]

[0147] FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of an example method 1300 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1300 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus, for example, the terminal device 510.

[0164]

[0148] At block 1310, the first apparatus receives, from a network device, configuration information for performing a measurement on a cell.

[0165]

[0149] At block 1320, the first apparatus determines whether the configuration information indicates availability of a measurement parameter.

[0166]

[0150] At block 1330, in response to the determination of the availability of themeasurement parameter, the first apparatus performs the measurement on the cell.

[0167]

[0151] At block 1340, in response to the determination of unavailability of the measurement parameter, the first apparatus refrains from performing the measurement on the cell.

[0168]

[0152] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may determine the availability of the measurement parameter based on at least one of that the configuration information comprises a value of the measurement parameter, or that the configuration information comprises an information element for the measurement parameter.

[0169]

[0153] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may determine the unavailability of the measurement parameter based on at least one of that the configuration information lacks a value of the measurement parameter, or that the configuration information lacks an information element for the measurement parameter.

[0170]

[0154] In some example embodiments, the measurement parameter comprises at least one of a measurement cycle for the measurement on the cell, a measurement gap during which communication with a serving cell is suspended, or a switching pattern for switching between the cell and a serving cell.

[0171]

[0155] In some example embodiments, the measurement on the cell comprises at least one of synchronization signal detection on the cell, or reference signal measurement on the cell.

[0172]

[0156] In some example embodiments, the cell is activated or deactivated.

[0173]

[0157] In some example embodiments, the cell comprises at least one of a secondary cell or a primary secondary cell.

[0174]

[0158] FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of an example method 1400 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1400 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus, for example, the network device 520.

[0175]

[0159] At block 1410, the second apparatus determines whether to enable a measurement by a terminal device on a cell.

[0176]

[0160] At block 1420, in response to the determination of disabling the measurement, the second apparatus transmits to the terminal device, configuration information forperforming the measurement to indicate unavailability of a measurement parameter.

[0177]

[0161] At block 1430, in response to the determination of enabling the measurement, the second apparatus transmit, to the terminal device, the configuration information for performing the measurement to indicate availability of a measurement parameter.

[0178]

[0162] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may in response to the determination of enabling the measurement, generate the configuration information comprising at least one of a value of the measurement parameter, or an information element for the measurement parameter.

[0179]

[0163] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may in response to the determination of disabling the measurement, generate the configuration information lacking at least one of a value of the measurement parameter, or an information element for the measurement parameter.

[0180]

[0164] In some example embodiments, the measurement parameter comprises at least one of a measurement cycle for the measurement on the cell, a measurement gap during which communication with a serving cell is suspended, or a switching pattern for switching between the cell and a serving cell.

[0181]

[0165] In some example embodiments, the measurement on the cell comprises at least one of synchronization signal detection on the cell, or reference signal measurement on the cell.

[0182]

[0166] In some example embodiments, the cell is activated or deactivated.

[0183]

[0167] In some example embodiments, the cell comprises at least one of a secondary cell or a primary secondary cell.

[0184]

[0168] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 1300 (for example, the terminal device 510 in FIG. 5) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1300 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the terminal device 510 in FIG. 5.

[0185]

[0169] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 1400 (for example, the network device 520 in FIG. 5) may comprise meansfor performing the respective operations of the method 1400and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the network device 520 in FIG. 5.

[0186]

[0170] FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of an example method 1500 implemented at an apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1500 will be described from the perspective of the apparatus, for example, the terminal device 510 in FIG. 5.

[0187]

[0171] At block 1510, the apparatus receives, from a network device, first configuration information for a cell.

[0188]

[0172] At block 1520, the apparatus determines based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable.

[0189]

[0173] At block 1530, in response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, the apparatus refrains from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

[0190]

[0174] In some example embodiments, the measurement on the cell comprises at least one of synchronization signal detection on the cell, or reference signal measurement on the cell.

[0191]

[0175] In some example embodiments, the requirement for the measurement comprises at least one of a time period for the synchronization signal detection, or a time period for the reference signal measurement.

[0192]

[0176] In some example embodiments, in response to determining that the first configuration information comprises an inapplicable value of the measurement parameter, the apparatus may determine that the measurement parameter is unavailable.

[0193]

[0177] In some example embodiments, in response to determining that the first configuration information lacks a value of the measurement parameter, the apparatus may determine that the measurement parameter is unavailable.

[0194]

[0178] In some example embodiments, in response to determining that the firstconfiguration information lacks an information element for the measurement parameter, the apparatus may determine that the measurement parameter is unavailable.

[0195]

[0179] In some example embodiments, the apparatus may receive, from a network device, second configuration information for the cell; determine whether the second configuration information indicates availability of the measurement parameter; and in response to the determination of the availability of the measurement parameter, perform the measurement on the cell based on the requirement for the measurement.

[0196]

[0180] In some example embodiments, the apparatus may determine the availability of the measurement parameter based on at least one of that the second configuration information comprises a value of the measurement parameter, or that the second configuration information comprises an information element for the measurement parameter.

[0197]

[0181] In some example embodiments, the measurement parameter comprises at least one of a measurement cycle for the measurement on the cell, a measurement gap during which communication with a serving cell is suspended, or a switching pattern for switching between the cell and a serving cell.

[0198]

[0182] In some example embodiments, the cell is activated or deactivated.

[0199]

[0183] In some example embodiments, the cell comprises at least one of a secondary cell or a primary secondary cell.

[0200]

[0184] In some example embodiments, the apparatus comprises or is comprised in a terminal device incapable of receiving from more than one cell simultaneously.

[0201]

[0185] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 1500 (for example, the terminal device 510 in FIG. 5) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1500 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the terminal device 510 in FIG. 5.

[0202]

[0186] FIG. 16 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1600 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1600 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the terminal device 510 or the network device 520 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown, the device 1600 includes one or more processors 1610, one or more memories 1620 coupled to the processor 1610, andone or more communication modules 1640 coupled to the processor 1610.

[0203]

[0187] The communication module 1640 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1640 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 1640 may include at least one antenna.

[0204]

[0188] The processor 1610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0205]

[0189] The memory 1620 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 1624, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 1622 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0206]

[0190] A computer program 1630 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1610. The instructions of the program 1630 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1630 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1624. The processor 1610 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1630 into the RAM 1622.

[0207]

[0191] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 1630 so that the device 1600 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 15. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0192] In some example embodiments, the program 1630 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1600 (such as in the memory 1620) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1600. The device 1600 may load the program 1630 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1622 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0208]

[0193] FIG. 17 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1700 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1700 has the program 1630 stored thereon.

[0209]

[0194] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0210]

[0195] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both localand remote storage media.

[0211]

[0196] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0212]

[0197] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0213]

[0198] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0214]

[0199] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment.Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0215]

[0200] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

34We Claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:receive, from a network device, first configuration information for a cell; determine, based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable; andin response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, refrain from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measurement on the cell comprises at least one of:synchronization signal detection on the cell, orreference signal measurement on the cell.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the requirement for the measurement comprises at least one of:a time period for the synchronization signal detection, ora time period for the reference signal measurement.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is caused to:in response to determining that the first configuration information comprises an inapplicable value of the measurement parameter, determine that the measurement parameter is unavailable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is caused to:in response to determining that the first configuration information lacks a value of the measurement parameter, determine that the measurement parameter is unavailable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is caused to:in response to determining that the first configuration information lacks an information35element for the measurement parameter, determine that the measurement parameter is unavailable.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1-3, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the network device, second configuration information for the cell; determine whether the second configuration information indicates availability of the measurement parameter; andin response to the determination of the availability of the measurement parameter, perform the measurement on the cell based on the requirement for the measurement.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is caused to.determine the availability of the measurement parameter based on at least one of: that the second configuration information comprises a value of the measurement parameter, orthat the second configuration information comprises an information element for the measurement parameter.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1-8, wherein the measurement parameter comprises at least one of:a measurement cycle for the measurement on the cell,a measurement gap during which communication with a serving cell is suspended, or a switching pattern for switching between the cell and a serving cell.

10. The apparatus of any of claims 1-9, wherein the cell is activated or deactivated.

11. The apparatus of any of claims 1-10, wherein the cell comprises at least one of: a secondary cell or a primary secondary cell.

12. The apparatus of any of claims 1-11, wherein the apparatus comprises or is comprised in a terminal device incapable of receiving from more than one cell simultaneously.

13. A method comprising:receiving, at an apparatus from a network device, first configuration information for a cell;determining, based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable; andin response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, refraining from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

14. An apparatus comprising:means for receiving, at an apparatus from a network device, first configuration information for a cell;means for determining, based on the first configuration information, that a measurement parameter for performing a measurement on the cell is unavailable; andmeans for in response to determining that the measurement parameter is unavailable, refraining from applying a requirement for the measurement on the cell.

15. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 13.

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