CU–DU Message Exchange for Positioning Measurement Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing technologies are unclear on how to configure and activate preconfigured measurement gaps in a distributed base station for positioning measurements, and there is a lack of clarity on how to deactivate and/or release such configurations.

Innovation Solution

A method for configuring reference signal measurements is implemented in a central unit (CU) of a distributed base station, involving the transmission of a request to configure a measurement gap to a distributed unit (DU), receiving a measurement gap configuration, and providing it to the user equipment (UE) for use with reference signal measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If preconfigured measurement gap procedures are implemented for positioning measurement, then positioning measurement capability is improved, but clarity on configuration and activation in distributed base station is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning measurement capabilityVSAvoidclarity on configuration and activation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the base station into a central unit (CU) and distributed units (DUs), with the CU responsible for receiving measurement gap configuration from LMF and DUs executing the actual measurement gap operations. This segmentation resolves the ambiguity by clearly defining roles in distributed architecture while maintaining positioning measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary message exchange mechanism between LMF, CU, and DU. The CU acts as an intermediary that receives measurement gap configuration from LMF and forwards relevant information to DUs, ensuring clear information flow and eliminating ambiguity about configuration and activation procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If measurement gap configuration is centralized in CU, then configuration management is simplified, but communication overhead between CU and DU increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration management complexityVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential measurement gap configuration parameters from the full configuration message and transmits them between CU and DU. This extraction approach simplifies configuration management in CU while minimizing communication overhead by transmitting only necessary information rather than complete configuration data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250317775A1Managing measurement gap configuration for positioning measurement

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

To configure reference signal measurements at a user equipment (UE), a central unit (CU) of a distributed base station that also includes a distributed unit (DU) transmits (504), to the DU, a first message including a request to configure a measurement gap for a UE; receives (507), from the DU, a second message including a measurement gap configuration; and provides (512) the measurement gap configuration to the UE, for use with the reference signal measurements.