PSCell Measurement Reconfiguration for Fewer Gaps in Dual Connectivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inefficient measurement configurations during conditional PSCell changes in dual-connectivity wireless networks lead to unnecessary measurement gaps and resource waste, limiting scheduling flexibility.
Innovation Solution
Implementing updated measurement configurations based on accepted target PSCells, allowing for conditional PSCell changes by incorporating flags or control information to adjust measurement settings dynamically, and enabling autonomous gap management by the UE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurement configuration is maintained for all candidate PSCells during conditional reconfiguration, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement gap overhead and resource waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating measurement configuration treatment based on target PSCell acceptance status. Accepted target PSCells receive continued measurement configuration while rejected ones have measurement gaps released. This localized differentiation optimizes resource usage by applying measurement resources only where needed (accepted cells) rather than uniformly across all candidate cells, thus improving energy efficiency while maintaining necessary measurement accuracy.
2Productivity
If measurement configuration is updated dynamically based on accepted target PSCells, then resource utilization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network node receives acceptance/rejection information about target PSCells and uses this feedback to dynamically update measurement configurations. The system monitors which candidate PSCells are accepted by the target SN and adjusts measurement gap allocation accordingly. This feedback-driven approach enables adaptive resource utilization without requiring complex centralized control, as the updates are triggered by natural operational events (acceptance/rejection decisions).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables autonomous gap management where the UE independently releases measurement gaps for rejected target PSCells based on configuration parameters received from the network. This self-service mechanism reduces signaling overhead and system complexity by allowing the UE to autonomously manage measurement resources rather than requiring continuous network control and coordination for every measurement gap adjustment.
3Loss of information
If conditional reconfiguration proceeds without updated measurement configuration, then signaling overhead is reduced, but scheduling flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing the UE with configuration parameters in advance that indicate which candidate PSCells require measurement gap release. Instead of waiting for explicit network commands after each rejection event, the UE is pre-configured with the necessary information to autonomously manage measurement gaps. This preliminary configuration reduces subsequent signaling overhead while maintaining scheduling flexibility, as the UE can immediately act on rejection events without waiting for network updates.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method includes receiving, by a first network node that is configured as a master node from a second network node that is configured as a source secondary node for dual connectivity for a user device, control information indicating whether or not the first network node may receive from the second network node an updated measurement configuration based on a list of accepted target Primary Secondary Cells (PSCells) that are accepted by the target secondary node among a list of candidate target PSCells; sending to the user device, a conditional reconfiguration message including the initial measurement configuration that is based on the list of candidate target PSCells if the control information indicated that the first network node will not receive from the second network node an updated measurement configuration; and otherwise, sending a conditional reconfiguration message including the updated measurement configuration that is based on the list of accepted target PSCells.