RRM Measurement Reporting for Shared-Spectrum Carrier Variability

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, performing RRM measurements in a shared radio frequency spectrum band is challenging due to irregular intervals and varying transmit powers resulting from contention for access, leading to unreliable measurement results.

Innovation Solution

Associating RRM measurements with measurement time indications and carrier indications, and transmitting these to the base station, allowing for unfiltered and non-averaged values to be reported, thereby mitigating the effects of irregular intervals and varying transmit powers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If RRM measurements are performed in a shared radio frequency spectrum band, then the system can utilize additional spectrum resources, but the measurement reliability deteriorates due to irregular intervals and varying transmit powers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum utilizationVSAvoidmeasurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where measurement time indications are transmitted from the UE to the base station, enabling the base station to adjust its transmit power and measurement scheduling based on received measurement data and channel conditions, thereby improving measurement reliability in shared spectrum bands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of transmit power from fixed to variable based on contention outcomes, and introduces measurement time indications to track when measurements are performed. This allows the system to adapt measurements to the actual transmission conditions in shared spectrum, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining spectrum flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the base station divides fixed total transmit power among multiple downlink carriers, then the power distribution becomes more flexible, but the measurement consistency deteriorates due to varying transmit powers across carriers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower distribution flexibilityVSAvoidmeasurement consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a time dimension to measurements by introducing measurement time indications that specify when each measurement is performed. This allows the base station to correlate measurements with specific transmit power configurations, enabling consistent interpretation of measurements even when power varies across carriers and time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If RRM measurements are performed at irregular intervals due to contention outcomes, then the system can adapt to shared spectrum availability, but the measurement regularity deteriorates leading to unreliable results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum access adaptabilityVSAvoidmeasurement regularity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the base station pre-configure measurement parameters and transmit power settings before measurements are performed. The measurement time indications are predetermined and communicated to the UE, allowing the UE to perform measurements at appropriate times while the base station prepares the corresponding transmit configurations in advance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback mechanism transmits measurement time indications from UE to base station, creating a closed-loop system where the base station can adjust future measurement scheduling and transmit power based on past measurement outcomes, thereby stabilizing the measurement process despite irregular spectrum availability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3335458B1Techniques for reporting radio resource management (RRM) measurements for a shared radio frequency spectrum band
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3335458B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3335458B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3335458B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques are described for wireless communication. One method includes performing a plurality of radio resource management (RRM) measurements for a number of active downlink carriers in a shared radio frequency spectrum band; associating each of the RRM measurements with a measurement time indication; and transmitting data corresponding to the RRM measurements and the measurement time indications to a base station. Another method includes receiving an indication of co-located downlink carriers in a shared radio frequency spectrum band; performing a plurality of RRM measurements for the downlink carriers; combining the RRM measurements over a time interval in the shared radio frequency spectrum band based at least in part on the received indication; and transmitting a report based at least in part on the combined RRM measurements to a base station.