EP4278663A1

EP4278663A1 - Method and apparatus for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system

Info

Publication number: EP4278663A1
Application number: EP22739720.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oanyong LEE; Sunghoon Jung
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2021-01-14
Filing date: 2022-01-13
Publication date: 2023-11-22
Also published as: KR20230129453A; WO2022154525A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system is described. A wireless device receives measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency. The measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement. A wireless device performs relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period. A wireless device performs relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING RELAXED MEASUREMENTS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system.

3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long-term evolution (LTE) is a technology for enabling high-speed packet communications. Many schemes have been proposed for the LTE objective including those that aim to reduce user and provider costs, improve service quality, and expand and improve coverage and system capacity. The 3GPP LTE requires reduced cost per bit, increased service availability, flexible use of a frequency band, a simple structure, an open interface, and adequate power consumption of a terminal as an upper-level requirement.

Work has started in international telecommunication union (ITU) and 3GPP to develop requirements and specifications for new radio (NR) systems. 3GPP has to identify and develop the technology components needed for successfully standardizing the new RAT timely satisfying both the urgent market needs, and the more long-term requirements set forth by the ITU radio communication sector (ITU-R) international mobile telecommunications (IMT)-2020 process. Further, the NR should be able to use any spectrum band ranging at least up to 100 GHz that may be made available for wireless communications even in a more distant future.

The NR targets a single technical framework addressing all usage scenarios, requirements and deployment scenarios including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type-communications (mMTC), ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC), etc. The NR shall be inherently forward compatible.

Procedures related to relaxed measurements has been studied for power saving. For example, UE is allowed to perform relaxed measurements when the UE satisfies not-at-cell edge criterion and/or low-mobility criterion. Upon performing relaxed measurements, the UE is allowed to extend the measurement period or not perform the neighbour cell measurements. For example, if a UE satisfies low-mobility criterion for a time period (that is, T_SearchDeltaP), UE can relax its neighbour cell measurements.

However, when the UE performs relaxed measurements, the UE can relax all of the configured frequencies. Therefore, in order to keep the basic assumption that the relaxed measurement should not degrade any mobility performance, the network may configure the relaxed measurement criterion conservatively. In other words, in case of low-mobility criterion, the UE can perform relaxed measurements only if it is in "very low-mobility" (for example, long T_SearchDeltaP value, or big S_SearchDeltaP value).

However, this configuration cannot bring maximum power consumption reduction, because the UE has less chance to perform relaxed measurements.

For RedCap UEs, it can be assumed that the mobility of the UEs would not change rapidly. It means that once the UE enters low-mobility state, in most cases, its mobility would not change greatly. Thus, if the UE can perform relaxed measurements on part of configured frequencies before reaching T_SearchDeltaP, the power consumption reduction can be maximized.

Therefore, studies for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system are required.

In an aspect, a method performed by a wireless device in a wireless communication system is provided. A wireless device receives measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency. The measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement. A wireless device performs relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period. A wireless device performs relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period.

In another aspect, an apparatus for implementing the above method is provided.

The present disclosure can have various advantageous effects.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a wireless device could perform relaxed measurements efficiently.

For example, a wireless device could save power more efficiently by gradually applying the relaxed measurements.

In other words, when a UE satisfies the low-mobility criterion, the wireless device could quickly perform relaxed measurements than existing relaxed measurement scheme so that the power consumption reduction can be maximized.

For example, though a wireless device performs relaxed measurements on all the configured frequencies only if the criterion is satisfied for a time period of T_SearchDeltaP, but according to the present disclosure, a wireless device starts to perform relaxed measurements by relaxing one frequency initially. While the wireless device continuously satisfies the low-mobility criterion, the wireless device could increases number of frequencies to relax the measurement. When the time period of T_SearchDeltaP elapses, the wireless device may perform relaxed measurements on all the configured frequencies or n-number of frequencies which are part of the configured frequencies.

Advantageous effects which can be obtained through specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the advantageous effects listed above. For example, there may be a variety of technical effects that a person having ordinary skill in the related art can understand and/or derive from the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specific effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those explicitly described herein, but may include various effects that may be understood or derived from the technical features of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

FIG. 2 shows an example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a wireless device to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

FIG. 4 shows another example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

FIG. 5 shows an example of UE to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of protocol stacks in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

FIG. 8 shows a frame structure in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

FIG. 9 shows a data flow example in the 3GPP NR system to which implementations of the present disclosure is applied.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a method for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a method for relaxed measurements extension in a wireless communication system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The following techniques, apparatuses, and systems may be applied to a variety of wireless multiple access systems. Examples of the multiple access systems include a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) system, a time division multiple access (TDMA) system, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system, a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) system, and a multicarrier frequency division multiple access (MC-FDMA) system. CDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) or CDMA2000. TDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as global system for mobile communications (GSM), general packet radio service (GPRS), or enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE). OFDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, or evolved UTRA (E-UTRA). UTRA is a part of a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS). 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) is a part of evolved UMTS (E-UMTS) using E-UTRA. 3GPP LTE employs OFDMA in DL and SC-FDMA in UL. LTE-advanced (LTE-A) is an evolved version of 3GPP LTE.

For convenience of description, implementations of the present disclosure are mainly described in regards to a 3GPP based wireless communication system. However, the technical features of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, although the following detailed description is given based on a mobile communication system corresponding to a 3GPP based wireless communication system, aspects of the present disclosure that are not limited to 3GPP based wireless communication system are applicable to other mobile communication systems.

For terms and technologies which are not specifically described among the terms of and technologies employed in the present disclosure, the wireless communication standard documents published before the present disclosure may be referenced.

In the present disclosure, "A or B" may mean "only A", "only B", or "both A and B". In other words, "A or B" in the present disclosure may be interpreted as "A and/or B". For example, "A, B or C" in the present disclosure may mean "only A", "only B", "only C", or "any combination of A, B and C".

In the present disclosure, slash (/) or comma (,) may mean "and/or". For example, "A/B" may mean "A and/or B". Accordingly, "A/B" may mean "only A", "only B", or "both A and B". For example, "A, B, C" may mean "A, B or C".

In the present disclosure, "at least one of A and B" may mean "only A", "only B" or "both A and B". In addition, the expression "at least one of A or B" or "at least one of A and/or B" in the present disclosure may be interpreted as same as "at least one of A and B".

In addition, in the present disclosure, "at least one of A, B and C" may mean "only A", "only B", "only C", or "any combination of A, B and C". In addition, "at least one of A, B or C" or "at least one of A, B and/or C" may mean "at least one of A, B and C".

Also, parentheses used in the present disclosure may mean "for example". In detail, when it is shown as "control information (PDCCH)", "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information". In other words, "control information" in the present disclosure is not limited to "PDCCH", and "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information". In addition, even when shown as "control information (i.e., PDCCH)", "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information".

Technical features that are separately described in one drawing in the present disclosure may be implemented separately or simultaneously.

Although not limited thereto, various descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts of the present disclosure disclosed herein can be applied to various fields requiring wireless communication and/or connection (e.g., 5G) between devices.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to drawings. The same reference numerals in the following drawings and/or descriptions may refer to the same and/or corresponding hardware blocks, software blocks, and/or functional blocks unless otherwise indicated.

The 5G usage scenarios shown in FIG. 1 are only exemplary, and the technical features of the present disclosure can be applied to other 5G usage scenarios which are not shown in FIG. 1.

Three main requirement categories for 5G include (1) a category of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), (2) a category of massive machine type communication (mMTC), and (3) a category of ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC).

Partial use cases may require a plurality of categories for optimization and other use cases may focus only upon one key performance indicator (KPI). 5G supports such various use cases using a flexible and reliable method.

eMBB far surpasses basic mobile Internet access and covers abundant bidirectional work and media and entertainment applications in cloud and augmented reality. Data is one of 5G core motive forces and, in a 5G era, a dedicated voice service may not be provided for the first time. In 5G, it is expected that voice will be simply processed as an application program using data connection provided by a communication system. Main causes for increased traffic volume are due to an increase in the size of content and an increase in the number of applications requiring high data transmission rate. A streaming service (of audio and video), conversational video, and mobile Internet access will be more widely used as more devices are connected to the Internet. These many application programs require connectivity of an always turned-on state in order to push real-time information and alarm for users. Cloud storage and applications are rapidly increasing in a mobile communication platform and may be applied to both work and entertainment. The cloud storage is a special use case which accelerates growth of uplink data transmission rate. 5G is also used for remote work of cloud. When a tactile interface is used, 5G demands much lower end-to-end latency to maintain user good experience. Entertainment, for example, cloud gaming and video streaming, is another core element which increases demand for mobile broadband capability. Entertainment is essential for a smartphone and a tablet in any place including high mobility environments such as a train, a vehicle, and an airplane. Other use cases are augmented reality for entertainment and information search. In this case, the augmented reality requires very low latency and instantaneous data volume.

In addition, one of the most expected 5G use cases relates a function capable of smoothly connecting embedded sensors in all fields, i.e., mMTC. It is expected that the number of potential Internet-of-things (IoT) devices will reach 204 hundred million up to the year of 2020. An industrial IoT is one of categories of performing a main role enabling a smart city, asset tracking, smart utility, agriculture, and security infrastructure through 5G.

URLLC includes a new service that will change industry through remote control of main infrastructure and an ultra-reliable/available low-latency link such as a self-driving vehicle. A level of reliability and latency is essential to control a smart grid, automatize industry, achieve robotics, and control and adjust a drone.

5G is a means of providing streaming evaluated as a few hundred megabits per second to gigabits per second and may complement fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and cable-based broadband (or DOCSIS). Such fast speed is needed to deliver TV in resolution of 4K or more (6K, 8K, and more), as well as virtual reality and augmented reality. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications include almost immersive sports games. A specific application program may require a special network configuration. For example, for VR games, gaming companies need to incorporate a core server into an edge network server of a network operator in order to minimize latency.

Automotive is expected to be a new important motivated force in 5G together with many use cases for mobile communication for vehicles. For example, entertainment for passengers requires high simultaneous capacity and mobile broadband with high mobility. This is because future users continue to expect connection of high quality regardless of their locations and speeds. Another use case of an automotive field is an AR dashboard. The AR dashboard causes a driver to identify an object in the dark in addition to an object seen from a front window and displays a distance from the object and a movement of the object by overlapping information talking to the driver. In the future, a wireless module enables communication between vehicles, information exchange between a vehicle and supporting infrastructure, and information exchange between a vehicle and other connected devices (e.g., devices accompanied by a pedestrian). A safety system guides alternative courses of a behavior so that a driver may drive more safely drive, thereby lowering the danger of an accident. The next stage will be a remotely controlled or self-driven vehicle. This requires very high reliability and very fast communication between different self-driven vehicles and between a vehicle and infrastructure. In the future, a self-driven vehicle will perform all driving activities and a driver will focus only upon abnormal traffic that the vehicle cannot identify. Technical requirements of a self-driven vehicle demand ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliability so that traffic safety is increased to a level that cannot be achieved by human being.

A smart city and a smart home/building mentioned as a smart society will be embedded in a high-density wireless sensor network. A distributed network of an intelligent sensor will identify conditions for costs and energy-efficient maintenance of a city or a home. Similar configurations may be performed for respective households. All of temperature sensors, window and heating controllers, burglar alarms, and home appliances are wirelessly connected. Many of these sensors are typically low in data transmission rate, power, and cost. However, real-time HD video may be demanded by a specific type of device to perform monitoring.

Consumption and distribution of energy including heat or gas is distributed at a higher level so that automated control of the distribution sensor network is demanded. The smart grid collects information and connects the sensors to each other using digital information and communication technology so as to act according to the collected information. Since this information may include behaviors of a supply company and a consumer, the smart grid may improve distribution of fuels such as electricity by a method having efficiency, reliability, economic feasibility, production sustainability, and automation. The smart grid may also be regarded as another sensor network having low latency.

Mission critical application (e.g., e-health) is one of 5G use scenarios. A health part contains many application programs capable of enjoying benefit of mobile communication. A communication system may support remote treatment that provides clinical treatment in a faraway place. Remote treatment may aid in reducing a barrier against distance and improve access to medical services that cannot be continuously available in a faraway rural area. Remote treatment is also used to perform important treatment and save lives in an emergency situation. The wireless sensor network based on mobile communication may provide remote monitoring and sensors for parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure.

Wireless and mobile communication gradually becomes important in the field of an industrial application. Wiring is high in installation and maintenance cost. Therefore, a possibility of replacing a cable with reconstructible wireless links is an attractive opportunity in many industrial fields. However, in order to achieve this replacement, it is necessary for wireless connection to be established with latency, reliability, and capacity similar to those of the cable and management of wireless connection needs to be simplified. Low latency and a very low error probability are new requirements when connection to 5G is needed.

Logistics and freight tracking are important use cases for mobile communication that enables inventory and package tracking anywhere using a location-based information system. The use cases of logistics and freight typically demand low data rate but require location information with a wide range and reliability.

Referring to FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes wireless devices 100a to 100f, base stations (BSs) 200, and a network 300. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a 5G network as an example of the network of the communication system 1, the implementations of the present disclosure are not limited to the 5G system, and can be applied to the future communication system beyond the 5G system.

The BSs 200 and the network 300 may be implemented as wireless devices and a specific wireless device may operate as a BS/network node with respect to other wireless devices.

The wireless devices 100a to 100f represent devices performing communication using radio access technology (RAT) (e.g., 5G new RAT (NR)) or LTE) and may be referred to as communication/radio/5G devices. The wireless devices 100a to 100f may include, without being limited to, a robot 100a, vehicles 100b-1 and 100b-2, an extended reality (XR) device 100c, a hand-held device 100d, a home appliance 100e, an IoT device 100f, and an artificial intelligence (AI) device/server 400. For example, the vehicles may include a vehicle having a wireless communication function, an autonomous driving vehicle, and a vehicle capable of performing communication between vehicles. The vehicles may include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (e.g., a drone). The XR device may include an AR/VR/Mixed Reality (MR) device and may be implemented in the form of a head-mounted device (HMD), a head-up display (HUD) mounted in a vehicle, a television, a smartphone, a computer, a wearable device, a home appliance device, a digital signage, a vehicle, a robot, etc. The hand-held device may include a smartphone, a smartpad, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch or a smartglasses), and a computer (e.g., a notebook). The home appliance may include a TV, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. The IoT device may include a sensor and a smartmeter.

In the present disclosure, the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be called user equipments (UEs). A UE may include, for example, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation system, a slate personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, an ultrabook, a vehicle, a vehicle having an autonomous traveling function, a connected car, an UAV, an AI module, a robot, an AR device, a VR device, an MR device, a hologram device, a public safety device, an MTC device, an IoT device, a medical device, a FinTech device (or a financial device), a security device, a weather/environment device, a device related to a 5G service, or a device related to a fourth industrial revolution field.

The UAV may be, for example, an aircraft aviated by a wireless control signal without a human being onboard.

The VR device may include, for example, a device for implementing an object or a background of the virtual world. The AR device may include, for example, a device implemented by connecting an object or a background of the virtual world to an object or a background of the real world. The MR device may include, for example, a device implemented by merging an object or a background of the virtual world into an object or a background of the real world. The hologram device may include, for example, a device for implementing a stereoscopic image of 360 degrees by recording and reproducing stereoscopic information, using an interference phenomenon of light generated when two laser lights called holography meet.

The public safety device may include, for example, an image relay device or an image device that is wearable on the body of a user.

The MTC device and the IoT device may be, for example, devices that do not require direct human intervention or manipulation. For example, the MTC device and the IoT device may include smartmeters, vending machines, thermometers, smartbulbs, door locks, or various sensors.

The medical device may be, for example, a device used for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, relieving, curing, or preventing disease. For example, the medical device may be a device used for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, relieving, or correcting injury or impairment. For example, the medical device may be a device used for the purpose of inspecting, replacing, or modifying a structure or a function. For example, the medical device may be a device used for the purpose of adjusting pregnancy. For example, the medical device may include a device for treatment, a device for operation, a device for (in vitro) diagnosis, a hearing aid, or a device for procedure.

The security device may be, for example, a device installed to prevent a danger that may arise and to maintain safety. For example, the security device may be a camera, a closed-circuit TV (CCTV), a recorder, or a black box.

The FinTech device may be, for example, a device capable of providing a financial service such as mobile payment. For example, the FinTech device may include a payment device or a point of sales (POS) system.

The weather/environment device may include, for example, a device for monitoring or predicting a weather/environment.

The wireless devices 100a to 100f may be connected to the network 300 via the BSs 200. An AI technology may be applied to the wireless devices 100a to 100f and the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be connected to the AI server 400 via the network 300. The network 300 may be configured using a 3G network, a 4G (e.g., LTE) network, a 5G (e.g., NR) network, and a beyond-5G network. Although the wireless devices 100a to 100f may communicate with each other through the BSs 200/network 300, the wireless devices 100a to 100f may perform direct communication (e.g., sidelink communication) with each other without passing through the BSs 200/network 300. For example, the vehicles 100b-1 and 100b-2 may perform direct communication (e.g., vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V)/vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication). The IoT device (e.g., a sensor) may perform direct communication with other IoT devices (e.g., sensors) or other wireless devices 100a to 100f.

Wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c may be established between the wireless devices 100a to 100f and/or between wireless device 100a to 100f and BS 200 and/or between BSs 200. Herein, the wireless communication/connections may be established through various RATs (e.g., 5G NR) such as uplink/downlink communication 150a, sidelink communication (or device-to-device (D2D) communication) 150b, inter-base station communication 150c (e.g., relay, integrated access and backhaul (IAB)), etc. The wireless devices 100a to 100f and the BSs 200/the wireless devices 100a to 100f may transmit/receive radio signals to/from each other through the wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c. For example, the wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c may transmit/receive signals through various physical channels. To this end, at least a part of various configuration information configuring processes, various signal processing processes (e.g., channel encoding/decoding, modulation/demodulation, and resource mapping/de-mapping), and resource allocating processes, for transmitting/receiving radio signals, may be performed based on the various proposals of the present disclosure.

Here, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may include narrowband internet-of-things (NB-IoT) technology for low-power communication as well as LTE, NR and 6G. For example, NB-IoT technology may be an example of low power wide area network (LPWAN) technology, may be implemented in specifications such as LTE Cat NB1 and/or LTE Cat NB2, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. Additionally and/or alternatively, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may communicate based on LTE-M technology. For example, LTE-M technology may be an example of LPWAN technology and be called by various names such as enhanced machine type communication (eMTC). For example, LTE-M technology may be implemented in at least one of the various specifications, such as 1) LTE Cat 0, 2) LTE Cat M1, 3) LTE Cat M2, 4) LTE non-bandwidth limited (non-BL), 5) LTE-MTC, 6) LTE Machine Type Communication, and/or 7) LTE M, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. Additionally and/or alternatively, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may include at least one of ZigBee, Bluetooth, and/or LPWAN which take into account low-power communication, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. For example, ZigBee technology may generate personal area networks (PANs) associated with small/low-power digital communication based on various specifications such as IEEE 802.15.4 and may be called various names.

Referring to FIG. 2, a first wireless device 100 and a second wireless device 200 may transmit/receive radio signals to/from an external device through a variety of RATs (e.g., LTE and NR). In FIG. 2, {the first wireless device 100 and the second wireless device 200} may correspond to at least one of {the wireless device 100a to 100f and the BS 200}, {the wireless device 100a to 100f and the wireless device 100a to 100f} and/or {the BS 200 and the BS 200} of FIG. 1.

The first wireless device 100 may include one or more processors 102 and one or more memories 104 and additionally further include one or more transceivers 106 and/or one or more antennas 108. The processor(s) 102 may control the memory(s) 104 and/or the transceiver(s) 106 and may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. For example, the processor(s) 102 may process information within the memory(s) 104 to generate first information/signals and then transmit radio signals including the first information/signals through the transceiver(s) 106. The processor(s) 102 may receive radio signals including second information/signals through the transceiver(s) 106 and then store information obtained by processing the second information/signals in the memory(s) 104. The memory(s) 104 may be connected to the processor(s) 102 and may store a variety of information related to operations of the processor(s) 102. For example, the memory(s) 104 may store software code including commands for performing a part or the entirety of processes controlled by the processor(s) 102 or for performing the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. Herein, the processor(s) 102 and the memory(s) 104 may be a part of a communication modem/circuit/chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). The transceiver(s) 106 may be connected to the processor(s) 102 and transmit and/or receive radio signals through one or more antennas 108. Each of the transceiver(s) 106 may include a transmitter and/or a receiver. The transceiver(s) 106 may be interchangeably used with radio frequency (RF) unit(s). In the present disclosure, the first wireless device 100 may represent a communication modem/circuit/chip.

The second wireless device 200 may include one or more processors 202 and one or more memories 204 and additionally further include one or more transceivers 206 and/or one or more antennas 208. The processor(s) 202 may control the memory(s) 204 and/or the transceiver(s) 206 and may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. For example, the processor(s) 202 may process information within the memory(s) 204 to generate third information/signals and then transmit radio signals including the third information/signals through the transceiver(s) 206. The processor(s) 202 may receive radio signals including fourth information/signals through the transceiver(s) 106 and then store information obtained by processing the fourth information/signals in the memory(s) 204. The memory(s) 204 may be connected to the processor(s) 202 and may store a variety of information related to operations of the processor(s) 202. For example, the memory(s) 204 may store software code including commands for performing a part or the entirety of processes controlled by the processor(s) 202 or for performing the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. Herein, the processor(s) 202 and the memory(s) 204 may be a part of a communication modem/circuit/chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). The transceiver(s) 206 may be connected to the processor(s) 202 and transmit and/or receive radio signals through one or more antennas 208. Each of the transceiver(s) 206 may include a transmitter and/or a receiver. The transceiver(s) 206 may be interchangeably used with RF unit(s). In the present disclosure, the second wireless device 200 may represent a communication modem/circuit/chip.

Hereinafter, hardware elements of the wireless devices 100 and 200 will be described more specifically. One or more protocol layers may be implemented by, without being limited to, one or more processors 102 and 202. For example, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may implement one or more layers (e.g., functional layers such as physical (PHY) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, radio link control (RLC) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, radio resource control (RRC) layer, and service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer). The one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate one or more protocol data units (PDUs) and/or one or more service data unit (SDUs) according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate signals (e.g., baseband signals) including PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure and provide the generated signals to the one or more transceivers 106 and 206. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may receive the signals (e.g., baseband signals) from the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 and acquire the PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.

The one or more processors 102 and 202 may be referred to as controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or microcomputers. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. As an example, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), one or more digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), one or more programmable logic devices (PLDs), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) may be included in the one or more processors 102 and 202. descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure may be implemented using firmware or software and the firmware or software may be configured to include the modules, procedures, or functions. Firmware or software configured to perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure may be included in the one or more processors 102 and 202 or stored in the one or more memories 104 and 204 so as to be driven by the one or more processors 102 and 202. The descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure may be implemented using firmware or software in the form of code, commands, and/or a set of commands.

The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and store various types of data, signals, messages, information, programs, code, instructions, and/or commands. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be configured by read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), flash memories, hard drives, registers, cash memories, computer-readable storage media, and/or combinations thereof. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be located at the interior and/or exterior of the one or more processors 102 and 202. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 through various technologies such as wired or wireless connection.

The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, control information, and/or radio signals/channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, to one or more other devices. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data, control information, and/or radio signals/channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, from one or more other devices. For example, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and transmit and receive radio signals. For example, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, control information, or radio signals to one or more other devices. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data, control information, or radio signals from one or more other devices.

The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be connected to the one or more antennas 108 and 208 and the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be configured to transmit and receive user data, control information, and/or radio signals/channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, through the one or more antennas 108 and 208. In the present disclosure, the one or more antennas may be a plurality of physical antennas or a plurality of logical antennas (e.g., antenna ports).

The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may convert received radio signals/channels, etc., from RF band signals into baseband signals in order to process received user data, control information, radio signals/channels, etc., using the one or more processors 102 and 202. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may convert the user data, control information, radio signals/channels, etc., processed using the one or more processors 102 and 202 from the base band signals into the RF band signals. To this end, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may include (analog) oscillators and/or filters. For example, the transceivers 106 and 206 can up-convert OFDM baseband signals to a carrier frequency by their (analog) oscillators and/or filters under the control of the processors 102 and 202 and transmit the up-converted OFDM signals at the carrier frequency. The transceivers 106 and 206 may receive OFDM signals at a carrier frequency and down-convert the OFDM signals into OFDM baseband signals by their (analog) oscillators and/or filters under the control of the transceivers 102 and 202.

In the implementations of the present disclosure, a UE may operate as a transmitting device in uplink (UL) and as a receiving device in downlink (DL). In the implementations of the present disclosure, a BS may operate as a receiving device in UL and as a transmitting device in DL. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is mainly assumed that the first wireless device 100 acts as the UE, and the second wireless device 200 acts as the BS. For example, the processor(s) 102 connected to, mounted on or launched in the first wireless device 100 may be configured to perform the UE behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure or control the transceiver(s) 106 to perform the UE behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure. The processor(s) 202 connected to, mounted on or launched in the second wireless device 200 may be configured to perform the BS behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure or control the transceiver(s) 206 to perform the BS behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure.

In the present disclosure, a BS is also referred to as a node B (NB), an eNode B (eNB), or a gNB.

The wireless device may be implemented in various forms according to a use-case/service (refer to FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 3, wireless devices 100 and 200 may correspond to the wireless devices 100 and 200 of FIG. 2 and may be configured by various elements, components, units/portions, and/or modules. For example, each of the wireless devices 100 and 200 may include a communication unit 110, a control unit 120, a memory unit 130, and additional components 140. The communication unit 110 may include a communication circuit 112 and transceiver(s) 114. For example, the communication circuit 112 may include the one or more processors 102 and 202 of FIG. 2 and/or the one or more memories 104 and 204 of FIG. 2. For example, the transceiver(s) 114 may include the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 of FIG. 2 and/or the one or more antennas 108 and 208 of FIG. 2. The control unit 120 is electrically connected to the communication unit 110, the memory 130, and the additional components 140 and controls overall operation of each of the wireless devices 100 and 200. For example, the control unit 120 may control an electric/mechanical operation of each of the wireless devices 100 and 200 based on programs/code/commands/information stored in the memory unit 130. The control unit 120 may transmit the information stored in the memory unit 130 to the exterior (e.g., other communication devices) via the communication unit 110 through a wireless/wired interface or store, in the memory unit 130, information received through the wireless/wired interface from the exterior (e.g., other communication devices) via the communication unit 110.

The additional components 140 may be variously configured according to types of the wireless devices 100 and 200. For example, the additional components 140 may include at least one of a power unit/battery, input/output (I/O) unit (e.g., audio I/O port, video I/O port), a driving unit, and a computing unit. The wireless devices 100 and 200 may be implemented in the form of, without being limited to, the robot (100a of FIG. 1), the vehicles (100b-1 and 100b-2 of FIG. 1), the XR device (100c of FIG. 1), the hand-held device (100d of FIG. 1), the home appliance (100e of FIG. 1), the IoT device (100f of FIG. 1), a digital broadcast terminal, a hologram device, a public safety device, an MTC device, a medicine device, a FinTech device (or a finance device), a security device, a climate/environment device, the AI server/device (400 of FIG. 1), the BSs (200 of FIG. 1), a network node, etc. The wireless devices 100 and 200 may be used in a mobile or fixed place according to a use-example/service.

In FIG. 3, the entirety of the various elements, components, units/portions, and/or modules in the wireless devices 100 and 200 may be connected to each other through a wired interface or at least a part thereof may be wirelessly connected through the communication unit 110. For example, in each of the wireless devices 100 and 200, the control unit 120 and the communication unit 110 may be connected by wire and the control unit 120 and first units (e.g., 130 and 140) may be wirelessly connected through the communication unit 110. Each element, component, unit/portion, and/or module within the wireless devices 100 and 200 may further include one or more elements. For example, the control unit 120 may be configured by a set of one or more processors. As an example, the control unit 120 may be configured by a set of a communication control processor, an application processor (AP), an electronic control unit (ECU), a graphical processing unit, and a memory control processor. As another example, the memory 130 may be configured by a RAM, a DRAM, a ROM, a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and/or a combination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 4, wireless devices 100 and 200 may correspond to the wireless devices 100 and 200 of FIG. 2 and may be configured by various elements, components, units/portions, and/or modules.

The first wireless device 100 may include at least one transceiver, such as a transceiver 106, and at least one processing chip, such as a processing chip 101. The processing chip 101 may include at least one processor, such a processor 102, and at least one memory, such as a memory 104. The memory 104 may be operably connectable to the processor 102. The memory 104 may store various types of information and/or instructions. The memory 104 may store a software code 105 which implements instructions that, when executed by the processor 102, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the software code 105 may implement instructions that, when executed by the processor 102, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the software code 105 may control the processor 102 to perform one or more protocols. For example, the software code 105 may control the processor 102 may perform one or more layers of the radio interface protocol.

The second wireless device 200 may include at least one transceiver, such as a transceiver 206, and at least one processing chip, such as a processing chip 201. The processing chip 201 may include at least one processor, such a processor 202, and at least one memory, such as a memory 204. The memory 204 may be operably connectable to the processor 202. The memory 204 may store various types of information and/or instructions. The memory 204 may store a software code 205 which implements instructions that, when executed by the processor 202, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the software code 205 may implement instructions that, when executed by the processor 202, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the software code 205 may control the processor 202 to perform one or more protocols. For example, the software code 205 may control the processor 202 may perform one or more layers of the radio interface protocol.

Referring to FIG. 5, a UE 100 may correspond to the first wireless device 100 of FIG. 2 and/or the first wireless device 100 of FIG. 4.

A UE 100 includes a processor 102, a memory 104, a transceiver 106, one or more antennas 108, a power management module 110, a battery 1112, a display 114, a keypad 116, a subscriber identification module (SIM) card 118, a speaker 120, and a microphone 122.

The processor 102 may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The processor 102 may be configured to control one or more other components of the UE 100 to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. Layers of the radio interface protocol may be implemented in the processor 102. The processor 102 may include ASIC, other chipset, logic circuit and/or data processing device. The processor 102 may be an application processor. The processor 102 may include at least one of a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a modem (modulator and demodulator). An example of the processor 102 may be found in SNAPDRAGON^TM series of processors made by Qualcomm^®, EXYNOS^TM series of processors made by Samsung^®, A series of processors made by Apple^®, HELIO^TM series of processors made by MediaTek^®, ATOM^TM series of processors made by Intel^® or a corresponding next generation processor.

The memory 104 is operatively coupled with the processor 102 and stores a variety of information to operate the processor 102. The memory 104 may include ROM, RAM, flash memory, memory card, storage medium and/or other storage device. When the embodiments are implemented in software, the techniques described herein can be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, etc.) that perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The modules can be stored in the memory 104 and executed by the processor 102. The memory 104 can be implemented within the processor 102 or external to the processor 102 in which case those can be communicatively coupled to the processor 102 via various means as is known in the art.

The transceiver 106 is operatively coupled with the processor 102, and transmits and/or receives a radio signal. The transceiver 106 includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 106 may include baseband circuitry to process radio frequency signals. The transceiver 106 controls the one or more antennas 108 to transmit and/or receive a radio signal.

The power management module 110 manages power for the processor 102 and/or the transceiver 106. The battery 112 supplies power to the power management module 110.

The display 114 outputs results processed by the processor 102. The keypad 116 receives inputs to be used by the processor 102. The keypad 16 may be shown on the display 114.

The SIM card 118 is an　integrated circuit　that is intended to　securely store the　international mobile subscriber identity　(IMSI) number and its related　key, which are used to identify and authenticate subscribers on　mobile telephony　devices (such as　mobile phones　and　computers). It is also possible to store contact information on many SIM cards.

The speaker 120 outputs sound-related results processed by the processor 102. The microphone 122 receives sound-related inputs to be used by the processor 102.

In particular, FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a radio interface user plane protocol stack between a UE and a BS and FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a radio interface control plane protocol stack between a UE and a BS. The control plane refers to a path through which control messages used to manage call by a UE and a network are transported. The user plane refers to a path through which data generated in an application layer, for example, voice data or Internet packet data are transported. Referring to FIG. 6, the user plane protocol stack may be divided into Layer 1 (i.e., a PHY layer) and Layer 2. Referring to FIG. 7, the control plane protocol stack may be divided into Layer 1 (i.e., a PHY layer), Layer 2, Layer 3 (e.g., an RRC layer), and a non-access stratum (NAS) layer. Layer 1, Layer 2 and Layer 3 are referred to as an access stratum (AS).

In the 3GPP LTE system, the Layer 2 is split into the following sublayers: MAC, RLC, and PDCP. In the 3GPP NR system, the Layer 2 is split into the following sublayers: MAC, RLC, PDCP and SDAP. The PHY layer offers to the MAC sublayer transport channels, the MAC sublayer offers to the RLC sublayer logical channels, the RLC sublayer offers to the PDCP sublayer RLC channels, the PDCP sublayer offers to the SDAP sublayer radio bearers. The SDAP sublayer offers to 5G core network quality of service (QoS) flows.

In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the MAC sublayer include: mapping between logical channels and transport channels; multiplexing/de-multiplexing of MAC SDUs belonging to one or different logical channels into/from transport blocks (TB) delivered to/from the physical layer on transport channels; scheduling information reporting; error correction through hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) (one HARQ entity per cell in case of carrier aggregation (CA)); priority handling between UEs by means of dynamic scheduling; priority handling between logical channels of one UE by means of logical channel prioritization; padding. A single MAC entity may support multiple numerologies, transmission timings and cells. Mapping restrictions in logical channel prioritization control which numerology(ies), cell(s), and transmission timing(s) a logical channel can use.

Different kinds of data transfer services are offered by MAC. To accommodate different kinds of data transfer services, multiple types of logical channels are defined, i.e., each supporting transfer of a particular type of information. Each logical channel type is defined by what type of information is transferred. Logical channels are classified into two groups: control channels and traffic channels. Control channels are used for the transfer of control plane information only, and traffic channels are used for the transfer of user plane information only. Broadcast control channel (BCCH) is a downlink logical channel for broadcasting system control information, paging control channel (PCCH) is a downlink logical channel that transfers paging information, system information change notifications and indications of ongoing public warning service (PWS) broadcasts, common control channel (CCCH) is a logical channel for transmitting control information between UEs and network and used for UEs having no RRC connection with the network, and dedicated control channel (DCCH) is a point-to-point bi-directional logical channel that transmits dedicated control information between a UE and the network and used by UEs having an RRC connection. Dedicated traffic channel (DTCH) is a point-to-point logical channel, dedicated to one UE, for the transfer of user information. A DTCH can exist in both uplink and downlink. In downlink, the following connections between logical channels and transport channels exist: BCCH can be mapped to broadcast channel (BCH); BCCH can be mapped to downlink shared channel (DL-SCH); PCCH can be mapped to paging channel (PCH); CCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH; DCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH; and DTCH can be mapped to DL-SCH. In uplink, the following connections between logical channels and transport channels exist: CCCH can be mapped to uplink shared channel (UL-SCH); DCCH can be mapped to UL-SCH; and DTCH can be mapped to UL-SCH.

The RLC sublayer supports three transmission modes: transparent mode (TM), unacknowledged mode (UM), and acknowledged node (AM). The RLC configuration is per logical channel with no dependency on numerologies and/or transmission durations. In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the RLC sublayer depend on the transmission mode and include: transfer of upper layer PDUs; sequence numbering independent of the one in PDCP (UM and AM); error correction through ARQ (AM only); segmentation (AM and UM) and re-segmentation (AM only) of RLC SDUs; reassembly of SDU (AM and UM); duplicate detection (AM only); RLC SDU discard (AM and UM); RLC re-establishment; protocol error detection (AM only).

In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the user plane include: sequence numbering; header compression and decompression using robust header compression (ROHC); transfer of user data; reordering and duplicate detection; in-order delivery; PDCP PDU routing (in case of split bearers); retransmission of PDCP SDUs; ciphering, deciphering and integrity protection; PDCP SDU discard; PDCP re-establishment and data recovery for RLC AM; PDCP status reporting for RLC AM; duplication of PDCP PDUs and duplicate discard indication to lower layers. The main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the control plane include: sequence numbering; ciphering, deciphering and integrity protection; transfer of control plane data; reordering and duplicate detection; in-order delivery; duplication of PDCP PDUs and duplicate discard indication to lower layers.

In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of SDAP include: mapping between a QoS flow and a data radio bearer; marking QoS flow ID (QFI) in both DL and UL packets. A single protocol entity of SDAP is configured for each individual PDU session.

In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the RRC sublayer include: broadcast of system information related to AS and NAS; paging initiated by 5GC or NG-RAN; establishment, maintenance and release of an RRC connection between the UE and NG-RAN; security functions including key management; establishment, configuration, maintenance and release of signaling radio bearers (SRBs) and data radio bearers (DRBs); mobility functions (including: handover and context transfer, UE cell selection and reselection and control of cell selection and reselection, inter-RAT mobility); QoS management functions; UE measurement reporting and control of the reporting; detection of and recovery from radio link failure; NAS message transfer to/from NAS from/to UE.

The frame structure shown in FIG. 8 is purely exemplary and the number of subframes, the number of slots, and/or the number of symbols in a frame may be variously changed. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system, OFDM numerologies (e.g., subcarrier spacing (SCS), transmission time interval (TTI) duration) may be differently configured between a plurality of cells aggregated for one UE. For example, if a UE is configured with different SCSs for cells aggregated for the cell, an (absolute time) duration of a time resource (e.g., a subframe, a slot, or a TTI) including the same number of symbols may be different among the aggregated cells. Herein, symbols may include OFDM symbols (or CP-OFDM symbols), SC-FDMA symbols (or discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbols).

Referring to FIG. 8, downlink and uplink transmissions are organized into frames. Each frame has T_f = 10ms duration. Each frame is divided into two half-frames, where each of the half-frames has 5ms duration. Each half-frame consists of 5 subframes, where the duration T_sf per subframe is 1ms. Each subframe is divided into slots and the number of slots in a subframe depends on a subcarrier spacing. Each slot includes 14 or 12 OFDM symbols based on a cyclic prefix (CP). In a normal CP, each slot includes 14 OFDM symbols and, in an extended CP, each slot includes 12 OFDM symbols. The numerology is based on exponentially scalable subcarrier spacing △f = 2^u*15 kHz.

Table 1 shows the number of OFDM symbols per slot N^slot _symb, the number of slots per frame N^frame,u _slot, and the number of slots per subframe N^subframe,u _slot for the normal CP, according to the subcarrier spacing △f = 2^u*15 kHz.

Table 2 shows the number of OFDM symbols per slot N^slot _symb, the number of slots per frame N^frame,u _slot, and the number of slots per subframe N^subframe,u _slot for the extended CP, according to the subcarrier spacing △f = 2^u*15 kHz.

A slot includes plural symbols (e.g., 14 or 12 symbols) in the time domain. For each numerology (e.g., subcarrier spacing) and carrier, a resource grid of N ^size,u _grid,x*N ^RB _sc subcarriers and N ^subframe,u _symb OFDM symbols is defined, starting at common resource block (CRB) N ^start,u _grid indicated by higher-layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling), where N ^size,u _grid,x is the number of resource blocks (RBs) in the resource grid and the subscript x is DL for downlink and UL for uplink. N ^RB _sc is the number of subcarriers per RB. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system, N ^RB _sc is 12 generally. There is one resource grid for a given antenna port p, subcarrier spacing configuration u, and transmission direction (DL or UL). The carrier bandwidth N ^size,u _grid for subcarrier spacing configuration u is given by the higher-layer parameter (e.g., RRC parameter). Each element in the resource grid for the antenna port p and the subcarrier spacing configuration u is referred to as a resource element (RE) and one complex symbol may be mapped to each RE. Each RE in the resource grid is uniquely identified by an index k in the frequency domain and an index l representing a symbol location relative to a reference point in the time domain. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system, an RB is defined by 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain.

In the 3GPP NR system, RBs are classified into CRBs and physical resource blocks (PRBs). CRBs are numbered from 0 and upwards in the frequency domain for subcarrier spacing configuration u. The center of subcarrier 0 of CRB 0 for subcarrier spacing configuration u coincides with 'point A' which serves as a common reference point for resource block grids. In the 3GPP NR system, PRBs are defined within a bandwidth part (BWP) and numbered from 0 to N ^size _BWP,i-1, where i is the number of the bandwidth part. The relation between the physical resource block n_PRB in the bandwidth part i and the common resource block n_CRB is as follows: n_PRB = n_CRB + N ^size _BWP,i, where N ^size _BWP,i is the common resource block where bandwidth part starts relative to CRB 0. The BWP includes a plurality of consecutive RBs. A carrier may include a maximum of N (e.g., 5) BWPs. A UE may be configured with one or more BWPs on a given component carrier. Only one BWP among BWPs configured to the UE can active at a time. The active BWP defines the UE's operating bandwidth within the cell's operating bandwidth.

The NR frequency band may be defined as two types of frequency range, i.e., FR1 and FR2. The numerical value of the frequency range may be changed. For example, the frequency ranges of the two types (FR1 and FR2) may be as shown in Table 3 below. For ease of explanation, in the frequency ranges used in the NR system, FR1 may mean "sub 6 GHz range", FR2 may mean "above 6 GHz range," and may be referred to as millimeter wave (mmW).

As mentioned above, the numerical value of the frequency range of the NR system may be changed. For example, FR1 may include a frequency band of 410MHz to 7125MHz as shown in Table 4 below. That is, FR1 may include a frequency band of 6GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or more. For example, a frequency band of 6 GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or more included in FR1 may include an unlicensed band. Unlicensed bands may be used for a variety of purposes, for example for communication for vehicles (e.g., autonomous driving).

In the present disclosure, the term "cell" may refer to a geographic area to which one or more nodes provide a communication system, or refer to radio resources. A "cell" as a geographic area may be understood as coverage within which a node can provide service using a carrier and a "cell" as radio resources (e.g., time-frequency resources) is associated with bandwidth which is a frequency range configured by the carrier. The "cell" associated with the radio resources is defined by a combination of downlink resources and uplink resources, for example, a combination of a DL component carrier (CC) and a UL CC. The cell may be configured by downlink resources only, or may be configured by downlink resources and uplink resources. Since DL coverage, which is a range within which the node is capable of transmitting a valid signal, and UL coverage, which is a range within which the node is capable of receiving the valid signal from the UE, depends upon a carrier carrying the signal, the coverage of the node may be associated with coverage of the "cell" of radio resources used by the node. Accordingly, the term "cell" may be used to represent service coverage of the node sometimes, radio resources at other times, or a range that signals using the radio resources can reach with valid strength at other times.

In CA, two or more CCs are aggregated. A UE may simultaneously receive or transmit on one or multiple CCs depending on its capabilities. CA is supported for both contiguous and non-contiguous CCs. When CA is configured, the UE only has one RRC connection with the network. At RRC connection establishment/re-establishment/handover, one serving cell provides the NAS mobility information, and at RRC connection re-establishment/handover, one serving cell provides the security input. This cell is referred to as the primary cell (PCell). The PCell is a cell, operating on the primary frequency, in which the UE either performs the initial connection establishment procedure or initiates the connection re-establishment procedure. Depending on UE capabilities, secondary cells (SCells) can be configured to form together with the PCell a set of serving cells. An SCell is a cell providing additional radio resources on top of special cell (SpCell). The configured set of serving cells for a UE therefore always consists of one PCell and one or more SCells. For dual connectivity (DC) operation, the term SpCell refers to the PCell of the master cell group (MCG) or the primary SCell (PSCell) of the secondary cell group (SCG). An SpCell supports PUCCH transmission and contention-based random access, and is always activated. The MCG is a group of serving cells associated with a master node, comprised of the SpCell (PCell) and optionally one or more SCells. The SCG is the subset of serving cells associated with a secondary node, comprised of the PSCell and zero or more SCells, for a UE configured with DC. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not configured with CA/DC, there is only one serving cell comprised of the PCell. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED configured with CA/DC, the term "serving cells" is used to denote the set of cells comprised of the SpCell(s) and all SCells. In DC, two MAC entities are configured in a UE: one for the MCG and one for the SCG.

Referring to FIG. 9, "RB" denotes a radio bearer, and "H" denotes a header. Radio bearers are categorized into two groups: DRBs for user plane data and SRBs for control plane data. The MAC PDU is transmitted/received using radio resources through the PHY layer to/from an external device. The MAC PDU arrives to the PHY layer in the form of a transport block.

In the PHY layer, the uplink transport channels UL-SCH and RACH are mapped to their physical channels PUSCH and PRACH, respectively, and the downlink transport channels DL-SCH, BCH and PCH are mapped to PDSCH, PBCH and PDSCH, respectively. In the PHY layer, uplink control information (UCI) is mapped to PUCCH, and downlink control information (DCI) is mapped to PDCCH. A MAC PDU related to UL-SCH is transmitted by a UE via a PUSCH based on an UL grant, and a MAC PDU related to DL-SCH is transmitted by a BS via a PDSCH based on a DL assignment.

Hereinafter, cell selection process and cell reselection evaluation process are described. Sections 5.2.3 and 5.2.4 of 3GPP TS 38.304 v16.3.0 may be referred.

Cell selection is performed by one of the following two procedures:

a) Initial cell selection (no prior knowledge of which RF channels are NR frequencies):

1. The UE shall scan all RF channels in the NR bands according to its capabilities to find a suitable cell.

2. On each frequency, the UE need only search for the strongest cell, except for operation with shared spectrum channel access where the UE may search for the next strongest cell(s).

3. Once a suitable cell is found, this cell shall be selected.

b) Cell selection by leveraging stored information:

1. This procedure requires stored information of frequencies and optionally also information on cell parameters from previously received measurement control information elements or from previously detected cells.

2. Once the UE has found a suitable cell, the UE shall select it.

3. If no suitable cell is found, the initial cell selection procedure in a) shall be started.

Priorities between different frequencies or RATs provided to the UE by system information or dedicated signalling are not used in the cell selection process.

The cell selection criterion S is fulfilled when:

S_rxlev > 0 AND S_qual > 0

where:

S_rxlev = Q_rxlevmeas - (Q_rxlevmin + Q_{rxlevminoffset})- P_compensation - Q_offsettemp

S_qual = Q_qualmeas - (_Qqualmin + Q_{qualminoffset}) - Q_offsettemp

Table 5 shows parameters for cell selection.

The signalled values Q_{rxlevminoffset} and Q_{qualminoffset} are only applied when a cell is evaluated for cell selection as a result of a periodic search for a higher priority PLMN while camped normally in a VPLMN. During this periodic search　for higher priority PLMN, the UE may check the S criteria　of a cell using parameter values stored from a different cell of this higher priority PLMN.

Technical features related to reselection priorities handling is described.

Absolute priorities of different NR frequencies or inter-RAT frequencies may be provided to the UE in the system information, in the RRCRelease message, or by inheriting from another RAT at inter-RAT cell (re)selection. In the case of system information, an NR frequency or inter-RAT frequency may be listed without providing a priority (i.e. the field cellReselectionPriority is absent for that frequency). If priorities are provided in dedicated signalling, the UE shall ignore all the priorities provided in system information. If UE is in camped on any cell state, UE shall only apply the priorities provided by system information from current cell, and the UE preserves priorities provided by dedicated signalling and deprioritisationReq received in RRCRelease unless specified otherwise. When the UE in camped normally state, has only dedicated priorities other than for the current frequency, the UE shall consider the current frequency to be the lowest priority frequency (i.e. lower than any of the network configured values). If the UE is configured to perform both NR sidelink communication and V2X sidelink communication, the UE may consider the frequency providing both NR sidelink communication configuration and V2X sidelink communication configuration to be the highest priority. If the UE is configured to perform NR sidelink communication and not perform V2X communication, the UE may consider the frequency providing NR sidelink communication configuration to be the highest priority. If the UE is configured to perform V2X sidelink communication and not perform NR sidelink communication, the UE may consider the frequency providing V2X sidelink communication configuration to be the highest priority.

The frequency only providing the anchor frequency configuration should not be prioritized for V2X service during cell reselection.

When UE　is configured to perform NR sidelink communication or V2X sidelink communication　performs cell reselection,　it may consider　the frequencies providing the intra-carrier and inter-carrier configuration　have equal priority　in cell reselection.

The prioritization among the frequencies which UE considers to be the highest priority frequency is left to UE implementation.

The UE is configured to perform V2X sidelink communication or NR sidelink communication, if it has the capability and is authorized for the corresponding sidelink operation.

When UE is configured to perform both NR sidelink communication and V2X sidelink communication, but cannot find a frequency which can provide both NR sidelink communication configuration and V2X sidelink communication configuration, UE may consider the frequency providing either NR sidelink communication configuration or V2X sidelink communication configuration to be the highest priority.

The UE shall only perform cell reselection evaluation for NR frequencies and inter-RAT frequencies that are given in system information and for which the UE has a priority provided.

In case UE receives RRCRelease with deprioritisationReq, UE shall consider current frequency and stored frequencies due to the previously received RRCRelease with deprioritisationReq or all the frequencies of NR to be the lowest priority frequency (i.e. lower than any of the network configured values) while T325 is running irrespective of camped RAT. The UE shall delete the stored deprioritisation request(s) when a PLMN selection or SNPN selection is performed on request by NAS.

UE should search for a higher priority layer for cell reselection as soon as possible after the change of priority. The minimum related performance requirements are still applicable.

The UE shall delete priorities provided by dedicated signalling when:

- the UE enters a different RRC state; or

- the optional validity time of dedicated priorities (T320) expires; or

- the UE receives an RRCRelease message with the field cellReselectionPriorities absent; or

- a PLMN selection or SNPN selection is performed on request by NAS.

Equal priorities between RATs are not supported.

The UE shall not consider any black listed cells as candidate for cell reselection.

The UE shall consider only the white listed cells, if configured, as candidates for cell reselection.

The UE in RRC_IDLE state shall inherit the priorities provided by dedicated signalling and the remaining validity time (i.e. T320 in NR and E-UTRA), if configured, at inter-RAT cell (re)selection.

The network may assign dedicated cell reselection priorities for frequencies not configured by system information.

Measurement rules for cell re-selection is described.

Following rules are used by the UE to limit needed measurements:

- If the serving cell fulfils Srxlev> S_IntraSearchP and Squal > S_IntraSearchQ, the UE may choose not to perform intra-frequency measurements.

- Otherwise, the UE shall perform intra-frequency measurements.

- The UE shall apply the following rules for NR inter-frequencies and inter-RAT frequencies which are indicated in system information and for which the UE has priority provided:

- For a NR inter-frequency or inter-RAT frequency with a reselection priority higher than the reselection priority of the current NR frequency, the UE shall perform measurements of higher priority NR inter-frequency or inter-RAT frequencies.

- For a NR inter-frequency with an equal or lower reselection priority than the reselection priority of the current NR frequency and for inter-RAT frequency with lower reselection priority than the reselection priority of the current NR frequency:

- If the serving cell fulfils Srxlev > S_{nonIntraSearchP} and Squal > S_{nonIntraSearchQ}, the UE may choose not to perform measurements of NR inter-frequency cells of equal or lower priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of lower priority;

- Otherwise, the UE shall perform measurements of NR inter-frequency cells of equal or lower priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of lower priority.

- If the UE supports relaxed measurement and relaxedMeasurement is present in SIB2, the UE may further relax the needed measurements.

Measurement rules for cell re-selection

Following rules are used by the UE to limit needed measurements:

- Otherwise, the UE shall perform intra-frequency measurements.

Relaxed measurement procedure is described. In particular, relaxed measurement rules are described.

When the UE is required to perform measurements of intra-frequency cells or NR inter-frequency cells or inter-RAT frequency cells according to the measurement rules:

> if lowMobilityEvaluation is configured and cellEdgeEvaluation is not configured; and

> if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least T_SearchDeltaP after (re-)selecting a new cell; and

> if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility is fulfilled for a period of T_SearchDeltaP:

>> the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for intra-frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

>> if the serving cell fulfils Srxlev > S_{nonIntraSearchP} and Squal > S_{nonIntraSearchQ}:

>>> for any NR inter-frequency or inter-RAT frequency of higher priority, if less than 1 hour has passed since measurements of corresponding frequency cell(s) for cell reselection were last performed; and,

>>> if highPriorityMeasRelax is configured with value true:

>>>> the UE may choose not to perform measurement on this frequency cell(s);

>> else (i.e. the serving cell fulfils Srxlev ≤ S_{nonIntraSearchP} or Squal ≤ S_{nonIntraSearchQ}):

>>> the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for NR inter-frequency cells or inter-RAT frequency cells according to relaxation methods;

> if cellEdgeEvaluation is configured and lowMobilityEvaluation is not configured; and

> if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is fulfilled:

>> if the serving cell fulfils Srxlev ≤ S_{nonIntraSearchP} or Squal ≤ S_{nonIntraSearchQ}:

> if both lowMobilityEvaluation and cellEdgeEvaluation are configured:

>> if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least T_SearchDeltaP after (re-)selecting a new cell; and

>> if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility is fulfilled for a period of T_SearchDeltaP; and

>> if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is fulfilled:

>>> for any intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency, if less than 1 hour has passed since measurements of corresponding frequency cell(s) for cell reselection were last performed:

>>>> the UE may choose not to perform measurement for measurements on this frequency cell(s);

>> else:

>>> if the UE has performed normal intra-frequency, NR inter-frequency, or inter-RAT frequency measurements for at least T_SearchDeltaP after (re-)selecting a new cell, and the relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility is fulfilled for a period of T_SearchDeltaP; or,

>>> if the relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is fulfilled:

>>>> if combineRelaxedMeasCondition is not configured:

>>>>> the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurements for intra-frequency cells, NR inter-frequency cells of equal or lower priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of lower priority according to relaxation methods;

>>>>> if the serving cell fulfils Srxlev ≤ S_{nonIntraSearchP} or Squal ≤ S_{nonIntraSearchQ}:

>>>>>> the UE may choose to perform relaxed measurement for NR inter-frequency cells of higher priority, or inter-RAT frequency cells of higher priority according to relaxation methods;

The above relaxed measurements and no measurement are not applicable for frequencies that are included in VarMeasIdleConfig, if configured and for which the UE supports dual connectivity or carrier aggregation between those frequencies and the frequency of the current serving cell.

Relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility is described.

The relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility is fulfilled when:

- (Srxlev_Ref - Srxlev) < S_SearchDeltaP,

Where:

- Srxlev current Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB).

- Srxlev_Ref = reference Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB), set as follows:

- After selecting or reselecting a new cell, or

- If (Srxlev - Srxlev_Ref) > 0, or

- If the relaxed measurement criterion has not been met for T_SearchDeltaP:

- The UE shall set the value of Srxlev_Ref to the current Srxlev value of the serving cell.

Relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is described.

The relaxed measurement criterion for UE not at cell edge is fulfilled when:

- Srxlev > S_{SearchThresholdP}, and,

- Squal > S_{SearchThresholdQ}, if S_{SearchThresholdQ} is configured,

Where:

- Srxlev = current Srxlev value of the serving cell (dB).

- Squal = current Squal value of the serving cell (dB).

Hereinafter, technical features related to measurements of inter-frequency NR cells are described. Section 4.2.2.4 of 3GPP TS 38.133 v16.5.0 may be referred.

The UE shall be able to identify new inter-frequency cells and perform SS-RSRP or SS-RSRQ measurements of identified inter-frequency cells if carrier frequency information is provided by the serving cell, even if no explicit neighbour list with physical layer cell identities is provided.

If Srxlev > S_{nonIntraSearchP} and Squal > S_{nonIntraSearchQ} then the UE shall search for inter-frequency layers of higher priority at least every T_higher _{_priority_search.}

If Srxlev ≤ S_{nonIntraSearchP} or Squal ≤ S_{nonIntraSearchQ} then the UE shall search for and measure inter-frequency layers of higher, equal or lower priority in preparation for possible reselection. In this scenario, the minimum rate at which the UE is required to search for and measure higher priority layers shall be the same.

The UE shall be able to evaluate whether a newly detectable inter-frequency cell meets the reselection criteria within K_carrier * T_detect,NR _{_} _Inter if at least carrier frequency information is provided for inter-frequency neighbour cells by the serving cells when T_reselection = 0 provided that the reselection criteria is met by a margin of at least 5 dB in FR1 or 6.5dB in FR2 for reselections based on ranking or 6dB in FR1 or 7.5dB in FR2 for SS-RSRP reselections based on absolute priorities or 4dB in FR1 and 4dB in FR2 for SS-RSRQ reselections based on absolute priorities. The parameter K_carrier is the number of NR inter-frequency carriers indicated by the serving cell. An inter-frequency cell is considered to be detectable for a corresponding Band.

When higher priority cells are found by the higher priority search, they shall be measured at least every T_measure,NR _{_} _Inter. If, after detecting a cell in a higher priority search, it is determined that reselection has not occurred then the UE is not required to continuously measure the detected cell to evaluate the ongoing possibility of reselection. However, the minimum measurement filtering requirements specified later in this clause shall still be met by the UE before it makes any determination that it may stop measuring the cell. If the UE detects on a NR carrier a cell whose physical identity is indicated as not allowed for that carrier in the measurement control system information of the serving cell, the UE is not required to perform measurements on that cell.

The UE shall measure SS-RSRP or SS-RSRQ at least every K_carrier * T_{measure,NR_Inter} (see table 6 below) for identified lower or equal priority inter-frequency cells. If the UE detects on a NR carrier a cell whose physical identity is indicated as not allowed for that carrier in the measurement control system information of the serving cell, the UE is not required to perform measurements on that cell.

The UE shall filter SS-RSRP or SS-RSRQ measurements of each measured higher, lower and equal priority inter-frequency cell using at least 2 measurements. Within the set of measurements used for the filtering, at least two measurements shall be spaced by at least T_measure,NR _{_Inter}/2.

The UE shall not consider a NR neighbour cell in cell reselection, if it is indicated as not allowed in the measurement control system information of the serving cell.

For an inter-frequency cell that has been already detected, but that has not been reselected to, the filtering shall be such that the UE shall be capable of evaluating that the inter-frequency cell has met reselection criterion within K_carrier * T_evaluate,NR _{_Inter} when T_reselection = 0as specified in table 6 provided that the reselection criteria is met by

- the condition when performing equal priority reselection and

when rangeToBestCell is not configured:

- the cell is at least 5dB better ranked in FR1 or 6.5dB better ranked in FR2 or.

when rangeToBestCell is configured:

- the cell has the highest number of beams above the threshold absThreshSS - BlocksConsolidation among all detected cells whose cell-ranking criterion R value is within rangeToBestCell of the cell-ranking criterion R value of the highest ranked cell.

- if there are multiple such cells, the cell has the highest rank among them

- the cell is at least 5dB better ranked in FR1 or 6.5dB better ranked in FR2 if the current serving cell is among them. or

- 6dB in FR1 or 7.5dB in FR2 for SS-RSRP reselections based on absolute priorities or

- 4dB in FR1 or 4dB in FR2 for SS-RSRQ reselections based on absolute priorities.

When evaluating cells for reselection, the SSB side conditions apply to both serving and inter-frequency cells.

If T_reselection timer has a non zero value and the inter-frequency cell is satisfied with the reselection criteria, the UE shall evaluate this inter-frequency cell for the T_reselection time. If this cell remains satisfied with the reselection criteria within this duration, then the UE shall reselect that cell.

The UE is not expected to meet the measurement requirements for an inter-frequency carrier under DRX cycle=320 ms defined in Table 6 under the following conditions:

- T_SMTC _{_} _intra = T_SMTC _{_inter} = 160 ms; where T_SMTC _{_} _intra and T_{SMTC_inter} are periodicities of the SMTC occasions configured for the intra-frequency carrier and the inter-frequency carrier respectively, and

- SMTC occasions configured for the inter-frequency carrier occur up to 1 ms before the start or up to 1 ms after the end of the SMTC occasions configured for the intra-frequency carrier, and

- SMTC occasions configured for the intra-frequency carrier and for the inter-frequency carrier occur up to 1 ms before the start or up to 1 ms after the end of the paging occasion.

Table 6 shows features related to T_detect,NR _{_Inter,} T_measure,NR _{_Inter} and T_{evaluate,NR_Inter}.

Meanwhile, procedures related to relaxed measurements has been studied to save power. For example, UE is allowed to perform relaxed measurements when the UE satisfies not-at-cell edge criterion and/or low-mobility criterion. Upon performing relaxed measurements, the UE is allowed to extend the measurement period or not perform the neighbour cell measurements. For example, if a UE satisfies low-mobility criterion for a time period (that is, T_SearchDeltaP), UE can relax its neighbour cell measurements.

Hereinafter, a method for relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described with reference to the following drawings.

The following drawings are created to explain specific embodiments of the present disclosure. The names of the specific devices or the names of the specific signals/messages/fields shown in the drawings are provided by way of example, and thus the technical features of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific names used in the following drawings. Herein, a wireless device may be referred to as a user equipment (UE).

In particular, FIG. 10 shows an example of a method performed by a wireless device.

In step S1001, a wireless device may receive measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency. The measurement configuration may include information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement.

For example, the measurement configuration may include a single time period for the relaxed period. In this case, the wireless device may determine a first time period and/or a second time period for the relaxed measurement based on the specific time period. In other words, the measurement configuration may not include any information related to the first time period and/or the second time period.

For other example, the measurement configuration may further include information on a first time period and/or a second time period for the relaxed measurement.

For example, the first time period and the second time period may be included in the specific time period. The first time period may be included in the second time period. The first time period, the second time period, and the specific time period may start at a single time point. In other words, the first time period, the second time period, and the specific time period may have the same start time point. On the other side, the first time period, the second time period, and the specific time period may have different end time point. The end time point of the first time period may be earlier than the end point of the second time point. The end point of the second time period may be earlier than the end time point of the specific time point.

For example, the wireless device may receive, from the network, information on the multiple frequencies. For example, the information on the multiple frequencies may be transmitted through system information.

For example, the multiple frequencies may include one or more neighbour frequencies. For example, information on the one or more neighbor frequencies is included in a system information block type 4 (SIB4).

In step S1002, a wireless device may perform measurement on the multiple frequencies based on the measurement configuration.

For example, a wireless device may perform measurement on the multiple frequencies periodically. For example, a wireless device may perform measurement on the multiple frequencies based on a certain measurement period.

In step S1003, a wireless device may perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period.

For example, a wireless device may check one or more times whether the low-mobility criterion is satisfied or not during the first time period. If the wireless device identifies that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied for all of the one or more times of checks, the wireless device may applying the relaxed measurement on the first frequency.

For example, the low-mobility criterion may be related to a cell selection RX level value (Srxlev value) of a serving cell.

For example, the low-mobility criterion may include equation 1. In other words, if the equation 1 is satisfied, the low-mobility criterion may be satisfied.

[Equation 1]

(Srxlev_Ref - Srxlev') < S_SearchDeltaP

Here, the Srxlev' may be a current Srxlev value of the serving cell.

The Srxlev_Ref may be a reference Srxlev value of the serving cell.

The S_SearchDeltaP may be a threshold on Srxlev variation for the relaxed measurements.

The values of equation 1 may be set as follows:

> After selecting or reselecting a new cell, or

> If (Srxlev - Srxlev_Ref) > 0, or

> If the relaxed measurement criterion has not been met for T_SearchDeltaP:

>> The UE shall set the value of Srxlev_Ref to the current Srxlev value of the serving cell.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the performing relaxed measurement may include (1) extending measurement period or (2) stopping to perform measurement. In other words, upon applying the relaxed measurement on the first frequency, the wireless device may extend the period of measurement on the first frequency or stop to perform measurement on the first frequency.

In step S1004, a wireless device may perform relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period.

For example, a wireless device may check one or more times whether the low-mobility criterion is satisfied or not during the second time period. If the wireless device identifies that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied for all of the one or more times of checks, the wireless device may applying the relaxed measurement on the first frequency and the second frequency.

For example, the performing relaxed measurement may include (1) extending measurement period or (2) stopping to perform measurement. In other words, upon applying the relaxed measurement on the first frequency, the wireless device may extend the period of measurement on the first frequency or stop to perform measurement on the first frequency.

In step S1005, a wireless device may perform relaxed measurement on all of the multiple frequencies based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during the specific time period.

For example, a wireless device may check one or more times whether the low-mobility criterion is satisfied or not during the specific time period. If the wireless device identifies that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied for all of the one or more times of checks, the wireless device may applying the relaxed measurement on the multiple frequencies.

For example, the performing relaxed measurement may include (1) extending measurement period or (2) stopping to perform measurement. In other words, upon applying the relaxed measurement on the multiple frequencies, the wireless device may extend the period of measurement on the multiple frequencies or stop to perform measurement on the multiple frequencies.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first frequency may have lower priority than the second frequency.

For example, absolute priority of the first frequency may be lower than absolute priority of the second frequency

For other example, quality of the first frequency may be lower than quality of the second frequency.

For another example, absolute priority of the first frequency may be equal to absolute priority of the second frequency. In this case, quality of the first frequency may be lower than quality of the second frequency.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a wireless device may determine the first frequency and/or the second frequency among the multiple frequencies based on priority of each of the multiple frequencies.

For example, the priority of the each of the multiple frequencies is determined based on (1) absolute priority of each of the multiple frequencies, and/or (2) quality of each of the multiple frequencies.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wireless device may be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.

Hereinafter, a method for relaxed measurements extension based on low mobility time length, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is described.

When a UE satisfies low-mobility criterion, the UE may begin to perform relaxed measurements on part of configured frequencies. The UE may increase the number of frequencies to relax the measurements, until the criterion-satisfied time reaches T_SearchDeltaP.

When the UE satisfies the low-mobility criterion for a first time period, the UE may perform relaxed measurements on the first frequency which may be one of the configured frequencies.

When the UE continuously satisfies the low-mobility criterion until the second time point, the UE may start to perform relaxed measurements on the second frequency. When the time reaches T_SearchDeltaP, the UE may perform relaxed measurements on all the configured frequencies, which is existing relaxed measurements operation (for example, the relaxed measurements operation according to a 3GPP specification (for example, Release-16 description)).

In step S1101, a UE may receive measurement configuration from the network.

For example, the measurement configuration may include neighbour frequency list.

- The neighbour frequency list may be frequency list included in NR SIB4.

For example, the measurement configuration may include a relaxation frequency list.

- The relaxation frequency list may be subset of the neighbour frequency list included in the measurement configuration.

- The relaxation frequency list may consist of a first frequency, a second frequency, a third frequency, ... , and n-th frequency.

- The value of the n may be equal to or lower than the number of frequencies included in the neighbour frequency list.

- The sequence of the frequencies in the relaxation frequency list may be in ascending order of absolute frequency priority. For example, among the neighbour frequency list, a frequency with lowest absolute frequency priority may be the first frequency, and a frequency with second lowest absolute frequency priority may be the second frequency.

- The sequence of the frequencies in the relaxation frequency list may be ascending order of cell quality of each frequency. For example, a frequency whose cell quality of the highest ranked cell is the lowest among the configured frequency may be the first frequency, and a frequency whose cell quality of the highest ranked cell may be the second frequency.

For example, the measurement configuration may include plurality number of time points.

- The time points may consist of a first time point, a second time point, a third time point, ... , and n-th time point.

- Each time point may be mapped to each frequency. For example, the first frequency may be mapped to the first time point, and the second frequency may be mapped to the second time point.

In step S1102, the UE may satisfy low-mobility criterion at t0.

For example, the low-mobility criterion may be "Relaxed measurement criterion for UE with low mobility" as described above.

In step S1103, the UE may continuously satisfy the low-mobility criterion from t0 until the first time point.

For example, the UE may perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency.

- To perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency, the UE may extend the measurement period of the frequency or not perform measurement on the frequency.

In step S1104, the UE may continuously satisfy the low-mobility criterion from t0 until the second time point.

For example, the UE may perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency and the second frequency.

To perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency and the second frequency, the UE may extend the measurement period of the frequency or not perform measurement on the frequency.

In step S1105, the UE may continuously satisfy the low-mobility criterion from t0 until the n-th time point.

For example, the UE may perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency, the second frequency, ... , and the n-th frequency.

- To perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency, the second frequency, ... , and the n-th frequency, the UE may extend the measurement period of the frequency or not perform measurement on the frequency.

In step S1106, the UE may continuously satisfy the low-mobility criterion from t0 until the time period of T_SearchDeltaP until.

The UE may perform relaxed measurement on the configured frequencies as described in "Relaxed measurement rules", as described above.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a UE may receive measurement configuration of a first frequency and a second frequency. The UE may perform measurement on the first frequency and the second frequency. The UE may enter low mobility state at a first time point. The UE may extend measurement period of the first frequency at a second time point. The second time point may be configured time expiry after the first time point. The UE may extend measurement period of the second frequency at a second time point, if UE has ever not left the low mobility state since the first time point.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described. Herein, the apparatus may be a wireless device (100 or 200) in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5.

For example, a wireless device may perform methods described above. The detailed description overlapping with the above-described contents could be simplified or omitted.

Referring to FIG. 5, a wireless device 100 may include a processor 102, a memory 104, and a transceiver 106.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor 102 may be configured to be coupled operably with the memory 104 and the transceiver 106.

The processor 102 may be configured to control the transceiver 106 to receive measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency. The measurement configuration may include information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement. The processor 102 may be configured to perform measurement on the multiple frequencies based on the measurement configuration. The processor 102 may be configured to perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period. The processor 102 may be configured to perform relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period. The processor 102 may be configured to perform relaxed measurement on all of the multiple frequencies based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during the specific time period.

The first time period and the second time period may be included in the specific time period. The first time period may be included in the second time period. The first time period, the second time period, and the specific time period may start at a single time point.

The first frequency may have lower priority than the second frequency.

For another example, absolute priority of the first frequency may be equal to absolute priority of the second frequency, and quality of the first frequency may be lower than quality of the second frequency.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the low-mobility criterion may be related to a cell selection RX level value (Srxlev value) of a serving cell.

For example, the low-mobility criterion may include a following equation:

(Srxlev_Ref - Srxlev') < S_SearchDeltaP

Here, the Srxlev' may be a current Srxlev value of the serving cell,

The Srxlev_Ref may be a reference Srxlev value of the serving cell.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the multiple frequencies may include one or more neighbour frequencies. Information on the one or more neighbor frequencies may be included in a system information block type 4 (SIB4).

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the measurement configuration may include information on the first time period and/or the second time period.

Alternatively, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor 102 may be configured to determine the first time period and/or the second time period based on the specific time period. In this case, the measurement configuration may not include information related to the first time period and/or the second time period.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor 102 may be configured to determine the first frequency and/or the second frequency among the multiple frequencies based on priority of each of the multiple frequencies.

For example, the priority of each of the multiple frequencies may be determined based on (1) absolute priority of each of the multiple frequencies, and/or (2) quality of each of the multiple frequencies.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the performing relaxed measurement may include (1) extending measurement period or (2) stopping to perform measurement.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor 102 may be configured to be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.

Hereinafter, a processor for a wireless device for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described.

The processor may be configured to control the wireless device to receive measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency. The measurement configuration may include information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement. The processor may be configured to control the wireless device to perform measurement on the multiple frequencies based on the measurement configuration. The processor may be configured to control the wireless device to perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period. The processor may be configured to control the wireless device to perform relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period. The processor may be configured to control the wireless device to perform relaxed measurement on all of the multiple frequencies based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during the specific time period.

The first frequency may have lower priority than the second frequency.

For example, the low-mobility criterion may include a following equation:

(Srxlev_Ref - Srxlev') < S_SearchDeltaP

Here, the Srxlev' may be a current Srxlev value of the serving cell,

The Srxlev_Ref may be a reference Srxlev value of the serving cell.

Alternatively, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor may be configured to control the wireless device to determine the first time period and/or the second time period based on the specific time period. In this case, the measurement configuration may not include information related to the first time period and/or the second time period.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor may be configured to control the wireless device to determine the first frequency and/or the second frequency among the multiple frequencies based on priority of each of the multiple frequencies.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor may be configured to control the wireless device to be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.

Hereinafter, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has stored thereon a plurality of instructions for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described.

According to some embodiment of the present disclosure, the technical features of the present disclosure could be embodied directly in hardware, in a software executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. For example, a method performed by a wireless device in a wireless communication may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, a software may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other storage medium.

Some example of storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. For other example, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components.

The computer-readable medium may include a tangible and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

For example, non-transitory computer-readable media may include random access memory (RAM) such as synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), FLASH memory, magnetic or optical data storage media, or any other medium that can be used to store instructions or data structures. Non-transitory computer-readable media may also include combinations of the above.

In addition, the method described herein may be realized at least in part by a computer-readable communication medium that carries or communicates code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed, read, and/or executed by a computer.

According to some embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has stored thereon a plurality of instructions. The stored a plurality of instructions may be executed by a processor of a wireless device.

The stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to receive measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency. The measurement configuration may include information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement. The stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to perform measurement on the multiple frequencies based on the measurement configuration. The stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period. The stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to perform relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period. The stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to perform relaxed measurement on all of the multiple frequencies based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during the specific time period.

The first frequency may have lower priority than the second frequency.

For example, the low-mobility criterion may include a following equation:

(Srxlev_Ref - Srxlev') < S_SearchDeltaP

Here, the Srxlev' may be a current Srxlev value of the serving cell,

The Srxlev_Ref may be a reference Srxlev value of the serving cell.

Alternatively, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to determine the first time period and/or the second time period based on the specific time period. In this case, the measurement configuration may not include information related to the first time period and/or the second time period.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to determine the first frequency and/or the second frequency among the multiple frequencies based on priority of each of the multiple frequencies.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the stored a plurality of instructions may cause the wireless device to be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.

Hereinafter, a method performed by a base station (BS) for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described.

The BS may transmit, to a wireless device, measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement.

Hereinafter, a base station (BS) for performing relaxed measurements in a wireless communication system, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, will be described.

The BS may include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory.

The processor may be configured to control the transceiver to transmit, to a wireless device, measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement.

The present disclosure can have various advantageous effects.

Claims in the present disclosure can be combined in a various way. For instance, technical features in method claims of the present disclosure can be combined to be implemented or performed in an apparatus, and technical features in apparatus claims can be combined to be implemented or performed in a method. Further, technical features in method claim(s) and apparatus claim(s) can be combined to be implemented or performed in an apparatus. Further, technical features in method claim(s) and apparatus claim(s) can be combined to be implemented or performed in a method. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

A method performed by a wireless device in a wireless communication system, the method comprising,

receiving measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement;

performing measurement on the multiple frequencies based on the measurement configuration;

performing relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period;

performing relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period; and

performing relaxed measurement on all of the multiple frequencies based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during the specific time period;

wherein the first time period and the second time period are included in the specific time period;

wherein the first time period is included in the second time period;

wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the specific time period starts at a single time point; and

wherein the first frequency has lower priority than the second frequency.
The method of claim 1, wherein absolute priority of the first frequency is lower than absolute priority of the second frequency
The method of claim 1, wherein quality of the first frequency is lower than quality of the second frequency.
The method of claim 1, wherein absolute priority of the first frequency is equal to absolute priority of the second frequency, and

wherein quality of the first frequency is lower than quality of the second frequency.
The method of claim 1, wherein the low-mobility criterion is related to a cell selection RX level value (Srxlev value) of a serving cell.
The method of claim 5, wherein the low-mobility criterion includes a following equation,

(Srxlev_Ref - Srxlev') < S_SearchDeltaP,

wherein the Srxlev' is a current Srxlev value of the serving cell,

wherein the Srxlev_Ref is a reference Srxlev value of the serving cell, and

wherein the S_SearchDeltaP is a threshold on Srxlev variation for the relaxed measurements.
The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple frequencies includes one or more neighbour frequencies.
The method of claim 7, wherein information on the one or more neighbor frequencies is included in a system information block type 4 (SIB4).
The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on the first time period and/or the second time period.
The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprise,

determining the first time period and/or the second time period based on the specific time period.
The method of claim 10, wherein the measurement configuration does not include information related to the first time period and/or the second time period.
The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises,

determining the first frequency and/or the second frequency among the multiple frequencies based on priority of each of the multiple frequencies.
The method of claim 12, wherein the priority of each of the multiple frequencies is determined based on (1) absolute priority of each of the multiple frequencies, and/or (2) quality of each of the multiple frequencies.
The method of claim 1, wherein the performing relaxed measurement includes

(1) extending measurement period or (2) stopping to perform measurement.
The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.
A wireless device in a wireless communication system comprising:

a transceiver;

a memory; and

at least one processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, and configured to:

control the transceiver to receive measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement;

perform measurement on the multiple frequencies based on the measurement configuration;

perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period;

perform relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period; and

perform relaxed measurement on all of the multiple frequencies based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during the specific time period;

wherein the first time period and the second time period are included in the specific time period;

wherein the first time period is included in the second time period;

wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the specific time period starts at a single time point; and

wherein the first frequency has lower priority than the second frequency.
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein absolute priority of the first frequency is lower than absolute priority of the second frequency
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein quality of the first frequency is lower than quality of the second frequency.
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein absolute priority of the first frequency is equal to absolute priority of the second frequency, and

wherein quality of the first frequency is lower than quality of the second frequency.
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the low-mobility criterion is related to a cell selection RX level value (Srxlev value) of a serving cell.
The wireless device of claim 20, wherein the low-mobility criterion includes a following equation,

(Srxlev_Ref - Srxlev') < S_SearchDeltaP,

wherein the Srxlev' is a current Srxlev value of the serving cell,

wherein the Srxlev_Ref is a reference Srxlev value of the serving cell, and

wherein the S_SearchDeltaP is a threshold on Srxlev variation for the relaxed measurements.
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the multiple frequencies includes one or more neighbour frequencies.
The wireless device of claim 22, wherein information on the one or more neighbor frequencies is included in a system information block type 4 (SIB4).
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on the first time period and/or the second time period.
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to,

determine the first time period and/or the second time period based on the specific time period.
The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the measurement configuration does not include information related to the first time period and/or the second time period.
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to,

determine the first frequency and/or the second frequency among the multiple frequencies based on priority of each of the multiple frequencies.
The wireless device of claim 27, wherein the priority of each of the multiple frequencies is determined based on (1) absolute priority of each of the multiple frequencies, and/or (2) quality of each of the multiple frequencies.
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the performing relaxed measurement includes

(1) extending measurement period or (2) stopping to perform measurement.
The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to be in communication with at least one of a user equipment, a network, or an autonomous vehicle other than the wireless device.
A processor for a wireless device in a wireless communication system, wherein the processor is configured to control the wireless device to perform operations comprising:

receiving measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement;

performing measurement on the multiple frequencies based on the measurement configuration;

performing relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period;

performing relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period; and

performing relaxed measurement on all of the multiple frequencies based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during the specific time period;

wherein the first time period and the second time period are included in the specific time period;

wherein the first time period is included in the second time period;

wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the specific time period starts at a single time point; and

wherein the first frequency has lower priority than the second frequency.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a wireless device, cause the wireless device to:

receive measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement;

perform measurement on the multiple frequencies based on the measurement configuration;

perform relaxed measurement on the first frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a first time period;

perform relaxed measurement on both the first frequency and the second frequency based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during a second time period; and

perform relaxed measurement on all of the multiple frequencies based on determining that the low-mobility criterion is satisfied during the specific time period;

wherein the first time period and the second time period are included in the specific time period;

wherein the first time period is included in the second time period;

wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the specific time period starts at a single time point; and

wherein the first frequency has lower priority than the second frequency.
A method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising,

transmitting, to a wireless device, measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement.
A base station in a wireless communication system comprising:

a transceiver;

a memory; and

a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, and configured to:

control the transceiver to transmit, to a wireless device, measurement configuration for multiple frequencies including a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the measurement configuration includes information on (1) a low-mobility criterion and (2) a specific time period for relaxed measurement.