WO2021032475A1

WO2021032475A1 - Compensated angle-based ue measurement report

Info

Publication number: WO2021032475A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/071949
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rafhael MEDEIROS DE AMORIM; Jeroen Wigard; Tomasz IZYDORCZYK
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2019-08-16
Filing date: 2020-08-05
Publication date: 2021-02-25

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium are provided for beam- based measurements. In one example implementation, the method may include triggering, by a network device of a communication network, for a network node of a serving cell of a communication network at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell, wherein the triggering is based on applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device. The example method may further include, based on the triggering, sending the at least one measurement report towards the network node for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

Description

COMPENSATED ANGLE-BASED UE MEASUREMENT REPORT

TECHNICAL FIELD:

[0001] The teachings in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention relate generally to beam based measurements to be utilized in communication network and, more specifically, relate to beam based measurements to be utilized in communication network, wherein the beam based measurements are using a new offset to compensate for at least beam steering absolute/differential angle, and mitigating bias introduced by an active beam.

BACKGROUND:

[0002] This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0003] Certain abbreviations that may be found in the description and/or in the

Figures are herewith defined as follows:

3GPP 3rd generation partnership project

AoA angle of arrival

AoD angle of departure

LTE long term evolution

NR new radio

PCI physical cell identity

RAN random access network

UAV unmanned arial vehicle

UE user equipment V2X vehicle to everything

[0004] Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication opportunities such as for user equipment and for land and/or Arial vehicle equipment. In certain wireless communications systems (e.g., LTE and 5G systems), a base station and a UE may communicate via one or more directional beams. A network node (e.g., a base station) may engage in a beam sweeping for beam refinement with a receiver (e.g., a UE). These beam sweeping and beam refinement procedures may involve transmitting multiple directional beams that have different beamforming parameters. These beamforming parameters relating to an antenna array- based signal preprocessing technology that generates a directional beam by adjusting a weighting coefficient of each array element in an antenna array to obtain a significant array gain.

[0005] A receiver may receive some or all of the beams transmitted with different beamforming parameters and measure one or more characteristics for each beam. The receiver may then provide an indication back to the base station indicating one or more of the measured characteristics, one or more beams that are preferred for establishing an active beam pair, or any combination thereof. The measured characteristics can be applied by the base station to at least determine a need to trigger a handover of the user equipment.

[0006] However, issues at the time of this application at least including measuring characteristics and trigger procedures at the time of this application to trigger such operations are limited. In addition, these procedures may be inefficient and result in significant latency in a beam forming operation and selection procedure.

[0007] Example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein work to address at least these issues as mentioned above.

SUMMARY:

[0008] According some aspects, there is provided the subject matter of the independent claims. Some further aspects are defined in the dependent claims. The embodiments that do not fall under the scope of the claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0009] The above and other aspects, features, and benefits of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs are used to designate like or equivalent elements. The drawings are illustrated for facilitating better understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 shows one example scenario for use of example embodiments of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a high level block diagram of various devices used in carrying out various aspects of the invention; and

[0012] FIG. 3 A and FIG. 3B each show a method which may be performed by an apparatus in accordance with the example embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

[0013] In this invention, there is provided novel operations for at least beam based measurements using a new offset to compensate for beam steering absolute/differential angle, and a mitigating bias introduced by an active beam.

[0014] Certain example embodiments of the invention relate to the use of the beamforming at the UE side. The beamforming has immense potential to increase the SINR by improving the gains on the main received signal power while mitigating the interference power received/radiated by a given user. In special, this invention was designed by considering the high mobility V2X context, where beamforming is likely to become an important feature, for scenarios such as UAV communications [0015] A network device, such as a user equipment (UE) with beamforming capabilities, such as due to large directional gains, can bring previously undetectable cells closer in radio terms such that their detection is possible. Results of a measurement can be using live cellular signals wherein the signal strength of the measured PCIs can be augmented by more than 15 dB that in case of cells located far away increases their detection probability.

[0016] However, at the time of this application, the UE in its measurement report does not include any information regarding the beamforming direction, used for the measurements, leaving RAN incapable of correctly assuming the ‘close radio environment’ of the UE. Certain example embodiments of the invention work to address this perceived shortfall regarding the beamforming.

[0017] In an application such as with cellular-connected aerial vehicles there is an increase in the risk of PCI confusion due to the radio path clearance to the surrounding cells. Reported measurements have shown that more than 15 additional cells with respect to the ground are decodable in the air due to free space propagation link and earth curvature. The additional measurements include measurements where one of the most significant neighbours are measured in a rural scenario with a drone flying for example at a particular height and distance away from the measured objects.

[0018] It is expected that future Aerial vehicles will offer beamforming capabilities, as their use can, among others, reduce the interference caused to the network or improve the connection’s reliability. Aerial vehicle with beamforming capabilities achieve even higher beamforming gains than the ground-level UE, leading to further expansion of the ‘close radio environment’.

[0019] In 3GPP specifications at the time of this application it is specified to send the measurements fulfilling the measurement report triggers to the network. These triggers are typically based on of the following:

A candidate cell is better than the current serving cell (in level or quality); A candidate cell exceeds a certain minimum level or quality; or

• Combinations of the above

[0020] When a UE is using beamforming, the signal level and quality in certain directions will be improved, while in other directions, they will decrease. The network is not aware of the beam direction used for the measurements by the UE, and therefore cannot compensate for this effect. With this knowledge it could for instance indicate that a certain other direction may lead to a better candidate cell.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows and example scenario for use of example embodiments of the invention including a vehicular UE moving away from the serving cell, toward the neighbour cell. As shown in FIG. 1 there is a vehicular UE 15 moving in a reference direction 17.

[0022] In the example as shown in FIG. 1, the UE 15 is moving away from the serving cell 10, toward an neighbour cell 1 20 and a neighbour cell 2 30. As the UE 15 moves, the signal of the serving cell 10 tends do decrease, which may potentially trigger some measurement reports. However, to discover potential target cells for handovers there are three possibilities for the UE 15 as in FIG. 1. For example there is:

• Performing “beam-sweeping” measurements, by measuring the neighbor cells in several different directions and report the best value for each cell;

This requires the UE is measuring either all beams simultaneously, which require parallel processing, or it requires more time, which delays the measurements. One or both of these options will require more battery power from the UE;

• Reporting the measurement according to the active beam, which may favor a different neighbor (neighbor cell 1) instead of neighbor cell 2; This method is not suffering from extra latency or extra power consumption, but suffers some drawbacks as explained below; and

• Reporting the measurement according to an “omni”-directional transmission (no beams), which will favor the neighbor cell with best propagation path to the vehicular UE. This will require that the UE can switch to omnidirectional mode or do it in parallel and has therefore the same drawbacks as the first method.

[0023] Problems of current approaches addressed by example embodiments of the invention include:

• problems regarding minimizing interruption time and power consumption associated with the handover candidate selection when beamforming is being used by taking as starting point a second option (or option 2) as mentioned above; and

• problems regarding optimizing a handover selection and minimizing a number of handovers.

[0024] In 3GPP Standards at the time of this application, report measurements and a potential Handover (HO) cause are triggered following specific rules. An Event A3 is defined as the scenario where “Neighbor Cell has become better than serving cell plus a given threshold”, which means there is a neighbor cell that potentially offers better connectivity for a given UE. In pure formulation it can be written as:

Mneigh + 0 neigh freq + Oneigh,cell — Hyst > Mserv + Oserv req + Oserv,cell + Offset (Eq. 1)

Where:

Mserv: signal level or quality of the serving cell (RSRP or RSRQ); Mneigh: signal level or quality of the neighbor cell (RSRP or RSRQ);

Hyst: hysteresis, it is defined in eNodeB and used to avoid ping-pong handover; Oneigh. cell: cell individual offset for the intra-frequency neighboring cell;

Oserv. cell: cell specific offset for the serving cell;

Offset: if the parameter is set to a large value, an intra-frequency handover is performed only when the signal of the neighboring cell is significantly better than that of the serving cell; freq: indicates the frequency-specific offset for the inter-frequency

neighboring cell;

*Oserv. freq: indicates the frequency-specific offset for the inter-frequency serving cell; and

Time to Trigger: this timer helps to avoid irregular measurement and handover.

[0025] Certain preconditions assumed with the example embodiments of the invention include the following:

• The UE is capable of performing beamforming/beamsteering;

• The UE has the capability of being aware the beam direction measured from a common, agreed, reference. For example: the magnetic pole, its vectorial velocity, etc.; and

• The network has information about the UE location (which is already a requirement for instance V2X and UAVs, so this requires no new implementation). [0026] In accordance with example embodiments of the invention there is a new offset added to the measurement report trigger equations for accounting for the current beamforming status. This enables the UE to perform the measurement report, without falling back to an omni directional transmission or performing beam sweeping operations, suppressing the interruption time.

[0027] Before describing the example embodiments of the invention in detail, reference is made to FIG. 2 for illustrating a simplified block diagram of various electronic devices that are suitable for use in practicing the example embodiments of this invention.

[0028] Turning to FIG. 2, this figure shows a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting exemplary system in which the exemplary embodiments may be practiced. A user equipment (UE) 110, radio access network (RAN) node 170, a radio access network (RAN) node 90, and network element(s) 190 are illustrated. In FIG. 2, a user equipment (UE) 110 is in wireless communication with a wireless network 100. AUE is a wireless, typically mobile device that can access a wireless network. The UE, for example, may be a mobile phone (or called a "cellular" phone) and/or a computer with a mobile terminal function. For example, the UE or mobile terminal may also be a portable, pocket, handheld, computer-embedded or vehicle-mounted mobile device and performs a language signaling and/or data exchange with the RAN.

[0029] The UE 110 includes one or more processors 120, one or more memories

125, and one or more transceivers 130 interconnected through one or more buses 127. Each of the one or more transceivers 130 includes a receiver, Rx, 132 and a transmitter, Tx, 133. The one or more buses 127 may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, and the like. The one or more transceivers 130 are connected to one or more antennas 128. The one or more memories 125 include computer program code 123. The UE 110 includes an OFFSET module 140, comprising one of or both parts 140-1 and/or 140-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The OFFSET module 140 can be configured to cause the UE 110 to perform operations in accordance with example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein. The OFFSET module 140 may be implemented in hardware as OFFSET module 140-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 120. The OFFSET module 140-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the OFFSET module 140 may be implemented as OFFSET module 140-2, which is implemented as computer program code 123 and is executed by the one or more processors 120. For instance, the one or more memories 125 and the computer program code 123 may be configured, with the one or more processors 120, to cause the UE 110 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. The UE 110 communicates with RAN node 170 and/or the RAN node 90 via a wireless link 111 and/or link 176 and/or link 81.

[0030] The RAN node 170 is a network node such as a base station that provides access by wireless devices such as the UE 110 to the wireless network 100. The RAN node 170 may be, for instance, a base station for 5G, also called New Radio (NR). In 5G, the RAN node 170 may be a NG-RAN node, which is defined as either a gNB or an ng-eNB. The RAN node 170 includes one or more processors 152, one or more memories 155, one or more network interfaces (N/W I/F(s)) 161, and one or more transceivers 160 interconnected through one or more buses 157. Each of the one or more transceivers 160 includes a receiver, Rx, 162 and a transmitter, Tx, 163. The one or more transceivers 160 are connected to one or more antennas 158. The one or more memories 155 include computer program code 153.

[0031] The RAN node 170 includes an OFFSET module 150, comprising one of or both parts 150-1 and/or 150-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The OFFSET module 150 can be configured to cause the RAN node 170 to perform operations in accordance with example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein. The OFFSET module 150 may be implemented in hardware as OFFSET module 150-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 152. The OFFSET module 150-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the OFFSET module 150 may be implemented as OFFSET module 150-2, which is implemented as computer program code 153 and is executed by the one or more processors 152. For instance, the one or more memories 155 and the computer program code 153 are configured, with the one or more processors 152, to cause the RAN node 170 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein.

[0032] Similarly the RAN node 90 is a network node which also may be a base station. The RAN node 90 includes one or more processors 75, one or more memories 71, one or more network interfaces (N/W I/F(s)) 80, and though not shown, it is noted that the (N/W I/F(s)) 80 of the RAN node 90 includes one or more transceivers interconnected through one or more buses 85. Further, the RAN node 90 has one ormore transceivers each connected to an antenna and including a receiver, Rx, and a transmitter. The one or more transceivers of the RAN node 90 are connected to one or more antennas. For example, the one or more transceivers of the RAN node 90 may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH). The one ormore memories 71 include computer program code 73 and is executed by at least Processor(s) 75.

[0033] The RAN node 90 includes an OFFSET module 50, comprising one of or both parts 50-1 and/or 50-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The OFFSET module 50 can be configured to cause the RAN node 90 to perform operations in accordance with example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein. The OFFSET module 50 may be implemented in hardware as OFFSET module 50-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 75. The OFFSET module 50-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the OFFSET module 50 may be implemented as OFFSET module 50-2, which is implemented as computer program code 73 and is executed by the one or more processors 75. For instance, the one or more memories 71 and the computer program code 73 are configured, with the one or more processors 75, to cause the RAN node 90 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein.

[0034] The one or more network interfaces N/W I/F(s) 161 and 80 can communicate over a network such as via the links 176 and/or 81. Two or more of RAN nodes, such as the RAN node 170 communicate and/or the RAN node 90 may be using, e.g., link 176 or 81. The link 176 may be wired or wireless or both and may implement, e.g., an Xn interface for 5G, an X2 interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards.

[0035] The one or more buses such as the one or more buses 157 of RAN node

170 and/or the one or more buses of RAN node 90 may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, wireless channels, and the like. For example, the one or more transceivers 160 may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) such as the RRH 195 for LTE or for gNB implementation for 5G, with the other elements of the RAN node 170 possibly being physically in a different location from the RRH, and the one or more buses 157 could be implemented in part as, e.g., fiber optic cable or other suitable network connection to connect the other elements of the RAN node 170 or the RAN node 90 to an RRH such as the RRH 195.

[0036] In addition, the RAN node 170 and/or the RAN node 90 may include a gNB node for providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to a 5GC (e.g., the network element(s) 190). In addition, the RAN node 170 and/or the RAN node 90 may include an ng-eNB node for providing E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GC.

[0037] It is noted that description herein indicates that “cells” perform functions, but it should be clear that the base station that forms the cell will perform the functions. The cell makes up part of a base station. That is, there can be multiple cells per base station. For instance, there could be three cells for a single carrier frequency and associated bandwidth, each cell covering one-third of a 360 degree area so that the single base station’s coverage area covers an approximate oval or circle. Furthermore, each cell can correspond to a single carrier and a base station may use multiple carriers. So if there are three 120 degree cells per carrier and two carriers, then the base station has more than one cell. It is further noted that a single cell may have multiple Transmission Reception Points (TRxPs or TRPs) that are used in order to form the cell. [0038] The wireless network 100 may include a network element 190 or elements that may include core network functionality, and which provides connectivity via at least a link 181 or link 176 or link 131 with a further network, such as a telephone network and/or a data communications network (e.g., the Internet). Such core network functionality for 5G may include access and mobility management function(s) (AMF(s)) and/or user plane functions (UPF(s)) and/or session management function(s) (SMF(s)).

[0039] Such core network functionality by the network element 190 may include a MME (Mobility Management Entity )/SGW (Serving Gateway) functionality for LTE and similar functionality for 5G. These are merely exemplary functions that may be supported by the network element(s) of the network 100, and note that both 5G and LTE functions might be supported. The RAN node 170 is coupled via a link 131 to a network element 190 and the RAN node 90 is connected via link 181 to the network element 190. The link 131 and/or link 181 may be implemented as, e.g., an NG interface for 5G, or an SI interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards. The network element 190 includes one ormore processors 175, one ormore memories 171, and one or more network interfaces (N/W I/F(s)) 180, interconnected through one or more buses 185. The one or more memories 171 include computer program code 173. The one or more memories 171 and the computer program code 173 are configured, with the one or more processors 175, to cause the network element 190 to perform one or more operations, such as operations in accordance with example embodiments of the invention as described herein.

[0040] The wireless network 100 may implement network virtualization, which is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, a virtual network. Network virtualization involves platform virtualization, often combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is categorized as either external, combining many networks, or parts of networks, into a virtual unit, or internal, providing network-like functionality to software containers on a single system. Note that the virtualized entities that result from the network virtualization are still implemented, at some level, using hardware such as processors 152 and/or 75 and/or 175 and memories 155 and/or 71 and/or 171, and also such virtualized entities create technical effects. [0041] The computer readable memories 125, 155, 171, and 71 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The computer readable memories 125, 155, 171, and 71 may be means for performing storage functions. The processors 120, 152, 175, and 75 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The processors 120, 152, 175, and 75 may be means for performing functions, such as controlling the UE 110, RAN node 170, location server 90, and other functions as described herein.

[0042] In general, the various embodiments of the user equipment 110 can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones such as smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having wireless communication capabilities, portable computers having wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as digital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback appliances having wireless communication capabilities, Internet appliances (including Internet of Things devices) permitting wireless Internet access and possibly browsing, tablets with wireless communication capabilities, as well as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of such functions.

[0043] As similarly stated above, example embodiments of the invention include a new offset added to the measurement report trigger equations for accounting for the current beamforming status. This enables the UE to perform the measurement report, without falling back to an omni directional transmission or performing beam sweeping operations, suppressing the interruption time.

[0044] This solution can either be performed at specification lever or at implementation level: A. Operations in accordance with example embodiments of the invention include, for specification:

• A new component is added to the measurement report triggers described by equation (1). This is a new offset for compensating for the beam steering absolute/differential angle, mitigating the bias introduced by the active beam; and/or

• Mneigh + Oneigh,freq + Oneigh,cell - Hyst > Mserv + Oserv,freq + Oserv,cell + Offset + 0(a, beam) (Eq. 1).

[0045] Where the factor 0(a,beam), which may be a set of discrete values or a function in relation to the direction of transmission a and potentially to additional beam information (gain, beamwidth, etc...), is added as the directional offset. It is noted that a may either represent the used-beam direction measured relative to an absolute reference (e.g. the magnetic pole) or to a relative one (instantaneous UE direction).

[0046] This information can be provided by the network based on knowledge of the used antenna beam or the network can simply turn the feature on.

B. Further, operations in accordance with example embodiments of the invention include, for implementation:

• Before submitting the measurement report to the gNb the UE applies internally an offset to the neighbor and serving cell information, based on the directional gains and the estimated AoA of each of them.

[0047] Below there is provided an example implementation in accordance with example embodiments of the invention with focus on measurement reporting and measurement reporting triggers to allow improved handover operations including an improved selection of a handover candidate for the handover. In FIG. 1 as described above, there is one example of a scenario where example embodiments of the invention can apply.

[0048] To overcome the interruption time and lower processing power consumption, example embodiments of the invention provide different solutions that can be used for solve this problem. These solutions include at least:

A) The network adds offset component(s) to the Eq. 1, to account for beam alignment information.

In one embodiment, one offset is added based on the beamforming angle currently being used by the UE. In this case the equation can be rewritten as:

Mneigh + Oneigh,freq + Oneigh,cell - Hyst > Mserv + Oserv,freq + Oserv,cell + Offset + 0(a, beam) (Eq. 1)

[0049] Where the factor 0(a,beam), which may be a set of discrete values or a function in relation to the direction of transmission a and potentially to additional beam information (gain, beamwidth, etc....), is added as the directional offset a may either represent the used-beam direction measured relative to an absolute reference (e.g. the magnetic pole) or to a relative one (instantaneous UE direction).

[0050] The directional offset, 0(a,beam), may be used, in the example scenario as depicted in FIG. 1, as a function returning negative values, introducing a “penalty” to the serving cell measurement, given the fact the UE beam is pointing in a direction opposite to its movement. The same function could be used to return positive offsets, if the UE is moving toward the serving cell.

[0051] In another embodiment, the offsets are applied not only to the serving cell factor but to the whole set of neighbors. In this case the equation can be rewritten as:

• Mneigh + Oneigh,freq + Oneigh,cell + 0(a, beam, neigh) - Hyst > Mserv + Oserv,freq + Oserv,cell + Offset + 0(a, beam, serv) (Eq. 1) [0052] In this case the function 0(a, beam, neigh) and 0(a, beam, serv) may be two different compensation functions accounting for the angle between the serving (or neighbor) cell and the actual beam being used for transmission. In the example case, presented in FIG. 1, the Neighbor Cell 2 is not on the main beam direction, but the UE is moving on that particular direction, so a positive offset can be introduced for Neighbor 2 or any other cell measured whose signal is coming from similar directions.

[0053] The angle may be either measured based on estimated AoA by the UE or by supplementary information provided by the RAN.

[0054] The solutions further include at least:

B) In the case the RAN does not transmit the directional offset, the UE may perform internal compensation based on the estimated angle of arrival of each neighbour base station and the expected directional gain provided by the current beamforming in that particular direction. Then, the triggers are “compensated” internally by the directional transmission.

[0055] FIG. 3 A illustrates operations which may be performed by a device such as, but not limited to, a device associated with the UE 110 as in FIG. 2. As shown in step 310 of FIG. 3 A there is triggering, by a network device of a communication network, for a network node of a serving cell of a communication network at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell, wherein the triggering is based on applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device. Then as shown in step 320 of FIG. 3 A there is, based on the triggering, sending the at least one measurement report towards the network node for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

[0056] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraph above, wherein the beam offset is compensating for beam steering absolute/differential angle to mitigate bias caused by at least one active beam of the beamforming. [0057] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the beam offset comprises an equation component comprising one at least one factor, and wherein the equation component of the beam offset triggers the at least one measurement report an equation component comprising one at least one factor.

[0058] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one factor comprises a factor O (a, beam), factor O (a, beam, neigh), and/or a factor O (a, beam, serv).

[0059] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one factor is set as a function in relation to at least one of a direction of transmission a, additional beam information, and/or a directional offset.

[0060] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the additional beam information comprises at least: a directional gain, and/or a beamwidth associated with the beamforming.

[0061] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the directional offset comprises at least one of a negative value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a direction opposite of a direction the network device is moving and/or comprises a positive value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a same direction the network device is moving.

[0062] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein a of factor 0(a, beam) represents a used-beam direction measured relative to at least one of an absolute reference and/or a relative direction of the network device.

[0063] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the beam offset associated with a beamforming status is at least one of applied to the serving cell of the communication network using the factor 0(a, beam), and/or applied to the serving cell and the at least one neighbor cell using the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv).

[0064] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein at least the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv) use different functions to compensate for an angle between a serving cell and a beam of the beamforming by the network device.

[0065] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the offset is determined by applying by the network device the beam offset to neighbour cell and serving cell information based on at least one of directional gains and/or an angle of arrival associated with beams of the beam forming communicated to the neighbour cell and the serving cell.

[0066] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the instructions for mobility comprise instructions to perform a handover to a target cell of the at least one neighbor cell based on the at least one measurement report.

[0067] A non-transitory computer-readable medium (Memory(ies) 125 as in FIG.

2) storing program code (Computer Program Code 123 as in FIG. 2), the program code executed by at least one processor (Processor(s) 120, OFFSET module 140-1, and/or OFFSET module 140-2 as in FIG. 2) to perform the operations as at least described in the paragraphs above.

[0068] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above there is an apparatus comprising: means for triggering (e.g., one or more transceivers 130, Memory(ies) 125, Computer Program Code 123, and Processor(s) 120, OFFSET module 140-1, and/or OFFSET module 140-2 as in FIG. 2), by a network device (e.g., UE 10 as in FIG. 2) of a communication network (Network 1 as in FIG. 2), for a network node (e.g., NN 12 and/or NN 13 as in FIG. 2) of a serving cell of a communication network at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell, wherein the triggering is based on applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device; and means, based on the triggering, sending (e.g., one or more transceivers 130, Memory(ies) 125, Computer Program Code 123, and Processor(s) 120, OFFSET module 140-1, and/or OFFSET module 140-2 as in FIG. 2) the at least one measurement report towards the network node (e.g., RAN node 170 and/or RAN node 90 as in Fig. 2) for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

[0069] In the example aspect of the invention according to the paragraph above, wherein at least the means for triggering and sending comprises transceiver [e.g., one or more transceivers 130 as in FIG. 2] a non-transitory computer readable medium [e.g., Memory(ies) 125 as in FIG. 2] encoded with a computer program [e.g., Computer Program Code 123 as in FIG. 2] executable by at least one processor [e.g., Processor(s) 120, OFFSET module 140-1, and/or OFFSET module 140-2 as in FIG. 2]

[0070] FIG. 3B illustrates operations which may be performed by a device or node such as, but not limited to, a device associated with the RAN node 170 and/or RAN node 90 as in FIG. 2. As shown in step 350 of FIG. 3A there is identifying, by a network node of a serving cell of a communication network, at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell from a network device, comprising applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device. Then as shown in step 36 of Fig. 3B there is, based on the identifying, sending the at least one measurement report towards the network device for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

[0071] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraph above, wherein the beam offset is compensating for beam steering absolute/differential angle to mitigate bias caused by at least one active beam of the beamforming.

[0072] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the beam offset comprises an equation component comprising one at least one factor, and wherein the equation component of the beam offset triggers the at least one measurement report an equation component comprising one at least one factor.

[0073] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one factor comprises a factor 0(a, beam), factor O (a, beam, neigh), and/or a factor 0(a, beam, serv).

[0074] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the at least one factor is set as a function in relation to at least one of a direction of transmission a, additional beam information, and/or a directional offset.

[0075] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the additional beam information comprises at least: a directional gain, and/or a beamwidth associated with the beamforming.

[0076] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the directional offset comprises at least one of a negative value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a direction opposite of a direction the network device is moving and/or comprises a positive value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a same direction the network device is moving.

[0077] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein a of factor 0(a, beam) represents a used-beam direction measured relative to at least one of an absolute reference and/or a relative direction of the network device.

[0078] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the beam offset associated with a beamforming status is at least one of applied to the serving cell of the communication network using the factor 0(a, beam), and/or applied to the serving cell and the at least one neighbor cell using the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv). [0079] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein at least the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv) use different functions to compensate for an angle between a serving cell and a beam of the beamforming by the network device.

[0080] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, there is sending towards the network device information from the target cell of the at least one neighbor cell for the at least one measurement report, wherein the information comprises at least one of alpha, cell, and/or beam gain values for at least one of the serving cell and/or the at least one neighbor cell to be applied to the at least one measurement report.

[0081] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above in the paragraphs above, wherein the instructions for mobility comprise instructions to perform a handover to a target cell of the at least one neighbor cell based on the at least one measurement report.

[0082] A non-transitory computer-readable medium (Memory(ies) 155 or

Memory(ies) 71 as in FIG. 2) storing program code (Computer Program Code 153 or Computer Program Code 73 as in FIG. 2), the program code executed by at least one processor (Processor(s) 152, Processor(s) 75, OFFSET module 150-1, OFFSET module 150-2, OFFSET module 50-1, and/or OFFSET module 50-2 as in FIG. 2) to perform the operations as at least described in the paragraphs above.

[0083] In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above there is an apparatus comprising: means for identifying, (e.g., N/W I/F(s) 161 or N/W I/F(s)) 80, Memory(ies) 155 or Memory(ies) 71, Computer Program Code 153 or Computer Program Code 73, and Processor(s) 152, Processor(s) 75, OFFSET module 150-1, OFFSET module 150-2, OFFSET module 50-1, and/or OFFSET module 50-2 as in FIG. 2), by a network node (e.g. RAN node 170 and/or RAN node 90 as in FIG. 2) of a serving cell of a communication network (wireless network 100 as in FIG. 2), at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell from a network device, comprising applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device. Then as shown in step 36 of Fig. 3B there is, based on the identifying, sending (e.g., NAV I/F(s) 161 or NAV I/F(s)) 80, Memory(ies) 155 or Memory(ies) 71, Computer Program Code 153 or Computer Program Code 73, and Processor(s) 152, Processor(s) 75, OFFSET module 150-1, OFFSET module 150-2, OFFSET module 50-1, and/or OFFSET module 50-2 as in FIG. 2), by a network node (e.g. RAN node 170 and/or RAN node 90 as in FIG. 2) the at least one measurement report towards the network device for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

[0084] In the example aspect of the invention according to the paragraph above, wherein at least the means for triggering and sending comprises network interface [e.g., NAV I/F(s) 161 or NAV I/F(s)) 80as in FIG. 2] a non-transitory computer readable medium [e.g., Memory(ies) 155 or Memory(ies) 71 as in FIG. 2] encoded with a computer program [e.g., Computer Program Code 153 or Computer Program Code 73 as in FIG. 2] executable by at least one processor [e.g., Processor(s) 152, Processor(s) 75, OFFSET module 150-1, OFFSET module 150-2, OFFSET module 50-1, and/or OFFSET module 50-2 as in FIG. 2]

[0085] Additional exemplifying example implementations for method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium are described herein.

[0086] Example 1. Triggering, by a network device of a communication network, for a network node of a serving cell of a communication network at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell, wherein the triggering is based on applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device; and based on the triggering, sending the at least one measurement report towards the network node for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

[0087] Example 2. The beam offset is compensating for beam steering absolute/differential angle to mitigate bias caused by at least one active beam of the beamforming.

[0088] Example 3. The beam offset comprises an equation component comprising one at least one factor, and wherein the equation component of the beam offset triggers the at least one measurement report an equation component comprising one at least one factor.

[0089] Example 4. The at least one factor comprises a factor 0(a, beam), factor O

(a, beam, neigh), and/or a factor 0(a, beam, serv).

[0090] Example 5. The at least one factor is set as a function in relation to at least one of a direction of transmission a, additional beam information, and/or a directional offset.

[0091] Example 6. The additional beam information comprises at least: a directional gain, and/or a beamwidth associated with the beamforming.

[0092] Example 7. The directional offset comprises at least one of a negative value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a direction opposite of a direction the network device is moving and/or comprises a positive value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a same direction the network device is moving.

[0093] Example 8. The a of factor 0(a, beam) represents a used-beam direction measured relative to at least one of an absolute reference and/or a relative direction of the network device.

[0094] Example 9. The beam offset associated with a beamforming status is at least one of applied to the serving cell of the communication network using the factor 0(a, beam), and/or applied to the serving cell and the at least one neighbor cell using the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv).

[0095] Example 10. At least the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv) use different functions to compensate for an angle between a serving cell and a beam of the beamforming by the network device.

[0096] Example 11. The offset is determined by applying by the network device the beam offset to neighbour cell and serving cell information based on at least one of directional gains and/or an angle of arrival associated with beams of the beam forming communicated to the neighbour cell and the serving cell.

[0097] Example 12. The instructions for mobility comprise instructions to perform a handover to a target cell of the at least one neighbor cell based on the at least one measurement report.

[0098] Example 13. Identifying, by a network node of a serving cell of a communication network, at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell from a network device, comprising applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device; based on the at least one measurement report, provide instructions to the network device for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

[0099] Example 14. The beam offset is compensating for beam steering absolute/differential angle to mitigate bias caused by at least one active beam of the beamforming.

[00100] Example 15. The beam offset comprises an equation component comprising one at least one factor, and wherein the equation component of the beam offset triggers the at least one measurement report an equation component comprising one at least one factor.

[00101] Example 16. The at least one factor comprises a factor 0(a, beam), factor O (a, beam, neigh), and/or a factor 0(a, beam, serv).

[00102] Example 17. At least one factor is set as a function in relation to at least one of a direction of transmission a, additional beam information, and/or a directional offset.

[00103] Example 18. The additional beam information comprises at least: a directional gain, and/or a beamwidth associated with the beamforming.

[00104] Example 19. The directional offset comprises at least one of a negative value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a direction opposite of a direction the network device is moving and/or comprises a positive value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a same direction the network device is moving.

[00105] Example 20. The a of factor 0(a, beam) represents a used-beam direction measured relative to at least one of an absolute reference and/or a relative direction of the network device.

[00106] Example 21. The beam offset associated with a beamforming status is at least one of applied to the serving cell of the communication network using the factor 0(a, beam), and/or applied to the serving cell and the at least one neighbor cell using the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv).

[00107] Example 22. At least the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv) use different functions to compensate for an angle between a serving cell and a beam of the beamforming by the network device.

[00108] Example 23. Sending towards the network device information from the target cell of the at least one neighbor cell for the at least one measurement report, wherein the information comprises at least one of alpha, cell, and/or beam gain values for at least one of the serving cell and/or the at least one neighbor cell to be applied to the at least one measurement report.

[00109] Example 24. The instructions for mobility comprise instructions to perform a handover to a target cell of the at least one neighbor cell based on the at least one measurement report.

[00110] It is noted that advantages of operations in accordance with example embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein include at least:

- Measurement triggering when a cell is getting better, considering all possible beam directions, which leads to better handovers, i.e. higher likelihood of picking; the better candidate cells and thus improved throughputs and reliability;

- Lower interruption time; and

Lower processing power consumption compared to beam sweeping. [00111] In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[00112] Embodiments of the inventions may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

[00113] The word "exemplary" is may be used herein can mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All of the embodiments described in this Detailed Description are exemplary embodiments provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.

[00114] The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary and non limiting examples a full and informative description of the best method and apparatus presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention. [00115] It should be noted that the terms "connected," "coupled," or any variant thereof, mean any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements, and may encompass the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" together. The coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. As employed herein two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" together by the use of one or more wires, cables and/or printed electrical connections, as well as by the use of electromagnetic energy, such as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency region, the microwave region and the optical (both visible and invisible) region, as several non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[00116] Furthermore, some of the features of the preferred embodiments of this invention could be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description should be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and not in limitation thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method, comprising: triggering, by a network device of a communication network, for a network node of a serving cell of a communication network at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell, wherein the triggering is based on applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device; and based on the triggering, sending the at least one measurement report towards the network node for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam offset is compensating for beam steering absolute/differential angle to mitigate bias caused by at least one active beam of the beamforming.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam offset comprises an equation component comprising one at least one factor, and wherein the equation component of the beam offset triggers the at least one measurement report an equation component comprising one at least one factor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one factor comprises a factor 0(a, beam), factor O (a, beam, neigh), and/or a factor 0(a, beam, serv).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one factor is set as a function in relation to at least one of a direction of transmission a, additional beam information, and/or a directional offset.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the additional beam information comprises at least: a directional gain, and/or a beamwidth associated with the beamforming.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the directional offset comprises at least one of a negative value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a direction opposite of a direction the network device is moving and/or comprises a positive value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a same direction the network device is moving.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein a of factor 0(a, beam) represents a used- beam direction measured relative to at least one of an absolute reference and/or a relative direction of the network device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam offset associated with a beamforming status is at least one of applied to the serving cell of the communication network using a factor 0(a, beam), and/or applied to the serving cell and the at least one neighbor cell using a factor O (a, beam, neigh) and a factor 0(a, beam, serv).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv) use different functions to compensate for an angle between a serving cell and a beam of the beamforming by the network device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the offset is determined by applying by the network device the beam offset to neighbour cell and serving cell information based on at least one of directional gains and/or an angle of arrival associated with beams of the beam forming communicated to the neighbour cell and the serving cell.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions for mobility comprise instructions to perform a handover to a target cell of the at least one neighbor cell based on the at least one measurement report.

13. A method, comprising: identifying, by a network node of a serving cell of a communication network, at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell from a network device, comprising applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device; based on the at least one measurement report, provide instructions to the network device for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the beam offset is compensating for beam steering absolute/differential angle to mitigate bias caused by at least one active beam of the beamforming.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the beam offset comprises an equation component comprising one at least one factor, and wherein the equation component of the beam offset triggers the at least one measurement report an equation component comprising one at least one factor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one factor comprises a factor 0(a, beam), factor O (a, beam, neigh), and/or a factor 0(a, beam, serv).

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one factor is set as a function in relation to at least one of a direction of transmission a, additional beam information, and/or a directional offset.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the additional beam information comprises at least: a directional gain, and/or a beamwidth associated with the beamforming.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the directional offset comprises at least one of a negative value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a direction opposite of a direction the network device is moving and/or comprises a positive value to indicate that a direction of a beam for the beam forming by the network device is in a same direction the network device is moving.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein a of factor 0(a, beam) represents a used- beam direction measured relative to at least one of an absolute reference and/or a relative direction of the network device.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the beam offset associated with a beamforming status is at least one of applied to the serving cell of the communication network using a factor 0(a, beam), and/or applied to the serving cell and the at least one neighbor cell using a factor O (a, beam, neigh) and a factor 0(a, beam, serv).

22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least the factor O (a, beam, neigh) and the factor 0(a, beam, serv) use different functions to compensate for an angle between a serving cell and a beam of the beamforming by the network device.

23. The method of claim 13, comprising: sending towards the network device information from the target cell of the at least one neighbor cell for the at least one measurement report, wherein the information comprises at least one of alpha, cell, and/or beam gain values for at least one of the serving cell and/or the at least one neighbor cell to be applied to the at least one measurement report.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the instructions for mobility comprise instructions to perform a handover to a target cell of the at least one neighbor cell based on the at least one measurement report.

25. An apparatus comprising: means for triggering, by a network device of a communication network, for a network node of a serving cell of a communication network at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell, wherein the triggering is based on applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device; and means for sending, based on the triggering, the at least one measurement report towards the network node for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least the means for triggering and sending comprises at least one transceiver and at least one non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program executable by at least one processor.

27. An apparatus comprising: means for identifying, by a network node of a serving cell of a communication network, at least one measurement report for at least one neighbor cell from a network device, comprising applying to the at least one measurement report a beam offset associated with a beamforming status of the network device; means for sending, based on the identifying, by a network node the at least one measurement report towards the network device for instructions for mobility of the network device based on the at least one measurement report.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least the means for triggering and sending comprises at least one network interface and at least one non-transitory computer readable medium executable by at least one processor.

29. An apparatus comprising means for performing a method of any of the claims

1 12

30. An apparatus comprising means for performing a method of any of the claims 13-24.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code, the program code executed by at least one processor to perform the steps of any of the claims 1-12.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code, the program code executed by at least one processor to perform the steps of any of the claims 13-24.