WO2021242157A1

WO2021242157A1 - Handling of qoe measurements in inactive state

Info

Publication number: WO2021242157A1
Application number: PCT/SE2021/050246
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cecilia EKLÖF; Nicklas Johansson; Robert Petersen; Mattias BERGSTRÖM
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2020-05-29
Filing date: 2021-03-22
Publication date: 2021-12-02

Abstract

Systems and methods for handling Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement configurations when in an inactive state are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device for handling of QoE measurement configurations comprises receiving a QoE measurement configuration while in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state and storing the QoE measurement configuration. The method further comprises transitioning to the inactive state and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning to the inactive state.

Description

HANDLING OF QoE MEASUREMENTS IN IN A CTIVE STA TE

Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application serial number 63/031,860, filed May 29, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement configuration in a cellular communications system.

Background

QoE Measurements

[0003] Quality of Experience (QoE) measurements have been specified for Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The purpose of these application layer measurements is to measure the end user experience when using certain applications. Currently QoE measurements for streaming services and for Mobile Telephony Service for Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia System (IMS) (MTSI) services are supported in LTE.

[0004] The solutions in LTE and UMTS are similar with the overall principles as follows. QoE measurement collection enables configuration of application layer measurements in the User Equipment (UE) and transmission of QoE measurement result files by means of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. Application layer measurement configuration received from Operations and Management (OAM) or the Core Network (CN) is encapsulated in a transparent container, which is forwarded to UE in a downlink RRC message. Application layer measurements received from UE's higher layer are encapsulated in a transparent container and sent to network in an uplink RRC message. The result container is forwarded to a Trace Collector Entity (TCE). In Figure 1, the RRC signaling flow for QoE measurements in LTE is shown.

[0005] In Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 17, a new study item for "Study on NR QoE management and optimizations for diverse services" for New Radio (NR) has been approved. The purpose of the study item is to study solutions for QoE measurements in NR. QoE management in NR will not just collect the experience parameters of streaming services but also consider the typical performance requirements of diverse services (e.g., Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR) and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC)). Based on requirements of services, the NR study will also include more adaptive QoE management schemes that enable network intelligent optimization to satisfy user experience for diverse services. [0006] The measurements may be initiated towards the Radio Access Network (RAN) using a management-based scheme, i.e., initiated from an OAM node in generic way for a group of UEs, or the measurements may also be initiated using a signaling-based scheme, i.e., initiated from an OAM node via the CN to the RAN. The configuration of the measurements includes the measurement details, which is encapsulated in a container that is transparent to RAN.

[0007] When initiated via the CN, the measurement is directed towards a specific UE. The "TRACE REQUEST" referred to above is realized as an S1AP message in LTE, which carries the configuration information for the measurement details and the TCE to which the collected measurements should be sent.

[0008] The RAN is not aware of when the streaming session is ongoing in the UE and is also not aware of when the measurements are ongoing. It is important for the client analyzing the measurements that the whole session is measured. Typically, the RAN stops the measurements when the UE has moved outside the measured area.

[0009] It is beneficial that, if there is a Packet Switched (PS) streaming session, the UE would continue a started QoE measurement recording for the whole session, even during a handover situation. It has been concluded during a 3GPP study that fragmented QoE reports are of little use.

RRCJNA CTIVE State

[0010] In NR, there is an RRC state RRC_IN ACTIVE. When the UE is in RRC_CONNECTED and the activity goes down, the UE may, instead of being released to RRCJDLE, be transferred to RRCJNACTIVE. In RRCJNACTIVE, a lot of the radio resources are released, but the connection to the core network is kept. When the activity in the UE goes up again, the transfer to RRC_CONNECTED is faster compared to when starting from RRC_IDLE. Details are provided in the following excerpt from the RRC specification 3GPP TS 38.331 (V16.0.0): ********** START EXCERPT FROM 3GPP TS 38.331 **********

4.2.1 UE states and state transitions including inter RAT

A UE is either in RRC CONNECTED state or in RRC IN ACTIVE state when an RRC connection has been established. If this is not the case, i.e. no RRC connection is established, the UE is in RRC IDLE state. The RRC states can further be characterised as follows:

- RRC IDLE:

- A UE specific DRX may be configured by upper layers;

- UE controlled mobility based on network configuration;

- The UE:

- Monitors Short Messages transmitted with P-RNTI over DCI (see clause 6.5);

- Monitors a Paging channel for CN paging using 5G-S-TMSI;

- Performs neighbouring cell measurements and cell (re-)selection;

- Acquires system information and can send SI request (if configured).

- RRC INACTIVE :

- A UE specific DRX may be configured by upper layers or by RRC layer;

- UE controlled mobility based on network configuration;

- The UE stores the UE Inactive AS context;

- A RAN-based notification area is configured by RRC layer;

The UE:

- Monitors Short Messages transmitted with P-RNTI over DCI (see clause 6.5);

- Monitors a Paging channel for CN paging using 5G-S-TMSI and RAN paging using fulll-RNTI;

- Performs neighbouring cell measurements and cell (re-)selection;

- Performs RAN-based notification area updates periodically and when moving outside the configured RAN-based notification area;

- Acquires system information and can send SI request (if configured).

- RRC CONNECTED:

- The UE stores the AS context;

- Transfer of unicast data to/from UE;

- At lower layers, the UE may be configured with a UE specific DRX;

- For UEs supporting CA, use of one or more SCells, aggregated with the SpCell, for increased bandwidth; - For UEs supporting DC, use of one SCG, aggregated with the MCG, for increased bandwidth;

- Network controlled mobility within NR and to/from E-UTRA;

- The UE:

- Monitors Short Messages transmitted with P-RNTI over DCI (see clause 6.5), if configured;

- Monitors control channels associated with the shared data channel to determine if data is scheduled for it;

- Provides channel quality and feedback information;

- Performs neighbouring cell measurements and measurement reporting;

- Acquires system information.

Figure 4.2.1-1 illustrates an overview of UE RRC state machine and state transitions in NR. A UE has only one RRC state in NR at one time.

[REPRODUCED HEREIN AS FIGURE 2]

Figure 4.2.1 -1: UE state machine and state transitions in NR

Figure 4.2.1-2 illustrates an overview of UE state machine and state transitions in NR as well as the mobility procedures supported between NR/5GC E-UTRA/EPC and E-UTRA/5GC.

[REPRODUCED HEREIN AS FIGURE 3]

Figure 4.2.1 -2: UE state machine and state transitions between NR/5GC, E-

UTRA/EPC and E-UTRA/5GC

********** END EXCERPT FROM 3GPP TS 38 331 **********

UE Inactive AS Context

[0011] The UE Inactive Access Stratum (AS) Context contains a certain UE configuration and is stored when the connection is suspended and restored when the connection is resumed according to 3GPP TS 38.331. As stated in 3GPP TS 38.331, the UE Inactive AS Context contains:

"the current K_QNB and KRRCint keys, the ROHC state, the stored QoS flow to DRB mapping rules, the C-RNTI used in the source PCell, the cellldentity and the physical cell identity of the source PCell, and all other parameters configured except for the ones within ReconfigurationWithSync and servingCeHConfigCommonSIB' , where "all other parameters" refers to AS related configuration parameters. Below is an excerpt from 3GPP TS 38.331 (emphasis added):

********** START EXCERPT FROM 3GPP TS 38.331 ********** 5.3.1 .1 RRC connection control

The suspension of the RRC connection is initiated by the network. When the RRC connection is suspended, the UE stores the UE Inactive AS context and any configuration received from the network, and transits to RRC INACTIVE state. If the UE is configured with SCG, the UE releases the SCG configuration upon initiating a RRC Connection Resume procedure. The RRC message to suspend the RRC connection is integrity protected and ciphered.

The resumption of a suspended RRC connection is initiated by upper layers when the UE needs to transit from RRC INACTIVE state to RRC CONNECTED state or by RRC layer to perform a RNA update or by RAN paging from NG-RAN. When the RRC connection is resumed, network configures the UE according to the RRC connection resume procedure based on the stored UE Inactive AS context and any RRC configuration received from the network. The RRC connection resume procedure re-activates AS security and re-establishes SRB(s) and DRB(s).

********** END EXCERPT FROM 3GPP TS 38 331 **********

Trace Activation

[0012] In LTE, TRACE ACTIVATION is used to transfer QoE related information between enhanced or evolved Node Bs (eNBs). See the following extract from 3GPP TS 36.413 V16.0.0 (emphasis added):

********** START EXCERPT FROM 3GPP TS 36.413 **********

9.2.1.4 Trace Activation

Defines parameters related to a trace activation.

9.2.1.128 UE Application layer measurement configuration

The IE defines configuration information for the QoE Measurement Collection (QMC) function.

Summary

[0013] Systems and methods for handling Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement configurations when in an inactive state are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device for handling of QoE measurement configurations comprises receiving a QoE measurement configuration while in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state and storing the QoE measurement configuration. The method further comprises transitioning to the inactive state and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning to the inactive state.

[0014] In one embodiment, the method further comprises transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state and either continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state or discarding the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state.

[0015] In one embodiment, the method further comprises transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state. [0016] In one embodiment, the method further comprises transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, receiving an indication from a radio access node that serves a cell in which the wireless device is transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, the indication being either an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration or an indication to discard the QoE measurement configuration, and either continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state or discarding the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, in accordance with the received indication. In one embodiment, the indication is an indication that, when present, indicates that the wireless communication device is to keep the configuration and, when absent, implicitly indicates that the wireless communication device is to discard the configuration.

[0017] In one embodiment, the method further comprises transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, receiving an indication from a radio access node that serves a cell in which the wireless device is transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, the indication being an indication that the radio access node supports QoE measurements, and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, in accordance with the received indication. In one embodiment, the method further comprises receiving the indication from the radio access node. In one embodiment, the indication is comprised in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Resume message or a RRC Connection Resume message.

[0018] In one embodiment, the method further comprises transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state and discarding the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state. [0019] In one embodiment, the method further comprises transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive stat and discarding the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state unless the wireless communication device has received an indication that the wireless communication device is to store the QoE measurements. In one embodiment, the indication that the wireless communication device is to store the QoE measurements is an indication that a radio access node that serves a cell in which the wireless communication device is transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state supports or has enabled QoE measurements.

[0020] In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state and either continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state or discarding the QoE measurement configuration upon performing the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

[0021] In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

[0022] In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state, subject to one or more criteria. In one embodiment, the one or more criteria comprises a criterion that the wireless communication device has received an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon a cell change.

[0023] In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device prior to the cell change, and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

[0024] In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device prior to the cell change and discarding the QoE measurement configuration upon performing the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

[0025] In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device prior to the cell change and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state, subject to one or more criteria. In one embodiment, the one or more criteria comprises a criterion that the wireless communication device has received an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon a cell change to a cell of a different cell type. In one embodiment, the cell of a different type is a cell of a different radio access technology than the cell of the wireless communication device prior to the cell change, a cell of a different Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) than that of the cell of the wireless communication device prior to the cell change, or a cell of another managing entity than the cell of the wireless communication device prior to the cell change. In one embodiment, the one or more criteria comprises a criterion that the wireless communication device can keep the QoE measurement configuration if the wireless communication device performs an inter^¬ radio access technology (RAT) cell change as long as the wireless communication device does not transfer to a connected state in the new cell after the inter-RAT cell change.

In one embodiment, the cell of the wireless communication device prior to the cell change is a New Radio (NR) cell, the new cell is a cell of another RAT, and continuing to store the QoE measurement configuration comprises maintaining the QoE measurement configuration within an access stratum (AS) context specific to NR.

[0026] In one embodiment, the wireless communication device continues to store the QoE configuration after transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, and the method further comprises performing QoE measurement and reporting in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state.

[0027] In one embodiment, the method further comprises obtaining additional information related to the QoE configuration, the additional information comprising information that indicates an area in which the QoE configuration is applicable and performing QoE measurement and reporting in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state if a cell to which the wireless communication device connects when transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state is within the area in which the QoE configuration is applicable, otherwise refraining from performing QoE measurement and reporting in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration.

[0028] In one embodiment, the connected state is RRC_CONNECTED and the inactive state is RRC_INACTIVE.

[0029] In one embodiment, receiving the QoE measurement configuration comprises receiving the QoE measurement configuration in a RRC Release message. [0030] In one embodiment, storing the QoE measurement configuration comprises storing the QoE measurement configuration in a User Equipment (UE) Inactive Access Stratum (AS) Context of the wireless communication device.

[0031] In one embodiment, further comprising performing at least some QoE measurements in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration while in the inactive state.

[0032] Corresponding embodiments of a wireless communication device are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless communication device for handling of QoE measurement configurations is adapted to receive a QoE measurement configuration while in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state, store the QoE measurement configuration, transition to the inactive state, and continue to store the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning to the inactive state.

[0033] In one embodiment, a wireless communication device for handling of QoE measurement configurations comprises one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and processing circuitry associated with the one or more transmitters and the one or more receivers. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless communication device to receive a QoE measurement configuration while in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state, store the QoE measurement configuration, transition to the inactive state, and continue to store the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning to the inactive state.

[0034] Embodiments of a method performed by a radio access node for handling of QoE measurement configurations. In one embodiment, a method performed by a radio access node for handling of QoE measurement configurations comprises transmitting, to a wireless communication device, a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device in a connected state or when the wireless communication device is being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state and transmit, to the wireless communication device, one or more indications comprising: (a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state, (b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state, (c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state, or (d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

[0035] In one embodiment, the method further comprises providing the QoE configuration to another radio access node in association with a cell change of the wireless communication device.

[0036] In one embodiment, the method further comprises providing the QoE configuration to another radio access node in association with a cell change of the wireless communication device as part of a UE inactive AS context of the wireless communication device.

[0037] Corresponding embodiments of a radio access node are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a radio access node for handling of QoE measurement configurations is adapted to transmit, to a wireless communication device, a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device in a connected state or when the wireless communication device is being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state and transmit, to the wireless communication device, one or more indications comprising: (a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state, (b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state, (c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state, or (d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

[0038] In one embodiment, a radio access node for handling of QoE measurement configurations comprises processing circuitry configured to cause the radio access node to transmit, to a wireless communication device, a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device in a connected state or when the wireless communication device is being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state and transmit, to the wireless communication device, one or more indications comprising: (a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state, (b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state, (c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state, or (d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

[0039] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0040] Figure lillustrates the Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling flow for Quality of Experience (QoE) measurements in Long Term Evolution (LTE);

[0041] Figure 2 is a reproduction of Figure 4.2.1-1 of Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Technical Specification (TS) 38.331 (V16.0.0);

[0042] Figure 3 is a reproduction of Figure 4.2.1-2 of 3GPP TS 38.331 (V16.0.0); [0043] Figure 4 illustrates one example of a cellular communications system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0044] Figure 5 illustrates the operation of a User Equipment (UE) and a radio access node(s) in accordance with at least some of the embodiments described above;

[0045] Figures 6 through 8 are schematic block diagrams of example embodiments of a radio access node; and

[0046] Figures 9 and 10 are schematic block diagrams of example embodiments of a UE.

[0047] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0048] The embodiments set forth below represent information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0049] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features, and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0050] Radio Node: As used herein, a "radio node" is either a radio access node or a wireless communication device.

[0051] Radio Access Node: As used herein, a "radio access node" or "radio network node" or "radio access network node" is any node in a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a cellular communications network that operates to wirelessly transmit and/or receive signals. Some examples of a radio access node include, but are not limited to, a base station (e.g., a New Radio (NR) base station (gNB) in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) NR network or an enhanced or evolved Node B (eNB) in a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) network), a high-power or macro base station, a low-power base station (e.g., a micro base station, a pico base station, a home eNB, or the like), a relay node, a network node that implements part of the functionality of a base station (e.g., a network node that implements a gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU) or a network node that implements a gNB Distributed Unit (gNB-DU)) or a network node that implements part of the functionality of some other type of radio access node. [0052] Core Network Node: As used herein, a "core network node" is any type of node in a core network or any node that implements a core network function. Some examples of a core network node include, e.g., a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW), a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF), a Flome Subscriber Server (HSS), or the like. Some other examples of a core network node include a node implementing an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a User Plane Function (UPF), a Session Management Function (SMF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), a Network Exposure Function (NEF), a Network Function (NF) Repository Function (NRF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), a Unified Data Management (UDM), or the like.

[0053] Communication Device: As used herein, a "communication device" is any type of device that has access to an access network. Some examples of a communication device include, but are not limited to: mobile phone, smart phone, sensor device, meter, vehicle, household appliance, medical appliance, media player, camera, or any type of consumer electronic, for instance, but not limited to, a television, radio, lighting arrangement, tablet computer, laptop, or Personal Computer (PC). The communication device may be a portable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle- mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and/or data via a wireless or wireline connection.

[0054] Wireless Communication Device: One type of communication device is a wireless communication device, which may be any type of wireless device that has access to (i.e., is served by) a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network). Some examples of a wireless communication device include, but are not limited to: a User Equipment device (UE) in a 3GPP network, a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, and an Internet of Things (IoT) device. Such wireless communication devices may be, or may be integrated into, a mobile phone, smart phone, sensor device, meter, vehicle, household appliance, medical appliance, media player, camera, or any type of consumer electronic, for instance, but not limited to, a television, radio, lighting arrangement, tablet computer, laptop, or PC. The wireless communication device may be a portable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and/or data via a wireless connection.

[0055] Network Node: As used herein, a "network node" is any node that is either part of the RAN or the core network of a cellular communications network/system. [0056] Note that the description given herein focuses on a 3GPP cellular communications system and, as such, 3GPP terminology or terminology similar to 3GPP terminology is oftentimes used. However, the concepts disclosed herein are not limited to a 3GPP system.

[0057] Note that, in the description herein, reference may be made to the term "cell"; however, particularly with respect to 5G NR concepts, beams may be used instead of cells and, as such, it is important to note that the concepts described herein are equally applicable to both cells and beams.

[0058] There currently exist certain challenge(s) with respect to Quality of Experience (QoE) measurements, particularly in 3GPP NR. In particular, there is no behavior defined for QoE measurements when transferring to RRC_INACTIVE or when the QoE measurement request arrives to the RAN node while the session is in RRC_INACTIVE state. The QoE configuration files are large and it would consume radio resources to resend the configuration file every time the UE transfers from RRCJNACTIVE to RRC_CONNECTED. Also, when the UE is in RRCJNACTIVE, the UE may move around in the network, and the behavior related to the QoE measurements needs to be defined.

[0059] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to the aforementioned or other challenges. Embodiments of the solution(s) described herein include a method in a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE) for handling of QoE measurements and/or related configuration in an inactive state (e.g., RRC_IN ACTIVE). In one embodiment, the method includes one or more of the following actions:

- receiving, at the wireless communication device, a message (e.g., an RRC message) including QoE configuration;

- transferring to the inactive state (e.g., RRC_INACTIVE state) and storing the QoE configuration (i.e., the wireless communication device transitions to the inactive state and stores the QoE configuration);

- potentially reselecting to another cell while in the inactive state and keeping the QoE configuration (i.e., continuing to store the QoE configuration after reselecting to the other cell);

- transferring from the inactive state to a connected state (e.g.,

RRC_CONNECTED) and retrieving and using the stored QoE configuration; - starting measurements (in accordance with the QoE configuration) in the new cell if the new cell is within the area (e.g., an area in which the QoE configuration is applicable), otherwise not starting measurements (in accordance with the QoE configuration) in the new cell.

[0060] In some embodiments, a wireless communication device stores a QoE configuration for QoE measurements when transferring to the inactive state (e.g., RRC_INACTIVE) and resumes the QoE measurements when transferring back to the connected state (e.g., RRC_CONNECTED). In some embodiments, the wireless communication device is also provided with RAN node (e.g., gNB/eNB) specific QoE information. Embodiments are also disclosed for transferring QoE information in network signaling from an old RAN node (e.g., an old gNB/eNB) to a new RAN node (e.g., a new gNB), where the old RAN node is a RAN node of a cell of a wireless communication device prior to cell reselection and the new RAN node is a RAN node of a cell of the wireless communication device after the cell reselection.

[0061] Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). The QoE configuration files are large, and it is beneficial if the wireless communication device can store the QoE configurations while in the inactive state (e.g., RRC_INACTIVE) so that they do not have to be sent again when transferring back to the connected state (e.g., RRC_CONNECTED). This saves radio resources.

Embodiments disclosed herein also provide unified behavior for all wireless communications devices with respect to the inactive state (e.g., RRC_INACTIVE state), e.g. storing and retrieving the QoE measurement configurations when transferring to/from RRC_IN ACTIVE.

[0062] Figure 4 illustrates one example of a cellular communications system 400 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In the embodiments described herein, the cellular communications system 400 is a 5G system (5GS) including a Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN) and a 5G Core (5GC); however, the embodiments described herein are also applicable to other types of cellular communications systems such as, e.g., an Evolved Packet System (EPS) including an Evolved Universal Terrestrial RAN (E-UTRAN) and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). In this example, the RAN includes base stations 402-1 and 402-2, which in the 5GS include NR base stations (gNBs) and optionally next generation eNBs (ng-eNBs) (e.g., LTE RAN nodes connected to the 5GC), controlling corresponding (macro) cells 404-1 and 404-2. The base stations 402-1 and 402-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as base stations 402 and individually as base station 402. Likewise, the (macro) cells 404-1 and 404-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as (macro) cells 404 and individually as (macro) cell 404. The RAN may also include a number of low power nodes 406-1 through 406-4 controlling corresponding small cells 408-1 through 408-4. The low power nodes 406-1 through 406-4 can be small base stations (such as pico or femto base stations) or Remote Radio Heads (RRHs), or the like. Notably, while not illustrated, one or more of the small cells 408-1 through 408-4 may alternatively be provided by the base stations 402. The low power nodes 406-1 through 406-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as low power nodes 406 and individually as low power node 406. Likewise, the small cells 408-1 through 408-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as small cells 408 and individually as small cell 408. The cellular communications system 400 also includes a core network 410, which in the 5GS is referred to as the 5GC. The base stations 402 (and optionally the low power nodes 406) are connected to the core network 410.

[0063] The base stations 402 and the low power nodes 406 provide service to wireless communication devices 412-1 through 412-5 in the corresponding cells 404 and 408. The wireless communication devices 412-1 through 412-5 are generally referred to herein collectively as wireless communication devices 412 and individually as wireless communication device 412. In the following description, the wireless communication devices 412 are oftentimes UEs and as such are oftentimes referred to herein as UEs 412, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0064] Now, a description of embodiments of the present disclosure will be provided. It will herein be described how a UE 412 and base station 402 (which in the detailed description below is a gNB and as such is oftentimes referred to as a gNB 402) will manage a QoE configuration for the UE 412 when the UE 412 enters and exists in an inactive state. In NR, this inactive state is the RRC_INACTIVE state and, as such, the description focuses on the RRC_INACTIVE state. However, the present disclosure is not limited to NR. In LTE, there is a state which is similar to RRC_INACTIVE, namely RRC suspended, which in short is the RRC_IDLE state but where the UE 412 has a resume- ID. The embodiments described herein may be applied to this state in LTE; however, for the sake of readability, the RRC_INACTIVE state in NR is used as example in the following description. The person skilled in the art will understand how the embodiments could be applied to the RRC suspended scenario in LTE.

[0065] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the case where the UE 412 is first configured with a QoE configuration (e.g., when the UE 412 is in the RRC_CONNECTED state or when the UE 412 is being released to the RRC_INACTIVE state). The QoE configuration contains a QoE configuration file to be applied in the application layer in the UE 412. The QoE configuration may also contain the type of QoE configuration, area scope or withinArea indication (i.e., the area in which the QoE configuration is applicable), and/or more information related to the QoE configuration, e.g. whether segmentation is allowed or not. The QoE configuration is sent to the UE 412 e.g., in an RRC message, e.g. RRCReconfiguration. The QoE configuration may also be included in an RRCRe/ease message, e.g. when suspending the UE 412 to RRC_IN ACTIVE.

[0066] The 412 UE resides in RRC_CONNECTED, and later the UE 412 may be transferred to RRC_INACTIVE. This is done when the UE 412 receives an RRC reconfiguration message, typically RRCRe/ease. When the UE 412 transitions to RRC_INACTIVE, the UE 412 keeps the QoE configuration (i.e., the UE 412 continues to store the QoE configuration). One option is that the UE 412 stores the QoE configuration in the UE Inactive AS Context of the UE 412. Another approach is that the UE 412 stores the QoE configuration outside of the UE Inactive AS Context, e.g. stores the QoE configuration in a specific entity (i.e., a specific logical construct) which is used for storing the QoE configuration.

[0067] When the UE 412 resides in RRC_INACTIVE, the UE 412 may either stay in the same cell as when the UE 412 was transferred to RRC_INACTIVE or the UE 412 may change to another cell (e.g., via cell reselection). The whole time the UE 412 stays in RRC_INACTIVE, the UE 412 keeps (i.e., continues to store) the QoE configuration. [0068] Later, the UE 412 receives an RRC message for transfer back to RRC_CON NECTED, such as an RRCResume message. When the UE 412 transitions back to RRC_CON NECTED, the UE 412 resumes also the QoE configuration and continues being configured with QoE measurements according to the QoE configuration. In one embodiment, when the UE 412 changes from one cell (served by an "old gNB") to a new cell (served by a "new gNB"), the QoE configuration may be transferred from the old gNB to the new gNB in network signaling, e.g., as part of the UE Inactive AS Context, which is transferred from the old gNB to the new gNB. Also, information outside the QoE configuration provided to the UE 412, e.g. the area in which the QoE configuration is applicable, may be transferred in network signaling from the old gNB to the new gNB. In LTE, the TRACE ACTIVATION Information Element (IE) is used to transfer QoE information like the area scope between eNBs, and the same IE can be used for the same purpose in NR. In LTE, TRACE ACTIVATION is included in the message HANDOVER REQUEST, and in NR it is included in both HANDOVER REQUEST and RETRIEVE UE CONTEXT RESPONSE, which is used transfer UE context information at resume.

[0069] In one embodiment, the network may indicate to the UE 412 whether the UE 412 is to store the QoE measurement configuration when going to RRC_INACTIVE or not. The UE 412 may, if the network did not indicate that the UE 412 is to store the QoE configuration, discard the QoE configuration upon entering RRC_INACTIVE.

[0070] In one embodiment, the network may indicate to the UE 412 whether the UE 412 is to keep the QoE measurement configuration during a cell change, or whether the UE 412 is to discard the configuration at cell change.

[0071] In one embodiment, the network may indicate to the UE 412 whether the UE 412 is to store the QoE measurement configuration when doing a cell change to a cell of another type, where a cell of another type may comprise a cell of another Radio Access Technology (RAT), a cell of another Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), a cell of another managing entity (e.g., a cell of a private network), etc.

[0072] This indication(s) may be provided to the UE 412 when the network provides the QoE configuration to the UE 412. In another approach, the network may provide the indication(s) to the UE 412 when releasing the UE 412 to RRC_INACTIVE.

[0073] In the RRC message that is used to transfer the UE 412 to RRC_CONNECTED, additional information related to the QoE configuration may be included. The type of information included in the RRC message outside the container is information relevant on the RAN level. The information could, e.g., be withinArea indication or an indication whether RRC segmentation is allowed in the new gNB or not.

[0074] The UE 412 may, upon entering RRC_CONNECTED to a new cell, assume that the QoE measurement configuration is to be discarded unless indicated otherwise by the new gNB. For example, unless the new gNB provided a flag to the UE 412 indicating that the UE 412 is to keep the QoE measurement configuration upon resuming, the UE 412 may discard the QoE measurement configuration. This ensures interoperability where the UE 412 resumes in a cell which does not support the QoE measurement functionality, in which case the new gNB may not be capable of indicating to the UE 412 that the UE 412 is to discard the configuration. Hence, with the behavior described here, interoperability problems are avoided between a UE with a stored QoE measurement configuration and a cell which is not capable of QoE measurements. [0075] The withinArea indication is used to inform the UE 412 whether the new gNB is within the defined area where QoE measurements should be performed or not. If the new gNB is outside the area for QoE measurements, the UE 412 will not start any new QoE measurements in that cell. In a similar way, the RRC message may contain other type(s) of information related to the new gNB, e.g. whether RRC segmentation is allowed or not, whether QoE reporting is allowed in that gNB or not, etc. In one embodiment, this information is included in the RRC message RRCResume, when transferring from RRC_INACTIVE to RRC_CONNECTED. Moreover, to ensure interoperability when moving to a cell not supporting QoE measurement, the assumption from the UE 412 may be that the new cell is outside the area and that QoE reporting is not allowed unless explicitly indicated in RRCResume message.

[0076] In one embodiment, the UE 412 may have reselected to an LTE cell while in RRC_INACTIVE. The QoE configuration could still be resumed when transferring to RRC_CONNECTED. The RRC message transferring the UE 412 to RRC_CONNECTED will in such case be an LTE message RRCConnectionResume, which may contain similar parameters as the NR message RRCResume.

[0077] In one embodiment, the UE 412 may keep the QoE measurement configuration if it performs an inter-RAT cell change as long as the UE 412 does not transfer to RRC_CONNECTED in the new RAT. While, if the UE 412 enters RRC_CONNECTED in the new RAT, then the UE 412 would discard the QoE measurement configuration. This allows for the case that if the UE 412 is in an NR-cell when the UE 412 gets sent to RRC_INACTIVE, then the UE 412 moves to the coverage of an LTE cell, and thereafter the UE 412 returns to an NR-cell, all without having entering RRC_CONNECTED, then the UE 412 maintains the QoE measurement configuration.

[0078] In one embodiment, the UE 412 maintains the QoE measurement configuration within an AS context specific to NR, while the UE 412 is performing mobility to another RAT, e.g. LTE. The UE 412 would for example be in NR and be configured (by an NR-node) to perform QoE measurements and the UE 412 would maintain this configuration even if it would perform mobility to an LTE node. However, while connected to the LTE-node, the UE 412 may not apply the QoE measurement configuration or it may not perform the QoE measurements. If the UE 412 returns to an NR-cell later, the UE 412 would then resume the QoE measurements which it received from an NR-node.

[0079] Figure 5 illustrates the operation of a UE 412 and a radio access node(s) in accordance with at least some of the embodiments described above. In this example, the radio access node(s) include a first base station 402-A and optionally a second base station 402-B (e.g., in the case of a cell change). Optional steps are represented by dashed lines/boxes. As illustrated, the first base station 402-A sends, and the UE 412 receives, a QoE configuration (step 500). The QoE configuration may also be referred to herein as a QoE measurement configuration. As discussed above, the QoE configuration may be sent to the UE 412 while the UE 412 is in a connected state (e.g., RRC_CONNECTED) or when releasing the UE 412 from the connected state to an inactive state (e.g., RRC_INACTIVE). In one embodiment, the QoE configuration is provided to the UE 412 in an RRC Release message. As also discussed above, the first base station 402-A may also send, and the UE 412 may also receive, additional information related to the QoE configuration (step 502). This additional information may include, for example, information that defines an area in which the QoE configuration is applicable, information that indicates whether segmentation is allowed or not, etc. While shown in Figure 5 as being separate from the QoE configuration, some or all of this additional information may be included in the QoE configuration. While in the inactive state, the UE 412 may perform at least some QoE measurements in accordance with the received QoE configuration.

[0080] As described above, the first base station 402-A may also provide one or more indications to the UE 412 (step 504). The indication(s) may include an indication of whether the UE 412 is to store the QoE configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state or not, an indication of whether the UE 412 is to keep the QoE configuration during a cell change (e.g., continue to store the QoE configuration after a cell change, e.g., while the UE 412 is in the inactive state), and/or an indication of whether the UE 412 is to store the QoE configuration during a cell change to a cell of another type (e.g., continue to store the QoE configuration after a cell change to another cell type, e.g., while the UE 412 is in the inactive state). The indication(s) of step 504 may be sent to the UE 412, e.g., when the QoE configuration is provided to the UE 412 or when releasing the UE 412 to the inactive state.

[0081] The UE 412 stores the QoE configuration (step 506) and transitions to the inactive state, keeping the QoE configuration (step 508). Note that, in some embodiments, the UE 412 keeps the QoE configuration when transitioning to the inactive state (i.e., continues to store the QoE configuration after transitioning to the inactive state) if an indication is received from the first base station 402-A that the UE 412 is to store the QoE configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state and otherwise discards the QoE configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state.

[0082] Optionally, while in the inactive state, the UE 412 performs a cell change from the cell (cell A) of the first base station 402-A to a new cell (cell B) of a second base station 402-B (step 510). As discussed above, upon cell change to the new cell, the UE 412 either continues to store the QoE configuration or discards the QoE configuration (step 511). For example, in one embodiment, the UE 412 continues to store the QoE configuration after the cell change. In another embodiment, the UE 412 continues to store the QoE configuration after the cell change if one or more criteria are satisfied (e.g., if the indication(s) of step 504 include an indication that the UE 412 is to continue to store the QoE configure upon cell change). In another embodiment, the new cell is a different cell type that the old cell, and the UE 412 continues to store the QoE configuration after the cell change to the new cell of the different cell type, continues to store the QoE configuration after the cell change to the new cell of the different cell type subject to one or more criteria (e.g., continue to store QoE configuration only if the indication(s) of step 504 include an indication to store the QoE configuration after cell change to a different cell type), or discards the QoE configuration after the cell change to the new cell of the different cell type. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the first base station 402-A provides the QoE configuration of the UE 412 and possibly the additional information related to QoE configuration to the second base station 402-B in association with the cell change (e.g., as part of a UE Inactive AS Context of the UE 412) (steps 512 and 514).

[0083] Thereafter, the UE 412 transitions from the inactive state back to the connected state (step 516). Optionally, the UE 412 receives an indication from the RAN to either keep or discard the QoE configuration (step 518). Note that the indication of step 518 may be received either before or after the UE 412 transitions from the inactive state back to the connected state. For instance, in the event of a cell change to the new cell served by the second base station 402-B, the second base station 402-B may provide an indication to the UE 412 to either keep or discard the QoE configuration, as described above.

[0084] When transitioning back to the connected state, the UE 412 keeps or discards the QoE configuration, as described above (step 520). For example, in one embodiment, the UE 412 keeps the QoE configuration. In another embodiment, the UE 412 keeps the QoE configuration unless the base station to which it is resuming (e.g., the second base station 402-B in case of a cell change or the first base station 402-A in the case of no cell change) indicates that the UE 412 is to discard the QoE configuration. In another embodiment, the UE 412 discards the QoE configuration unless the UE 412 has received an indication that the UE 412 is to store the QoE measurements. In yet another embodiment, the UE 412 discards the QoE configuration unless the base station to which it is resuming (e.g., the second base station 402-B in case of a cell change or the first base station 402-A in the case of no cell change) indicates that the UE 412 is to keep the QoE configuration.

[0085] When the QoE configuration is kept, the UE 412 performs QoE measurement and reporting in accordance with the QoE configuration (step 522). Note that, in one embodiment, the UE 412 performs the QoE measurement and reporting subject to one or more criteria (e.g., subject to the cell in which the UE 402 transitions back to the connected state being within the applicable area for the QoE configuration, as described above).

[0086] Example Implementation: As in some embodiments described herein, the UE 412 stores the QoE configuration when entering RRC_INACTIVE. Below is an example implementation of this embodiment shown as a modification to 3GPP TS 38.331 showing that the UE stores the QoE configuration. Changes are emphasized with bold lettering and underlining.

********** START MODIFICATION OF 3GPP TS 38.331 ********** 5.3.8.3 Reception of the RRCRelease by the UE

The UE shall:

1> delay the following actions defined in this sub-clause 60 ms from the moment the

RRCRelease message was received or optionally when lower layers indicate that the receipt of the RRCRelease message has been successfully acknowledged, whichever is earlier; l>stop timer T380, if running; l>stop timer T320, if running; l>if the AS security is not activated:

2> ignore any field included in RRCRelease message except waitTime

2> perform the actions upon going to RRC IDLE as specified in 5.3.11 with the release cause 'other' upon which the procedure ends;

1> if the RRCRelease message includes redirectedCarrierlnfo indicating redirection to eutra: 2> if cnType is included:

3> after the cell selection, indicate the available CN Type(s) and the received cnType to upper layers;

NOTE: Handling the case if the E-UTRA cell selected after the redirection does not support the core network type specified by the cnType, is up to EE implementation.

1> if the RRCRelease message includes the cellReselectionPriorities.

2> store the cell reselection priority information provided by the cellReselectionPriorities ;

2> if the t320 is included:

3> start timer T320, with the timer value set according to the value of t320 ; l>else:

2> apply the cell reselection priority information broadcast in the system information;

1> if deprioritisationReq is included:

2> start or restart timer T325 with the timer value set to the deprioritisationTimer signalled; 2> store the deprioritisationReq until T325 expiry;

1> if the RRCRelease includes suspendConfig :

2> apply the received suspendConfig ;

2> reset MAC and release the default MAC Cell Group configuration, if any;

2> re-establish RLC entities for SRB1;

2> if the RRCRelease message with suspendConfig was received in response to an RRCResumeRe quest or an RRCResumeRequestT.

3> stop the timer T319 if running;

3>in the stored EE Inactive AS context: 4> replace the K_gNB and KRRCin_t keys with the current K_gNB and KRRCin_t keys;

4> replace the C-RNTI with the temporary C-RNTI in the cell the UE has received the RRCRelease message;

4> replace the cellldentity with the cellldentity of the cell the UE has received the RRCRelease message;

4> replace the physical cell identity with the physical cell identity of the cell the UE has received the RRCRelease message;

2> else:

3> store in the UE Inactive AS Context the current K_gNB and K_RRCintkeys, the ROHC state, the stored QoS flow to DRB mapping rules, the OoE configuration, the C- RNTI used in the source PCell, the cellldentity and the physical cell identity of the source PCell, and all other parameters configured except for the ones within ReconfigurationWithSync and servingCellConfigCommonSIB ;

2> suspend all SRB(s) and DRB(s), except SRBO;

2> indicate PDCP suspend to lower layers of all DRBs;

2> if the t380 is included:

3> start timer T380, with the timer value set to t380 ;

2> if the RRCRelease message is including the waitTime :

3> start timer T302 with the value set to the waitTime ;

3> inform upper layers that access barring is applicable for all access categories except categories O' and '2';

2> if T390 is running:

3>stop timer T390 for all access categories;

3>perform the actions as specified in 5.3.14.4;

2> indicate the suspension of the RRC connection to upper layers;

2> enter RRC INACTIVE and perform cell selection as specified in TS 38.304 [20]; l>else

2> perform the actions upon going to RRC IDLE as specified in 5.3.11, with the release cause 'other'.

In the RRCResume message, new information elements related to QoE measurements and applicable for the new gNB may be added as described above:

RRCResume

The RRCResume message is used to resume the suspended RRC connection. Signalling radio bearer: SRB1 RLC-SAP: AM Logical channel: DCCH Direction: Network to UE

RRCResume message

— ASNlSTART

— TAG-RRCRESUME-START

RRCResume ::= SEQUENCE { rrc-Transactionldentif ier RRC- Transactionldentifier , criticalExtensions CHOICE { rrcResume RRCResume-IEs, criticalExtensions Future SEQUENCE {}

}

RRCResume-IEs ::= SEQUENCE { radioBearerConfig RadioBearerConfig OPTIONAL, — Need M masterCellGroup OCTET STRING (CONTAINING CellGroupConfig) OPTIONAL, — Need

M measConfig MeasConf ig OPTIONAL, — Need M fullConfig ENUMERATED {true} OPTIONAL, — Need N lateNonCriticalExtension OCTET STRING

OPTIONAL, nonCriticalExtension RRCResume-vl560-IEs

OPTIONAL

}

RRCResume-vl560-IEs ::= SEQUENCE { radioBearerConfig2 OCTET STRING (CONTAINING RadioBearerConfig) OPTIONAL, — Need

M sk-Counter SK-Counter OPTIONAL, — Need N nonCriticalExtension SEQUENCE{}

OPTIONAL

}

RRCResume-vl7xy-IEs ::^: SEQUENCE { withinAreaQOE ENUMERATED {true} OPTIONAL,

— Need M rrcSegmentAllowed ENUMERATED {true} OPTIONAL,

— Need M goeReportingAllowed ENUMERATED {true} OPTIONAL, — Need M resumeQoeConfig_ ENUMERATED {true}_

OPTIONAL, — Need M nonCriticalExtension_ SEQUENCE {} OPTIONAL

TAG-RRCRESUME-STOP

ASN1STOP

END MODIFICATION OF 3GPP TS 38.331

[0087] Or if the UE 412 resumes in LTE:

********** START MODIFICATION OF 3GPP TS 36.331 (V15.9.0) **********

RRCConnectionResume

The RRCConnectionResume message is used to resume the suspended RRC connection. Signalling radio bearer: SRB1 RLC-SAP: AM Logical channel: DCCH Direction: E-UTRAN to UE

RRCConnectionResume message

— ASN1START

RRCConnectionResume-rl3 ::= SEQUENCE { rrc-Transactionldentifier RRC-Trans actionldentifier, criticalExtensions CHOICE { cl CHOICE { rrcConnectionResume-rl3 RRCConnectionResume-r13-

IEs, spare3 NULL, spare2 NULL, sparel NULL

}, criticalExtens ionsFuture SEQUENCE {}

}

RRCConnectionResume-rl3-IEs ::= SEQUENCE { radioResourceConfigDedicated-rl3

RadioResourceConfigDedicated OPTIONAL, -- Need ON nextHopChainingCount-rl3 NextHopChainingCount, measConfig-rl3 MeasConfig OPTIONAL, — Need ON antennaInfoDedicatedPCell-rl3 AntennaInfoDedicated-vlOiO OPTIONAL, — Need ON drb-ContinueROHC-rl3 ENUMERATED {true} OPTIONAL, — Need OP lateNonCriticalExtension OCTET STRING OPTIONAL, rrcConnectionResume-vl430-IEs RRCConnectionResume-vl430- IEs OPTIONAL }

RRCConnectionResume-vl430-IEs ::= SEQUENCE { otherConfig-rl4 OtherConf ig-r9

OPTIONAL, — Need ON rrcConnectionResume-vl510-IEs RRCConnectionResume-vl510-IEs OPTIONAL

RRCConnectionResume-vl510-IEs ::= SEQUENCE { sk-Counter-rl5 INTEGER (0.. 65535)

OPTIONAL, — Need ON nr-RadioBearerConfigl-rl5 OCTET STRING

OPTIONAL, — Need ON nr-RadioBearerConfig2-rl5 OCTET STRING

OPTIONAL, — Need ON nonCriticalExtension RRCConnectionResume-vl530-IEs

OPTIONAL

RRCConnectionResume-vl530-IEs ::= SEQUENCE { fullConfig-rl5 ENUMERATED {true}

OPTIONAL, — Need ON nonCriticalExtension SEQUENCE {}

OPTIONAL

RRCConnectionResume-yl7xy-IEs ::= SEQUENCE {

_ withinArea_ ENUMERATED {true}_

OPTIONAL, — Need ON rrcSegmentAllowed_ ENUMERATED {true}_

OPTIONAL, — Need ON qoeReportingAllowed_ ENUMERATED {true}_

OPTIONAL, — Need ON resumeQoeConfig_ ENUMERATED {true}_

OPTIONAL, . Need M nonCrTtTcaiExtensTon _ SEQUENCE {}_ OPTIONAL

ASN1STOP

RRCConnectionResume field descriptions

I drb-ContinueROHC j This field indicates whether to continue or reset the header compression protocol context j ! for the DRBs configured with EUTRA PDCP and the header compression protocol.

! Presence of the field indicates that the header compression protocol context continues j while absence indicates that the header compression protocol context is reset. j fullConfig j Indicates that the full configuration option is applicable for the RRCConnectionResume ! message.

I aoeReportingAllowed

I Indicates whether QoE reporting is allowed in the gNB or not.

! nr-RadioBearerConfig1, nr-RadioBearerConfig2 j Includes the NR RadioBearerConfig IE as specified in TS 38.331 [82] The field includes j I the configuration of RBs configured with NR PDCP. j resumeQoeConfiq

! Indicates whether the UE shall resume the QoE measurement configuration.

I rrcSeqmentationAllowedQoE

I Indicates whether RRC segmentation of QoE report files is allowed or not.

! sk-Counter

\ A one-shot counter used upon initial configuration of S-KQNB as well as upon refresh of I S-KgNB. E-UTRAN provides this field when the UE is configured with an (SN-terminated) | I RB using S-KgNB. j withinAreaQoE Indicates whether the cell is within the area of QoE measurements or not.

********** _END MODIFICATION OF 3GPP TS 36.331 (V15.9.0) **********

[0088] Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram of a radio access node 600 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Optional features are represented by dashed boxes. The radio access node 600 may be, for example, a base station 402 or 406 or a network node that implements all or part of the functionality of the base station 402 or gNB described herein. As illustrated, the radio access node 600 includes a control system 602 that includes one or more processors 604 (e.g., Central Processing Units (CPUs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and/or the like), memory 606, and a network interface 608. The one or more processors 604 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. In addition, the radio access node 600 may include one or more radio units 610 that each includes one or more transmitters 612 and one or more receivers 614 coupled to one or more antennas 616. The radio units 610 may be referred to or be part of radio interface circuitry. In some embodiments, the radio unit(s) 610 is external to the control system 602 and connected to the control system 602 via, e.g., a wired connection (e.g., an optical cable). Flowever, in some other embodiments, the radio unit(s) 610 and potentially the antenna(s) 616 are integrated together with the control system 602.

The one or more processors 604 operate to provide one or more functions of a radio access node 600 as described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a gNB, eNB, radio access node 402 as described herein). In some embodiments, the function(s) are implemented in software that is stored, e.g., in the memory 606 and executed by the one or more processors 604.

[0089] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a virtualized embodiment of the radio access node 600 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is equally applicable to other types of network nodes. Further, other types of network nodes may have similar virtualized architectures. Again, optional features are represented by dashed boxes.

[0090] As used herein, a "virtualized" radio access node is an implementation of the radio access node 600 in which at least a portion of the functionality of the radio access node 600 is implemented as a virtual component(s) (e.g., via a virtual machine(s) executing on a physical processing node(s) in a network(s)). As illustrated, in this example, the radio access node 600 may include the control system 602 and/or the one or more radio units 610, as described above. The control system 602 may be connected to the radio unit(s) 610 via, for example, an optical cable or the like. The radio access node 600 includes one or more processing nodes 700 coupled to or included as part of a network(s) 702. If present, the control system 602 or the radio unit(s) are connected to the processing node(s) 700 via the network 702. Each processing node 700 includes one or more processors 704 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), memory 706, and a network interface 708.

[0091] In this example, functions 710 of the radio access node 600 described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a gNB, eNB, radio access node 402 as described herein) are implemented at the one or more processing nodes 700 or distributed across the one or more processing nodes 700 and the control system 602 and/or the radio unit(s) 610 in any desired manner. In some particular embodiments, some or all of the functions 710 of the radio access node 600 described herein are implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in a virtual environ ment(s) hosted by the processing node(s) 700. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, additional signaling or communication between the processing node(s) 700 and the control system 602 is used in order to carry out at least some of the desired functions 710. Notably, in some embodiments, the control system 602 may not be included, in which case the radio unit(s) 610 communicate directly with the processing node(s) 700 via an appropriate network interface(s).

[0092] In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of radio access node 600 or a node (e.g., a processing node 700) implementing one or more of the functions 710 of the radio access node 600 (e.g., one or more functions of a gNB, eNB, radio access node 402 as described herein) in a virtual environment according to any of the embodiments described herein is provided. In some embodiments, a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).

[0093] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of the radio access node 600 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The radio access node 600 includes one or more modules 800, each of which is implemented in software. The module(s) 800 provide the functionality of the radio access node 600 described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a gNB, eNB, radio access node 402 as described herein). This discussion is equally applicable to the processing node 700 of Figure 7 where the modules 800 may be implemented at one of the processing nodes 700 or distributed across multiple processing nodes 700 and/or distributed across the processing node(s) 700 and the control system 602.

[0094] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication device 900 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the wireless communication device 900 includes one or more processors 902 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), memory 904, and one or more transceivers 906 each including one or more transmitters 908 and one or more receivers 910 coupled to one or more antennas 912. The transceiver(s) 906 includes radio-front end circuitry connected to the antenna(s) 912 that is configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna(s) 912 and the processor(s) 902, as will be appreciated by on of ordinary skill in the art. The processors 902 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. The transceivers 906 are also referred to herein as radio circuitry. In some embodiments, the functionality of the wireless communication device 900 described above (e.g., one or more functions of UE, UE 412, or wireless communication device 412 as described herein) may be fully or partially implemented in software that is, e.g., stored in the memory 904 and executed by the processor(s) 902. Note that the wireless communication device 900 may include additional components not illustrated in Figure 9 such as, e.g., one or more user interface components (e.g., an input/output interface including a display, buttons, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker(s), and/or the like and/or any other components for allowing input of information into the wireless communication device 900 and/or allowing output of information from the wireless communication device 900), a power supply (e.g., a battery and associated power circuitry), etc.

[0095] In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of the wireless communication device 900 according to any of the embodiments described herein (e.g., one or more functions of UE, UE 412, or wireless communication device 412 as described herein) is provided. In some embodiments, a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).

[0096] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of the wireless communication device 900 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless communication device 900 includes one or more modules 1000, each of which is implemented in software. The module(s) 1000 provide the functionality of the wireless communication device 900 described herein (e.g., one or more functions of UE, UE 412, or wireless communication device 412 as described herein).

[0097] Any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual apparatuses. Each virtual apparatus may comprise a number of these functional units. These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include Digital Signal Processor (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unit to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0098] While processes in the figures may show a particular order of operations performed by certain embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that such order is exemplary (e.g., alternative embodiments may perform the operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, etc.).

[0099] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure are as follows:

[0100] Embodiment 1: A method performed by a wireless communication device (412) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the method comprising: receiving (500) a QoE measurement configuration while in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; storing (506) the QoE measurement configuration; transitioning (508) to the inactive state; and continuing (508) to store the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning (508) to the inactive state.

[0101] Embodiment 2: The method of embodiment 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; and either continuing (520) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state or discarding (520) the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state.

[0102] Embodiment 3: The method of embodiment 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; and continuing (520) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state.

[0103] Embodiment 4: The method of embodiment 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; (e.g., prior to transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state), receiving (518) an indication from a radio access node (402) that serves a cell in which the wireless device (518) is transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state, the indication being either an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration or an indication (e.g., implicit or explicit indication) to discard the QoE measurement configuration; and either continuing (520) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state or discarding (520) the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state, in accordance with the received indication.

[0104] Embodiment 4A: The method of embodiment 4 wherein the indication is an indication that, when present, indicates that the UE is to keep the configuration and, when absent, implicitly indicates that the UE is to discard the configuration.

[0105] Embodiment 5: The method of embodiment 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; receiving (518) an indication from a radio access node (402) that serves a cell in which the wireless device (518) is transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state, the indication being an indication that the radio access node (402) supports QoE measurements; and continuing (520) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state, in accordance with the received indication.

[0106] Embodiment 6: The method of embodiment 5 further comprising receiving (518) the indication from the radio access node (402).

[0107] Embodiment 7: The method of embodiment 5 or 6 wherein the indication is comprised in an RRC Resume message or a RRC Connection Resume message.

[0108] Embodiment 8: The method of embodiment 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; and discarding (520) the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state.

[0109] Embodiment 9: The method of embodiment 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; and discarding (520) the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state unless the wireless communication device (412) has received an indication that the UE is to store the QoE measurements. [0110] Embodiment 9A: The method of embodiment 9 wherein the indication that the UE is to store the QoE measurements is an indication that a radio access node (402) that serves a cell in which the wireless device (518) is transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state supports or has enabled QoE measurements. [0111] Embodiment 10: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 9 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state; and either continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state or discarding (511) the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

[0112] Embodiment 11: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 9 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state; and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

[0113] Embodiment 12: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 9 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state; and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state, subject to one or more criteria.

[0114] Embodiment 13: The method of embodiment 12 wherein the one or more criteria comprises a criterion that the wireless communication device (412) has received an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon a cell change.

[0115] Embodiment 14: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 9 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change; and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

[0116] Embodiment 15: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 9 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change; and discarding (511) the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

[0117] Embodiment 16: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 9 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change; and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state, subject to one or more criteria.

[0118] Embodiment 17: The method of embodiment 16 wherein the one or more criteria comprises a criterion that the wireless communication device (412) has received an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon a cell change to a cell of a different cell type (e.g., a cell of a different RAT).

[0119] Embodiment 18: The method of any one of embodiments 1 - 4, 10 - 14, 16, and 17, wherein the wireless communication device (412) continues to store the QoE configuration after transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, and the method further comprises performing (522) QoE measurement and reporting in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration.

[0120] Embodiment 19: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 18 wherein the connected state is RRC_CONNECTED and the inactive state is RRC_INACTIVE. [0121] Embodiment 20: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 19 wherein receiving (500) the QoE measurement configuration comprises receiving (500) the QoE measurement configuration in an RRC Release message.

[0122] Embodiment 21: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 20 wherein storing (506) the QoE measurement configuration comprises storing (506) the QoE measurement configuration in a UE Inactive AS Context of the wireless communication device (412).

[0123] Embodiment 22: A wireless communication device (412) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the wireless communication device (412) adapted to perform the method of any one of embodiments 1 to 21. [0124] Embodiment 23: A wireless communication device (412; 900) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the wireless communication device (412) comprising: one or more transmitters (908); one or more receivers (910); and processing circuitry (902) associated with the one or more transmitters (908) and the one or more receivers (910), the processing circuity (902) configured to cause the wireless communication device (412) to perform the method of any one of embodiments 1 to 21.

[0125] Embodiment 24: A method performed by a radio access node (402) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the method comprising: transmitting (500), to a wireless communication device (412), a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device (412) in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; and transmitting (504), to the wireless communication device (412), one or more indications comprising: (a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state; (b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state; (c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state; or (d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

[0126] Embodiment 25: A radio access node (402) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the radio access node (402) adapted to: transmit (500), to a wireless communication device (412), a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device (412) in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; and transmit (504), to the wireless communication device (412), one or more indications comprising: (a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state; (b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state; (c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state; or (d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

[0127] Embodiment 26: A radio access node (402; 600) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the radio access node (402) comprising processing circuitry (604; 704) configured to cause the radio access node (402; 600) to: transmit (500), to a wireless communication device (412), a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device (412) in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; and transmit (504), to the wireless communication device (412), one or more indications comprising: (a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state; (b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state; (c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state; or (d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

[0128] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method performed by a wireless communication device (412) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the method comprising: receiving (500) a QoE measurement configuration while in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; storing (506) the QoE measurement configuration; transitioning (508) to the inactive state; and continuing (508) to store the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning (508) to the inactive state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; and either continuing (520) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state or discarding (520) the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; and continuing (520) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; receiving (518) an indication from a radio access node (402) that serves a cell in which the wireless device (518) is transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state, the indication being either an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration or an indication to discard the QoE measurement configuration; and either continuing (520) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state or discarding (520) the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state, in accordance with the received indication.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the indication is an indication that, when present, indicates that the wireless communication device (412) is to keep the configuration and, when absent, implicitly indicates that the wireless communication device (412) is to discard the configuration.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; receiving (518) an indication from a radio access node (402) that serves a cell in which the wireless device (518) is transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state, the indication being an indication that the radio access node (402) supports QoE measurements; and continuing (520) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state, in accordance with the received indication.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving (518) the indication from the radio access node (402).

8. The method of claim 6 or 7 wherein the indication is comprised in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, Resume message or a RRC Connection Resume message.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; and discarding (520) the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state; and discarding (520) the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state unless the wireless communication device (412) has received an indication that the wireless communication device (412) is to store the QoE measurements.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the indication that the wireless communication device (412) is to store the QoE measurements is an indication that a radio access node (402) that serves a cell in which the wireless communication device (412) is transitioning (516) back to the connected state from the inactive state supports or has enabled QoE measurements.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state; and either continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state or discarding (511) the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state; and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing

(510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

14. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state; and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing

(510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state, subject to one or more criteria.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more criteria comprises a criterion that the wireless communication device (412) has received an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon a cell change.

16. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change; and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

17. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change; and discarding (511) the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state.

18. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 further comprising: performing (510) a cell change to a new cell while in the inactive state, the new cell being of a different cell type than a cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change; and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration upon performing (510) the cell change to the new cell while in the inactive state, subject to one or more criteria.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or more criteria comprises a criterion that the wireless communication device (412) has received an indication to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon a cell change to a cell of a different cell type.

20. The method of claim 18 or 19 wherein the cell of a different type is a cell of a different radio access technology than the cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change, a cell of a different Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN, than that of the cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change, or a cell of another managing entity than the cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or more criteria comprises a criterion that the wireless communication device (412) can keep the QoE measurement configuration if the wireless communication device (412) performs an inter-radio access technology, RAT, cell change as long as the wireless communication device (412) does not transfer to a connected state in the new cell after the inter-RAT cell change.

22. The method of claim 16 or 18 wherein the cell of the wireless communication device (412) prior to the cell change is a New Radio, NR, cell, the new cell is a cell of another radio access technology, and continuing (511) to store the QoE measurement configuration comprises maintaining (511) the QoE measurement configuration within an access stratum, AS, context specific to NR.

23. The method of any one of claims 1 - 4, 12 - 16, 18, and 19, wherein the wireless communication device (412) continues to store the QoE configuration after transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state, and the method further comprises performing (522) QoE measurement and reporting in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state.

24. The method of any one of claims 1 - 4, 12 - 16, 18, and 19, further comprising: obtaining (502) additional information related to the QoE configuration, the additional information comprising information that indicates an area in which the QoE configuration is applicable; and performing (522) QoE measurement and reporting in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state if a cell to which the wireless communication device (412) connects when transitioning back to the connected state from the inactive state is within the area in which the QoE configuration is applicable, otherwise refraining from performing QoE measurement and reporting in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration.

25. The method of any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein the connected state is RRC_CONNECTED and the inactive state is RRC_IN ACTIVE.

26. The method of any one of claims 1 to 25 wherein receiving (500) the QoE measurement configuration comprises receiving (500) the QoE measurement configuration in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, Release message.

27. The method of any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein storing (506) the QoE measurement configuration comprises storing (506) the QoE measurement configuration in a User Equipment, UE, Inactive Access Stratum, AS, Context of the wireless communication device (412).

28. The method of any one of claims 1 to 27 further comprising performing at least some QoE measurements in accordance with the QoE measurement configuration while in the inactive state.

29. A wireless communication device (412) for handling of Quality of Experience,

QoE, measurement configurations, the wireless communication device (412) adapted to: receive (500) a QoE measurement configuration while in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; store (506) the QoE measurement configuration; transition (508) to the inactive state; and continue (508) to store the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning (508) to the inactive state.

30. The wireless communication device (412) of claim 29 wherein the wireless communication device (412) is further adapted to perform the method of any one of claims 2 to 28.

31. A wireless communication device (412; 900) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the wireless communication device (412) comprising: one or more transmitters (908); one or more receivers (910); and processing circuitry (902) associated with the one or more transmitters (908) and the one or more receivers (910), the processing circuity (902) configured to cause the wireless communication device (412; 900) to: receive (500) a QoE measurement configuration while in a connected state or when being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; store (506) the QoE measurement configuration; transition (508) to the inactive state; and continue (508) to store the QoE measurement configuration after transitioning (508) to the inactive state.

32. The wireless communication device (412; 900) of claim 31 wherein the processing circuitry (902) is further configured to cause the wireless communication device (412; 900) to perform the method of any one of claims 2 to 28.

33. A method performed by a radio access node (402) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the method comprising: transmitting (500), to a wireless communication device (412), a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device (412) in a connected state or when the wireless communication device (412) is being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; and transmitting (504), to the wireless communication device (412), one or more indications comprising: a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state; b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state; c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state; or d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising providing (512) the QoE configuration to another radio access node (402-B) in association with a cell change of the wireless communication device (412).

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising providing (512) the QoE configuration to another radio access node (402-B) in association with a cell change of the wireless communication device (412) as part of a User Equipment, UE, inactive access stratum, AS, context of the wireless communication device (412).

36. A radio access node (402) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the radio access node (402) adapted to: transmit (500), to a wireless communication device (412), a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device (412) in a connected state or when the wireless communication device (412) is being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; and transmit (504), to the wireless communication device (412), one or more indications comprising: a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state; b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state; c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state; or d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

37. The radio access node (402) of claim 36 wherein the radio access node (412) is further adapted to provide (512) the QoE configuration to another radio access node (402-B) in association with a cell change of the wireless communication device (412).

38. A radio access node (402; 600) for handling of Quality of Experience, QoE, measurement configurations, the radio access node (402) comprising processing circuitry (604; 704) configured to cause the radio access node (402; 600) to: transmit (500), to a wireless communication device (412), a QoE measurement configuration while the wireless communication device (412) in a connected state or when the wireless communication device (412) is being instructed to transition from the connected state to an inactive state; and transmit (504), to the wireless communication device (412), one or more indications comprising: a) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon transitioning to the inactive state; b) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change while in the inactive state; c) an indication of whether the wireless communication device (412) is to continue to store the QoE measurement configuration upon cell change to a cell of a different cell type while in the inactive state; or d) a combination of any two or more of (a) - (c).

39. The radio access node (402) of claim 38 wherein the processing circuitry (604; 704) is further configured to cause the radio access node (402; 600) to provide (512) the QoE configuration to another radio access node (402-B) in association with a cell change of the wireless communication device (412).