WO2022165669A1

WO2022165669A1 - Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for measurement gap requirement information signaling

Info

Publication number: WO2022165669A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/075071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ping Yuan; Jing He; Tero Henttonen
Original assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co., Ltd.; Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy; Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2021-02-03
Filing date: 2021-02-03
Publication date: 2022-08-11
Also published as: CN116848888A

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for measurement gap requirement information signaling. An example method may include: receiving, at a mobile station and from at least one network apparatus for managing measurement gap among a plurality of network apparatuses in communication with the mobile station, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; detecting, at the mobile station, a change of the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the configuration information; and transmitting, at the mobile station and to a first network apparatus of the at least one network apparatus. Related apparatuses and computer readable media are also disclosed.

Description

METHODS, APPARATUSES, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR MEASUREMENT GAP REQUIREMENT INFORMATION SIGNALING

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various example embodiments relate to methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for measurement gap requirement information signaling.

BACKGROUND

In a telecommunication system or network, such as new radio (NR or 5G) system or long term evolution (LTE) system, for example for mobile station or user equipment (UE) in LTE standalone (SA) to measure NR targets or UE in NR SA to measure NR targets, network (NW) may configure the UE to report measurement gap requirement of target bands, and may configure measurement gaps for the UE in response to an indication from the UE that the UE needs for the measurement gaps.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, disclosed is an apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory, where the at least one memory may include computer program code, and the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus as a mobile station to perform: receiving, from at least one network apparatus for managing measurement gap among a plurality of network apparatuses in communication with the mobile station, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; detecting a change of the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the configuration information; and transmitting, to a first network apparatus of the at least one network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the first information comprises the measurement gap requirement or a second indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement changes.

In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from the first network apparatus, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement; and transmitting, to the first network apparatus, the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the second information.

In some example embodiments, the at least one network apparatus further comprises a second network apparatus, and the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: determining, at the mobile station, the measurement gap requirement information for both the first network apparatus and the second apparatus; and transmitting, at the mobile station and to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first information has been transmitted to the first network apparatus.

In a second aspect, disclosed is a method including: receiving, at a mobile station and from at least one network apparatus for managing measurement gap among a plurality of network apparatuses in communication with the mobile station, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; detecting, at the mobile station, a change of the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the configuration information; and transmitting, at the mobile station and to a first network apparatus of the at least one network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving, at the mobile station and from the first network apparatus, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement; and transmitting, at the mobile station and to the first network apparatus, the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the second information.

In some example embodiments, the at least one network apparatus further comprises a second network apparatus, and the method further comprises: determining, at the mobile station, the measurement gap requirement information for both the first network apparatus and the second apparatus; and transmitting, at the mobile station and to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first information has been transmitted to the first network apparatus.

In a third aspect, disclosed is an apparatus as a at least a part of a mobile station. The apparatus comprises: means for receiving, from at least one network apparatus for managing measurement gap among a plurality of network apparatuses in communication with the mobile station, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; means for detecting a change of the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the configuration information; and means for transmitting, to a first network apparatus of the at least one network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first network apparatus, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement; and means for transmitting, to the first network apparatus, the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the second information.

In some example embodiments, the at least one network apparatus further comprises a second network apparatus, and the apparatus further comprises: means for determining the measurement gap requirement information for both the first network apparatus and the second apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first information has been transmitted to the first network apparatus.

In a fourth aspect, disclosed is a computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus as a mobile station to perform: receiving, from at least one network apparatus for managing measurement gap among a plurality of network apparatuses in communication with the mobile station, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; detecting a change of the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the configuration information; and transmitting, to a first network apparatus of the at least one network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from the first network apparatus, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement; and transmitting, to the first network apparatus, the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the second information.

In some example embodiments, the at least one network apparatus further comprises a second network apparatus, and the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: determining, at the mobile station, the measurement gap requirement information for both the first network apparatus and the second apparatus; and transmitting, at the mobile station and to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first information has been transmitted to the first network apparatus.

In a fifth aspect, disclosed is an apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory, where the at least one memory may include computer program code, and the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus as a first network apparatus for managing measurement gap to perform: transmitting, to a mobile station in communication with the first network apparatus, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; and receiving first information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station, the first information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting, to the mobile station, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement in a case where the first information comprises the second indication.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, and the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from the mobile station, information associated with an indication that the information associated with the measurement gap requirement has been transmitted to the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from the mobile station, and the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from a second network apparatus in communication with the mobile station, information associated with a request to obtain the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from the mobile station, and the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting the first information to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting, to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first network apparatus expects to transmit the configuration information on behalf of the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the third information comprises a first target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the first network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the third information comprises information associated with a timer for blocking the second network apparatus to transmit the configuration information to the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from the second network apparatus, fourth information associated with a response to the third information.

In some example embodiments, the fourth information comprises a second target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the second network apparatus.

In a sixth aspect, disclosed is a method comprising: transmitting, at a first network apparatus for managing measurement gap and to a mobile station in communication with the first network apparatus, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; and receiving, at the first network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station, the first information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: transmitting, at the first network apparatus and to the mobile station, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement in a case where the first information comprises the second indication.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, and the method further comprises: receiving, at the first network apparatus and from the mobile station, information associated with an indication that the information associated with the measurement gap requirement has been transmitted to the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from the mobile station, and the method further comprises: receiving, at the first network apparatus and from a second network apparatus in communication with the mobile station, information associated with a request to obtain the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from the mobile station, and the method further comprises: transmitting, at the first network apparatus, the first information to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: transmitting, at the first network apparatus and to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first network apparatus expects to transmit the configuration information on behalf of the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving, at the first network apparatus and from the second network apparatus, fourth information associated with a response to the third information.

In a seventh aspect, disclosed is an apparatus as a first network apparatus for managing measurement gap. The apparatus comprises: means for transmitting, to a mobile station in communication with the first network apparatus, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; and means for receiving first information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station, the first information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for transmitting, to the mobile station, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement in a case where the first information comprises the second indication.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, and the apparatus comprises: means for receiving, from the mobile station, information associated with an indication that the information associated with the measurement gap requirement has been transmitted to the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from the mobile station, and the apparatus comprises: means for receiving, from a second network apparatus in communication with the mobile station, information associated with a request to obtain the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from the mobile station, and the apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting the first information to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for transmitting, to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first network apparatus expects to transmit the configuration information on behalf of the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus comprises: means for receiving, from the second network apparatus, fourth information associated with a response to the third information.

In an eighth aspect, disclosed is a computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus as a first network apparatus for managing measurement gap to perform: transmitting, to a mobile station in communication with the first network apparatus, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; and receiving first information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station, the first information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting, to the mobile station, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement in a case where the first information comprises the second indication.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, and the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from the mobile station, information associated with an indication that the information associated with the measurement gap requirement has been transmitted to the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from the mobile station, and the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from a second network apparatus in communication with the mobile station, information associated with a request to obtain the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the first information is received from the mobile station, and the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting the first information to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting, to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first network apparatus expects to transmit the configuration information on behalf of the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from the second network apparatus, fourth information associated with a response to the third information.

In a ninth aspect, disclosed is an apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory, where the at least one memory may include computer program code, and the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus as a first network apparatus in communication with a mobile station to perform: transmitting, to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, first information for triggering the second network apparatus to request second information associated with a measurement gap requirement of the mobile station on behalf of the first network apparatus, the second information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the second information comprises the measurement gap requirement or a second indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement changes.

In some example embodiments, the first information comprises an indication that the first network apparatus expects to obtain the second information.

In some example embodiments, the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from the second network apparatus, third information associate with an indication that the second network apparatus expects to request the measurement gap requirement on behalf of the first network apparatus; and receiving the second information from the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the third information comprises a first target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the third information comprises information associated with a timer for blocking the first network apparatus to request the second information.

In some example embodiments, the first information comprises a second target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the first network apparatus.

In a tenth aspect, disclosed is a method which may be performed in a first network apparatus in communication with a mobile station. The method comprises: transmitting, to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, first information for triggering the second network apparatus to request second information associated with a measurement gap requirement of the mobile station on behalf of the first network apparatus, the second information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving, from the second network apparatus, third information associate with an indication that the second network apparatus expects to request the measurement gap requirement on behalf of the first network apparatus; and receiving the second information from the second network apparatus.

In an eleventh aspect, disclosed is an apparatus as a first network apparatus in communication with a mobile station. The apparatus comprises: means for transmitting, to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, first information for triggering the second network apparatus to request second information associated with a measurement gap requirement of the mobile station on behalf of the first network apparatus, the second information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second network apparatus, third information associate with an indication that the second network apparatus expects to request the measurement gap requirement on behalf of the first network apparatus; and means for receiving the second information from the second network apparatus.

In a twelfth aspect, disclosed is a computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus as a first network apparatus in communication with a mobile station to perform: transmitting, to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, first information for triggering the second network apparatus to request second information associated with a measurement gap requirement of the mobile station on behalf of the first network apparatus, the second information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

In some example embodiments, the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, from the second network apparatus, third information associate with an indication that the second network apparatus expects to request the measurement gap requirement on behalf of the first network apparatus; and receiving the second information from the second network apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some example embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example method for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example apparatus for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example apparatus for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example method for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example apparatus for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example apparatus for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example method for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example apparatus for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example apparatus for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Whether UE could perform gapless measurement depends on many factors including current band combination and layer 1 (L1) parameters that may occupy some baseband resource (for example, number of multi-input-multi-output/MIMO layers) which are configured in downlink (DL) radio resource control (RRC) messages, such as RRCReconfiguration message as specified in 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) standards. Thus, for example, UE may dynamically report measurement gap requirement of target bands to NW via uplink (UL) RRC response messages, such as RRCReconfigurationComplete or RRCResumeComplete message as specified in 3GPP standards, for example by including an indication information (e.g. a field indicating “need for gap” ) in the RRC response messages.

Besides SA scenarios, an effective mechanism for measurement gap requirement information signaling is also expected for dual connectivity between two network nodes, for example between evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and NR nodes, or between two NR nodes, which may also be referred to as multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC) , including E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity (EN-DC) , next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity (NGEN-DC) , NR-E-UTRA dual connectivity (NE-DC) , NR-NR dual connectivity (NR-DC) , and so on. For example, for EN-DC, dynamically reporting measurement gap requirement may be expected to help some gapless UE avoiding LTE throughput drops (for example, avoiding 15%LTE throughput drops) .

In one or more example embodiments, among a plurality of NW nodes in communication with the UE in MR-DC, for example among two NW nodes including a master node (MN) and a secondary node (SN) in communication with the UE in MR-DC, one or more NW nodes for managing measurement gaps may request the UE to report measurement gap requirement, for example by transmitting configuration information associated with reporting measurement gap requirement to the UE. Correspondingly, in response to receiving one or more requests from the one or more NW nodes to report measurement gap requirement, the UE may report information associated with its measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the one or more NW nodes, to one NW node which has requested the UE to report the measurement gap requirement.

For example, for EN-DC or NGEN-DC where both MN and SN may manage measurement gaps for the UE, both MN and SN may request the UE to report measurement gap requirement. For example, if both the MN and the SN in EN-DC or NGEN-DC request the UE to report measurement gap requirement, the UE may transmit information associated with its measurement gap requirement to one of the MN and the SN, and the one of the MN and the SN, which has received information associated with measurement gap requirement of the UE, may transfer the received information to the other of the MN and the SN, for example via a message from SN to MN for transferring secondary cell group (SCG) radio configuration (e.g. CG-Config message as specified in 3GPP standards) , or via a message from MN to SN which may include additional information to assist the SN to set the SCG configuration (e.g. CG-ConfigInfo message as specified in 3GPP standards) .

For example, for NE-DC or NR-DC where only MN may manage measurement gaps for the UE, only MN may request the UE to report measurement gap requirement. For example, in a case where the SN in NE-DC or NR-DC expects the UE to report measurement gap requirement, , for example via the CG-Config message. Then, based on the indication from the SN, the SN may transmit an indication to the MN the MN may request the UE to report measurement gap requirement. In some example embodiments, the MN in NE-DC or NR-DC does not need to transfer the received information associated with measurement gap requirement of the UE to the SN.

In some example embodiments, in response to receiving configuration information associated with reporting measurement gap requirement, the UE may detect whether its measurement gap requirement has changed, for example due to the DL RRC messages (for example, the RRCReconfiguration message) carrying the configuration information associated with reporting measurement gap requirement, which may additionally include factors that may impact UE’s measurement gap requirement, such as band combinations and L1 parameters.

For example, the UE may determine its current measurement gap requirement of target bands based on the DL RRC messages carrying the configuration information associated with reporting measurement gap requirement, and may compare its current measurement gap requirement with its measurement gap requirement of the target bands which has been reported previously. For example, in a case where the UE detects that its current measurement gap requirement is the same as its previously reported measurement gap requirement, the UE may report an indication (e.g. a 1-bit indication) that measurement gap requirement remains unchanged, for example via UL RRC response messages such as RRCReconfigurationComplete or RRCResumeComplete. For example, in a case where the UE detects that the current measurement gap requirement is different from its previously reported measurement gap requirement, the UE may report the current measurement gap requirement or information (e.g. a 1-bit indication) to indicate that measurement gap requirement changes, for example via UL RRC response messages such as RRCReconfigurationComplete or RRCResumeComplete.

In some example embodiments, the UE may also detect autonomously, without receiving configuration information associated with reporting measurement gap requirement, whether its measurement gap requirement has changed. Then, for example in a case where the UE detects that the current measurement gap requirement is different from its previously reported measurement gap requirement, the UE may report its current measurement gap requirement or information (e.g. a 1-bit indication) to indicate that measurement gap requirement changes, for example via UL RRC response messages such as RRCReconfigurationComplete or RRCResumeComplete.

In some example embodiments, for example in a case where more than one NW node in communication with the UE may manage measurement gaps for the UE, the more than one NW node may negotiate with each other, so that at most one NW node (also referred to as a delegate herein) among the more than one NW node may request the UE to report information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the UE. Thus, potentially different changes of the measurement gap requirement of the UE due to possibly different DL RRC messages from both MN and SN may be reduced or avoided.

For example, in EN-DC or NGEN-DC, one of the MN and the SN, as delegate, may notify the other of the MN and the SN, for example via a flag included in the CG-ConfigInfo message from the MN to the SN or in the CG-Config message from the SN to the MN, that the delegate will request the UE to report the measurement gap requirement. For example, in response to receive such notification from the delegate, the other of the MN and the SN may be blocked to request the UE to report the measurement gap requirement, for example during a period of time. Then, for example, in a case where both the MN and the SN expect the UE to report measurement gap requirement, the delegate may transmit configuration information associated with reporting measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with both the MN and the SN, to the UE on behalf of both the MN and the SN, for example via DL RRC messages such as RRCReconfiguration. Further, the delegate may transfer the received information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the UE to the other of the MN and the SN.

In some example embodiments, for example in a case where more than one NW node in communication with the UE may manage measurement gaps for the UE and the UE receives more than one request from the more than one NW node, the UE may select one NW node from the more than one NW node to transmit information associated with the measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the more than one NW node, and may notify the other unselected NW node (s) among the more than one NW node that the information associated with the measurement gap requirement has been transmitted to the selected NW node. Further, the selected NW node may transfer the received information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the UE to the other unselected NW node (s) among the more than one NW node. Thus, for example, the UE may avoid reporting duplicated information in different RRC response messages.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment, where UE 101 is in communication with NW nodes (also shortened as nodes below) 102 and 103. For example, the node 102 may be one of the MN and SN in EN-DC or NGEN-DC, which currently expects the UE 101 to report the measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 102, and the node 103 may be the other of the MN and SN in EN-DC or NGEN-DC, which currently does not expect the UE 101 to report the measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 103. In another example, the node 102 may be the MN in NE-DC or NR-DC, and the node 103 may be the SN in NE-DC or NR-DC which does not manage measurement gaps and will not request the UE 101 to report the measurement gap requirement.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the node 102 may transmit configuration information 104, which is associated with reporting measurement gap requirement, to the UE 101 via an air interface of the node 102. For example, the configuration information 104 may be a field or information carried in a DL RRC message such as a RRCReconfiguration message, and may be used to configure or trigger the UE 101 to report measurement gap requirement of one or more target bands associated with the node 102 and/or node 103 (for example, in a case where the node 102 is the MN in NR-DC or NE-DC, or in a case where the node 102 is authorized in advance by the node 103 to request UE 101 to report measurement gap requirement, the target bands may be associated with at least one of the node 102 and the node 103, rather than only the node 102) . For example, information associated with the one or more target bands associated with the node 102 and/or node 103 may be included in the DL RRC message carrying the configuration information 104 or one or more target bands supported by UE 101. For example, the air interface of the node 102 may be associated with signal radio bearer 1 (SRB1) of MN in MR-DC in a case where the node 102 is the MN in MR-DC, or signal radio bearer 3 (SRB3) of SN in MR-DC in a case where the node 102 is the SN in MR-DC.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a case of receiving the configuration information 104 or in response to receiving the configuration information 104, the UE 101 may perform an operation 105 to detect whether its measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 102 and/or node 103 changes (for example due to the received DL RRC message including the configuration information 104) compared to its previous measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 102 and/or node 103 which has been reported to the node 102 last time.

Then, a procedure 106 may be performed between the UE 101 and the node 102, so that the UE 101 may report, to the node 102, information associated with measurement gap requirement of the UE 101. Depending on a detection result obtained in the operation 105, the information transmitted in the procedure 106 may include different contents. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, in a case where the UE 101 detects, in the operation 105, that the measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 102 and/or node 103 remains unchanged, in the procedure 106, the UE 101 may transmit information 201 indicating “no changes” to the node 102, for example via a UL RRC response message such as RRCReconfigurationComplete message or RRCResumeComplete message.

For example, in a case where the UE 101 detects in the operation 105 that the measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 102 and/or node 103 changes, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the procedure 106, the UE 101 may transmit its up-to-date measurement gap requirement 301 to the node 102, for example via a UL RRC response message such as RRCReconfigurationComplete message or RRCResumeComplete message.

In another example, in a case where the UE 101 detects in the operation 105 that the measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 102 and/or node 103 changes, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in the procedure 106, the UE 101 may transmit, to the node 102, information 401 indicating a change of the measurement gap requirement of the UE 101. Then, the node 102 may transmit, to the UE 101, a request 402 to query the measurement gap requirement of the UE 101, and the UE 101 may transmit the measurement gap requirement 301 to the node 102 in response to receiving the request 402 from the node 102.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment, where UE 501 is in communication with NW nodes (also shortened as nodes below) 502 and 503. For example, the node 502 may be a NW node such as the MN in NE-DC or NR-DC, and the node 503 may be a NW node such as the SN in NE-DC or NR-DC which does not manage measurement gaps and will not request the UE 501 to report the measurement gap requirement.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in a case where the node 503 expects the UE 501 to report measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 503, the node 503 may transmit an indication 504 (e.g. a one-bit indication) to the node 502 for managing the measurement gaps for the UE 501, for example via a message from SN to MN for transferring SCG radio configuration (e.g. CG-Config message) .

In response to receiving the indication 504 from the node 503, the node 502 may transmit configuration information 505, which is associated with reporting measurement gap requirement, to the UE 501. Similar to the configuration information 104, for example, the configuration information 505 may be a field or information carried in a DL RRC message such as a RRCReconfiguration message, and may be used to configure or trigger the UE 501 to report measurement gap requirement of one or more target bands associated with the node 503. For example, information associated with the one or more target bands associated with the node 503 may be included in the DL RRC message carrying the configuration information 505 or one or more target bands supported by UE 501.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in a case of receiving the configuration information 505 or in response to receiving the configuration information 505, the UE 501 may perform an operation 506 to detect whether its measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 503 changes (for example due to the received DL RRC message including the configuration information 505) compared to its previous measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 503 which has been reported to the node 502 last time.

Then, a procedure 507 may be performed between the UE 501 and the node 502, so that the UE 501 may report, to the node 502, information associated with measurement gap requirement of the UE 501 for target bands associated with the node 503. Depending on a detection result obtained in the operation 506, the information transmitted in the procedure 507 may include different contents. The procedure 507 may be similar to the procedure 106 which has been described above by means of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, details of which are thus not be repeated herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment, where UE 601 is in communication with NW nodes (also shortened as nodes below) 602 and 603, both of which may manage measurement gaps for the UE 601 and thus may request the UE 601 to report measurement gap requirement. For example, the node 602 may be one of the MN and the SN in EN-DC or NGEN-DC, and the node 603 may be the other of the MN and the SN in EN-DC or NGEN-DC.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the node 602 may transmit, to the node 603, information 604 including an indication that the node 602 transmits configuration information associated with reporting measurement gap requirement, so that the node 602 may become a delegate of the

nodes

602 and 603 for requesting the UE 601 to report measurement gap requirement.

For example, the information 604 may be transmitted from the node 602 to the node 603 via an inter-node message, for example via a message from MN to SN which may include additional information to assist the SN to set the SCG configuration (e.g. CG-ConfigInfo message) or via a message from SN to MN for transferring SCG radio configuration (e.g. CG-Config message) .

In an example, in addition to or in lieu of the indication, the information 604 may also include information associated with a timer for blocking the node 603 to request measurement gap requirement of the UE 601 before the timer expires.

In another example, the information 604 may also include a target band list associated with at least one of the

nodes

602 and 603. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in response to receiving the information 604, for example, the node 603 may check whether expected target bands of the node 603 have been included in the target band list of the information 604, and may transmit, to the node 602, a response 605 including one or more expected target bands of the node 603 which are not included in the target band list of the information 604. For example, the response 605 from the node 603 to the node 602 may be transmitted via an inter-node message such as CG-Config message from SN to MN or CG-ConfigInfo message from MN to SN.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the node 602 may transmit, to the UE 601, configuration information 606 which is associated with reporting measurement gap requirement of target bands of both

nodes

602 and 603. For example, the configuration information 606 may be a field or information carried in a DL RRC message such as a RRCReconfiguration message, and may be used to configure or trigger the UE 601 to report measurement gap requirement of one or more target bands associated with the

nodes

602 and 603. For example, information associated with the one or more target bands associated with the

nodes

602 and 603 may be determined by the node 602 (possibly also based on the response 605 from the node 603) , and may be included in the DL RRC message carrying the configuration information 606 or one or more target bands supported by UE 601.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in a case of receiving the configuration information 606 or in response to receiving the configuration information 606, the UE 601 may perform an operation 607 to detect whether its measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the

nodes

602 and 603 changes (for example due to the received DL RRC message including the configuration information 606) compared to its previous measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the

nodes

602 and 603 which has been reported to the node 602 last time, or to the node 603 last time for example in a case where the node 603 was the delegate of the

nodes

602 and 603 to request the UE 601 to report measurement gap requirement last time.

Then, a procedure 608 may be performed between the UE 601 and the node 602, so that the UE 601 may report, to the node 602, information associated with measurement gap requirement of the UE 601 for target bands associated with the

nodes

602 and 603. Depending on a detection result obtained in the operation 607, the information transmitted in the procedure 608 may include different contents. The procedure 608 may be similar to the procedure 106 which has been described above by means of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, details of which are thus not be repeated herein.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the node 602 may transmit, to the node 603, information 609 associated with the measurement gap requirement of the UE 601 for the target bands of the

nodes

602 and 603. For example, the information 609 may be transmitted from the node 602 to the node 603 via an inter-node message, such as CG-Config or CG-ConfigInfo message.

Through the inter-node coordination way as illustrated in FIG. 6, for example, potentially different changes of the measurement gap requirement of the UE due to possibly different DL RRC messages from different NW nodes may be reduced or avoided, and the UE may avoid reporting duplicated information in different RRC response messages.

FIG. 7 illustrates another example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment, where UE 701 is in communication with NW nodes (also shortened as nodes below) 702 and 703, both of which may manage measurement gaps for the UE 701 and thus may request the UE 701 to report measurement gap requirement. For example, the node 702 may be one of the MN and the SN in EN-DC or NGEN-DC, and the node 703 may be the other of the MN and the SN in EN-DC or NGEN-DC.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the node 702 transmits, to the UE 701, configuration information 704 associated with reporting measurement gap requirement of target bands of the node 702, and the node 703 transmits, to the UE 701, configuration information 705 associated with reporting measurement gap requirement of target bands of the node 703. In different example embodiments, the configuration information 704 and the configuration 705 may be transmitted in a single DL RRC message or in two separate DL RRC messages. For example, the RRCReconfiguration message from the SN may be transmitted to the UE 701 via signal radio bearer 3 (SRB3) of the SN, or may be embedded into the RRCReconfiguration message from the MN via signal radio bearer 1 (SRB1) of the MN.

For example, it is assumed that the node 702 requests the UE 701 to report measurement gap requirement for target bands X and Y, and the node 702 requests the UE 701 to report measurement gap requirement for target bands Y and Z. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7, in response to receiving the

configuration information

704 and 705, the UE 701 may perform an operation 706 to detects whether its measurement gap requirement for the target bands X, Y, and Z changes compared to its previously reported measurement gap requirement for the target bands X, Y, and Z.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the UE 701 selects the node 702 from the

nodes

702 and 703 to report information associated with its up-to-date measurement gap requirement for the target bands X, Y, and Z. Then, a procedure 707 may be performed between the UE 701 and the selected node 702, so that the UE 701 may report, to the selected node 702, information associated with measurement gap requirement of the UE 701 for target bands X, Y, and Z. Depending on a detection result obtained in the operation 706, the information transmitted in the procedure 707 may include different contents. The procedure 707 may be similar to the procedure 106 which has been described above by means of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, details of which are thus not be repeated herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the UE 701 may also transmit information 708 to the unselected node 703 to notify the node 703 that the information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the UE 701 for the target bands X, Y, and Z has been transmitted to the node 702. For example, the information 708 from the UE 701 to the node 703 may transmitted via an UL RRC response message such as a RRCReconfigurationComplete message or RRCResumeComplete message to the node 703. For example, the information 708 may be a 1-bit flag.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the node 702 may transfer, to the node 703, information 709 associated with the measurement gap requirement of the UE 701 for the target bands X, Y, and Z, which is received from the UE 701. For example, the information 709 may be transmitted from the node 702 to the node 703 via an inter-node message, such as CG-Config or CG-ConfigInfo message.

Through the UE coordinated mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 7, for example, potentially different changes of the measurement gap requirement of the UE due to possibly different DL RRC messages from different NW nodes may be avoided, and the UE may avoid reporting duplicated information in different RRC response messages.

In the examples as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, only NW node (s) capable of managing measurement gaps may request UE to report measurement gap requirement of the UE. In another example, a NW node for managing measurement gaps may authorize or trigger another NW node, which does not manage measurement gaps, to request UE to report measurement gap requirement of the UE.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example of measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment, where UE 801 is in communication with NW nodes (also shortened as nodes below) 802 and 803. For example, the node 802 may be a NW node such as the SN in NE-DC or NR-DC which does not manage measurement gaps, and the node 803 may be a NW node such as the MN in NE-DC or NR-DC which manages measurement gaps. In another example, the node 803 may be a NW node which expects to request the UE 801 to report measurement gap requirement via the node 802.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the node 803 may transmit, to the UE 801 via the node 802, information for configuring or triggering the UE 801 to report its measurement gap requirement. For example, the node 803 may transmit configuration information 804 associated with reporting measurement gap requirement to the node 802 for example via an inter-node message such as a CG-ConfigInfo message from MN to SN or a CG-Config message from SN to MN. For example, the information 804 may also include target bands associated with the node 803, for which measurement gap requirement of the UE 801 is expected. Then, the node 802 may determine configuration information 805 associated with reporting measurement gap requirement based on the received configuration information 804, and may transmit the configuration information 805 to the UE 801, for example via a DL RRC control message such as RRCReconfiguration message, so as to request the UE 801 to report its measurement gap requirement. For example, the configuration information 804 or the inter-node message carrying the configuration information 804 may also include target bands associated with the node 803, for which measurement gap requirement of the UE 801 is expected.

In another example, the configuration information 804 may include authorization information to authorize or trigger the node 802 to request UE 801 to report measurement gap requirement of the UE 801 on behalf of the node 803. Further, for example, the configuration information 804 or the inter-node message carrying the configuration information 804 may also include target bands associated with the node 803, for which measurement gap requirement of the UE 801 is expected. Based on the authorization information in the configuration information 804, the node 802 may transmit, to the UE 801, configuration information 805 associated with reporting measurement gap requirement. Similar to the configuration information 104, for example, the configuration information 805 may be a field or information carried in a DL RRC message such as a RRCReconfiguration message, and may be used to configure or trigger the UE 801 to report measurement gap requirement of one or more target bands associated with the node 803 and/or the node 802. For example, information associated with the one or more target bands associated with the node 803 and/or the node 802 may be included in the DL RRC message carrying the configuration information 805 or one or more target bands supported by UE 801.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, in a case of receiving the configuration information 805 or in response to receiving the configuration information 805, the UE 801 may perform an operation 806 to detect whether its measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 803 and/or the node 802 changes (for example due to the received DL RRC message including the configuration information 805) compared to its previous measurement gap requirement of target bands associated with the node 803 and/or the node 802 which has been reported to the node 802 last time.

Then, a procedure 807 may be performed between the UE 801 and the node 802, so that the UE 801 may report, to the node 802, information associated with measurement gap requirement of the UE 801 for target bands associated with the node 803 and/or the node 802. Depending on a detection result obtained in the operation 806, the information transmitted in the procedure 807 may include different contents. The procedure 807 may be similar to the procedure 106 which has been described above by means of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, details of which are thus not be repeated herein.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the node 802 may transmit, to the node 803, information 808 associated with the measurement gap requirement of the UE 801 for the target bands of the nodes 802 and/or 803, so that the node 803 may manage measurement gaps for the UE 601 based on the received information 808. For example, the information 808 may be transmitted from the node 802 to the node 803 via an inter-node message such as CG-Config message from SN to MN or CG-ConfigInfo message from MN to SN.

In the example as illustrated in FIG. 8, an indirect path between the node 803 for managing measurement gaps and the UE 801 is implemented for the measurement gap requirement signaling, where the node 803 for managing measurement gaps may request the UE 801 to report measurement gap requirement via the node 802, and may obtain the information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the UE 801 via the node 802.

It is appreciated that this disclosure is not limited to the above examples. FIG. 9 illustrates an example method 900 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example method 900 may be performed in UE such as the

UE

101, 501, 601, 701, and 801 in the above examples.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the example method 900 may include an operation 901, an operation 902, and an operation 903.

In the operation 901, the UE may receive configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement, from at least one network apparatus in communication with the UE. For example, the at least one network apparatus may be associated with one or more network nodes for managing measurement gap among a plurality of network nodes in communication with the UE. In another example, the at least one network apparatus may be associated with one or more network nodes which do not manage measurement gaps but are authorized or triggered by another network node for managing measurement gaps to request the UE to report measurement gap requirement.

In the operation 902, the UE may detect a change of the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the configuration information. In the operation 903, the UE may transmit, to a first network apparatus of the at least one network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement, contents of which may depends on the detection in the operation 902.

For example, in a case where the UE detects in the operation 902 that the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged, the first information transmitted in the operation 903 may include information indicating that the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.

For example, in a case where the UE detects in the operation 902 that the measurement gap requirement changes, the first information transmitted in the operation 903 may include measurement gap requirement of the UE.

In another example, in a case where the UE detects in the operation 902 that the measurement gap requirement changes, the first information transmitted in the operation 903 may include information indicating that the measurement gap requirement changes. Then, the example method 900 may further include additional operations, where the UE may receive, from the first network apparatus, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement, and may transmit, to the first apparatus, the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the second information.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, modifiers such as “first” , “second” , “third” , and so on are merely intended to distinguish different elements, components, apparatuses, or the like, rather than emphasizing order, sequence, importance, priority, or the like. For example, a “first apparatus” and a “second apparatus” in an embodiment may be referred to as a “second apparatus” and a “first apparatus” , respectively, or a “second apparatus” and a “third apparatus” , respectively, or the like. For example, “information indicating that the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged” and “information indicating that the measurement gap requirement changes” may be referred to respectively as “first information” and “second information” in an embodiment, and respectively as “second information” and “first information” in another embodiment.

In some example embodiments, the at least one network apparatus may further include a second network apparatus, and the example method 900 may include additional operations, where the UE may determine the measurement gap requirement information for both the first network apparatus and the second apparatus, and may transmit, to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first information has been transmitted to the first network apparatus.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example apparatus 1000 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example apparatus 900 may be at least a part of a UE such as the

UE

101, 501, 601, 701, and 801 in the above examples.

As shown in FIG. 10, the example apparatus 1000 may include at least one processor 1001 and at least one memory 1002 that may include computer program code 1003. The at least one memory 1002 and the computer program code 1003 may be configured to, with the at least one processor 1001, cause the apparatus 1000 at least to perform at least the operations of the example method 900 described above.

In various example embodiments, the at least one processor 1001 in the example apparatus 1000 may include, but not limited to, at least one hardware processor, including at least one microprocessor such as a central processing unit (CPU) , a portion of at least one hardware processor, and any other suitable dedicated processor such as those developed based on for example Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) . Further, the at least one processor 1001 may also include at least one other circuitry or element not shown in FIG. 10.

In various example embodiments, the at least one memory 1002 in the example apparatus 1000 may include at least one storage medium in various forms, such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a random-access memory (RAM) , a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a read only memory (ROM) , a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. Further, the at least memory 802 may include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

Further, in various example embodiments, the example apparatus 1000 may also include at least one other circuitry, element, and interface, for example at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like.

In various example embodiments, the circuitries, parts, elements, and interfaces in the example apparatus 1000, including the at least one processor 1001 and the at least one memory 1002, may be coupled together via any suitable connections including, but not limited to, buses, crossbars, wiring and/or wireless lines, in any suitable ways, for example electrically, magnetically, optically, electromagnetically, and the like.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example apparatus 1100 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example apparatus 900 may be at least a part of a UE such as the

UE

101, 501, 601, 701, and 801 in the above examples.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the example apparatus 1100 may include means 1101 for performing the operation 901 of the example method 900, means 1102 for performing the operation 902 of the example method 900, and means 1103 for performing the operation 903 of the example method 900. In one or more another example embodiment, at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like may also be included in the example apparatus 1100. In some example embodiments, examples of means in the apparatus 1100 may include circuitries. In some example embodiments, examples of means may also include software modules and any other suitable function entities. In some example embodiments, one or more additional means may be included in the apparatus 1100 for performing one or more additional operations of the example method 900.

The term “circuitry” throughout this disclosure may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) ; (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable) (i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit (s) with software/firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor (s) with software (including digital signal processor (s) ) , software, and memory (ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) ; and (c) hardware circuit (s) and or processor (s) , such as a microprocessor (s) or a portion of a microprocessor (s) , that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. This definition of circuitry applies to one or all uses of this term in this disclosure, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this disclosure, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example method 1200 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example method 1200 may be performed in a first network apparatus associated with a network node such as the

nodes

102, 502, 602, 702, 703, and 802 in the above examples.

For example, the first network apparatus may be associated with a network node for managing measurement gap and in communication with the UE. In another example, the first network apparatus may be associated with a network node which does not manage measurement gaps but is authorized or triggered by another network node for managing measurement gaps to request the UE to report measurement gap requirement.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the example method 1200 may include an operation 1201 and an operation 1202.

In the operation 1201, the first network apparatus may transmit, to a UE in communication with the first network apparatus (for example, the

UE

101, 501, 601, 701, and 801 in the above examples) , configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement.

In the operation 1202, the first network apparatus may receive first information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station. For example, the first information may include a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement of the UE remains unchanged. For example, the first information may also include the measurement gap requirement of the UE or a second indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement changes.

In a case where the first information includes a second indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement changes, the example method 1200 may further include transmitting, at the first network apparatus and to the UE, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement.

In some example embodiments, the first information may be received from a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the UE, and the example method 1200 may further include receiving, at the first network apparatus and from the UE, information associated with an indication that the information associated with the measurement gap requirement has been transmitted to the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, the first information may be received from the UE, and the example method 1200 may further include receiving, at the first network apparatus and from a second network apparatus in communication with the UE, information associated with a request to obtain the measurement gap requirement of the UE.

In some example embodiments, the first information may be received from the UE, and the example method 1200 may further include transmitting, at the first network apparatus, the first information to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the UE.

In some example embodiments, the example method 1200 may further include transmitting, at the first network apparatus and to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first network apparatus expects to transmit the configuration information on behalf of the second network apparatus. For example, the third information may include a first target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the first network apparatus. In another example, the third information may include information associated with a timer for blocking the second network apparatus to transmit the configuration information to the mobile station.

In some example embodiments, the example method 1200 may further include receiving, at the first network apparatus and from the second network apparatus, fourth information associated with a response to the third information. For example, the fourth information may include a second target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the second network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, in a case where the first network apparatus is associated with a network node which does not manage measurement gaps, the example method 1200 may further include receiving, from another network node for manage measurement gaps, information associated with an authorization or allowance for the first apparatus to request the UE to report the measurement gap requirement.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example apparatus 1300 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example apparatus 1300 may be a first network apparatus associated with a network node such as the

nodes

102, 502, 602, 702, 703, and 802 in the above examples.

As shown in FIG. 13, the example apparatus 1300 may include at least one processor 1301 and at least one memory 1302 that may include computer program code 1303. The at least one memory 1302 and the computer program code 1303 may be configured to, with the at least one processor 1301, cause the apparatus 1300 at least to perform at least the operations of the example method 1200 described above.

In various example embodiments, the at least one processor 1301 in the example apparatus 1300 may include, but not limited to, at least one hardware processor, including at least one microprocessor such as a CPU, a portion of at least one hardware processor, and any other suitable dedicated processor such as those developed based on for example FPGA and ASIC. Further, the at least one processor 1301 may also include at least one other circuitry or element not shown in FIG. 13.

In various example embodiments, the at least one memory 1302 in the example apparatus 1300 may include at least one storage medium in various forms, such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a RAM, a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a ROM, a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. Further, the at least memory 1302 may include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

Further, in various example embodiments, the example apparatus 1300 may also include at least one other circuitry, element, and interface, for example at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like.

In various example embodiments, the circuitries, parts, elements, and interfaces in the example apparatus 1300, including the at least one processor 1301 and the at least one memory 1302, may be coupled together via any suitable connections including, but not limited to, buses, crossbars, wiring and/or wireless lines, in any suitable ways, for example electrically, magnetically, optically, electromagnetically, and the like.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example apparatus 1400 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example apparatus 1400 may be a first network apparatus associated with a network node such as the

nodes

102, 502, 602, 702, 703, and 802 in the above examples.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the example apparatus 1400 may include means 1401 for performing the operation 1201 of the example method 1200, and means 1402 for performing the operation 1202 of the example method 1200. In one or more another example embodiment, at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like may also be included in the example apparatus 1400. In some example embodiments, examples of means in the apparatus 1400 may include circuitries. In some example embodiments, examples of means may also include software modules and any other suitable function entities. In some example embodiments, one or more additional means may be included in the apparatus 1400 for performing one or more additional operations of the example method 1200.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example method 1500 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example method 1500 may be performed in a first network apparatus associated with a network node such as the

nodes

103, 503, 603, 703, and 803 in the above examples.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the example method 1500 may include an operation 1501, where the first apparatus in communication with UE may transmit, to a second network apparatus in communication with the UE, first information for triggering the second network apparatus to request second information associated with a measurement gap requirement of the UE on behalf of the first network apparatus.

For example, the second network apparatus may be associated with a network node for managing measurement gap and in communication with the UE. In another example, the first network apparatus may be associated with a network node which does not manage measurement gaps but is authorized or triggered by the first network node for managing measurement gaps to request the UE to report measurement gap requirement.

For example, the second information may include a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement of the UE remains unchanged. For example, the second information may also include the measurement gap requirement of the UE or a second indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement changes.

In some example embodiments, the first information may include an indication that the first network apparatus expects to obtain the second information, for example in a case where the first network apparatus does not manage measurement gaps. In some example embodiments, the first information may include information for authorizing or triggering the second apparatus (in a case where the second apparatus does not manage measurement gaps) to request the UE to report measurement gap requirement. In some example embodiments, the first information may include a target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the first network apparatus.

In some example embodiments, in a case where the second network apparatus manages measurement gaps, the example method 1500 may include an additional operation where the first apparatus may receive, from the second network apparatus, third information associate with an indication that the second network apparatus expects to request the measurement gap requirement on behalf of the first network apparatus, and an additional operation where the first apparatus may receive the second information from the second network apparatus.

For example, the third information may include a target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the second network apparatus. In another example, the third information may include information associated with a timer for blocking the first network apparatus to request the second information.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example apparatus 1600 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example apparatus 1600 may be a first network apparatus associated with a network node such as the

nodes

103, 503, 603, 703, and 803 in the above examples.

As shown in FIG. 16, the example apparatus 1600 may include at least one processor 1601 and at least one memory 1602 that may include computer program code 1603. The at least one memory 1602 and the computer program code 1603 may be configured to, with the at least one processor 1601, cause the apparatus 1600 at least to perform at least the operations of the example method 1500 described above.

In various example embodiments, the at least one processor 1601 in the example apparatus 1600 may include, but not limited to, at least one hardware processor, including at least one microprocessor such as a CPU, a portion of at least one hardware processor, and any other suitable dedicated processor such as those developed based on for example FPGA and ASIC. Further, the at least one processor 1601 may also include at least one other circuitry or element not shown in FIG. 16.

In various example embodiments, the at least one memory 1602 in the example apparatus 1600 may include at least one storage medium in various forms, such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a RAM, a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a ROM, a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. Further, the at least memory 1602 may include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

Further, in various example embodiments, the example apparatus 1600 may also include at least one other circuitry, element, and interface, for example at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like.

In various example embodiments, the circuitries, parts, elements, and interfaces in the example apparatus 1600, including the at least one processor 1601 and the at least one memory 1602, may be coupled together via any suitable connections including, but not limited to, buses, crossbars, wiring and/or wireless lines, in any suitable ways, for example electrically, magnetically, optically, electromagnetically, and the like.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example apparatus 1700 for measurement gap requirement information signaling in an embodiment. For example, the example apparatus 1700 may be a first network apparatus associated with a network node such as the

nodes

103, 503, 603, 703, and 803 in the above examples.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the example apparatus 1700 may include means 1701 for performing the operation 1501 of the example method 1500. In one or more another example embodiment, at least one I/O interface, at least one antenna element, and the like may also be included in the example apparatus 1700. In some example embodiments, examples of means in the apparatus 1700 may include circuitries. In some example embodiments, examples of means may also include software modules and any other suitable function entities. In some example embodiments, one or more additional means may be included in the apparatus 1700 for performing one or more additional operations of the example method 1500.

Another example embodiment may relate to computer program codes or instructions which may cause an apparatus to perform at least respective methods described above. Another example embodiment may be related to a computer readable medium having such computer program codes or instructions stored thereon. In some example embodiments, such a computer readable medium may include at least one storage medium in various forms such as a volatile memory and/or a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory may include, but not limited to, for example, a RAM, a cache, and so on. The non-volatile memory may include, but not limited to, a ROM, a hard disk, a flash memory, and so on. The non-volatile memory may also include, but are not limited to, an electric, a magnetic, an optical, an electromagnetic, an infrared, or a semiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any combination of the above.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise, ” “comprising, ” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to. ” The word “coupled” , as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Likewise, the word “connected” , as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Additionally, the words “herein, ” “above, ” “below, ” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

Moreover, conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can, ” “could, ” “might, ” “may, ” “e.g., ” “for example, ” “such as” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain example embodiments include, while other example embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more example embodiments or that one or more example embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular example embodiment.

While some example embodiments have been described, these example embodiments have been presented by way of example, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the apparatus, methods, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, while blocks are presented in a given arrangement, alternative example embodiments may perform similar functionalities with different components and/or circuit topologies, and some blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. At least one of these blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. The order of these blocks may also be changed. Any suitable combination of the elements and acts of the some example embodiments described above can be combined to provide further example embodiments. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

Claims

A method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile station and from at least one network apparatus for managing measurement gap among a plurality of network apparatuses in communication with the mobile station, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement;

detecting, at the mobile station, a change of the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the configuration information; and

transmitting, at the mobile station and to a first network apparatus of the at least one network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.
The method of claim 1 wherein the first information comprises the measurement gap requirement or a second indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement changes.
The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving, at the mobile station and from the first network apparatus, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement; and

transmitting, at the mobile station and to the first network apparatus, the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the second information.
The method of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the at least one network apparatus further comprises a second network apparatus, and the method further comprises:

determining, at the mobile station, the measurement gap requirement information for both the first network apparatus and the second apparatus; and

transmitting, at the mobile station and to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first information has been transmitted to the first network apparatus.
A method comprising:

transmitting, at a first network apparatus for managing measurement gap and to a mobile station in communication with the first network apparatus, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; and

receiving, at the first network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station, the first information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.
The method of claim 5 wherein the first information comprises the measurement gap requirement or a second indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement changes.
The method of claim 6 further comprising:

transmitting, at the first network apparatus and to the mobile station, second information associated with a request to query the measurement gap requirement in a case where the first information comprises the second indication.
The method of any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the first information is received from a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, and the method further comprises:

receiving, at the first network apparatus and from the mobile station, information associated with an indication that the information associated with the measurement gap requirement has been transmitted to the second network apparatus.
The method of any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the first information is received from the mobile station, and the method further comprises:

receiving, at the first network apparatus and from a second network apparatus in communication with the mobile station, information associated with a request to obtain the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station.
The method of any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the first information is received from the mobile station, and the method further comprises:

transmitting, at the first network apparatus, the first information to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station.
The method of claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting, at the first network apparatus and to the second network apparatus, third information associated with an indication that the first network apparatus expects to transmit the configuration information on behalf of the second network apparatus.
The method of claim 11 wherein the third information comprises a first target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the first network apparatus.
The method of claim 11 or 12 wherein the third information comprises information associated with a timer for blocking the second network apparatus to transmit the configuration information to the mobile station.
The method of any of claims 11 to 13 further comprising:

receiving, at the first network apparatus and from the second network apparatus, fourth information associated with a response to the third information.
The method of claim 14 wherein the fourth information comprises a second target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the second network apparatus.
A method comprising:

transmitting, at a first network apparatus in communication with a mobile station and to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with the mobile station, first information for triggering the second network apparatus to request second information associated with a measurement gap requirement of the mobile station on behalf of the first network apparatus, the second information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.
The method of claim 16 wherein the second information comprises the measurement gap requirement or a second indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement changes.
The method of claim 16 or 17 wherein the first information comprises an indication that the first network apparatus expects to obtain the second information.
The method of claim 16 or 17 further comprising:

receiving, at the first network apparatus and from the second network apparatus, third information associate with an indication that the second network apparatus expects to request the measurement gap requirement on behalf of the first network apparatus; and

receiving, at the first network apparatus, the second information from the second network apparatus.
The method of claim 19 wherein the third information comprises a first target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the second network apparatus.
The method of claim 19 or 20 wherein the third information comprises information associated with a timer for blocking the first network apparatus to request the second information.
The method of any of claims 19 to 21 wherein the first information comprises a second target band list associated with the measurement gap requirement expected by the first network apparatus.
An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus as a mobile station to perform a method of any of claims 1 to 4.
An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus as a first network apparatus to perform a method of any of claims 5 to 15.
An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus as a first network apparatus to perform a method of any of claims 16 to 22.
An apparatus as a mobile station comprising:

means for receiving, from at least one network apparatus for managing measurement gap among a plurality of network apparatuses in communication with the mobile station, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement;

means for detecting a change of the measurement gap requirement in response to the reception of the configuration information; and

means for transmitting, to a first network apparatus of the at least one network apparatus, first information associated with the measurement gap requirement comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.
An apparatus as a first network apparatus for managing measurement gap, comprising:

means for transmitting, to a mobile station in communication with the first network apparatus, configuration information associated with reporting a measurement gap requirement; and

means for receiving first information associated with the measurement gap requirement of the mobile station, the first information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.
An apparatus as a first network apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting, to a second network apparatus for managing measurement gap and in communication with a mobile station, first information for triggering the second network apparatus to request second information associated with a measurement gap requirement of the mobile station on behalf of the first network apparatus, the second information comprising a first indication in a case where the measurement gap requirement remains unchanged.
A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus as a mobile station to perform a method of any of claims 1 to 4.
A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus as a first network apparatus to perform a method of any of claims 5 to 15.
A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus as a first network apparatus to perform a method of any of claims 16 to 22.