WO2025211792A1 - Timing advance measurement of neighbor cell - Google Patents

Timing advance measurement of neighbor cell

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Publication number
WO2025211792A1
WO2025211792A1 PCT/KR2025/004434 KR2025004434W WO2025211792A1 WO 2025211792 A1 WO2025211792 A1 WO 2025211792A1 KR 2025004434 W KR2025004434 W KR 2025004434W WO 2025211792 A1 WO2025211792 A1 WO 2025211792A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cell
grouping information
candidate
measurement
configuration
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/KR2025/004434
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Siyoung Choi
Jaemin HAN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LG Electronics Inc filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Publication of WO2025211792A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025211792A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04WWIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W56/00Synchronisation arrangements
    • H04W56/004Synchronisation arrangements compensating for timing error of reception due to propagation delay
    • H04W56/0045Synchronisation arrangements compensating for timing error of reception due to propagation delay compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04WWIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/0005Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
    • H04W36/0083Determination of parameters used for hand-off, e.g. generation or modification of neighbour cell lists
    • H04W36/0085Hand-off measurements
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04WWIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/08Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to Timing Advance (TA) measurement of a neighbor cell.
  • TA Timing Advance
  • 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a technology for enabling high-speed packet communications. Many schemes have been proposed for the LTE objective including those that aim to reduce user and provider costs, improve service quality, and expand and improve coverage and system capacity.
  • the 3GPP LTE requires reduced cost per bit, increased service availability, flexible use of a frequency band, a simple structure, an open interface, and adequate power consumption of a terminal as an upper-level requirement.
  • 3GPP New Radio targets a single technical framework addressing all usage scenarios, requirements and deployment scenarios including enhanced Mobile BroadBand (eMBB), massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC), Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC), etc.
  • eMBB enhanced Mobile BroadBand
  • mMTC massive Machine Type Communications
  • URLLC Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications
  • the NR shall be inherently forward compatible. Further, the NR should be able to use any spectrum band ranging at least up to 100 GHz that may be made available for wireless communications even in a more distant future.
  • 6G is the successor to 5G cellular technology. 6G networks will be able to use higher frequencies than 5G networks and provide substantially higher capacity and much lower latency. The 6G technology market is expected to facilitate large improvements in the areas of imaging, presence technology and location awareness. Working in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence (AI), the 6G computational infrastructure will be able to identify the best place for computing to occur. This includes decisions about data storage, processing and sharing.
  • AI Artificial Intelligence
  • Layer 3 based mobility has evolved over several releases.
  • Conditional Handover (CHO) and other conditional mobility procedures (Conditional PSCell Addition and Change (CPAC), Subsequent CPAC (SCPAC)) were developed to achieve high robustness by enabling the procedure to be executed without necessitating a signaling exchange with source cell beforehand.
  • L1/L2 Triggered Mobility (LTM) as introduced in Rel-18 offers short interruption time but not with the same level of robustness as the conditional L3 mobility procedures.
  • enhancements should be specified so that the system can benefit from both the high robustness and short interruption.
  • a method comprises receiving first cell grouping information related to a first cell and second cell grouping information related to a second cell.
  • the first cell grouping information and the second cell grouping information are for user equipment (UE)-based timing advance (TA) measurement.
  • the method comprises selecting the first cell grouping information, and performing the UE-based TA measurement based on the first cell grouping information.
  • the method further comprises, after a cell switch from the first cell to the second cell, selecting the second cell grouping information, and performing the UE-based TA measurement based on the second cell grouping information.
  • an apparatus for implementing the above method is provided.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIG. 3 shows an example of UE to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of protocol stacks in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIG. 6 shows a frame structure in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIG. 7 shows a data flow example in the 3GPP NR system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIG. 8 shows an example of inter-gNB handover procedures to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIG. 9 shows an example of signaling procedure for LTM to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIG. 11 shows an example of a method to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIG. 12 shows an example of another method to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • the 5G usage scenarios shown in FIG. 1 are only exemplary, and the technical features of the present disclosure can be applied to other 5G usage scenarios which are not shown in FIG. 1.
  • the communication system 1 includes wireless devices 100a to 100f, Base Stations (BSs) 200, and a network 300.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a 5G network as an example of the network of the communication system 1, the implementations of the present disclosure are not limited to the 5G system, and can be applied to the future communication system beyond the 5G system.
  • the BSs 200 and the network 300 may be implemented as wireless devices and a specific wireless device may operate as a BS/network node with respect to other wireless devices.
  • the wireless devices 100a to 100f represent devices performing communication using Radio Access Technology (RAT) (e.g., 5G NR or LTE) and may be referred to as communication/radio/5G devices.
  • RAT Radio Access Technology
  • the wireless devices 100a to 100f may include, without being limited to, a robot 100a, vehicles 100b-1 and 100b-2, an eXtended Reality (XR) device 100c, a hand-held device 100d, a home appliance 100e, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device 100f, and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) device/server 400.
  • the vehicles may include a vehicle having a wireless communication function, an autonomous driving vehicle, and a vehicle capable of performing communication between vehicles.
  • the vehicles may include an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) (e.g., a drone).
  • UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
  • the XR device may include an Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR)/Mixed Reality (MR) device and may be implemented in the form of a Head-Mounted Device (HMD), a Head-Up Display (HUD) mounted in a vehicle, a television, a smartphone, a computer, a wearable device, a home appliance device, a digital signage, a vehicle, a robot, etc.
  • the hand-held device may include a smartphone, a smartpad, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch or a smartglasses), and a computer (e.g., a notebook).
  • the home appliance may include a TV, a refrigerator, and a washing machine.
  • the IoT device may include a sensor and a smartmeter.
  • the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be called User Equipments (UEs).
  • a UE may include, for example, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a navigation system, a slate Personal Computer (PC), a tablet PC, an ultrabook, a vehicle, a vehicle having an autonomous traveling function, a connected car, an UAV, an AI module, a robot, an AR device, a VR device, an MR device, a hologram device, a public safety device, an MTC device, an IoT device, a medical device, a FinTech device (or a financial device), a security device, a weather/environment device, a device related to a 5G service, or a device related to a fourth industrial revolution field.
  • PDA Personal Digital Assistant
  • PMP Portable Multimedia Player
  • PC slate Personal Computer
  • tablet PC a tablet PC
  • ultrabook a vehicle, a vehicle having
  • the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be connected to the network 300 via the BSs 200.
  • An AI technology may be applied to the wireless devices 100a to 100f and the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be connected to the AI server 400 via the network 300.
  • the network 300 may be configured using a 3G network, a 4G (e.g., LTE) network, a 5G (e.g., NR) network, and a beyond-5G network.
  • the wireless devices 100a to 100f may communicate with each other through the BSs 200/network 300, the wireless devices 100a to 100f may perform direct communication (e.g., sidelink communication) with each other without passing through the BSs 200/network 300.
  • the vehicles 100b-1 and 100b-2 may perform direct communication (e.g., Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V)/Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication).
  • the IoT device e.g., a sensor
  • the IoT device may perform direct communication with other IoT devices (e.g., sensors) or other wireless devices 100a to 100f.
  • Wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c may be established between the wireless devices 100a to 100f and/or between wireless device 100a to 100f and BS 200 and/or between BSs 200.
  • the wireless communication/connections may be established through various RATs (e.g., 5G NR) such as uplink/downlink communication 150a, sidelink communication (or Device-to-Device (D2D) communication) 150b, inter-base station communication 150c (e.g., relay, Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB)), etc.
  • the wireless devices 100a to 100f and the BSs 200/the wireless devices 100a to 100f may transmit/receive radio signals to/from each other through the wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c.
  • the wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c may transmit/receive signals through various physical channels.
  • various configuration information configuring processes e.g., channel encoding/decoding, modulation/demodulation, and resource mapping/de-mapping
  • resource allocating processes for transmitting/receiving radio signals, may be performed based on the various proposals of the present disclosure.
  • NR supports multiples numerologies (and/or multiple Sub-Carrier Spacings (SCS)) to support various 5G services. For example, if SCS is 15 kHz, wide area can be supported in traditional cellular bands, and if SCS is 30 kHz/60 kHz, dense-urban, lower latency, and wider carrier bandwidth can be supported. If SCS is 60 kHz or higher, bandwidths greater than 24.25 GHz can be supported to overcome phase noise.
  • numerologies and/or multiple Sub-Carrier Spacings (SCS)
  • the NR frequency band may be defined as two types of frequency range, i.e., Frequency Range 1 (FR1) and Frequency Range 2 (FR2).
  • the numerical value of the frequency range may be changed.
  • the frequency ranges of the two types may be as shown in Table 1 below.
  • FR1 may mean "sub 6 GHz range”
  • FR2 may mean "above 6 GHz range”
  • mmW millimeter Wave
  • FR1 may include a frequency band of 410MHz to 7125MHz as shown in Table 2 below. That is, FR1 may include a frequency band of 6GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or more. For example, a frequency band of 6 GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or more included in FR1 may include an unlicensed band. Unlicensed bands may be used for a variety of purposes, for example for communication for vehicles (e.g., autonomous driving).
  • the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may include NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT) technology for low-power communication as well as LTE, NR and 6G.
  • NB-IoT technology may be an example of Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology, may be implemented in specifications such as LTE Cat NB1 and/or LTE Cat NB2, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names.
  • LPWAN Low Power Wide Area Network
  • the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may communicate based on LTE-M technology.
  • LTE-M technology may be an example of LPWAN technology and be called by various names such as enhanced MTC (eMTC).
  • eMTC enhanced MTC
  • LTE-M technology may be implemented in at least one of the various specifications, such as 1) LTE Cat 0, 2) LTE Cat M1, 3) LTE Cat M2, 4) LTE non-bandwidth limited (non-BL), 5) LTE-MTC, 6) LTE Machine Type Communication, and/or 7) LTE M, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names.
  • the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may include at least one of ZigBee, Bluetooth, and/or LPWAN which take into account low-power communication, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names.
  • ZigBee technology may generate Personal Area Networks (PANs) associated with small/low-power digital communication based on various specifications such as IEEE 802.15.4 and may be called various names.
  • PANs Personal Area Networks
  • FIG. 2 shows an example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • the first wireless device 100 and/or the second wireless device 200 may be implemented in various forms according to use cases/services.
  • ⁇ the first wireless device 100 and the second wireless device 200 ⁇ may correspond to at least one of ⁇ the wireless device 100a to 100f and the BS 200 ⁇ , ⁇ the wireless device 100a to 100f and the wireless device 100a to 100f ⁇ and/or ⁇ the BS 200 and the BS 200 ⁇ of FIG. 1.
  • the first wireless device 100 and/or the second wireless device 200 may be configured by various elements, devices/parts, and/or modules.
  • the first wireless device 100 may include at least one transceiver, such as a transceiver 106, at least one processing chip, such as a processing chip 101, and/or one or more antennas 108.
  • a transceiver such as a transceiver 106
  • a processing chip such as a processing chip 101
  • antennas 108 one or more antennas 108.
  • the processing chip 101 may include at least one processor, such a processor 102, and at least one memory, such as a memory 104. Additional and/or alternatively, the memory 104 may be placed outside of the processing chip 101.
  • the memory 104 may be operably connectable to the processor 102.
  • the memory 104 may store various types of information and/or instructions.
  • the memory 104 may store a firmware and/or a software code 105 which implements codes, commands, and/or a set of commands that, when executed by the processor 102, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.
  • the firmware and/or the software code 105 may implement instructions that, when executed by the processor 102, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.
  • the firmware and/or the software code 105 may control the processor 102 to perform one or more protocols.
  • the firmware and/or the software code 105 may control the processor 102 to perform one or more layers of the radio interface protocol.
  • the processor 102 and the memory 104 may be a part of a communication modem/circuit/chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR).
  • the transceiver 106 may be connected to the processor 102 and transmit and/or receive radio signals through one or more antennas 108.
  • Each of the transceiver 106 may include a transmitter and/or a receiver.
  • the transceiver 106 may be interchangeably used with Radio Frequency (RF) unit(s).
  • the first wireless device 100 may represent a communication modem/circuit/chip.
  • the second wireless device 200 may include at least one transceiver, such as a transceiver 206, at least one processing chip, such as a processing chip 201, and/or one or more antennas 208.
  • the processing chip 201 may include at least one processor, such a processor 202, and at least one memory, such as a memory 204. Additional and/or alternatively, the memory 204 may be placed outside of the processing chip 201.
  • the processor 202 may control the memory 204 and/or the transceiver 206 and may be adapted to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. For example, the processor 202 may process information within the memory 204 to generate third information/signals and then transmit radio signals including the third information/signals through the transceiver 206. The processor 202 may receive radio signals including fourth information/signals through the transceiver 106 and then store information obtained by processing the fourth information/signals in the memory 204.
  • the memory 204 may be operably connectable to the processor 202.
  • the memory 204 may store various types of information and/or instructions.
  • the memory 204 may store a firmware and/or a software code 205 which implements codes, commands, and/or a set of commands that, when executed by the processor 202, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.
  • the firmware and/or the software code 205 may implement instructions that, when executed by the processor 202, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.
  • the firmware and/or the software code 205 may control the processor 202 to perform one or more protocols.
  • the firmware and/or the software code 205 may control the processor 202 to perform one or more layers of the radio interface protocol.
  • the processor 202 and the memory 204 may be a part of a communication modem/circuit/chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR).
  • the transceiver 206 may be connected to the processor 202 and transmit and/or receive radio signals through one or more antennas 208.
  • Each of the transceiver 206 may include a transmitter and/or a receiver.
  • the transceiver 206 may be interchangeably used with RF unit.
  • the second wireless device 200 may represent a communication modem/circuit/chip.
  • One or more protocol layers may be implemented by, without being limited to, one or more processors 102 and 202.
  • the one or more processors 102 and 202 may implement one or more layers (e.g., functional layers such as Physical (PHY) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, and Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer).
  • layers e.g., functional layers such as Physical (PHY) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, and Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer).
  • PHY Physical
  • MAC Media Access Control
  • RLC Radio Link Control
  • PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol
  • RRC Radio Resource Control
  • SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol
  • the one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate one or more Protocol Data Units (PDUs), one or more Service Data Unit (SDUs), messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.
  • the one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate signals (e.g., baseband signals) including PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure and provide the generated signals to the one or more transceivers 106 and 206.
  • signals e.g., baseband signals
  • the one or more processors 102 and 202 may be referred to as controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or microcomputers.
  • the one or more processors 102 and 202 may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.
  • ASICs Application Specific Integrated Circuits
  • DSPs Digital Signal Processors
  • DSPDs Digital Signal Processing Devices
  • PLDs Programmable Logic Devices
  • FPGAs Field Programmable Gate Arrays
  • the one or more processors 102 and 202 may be configured by a set of a communication control processor, an Application Processor (AP), an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU), and a memory control processor.
  • AP Application Processor
  • ECU Electronic Control Unit
  • CPU Central Processing Unit
  • GPU Graphic Processing Unit
  • memory control processor a memory control processor
  • the one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and store various types of data, signals, messages, information, programs, code, instructions, and/or commands.
  • the one or more memories 104 and 204 may be configured by Random Access Memory (RAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), flash memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, hard drive, register, cash memory, computer-readable storage medium, and/or combinations thereof.
  • the one or more memories 104 and 204 may be located at the interior and/or exterior of the one or more processors 102 and 202.
  • the one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 through various technologies such as wired or wireless connection.
  • the one or more processors 102 and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, control information, or radio signals to one or more other devices.
  • the one or more processors 102 and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data, control information, or radio signals from one or more other devices.
  • the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may convert received user data, control information, radio signals/channels, etc., from RF band signals into baseband signals in order to process received user data, control information, radio signals/channels, etc., using the one or more processors 102 and 202.
  • the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may convert the user data, control information, radio signals/channels, etc., processed using the one or more processors 102 and 202 from the base band signals into the RF band signals.
  • the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may include (analog) oscillators and/or filters.
  • the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 can up-convert OFDM baseband signals to OFDM signals by their (analog) oscillators and/or filters under the control of the one or more processors 102 and 202 and transmit the up-converted OFDM signals at the carrier frequency.
  • the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive OFDM signals at a carrier frequency and down-convert the OFDM signals into OFDM baseband signals by their (analog) oscillators and/or filters under the control of the one or more processors 102 and 202.
  • the wireless devices 100 and 200 may further include additional components.
  • the additional components 140 may be variously configured according to types of the wireless devices 100 and 200.
  • the additional components 140 may include at least one of a power unit/battery, an Input/Output (I/O) device (e.g., audio I/O port, video I/O port), a driving device, and a computing device.
  • the additional components 140 may be coupled to the one or more processors 102 and 202 via various technologies, such as a wired or wireless connection.
  • a UE may operate as a transmitting device in UL and as a receiving device in DL.
  • a BS may operate as a receiving device in UL and as a transmitting device in DL.
  • the first wireless device 100 acts as the UE
  • the second wireless device 200 acts as the BS.
  • the processor(s) 102 connected to, mounted on or launched in the first wireless device 100 may be adapted to perform the UE behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure or control the transceiver(s) 106 to perform the UE behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure.
  • the processor(s) 202 connected to, mounted on or launched in the second wireless device 200 may be adapted to perform the BS behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure or control the transceiver(s) 206 to perform the BS behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure.
  • a BS is also referred to as a node B (NB), an eNode B (eNB), or a gNB.
  • NB node B
  • eNB eNode B
  • gNB gNode B
  • FIG. 3 shows an example of UE to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • a UE 100 may correspond to the first wireless device 100 of FIG. 2.
  • a UE 100 includes a processor 102, a memory 104, a transceiver 106, one or more antennas 108, a power management module 141, a battery 142, a display 143, a keypad 144, a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card 145, a speaker 146, and a microphone 147.
  • SIM Subscriber Identification Module
  • the processor 102 may be adapted to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.
  • the processor 102 may be adapted to control one or more other components of the UE 100 to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.
  • Layers of the radio interface protocol may be implemented in the processor 102.
  • the processor 102 may include ASIC, other chipset, logic circuit and/or data processing device.
  • the processor 102 may be an application processor.
  • the processor 102 may include at least one of DSP, CPU, GPU, a modem (modulator and demodulator).
  • the memory 104 is operatively coupled with the processor 102 and stores a variety of information to operate the processor 102.
  • the memory 104 may include ROM, RAM, flash memory, memory card, storage medium and/or other storage device.
  • modules e.g., procedures, functions, etc.
  • the modules can be stored in the memory 104 and executed by the processor 102.
  • the memory 104 can be implemented within the processor 102 or external to the processor 102 in which case those can be communicatively coupled to the processor 102 via various means as is known in the art.
  • the transceiver 106 is operatively coupled with the processor 102, and transmits and/or receives a radio signal.
  • the transceiver 106 includes a transmitter and a receiver.
  • the transceiver 106 may include baseband circuitry to process radio frequency signals.
  • the transceiver 106 controls the one or more antennas 108 to transmit and/or receive a radio signal.
  • the power management module 141 manages power for the processor 102 and/or the transceiver 106.
  • the battery 142 supplies power to the power management module 141.
  • the SIM card 145 is an integrated circuit that is intended to securely store the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number and its related key, which are used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices (such as mobile phones and computers). It is also possible to store contact information on many SIM cards.
  • IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
  • the speaker 146 outputs sound-related results processed by the processor 102.
  • the microphone 147 receives sound-related inputs to be used by the processor 102.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of protocol stacks in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a radio interface user plane protocol stack between a UE and a BS
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a radio interface control plane protocol stack between a UE and a BS.
  • the control plane refers to a path through which control messages used to manage call by a UE and a network are transported.
  • the user plane refers to a path through which data generated in an application layer, for example, voice data or Internet packet data are transported.
  • the user plane protocol stack may be divided into Layer 1 (i.e., a PHY layer) and Layer 2.
  • the Layer 2 is split into the following sublayers: MAC, RLC, and PDCP.
  • the Layer 2 is split into the following sublayers: MAC, RLC, PDCP and SDAP.
  • the PHY layer offers to the MAC sublayer transport channels, the MAC sublayer offers to the RLC sublayer logical channels, the RLC sublayer offers to the PDCP sublayer RLC channels, the PDCP sublayer offers to the SDAP sublayer radio bearers.
  • the SDAP sublayer offers to 5G core network Quality of Service (QoS) flows.
  • QoS Quality of Service
  • the main services and functions of the MAC sublayer include: mapping between logical channels and transport channels; multiplexing/de-multiplexing of MAC SDUs belonging to one or different logical channels into/from Transport Blocks (TB) delivered to/from the physical layer on transport channels; scheduling information reporting; error correction through Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) (one HARQ entity per cell in case of Carrier Aggregation (CA)); priority handling between UEs by means of dynamic scheduling; priority handling between logical channels of one UE by means of logical channel prioritization; padding.
  • HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest
  • a single MAC entity may support multiple numerologies, transmission timings and cells. Mapping restrictions in logical channel prioritization control which numerology(ies), cell(s), and transmission timing(s) a logical channel can use.
  • MAC Different kinds of data transfer services are offered by MAC.
  • multiple types of logical channels are defined, i.e., each supporting transfer of a particular type of information.
  • Each logical channel type is defined by what type of information is transferred.
  • Logical channels are classified into two groups: control channels and traffic channels. Control channels are used for the transfer of control plane information only, and traffic channels are used for the transfer of user plane information only.
  • Broadcast Control Channel is a downlink logical channel for broadcasting system control information
  • Paging Control Channel is a downlink logical channel that transfers paging information, system information change notifications and indications of ongoing Public Warning Service (PWS) broadcasts
  • Common Control Channel is a logical channel for transmitting control information between UEs and network and used for UEs having no RRC connection with the network
  • Dedicated Control Channel is a point-to-point bi-directional logical channel that transmits dedicated control information between a UE and the network and used by UEs having an RRC connection.
  • Dedicated Traffic Channel is a point-to-point logical channel, dedicated to one UE, for the transfer of user information.
  • a DTCH can exist in both uplink and downlink.
  • BCCH can be mapped to Broadcast Channel (BCH); BCCH can be mapped to Downlink Shared Channel (DL-SCH); PCCH can be mapped to Paging Channel (PCH); CCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH; DCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH; and DTCH can be mapped to DL-SCH.
  • BCCH can be mapped to Broadcast Channel
  • DL-SCH Downlink Shared Channel
  • PCH Paging Channel
  • CCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH
  • DCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH
  • DTCH can be mapped to DL-SCH.
  • the RLC sublayer supports three transmission modes: Transparent Mode (TM), Unacknowledged Mode (UM), and Acknowledged Mode (AM).
  • the RLC configuration is per logical channel with no dependency on numerologies and/or transmission durations.
  • the main services and functions of the RLC sublayer depend on the transmission mode and include: transfer of upper layer PDUs; sequence numbering independent of the one in PDCP (UM and AM); error correction through ARQ (AM only); segmentation (AM and UM) and re-segmentation (AM only) of RLC SDUs; reassembly of SDU (AM and UM); duplicate detection (AM only); RLC SDU discard (AM and UM); RLC re-establishment; protocol error detection (AM only).
  • the main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the user plane include: sequence numbering; header compression and decompression using Robust Header Compression (ROHC); transfer of user data; reordering and duplicate detection; in-order delivery; PDCP PDU routing (in case of split bearers); retransmission of PDCP SDUs; ciphering, deciphering and integrity protection; PDCP SDU discard; PDCP re-establishment and data recovery for RLC AM; PDCP status reporting for RLC AM; duplication of PDCP PDUs and duplicate discard indication to lower layers.
  • ROIHC Robust Header Compression
  • the main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the control plane include: sequence numbering; ciphering, deciphering and integrity protection; transfer of control plane data; reordering and duplicate detection; in-order delivery; duplication of PDCP PDUs and duplicate discard indication to lower layers.
  • the main services and functions of SDAP include: mapping between a QoS flow and a data radio bearer; marking QoS Flow ID (QFI) in both DL and UL packets.
  • QFI QoS Flow ID
  • a single protocol entity of SDAP is configured for each individual PDU session.
  • FIG. 6 shows a frame structure in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • OFDM numerologies e.g., SCS, Transmission Time Interval (TTI) duration
  • SCS Transmission Time Interval
  • TTI Transmission Time Interval
  • symbols may include OFDM symbols (or Cyclic Prefix (CP)-OFDM symbols), SC-FDMA symbols (or Discrete Fourier Transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbols).
  • Each frame is divided into two half-frames, where each of the half-frames has 5ms duration.
  • Each half-frame consists of 5 subframes, where the duration T sf per subframe is 1ms.
  • Each subframe is divided into slots and the number of slots in a subframe depends on a subcarrier spacing.
  • Each slot includes 14 or 12 OFDM symbols based on a CP. In a normal CP, each slot includes 14 OFDM symbols and, in an extended CP, each slot includes 12 OFDM symbols.
  • Each element in the resource grid for the antenna port p and the subcarrier spacing configuration u is referred to as a Resource Element (RE) and one complex symbol may be mapped to each RE.
  • Each RE in the resource grid is uniquely identified by an index k in the frequency domain and an index l representing a symbol location relative to a reference point in the time domain.
  • an RB is defined by 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain.
  • RBs are classified into CRBs and Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs).
  • CRBs are numbered from 0 and upwards in the frequency domain for subcarrier spacing configuration u .
  • the center of subcarrier 0 of CRB 0 for subcarrier spacing configuration u coincides with 'point A' which serves as a common reference point for resource block grids.
  • PRBs are defined within a BandWidth Part (BWP) and numbered from 0 to N size BWP,i -1, where i is the number of the bandwidth part.
  • BWP BandWidth Part
  • the term "cell” may refer to a geographic area to which one or more nodes provide a communication system, or refer to radio resources.
  • a “cell” as a geographic area may be understood as coverage within which a node can provide service using a carrier and a "cell” as radio resources (e.g., time-frequency resources) is associated with bandwidth which is a frequency range configured by the carrier.
  • the "cell” associated with the radio resources is defined by a combination of downlink resources and uplink resources, for example, a combination of a DL Component Carrier (CC) and a UL CC.
  • the cell may be configured by downlink resources only, or may be configured by downlink resources and uplink resources.
  • the coverage of the node may be associated with coverage of the "cell" of radio resources used by the node. Accordingly, the term "cell" may be used to represent service coverage of the node sometimes, radio resources at other times, or a range that signals using the radio resources can reach with valid strength at other times.
  • CA In CA, two or more CCs are aggregated. A UE may simultaneously receive or transmit on one or multiple CCs depending on its capabilities.
  • CA is supported for both contiguous and non-contiguous CCs.
  • the UE When CA is configured, the UE only has one RRC connection with the network.
  • RRC connection establishment/re-establishment/handover one serving cell provides the NAS mobility information, and at RRC connection re-establishment/handover, one serving cell provides the security input.
  • This cell is referred to as the Primary Cell (PCell).
  • the PCell is a cell, operating on the primary frequency, in which the UE either performs the initial connection establishment procedure or initiates the connection re-establishment procedure.
  • SCells can be configured to form together with the PCell a set of serving cells.
  • An SCell is a cell providing additional radio resources on top of Special Cell (SpCell).
  • the configured set of serving cells for a UE therefore always consists of one PCell and one or more SCells.
  • SpCell refers to the PCell of the Master Cell Group (MCG) or the Primary SCell (PSCell) of the Secondary Cell Group (SCG).
  • MCG Master Cell Group
  • PSCell Primary SCell
  • SCG Secondary Cell Group
  • An SpCell supports Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmission and contention-based random access, and is always activated.
  • PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel
  • the MCG is a group of serving cells associated with a master node, comprised of the SpCell (PCell) and optionally one or more SCells.
  • the SCG is the subset of serving cells associated with a secondary node, comprised of the PSCell and zero or more SCells, for a UE configured with DC.
  • a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not configured with CA/DC there is only one serving cell comprised of the PCell.
  • serving cells is used to denote the set of cells comprised of the SpCell(s) and all SCells.
  • two MAC entities are configured in a UE: one for the MCG and one for the SCG.
  • FIG. 7 shows a data flow example in the 3GPP NR system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • step S1110 the method comprises selecting the first cell grouping information
  • step S1140 the method comprises selecting the second cell grouping information.
  • the first cell may be a serving cell or a candidate cell of LTM.
  • the second cell may be a candidate cell of LTM.
  • the first candidate cell configuration may include the first cell grouping information.
  • the first cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on the first candidate cell configuration being applied (e.g., when the first candidate cell configuration is applied as the serving configuration).
  • the second candidate cell configuration may include the second cell grouping information.
  • the second cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on the second candidate cell configuration being applied (e.g., when the second candidate cell configuration is applied as the serving configuration).
  • the information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement to be performed may be provided by e.g., a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, and/or a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed.
  • Candidate cell configuration of cell #0 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ candidate cell #1 ⁇ ;
  • Candidate cell configuration of cell #2 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #1, cell #3 ⁇ ; and
  • the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells indicated by the physical cell IDs list corresponding to the specific cell.
  • List #0 may be used when cell #0 is the serving cell.
  • List #1 may be used when cell #1 is the serving cell.
  • List #2 may be used when cell #2 is the serving cell.
  • List #3 may be used when cell #3 is the serving cell.
  • the first element in each list may be associated with cell #0.
  • the second element in each list may be associated with cell #1.
  • the third element in each list may be associated with cell #2.
  • the fourth element in each list may be associated with cell #3.
  • Each element in each list may be called UE-based TA ID.
  • the first element in list #3 may stand for the UE-based TA ID corresponding to cell #0 if cell#3 is the serving cell.
  • the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells whose UE-based TA ID is equal to the third element in List #2 (i.e., 2). In this case, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #1 and cell #3, whose UE-based TA ID in List #2 is 2.
  • a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included the network indication for the cell grouping information.
  • the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ candidate cell #2 ⁇
  • the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #1, cell #3 ⁇ ;
  • the the method may be performed by a wireless device.
  • the wireless device may be in communication with at least one of a mobile device, a network, and/or autonomous vehicles other than the wireless device.
  • the wireless device may be implemented by the first wireless device 100 shown in FIG. 2 and/or the UE 100 shown in FIG. 3.
  • the wireless device receives first cell grouping information related to a first cell and second cell grouping information related to a second cell.
  • the first cell grouping information and the second cell grouping information are for UE-based TA measurement.
  • the wireless device selects the first cell grouping information
  • the wireless device performs the UE-based TA measurement based on the first cell grouping information.
  • the wireless device performs the UE-based TA measurement based on the second cell grouping information.
  • the second cell may be a candidate cell of LTM.
  • the pre-configuration for mobility may include a first candidate cell configuration for the first cell and a second candidate cell configuration for second cell.
  • the information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement to be performed may be provided by e.g., a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, and/or a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed.
  • a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included in each candidate cell configuration as follows.
  • Candidate cell configuration of cell #3 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ candidate cell #2 ⁇
  • a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included in each candidate cell configuration as follows.
  • Candidate cell configuration of cell #0 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #1 ⁇ ;
  • Candidate cell configuration of cell #1 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #0, cell #2 ⁇ ;
  • Candidate cell configuration of cell #2 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #1, cell #3 ⁇ ; and
  • Candidate cell configuration of cell #3 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #2 ⁇
  • the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If a serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the one or more candidate cells indicated by the cell grouping information corresponding to the new serving cell.
  • the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells indicated by the candidate cell IDs list corresponding to the specific cell.
  • examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
  • the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of UE-based TA IDs of candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement based on the list corresponding to the specific cell.
  • List #0 may be used when cell #0 is the serving cell.
  • List #1 may be used when cell #1 is the serving cell.
  • List #2 may be used when cell #2 is the serving cell.
  • List #3 may be used when cell #3 is the serving cell.
  • the first element in each list may be associated with cell #0.
  • the second element in each list may be associated with cell #1.
  • the third element in each list may be associated with cell #2.
  • the fourth element in each list may be associated with cell #3.
  • Each element in each list may be called UE-based TA ID.
  • the first element in list #3 may stand for the UE-based TA ID corresponding to cell #0 if cell#3 is the serving cell.
  • cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be indicated by the network after a serving cell change.
  • the first cell grouping information may be received after a serving cell change to the first cell is performed
  • the second cell grouping information may be received after a serving cell change to the second cell is performed.
  • the network may indicate the cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement via, e.g., RRC message ( RRCReconfiguration message), MAC Control Element (CE), DCI, etc.
  • RRC message RRCReconfiguration message
  • CE MAC Control Element
  • DCI DCI
  • the first cell grouping information related to the first cell and/or the second cell grouping information related to the second cell may be received via RRC message, MAC CE, or DCI.
  • examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
  • a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included the network indication for the cell grouping information.
  • the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ candidate cell #1 ⁇ ;
  • the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ candidate cell #1, candidate cell #3 ⁇ ;
  • a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included the network indication for the cell grouping information.
  • the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #1 ⁇ ;
  • the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #0, cell #2 ⁇ ;
  • the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., ⁇ cell #2 ⁇
  • the processing apparatus adapted to control the wireless device comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor.
  • the at least one processor is adapted to perform the method described in FIG. 11.
  • the method described above in FIG. 11 may be performed by a software code 105 stored in the memory 104 included in the first wireless device 100 shown in FIG. 2.
  • a method performed by a wireless device in a wireless communication may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.
  • a software may reside in RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other storage medium.
  • storage medium may be coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from the storage medium.
  • the storage medium may be integral to the processor.
  • the processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.
  • the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components.
  • non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM such as Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), ROM, Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM), EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage media, or any other medium that can be used to store instructions or data structures.
  • RAM such as Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), ROM, Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM), EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage media, or any other medium that can be used to store instructions or data structures.
  • RAM such as Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), ROM, Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM), EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage media, or any other medium that can be used to store instructions or data structures.
  • Non-transitory computer-readable media may also include combinations of the above.
  • a non-transitory Computer-Readable Medium stores instructions that, based on being executed by at least one processor, perform the method described in FIG. 11.
  • step S1210 the method comprises transmitting a cell switch command for mobility from a source cell to the target cell to the wireless device.
  • the cell switch command does not include a TA value of the target cell based on the UE-based TA measurement being configured for the target cell.
  • the cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement described above may be configured for some or entire DUs involved in mobility.
  • the source DU may determine the TA value based on the cell grouping information. If the UE-based TA measurement is configured for the target cell of the cell switch command, the source DU may not include the TA value in the cell switch command (e.g., the TA value in the cell switch command is 0xFFF) even if the source DU has the TA value of the target cell based on, e.g., RACH-based TA acquisition and/or network implementation to pre-calculate the TA of the target cell.
  • the method described above in FIG. 12 may be performed by a base station.
  • the base station may be implemented by the second wireless device 200 shown in FIG. 2.
  • the base station comprises at least one transceiver, at least one processor, and at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, perform the method described in FIG. 12.
  • the base station transmits cell grouping information related to a target cell to a wireless device.
  • the cell grouping information is for UE-based TA measurement.
  • the base station transmits a cell switch command for mobility from a source cell to the target cell to the wireless device.
  • the cell switch command does not include a TA value of the target cell based on the UE-based TA measurement being configured for the target cell.
  • FIG. 13 shows an example of provision of cell grouping information to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
  • three candidate cells are configured to the UE for mobility (e.g., LTM). It is assumed that the UE moves in direction from the serving cell (cell #0) to a candidate cell #1 (cell #1) to a candidate cell #2 (cell #2) to a candidate cell #3 (cell #3).
  • LTM mobility
  • cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be configured for the serving cell and/or each candidate cell.
  • cell grouping information ⁇ cell #1 ⁇ is configured for cell #0
  • cell grouping information ⁇ cell #0 is configured for cell #1
  • cell grouping information ⁇ cell #1 is configured for cell #2
  • cell grouping information ⁇ cell #2 ⁇ is configured for cell #3.
  • the cell grouping information is provided by a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, but this is only exemplary.
  • the cell grouping information may be provided by a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed and/or UE-based TA IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, as described above.
  • the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #1 and cell #3 based on the cell grouping information for cell #2.
  • the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #2 based on the cell grouping information for cell #3.
  • the network may instruct the UE to perform LTM cell switch procedure by sending the LTM cell switch command MAC CE.
  • TCI Transmission Configuration Index
  • the present disclosure may have various advantageous effects.
  • the UE since the UE is configured with cell grouping information for UE-based TA measurement at every cell change, the UE can perform UE-based TA measurement with different cell grouping after a serving cell change, based on the configuration.
  • network overhead and/or UE interruption due to UL synchronization and/or RACH-based TA acquisition can decrease.

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for Timing Advance (TA) measurement of a neighbor cell is provided. A wireless device receives first cell grouping information related to a first cell and second cell grouping information related to a second cell. The first cell grouping information and the second cell grouping information are for user equipment (UE)-based timing advance (TA) measurement. The wireless device selects the first cell grouping information, and performs the UE-based TA measurement based on the first cell grouping information. After a cell switch from the first cell to the second cell, the wireless device selects the second cell grouping information, and performs the UE-based TA measurement based on the second cell grouping information.

Description

TIMING ADVANCE MEASUREMENT OF NEIGHBOR CELL
The present disclosure relates to Timing Advance (TA) measurement of a neighbor cell.
3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a technology for enabling high-speed packet communications. Many schemes have been proposed for the LTE objective including those that aim to reduce user and provider costs, improve service quality, and expand and improve coverage and system capacity. The 3GPP LTE requires reduced cost per bit, increased service availability, flexible use of a frequency band, a simple structure, an open interface, and adequate power consumption of a terminal as an upper-level requirement.
3GPP New Radio (NR) targets a single technical framework addressing all usage scenarios, requirements and deployment scenarios including enhanced Mobile BroadBand (eMBB), massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC), Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC), etc. The NR shall be inherently forward compatible. Further, the NR should be able to use any spectrum band ranging at least up to 100 GHz that may be made available for wireless communications even in a more distant future.
6G is the successor to 5G cellular technology. 6G networks will be able to use higher frequencies than 5G networks and provide substantially higher capacity and much lower latency. The 6G technology market is expected to facilitate large improvements in the areas of imaging, presence technology and location awareness. Working in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence (AI), the 6G computational infrastructure will be able to identify the best place for computing to occur. This includes decisions about data storage, processing and sharing.
Layer 3 based mobility has evolved over several releases. Conditional Handover (CHO) and other conditional mobility procedures (Conditional PSCell Addition and Change (CPAC), Subsequent CPAC (SCPAC)) were developed to achieve high robustness by enabling the procedure to be executed without necessitating a signaling exchange with source cell beforehand. L1/L2 Triggered Mobility (LTM) as introduced in Rel-18 offers short interruption time but not with the same level of robustness as the conditional L3 mobility procedures. In Rel-19, enhancements should be specified so that the system can benefit from both the high robustness and short interruption.
In an aspect, a method is provided. The method comprises receiving first cell grouping information related to a first cell and second cell grouping information related to a second cell. The first cell grouping information and the second cell grouping information are for user equipment (UE)-based timing advance (TA) measurement. The method comprises selecting the first cell grouping information, and performing the UE-based TA measurement based on the first cell grouping information. The method further comprises, after a cell switch from the first cell to the second cell, selecting the second cell grouping information, and performing the UE-based TA measurement based on the second cell grouping information.
In another aspect, an apparatus for implementing the above method is provided.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 2 shows an example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 3 shows an example of UE to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of protocol stacks in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 6 shows a frame structure in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 7 shows a data flow example in the 3GPP NR system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 8 shows an example of inter-gNB handover procedures to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 9 shows an example of signaling procedure for LTM to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 10 shows an example of UE-based TA measurement to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 11 shows an example of a method to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 12 shows an example of another method to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
FIG. 13 shows an example of provision of cell grouping information to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
The following techniques, apparatuses, and systems may be applied to a variety of wireless multiple access systems. Examples of the multiple access systems include a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) system, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) system, a Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) system, and a Multi Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (MC-FDMA) system. CDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) or CDMA2000. TDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), or Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE). OFDMA may be embodied through radio technology such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, or Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA). UTRA is a part of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a part of Evolved UMTS (E-UMTS) using E-UTRA. 3GPP LTE employs OFDMA in Downlink (DL) and SC-FDMA in Uplink (UL). Evolution of 3GPP LTE includes LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-A Pro, 5G New Radio (NR) and/or 6G.
For convenience of description, implementations of the present disclosure are mainly described in regards to a 3GPP based wireless communication system. However, the technical features of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, although the following detailed description is given based on a mobile communication system corresponding to a 3GPP based wireless communication system, aspects of the present disclosure that are not limited to 3GPP based wireless communication system are applicable to other mobile communication systems.
For terms and technologies which are not specifically described among the terms of and technologies employed in the present disclosure, the wireless communication standard documents published before the present disclosure may be referenced.
In the present disclosure, "A or B" may mean "only A", "only B", or "both A and B". In other words, "A or B" in the present disclosure may be interpreted as "A and/or B". For example, "A, B or C" in the present disclosure may mean "only A", "only B", "only C", or "any combination of A, B and C".
In the present disclosure, slash (/) or comma (,) may mean "and/or". For example, "A/B" may mean "A and/or B". Accordingly, "A/B" may mean "only A", "only B", or "both A and B". For example, "A, B, C" may mean "A, B or C".
In the present disclosure, "at least one of A and B" may mean "only A", "only B" or "both A and B". In addition, the expression "at least one of A or B" or "at least one of A and/or B" in the present disclosure may be interpreted as same as "at least one of A and B".
In addition, in the present disclosure, "at least one of A, B and C" may mean "only A", "only B", "only C", or "any combination of A, B and C". In addition, "at least one of A, B or C" or "at least one of A, B and/or C" may mean "at least one of A, B and C".
Also, parentheses used in the present disclosure may mean "for example". In detail, when it is shown as "control information (PDCCH)", "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information". In other words, "control information" in the present disclosure is not limited to "PDCCH", and "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information". In addition, even when shown as "control information (i.e., PDCCH)", "PDCCH" may be proposed as an example of "control information".
Technical features that are separately described in one drawing in the present disclosure may be implemented separately or simultaneously.
Although not limited thereto, various descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts of the present disclosure disclosed herein can be applied to various fields requiring wireless communication and/or connection (e.g., 5G) between devices.
Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to drawings. The same reference numerals in the following drawings and/or descriptions may refer to the same and/or corresponding hardware blocks, software blocks, and/or functional blocks unless otherwise indicated.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
The 5G usage scenarios shown in FIG. 1 are only exemplary, and the technical features of the present disclosure can be applied to other 5G usage scenarios which are not shown in FIG. 1.
Three main requirement categories for 5G include (1) a category of enhanced Mobile BroadBand (eMBB), (2) a category of massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC), and (3) a category of Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC).
Referring to FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes wireless devices 100a to 100f, Base Stations (BSs) 200, and a network 300. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a 5G network as an example of the network of the communication system 1, the implementations of the present disclosure are not limited to the 5G system, and can be applied to the future communication system beyond the 5G system.
The BSs 200 and the network 300 may be implemented as wireless devices and a specific wireless device may operate as a BS/network node with respect to other wireless devices.
The wireless devices 100a to 100f represent devices performing communication using Radio Access Technology (RAT) (e.g., 5G NR or LTE) and may be referred to as communication/radio/5G devices. The wireless devices 100a to 100f may include, without being limited to, a robot 100a, vehicles 100b-1 and 100b-2, an eXtended Reality (XR) device 100c, a hand-held device 100d, a home appliance 100e, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device 100f, and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) device/server 400. For example, the vehicles may include a vehicle having a wireless communication function, an autonomous driving vehicle, and a vehicle capable of performing communication between vehicles. The vehicles may include an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) (e.g., a drone). The XR device may include an Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR)/Mixed Reality (MR) device and may be implemented in the form of a Head-Mounted Device (HMD), a Head-Up Display (HUD) mounted in a vehicle, a television, a smartphone, a computer, a wearable device, a home appliance device, a digital signage, a vehicle, a robot, etc. The hand-held device may include a smartphone, a smartpad, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch or a smartglasses), and a computer (e.g., a notebook). The home appliance may include a TV, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. The IoT device may include a sensor and a smartmeter.
In the present disclosure, the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be called User Equipments (UEs). A UE may include, for example, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a navigation system, a slate Personal Computer (PC), a tablet PC, an ultrabook, a vehicle, a vehicle having an autonomous traveling function, a connected car, an UAV, an AI module, a robot, an AR device, a VR device, an MR device, a hologram device, a public safety device, an MTC device, an IoT device, a medical device, a FinTech device (or a financial device), a security device, a weather/environment device, a device related to a 5G service, or a device related to a fourth industrial revolution field.
The wireless devices 100a to 100f may be connected to the network 300 via the BSs 200. An AI technology may be applied to the wireless devices 100a to 100f and the wireless devices 100a to 100f may be connected to the AI server 400 via the network 300. The network 300 may be configured using a 3G network, a 4G (e.g., LTE) network, a 5G (e.g., NR) network, and a beyond-5G network. Although the wireless devices 100a to 100f may communicate with each other through the BSs 200/network 300, the wireless devices 100a to 100f may perform direct communication (e.g., sidelink communication) with each other without passing through the BSs 200/network 300. For example, the vehicles 100b-1 and 100b-2 may perform direct communication (e.g., Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V)/Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication). The IoT device (e.g., a sensor) may perform direct communication with other IoT devices (e.g., sensors) or other wireless devices 100a to 100f.
Wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c may be established between the wireless devices 100a to 100f and/or between wireless device 100a to 100f and BS 200 and/or between BSs 200. Herein, the wireless communication/connections may be established through various RATs (e.g., 5G NR) such as uplink/downlink communication 150a, sidelink communication (or Device-to-Device (D2D) communication) 150b, inter-base station communication 150c (e.g., relay, Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB)), etc. The wireless devices 100a to 100f and the BSs 200/the wireless devices 100a to 100f may transmit/receive radio signals to/from each other through the wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c. For example, the wireless communication/connections 150a, 150b and 150c may transmit/receive signals through various physical channels. To this end, at least a part of various configuration information configuring processes, various signal processing processes (e.g., channel encoding/decoding, modulation/demodulation, and resource mapping/de-mapping), and resource allocating processes, for transmitting/receiving radio signals, may be performed based on the various proposals of the present disclosure.
NR supports multiples numerologies (and/or multiple Sub-Carrier Spacings (SCS)) to support various 5G services. For example, if SCS is 15 kHz, wide area can be supported in traditional cellular bands, and if SCS is 30 kHz/60 kHz, dense-urban, lower latency, and wider carrier bandwidth can be supported. If SCS is 60 kHz or higher, bandwidths greater than 24.25 GHz can be supported to overcome phase noise.
The NR frequency band may be defined as two types of frequency range, i.e., Frequency Range 1 (FR1) and Frequency Range 2 (FR2). The numerical value of the frequency range may be changed. For example, the frequency ranges of the two types (FR1 and FR2) may be as shown in Table 1 below. For ease of explanation, in the frequency ranges used in the NR system, FR1 may mean "sub 6 GHz range", FR2 may mean "above 6 GHz range," and may be referred to as millimeter Wave (mmW).
Frequency Range designation Corresponding frequency range Subcarrier Spacing
FR1 450MHz - 6000MHz 15, 30, 60kHz
FR2 24250MHz - 52600MHz 60, 120, 240kHz
As mentioned above, the numerical value of the frequency range of the NR system may be changed. For example, FR1 may include a frequency band of 410MHz to 7125MHz as shown in Table 2 below. That is, FR1 may include a frequency band of 6GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or more. For example, a frequency band of 6 GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or more included in FR1 may include an unlicensed band. Unlicensed bands may be used for a variety of purposes, for example for communication for vehicles (e.g., autonomous driving).
Frequency Range designation Corresponding frequency range Subcarrier Spacing
FR1 410MHz - 7125MHz 15, 30, 60kHz
FR2 24250MHz - 52600MHz 60, 120, 240kHz
Here, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may include NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT) technology for low-power communication as well as LTE, NR and 6G. For example, NB-IoT technology may be an example of Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology, may be implemented in specifications such as LTE Cat NB1 and/or LTE Cat NB2, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. Additionally and/or alternatively, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may communicate based on LTE-M technology. For example, LTE-M technology may be an example of LPWAN technology and be called by various names such as enhanced MTC (eMTC). For example, LTE-M technology may be implemented in at least one of the various specifications, such as 1) LTE Cat 0, 2) LTE Cat M1, 3) LTE Cat M2, 4) LTE non-bandwidth limited (non-BL), 5) LTE-MTC, 6) LTE Machine Type Communication, and/or 7) LTE M, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. Additionally and/or alternatively, the radio communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices in the present disclosure may include at least one of ZigBee, Bluetooth, and/or LPWAN which take into account low-power communication, and may not be limited to the above-mentioned names. For example, ZigBee technology may generate Personal Area Networks (PANs) associated with small/low-power digital communication based on various specifications such as IEEE 802.15.4 and may be called various names.
FIG. 2 shows an example of wireless devices to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
In FIG. 2, The first wireless device 100 and/or the second wireless device 200 may be implemented in various forms according to use cases/services. For example, {the first wireless device 100 and the second wireless device 200} may correspond to at least one of {the wireless device 100a to 100f and the BS 200}, {the wireless device 100a to 100f and the wireless device 100a to 100f} and/or {the BS 200 and the BS 200} of FIG. 1. The first wireless device 100 and/or the second wireless device 200 may be configured by various elements, devices/parts, and/or modules.
The first wireless device 100 may include at least one transceiver, such as a transceiver 106, at least one processing chip, such as a processing chip 101, and/or one or more antennas 108.
The processing chip 101 may include at least one processor, such a processor 102, and at least one memory, such as a memory 104. Additional and/or alternatively, the memory 104 may be placed outside of the processing chip 101.
The processor 102 may control the memory 104 and/or the transceiver 106 and may be adapted to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. For example, the processor 102 may process information within the memory 104 to generate first information/signals and then transmit radio signals including the first information/signals through the transceiver 106. The processor 102 may receive radio signals including second information/signals through the transceiver 106 and then store information obtained by processing the second information/signals in the memory 104.
The memory 104 may be operably connectable to the processor 102. The memory 104 may store various types of information and/or instructions. The memory 104 may store a firmware and/or a software code 105 which implements codes, commands, and/or a set of commands that, when executed by the processor 102, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the firmware and/or the software code 105 may implement instructions that, when executed by the processor 102, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the firmware and/or the software code 105 may control the processor 102 to perform one or more protocols. For example, the firmware and/or the software code 105 may control the processor 102 to perform one or more layers of the radio interface protocol.
Herein, the processor 102 and the memory 104 may be a part of a communication modem/circuit/chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). The transceiver 106 may be connected to the processor 102 and transmit and/or receive radio signals through one or more antennas 108. Each of the transceiver 106 may include a transmitter and/or a receiver. The transceiver 106 may be interchangeably used with Radio Frequency (RF) unit(s). In the present disclosure, the first wireless device 100 may represent a communication modem/circuit/chip.
The second wireless device 200 may include at least one transceiver, such as a transceiver 206, at least one processing chip, such as a processing chip 201, and/or one or more antennas 208.
The processing chip 201 may include at least one processor, such a processor 202, and at least one memory, such as a memory 204. Additional and/or alternatively, the memory 204 may be placed outside of the processing chip 201.
The processor 202 may control the memory 204 and/or the transceiver 206 and may be adapted to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts described in the present disclosure. For example, the processor 202 may process information within the memory 204 to generate third information/signals and then transmit radio signals including the third information/signals through the transceiver 206. The processor 202 may receive radio signals including fourth information/signals through the transceiver 106 and then store information obtained by processing the fourth information/signals in the memory 204.
The memory 204 may be operably connectable to the processor 202. The memory 204 may store various types of information and/or instructions. The memory 204 may store a firmware and/or a software code 205 which implements codes, commands, and/or a set of commands that, when executed by the processor 202, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the firmware and/or the software code 205 may implement instructions that, when executed by the processor 202, perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. For example, the firmware and/or the software code 205 may control the processor 202 to perform one or more protocols. For example, the firmware and/or the software code 205 may control the processor 202 to perform one or more layers of the radio interface protocol.
Herein, the processor 202 and the memory 204 may be a part of a communication modem/circuit/chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). The transceiver 206 may be connected to the processor 202 and transmit and/or receive radio signals through one or more antennas 208. Each of the transceiver 206 may include a transmitter and/or a receiver. The transceiver 206 may be interchangeably used with RF unit. In the present disclosure, the second wireless device 200 may represent a communication modem/circuit/chip.
Hereinafter, hardware elements of the wireless devices 100 and 200 will be described more specifically. One or more protocol layers may be implemented by, without being limited to, one or more processors 102 and 202. For example, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may implement one or more layers (e.g., functional layers such as Physical (PHY) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, and Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer). The one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate one or more Protocol Data Units (PDUs), one or more Service Data Unit (SDUs), messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may generate signals (e.g., baseband signals) including PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure and provide the generated signals to the one or more transceivers 106 and 206. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may receive the signals (e.g., baseband signals) from the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 and acquire the PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure.
The one or more processors 102 and 202 may be referred to as controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or microcomputers. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. As an example, one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), one or more Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), one or more Digital Signal Processing Devices (DSPDs), one or more Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), or one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) may be included in the one or more processors 102 and 202. For example, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may be configured by a set of a communication control processor, an Application Processor (AP), an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU), and a memory control processor.
The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and store various types of data, signals, messages, information, programs, code, instructions, and/or commands. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be configured by Random Access Memory (RAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), flash memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, hard drive, register, cash memory, computer-readable storage medium, and/or combinations thereof. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be located at the interior and/or exterior of the one or more processors 102 and 202. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 through various technologies such as wired or wireless connection.
The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, control information, and/or radio signals/channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, to one or more other devices. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data, control information, and/or radio signals/channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, from one or more other devices. For example, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be connected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and transmit and receive radio signals. For example, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, control information, or radio signals to one or more other devices. The one or more processors 102 and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data, control information, or radio signals from one or more other devices.
The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be connected to the one or more antennas 108 and 208. Additionally and/or alternatively, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may include one or more antennas 108 and 208. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may be adapted to transmit and receive user data, control information, and/or radio signals/channels, mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure, through the one or more antennas 108 and 208. In the present disclosure, the one or more antennas 108 and 208 may be a plurality of physical antennas or a plurality of logical antennas (e.g., antenna ports).
The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may convert received user data, control information, radio signals/channels, etc., from RF band signals into baseband signals in order to process received user data, control information, radio signals/channels, etc., using the one or more processors 102 and 202. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may convert the user data, control information, radio signals/channels, etc., processed using the one or more processors 102 and 202 from the base band signals into the RF band signals. To this end, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may include (analog) oscillators and/or filters. For example, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 can up-convert OFDM baseband signals to OFDM signals by their (analog) oscillators and/or filters under the control of the one or more processors 102 and 202 and transmit the up-converted OFDM signals at the carrier frequency. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive OFDM signals at a carrier frequency and down-convert the OFDM signals into OFDM baseband signals by their (analog) oscillators and/or filters under the control of the one or more processors 102 and 202.
Although not shown in FIG. 2, the wireless devices 100 and 200 may further include additional components. The additional components 140 may be variously configured according to types of the wireless devices 100 and 200. For example, the additional components 140 may include at least one of a power unit/battery, an Input/Output (I/O) device (e.g., audio I/O port, video I/O port), a driving device, and a computing device. The additional components 140 may be coupled to the one or more processors 102 and 202 via various technologies, such as a wired or wireless connection.
In the implementations of the present disclosure, a UE may operate as a transmitting device in UL and as a receiving device in DL. In the implementations of the present disclosure, a BS may operate as a receiving device in UL and as a transmitting device in DL. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is mainly assumed that the first wireless device 100 acts as the UE, and the second wireless device 200 acts as the BS. For example, the processor(s) 102 connected to, mounted on or launched in the first wireless device 100 may be adapted to perform the UE behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure or control the transceiver(s) 106 to perform the UE behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure. The processor(s) 202 connected to, mounted on or launched in the second wireless device 200 may be adapted to perform the BS behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure or control the transceiver(s) 206 to perform the BS behavior according to an implementation of the present disclosure.
In the present disclosure, a BS is also referred to as a node B (NB), an eNode B (eNB), or a gNB.
FIG. 3 shows an example of UE to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
Referring to FIG. 3, a UE 100 may correspond to the first wireless device 100 of FIG. 2.
A UE 100 includes a processor 102, a memory 104, a transceiver 106, one or more antennas 108, a power management module 141, a battery 142, a display 143, a keypad 144, a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card 145, a speaker 146, and a microphone 147.
The processor 102 may be adapted to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The processor 102 may be adapted to control one or more other components of the UE 100 to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. Layers of the radio interface protocol may be implemented in the processor 102. The processor 102 may include ASIC, other chipset, logic circuit and/or data processing device. The processor 102 may be an application processor. The processor 102 may include at least one of DSP, CPU, GPU, a modem (modulator and demodulator). An example of the processor 102 may be found in SNAPDRAGONTM series of processors made by Qualcomm®, EXYNOSTM series of processors made by Samsung®, A series of processors made by Apple®, HELIOTM series of processors made by MediaTek®, ATOMTM series of processors made by Intel® or a corresponding next generation processor.
The memory 104 is operatively coupled with the processor 102 and stores a variety of information to operate the processor 102. The memory 104 may include ROM, RAM, flash memory, memory card, storage medium and/or other storage device. When the embodiments are implemented in software, the techniques described herein can be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, etc.) that perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, suggestions, methods and/or operational flowcharts disclosed in the present disclosure. The modules can be stored in the memory 104 and executed by the processor 102. The memory 104 can be implemented within the processor 102 or external to the processor 102 in which case those can be communicatively coupled to the processor 102 via various means as is known in the art.
The transceiver 106 is operatively coupled with the processor 102, and transmits and/or receives a radio signal. The transceiver 106 includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 106 may include baseband circuitry to process radio frequency signals. The transceiver 106 controls the one or more antennas 108 to transmit and/or receive a radio signal.
The power management module 141 manages power for the processor 102 and/or the transceiver 106. The battery 142 supplies power to the power management module 141.
The display 143 outputs results processed by the processor 102. The keypad 144 receives inputs to be used by the processor 102. The keypad 144 may be shown on the display 143.
The SIM card 145 is an integrated circuit that is intended to securely store the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number and its related key, which are used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices (such as mobile phones and computers). It is also possible to store contact information on many SIM cards.
The speaker 146 outputs sound-related results processed by the processor 102. The microphone 147 receives sound-related inputs to be used by the processor 102.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of protocol stacks in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a radio interface user plane protocol stack between a UE and a BS and FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a radio interface control plane protocol stack between a UE and a BS. The control plane refers to a path through which control messages used to manage call by a UE and a network are transported. The user plane refers to a path through which data generated in an application layer, for example, voice data or Internet packet data are transported. Referring to FIG. 4, the user plane protocol stack may be divided into Layer 1 (i.e., a PHY layer) and Layer 2. Referring to FIG. 5, the control plane protocol stack may be divided into Layer 1 (i.e., a PHY layer), Layer 2, Layer 3 (e.g., an RRC layer), and a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer. Layer 1, Layer 2 and Layer 3 are referred to as an Access Stratum (AS).
In the 3GPP LTE system, the Layer 2 is split into the following sublayers: MAC, RLC, and PDCP. In the 3GPP NR system, the Layer 2 is split into the following sublayers: MAC, RLC, PDCP and SDAP. The PHY layer offers to the MAC sublayer transport channels, the MAC sublayer offers to the RLC sublayer logical channels, the RLC sublayer offers to the PDCP sublayer RLC channels, the PDCP sublayer offers to the SDAP sublayer radio bearers. The SDAP sublayer offers to 5G core network Quality of Service (QoS) flows.
In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the MAC sublayer include: mapping between logical channels and transport channels; multiplexing/de-multiplexing of MAC SDUs belonging to one or different logical channels into/from Transport Blocks (TB) delivered to/from the physical layer on transport channels; scheduling information reporting; error correction through Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) (one HARQ entity per cell in case of Carrier Aggregation (CA)); priority handling between UEs by means of dynamic scheduling; priority handling between logical channels of one UE by means of logical channel prioritization; padding. A single MAC entity may support multiple numerologies, transmission timings and cells. Mapping restrictions in logical channel prioritization control which numerology(ies), cell(s), and transmission timing(s) a logical channel can use.
Different kinds of data transfer services are offered by MAC. To accommodate different kinds of data transfer services, multiple types of logical channels are defined, i.e., each supporting transfer of a particular type of information. Each logical channel type is defined by what type of information is transferred. Logical channels are classified into two groups: control channels and traffic channels. Control channels are used for the transfer of control plane information only, and traffic channels are used for the transfer of user plane information only. Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) is a downlink logical channel for broadcasting system control information, Paging Control Channel (PCCH) is a downlink logical channel that transfers paging information, system information change notifications and indications of ongoing Public Warning Service (PWS) broadcasts, Common Control Channel (CCCH) is a logical channel for transmitting control information between UEs and network and used for UEs having no RRC connection with the network, and Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) is a point-to-point bi-directional logical channel that transmits dedicated control information between a UE and the network and used by UEs having an RRC connection. Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH) is a point-to-point logical channel, dedicated to one UE, for the transfer of user information. A DTCH can exist in both uplink and downlink. In downlink, the following connections between logical channels and transport channels exist: BCCH can be mapped to Broadcast Channel (BCH); BCCH can be mapped to Downlink Shared Channel (DL-SCH); PCCH can be mapped to Paging Channel (PCH); CCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH; DCCH can be mapped to DL-SCH; and DTCH can be mapped to DL-SCH. In uplink, the following connections between logical channels and transport channels exist: CCCH can be mapped to Uplink Shared Channel (UL-SCH); DCCH can be mapped to UL-SCH; and DTCH can be mapped to UL-SCH.
The RLC sublayer supports three transmission modes: Transparent Mode (TM), Unacknowledged Mode (UM), and Acknowledged Mode (AM). The RLC configuration is per logical channel with no dependency on numerologies and/or transmission durations. In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the RLC sublayer depend on the transmission mode and include: transfer of upper layer PDUs; sequence numbering independent of the one in PDCP (UM and AM); error correction through ARQ (AM only); segmentation (AM and UM) and re-segmentation (AM only) of RLC SDUs; reassembly of SDU (AM and UM); duplicate detection (AM only); RLC SDU discard (AM and UM); RLC re-establishment; protocol error detection (AM only).
In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the user plane include: sequence numbering; header compression and decompression using Robust Header Compression (ROHC); transfer of user data; reordering and duplicate detection; in-order delivery; PDCP PDU routing (in case of split bearers); retransmission of PDCP SDUs; ciphering, deciphering and integrity protection; PDCP SDU discard; PDCP re-establishment and data recovery for RLC AM; PDCP status reporting for RLC AM; duplication of PDCP PDUs and duplicate discard indication to lower layers. The main services and functions of the PDCP sublayer for the control plane include: sequence numbering; ciphering, deciphering and integrity protection; transfer of control plane data; reordering and duplicate detection; in-order delivery; duplication of PDCP PDUs and duplicate discard indication to lower layers.
In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of SDAP include: mapping between a QoS flow and a data radio bearer; marking QoS Flow ID (QFI) in both DL and UL packets. A single protocol entity of SDAP is configured for each individual PDU session.
In the 3GPP NR system, the main services and functions of the RRC sublayer include: broadcast of system information related to AS and NAS; paging initiated by 5G Core network (5GC) or Next-Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN); establishment, maintenance and release of an RRC connection between the UE and NG-RAN; security functions including key management; establishment, configuration, maintenance and release of Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs) and Data Radio Bearers (DRBs); mobility functions (including: handover and context transfer, UE cell selection and reselection and control of cell selection and reselection, inter-RAT mobility); QoS management functions; UE measurement reporting and control of the reporting; detection of and recovery from radio link failure; NAS message transfer to/from NAS from/to UE.
FIG. 6 shows a frame structure in a 3GPP based wireless communication system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
The frame structure shown in FIG. 6 is purely exemplary and the number of subframes, the number of slots, and/or the number of symbols in a frame may be variously changed. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system, OFDM numerologies (e.g., SCS, Transmission Time Interval (TTI) duration) may be differently configured between a plurality of cells aggregated for one UE. For example, if a UE is configured with different SCSs for cells aggregated for the cell, an (absolute time) duration of a time resource (e.g., a subframe, a slot, or a TTI) including the same number of symbols may be different among the aggregated cells. Herein, symbols may include OFDM symbols (or Cyclic Prefix (CP)-OFDM symbols), SC-FDMA symbols (or Discrete Fourier Transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbols).
Referring to FIG. 6, downlink and uplink transmissions are organized into frames. Each frame has Tf = 10ms duration. Each frame is divided into two half-frames, where each of the half-frames has 5ms duration. Each half-frame consists of 5 subframes, where the duration Tsf per subframe is 1ms. Each subframe is divided into slots and the number of slots in a subframe depends on a subcarrier spacing. Each slot includes 14 or 12 OFDM symbols based on a CP. In a normal CP, each slot includes 14 OFDM symbols and, in an extended CP, each slot includes 12 OFDM symbols. The numerology is based on exponentially scalable subcarrier spacing Δf = 2u*15 kHz.
Table 3 shows the number of OFDM symbols per slot Nslot symb, the number of slots per frame Nframe,u slot, and the number of slots per subframe Nsubframe,u slot for the normal CP, according to the subcarrier spacing Δf = 2u*15 kHz.
u N slot symb N frame,u slot N subframe,u slot
0 14 10 1
1 14 20 2
2 14 40 4
3 14 80 8
4 14 160 16
Table 4 shows the number of OFDM symbols per slot Nslot symb, the number of slots per frame Nframe,u slot, and the number of slots per subframe Nsubframe,u slot for the extended CP, according to the subcarrier spacing Δf = 2u*15 kHz.
u N slot symb N frame,u slot N subframe,u slot
2 12 40 4
A slot includes plural symbols (e.g., 14 or 12 symbols) in the time domain. For each numerology (e.g., subcarrier spacing) and carrier, a resource grid of N size,u grid,x*N RB sc subcarriers and N subframe,u symb OFDM symbols is defined, starting at Common Resource Block (CRB) N start,u grid indicated by higher-layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling), where N size,u grid,x is the number of Resource Blocks (RBs) in the resource grid and the subscript x is DL for downlink and UL for uplink. N RB sc is the number of subcarriers per RB. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system, N RB sc is 12 generally. There is one resource grid for a given antenna port p, subcarrier spacing configuration u, and transmission direction (DL or UL). The carrier bandwidth N size,u grid for subcarrier spacing configuration u is given by the higher-layer parameter (e.g., RRC parameter). Each element in the resource grid for the antenna port p and the subcarrier spacing configuration u is referred to as a Resource Element (RE) and one complex symbol may be mapped to each RE. Each RE in the resource grid is uniquely identified by an index k in the frequency domain and an index l representing a symbol location relative to a reference point in the time domain. In the 3GPP based wireless communication system, an RB is defined by 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain.
In the 3GPP NR system, RBs are classified into CRBs and Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs). CRBs are numbered from 0 and upwards in the frequency domain for subcarrier spacing configuration u. The center of subcarrier 0 of CRB 0 for subcarrier spacing configuration u coincides with 'point A' which serves as a common reference point for resource block grids. In the 3GPP NR system, PRBs are defined within a BandWidth Part (BWP) and numbered from 0 to N size BWP,i-1, where i is the number of the bandwidth part. The relation between the physical resource block nPRB in the bandwidth part i and the common resource block nCRB is as follows: nPRB = nCRB + N size BWP,i, where N size BWP,i is the common resource block where bandwidth part starts relative to CRB 0. The BWP includes a plurality of consecutive RBs. A carrier may include a maximum of N (e.g., 5) BWPs. A UE may be configured with one or more BWPs on a given component carrier. Only one BWP among BWPs configured to the UE can active at a time. The active BWP defines the UE's operating bandwidth within the cell's operating bandwidth.
In the present disclosure, the term "cell" may refer to a geographic area to which one or more nodes provide a communication system, or refer to radio resources. A "cell" as a geographic area may be understood as coverage within which a node can provide service using a carrier and a "cell" as radio resources (e.g., time-frequency resources) is associated with bandwidth which is a frequency range configured by the carrier. The "cell" associated with the radio resources is defined by a combination of downlink resources and uplink resources, for example, a combination of a DL Component Carrier (CC) and a UL CC. The cell may be configured by downlink resources only, or may be configured by downlink resources and uplink resources. Since DL coverage, which is a range within which the node is capable of transmitting a valid signal, and UL coverage, which is a range within which the node is capable of receiving the valid signal from the UE, depends upon a carrier carrying the signal, the coverage of the node may be associated with coverage of the "cell" of radio resources used by the node. Accordingly, the term "cell" may be used to represent service coverage of the node sometimes, radio resources at other times, or a range that signals using the radio resources can reach with valid strength at other times.
In CA, two or more CCs are aggregated. A UE may simultaneously receive or transmit on one or multiple CCs depending on its capabilities. CA is supported for both contiguous and non-contiguous CCs. When CA is configured, the UE only has one RRC connection with the network. At RRC connection establishment/re-establishment/handover, one serving cell provides the NAS mobility information, and at RRC connection re-establishment/handover, one serving cell provides the security input. This cell is referred to as the Primary Cell (PCell). The PCell is a cell, operating on the primary frequency, in which the UE either performs the initial connection establishment procedure or initiates the connection re-establishment procedure. Depending on UE capabilities, Secondary Cells (SCells) can be configured to form together with the PCell a set of serving cells. An SCell is a cell providing additional radio resources on top of Special Cell (SpCell). The configured set of serving cells for a UE therefore always consists of one PCell and one or more SCells. For Dual Connectivity (DC) operation, the term SpCell refers to the PCell of the Master Cell Group (MCG) or the Primary SCell (PSCell) of the Secondary Cell Group (SCG). An SpCell supports Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmission and contention-based random access, and is always activated. The MCG is a group of serving cells associated with a master node, comprised of the SpCell (PCell) and optionally one or more SCells. The SCG is the subset of serving cells associated with a secondary node, comprised of the PSCell and zero or more SCells, for a UE configured with DC. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not configured with CA/DC, there is only one serving cell comprised of the PCell. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED configured with CA/DC, the term "serving cells" is used to denote the set of cells comprised of the SpCell(s) and all SCells. In DC, two MAC entities are configured in a UE: one for the MCG and one for the SCG.
FIG. 7 shows a data flow example in the 3GPP NR system to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
Referring to FIG. 7, "RB" denotes a radio bearer, and "H" denotes a header. Radio bearers are categorized into two groups: DRBs for user plane data and SRBs for control plane data. The MAC PDU is transmitted/received using radio resources through the PHY layer to/from an external device. The MAC PDU arrives to the PHY layer in the form of a transport block.
In the PHY layer, the uplink transport channels UL-SCH and Random Access Channel (RACH) are mapped to their physical channels Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) and Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), respectively, and the downlink transport channels DL-SCH, BCH and PCH are mapped to Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) and PDSCH, respectively. In the PHY layer, Uplink Control Information (UCI) is mapped to PUCCH, and Downlink Control Information (DCI) is mapped to Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). A MAC PDU related to UL-SCH is transmitted by a UE via a PUSCH based on an UL grant, and a MAC PDU related to DL-SCH is transmitted by a BS via a PDSCH based on a DL assignment.
Network controlled mobility applies to UEs in RRC_CONNECTED and is categorized into two types of mobility: cell level mobility and beam level mobility. Beam level mobility includes intra-cell beam level mobility and inter-cell beam level mobility.
Cell level mobility requires explicit RRC signaling to be triggered, i.e., handover.
FIG. 8 shows an example of inter-gNB handover procedures to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
For inter-gNB handover, the signaling procedures consist of at least the following elemental components described in FIG. 8.
1. Step 1: The source gNB initiates handover and issues a HANDOVER REQUEST over the Xn interface.
2. Step 2: The target gNB performs admission control and provides the new RRC configuration as part of the HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE.
3. Step 3: The source gNB provides the RRC configuration to the UE by forwarding the RRCReconfiguration message received in the HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE. The RRCReconfiguration message includes at least cell ID and all information required to access the target cell so that the UE can access the target cell without reading system information. For some cases, the information required for contention-based and contention-free random access can be included in the RRCReconfiguration message. The access information to the target cell may include beam specific information, if any.
4. Step 4: The UE moves the RRC connection to the target gNB and replies with the RRCReconfigurationComplete.
User data may also be sent in step 4 if the grant allows.
Beam level mobility does not require explicit RRC signaling to be triggered. Beam level mobility can be within a cell, or between cells, the latter is referred to as Inter-Cell Beam Management (ICBM). For ICBM, a UE can receive or transmit UE dedicated channels/signals via a Transmission/Reception Point (TRP) associated with a Physical Cell ID (PCI) different from the PCI of a serving cell, while non-UE-dedicated channels/signals can only be received via a TRP associated with a PCI of the serving cell. The gNB provides via RRC signaling the UE with measurement configuration containing configurations of Synchronization Signal Block (SSB)/Channel State Information (CSI) resources and resource sets, reports and trigger states for triggering channel and interference measurements and reports. In case of ICBM, a measurement configuration includes SSB resources associated with PCIs different from the PCI of a serving cell. Beam level mobility is then dealt with at lower layers by means of physical layer and MAC layer control signaling, and RRC is not required to know which beam is being used at a given point in time.
SSB-based beam level mobility is based on the SSB associated to the initial DL BWP and can only be configured for the initial DL BWPs and for DL BWPs containing the SSB associated to the initial DL BWP. For other DL BWPs, beam level mobility can only be performed based on CSI-Reference Signal (RS).
A Conditional Handover (CHO) is defined as a handover that is executed by the UE when one or more handover execution conditions are met. The UE starts evaluating the execution condition(s) upon receiving the CHO configuration, and stops evaluating the execution condition(s) once a handover is executed.
The following principles apply to CHO:
- The CHO configuration contains the configuration of CHO candidate cell(s) generated by the candidate gNB(s) and execution condition(s) generated by the source gNB.
- An execution condition may consist of one or two trigger condition(s) (CHO events A3/). Only single RS type is supported and at most two different trigger quantities (e.g., Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), RSRP and Signal-to-Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR), etc.) can be configured simultaneously for the evaluation of CHO execution condition of a single candidate cell.
- Before any CHO execution condition is satisfied, upon reception of HO command (without CHO configuration), the UE executes the HO procedure, regardless of any previously received CHO configuration.
- While executing CHO, i.e., from the time when the UE starts synchronization with target cell, the UE does not monitor source cell.
L1/L2 Triggered Mobility (LTM) is a procedure in which a gNB receives L1 measurement report(s) from a UE, and on their basis the gNB changes UE's serving cell by a cell switch command signaled via a MAC CE. The cell switch command indicates an LTM candidate cell configuration that the gNB previously prepared and provided to the UE through RRC signaling. Then the UE switches to the target cell according to the cell switch command. The LTM procedure can be used to reduce the mobility latency.
When configured by the network, it is possible to activate Transmission Configuration Index (TCI) states of one or multiple cells that are different from the current serving cell. For instance, the TCI states of the LTM candidate cells can be activated in advance before any of those cells become the serving cell. This allows the UE to be DL synchronized with those cells, thereby facilitating a faster cell switch to one of those cells when cell switch is triggered.
When configured by the network, it is possible to initiate UL Timing Advance (TA) acquisition procedure to one or multiple cells that are different from the current serving cell. For instance, the network may request the UE to perform early TA acquisition of a candidate cell before a cell switch. The early TA acquisition is triggered by PDCCH order or realized through UE-based TA measurement. In the former case, the gNB to which the candidate cell belongs calculates the TA value and sends it to the gNB to which the serving cell belongs. The serving cell sends the TA value in the LTM cell switch command MAC CE when triggering LTM cell switch. In the latter case, the UE applies the TA value measured by itself and performs RACH-less LTM upon receiving the cell switch command.
If UE-based TA measurement is configured, the UE performs RACH-less LTM upon receiving the cell switch command. Otherwise, the UE determines whether to access the target cell with the RA procedure depending on whether a TA value is provided in the cell switch command. For RACH-less LTM, the UE accesses the target cell via a configured grant provided in the LTM candidate cell configuration and selects the configured grant occasion associated with the beam indicated in the cell switch command. If the LTM candidate cell configuration does not include a configured grant, the UE may monitor PDCCH for dynamic scheduling from the target cell upon LTM cell switch. Before RACH-less LTM procedure completion, the UE may not trigger random access procedure if it does not have a valid PUCCH resource for triggered Scheduling Requests (SRs).
The following principles apply to LTM:
- The UE does not update its security key after an intra-gNB LTM cell switch.
- Subsequent LTM is supported.
LTM supports both intra-gNB-Distributed Unit (DU) and intra-gNB-Centralized Unit (CU) inter-gNB-DU mobility. LTM supports both intra-frequency and inter-frequency mobility, including mobility to inter-frequency cell that is not a current serving cell. The following scenarios are supported:
- PCell change in non-CA scenario and non-DC scenario,
- PCell change in CA scenario,
- DC scenario, MCG PCell change and SCG PSCell change without MN involvement case (i.e., intra-SN PSCell change).
While the UE has stored LTM candidate cell configurations, the UE can also execute any L3 handover command sent by the network.
FIG. 9 shows an example of signaling procedure for LTM to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
Cell switch command is conveyed in a MAC Control Element (CE), which contains the necessary information to perform the LTM cell switch.
Subsequent LTM is done by repeating the early synchronization, LTM cell switch execution, and LTM cell switch completion steps without releasing other LTM candidate cell configurations after each LTM cell switch completion.
The signaling procedure for LTM is as follows.
1. Step 1: The UE sends a MeasurementReport message to the gNB. The gNB decides to configure LTM and initiates candidate cell(s) preparation.
2. Step 2: The gNB transmits an RRCReconfiguration message to the UE including the LTM candidate cell configurations of one or multiple candidate cells.
3. Step 3: The UE stores the LTM candidate cell configurations and transmits an RRCReconfigurationComplete message to the gNB.
4a. Step 4a: The UE may perform DL synchronization with the candidate cell(s) before receiving the cell switch command.
4b. Step 4b: When UE-based TA measurement is configured, the UE may acquire the TA value(s) of the candidate cell(s) by measurement. Otherwise, the UE may perform early TA acquisition with the candidate cell(s) as requested by the network before receiving the cell switch command. This may be done via Contention-Free Random Access (CFRA) triggered by a PDCCH order from the source cell, following which the UE may send preamble towards the indicated candidate cell. In order to minimize the data interruption of the source cell due to CFRA towards the candidate cell(s), the UE may not receive random access response from the network for the purpose of TA value acquisition and the TA value of the candidate cell is indicated in the cell switch command. The UE may not maintain the TA timer for the candidate cell and relies on network implementation to guarantee the TA validity.
5. Step 5: The UE performs L1 measurements on the configured candidate cell(s) and transmits L1 measurement reports to the gNB. L1 measurement should be performed as long as RRC reconfiguration (step 2) is applicable.
6. Step 6: The gNB decides to execute cell switch to a target cell and transmits a MAC CE triggering cell switch by including the candidate configuration index of the target cell. The UE switches to the target cell and applies the configuration indicated by candidate configuration index.
7. Step 7: The UE may perform the random access procedure towards the target cell, if the UE does not have valid TA of the target cell. The UE may perform CFRA if the LTM cell switch command MAC CE contains information for CFRA.
8. Step 8: The UE completes the LTM cell switch procedure by sending RRCReconfigurationComplete message to target cell. If the UE has performed a random access procedure in step 7, the UE considers that LTM cell switch execution is successfully completed when the random access procedure is successfully completed. For RACH-less LTM, the UE considers that LTM cell switch execution is successfully completed when the UE determines that the network has successfully received its first UL data. The UE determines successful reception of its first UL data by receiving a PDCCH addressing the UE's Cell Radio Network Temporary Identity (C-RNTI) in the target cell, which schedules a new transmission following the first UL data. The PDCCH carries either a DL assignment or an UL grant addressing the same HARQ process as the first UL data.
The steps 4-8 can be performed multiple times for subsequent LTM using the LTM candidate cell configuration(s) provided in step 2.
As described above, UE-based TA measurement may be applied to the LTM. When the UE-based TA measurement is configured, the UE may acquire the TA value(s) of the candidate cell(s) by measurement, instead of receiving TA value from the network. If a candidate cell configuration includes an identifier indicating the UE-based TA measurement, the UE may compare the identifier of the candidate cell with the identifier of the current serving cell. If the identifier of the candidate cell is equal to the identifier of the current serving cell, the UE may calculate the TA of the candidate cell based on the TA of the serving cell and relevant downlink reference signals from the serving and candidate cells.
The identifier indicating the UE-based TA measurement included in a candidate cell configuration may be a single integer. This may mean that the serving cell and all candidate cells are grouped orthogonally for the UE-based TA measurement.
FIG. 10 shows an example of UE-based TA measurement to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
Referring to FIG. 10, three candidate cells (e.g., cell #1, cell #2, and cell #3) are configured to the UE for mobility (e.g., LTM). It is assumed that the UE moves in direction from the serving cell (cell #0) to a candidate cell #1 (cell #1) to a candidate cell #2 (cell #2) to a candidate cell #3 (cell #3). Furthermore, it is assumed that UE-based TA ID is set to 1 for the serving cell and candidate cell #1, and UE-based TA ID is set to 2 for the candidate cells #2 and #3.
When the UE camps on the serving cell (cell #0) for which the UE-based TA ID is set to 1, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cell #1 (cell #1) for which the UE-based TA ID is set to 1, as same as the UE-based TA ID of the serving cell.
If the serving cell changes from cell #0 to cell #1 due to UE movement, the UE may only perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #0 for which the UE-based TA ID is set to 1 according to the configuration, even though the UE-based TA measurement for cell #2 is physically possible (e.g., proximity of cell #1 and cell #2). In this case, for UL synchronization for cell #2, there may be no choice but to perform RACH-based TA acquisition, unless the network pre-calculates the corresponding TA value and provides it to the UE when commanding cell switch.
In other words, serving/candidate cells orthogonal grouping for the UE-based TA measurement may reduce the opportunity for the UE-based TA measurement, which may increase the frequency of use of RACH-based TA acquisition and/or unnecessary pre-calculation of TA value via PDCCH order involving the serving cell, candidate cell, and the UE. Consequently, network overhead and/or UE interruption due to TA acquisition may increase.
According to implementations of the present disclosure, the UE may be configured with cell grouping information for UE-based TA measurement. The cell grouping information for UE-based TA measurement may be used for every cell change. The cell grouping information for UE-based TA measurement may be configured at every cell change. Based on the configuration, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement with different cell grouping after a serving cell change.
The following drawings are created to explain specific embodiments of the present disclosure. The names of the specific devices or the names of the specific signals/messages/fields shown in the drawings are provided by way of example, and thus the technical features of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific names used in the following drawings.
An embodiment of the present disclosure related to a specific drawing described below may be combined with various embodiments of the present disclosure related to other drawings, and some descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods and/or operations of the embodiment may be omitted.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined with each other, and some descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods and/or operations of the various embodiments may be omitted.
FIG. 11 shows an example of a method to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
In step S1100, the method comprises receiving first cell grouping information related to a first cell and second cell grouping information related to a second cell. The first cell grouping information and the second cell grouping information are for UE-based TA measurement.
In step S1110, the method comprises selecting the first cell grouping information;
In step S1120, the method comprises performing the UE-based TA measurement based on the first cell grouping information.
In step S1130, the method comprises performing a cell switch from the first cell to the second cell.
In step S1140, the method comprises selecting the second cell grouping information.
In step S1150, the method comprises performing the UE-based TA measurement based on the second cell grouping information.
In some implementations, the first cell may be a serving cell or a candidate cell of LTM.
In some implementations, the second cell may be a candidate cell of LTM.
In some implementations, cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be configured by the network in the pre-configuration for mobility (e.g., LTM configuration). For example, the first cell grouping information related to the first cell and/or the second cell grouping information related to the second cell may be configured in a pre-configuration for mobility.
In some implementations, cell grouping information in each candidate cell configuration may include information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement to be performed if the corresponding candidate cell configuration is applied as the serving configuration (e.g., the candidate cell corresponding to the candidate cell configuration becomes serving cell by serving cell change).
For example, the pre-configuration for mobility may include a first candidate cell configuration for the first cell and a second candidate cell configuration for second cell.
For example, the first candidate cell configuration may include the first cell grouping information. The first cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on the first candidate cell configuration being applied (e.g., when the first candidate cell configuration is applied as the serving configuration).
For example, the second candidate cell configuration may include the second cell grouping information. The second cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on the second candidate cell configuration being applied (e.g., when the second candidate cell configuration is applied as the serving configuration).
In some implementations, the information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement to be performed may be provided by e.g., a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, and/or a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information for each candidate cell configuration may be as follows.
For example, a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included in each candidate cell configuration as follows.
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #0 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #1};
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #1 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #0, candidate cell #2};
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #2 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #1, candidate cell #3}; and
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #3 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #2}
For example, a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included in each candidate cell configuration as follows.
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #0 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #1};
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #1 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #0, cell #2};
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #2 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #1, cell #3}; and
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #3 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #2}
In some implementations, cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be provided outside of candidate cell configuration (e.g., separate configuration from candidate cell configurations). For example, the first cell grouping information related to the first cell and/or the second cell grouping information related to the second cell may be configured in a configuration which is a separate configuration from a pre-configuration for mobility (e.g., LTM configuration).
In some implementations, the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If a serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the one or more candidate cells indicated by the cell grouping information corresponding to the new serving cell.
For example, the first cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on a cell switch to the first cell being performed (e.g., when serving cell is changed to the first cell). For example, the second cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on a cell switch to the second cell being performed (e.g., when serving cell is changed to the second cell).
In some implementations, the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells indicated by the candidate cell IDs list corresponding to the specific cell.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
- List #0 = {candidate cell #1}, List #1 = {candidate cell #0, candidate cell #2}, List #2 = {candidate cell #1, candidate cell #3}, List #3 = {candidate cell #2}
For example, if cell #1 becomes the serving cell, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for candidate cell #0 and candidate cell #2 based on the list #1.
In some implementations, the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells indicated by the physical cell IDs list corresponding to the specific cell.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
- List #0 = {cell #1}, List #1 = {cell #0, cell #2}, List #2 = {cell #1, cell #3}, List #3 = {cell #2}
For example, if cell #3 becomes the serving cell, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for candidate cell #2 based on the list #3.
In some implementations, the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of UE-based TA IDs of candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement based on the list corresponding to the specific cell.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
- List #0 = {1, 1, 2, 2}, List #1 = {1, 1, 1, 2}, List #2 = {1, 2, 2, 2}, List #3 = {1, 1, 2, 2}
List #0 may be used when cell #0 is the serving cell. List #1 may be used when cell #1 is the serving cell. List #2 may be used when cell #2 is the serving cell. List #3 may be used when cell #3 is the serving cell. The first element in each list may be associated with cell #0. The second element in each list may be associated with cell #1. The third element in each list may be associated with cell #2. The fourth element in each list may be associated with cell #3. Each element in each list may be called UE-based TA ID. For example, the first element in list #3 may stand for the UE-based TA ID corresponding to cell #0 if cell#3 is the serving cell.
For example, if cell #2 becomes the serving cell, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells whose UE-based TA ID is equal to the third element in List #2 (i.e., 2). In this case, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #1 and cell #3, whose UE-based TA ID in List #2 is 2.
In some implementations, cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be indicated by the network after a serving cell change. For example, the first cell grouping information may be received after a serving cell change to the first cell is performed, and the second cell grouping information may be received after a serving cell change to the second cell is performed.
In some implementations, after a serving cell change, the network may indicate the cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement via, e.g., RRC message (RRCReconfiguration message), MAC Control Element (CE), DCI, etc. For example, the first cell grouping information related to the first cell and/or the second cell grouping information related to the second cell may be received via RRC message, MAC CE, or DCI.
The network indication for the cell grouping information after a serving cell change may include information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. The information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement to be performed may be provided by e.g., a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, and/or a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
For example, a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included the network indication for the cell grouping information.
- If cell #0 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #1};
- If cell #1 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #0, candidate cell #2};
- If cell #2 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #1, candidate cell #3};
- If cell #3 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #2}
For example, a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included the network indication for the cell grouping information.
- If cell #0 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #1};
- If cell #1 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #0, cell #2};
- If cell #2 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #1, cell #3};
- If cell #3 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #2}
In some implementations, the the method may be performed by a wireless device. The wireless device may be in communication with at least one of a mobile device, a network, and/or autonomous vehicles other than the wireless device.
Furthermore, the method described above in FIG. 11 may be performed by a wireless device. The wireless device may be implemented by the first wireless device 100 shown in FIG. 2 and/or the UE 100 shown in FIG. 3.
The wireless device comprises at least one transceiver, at least one processor, and at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, perform the method described in FIG. 11.
More specifically, the wireless device receives first cell grouping information related to a first cell and second cell grouping information related to a second cell. The first cell grouping information and the second cell grouping information are for UE-based TA measurement.
The wireless device selects the first cell grouping information;
The wireless device performs the UE-based TA measurement based on the first cell grouping information.
The wireless device performs a cell switch from the first cell to the second cell.
The wireless device selects the second cell grouping information.
The wireless device performs the UE-based TA measurement based on the second cell grouping information.
In some implementations, the first cell may be a serving cell or a candidate cell of LTM.
In some implementations, the second cell may be a candidate cell of LTM.
In some implementations, cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be configured by the network in the pre-configuration for mobility (e.g., LTM configuration). For example, the first cell grouping information related to the first cell and/or the second cell grouping information related to the second cell may be configured in a pre-configuration for mobility.
In some implementations, cell grouping information in each candidate cell configuration may include information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement to be performed if the corresponding candidate cell configuration is applied as the serving configuration (e.g., the candidate cell corresponding to the candidate cell configuration becomes serving cell by serving cell change).
For example, the pre-configuration for mobility may include a first candidate cell configuration for the first cell and a second candidate cell configuration for second cell.
For example, the first candidate cell configuration may include the first cell grouping information. The first cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on the first candidate cell configuration being applied (e.g., when the first candidate cell configuration is applied as the serving configuration).
For example, the second candidate cell configuration may include the second cell grouping information. The second cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on the second candidate cell configuration being applied (e.g., when the second candidate cell configuration is applied as the serving configuration).
In some implementations, the information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement to be performed may be provided by e.g., a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, and/or a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information for each candidate cell configuration may be as follows.
For example, a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included in each candidate cell configuration as follows.
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #0 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #1};
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #1 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #0, candidate cell #2};
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #2 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #1, candidate cell #3}; and
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #3 may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #2}
For example, a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included in each candidate cell configuration as follows.
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #0 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #1};
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #1 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #0, cell #2};
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #2 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #1, cell #3}; and
- Candidate cell configuration of cell #3 may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #2}
In some implementations, cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be provided outside of candidate cell configuration (e.g., separate configuration from candidate cell configurations). For example, the first cell grouping information related to the first cell and/or the second cell grouping information related to the second cell may be configured in a configuration which is a separate configuration from a pre-configuration for mobility (e.g., LTM configuration).
In some implementations, the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If a serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the one or more candidate cells indicated by the cell grouping information corresponding to the new serving cell.
For example, the first cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on a cell switch to the first cell being performed (e.g., when serving cell is changed to the first cell). For example, the second cell grouping information may include information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on a cell switch to the second cell being performed (e.g., when serving cell is changed to the second cell).
In some implementations, the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells indicated by the candidate cell IDs list corresponding to the specific cell.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
- List #0 = {candidate cell #1}, List #1 = {candidate cell #0, candidate cell #2}, List #2 = {candidate cell #1, candidate cell #3}, List #3 = {candidate cell #2}
For example, if cell #1 becomes the serving cell, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for candidate cell #0 and candidate cell #2 based on the list #1.
In some implementations, the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells indicated by the physical cell IDs list corresponding to the specific cell.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
- List #0 = {cell #1}, List #1 = {cell #0, cell #2}, List #2 = {cell #1, cell #3}, List #3 = {cell #2}
For example, if cell #3 becomes the serving cell, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for candidate cell #2 based on the list #3.
In some implementations, the cell grouping information may be provided by multiple lists of UE-based TA IDs of candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. Each list may correspond to and/or be associated with a specific cell. If serving cell changes to the specific cell, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement based on the list corresponding to the specific cell.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
- List #0 = {1, 1, 2, 2}, List #1 = {1, 1, 1, 2}, List #2 = {1, 2, 2, 2}, List #3 = {1, 1, 2, 2}
List #0 may be used when cell #0 is the serving cell. List #1 may be used when cell #1 is the serving cell. List #2 may be used when cell #2 is the serving cell. List #3 may be used when cell #3 is the serving cell. The first element in each list may be associated with cell #0. The second element in each list may be associated with cell #1. The third element in each list may be associated with cell #2. The fourth element in each list may be associated with cell #3. Each element in each list may be called UE-based TA ID. For example, the first element in list #3 may stand for the UE-based TA ID corresponding to cell #0 if cell#3 is the serving cell.
For example, if cell #2 becomes the serving cell, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for the candidate cells whose UE-based TA ID is equal to the third element in List #2 (i.e., 2). In this case, the UE may perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #1 and cell #3, whose UE-based TA ID in List #2 is 2.
In some implementations, cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be indicated by the network after a serving cell change. For example, the first cell grouping information may be received after a serving cell change to the first cell is performed, and the second cell grouping information may be received after a serving cell change to the second cell is performed.
In some implementations, after a serving cell change, the network may indicate the cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement via, e.g., RRC message (RRCReconfiguration message), MAC Control Element (CE), DCI, etc. For example, the first cell grouping information related to the first cell and/or the second cell grouping information related to the second cell may be received via RRC message, MAC CE, or DCI.
The network indication for the cell grouping information after a serving cell change may include information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed. The information related to candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement to be performed may be provided by e.g., a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, and/or a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed.
Based on the scenario shown in FIG. 10, examples of provision of cell grouping information may be as follows.
For example, a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included the network indication for the cell grouping information.
- If cell #0 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #1};
- If cell #1 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #0, candidate cell #2};
- If cell #2 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #1, candidate cell #3};
- If cell #3 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of candidate cell IDs, e.g., {candidate cell #2}
For example, a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed may be provided by being included the network indication for the cell grouping information.
- If cell #0 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #1};
- If cell #1 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #0, cell #2};
- If cell #2 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #1, cell #3};
- If cell #3 becomes the serving cell by serving cell change, the network indication may include a list of physical cell IDs, e.g., {cell #2}
Furthermore, the method described above in FIG. 11 may be performed by control of a processing apparatus adapted to control a wireless device. The processing apparatus may be implemented by the processor 102 included in the first wireless device 100 shown in FIG. 2 and/or the processor 102 included in the UE 100 shown in FIG. 3.
The processing apparatus adapted to control the wireless device comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor. The at least one processor is adapted to perform the method described in FIG. 11.
Furthermore, the method described above in FIG. 11 may be performed by a software code 105 stored in the memory 104 included in the first wireless device 100 shown in FIG. 2.
The technical features of the present disclosure may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. For example, a method performed by a wireless device in a wireless communication may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, a software may reside in RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other storage medium.
Some example of storage medium may be coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. For other example, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components.
The computer-readable medium may include a tangible and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.
For example, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM such as Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), ROM, Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM), EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage media, or any other medium that can be used to store instructions or data structures. Non-transitory computer-readable media may also include combinations of the above.
In addition, the method described herein may be realized at least in part by a computer-readable communication medium that carries or communicates code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed, read, and/or executed by a computer.
According to some implementations of the present disclosure, a non-transitory Computer-Readable Medium (CRM) stores instructions that, based on being executed by at least one processor, perform the method described in FIG. 11.
FIG. 12 shows an example of another method to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
In step S1200, the method comprises transmits cell grouping information related to a target cell to a wireless device. The cell grouping information is for UE-based TA measurement.
In step S1210, the method comprises transmitting a cell switch command for mobility from a source cell to the target cell to the wireless device.
The cell switch command does not include a TA value of the target cell based on the UE-based TA measurement being configured for the target cell.
In other words, the cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement described above may be configured for some or entire DUs involved in mobility. When generating a cell switch command, the source DU may determine the TA value based on the cell grouping information. If the UE-based TA measurement is configured for the target cell of the cell switch command, the source DU may not include the TA value in the cell switch command (e.g., the TA value in the cell switch command is 0xFFF) even if the source DU has the TA value of the target cell based on, e.g., RACH-based TA acquisition and/or network implementation to pre-calculate the TA of the target cell.
Furthermore, the method described above in FIG. 12 may be performed by a base station. The base station may be implemented by the second wireless device 200 shown in FIG. 2.
The base station comprises at least one transceiver, at least one processor, and at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, perform the method described in FIG. 12.
More specifically, the base station transmits cell grouping information related to a target cell to a wireless device. The cell grouping information is for UE-based TA measurement.
The base station transmits a cell switch command for mobility from a source cell to the target cell to the wireless device.
The cell switch command does not include a TA value of the target cell based on the UE-based TA measurement being configured for the target cell.
FIG. 13 shows an example of provision of cell grouping information to which implementations of the present disclosure are applied.
Referring to FIG. 13, three candidate cells (e.g., cell #1, cell #2, and cell #3) are configured to the UE for mobility (e.g., LTM). It is assumed that the UE moves in direction from the serving cell (cell #0) to a candidate cell #1 (cell #1) to a candidate cell #2 (cell #2) to a candidate cell #3 (cell #3).
Furthermore, according to implementations of the present disclosure, cell grouping information for the UE-based TA measurement may be configured for the serving cell and/or each candidate cell. For example, cell grouping information {cell #1} is configured for cell #0, cell grouping information {cell #0, cell #2} is configured for cell #1, cell grouping information {cell #1, cell #3} is configured for cell #2, and cell grouping information {cell #2} is configured for cell #3.
In this example, the cell grouping information is provided by a list of physical cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, but this is only exemplary. the cell grouping information may be provided by a list of candidate cell IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed and/or UE-based TA IDs for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed, as described above.
When cell #1 becomes the new serving cell by serving cell change, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #0 and cell #2 based on the cell grouping information for cell #1.
When cell #2 becomes the new serving cell by serving cell change, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #1 and cell #3 based on the cell grouping information for cell #2.
When cell #3 becomes the new serving cell by serving cell change, the wireless device may perform the UE-based TA measurement for cell #2 based on the cell grouping information for cell #3.
For example, the UE-based TA measurement described in the present disclosure may be performed as follows.
The network may instruct the UE to perform LTM cell switch procedure by sending the LTM cell switch command MAC CE.
The MAC entity may:
1> if the MAC entity receives an LTM cell switch command MAC CE on a serving cell:
2> indicate to upper layers that the LTM cell switch procedure is triggered and the target configuration ID included in the LTM cell switch command MAC CE;
2> if the MAC reset operation is performed, as requested by upper layers:
3> if timing advance command value (hexa-decimal) is not set as FFF:
4> process the received timing advance command;
4> consider the RACH-less LTM cell switch to be ongoing;
4> if the MAC entity is associated with the SCG:
5> indicate to upper layers to skip the random access procedure for this LTM cell switch.
3> else if the UE is configured with UE-based Timing Advance measurement and the UE has successfully measured the timing advance for the SpCell of the indicated LTM target configuration:
4> process the measured timing advance;
4> consider the RACH-less LTM cell switch to be ongoing.
4> if the MAC entity is associated with the SCG:
5> indicate to upper layers to skip the random access procedure for this LTM cell switch.
3> indicate to lower layers the information regarding the Transmission Configuration Index (TCI) state information included in the LTM cell switch command MAC CE.
The present disclosure may have various advantageous effects.
For example, since the UE is configured with cell grouping information for UE-based TA measurement at every cell change, the UE can perform UE-based TA measurement with different cell grouping after a serving cell change, based on the configuration.
For example, by using UE-based TA measurement more appropriately, network overhead and/or UE interruption due to UL synchronization and/or RACH-based TA acquisition can decrease.
Advantageous effects which can be obtained through specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the advantageous effects listed above. For example, there may be a variety of technical effects that a person having ordinary skill in the related art can understand and/or derive from the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specific effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those explicitly described herein, but may include various effects that may be understood or derived from the technical features of the present disclosure.
Claims in the present disclosure can be combined in a various way. For instance, technical features in method claims of the present disclosure can be combined to be implemented or performed in an apparatus, and technical features in apparatus claims can be combined to be implemented or performed in a method. Further, technical features in method claim(s) and apparatus claim(s) can be combined to be implemented or performed in an apparatus. Further, technical features in method claim(s) and apparatus claim(s) can be combined to be implemented or performed in a method. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (19)

  1. A method comprising:
    receiving first cell grouping information related to a first cell and second cell grouping information related to a second cell,
    wherein the first cell grouping information and the second cell grouping information are for user equipment (UE)-based timing advance (TA) measurement;
    selecting the first cell grouping information;
    performing the UE-based TA measurement based on the first cell grouping information;
    performing a cell switch from the first cell to the second cell;
    selecting the second cell grouping information; and
    performing the UE-based TA measurement based on the second cell grouping information.
  2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cell is a serving cell or a candidate cell of L1/L2 triggered mobility (LTM).
  3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second cell is a candidate cell of LTM.
  4. The method of any claims 1 to 3, wherein the first cell grouping information and/or the second cell grouping information is configured in a pre-configuration for mobility.
  5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pre-configuration for mobility includes a first candidate cell configuration for the first cell and a second candidate cell configuration for second cell, and
    wherein the first candidate cell configuration includes the first cell grouping information, and the second candidate cell configuration includes the second cell grouping information.
  6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first cell grouping information includes information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on the first candidate cell configuration being applied, and
    wherein the second cell grouping information includes information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on the second candidate cell configuration being applied,
  7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed includes at least one of a list of candidate cell identifiers (IDs) and/or a list of physical cell IDs.
  8. The method of any claims 1 to 3, wherein the first cell grouping information and/or the second cell grouping information is configured in a configuration which is a separate configuration from a pre-configuration for mobility.
  9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first cell grouping information includes information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on a cell switch to the first cell being performed, and
    wherein the second cell grouping information includes information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed based on a cell switch to the second cell being performed,
  10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information related to one or more candidate cells for which the UE-based TA measurement is to be performed includes at least one of a list of candidate cell identifiers (IDs), a list of physical cell IDs, and/or a list of UE-based TA IDs of candidate cells.
  11. The method any claims 1 to 10, wherein the first cell grouping information is received after a serving cell change to the first cell is performed, and
    wherein the second cell grouping information is received after a serving cell change to the second cell is performed.
  12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first cell grouping information and/or the second cell grouping information is received via a radio resource control (RRC) message, a media access control (MAC) control element (CE), or downlink control information (DCI).
  13. The method of any claims 1 to 12, wherein the method is performed by a wireless device.
  14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless device is in communication with at least one of a mobile device, a network, and/or autonomous vehicles other than the wireless device.
  15. A wireless device comprising:
    at least one transceiver;
    at least one processor; and
    at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, perform the method of any claims 1 to 14.
  16. A processing apparatus adapted to control a wireless device comprising:
    at least one processor; and
    at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor,
    wherein the at least one processor is adapted to perform the method of any claims 1 to 14.
  17. A non-transitory Computer Readable Medium (CRM) storing instructions that, based on being executed by at least one processor, perform the method of any claims 1 to 14.
  18. A method comprising:
    transmitting cell grouping information related to a target cell to a wireless device, wherein the cell grouping information is for user equipment (UE)-based timing advance (TA) measurement; and
    transmitting a cell switch command for mobility from a source cell to the target cell to the wireless device,
    wherein the cell switch command does not include a TA value of the target cell based on the UE-based TA measurement being configured for the target cell.
  19. A base station comprising:
    at least one transceiver;
    at least one processor; and
    at least one memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, perform the method of claim 18.
PCT/KR2025/004434 2024-04-04 2025-04-03 Timing advance measurement of neighbor cell Pending WO2025211792A1 (en)

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Citations (1)

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CLAES TIDESTAV, ERICSSON: "Maintenance of TA management for LTM", 3GPP DRAFT; R1-2309162; TYPE DISCUSSION; NR_MOB_ENH2-CORE, 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (3GPP), MOBILE COMPETENCE CENTRE ; 650, ROUTE DES LUCIOLES ; F-06921 SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS CEDEX ; FRANCE, vol. RAN WG1, no. Xiamen, CN; 20231009 - 20231013, 29 September 2023 (2023-09-29), Mobile Competence Centre ; 650, route des Lucioles ; F-06921 Sophia-Antipolis Cedex ; France, XP052526882 *
PATRICK MERIAS, MODERATOR (CATT): "Moderator summary on timing advance management for LTM: Round 1", 3GPP DRAFT; R1-2310360; TYPE DISCUSSION; NR_MOB_ENH2-CORE, 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (3GPP), MOBILE COMPETENCE CENTRE ; 650, ROUTE DES LUCIOLES ; F-06921 SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS CEDEX ; FRANCE, vol. RAN WG1, no. Xiamen, CN; 20231009 - 20231013, 13 October 2023 (2023-10-13), Mobile Competence Centre ; 650, route des Lucioles ; F-06921 Sophia-Antipolis Cedex ; France, XP052528070 *
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