WO2025170500A1

WO2025170500A1 - Enhanced measurement reporting for entering and leaving conditions

Info

Publication number: WO2025170500A1
Application number: PCT/SE2024/051101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonino ORSINO; Pradeepa Ramachandra; Tao CUI; Walter Müller; Mattias BERGSTÖM
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 2024-02-06
Filing date: 2024-12-18
Publication date: 2025-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-06

Abstract

Embodiments include methods performed by a user equipment (UE) configured to operate in a radio access network (RAN). Such methods include receiving from a RAN node a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN. The reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition. Such methods include sending to the RAN node a first measurement report including measurements for a first subset of the cells whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number. Such methods include, based on determining that subsequent measurements performed on a second subset of the cells meet the leaving condition, sending to the RAN node a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

Description

ENHANCED MEASUREMENT REPORTING FOR ENTERING AND LEAVING CONDITIONS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to communication networks, and more specifically to improved techniques for user equipment (UEs) to report measurements in association with entering or leaving an event condition configured by a communication network.

BACKGROUND

Currently the fifth generation (5G) of cellular systems, also referred to as New Radio (NR), is being standardized within the Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 5G/NR is developed for maximum flexibility to support multiple and substantially different use cases. These include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), machine type communications (MTC), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), side-link device-to-device (D2D), and several other use cases. NR was initially specified in Rel-15 and continues to evolve through subsequent releases, such as Rel-16 and Rel-17.

Seamless mobility is a key feature of 3GPP radio access technologies (RATs). In general, a serving radio access network (RAN) configures a UE to perform and report radio resource management (RRM) measurements to assist network-controlled mobility decisions, such as for handover from a serving cell to a neighbor cell. Seamless handovers ensure that the UE moves around in the coverage area of different cells without excessive interruption to data transmission.

However, there will be scenarios when the network fails to handover the UE to the “correct” neighbor cell in time, which can cause the UE to declare radio link failure (RLF) or handover failure (HOF). This can occur before the UE sends a measurement report in a source cell, before the UE receives a handover command to a target cell, shortly after the UE executes a successful handover to the target cell, or upon a HOF to the target cell.

To facilitate mobility, the RAN may configure a UE to send event-triggered measurement reports by configuring setting a flag called reportType to value “eventTriggered”. Furthermore, the RAN may configure the UE with a flag called reportOnLeave, which indicates that the UE should send a measurement report when an event-leaving condition is fulfilled so long as reportType is set to “eventTriggered”. The flag reportOnLeave is applicable for almost all reporting events that can be configured in 5G/NR.

Furthermore, a UE configured with event-triggered measurement reporting could send a measurement report when measurements on one or more cells have met a configured evententering condition, and when one of the cells that had previously met the event-entering condition has met the event-leaving condition mentioned above. SUMMARY

Currently when receiving a UE’s event-triggered measurement report, it is difficult for the RAN to determine from the measurement report whether the UE has entered or left/exited the event. In fact, the RAN has to keep track of historical measurement reports by the UE to understand whether there are any cells included in past measurement reports from the UE that are missing in a most recent measurement report from the UE. This unnecessarily increases information storage and processing complexity for the RAN.

An object of embodiments of the present disclosure is to enable a RAN to clearly understand a UE’s event-related status with respect to one or more cells that the UE was configured to measure.

Embodiments include methods (e.g., procedures) performed by a UE configured to operate in a RAN.

These exemplary methods include receiving from a RAN node a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN. The reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition. These exemplary methods also include sending to the RAN node a first measurement report including measurements for a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells. These exemplary methods also include, based on determining that subsequent measurements performed on a second subset of the plurality of cells meet the leaving condition, sending to the RAN node a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

Other embodiments include methods (e.g., procedures) performed by a RAN node configured to provide a serving cell to UEs. In general, these exemplary methods are complementary to the exemplary methods performed by a UE, summarized above.

These exemplary methods include sending to a UE a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN. The reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition. These exemplary methods also include receiving from the UE a first measurement report including measurements by the UE for a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells. These exemplary methods also include, in response to subsequent measurements by the UE on a second subset of the plurality of cells meeting the leaving condition, receiving from the UE a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

The UE and RAN node embodiments summarized above may include additional features, as summarized below.

In some embodiments, the second measurement report includes the identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition, but not the indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells not included in the first subset. In other embodiments, the second measurement report includes the identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition and the indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells not included in the first subset.

In some embodiments, the second measurement report is sent/received further based on the reporting configuration indicating to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition.

In some embodiments, the number of cells whose measurements meet the entering condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells. The first subset includes the maximum number of the cells whose measurements meet the entering condition, selected by the UE based on a measurement quality criterion.

In some embodiments, the second measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition or the leaving condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells. In some embodiments, the second measurement report also includes an indication that no new cell has been detected since the first measurement report.

In some embodiments, the reporting configuration also includes indications of one or more of the following:

• whether the UE should restrict reporting of measurements for cells that meet the leaving condition to cells whose measurements where previously reported in response to meeting the entering condition, for the measurement identity; and

• whether the UE should include one or more of the following in measurement reports: o an indication whether a measurement report was initiated due to measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells whose measurements were not previously reported, for the measurement identity; and o identifiers of the cells whose measurements meet the leaving condition.

For example, the second measurement report may be sent/received in accordance with the indications in the reporting configuration. In some embodiments, the reporting configuration includes one or more thresholds and a hysteresis value, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being based on the one or more thresholds and the hysteresis value. In some embodiments, the reporting configuration indicates an event that triggers measurement reporting, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being associated with the event.

Other embodiments and variants of the exemplary methods summarized above are disclosed herein. Other embodiments include UEs (e.g., wireless devices) and RAN nodes (e.g., base stations, eNBs, gNBs, etc.) configured to perform operations of exemplary methods described herein. Other embodiments include non-transitory, computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, configure such UEs and RAN nodes to perform operations of the exemplary methods described herein.

These and other embodiments described herein may provide various benefits and/or advantages. For example, in contrast to conventional techniques, a RAN may unambiguously know whether measurements for a cell previously reported by a UE continue to meet an event entering condition and/or subsequently met an event leaving condition for that cell, even if measurements for that cell are not included in a subsequent measurement report associated with the same measurement identifier. Based on such information, the RAN may determine which UE neighbor cells should be configured as candidate cells for mobility operations, such as conditional handover and/or LTM. At a high level, embodiments may improve mobility of UEs among cells provided by a RAN.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following Detailed Description in view of the Drawings briefly described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a high-level view of an exemplary 5G/NR network architecture.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary configuration of NR user plane (UP) and control plane (CP) protocol stacks.

Figure 3 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary MeasConfig information element (IE).

Figure 4 shows an ASN.1 data structure for an exemplary ReportConfigToAddModList IE.

Figure 5 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary ReportConfigNR IE.

Figures 6-8 show ASN.l data structures for exemplary RRC MeasResults IES, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 9 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method (e.g., procedure) for a UE, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 10 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method (e.g., procedure) for a RAN node, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 11 shows a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 12 shows a UE according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 13 shows a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 14 is a block diagram of a virtualization environment in which functions implemented by some embodiments of the present disclosure may be virtualized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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

In general, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is expressly defined and/or implied from the context of use. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise or clearly implied from the context of use. The operations of any methods and/or procedures disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless an operation is explicitly described as following or preceding another operation and/or where it is implicit that an operation must follow or precede another operation. Any feature of any embodiment disclosed herein can apply to any other disclosed embodiment, as appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any embodiment described herein can apply to any other disclosed embodiment, as appropriate.

Furthermore, the following terms are used throughout the description given below:

• Radio Access Node: As used herein, a “radio access node” (or equivalently “radio network node,” “radio access network node,” or “RAN node”) can be any node in a radio access network (RAN) that operates to wirelessly transmit and/or receive signals. Some examples of a radio access node include, but are not limited to, a base station (e.g., gNB in a 3 GPP 5G/NR network or an enhanced or eNB in a 3GPP LTE network), base station distributed components (e.g., CU and DU), a high-power or macro base station, a low-power base station (e.g., micro, pico, femto, or home base station, or the like), an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, a transmission point (TP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a remote radio unit (RRU or RRH), and a relay node.

• Core Network Node: As used herein, a “core network node” is any type of node in a core network. Some examples of a core network node include, e.g., a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a serving gateway (SGW), a PDN Gateway (P-GW), a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), a user plane function (UPF), a Charging Function (CHF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), a location management function (LMF), or the like.

• Wireless Device: As used herein, a “wireless device” (or “WD” for short) is any type of device that is capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices. Communicating wirelessly can involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air. Unless otherwise noted, the term “wireless device” is used interchangeably herein with the term “user equipment” (or “UE” for short), with both of these terms having a different meaning than the term “network node”.

• Radio Node: As used herein, a “radio node” can be either a “radio access node” (or equivalent term) or a “wireless device.”

• Network Node: As used herein, a “network node” is any node that is either part of the radio access network (e.g., a radio access node or equivalent term) or of the core network (e.g., a core network node discussed above) of a cellular communications network. Functionally, a network node is equipment capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the cellular communications network, to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device, and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the cellular communications network.

• Node: As used herein, the term “node” (without prefix) can be any type of node that can in or with a wireless network (including RAN and/or core network), including a radio access node (or equivalent term), core network node, or wireless device. However, the term “node” may be limited to a particular type (e.g., radio access node, IAB node) based on its specific characteristics in any given context.

The above definitions are not meant to be exclusive. In other words, various ones of the above terms may be explained and/or described elsewhere in the present disclosure using the same or similar terminology. Nevertheless, to the extent that such other explanations and/or descriptions conflict with the above definitions, the above definitions should control.

Note that the description given herein focuses on a 3 GPP cellular communications system and, as such, 3GPP terminology or terminology similar to 3GPP terminology is oftentimes used. However, the concepts disclosed herein are not limited to a 3GPP system and can be applied to any communication system that may benefit from them.

Figure 1 shows a high-level view of an exemplary 5G network architecture, including a next-generation RAN (NG-RAN, 199) and a 5G core network (5GC, 198). As shown in the figure, the NG-RAN can include gNBs (e.g., 110a, b) and ng-eNBs (e.g., 110a, b) that are interconnected with each other via respective Xn interfaces. The gNBs and ng-eNBs are also connected via the NG interfaces to 5GC 198, more specifically to access and mobility management functions (AMFs, e.g., 130a, b) via respective NG-C interfaces and to user plane functions (UPFs, e.g., 140a, b) via respective NG-U interfaces. Moreover, AMFs can communicate with one or more policy control functions (PCFs, e.g., 150a, b) and network exposure functions (NEFs, e.g., 160a, b).

Each of the gNBs can support the NR radio interface including frequency division duplexing (FDD), time division duplexing (TDD), or a combination thereof. Each of ng-eNBs can support the fourth generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio interface but unlike conventional LTE eNBs, ng-eNBs connect to the 5GC via the NG interface. Each of the gNBs and ng-eNBs can serve a geographic coverage area including one or more cells (e.g., 11 la-b and 121a-b shown in Figure 1). Depending on the cell in which it is located, a UE (e.g., 105 in Figure 1) can communicate with the gNB or ng-eNB serving that cell via the NR or LTE radio interface, respectively. Although Figure 1 shows gNBs and ng-eNBs separately, it is also possible that a single NG-RAN node provides both types of functionality.

Although not shown explicitly, each gNB in Figure 1 may include a Central Unit (CU or gNB-CU) and one or more Distributed Units (DUs or gNB-DUs). CUs are logical nodes that host higher-layer protocols and perform various gNB functions such as controlling operation of DUs. In contrast, DUs are decentralized logical nodes that host lower layer protocols and can include, depending on the functional split option, various subsets of the gNB functions. Each CU and DU can include various circuitry needed to perform their respective functions, including processing circuitry, communication interface circuitry e.g., transceivers), and power supply circuitry.

5G/NR technology shares many similarities with LTE. For example, NR uses CP-OFDM (Cyclic Prefix Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) in the DL and both CP-OFDM and DFT-spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM) in the UL. As another example, in the time domain, NR DL and UL physical resources are organized into equal-sized 1-ms subframes. A subframe is further divided into multiple slots of equal duration, with each slot including multiple OFDM-based symbols. However, time-frequency resources can be configured much more flexibly for an NR cell than for an LTE cell. For example, rather than a fixed 15-kHz OFDM sub-carrier spacing (SCS) as in LTE, NR SCS can range from 15 to 240 kHz, with even greater SCS considered for future NR releases.

In addition to providing coverage via cells as in LTE, NR networks also provide coverage via “beams.” In general, a downlink (DL, i.e., network to UE) “beam” is a coverage area of a network-transmitted reference signal (RS) that may be measured or monitored by a UE. In NR, DL RS can include any of the following: synchronization signal/PBCH block (SSB), channel state information RS (CSLRS), tertiary reference signals (or any other sync signal), positioning RS (PRS), demodulation RS (DMRS), phase-tracking reference signals (PTRS), etc. In general, SSB is available to all UEs regardless of the state of their connection with the network, while other RS (e.g., CSLRS, DM-RS, PTRS) are associated with specific UEs that have a network connection.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary configuration of NR user plane (UP) and control plane (CP) protocol stacks between a UE (210), a gNB (220), and an AMF (230). Physical (PHY), Medium Access Control (MAC), Radio Link Control (RLC), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layers between UE and gNB are common to UP and CP. PDCP provides ciphering/deciphering, integrity protection, sequence numbering, reordering, and duplicate detection for both CP and UP, as well as header compression and retransmission for UP data.

On the UP side, Internet protocol (IP) packets arrive to PDCP as service data units (SDUs), and PDCP creates protocol data units (PDUs) to deliver to RLC. The Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer handles quality-of-service (QoS) including mapping between QoS flows and Data Radio Bearers (DRBs) and marking QoS flow identifiers (QFI) in UL and DL packets. RLC transfers PDCP PDUs to MAC through logical channels (LCH). RLC provides error detection/correction, concatenation, segmentation/reassembly, sequence numbering, reordering of data transferred to/from the upper layers. MAC provides mapping between LCHs and PHY transport channels, LCH prioritization, multiplexing into or demultiplexing from transport blocks (TBs), hybrid ARQ (HARQ) error correction, and dynamic scheduling (in gNB). PHY provides transport channel services to MAC and handles transfer over the NR radio interface, e.g., via modulation, coding, antenna mapping, and beam forming.

On the CP side, the non-access stratum (NAS) layer between UE and AMF handles UE/gNB authentication, mobility management, and security control. RRC sits below NAS in the UE but terminates in the gNB rather than the AMF. RRC controls communications between UE and gNB at the radio interface as well as the mobility of a UE between cells in the NG-RAN. RRC also broadcasts system information (SI) and performs establishment, configuration, maintenance, and release of DRBs and Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs) and used by UEs. Additionally, RRC controls addition, modification, and release of carrier aggregation (CA) and dual -connectivity (DC) configurations for UEs, and performs various security functions such as key management.

After a UE is powered ON it will be in the RRC IDLE state until an RRC connection is established with the network, at which time the UE will transition to RRC CONNECTED state (e.g., where data transfer can occur). The UE returns to RRC IDLE after the connection with the network is released. In RRC IDLE state, the UE’s radio is active on a discontinuous reception (DRX) schedule configured by upper layers. During DRX active periods (also referred to as “DRX On durations”), an RRC IDLE UE receives SI broadcast in the cell where the UE is camping, performs measurements of neighbor cells to support cell reselection, and monitors a paging channel on PDCCH for pages from 5GC via gNB. An NR UE in RRC IDLE state is not known to the gNB sewing the cell where the UE is camping. However, NR RRC includes an RRC_INACTIVE state in which a UE is known (e.g., via UE context) by the serving gNB. RRC INACTIVE has some properties similar to a “suspended” condition used in LTE.

3 GPP Rel-10 introduced support for channel bandwidths larger than 20 MHz in LTE networks. To remain compatible with UEs from earlier releases (e.g., LTE Rel-8), a wideband LTE Rel-10 carrier appears as multiple component carriers (CCs), each having the same structure as an LTE Rel-8 carrier. A Rel-10 UE can receive the multiple CCs based on Carrier Aggregation (CA). The CCs can also be considered “cells,” such that a UE in CA has one primary cell (PCell) and one or more secondary cells (SCells) that are referred to collectively as a “cell group.” LTE Rel-12 introduced dual connectivity (DC) whereby a UE is connected simultaneously to a master node (MN) that provides a master cell group (MCG) and a secondary node (SN) that provides a secondary cell group (SCG).

Each cell group includes one MAC entity, a set of logical channels with associated RLC entities, a primary cell (PCell or PSCell), and optionally one or more secondary cells (SCells). The term “Special Cell” (or “SpCell” for short) refers to the PCell of the MCG or the PSCell of the SCG depending on whether the UE’s MAC entity is associated with the MCG or the SCG. In non-DC operation e.g., carrier aggregation), SpCell refers to the PCell. An SpCell is always activated and supports physical UL control channel (PUCCH) transmission and contention-based random access by UEs.

NR includes support for CA and DC in Rel-15 and thereafter. 3GPP TR 38.804 (vl4.0.0) describes various exemplary DC scenarios or configurations in which the MN and SN can apply NR, LTE, or both.

As briefly mentioned above, seamless mobility is a key feature of 3 GPP radio access technologies (RATs). In general, a serving RAN node (e.g., gNB) configures a UE to perform and report radio resource management (RRM) measurements to assist network-controlled mobility decisions, such as for handover from a serving cell to a neighbor cell. Seamless handovers ensure that the UE moves around in the coverage area of different cells without excessive interruption to data transmission.

To configure UE measurement reporting, the RAN sends the UE an RRC information element (IE) called MeasConfig. Figure 3 shows an ASN. l data structure for an exemplary MeasConfig IE, as further specified in 3GPP TS 38.331 (vl8.0.0). This IE includes various other IES and fields that configure various aspects of the measurements to be performed. For example, the measObjectToAddModList field contains a list of measurement objects to add and/or modify. Each “measurement object” in this list specifies a set of measurements to be performed by the UE.

Additionally, the IE ReportConfigToAddModList concerns a list of measurement reporting configurations to add or modify. Also, the measIdToAddModList field contains a list of measurement identifiers (measld) to add and/or modify. Each Measld identifies a measurement configuration that links a measurement object and a measurement reporting configuration.

Figure 4 shows an ASN.1 data structure for an exemplary ReportConfigToAddModList IE, as further specified in 3GPP TS 38.331 (vl8.0.0). As shown in Figure 4, this IE includes a sequence of ReportConfigToAddMod fields, with each of these fields including a reportConfig field that can include one of various types of reporting configurations listed. One of the choices in the reportConfig field is a ReportConfigNR IE, which specifies criteria for triggering an NR measurement reporting event or other events (e.g., for conditional mobility). Some exemplary measurement reporting events configurable by a. ReportConfigNR IE are listed below.

• Event Al : Serving cell becomes better than absolute threshold;

• Event A2: Serving cell becomes worse than absolute threshold;

• Event A3 : Neighbor cell becomes amount of offset better than PCell/PSCell;

• Event A4: Neighbor cell becomes better than absolute threshold;

• Event A5: PCell/PSCell becomes worse than absolute thresholdl AND Neighbor/SCell becomes better than another absolute threshold2; and

• Event A6: Neighbor cell becomes amount of offset better than SCell.

Figure 5 shows an ASN. l data structure for an exemplary ReportConfigNR IE, as further specified in 3GPP TS 38.331 (vl 8.0.0). Note that ellipses are used to denote portions not shown for the sake of brevity. This IE includes a reportType field that can include one of various report types, one of which is eventTriggered. When reportType is eventTriggered. the ReportConfigNR IE includes an EventTriggerConfig field that includes a configuration for any one of various reporting events. The exemplary events A1-A6 listed above are shown as examples, but configurations for other report-triggering events are also specified in 3GPP TS 38.331 (v!8.0.0). Each of these event configurations shown in Figure 5 includes a field (or flag) called reportOnLeave, which indicates whether the UE should send a measurement report when an event-leaving condition is fulfilled for a cell in a cellsTriggeredList maintained by the UE. In general, the UE adds a cell to its when the entering condition specified in the reporting configuration is fulfilled (e.g., serving cell becomes better than absolute threshold for event Al). Later, if the leaving condition applicable for this event is fulfilled for one or more of the cells included in the cellsTriggeredList and reportOnLeave for the event is TRUE, then the UE initiates the measurement reporting procedure accordingly. For example, a UE measurement (including any processing) meets the entering and leaving conditions for event Al when: measurement - hysterisis < al-Threshold (entering condition), measurement + hysterisis > al-Threshold (leaving condition), where hysteresis and al-Threshold are specified in sub-fields of the eventAl field in the ReportConfigNR IE illustrated in Figure 5.

Even so, there are various problems, issues, and/or difficulties with this arrangement currently specified in 3GPP TS 38.331 (vl8.0.0). Consider a scenario in which a UE is configured with event A5 with PCell threshold (a5-thresholdl in Figure 5) being a relatively small value and neighbor cell threshold (a5-threshold2 in Figure 5) being a relatively large value. For example, the UE could be configured in this way to identify relevant intra- or interfrequency neighbor cells for Lay er 1 -/Layer-2 Triggered Mobility (LTM) candidate preparation. Also assume that the UE is configured with maxReportCells = 4 to reduce the size of UE measurement reports.

Furthermore, assume that the UE’s PCell measurements have already met the configured a5-thresholdl and six neighbor cells (A-F) have met the configured a5-threshold2. In response, the UE includes identities of neighbor cells A-F in its internal variable cellsTriggeredList. However, since maxReportCells = 4, the UE includes only the four strongest neighbor cells (e.g., A-D) in the measurement report sent to the UE’s serving RAN node. Thus, the serving RAN node is unaware that the UE has other neighbor cells (e.g., E-F) that have met the event A5 entering condition.

Subsequently, if Cell-E now meets the A5 event leaving condition, the UE initiates a second measurement report. However, there is nothing in the second measurement report that indicates it was triggered because of measurements meeting a leaving condition. Furthermore, even if the RAN node tries to correlate the first and second measurement reports to understand which cells may have met the leaving condition for the A5 event, it cannot identify cell E because the first measurement report included no information about cell E due to report size limitations. Also, assume that the second measurement report includes measurements for cells A-C and F, because cell F’s measurements subsequently became better than cell D’s measurements. In such case, the RAN node is unable to determine that the second measurement report was triggered by cell E meeting the A5 event leaving condition. Rather, it appears to the RAN node that the report was triggered by cell F meeting the A5 event entering condition. Moreover, since the UE excluded cell D measurements from the second measurement report, the RAN node is unable to determine that cell D continues to meet the A5 event entering condition.

The hypothetical conditions described above illustrate the general difficulty of a RAN node to determine whether a UE has met and/or continues to meet an event entering condition, and/or has subsequently met an event leaving conditions, based only measurement reports received from the UE. The RAN node may maintain past measurement reports by the UE to understand whether there are any cells that were included in the past measurement reports but not in a most recent measurement report by the same UE. This unnecessarily increases information storage and processing complexity for the RAN node, without completely solving the problem.

The RAN node’s need for this information becomes for LTM and conditional mobility operations. In these operations, the RAN node selects a set of candidate cells for the UE that are configured in advance of the operation, which takes place when the UE determines that one of the candidate cells meets a condition. However, the RAN node needs to maintain and update the set of candidate cells according to current UE channel conditions, to avoid failure of the UE’s operation toward a candidate cell that is no longer viable.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide flexible and efficient techniques by which a UE reports cell measurements in a manner that unambiguously indicates to a RAN node the status of various measured cells with respect to event entering and leaving conditions. In various embodiments, the UE may perform one or more of the following:

• initiates measurement reporting in response to meeting the event leaving condition, but only for those cells that were part of a previous measurement report for the corresponding measurement identity measID ,

• include in a measurement report an indication that this measurement report is initiated by a cell that has met the event leaving condition, but the UE sent no previous measurement report indicating that the cell met the corresponding event entering condition;

• if a measurement report is initiated due to one or more cells meeting an event leaving condition, include in the measurement report an indication of the cell(s) that met the event leaving condition; and

• if the measurement report is initiated due to one or more cells meeting an event entering condition, include in the measurement report an indication of whether there are more than maxReportCells (maximum number of cells that can be included in the measurement report for measld) that have met the event entering condition.

Embodiments may provide various benefits and/or advantages. For example, in contrast to conventional techniques, a RAN may unambiguously know whether measurements for a cell previously reported by a UE continue to meet an event entering condition and/or subsequently met an event leaving conditions for that cell, even if measurements for that cell are not included in a subsequent measurement report associated with the same measID. Based on such information, the RAN can determine which UE neighbor cells should be configured as candidate cells for mobility operations, such as conditional handover and/or LTM. At a high level, embodiments may improve mobility of UEs among cells provided by a RAN.

Although the following description focuses on 5G/NR technology and relevant standards, embodiments are equally application to LTE or any other cellular technology that may benefit from enhanced measurement reporting. In the context of DC, embodiments are applicable to UE reporting of measurements associated with MCG cells (and neighbor cells) and SCG cells (and neighbor cells).

In some embodiments, a UE initiates a measurement report in response to measurements of one or more cells meeting a configured event leaving condition, but only for those cells that were part of a previous measurement report for the corresponding measurement identity (measID). For example, a UE stores in cellsTriggeredList (in internal variable VarMeasReportList) identities of cells that have met event entering conditions, but only those cells that have been included in a measurement report. Subsequently, when measurements for one or more cells meet an event leaving condition, the UE checks the cellsTriggeredList and only initiates a measurement report if any of the one or more cells are identified by the cellsTriggeredList. In this manner, these embodiments ensure that the UE never initiates a measurement report for a cell that fulfills an event leaving condition but was not previously reported in a measurement report for the same measID.

Furthermore, such embodiments prevent the UE from initiating a measurement report when a cell’s measurement satisfies an event entering conditions but cell’s measurement would not be included in a measurement report due to a maximum number of other cells having stronger measurements than the cell meeting the event entering condition. In this manner, such embodiments also reduce unnecessary measurement reporting by UEs.

In some of these embodiments, whether the UE restricts measurement reporting in this manner may be explicitly configured by the RAN. For example, the restrictive measurement reporting may be a non-default operation whose activation requires explicit configuration by the RAN. Alternately, the restrictive measurement reporting may be a default operation whose deactivation requires explicit configuration by the RAN

These embodiments may be specified as procedural text in a 3 GPP specification, such as the following procedural text for 3GPP TS 38.331 (vl8.0.0). Underline indicates added text and ellipses indicated existing text omitted for the sake of brevity.

*** Begin exemplary 3GPP TS 38.331 text ***

5.5.4 Measurement report triggering

5.5.4.1 General

If AS security has been activated successfully, the UE shall: l>for each measld included in the measIdList within VarMeasConfig'.

2>else if the reportType is set to eventTriggered, and if the corresponding reportConfig does not include number OfLriggeringCells, and if the entry condition applicable for this event, i.e. the event corresponding with the eventid of the corresponding reportConfig within VarMeasConfig, is fulfilled for one or more applicable cells not included in the cellsTriggeredList and if the corresponding one or more applicable cells’ measurements are within the one included according to maxReportCells associated to the corresponding reportConfig for all measurements after layer 3 filtering taken during timeToTrigger defined for this event within the VarMeasConfig (a subsequent cell triggers the event): 3>set the numberOfReportsSent defined within the VarMeasReportList for this measld to 0;

3> include the concerned cell(s) in the cellsTriggeredList defined within the VarMeasReportList for this measld,

3> if useT312 is set to true in reportConfig for this event: 4>if T310 for the corresponding SpCell is running; and 4>if T312 is not running for corresponding SpCell:

5> start timer T312 for the corresponding SpCell with the value of T312 configured in the corresponding measObjectNR,

3>initiate the measurement reporting procedure, as specified in 5.5.5;

*** End exemplary 3GPP TS 38.331 text ***

In other embodiments, the UE includes in a measurement report an indication that the measurement report is initiated by measurements of a cell meeting an event leaving condition but that no previous UE measurement reports indicated that measurements of the cell met the corresponding event entering condition. This indication provides the following information to the serving RAN node: • the current measurement report is triggered by an event leaving condition being fulfilled; and

• the current measurement report is triggered by measurements of a cell that was not included in a previous measurement report.

Figure 6 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary RRC MeasResults IE, according to these embodiments. In this IE, the inclusion of the optional reportOnLeaveMetForUnreportedCell field indicates that the measurement report is triggered by the measurement of a cell that met an event leaving condition and that cell was not included in any previous measurement report associated with the measID field (which if sent would have indicated that the cell had met the event entering condition).

In other embodiments, if a measurement report is initiated due to one or more cells meeting an event leaving condition, the UE includes in the measurement report an indication of the cell(s) that met the event leaving condition. This aids the network to understand which cell’s measurement triggered the measurement report. Figure 7 shows an ASN. l data structure for an exemplary RRC MeasResults IE, according to these embodiments. In this IE, the cellsMetReportOnLeaveList field indicates a list of cells that met the configured event leaving condition for this measld.

*** Begin exemplary 3GPP TS 38.331 text ***

5.5.5 Measurement report triggering

5.5.5.1 General

1> if reportConfig associated with the measld that triggered the measurement reporting is set to eventTriggered.

2>the event leaving condition for the event that triggered the measurement report has been fulfilled by one or more cells:

3>set cellsMetReportOnLeaveList to include the cell(s) which met the event leaving condition;

2>for each cell that is included in servingCellMO'.

3> if the measObject associated with this measld concerns NR:

4> if entry condition applicable to the event that triggered this measurement report has been fulfilled for the first time for the cell:

5> set firstEntering to true for the concerned NR cell; 2>for each cell that is included in measResultNeighCells'.

3> if the measObject associated with this measld concerns NR:

4> if the number of best neighbour cells is more than maxReportCells'.

5> set mor eThanMaxReportCellsPre sent to true;

4> if the event leaving condition for the event that triggered the measurement report has been fulfilled by one or more cells:

5> set cellsMetReportOnLeaveList to include the cell(s) which met the event leaving condition;

4>for each cell that is included in servingCellMO'.

5> if the measObject associated with this measld concerns NR:

6> if entry condition applicable to the event that triggered this measurement report has been fulfilled for the first time for the cell:

7> set firstEntering to true for the concerned NR cell;

*** End exemplary 3GPP TS 38.331 text ***

In some of these embodiments, the cells indicated as meeting the event leaving condition are restricted to cells included in a previous measurement report indicating that such cells met the corresponding event entering condition for the same measID. In other of these embodiments, the cells indicated as meeting the event leaving condition are not restricted, i.e., all cells that meet the event leaving condition for this measID.

In some of these embodiments, whether the UE includes the cellsMetReportOnLeaveList in this manner may be explicitly configured by the RAN. For example, including the cellsMetReportOnLeaveList may be a non-default operation whose activation requires explicit configuration by the RAN. Alternately, including the cellsMetReportOnLeaveList may be a default operation whose deactivation requires explicit configuration by the RAN.

In other embodiments, if the measurement report is initiated due to one or more cells meeting an event entering condition, the UE includes in the measurement report an indication of whether there are more than maxReportCells (maximum number of cells that can be included in the measurement report for measld) that have met the event entering condition. This aids the RAN node to understand whether the configured value of maxReportCells is appropriate for the UE, or should be increased.

Figure 8 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary RRC MeasResults IE, according to these embodiments. In this IE, the inclusion of the optional mor eThanMaxReportCellsPre sent field indicates whether there are more cells that met the event entering condition, than the maximum number allowed to be reported as specified by maxReportCells. In the MeasResultNR field that contains a measurement for an individual cell, the presence of the optional firstEntering field indicates that measurements for the cell satisfy the event entering condition the first time.

As an alternative, the UE also includes identifiers of the cells that have met the event entering condition but are not reported due to the maxReportCells restriction. This identifier may be much smaller than the measurement information reported for an individual cell (e.g., MeasResultNRj, which allows the UE to inform the RAN node with lower signaling overhead.

*** Begin exemplary 3GPP TS 38.331 text ***

5.5.5 Measurement report triggering

5.5.5.1 General

2>for each cell that is included in servingCellMO'.

3> if the measObject associated with this measld concerns NR:

5> firstEntering to true for the concerned NR cell;

2>for each cell that is included in measResultNeighCells'.

3> if the measObject associated with this measld concerns NR:

4> if the number of best neighbour cells if more than maxReportCells'.

5> set moreThanMaxReportCellsPresent to true;

4>the event leaving condition for the event that triggered the measurement report has been fulfilled by one or more cells:

4>for each cell that is included in servingCellMO'.

5> if the measObject associated with this measld concerns NR: 6> if entry condition applicable to the event that triggered this measurement report has been fulfilled for the first time for the cell:

7> set firstEntering to true for the concerned NR cell;

*** End exemplary 3GPP TS 38.331 text ***

In some of these embodiments, whether the UE includes moreThanMaxReportCells- Present in this manner may be explicitly configured by the RAN. For example, including the mor elhanMaxReportCellsPre sent may be a non-default operation whose activation requires explicit configuration by the RAN. Alternately, the including the moreThanMaxReportCells- Present may be a default operation whose deactivation requires explicit RAN configuration.

In some of these embodiments, the UE may also include the mor eThanMaxReportCellsPre sent field when a measurement report is sent, based on the condition that cells identified in cellsTriggeredList do not change but one or more measurements on those cells have changed. For example, initially cellsTriggeredList includes cell 1 with measured reference signal received power (RSRP) of 1 and cell 2 with measured RSRP = 2. Subsequently, cellsTriggeredList includes cell 1 with RSRP = 4 and cell 2 with RSRP = 2. Since RSRP of cell 1 has changed, this will trigger a new measurement report by the UE. In this case, the UE includes a flag (e.g., NoNewCellDetected) indicating that no new cell has been detected but that cellsTriggeredList has changed in some manner (e.g., RSRP measurements).

Various features of the embodiments described above correspond to various operations illustrated in Figures 9-10, which show exemplary methods (e.g., procedures) for a UE and a RAN node, respectively. In other words, various features of the operations described below correspond to various embodiments described above. Furthermore, the exemplary methods shown in Figures 9-10 may be used cooperatively to provide various benefits, advantages, and/or solutions to problems described herein. Although Figures 9-10 show specific blocks in particular orders, the operations of the exemplary methods may be performed in different orders than shown and can be combined and/or divided into blocks having different functionality than shown. Optional blocks or operations are indicated by dashed lines.

In particular, Figure 9 shows an exemplary method (e.g., procedure) for a UE configured for operation in a RAN, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary method can be performed by any appropriate UE (e.g., wireless device) such as described elsewhere herein.

The exemplary method includes the operations of block 910, where the UE receives from a RAN node a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN. The reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition. The exemplary method also includes the operations of block 940, where the UE sends to the RAN node a first measurement report including measurements for a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells. The exemplary method also includes the operations of blocks 950 and 980, where based on determining that subsequent measurements performed (i.e., by the UE) on a second subset of the plurality of cells meet the leaving condition, the UE sends to the RAN node a second measurement report. One or more of the following conditions applies:

• the second measurement report excludes subsequent measurements for cells that are included in the second subset but not in the first subset; and

• the second measurement report includes one or more of the following: o an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells not included in the first subset; and o identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

In some embodiments, the second measurement report is sent in block 980 further based on the reporting configuration indicating to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition.

In some embodiments, the reporting configuration is received as part of a measurement configuration and the exemplary method also includes the following operations, labelled with corresponding block numbers:

• (920) performing measurements on the plurality of cells in accordance with the measurement configuration;

• (925) determining that the measurements performed on a number of the cells meet the entering condition, wherein the number is greater than the maximum number of reported cells; and • (930) selecting, as the first subset, the maximum number of the cells whose measurements meet the entering condition, based on a measurement quality criterion.

In some of these embodiments, the first measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose measurements meet the entering condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells. In some of these embodiments, for at least one cell of the first subset, the first measurement report also indicates that included measurements for the at least one cell met the entering condition for a first time. In some of these embodiments, the measurements are of reference signal received power (RSRP), and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

In some of these embodiments, the exemplary method also includes the following operations, labelled with corresponding block numbers:

• (935) storing respective identifies of the selected first subset of cells in a triggered cells list; and

• (970) based on the triggered cells list, determining which cells of the second subset are not included in the first subset.

• (950) after sending the first measurement report, performing the subsequent measurements on the plurality of cells in accordance with the measurement configuration;

• (955) determining that the subsequent measurements performed on a third subset of the plurality of cells meet the entering condition; and

• (965) selecting the maximum number of cells from the second and third subsets, based on a measurement quality criterion.

The second measurement report includes the subsequent measurements for the selected cells.

In some of these embodiments, the subsequent measurements are of RSRP, and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements. In some of these embodiments, the selected cells include the maximum number of cells from the third subset, and the second measurement report includes an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to unreported subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition.

In some embodiments, the second measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition or the leaving condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells. In some embodiments, the second measurement report also includes an indication that no new cell has been detected since the first measurement report. In some embodiments, the reporting configuration also includes indications of one or more of the following:

For example, the UE may send the second measurement report in accordance with the indications in the reporting configuration.

In some embodiments, the reporting configuration includes one or more thresholds and a hysteresis value, and the entering and leaving conditions are based on the one or more thresholds and the hysteresis value. In some embodiments, the reporting configuration indicates an event that triggers measurement reporting, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being associated with the event.

In addition, Figure 10 shows an exemplary method (e.g., procedure) for a RAN node configured to serve UEs, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary method can be performed by any appropriate RAN node (e.g., base station, eNB, gNB, etc.) such as described elsewhere herein.

The exemplary method includes the operations of block 1010, where the RAN node sends to a UE a measurement configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN. The measurement configuration includes a measurement identifier and a reporting configuration. The reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition. The exemplary method also includes the operations of block 1020, where the RAN node receives from the UE a first measurement report including measurements by the UE for a first subset of the plurality of cells. The first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells. The exemplary method also includes the operations of block 1030, where in response to subsequent measurements by the UE on a second subset of the plurality of cells meeting the leaving condition, the RAN node receives from the UE a second measurement report. One or more of the following applies: • the second measurement report excludes subsequent measurements for cells that are included in the second subset but not in the first subset; and

In some embodiments, the second measurement report is received in block 1030 further based on the reporting configuration indicating to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition.

In some of these embodiments, the first measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose measurements meet the entering condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells. In some of these embodiments, for at least one cell of the first subset, the first measurement report also indicates that included measurements for the at least one cell met the entering condition for a first time. In some of these embodiments, the measurements are of RSRP, and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

In some embodiments, the second measurement report includes the subsequent measurements for the maximum number of cells, with the included subsequent measurements being selected by the UE from the following based on a measurement quality criterion: the second subset, and a third subset of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition.

For example, the second measurement report may be received in accordance with the indications in the reporting configuration.

In some embodiments, the reporting configuration includes one or more thresholds and a hysteresis value, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being based on the one or more thresholds and the hysteresis value. In some embodiments, the reporting configuration indicates an event that triggers measurement reporting, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being associated with the event.

Although various embodiments are described above in terms of methods, techniques, and/or procedures, the person of ordinary skill will readily comprehend that such methods, techniques, and/or procedures can be embodied by various combinations of hardware and software in various systems, communication devices, computing devices, control devices, apparatuses, non-transitory computer-readable media, computer program products, etc.

Figure 11 shows an example of a communication system 1100 in accordance with some embodiments. In this example, communication system 1100 includes a telecommunication network 1102 that includes an access network 1104 (e.g., RAN) and a core network 1106, which includes one or more core network nodes 1108. Access network 1104 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes 11 lOa-b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes 1110), or any other similar 3GPP access nodes or non-3GPP access points. Moreover, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a network node is not necessarily limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it will be understood that network nodes include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, telecommunication network 1102 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a node in telecommunication network 1102 that supports an ORAN specification (e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similar organization) and may operate alone or together with other nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any node in telecommunication network 1102, including one or more network nodes 1110 and/or core network nodes 1108.

Examples of an ORAN network node include an open radio unit (O-RU), an open distributed unit (O-DU), an open central unit (O-CU), including an O-CU control plane (O-CU- CP) or an O-CU user plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller (near-real time or non-real time) hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application (e.g., xApp) or a non-real time control application (e.g., rApp), or any combination thereof (the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification). The network node may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an Al, Fl, Wl, El, E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN access node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment (described further below) in which one or more network functions are virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an O-2 interface defined by the O-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies. Network nodes 1110 facilitate direct or indirect connection of UEs, such as by connecting UEs 1112a-d (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs 1112) to core network 1106 over one or more wireless connections.

Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in different embodiments, communication system 1100 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. Communication system 1100 may include and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and/or other similar type of system. UEs 1112 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes 1110 and other communication devices. Similarly, network nodes 1110 are arranged, capable, configured, and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with UEs 1112 and/or with other network nodes or equipment in telecommunication network 1102 to enable and/or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and/or to perform other functions, such as administration in telecommunication network 1102.

In the depicted example, core network 1106 connects network nodes 1110 to one or more hosts, such as host 1116. These connections may be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, network nodes may be directly coupled to hosts. Core network 1106 includes one or more core network nodes (e.g., 1108) that are structured with hardware and software components. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UEs, network nodes, and/or hosts, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of core network node 1108. Example core network nodes include functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Subscription Identifier De-concealing function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and/or a User Plane Function (UPF).

Host 1116 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of access network 1104 and/or telecommunication network 1102, and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Host 1116 may host a variety of applications to provide one or more service. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio/video content, data collection services such as retrieving and compiling data on various ambient conditions detected by a plurality of UEs, analytics functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for an alarm and surveillance center, or any other such function performed by a server.

As a whole, communication system 1100 of Figure 11 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 6G); wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (WiFi); and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, LiFi, and/or any low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox.

In some examples, telecommunication network 1102 is a cellular network that implements 3 GPP standardized features. Accordingly, telecommunication network 1102 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to telecommunication network 1102. For example, telecommunication network 1102 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and/or Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC)/Massive loT services to yet further UEs.

In some examples, UEs 1112 are configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a UE may be designed to transmit information to access network 1104 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from access network 1104. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-RAT or multi-standard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

In the example, hub 1114 communicates with access network 1104 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., 1112c and/or 1112d) and network nodes (e.g., network node 1110b). In some examples, hub 1114 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, hub 1114 may be a broadband router enabling access to core network 1106 for the UEs. As another example, hub 1114 may be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UEs. Commands or instructions may be received from the UEs, network nodes 1110, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in hub 1114. As another example, hub 1114 may be a data collector that acts as temporary storage for UE data and, in some embodiments, may perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, hub 1114 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, display, loudspeaker or other media delivery device, hub 1114 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which hub 1114 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and/or after adding additional local content. In still another example, hub 1114 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices. Hub 1114 may have a constant/persistent or intermittent connection to network node 1110b. Hub 1114 may also allow for a different communication scheme and/or schedule between hub 1114 and UEs (e.g., 1112c and/or 1112d), and between hub 1114 and core network 1106. In other examples, hub 1114 is connected to core network 1106 and/or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, hub 1114 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over access network 1104 and/or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with network nodes 1110 while still connected via hub 1114 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, hub 1114 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to/from the UEs from/to network node 1110b. In other embodiments, hub 1114 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node 1110b, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and/or end point for certain data channels.

In some embodiments, UE 1112 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a UE in above descriptions of various embodiments, including the exemplary method shown in Figure 9. In some embodiments, network node 1110 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a RAN node in above descriptions of various embodiments, including the exemplary method shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 shows a UE 1200 in accordance with some embodiments. Examples of a UE include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, gaming console or device, music storage device, playback appliance, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet, laptop, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), smart device, wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), vehicle, vehicle-mounted or vehicle embedded/integrated wireless device, etc. Other examples include any UE identified by 3 GPP, including a narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.

A UE may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), or vehicle-to-everything (V2X). In other examples, a UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).

UE 1200 includes processing circuitry 1202 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1204 to an input/output interface 1206, a power source 1208, a memory 1210, a communication interface 1212, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain UEs may utilize all or a subset of the components shown in Figure 12. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

Processing circuitry 1202 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in memory 1210. Processing circuitry 1202 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, field- programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored computer programs, general -purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, processing circuitry 1202 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

In the example, input/output interface 1206 may be configured to provide an interface or interfaces to an input device, output device, or one or more input and/or output devices. Examples of an output device include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device may allow a user to capture information into UE 1200. Examples of an input device include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port may be used to provide an input device and an output device.

In some embodiments, power source 1208 is structured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic device, or power cell, may be used. Power source 1208 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from power source 1208 itself, and/or an external power source, to the various parts of UE 1200 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Delivering power may be, for example, for charging power source 1208. Power circuitry may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source 1208 to make the power suitable for the respective components of UE 1200 to which power is supplied.

Memory 1210 may be or be configured to include memory such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, memory 1210 includes one or more application programs 1214, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget, gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data 1216. Memory 1210 may store, for use by UE 1200, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

Memory 1210 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and/or ISIM, other memory, or any combination thereof. The UICC may for example be an embedded UICC (eUICC), integrated UICC (iUICC) or a removable UICC commonly known as ‘SIM card.’ Memory 1210 may allow UE 1200 to access instructions, application programs and the like, stored on transitory or non- transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied as or in memory 1210, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.

Processing circuitry 1202 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network using communication interface 1212. Communication interface 1212 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 1222. Communication interface 1212 may include one or more transceivers used to communicate, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another UE or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter 1218 and/or a receiver 1220 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, transmitter 1218 and receiver 1220 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna 1222) and may share circuit components, software, or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of communication interface 1212 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. Communications may be implemented in according to one or more communication protocols and/or standards, such as IEEE 802.11, Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, New Radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

Regardless of the type of sensor, a UE may provide an output of data captured by its sensors, through its communication interface 1212, via a wireless connection to a network node. Data captured by sensors of a UE can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another UE. The output may be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load from reporting from several sensors), in response to a triggering event (e.g., when moisture is detected an alert is sent), in response to a request (e.g., a user initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).

As another example, a UE comprises an actuator, a motor, or a switch, related to a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input the states of the actuator, the motor, or the switch may change. For example, the UE may comprise a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of a drone in flight according to the received input or to a robotic arm performing a medical procedure according to the received input.

A UE, when in the form of an Internet of Things (loT) device, may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, city wearable technology, extended industrial application and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voice controlled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door/window sensor, a flood/moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smart watch, a fitness tracker, a head-mounted display for Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR), a wearable for tactile augmentation or sensory enhancement, a water sprinkler, an animal- or item-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring a plant or animal, an industrial robot, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device, like a heart rate monitor or a remote controlled surgical robot. A UE in the form of an loT device comprises circuitry and/or software in dependence of the intended application of the loT device in addition to other components as described in relation to UE 1200 shown in Figure 12.

As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, a UE may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another UE and/or a network node. The UE may in this case be an M2M device, which may in a 3 GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the UE may implement the 3GPP NB-IoT standard. In other scenarios, a UE may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship and an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.

In practice, any number of UEs may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first UE might be or be integrated in a drone and provide the drone’s speed information (obtained through a speed sensor) to a second UE that is a remote controller operating the drone. When the user makes changes from the remote controller, the first UE may adjust the throttle on the drone (e.g. by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the drone’s speed. The first and/or the second UE can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, a UE might comprise the sensor and the actuator, and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.

In some embodiments, UE 1200 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a UE in above descriptions of various embodiments, including the exemplary method shown in Figure 9.

Figure 13 shows a network node 1300 in accordance with some embodiments. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, eNBs, gNBs), and 0-RAN nodes or components of an 0-RAN node (e g., 0-RU, 0-DU, O-CU).

Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and so, depending on the provided amount of coverage, may be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units, distributed units (e.g., in an O-RAN access node) and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).

Other examples of network nodes include multiple transmission point (multi-TRP) 5G access nodes, multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), Operation and Maintenance (O&M) nodes, Operations Support System (OSS) nodes, Self-Organizing Network (SON) nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centers (E-SMLCs)), and/or Minimization of Drive Tests (MDTs).

Network node 1300 includes processing circuitry 1302, memory 1304, communication interface 1306, and power source 1308. Network node 1300 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which network node 1300 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, network node 1300 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate memory 1304 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna 1310 may be shared by different RATs). Network node 1300 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 1300, for example GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, Zigbee, Z-wave, LoRaWAN, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node 1300.

Processing circuitry 1302 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node 1300 components, such as memory 1304, to provide network node 1300 functionality. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1302 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1302 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1312 and baseband processing circuitry 1314. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 1312 and baseband processing circuitry 1314 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 1312 and baseband processing circuitry 1314 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

Memory 1304 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer-readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry 1302. Memory 1304 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and/or other instructions (collected denoted computer program 1304a, which may be in the form of a computer program product) capable of being executed by processing circuitry 1302 and utilized by network node 1300. Memory 1304 may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry 1302 and/or any data received via communication interface 1306. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1302 and memory 1304 is integrated.

Communication interface 1306 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and/or data between a network node, access network, and/or UE. As illustrated, communication interface 1306 comprises port(s)/terminal(s) 1316 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. Communication interface 1306 also includes radio frontend circuitry 1318 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna 1310. Radio front-end circuitry 1318 comprises filters 1320 and amplifiers 1322. Radio front-end circuitry 1318 may be connected to an antenna 1310 and processing circuitry 1302. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1310 and processing circuitry 1302. Radio front-end circuitry 1318 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. Radio front-end circuitry 1318 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1320 and/or amplifiers 1322. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 1310. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 1310 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front-end circuitry 1318. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 1302. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node 1300 does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 1318, instead, processing circuitry 1302 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to antenna 1310. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 1312 is part of communication interface 1306. In still other embodiments, communication interface 1306 includes one or more ports or terminals 1316, radio front-end circuitry 1318, and RF transceiver circuitry 1312, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and communication interface 1306 communicates with baseband processing circuitry 1314, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

Antenna 1310 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna 1310 may be coupled to radio front-end circuitry 1318 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, antenna 1310 is separate from network node 1300 and connectable to network node 1300 through an interface or port.

Antenna 1310, communication interface 1306, and/or processing circuitry 1302 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a UE, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna 1310, communication interface 1306, and/or processing circuitry 1302 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node and/or any other network equipment.

Power source 1308 provides power to the various components of network node 1300 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source 1308 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of network node 1300 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, network node 1300 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid, an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry of power source 1308. As a further example, power source 1308 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.

Embodiments of network node 1300 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 13 for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node 1300 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node 1300 and to allow output of information from network node 1300. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node 1300.

In some embodiments, network node 1300 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a RAN node in above descriptions of various embodiments, including the exemplary method shown in Figure 10.

Figure 14 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 1400 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to any device described herein, or components thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components. Some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines (VMs) implemented in one or more virtual environments 1400 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as a network node, UE, core network node, or host. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized. In some embodiments, the virtualization environment 1400 includes components defined by the O-RAN Alliance, such as an O-Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an O-2 interface.

Applications 1402 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment 1400 to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, one or more virtual nodes 1402 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a RAN node in above descriptions of various embodiments, including the exemplary method shown in Figure 10.

Hardware 1404 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and/or instructions (collected denoted computer program 1404a, which may be in the form of a computer program product) executable by hardware processing circuitry, and/or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, input/output interface, and so forth. Software may be executed by the processing circuitry to instantiate one or more virtualization layers 1406 (also referred to as hypervisors or virtual machine monitors (VMMs)), provide VMs 1408a-b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as VMs 1408), and/or perform any of the functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. Virtualization layer 1406 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to the VMs 1408.

VMs 1408 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer 1406. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance 1402 may be implemented on one or more of VMs 1408, and the implementations may be made in different ways. Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

In the context of NFV, each VM 1408 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each VM 1408, and that part of hardware 1404 that executes that VM, be it hardware dedicated to that VM and/or hardware shared by that VM with others of the VMs, forms separate virtual network elements. Still in the context of NFV, a virtual network function is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more VMs 1408 on top of the hardware 1404 and corresponds to the application 1402.

Hardware 1404 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 1404 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 1404 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration function 1410, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 1402. In some embodiments, hardware 1404 is coupled to one or more radio units that each include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers that may be coupled to one or more antennas. Radio units may communicate directly with other hardware nodes via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. In some embodiments, some signaling can be provided with the use of a control system 1412 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements, and procedures that, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and can be thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Various embodiments can be used together with one another, as well as interchangeably therewith, as should be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.

The term unit, as used herein, can have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and/or electronic devices and can include, for example, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein.

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

As described herein, device and/or apparatus can be represented by a semiconductor chip, a chipset, or a (hardware) module comprising such chip or chipset; this, however, does not exclude the possibility that a functionality of a device or apparatus, instead of being hardware implemented, be implemented as a software module such as a computer program or a computer program product comprising executable software code portions for execution or being run on a processor. Furthermore, functionality of a device or apparatus can be implemented by any combination of hardware and software. A device or apparatus can also be regarded as an assembly of multiple devices and/or apparatuses, whether functionally in cooperation with or independently of each other. Moreover, devices and apparatuses can be implemented in a distributed fashion throughout a system, so long as the functionality of the device or apparatus is preserved. Such and similar principles are considered known to a skilled person.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In addition, certain terms used in the present disclosure, including the specification and drawings, can be used synonymously in certain instances (e.g., “data” and “information”). Although these terms (and/or other terms that can be synonymous to one another) can be used synonymously herein, there can be instances when such words can be intended to not be used synonymously.

Embodiments of the techniques and apparatus described herein also include, but are not limited to, the following enumerated examples:

Al . A method performed by a user equipment (UE) configured to operation in a radio access network (RAN), the method comprising: receiving from a RAN node a measurement configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN, wherein: the measurement configuration includes a measurement identifier and a reporting configuration, and the reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition; sending to the RAN node a first measurement report including measurements for a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells; and based on determining that subsequent measurements performed on a second subset of the plurality of cells meet the leaving condition, sending to the RAN node a second measurement report, wherein one or more of the following applies: the second measurement report excludes subsequent measurements for cells that are included in the second subset but not in the first subset; and the second measurement report includes one or more of the following: an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells not included in the first subset; and identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition. A2. The method of embodiment Al, further comprising: performing measurements on the plurality of cells in accordance with the measurement configuration; determining that the measurements performed on a number of the cells meet the entering condition, wherein the number is greater than the maximum number of reported cells; and selecting, as the first subset, the maximum number of the cells whose measurements meet the entering condition, based on a measurement quality criterion.

A3. The method of embodiment A2, wherein the first measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose measurements meet the entering condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells.

A3 a. The method of any of embodiments A2-A3, wherein for at least one cell of the first subset, the first measurement report also indicates that included measurements for the at least one cell met the entering condition for a first time.

A4. The method of any of embodiments A2-A3a, wherein the measurements are of reference signal received power (RSRP), and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

A5. The method of any of embodiments A2-A4, further comprising: storing respective identifies of the selected first subset of cells in a triggered cells list; and based on the triggered cells list, determining which cells of the second subset are not included in the first subset.

A6. The method of any of embodiments A1-A5, further comprising: after sending the first measurement report, performing the subsequent measurements on the plurality of cells in accordance with the measurement configuration; determining that the subsequent measurements performed on a third subset of the plurality of cells meet the entering condition; and selecting the maximum number of cells from the second and third subsets, based on a measurement quality criterion, wherein the second measurement report includes the subsequent measurements for the selected cells.

A6a. The method of embodiment A6, wherein the subsequent measurements are of reference signal received power (RSRP), and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

A7. The method of any of embodiments A6-A6a, wherein the selected cells include the maximum number of cells from the third subset, and the second measurement report includes an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to unreported subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition.

A7a. The method of any of embodiments A1-A7, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition or the leaving condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells.

A7b. The method of any of embodiments Al-A7a, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that no new cell has been detected since the first measurement report.

A8. The method of any of embodiments Al-A7b, wherein the reporting configuration also includes indications of one or more of the following: whether the UE should restrict reporting of measurements for cells that meet the leaving condition to cells whose measurements where previously reported in response to meeting the entering condition, for the measurement identity; and whether the UE should include one or more of the following in measurement reports: an indication whether a measurement report was initiated due to measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells whose measurements were not previously reported, for the measurement identity; and identifiers of the cells whose measurements meet the leaving condition.

A9. The method of any of embodiments A1-A8, wherein the reporting configuration includes one or more thresholds and a hysteresis value, and the entering and leaving conditions are based on the one or more thresholds and the hysteresis value. A10. The method of any of embodiments A1-A9, wherein the reporting configuration indicates an event that triggers measurement reporting, with the entering and leaving conditions being associated with the event.

Bl. A method performed a radio access network (RAN) node configured to serve user equipment (UEs), the method comprising: sending to a UE a measurement configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN, wherein: the measurement configuration includes a measurement identifier and a reporting configuration, and the reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition; receiving from the UE a first measurement report including measurements by the UE for a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells; and in response to subsequent measurements by the UE on a second subset of the plurality of cells meeting the leaving condition, receiving from the UE a second measurement report, wherein one or more of the following applies: the second measurement report excludes subsequent measurements for cells that are included in the second subset but not in the first subset; and the second measurement report includes one or more of the following: an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells not included in the first subset; and identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

B2. The method of embodiment Bl, wherein: the number of cells whose measurements meet the entering condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells; and the first subset includes the maximum number of the cells whose measurements meet the entering condition, selected by the UE based on a measurement quality criterion. B3. The method of embodiment B2, wherein the first measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose measurements meet the entering condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells.

B3a. The method of any of embodiments B2-B3, wherein for at least one cell of the first subset, the first measurement report also indicates that included measurements for the at least one cell met the entering condition for a first time.

B4. The method of any of embodiments B2-B3a, wherein the measurements are of reference signal received power (RSRP), and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

B5. The method of any of embodiments B1-B4, wherein the second measurement report includes the subsequent measurements for the maximum number of cells, selected by the UE from the following based on a measurement quality criterion: the second subset, and a third subset of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition.

B6. The method of embodiment B5, wherein the subsequent measurements are of reference signal received power (RSRP), and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

B7. The method of any of embodiments B5-B6, wherein the selected cells include the maximum number of cells from the third subset, and the second measurement report includes an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to unreported subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition.

B7a. The method of any of embodiments B1-B7, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition or the leaving condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells.

B7b. The method of any of embodiments Bl-B7a, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that no new cell has been detected since the first measurement report. B8. The method of any of embodiments Bl-B7b, wherein the reporting configuration also includes indications of one or more of the following: whether the UE should restrict reporting of measurements for cells that meet the leaving condition to cells whose measurements where previously reported in response to meeting the entering condition, for the measurement identity; and whether the UE should include one or more of the following in measurement reports: an indication whether a measurement report was initiated due to measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells whose measurements were not previously reported, for the measurement identity; and identifiers of the cells whose measurements meet the leaving condition.

B9. The method of any of embodiments B1-B8, wherein the reporting configuration includes one or more thresholds and a hysteresis value, and the entering and leaving conditions are based on the one or more thresholds and the hysteresis value.

BIO. The method of any of embodiments B1-B9, wherein the reporting configuration indicates an event that triggers measurement reporting, with the entering and leaving conditions being associated with the event.

Cl . A user equipment (UE) configured to operation in a radio access network (RAN), the UE comprising: communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with a RAN node; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments A1-A10.

C2. A user equipment (UE) configured to operation in a radio access network (RAN), the UE being further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments A1-A10.

C3. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a user equipment (UE) configured to operation in a radio access network (RAN), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments A1-A10. C4. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a user equipment (UE) configured to operation in a radio access network (RAN), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments A1-A10.

DI . A radio access network (RAN) node configured to serve user equipment (UEs), the RAN node comprising: communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with UEs via one or more cells; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments Bl -BIO.

D2. A radio access network (RAN) node configured to serve user equipment (UEs), the RAN node being further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments Bl -BIO.

D3. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a radio access network (RAN) node configured to serve user equipment (UEs), configure the RAN node to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments Bl -BIO.

D4. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a radio access network (RAN) node configured to serve user equipment (UEs), configure the RAN node to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments Bl -BIO.

Claims

1. A method performed by a user equipment, UE, configured to operate in a radio access network, RAN, the method comprising: receiving (910) from a RAN node a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN, wherein the reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition; sending (940) to the RAN node a first measurement report including measurements for a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells; and based on determining (960) that subsequent measurements performed on a second subset of the plurality of cells meet the leaving condition, sending (970) to the RAN node a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second measurement report is sent further based on the reporting configuration indicating to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition.

3. The method of any of claims 1-2, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells not included in the first subset.

4. The method of any of claims 1-3, wherein the reporting configuration is received as part of a measurement configuration and the method further comprises: performing (920) measurements on the plurality of cells in accordance with the measurement configuration; determining (925) that the measurements performed on a number of the cells meet the entering condition, wherein the number is greater than the maximum number of reported cells; and selecting (930), as the first subset, the maximum number of the cells whose measurements meet the entering condition, based on a measurement quality criterion.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose measurements meet the entering condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells.

6. The method of any of claims 4-5, wherein for at least one cell of the first subset, the first measurement report also indicates that included measurements for the at least one cell met the entering condition for a first time.

7. The method of any of claims 4-6, wherein the measurements are of reference signal received power, RSRP, and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

8. The method of any of claims 4-7, further comprising: storing (935) respective identifies of the selected first subset of cells in a triggered cells list; and based on the triggered cells list, determining (970) which cells of the second subset are not included in the first subset.

9. The method of any of claims 1-8, wherein the reporting configuration is received as part of a measurement configuration and the method further comprises: after sending (940) the first measurement report, performing (950) the subsequent measurements on the plurality of cells in accordance with the measurement configuration; determining (955) that the subsequent measurements performed on a third subset of the plurality of cells meet the entering condition; and selecting (965) the maximum number of cells from the second and third subsets, based on a measurement quality criterion, wherein the second measurement report includes the subsequent measurements for the selected cells.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the subsequent measurements are of reference signal received power, RSRP, and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

11. The method of any of claims 9-10, wherein the selected cells include the maximum number of cells from the third subset, and the second measurement report includes an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to unreported subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition.

12. The method of any of claims 1-11, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition or the leaving condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells.

13. The method of any of claims 1-12, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that no new cell has been detected since the first measurement report.

14. The method of any of claims 1-13, wherein the reporting configuration also includes indications of one or more of the following: whether the UE should restrict reporting of measurements for cells that meet the leaving condition to cells whose measurements where previously reported in response to meeting the entering condition, for the measurement identity; and whether the UE should include one or more of the following in measurement reports: an indication whether a measurement report was initiated due to measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells whose measurements were not previously reported, for the measurement identity; and identifiers of the cells whose measurements meet the leaving condition.

15. The method of any of claims 1-14, wherein the reporting configuration includes one or more thresholds and a hysteresis value, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being based on the one or more thresholds and the hysteresis value.

16. The method of any of claims 1-15, wherein the reporting configuration indicates an event that triggers measurement reporting, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being associated with the event.

17. A method performed a radio access network, RAN, node configured to serve user equipment, UEs, the method comprising: sending (1010) to a UE a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN, wherein the reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition; receiving (1020) from the UE a first measurement report including measurements by the UE for a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells; and in response to subsequent measurements by the UE on a second subset of the plurality of cells meeting the leaving condition, receiving (1030) from the UE a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second measurement report is received further based on the reporting configuration indicating for the UE to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition.

19. The method of any of claims 17-18, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that the second measurement report was initiated due to subsequent measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells not included in the first subset.

20. The method of any of claims 17-19, wherein: the number of cells whose measurements meet the entering condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells; and the first subset includes the maximum number of the cells whose measurements meet the entering condition, selected by the UE based on a measurement quality criterion.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein for at least one cell of the first subset, the first measurement report also indicates that included measurements for the at least one cell met the entering condition for a first time.

22. The method of any of claims 20-21, wherein the measurements are of reference signal received power, RSRP, and the measurement quality criterion is cells having highest RSRP measurements.

23. The method of any of claims 17-22, wherein the second measurement report includes the subsequent measurements for the maximum number of cells, with the included subsequent measurements being selected by the UE from the following based on a measurement quality criterion: the second subset, and a third subset of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition.

24. The method of any of claims 17-23, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that the number of cells whose subsequent measurements meet the entering condition or the leaving condition is greater than the maximum number of reported cells.

25. The method of any of claims 17-24, wherein the second measurement report also includes an indication that no new cell has been detected since the first measurement report.

26. The method of any of claims 17-25, wherein the reporting configuration also includes indications of one or more of the following: whether the UE should restrict reporting of measurements for cells that meet the leaving condition to cells whose measurements where previously reported in response to meeting the entering condition, for the measurement identity; and whether the UE should include one or more of the following in measurement reports: an indication whether a measurement report was initiated due to measurements that meet the leaving condition for cells whose measurements were not previously reported, for the measurement identity; and identifiers of the cells whose measurements meet the leaving condition.

27. The method of any of claims 17-26, wherein the reporting configuration includes one or more thresholds and a hysteresis value, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being based on the one or more thresholds and the hysteresis value.

28. The method of any of claims 17-27, wherein the reporting configuration indicates an event that triggers measurement reporting, with the entering condition and the leaving condition being associated with the event.

29. User equipment, UE (105, 210, 1112, 1200) configured to operate in a radio access network, RAN (199, 1104), the UE comprising: communication interface circuitry (1212) configured to communicate with a RAN node (110, 120, 220, 1110, 1300, 1402); and processing circuitry (1202) operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to: receive from the RAN node a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN, wherein the reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition; send to the RAN node a first measurement report including measurements for a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells; and based on determining that subsequent measurements performed on a second subset of the plurality of cells meet the leaving condition, send to the RAN node a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

30. The UE of claim 29, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 2-16.

31. User equipment, UE (105, 210, 1112, 1200) configured to operate in a radio access network, RAN (199, 1104), the UE being further configured to: receive from a RAN node (110, 120, 220, 1110, 1300, 1402) a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN, wherein the reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition; send to the RAN node a first measurement report including measurements for a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells; and based on determining that subsequent measurements performed on a second subset of the plurality of cells meet the leaving condition, send to the RAN node a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

32. The UE of claim 31, being further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 2-16.

33. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium (1210) storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry (1202) of user equipment, UE (105, 210, 1112, 1200) configured to operate in a radio access network, RAN (199, 1104), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 1-16.

34. A computer program product (1214) comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry (1202) of user equipment, UE (105, 210, 1112, 1200) configured to operate in a radio access network, RAN (199, 1104), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 1-16.

35. Radio access network, RAN, node (110, 120, 220, 1110, 1300, 1402) configured to serve user equipment, UEs (105, 210, 1112, 1200), the RAN node comprising: communication interface circuitry (1306, 1404) configured to communicate with UEs via one or more cells; and processing circuitry (1302, 1404) operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to: send to a UE a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN, wherein the reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition; receive from the UE a first measurement report including measurements by the UE for a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells; and in response to subsequent measurements by the UE on a second subset of the plurality of cells meeting the leaving condition, receive from the UE a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

36. The RAN node of claim 35, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 18-28.

37. Radio access network, RAN, node (110, 120, 220, 1110, 1300, 1402) configured to serve user equipment, UEs (105, 210, 1112, 1200), the RAN node being further configured to: send to a UE a reporting configuration for measurements of a plurality of cells provided by the RAN, wherein the reporting configuration indicates the following: an entering condition, a leaving condition, a maximum number of reported cells, and whether to initiate a measurement report based on meeting the leaving condition; receive from the UE a first measurement report including measurements by the UE for a first subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the first subset includes cells of the plurality whose measurements meet the entering condition, but no more than the maximum number of reported cells; and in response to subsequent measurements by the UE on a second subset of the plurality of cells meeting the leaving condition, receive from the UE a second measurement report that includes identifiers of the cells whose subsequent measurements meet the leaving condition.

38. The RAN node of claim 37, being further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 18-28.

39. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium (1304, 1404) storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry (1302, 1404) of a radio access network, RAN, node (110, 120, 220, 1110, 1300, 1402) configured to serve user equipment, UEs (105, 210, 1112, 1200), configure the RAN node to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 17-28.

40. A computer program product (1304a, 1404a) comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry (1302, 1404) of a radio access network, RAN, node (110, 120, 220, 1110, 1300, 1402) configured to serve user equipment, UEs (105, 210, 1112, 1200), configure the RAN node to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 17-28.