WO2025233760A1

WO2025233760A1 - Measurement enhancements in communication system

Info

Publication number: WO2025233760A1
Application number: PCT/IB2025/054555
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ethiraj Alwar; Janne ALI-TOLPPA; Endrit DOSTI
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2024-05-09
Filing date: 2025-04-30
Publication date: 2025-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-09

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are related to measurement enhancements in a communication system. A method comprises receiving, via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; receiving measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations; and in response to the measurement activation information, performing measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

Description

MEASUREMENT ENHANCEMENTS IN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, India Provisional Application No. 202441036740, filed May 9, 2024, the content of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for measurement enhancements in a communication system.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In the communication systems, a terminal device (e.g., UE) may need to perform measurement and report the measurement results to the network side for various usage. As an example, a cell handover for the terminal device is taken by the network device based on measurement reports from the terminal device. There are multiple measurement items (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)) and multiple ways (periodic, event triggered) to measure the signal quality of the serving cell and neighbor cells.

SUMMARY

[0003] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; receive measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations; and in response to the measurement activation information, perform measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

[0004] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the i measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; and transmit one of the following: the measurement preparation information to a third apparatus, to cause the third apparatus to activate at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; or measurement activation information to the first apparatus via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated for the first apparatus amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

[0005] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a third apparatus. The third apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the third apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for a first apparatus; and based on a determination that an activation criterion for at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations is satisfied, transmit, to the first apparatus, measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying the at least one configuration to be activated.

[0006] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, by a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; receiving measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations; and in response to the measurement activation information, performing measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

[0007] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, by a second apparatus and to a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; and transmitting one of the following: the measurement preparation information to a third apparatus, to cause the third apparatus to activate at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; or measurement activation information to the first apparatus via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated for the first apparatus amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

[0008] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, by a third apparatus and from a second apparatus, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for a first apparatus; and based on a determination that an activation criterion for at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations is satisfied, transmitting to the first apparatus, measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying the at least one configuration to be activated.

[0009] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; means for receiving measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations; and means for in response to the measurement activation information, performing measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

[0010] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; and means for transmitting one of the following: the measurement preparation information to a third apparatus, to cause the third apparatus to activate at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; or measurement activation information to the first apparatus via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated for the first apparatus amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

[0011] In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a third apparatus. The third apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for a first apparatus; and means for, based on a determination that an activation criterion for at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations is satisfied, transmitting to the first apparatus, measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying the at least one configuration to be activated.

[0012] In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0013] In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fifth aspect.

[0014] In a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the sixth aspect.

[0015] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0018] FIG. 2A illustrates an example procedure for the NR L3 baseline handover;

[0019] FIG. 2B illustrates an example of related signaling between entities for L3 mobility;

[0020] FIG. 2C illustrates an example procedure for L1/L2-Triggered Mobility (LTM) procedure;

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a signaling flow of measurement in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate example signaling between the terminal device, the CU-CP, and the DU in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a signaling flow of measurement preparation and measurement activation/deactivation by the CU-CP in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a signaling flow of measurement preparation by the CU-CP and measurement activation/deactivation by the DU in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIGS. 7A-7F illustrate example signaling flows in different procedures for measurement preparation and/or measurement activation in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 8A illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 8B illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 8C illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a third apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0030] FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0033] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0034] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0035] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0036] As used herein, “at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>” and “at least one of <a list of two or more elements>” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements. [0037] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0038] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and/ or combinations thereof.

[0039] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:

(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and

(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

(i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and

(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0040] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0041 ] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE- A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and/or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0042] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (I AB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0043] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and/or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and/or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and/or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0044] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and/or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices, including a terminal device 110 and a network device 120, can communicate with each other.

[0046] In the example of FIG. 1 , the terminal device 110 may be a UE and the network device 120 may be a base station serving the UE. The serving area of the network device 120 may be called a cell 102. The network device 120 is operating in a radio access network (RAN) and thus is also referred to as a RAN network device.

[0047] In some example embodiments, the RAN architecture will include a centralized part, or central unit (CU), and a distributed part, or distributed unit (DU). The CU and the DU will be connected to one another by a so-called Fl interface. In some example embodiments, the CU may be split into a CU-UP (central unit-user plane) and a CU-CP (central unit-control plane). The CU-UP and the CU-CP will be connected to one another by a so-called El interface, and the Fl interface will be split between Fl-c and Fl-u interfaces for the control and user planes, respectively. Based on such RAN architecture, as shown in FIG. 1 , the network device 120 may include a DU 123, a CU-CP 122 and a CU-UP 124.

[0048] It is to be understood that the number of devices and their connections shown in FIG. 1 are only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of devices configured to implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional devices may be located in the cell 102, and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 100. It is noted that although illustrated as a network device, the network device 120 may be another device than a network device. Although illustrated as a terminal device, the terminal device 110 may be another device than a terminal device.

[0049] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the terminal device 110 operating as a UE and the network device 120 operating as a base station. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0050] In some example embodiments, a link from the network device 120 to the terminal device 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a link from the terminal device 110 to the network device 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the network device 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the terminal device 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the terminal device 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the network device 120 is a RX device (or a receiver). [0051] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and/or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and/or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0052] In the communication systems, various communication decisions, e.g., the cell handover decision, are taken based on measurement reports from the terminal device.

[0053] A measurement configuration is provided to the UE by the serving cell, e.g., using RRCReconfiguration message. The network device may configure the UE to perform NR measurements or inter-radio access technology (RAT) measurement of frequencies.

[0054] The measurement configuration includes the following parameters:

[0055] 1. Measurement object: defines a list of objects on which the UE shall perform the measurements:

• Frequency/time location and sub-carrier spacing of the reference signals to be measured.

• A list of “blacklisted” cells and a list of “whitelisted cells”. Blacklisted cells are not applicable in event evaluation or measurement reporting. Whitelisted cells are the only ones applicable in the event evaluation or measurement reporting.

[0056] 2. Reporting configuration: defining a list of reporting configuration where there can be one or multiple reporting configuration per measurement object. Each measurement reporting configuration consists of the following: • Reporting criterion: the criterion the trigger the UE to send a measurement report. This can either be periodical or a measurement event.

• Reference signal (RS) type: The RS that the UE uses for beam and cell measurements (SS/PBCH or CSI-RS)

• Reporting format: The measurement quantities per cell or beam that the UE includes in the measurement report (e.g. RSRP, RSRQ or SINR) and other associated information such as the maximum number of cells and the maximum number beams per cell to report.

• reportinterval: With what time periodicity measurements are reported.

• reportAmount: How many subsequent measurements are reported either after periodic reporting configuration or after a measurement event condition fulfilment.

[0057] 3. Measurement identity (ID): links one measurement object with one reporting configuration. By including multiple measurement identities, it is possible to link one measurement object with multiple reporting configurations and vice-versa. The UE includes the measurement identity in the measurement report to assist the serving cell in interpreting the reported measurement results, i.e., serving as a reference to the network,

[0058] 4. Quantity configuration: defines the configuration for the measurement filtering. For NR measurements, the network may configure up to two quantity configurations where in each configuration different filter coefficient (used for measurement filtering) can be configured for different measurements quantities, RS types, cell and beam measurements.

[0059] 5. Measurement gaps: Periods that the UE may use to perform measurements.

[0060] The procedure for the NR L3 baseline handover is shown in FIG. 2A as an example of typical mobility procedures. The network device may configure the UE with different configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements, for example with measurement event A2 and A3 based reporting, before making the handover decision. The configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements are executed with an RRCReconfigu ration message, which is created by the CU-CP of gNB (represented as gNB-CU-CP). The related signaling between gNB-CU-CP, gNB-DU and the UE for L3 mobility is shown in FIG. 2B.

[0061] The L1/L2-Triggered Mobility (LTM) procedure for handover is shown in FIG. 2C as another example. The procedure for LTM is as follows:

[0062] 1. The UE sends a MeasurementReport message to the gNB. The gNB decides to configure LTM and initiates LTM preparation.

[0063] 2. The gNB transmits an RRCReconfiguration message to the UE including the LTM candidate configurations.

[0064] 3. The UE stores the LTM candidate configurations and transmits an

RRCReconfigurationComplete message to the gNB. [0065] 4a. The UE performs DL synchronization with the LTM candidate cell(s) before receiving the cell switch command. The UE may activate and deactivate TCI states of LTM candidate cell (s), as triggered by the gNB.

[0066] 4b. The UE may perform UL synchronization with LTM candidate cell(s) before receiving the cell switch command, by using UE-based TA measurement, if configured, and/or by transmitting a preamble towards the candidate cell, as triggered by the gNB. When UE-based TA measurement is configured, UE acquires the TA value(s) of the candidate cell(s) by measurement. UE performs early TA acquisition with the candidate cell(s) as requested by the network before receiving the cell switch command as specified in clause 9.2.6. This is done via CFRA triggered by a PDCCH order from the source cell, following which the UE sends preamble towards the indicated candidate cell. In order to minimize the data interruption of the source cell due to CFRA towards the candidate cell(s), the UE does not receive random access response from the network for the purpose of TA value acquisition and the TA value of the candidate cell is indicated in the cell switch command. The UE does not maintain the TA timer for the candidate cell and relies on network implementation to guarantee the TA validity.

[0067] 5. The UE performs L1 measurements on the configured LTM candidate cell(s) and transmits L1 measurement reports to the gNB. L1 measurement should be performed as long as RRC reconfiguration (step 2) is applicable.

[0068] 6. The gNB decides to execute cell switch to a target cell and transmits an LTM Cell switch command MAC CE triggering cell switch by including a target configuration ID which indicates the index of the candidate configuration of the target cell, a beam indicated with a TCI state or beams indicated with DL and UL TCI states, and a timing advance command for the target cell, if available. The UE switches to the target cell and applies the candidate configuration indicated by the target configuration ID.

[0069] 7. The UE performs the random access procedure towards the target cell, if UE does not have valid TA of the target cell as specified in clause 5.18.35 of TS 38.321 [6].

[0070] 8. The UE completes the LTM cell switch procedure by sending

RRCReconfigurationComplete message to target cell. If the UE has performed a RA procedure in step 7 the UE considers that LTM cell switch execution is successfully completed when the random access procedure is successfully completed. For RACH-less LTM, the UE considers that LTM cell switch execution is successfully completed when the UE determines that the network has successfully received its first UL data.

[0071] The steps 4-8 can be performed multiple times for subsequent LTM cell switch executions using the LTM candidate configuration(s) provided in step 2.

[0072] The procedure over the air interface described in Figure 9.2.3.5.2-1 is applicable to both intra-gNB-DU LTM and inter-gNB-DU LTM. The overall LTM procedures over F1-C interface are captured in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.401.

[0073] 5G RRC signaling only enables gNB-CU-CP centric monolithic measurement configuration. Once a measurement object is added to the UE, UE starts measuring the object immediately and reporting the measurements according to the measurement reporting configuration. A format of the monolithic measurement configuration is as below in Table 1.

Table 1

0074] Semi-persistent (SP) reporting, in which reporting of measurements is done from the based on an activation trigger coming from the network side (e.g., media access control control element (MAC CE) or downlink control information (DCI)). Different from SP reporting, in some cases, the UE is not restricted to only report measurements. The UE can also report predictions of measurements (e.g., of L1 measurements, L3 measurements etc.).

[0075] Currently there is also study on Al (Artificial I ntelligence)/M L (Machine Learning) for mobility in communication systems. It is agreed to provide mobility enhancement in RRC_CONNECTED mode over air interface by following existing mobility framework, i.e., handover decision is always made in network side. Mobility use cases focus on standalone NR PCell change. UE-side and network-side AI/ML model can be both considered, respectively. It has been studied and evaluated potential benefits and gains of AI/ML aided mobility for network triggered L3-based handover.

[0076] Networks are constantly becoming denser, which is leading to more handovers making any overhead caused by handovers more significant. One overhead is the need for frequent RRC reconfiguration. Another is the radio measurements a UE needs to take and report.

[0077] To reduce the overhead of measurements, a UE needs to take or to report measurement event prediction concepts have been introduced which may lead to updates of the configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements for the UE. For example, if gNB-DU is predicting measurement events based on its data, it needs to always signal these to gNB- CU-CP to update the RRC measurement configuration, because RRC terminates at the gNB-CU-CP. [0078] Regardless of if measurement event prediction is used or not, frequent measurement configuration changes introduce signaling overhead in the RRC over the air interface. In a dense deployment, if the UE is frequently handed over within a group of cells, ping-pongs or short stays, the RRC reconfigurations to update the measurement configuration can also be frequent, especially if methods like conditional handover (CHO) or LTM are not used.

[0079] In summary, the measurement framework is not optimal and may cause significant signaling in some cases because signaling always flows from UE to DU to CU-CP of a RAN network device in UL and DL directions. This is due to the reason that CU-CP terminates the RRC signaling. In some cases, it is not flexible when DU can determine if some configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements for the UE needs to be updated. Since the measurement configuration is “monolithic” from the perspective of UE, there is no control for the DU.

[0080] In accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a solution for efficient and flexible measurement configurating. In this solution, the “monolithic measurement configuration and activation” is into separate measurement preparation and activation/deactivation steps. At the measurement preparation step, a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared are configured to a terminal device. The terminal device stores the set of prepared configurations, but will not activate those configurations for measuring and reporting. At the activation step, the terminal device receives measurement activation information comprising at least one measurement ID of at least one configuration to be activated. At this time, the terminal device starts to perform measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration. Similarly, if the terminal device receives measurement deactivation information comprising one or more measurement IDs of one or more configurations to be deactivated, then the terminal device will stop the measurement and the reporting for the deactivated configuration(s).

[0081] Through this solution, separate measurement preparation and activation/deactivation are performed independently so that they can be controlled independently and flexibly. In the case that the DU can make a decision of whether one or more previously prepared configurations are to be activated or deactivated, it can directly transmit to the terminal device measurement activation/deactivation information, e.g., via MAC CE or DCI, without introducing high signaling overhead as compared with the RRC signaling done by CU-CP.

[0082] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0083] FIG. 3 illustrates a signaling flow 300 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of discussion, the signaling flow 300 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1. The signaling flow 300 may involve the terminal device 110, the CU-CP 122 and the DU 123 of the network device 120 in FIG. 1.

[0084] In the signaling flow 300, the CU-CP 122 transmits (305) measurement preparation information to the terminal device 110 via first RRC signaling. The measurement preparation information includes a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the terminal device 110. In some example embodiments, the measurement preparation information may further comprise respective identities (IDs) (e.g., measurement ID) identifying the prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements. The terminal device 110 receives (310) the measurement preparation information from the CU-CP 122 via the first RRC signaling.

[0085] A configuration associated with measurement is also referred to as a “measurement configuration. As mentioned above, a measurement configuration may include a measurement object, which defines a list of objects on which the terminal device 110 shall perform the measurements; a reporting configuration which defines a list of reporting configuration where there can be one or multiple reporting configuration per measurement object; a measurement ID which associates a measurement object with a reporting configuration; a quantity configuration which defines the configuration for the measurement filtering. In some example embodiments, the configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement may or may not include a measurement gap that the terminal device 110 may use to perform measurement. A configuration associated with prediction of the measurement includes configuration information for measurement prediction. As an example, predictions of the measurements can be performed by considering ML models, traditional statistical models and other Al models which can be developed and used for the purpose of providing estimates of the true measurements.

[0086] When receiving the measurement preparation information, the terminal device 110 may not activate the configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements but only store the set of prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements.

[0087] The activation and deactivation of the prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements may be implemented by either the DU 123 or the CU-CP 122.

[0088] In an activation method 312 implemented by the CU-CP 122, the CU-CP 122 transmits (315A) measurement activation information to the terminal device 110. The measurement activation information includes at least one measurement ID identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations. The terminal device 110 receives (320A) the measurement activation information from the CU-CP 122 and then can determine that at least one previously prepared configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement is now activated. In some example embodiments, the measurement activation information is transmitted via second RRC signaling from the CU-CP 122.

[0089] In an activation method 314 implemented by the DU 123, the CU-CP 122 transmits (315B) also transmits the measurement preparation information of the terminal device 110 to the DU 123. The DU 123 receives (316B) such measurement preparation information so that it is aware of the respective configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements prepared at the terminal device 110 and may have control of activation or deactivation of one or more configurations. In some example embodiments, the DU 123 may transmit to the CU-CP 122 a request for measurement preparation, the request for measurement preparation identifying the terminal device 110. For example, the request may include a device ID of the terminal device 110 (UE ID), or other implicit indication such as the F1AP DU UE ID and F1AP CU UE ID. In response to the request for measurement preparation, the CU-CP 122 transmits the measurement preparation information to the terminal device 110 and the DU 123.

[0090] If the DU 123 determines that at least one set of previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements is to be activated, then the DU 123 transmits (318B) measurement activation information to the terminal device 110. The measurement activation information includes at least one measurement ID identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations. The terminal device 110 receives (320B) the measurement activation information from the DU 123 and then can determine that at least one previously prepared configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement is now activated.

[0091] In some example embodiments, the measurement activation information is transmitted via non-RRC signaling from the DU 123. In some examples, the measurement activation information is transmitted via a MAC CE, DCI, or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) from the DU 123.

[0092] By receiving the measurement activation information, the terminal device 110 activates the at least one previously prepared configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement as indicated in the measurement activation information and performs (325) measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration. The measurement result may be received (330) by the CU-CP 122. In some example embodiments, the measurement result may be utilized to perform handover of the terminal device 110, e.g., if the terminal device 110 is to be handed over from the current source cell to a target cell.

[0093] In some embodiments, one or more activated configurations may be deactivated as required. In an activation method 332 implemented by the CU-CP 122, the CU-CP 122 transmits (335A) measurement deactivation information to the terminal device 110. The measurement deactivation information includes one or more measurement ID identifying one or more configurations to be deactivated amongst the at least one activated configuration. The terminal device 110 receives (340A) the measurement deactivation information from the CU-CP 122 and then can determine that one or more previously activated configuration is now deactivated. [0094] In a deactivation method 334 implemented by the DU 123, the DU 123 transmits (335B) such measurement deactivation information to the terminal device 110. The terminal device 110 receives (340A) the measurement deactivation information from the DU 123 and then can determine that one or more previously activated configuration is now deactivated.

[0095] With the measurement deactivation information received, the terminal device 110 may cease or stop the measurement and the reporting using the one or more configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements that is now deactivated.

[0096] The CU-CP 122 or the DU 123 may decide whether one or more configurations are to be activated based on an activation criterion/criteria for the one or more configurations. Similarly, the CU- CP 122 or the DU 123 may decide whether one or more configurations are to be deactivated based on a deactivation criterion/criteria for the one or more configurations.

[0097] In some example embodiments, if the previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements may be related to respective measurement events (e.g., Events A1 , A2, A3, and A5, etc.) and if the CU-CP 122 or the DU 123 can predict a measurement event (e.g., Event A2) at the terminal device 110, the CU-CP 122 or the DU 123 may determine that activation criteria are satisfied for activating the configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements related to measurement events A1 , A3, and A5. The CU-CP 122 or the DU 123 may transmit measurement activation information indicating the corresponding configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to the terminal device 110. In some example embodiments, if a handover decision or LTM decision is made for the terminal device, the CU-CP 122 or the DU 123 may determine that deactivation criteria are satisfied for the previously activated configurations and may transmit measurement deactivation information indicating the corresponding configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to the terminal device 110. It would be appreciated that only some example activation/deactivation triggers are described here and there may be various other activation/deactivation triggers that may be applied by the CU-CP 122 and the DU 123.

[0098] The signaling between the terminal device 110, the CU-CP 122, and the DU 123 based on the split configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement preparation and activation/deactivation are shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B.

[0099] The signaling example 400 of FIG. 4A is related to the case where the measurement preparation is implemented by the CU-CP 122 and the measurement and activation/deactivation is implemented by the DU 123. As shown in FIG. 4A, measurement preparation information is transmitted from the CU-CP 122 to the terminal device 110 in RRC signaling, and transmitted from the CU-CP 122 to the DU 123 using the F1AP interface. Further, the DU 123 can have control of activation or deactivation of the previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements at the terminal device 110. The DU 123 may transmit measurement activation/deactivation information to the terminal device 110 to activate or deactivate one or more previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements flexibly. The measurement activation/deactivation information may be transmitted in MAC-CE, DCI or any other signaling suitable for communication between the DU 123 and the terminal device 110.

[0100] The signaling example 401 of FIG. 4B is related to the case where the measurement preparation and the measurement activation/deactivation are implemented by the CU-CP 122. As shown in FIG. 4B, measurement preparation information is transmitted from the CU-CP 122 to the terminal device 110 in RRC signaling. Later, the CU-CP 122 can further control activation or deactivation of the previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements at the terminal device 110. The CU-CP 122 may transmit measurement activation/deactivation information to the terminal device 110 to activate or deactivate one or more previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements flexibly. The measurement activation/deactivation information may be transmitted in further RRC signaling from the CU-CP 122 to the terminal device 110.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the CU-CP 122 may transmit the measurement preparation information to the DU 123 in a UE Context Setup Request, a UE Context Modification Request, or any other legacy or new F1AP procedure between the CU-CP and DU.

[0102] In some example embodiments, the CU-CP 122 may transmit the measurement preparation information and/or the measurement activation/deactivation information to the terminal device 110 in a RRC Reconfiguration message. Thus, RRC enhancements are applied to enable the separation and independent control of “RRM measurement preparation” and “RRM measurement activation/deactivation” from the CU-CP 122. In some example embodiments, one or more information elements (lEs) may be introduced in the RRC signaling to indicate the measurement preparation information and/or the measurement activation/deactivation information. In some examples, for backward compatibility, legacy lEs measObjectToAddModList and measIdToAddModList is retained in the RRC signaling which implies immediate activation.

[0103] The format of configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement in the MeasConfig IE may be represented as in Table 3.

Table 3 information, “measidToActivateList” represents the measurement activation information, and “measIdToDeactivateList” represents the measurement deactivation information. Those lists may associate the preparation/activation/de-activation with the measurement ID (“measID” or “measld”) which associates a measurement object and a reporting configuration.

[0105] When a measurement ID (meas ID) is activated, if the configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement associated with the measurement ID requires a measurement gap, UE will then use the configured measurement gap.

[0106] In some example embodiments, MAC or DCI enhancements are applied to enable independent control of RRM measurement objects or identification activation/de-activation from the DU 123 (with “centralized” RRM measurement preparation at the CU-CP 122). The MAC-CE command will include a list of measurement IDs (measld) to activate and/or deactivate.

[0107] In some example embodiments, F1AP based enhancements are applied to configure prepared measurement objects between the DU 123 and the CU-CP 122 (with “centralized” RRM measurement preparation at CU-CP 122). According to the F1AP Protocol, signaling of “MeasObjectToPrepareList” from CU to DU 123 may be used to carry the measurement preparation information of the terminal device 110.

[0108] This MeasObjectToPrepareList IE includes the list of prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements and the corresponding measurement IDs. The DU 123 can use the measurement IDs to activate/de-activate when needed. This IE can be signaled either in the message UE Context Setup Request or UE Context Modification Request over F1AP.

[0109] The CU-CP 122 prepares the measurement objects and report configurations for the terminal device 110. In some example embodiments, the CU-CP 122 may also already prepare any required measurement gaps that are also configured in the configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements. Accordingly, the measurement preparation information may further include a set of measurement IDs identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set may indicate a same measurement gap. In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set may indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration. In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set may indicate respective measurement gaps, which may be the same or different.

[0111] Alternatively, the measurement gaps are configured only based on configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement (object) activation. The configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps. In case the measurement object activation is done by the DU 123, this will require a separate message. Then DU 123 may activate any of the prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements with a MAC CE or DCI, or the CU-CP 122 may do so with the RRC signaling. Accordingly, when a prepared configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement is to be activated, the measurement activation information may indicate a measurement gap for the configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement to be activated. In some cases, the measurement deactivation information may accordingly further indicate a measurement gap for the configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement to be deactivated.

[0112] In the example embodiments where the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, if the DU 123 decides to activate at least one previously configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement, it may transmit a measurement gap request to the CU-CP 122. In some example embodiments, the DU 123 may notify the CU-CP 122 about the measurement activation so that the CU-CP 122 needs to configure its measurement gaps accordingly. The measurement gap request may be included in a message transmitted to the CU-CP 122. In response to the measurement gap request from the DU 123, the CU-CP 122 may transmit, to the DU 123, measurement gap information indicating at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated.

[0113] FIG. 5 illustrates an example signaling flow 500 of measurement preparation and measurement activation by the CU-CP 122 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0114] At 505, the terminal device 110 camps on a given cell in the RAN network device including the DU 123 and the CU-CP 122. At 510, the CU-CP 122 transmits a UE context setup request to the DU 123 which includes measurement preparation information for the terminal device 110. The measurement preparation information may be carried in the IE measObjectToPrepareList, e.g., indicating configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements related to measurement events A1 , A2, A3, and A5.

[0115] At 515, as a response to the UE context setup request, the DU 123 transmits a UE context setup response to the CU-CP 122. [0116] At 520, the CU-CP 122 transmits a RRC Reconfiguration message to the terminal device 110 which also includes the measurement preparation information carried in the IE measObjectToPrepareList and indicating configurations associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement related to measurement events A1 , A2, A3, and A5. The terminal device 110 decodes the RRC Reconfiguration message and stores the list of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements indicated in the MeasObjectToPrepareList. These configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements are not activated by default.

[0117] At 525, the DU 123 determines that an activation criterion/criteria for one or more previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements (e.g., the configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements related to measurement events A1 , A3, and A5) are satisfied. As an example, the DU 123 has the capability of measurement event prediction and predicts measurement event A2 for the terminal device 110.

[0118] Then at 530, the DU 123 transmits to the terminal device 110 measurement activation information indicating the one or more configurations to be activated. The measurement activation information may be transmitted with a MAC CE to the terminal device 110, with the corresponding measurement IDs (MeasID) included therein, e.g., the MeasID for the configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements related to A1 , A3, and A5.

[0119] The terminal device 110 decodes the MAC CE and activates the list of measurement objects indicated in the MAC CE. The terminal device 110 starts measurement event monitoring and reporting. [0120] At 535, the terminal device 110 transmits a RRC measurement report (e.g., with the measurement events of A3 and A5) to the CU-CP 122. At 540, the CU-CP 122 may perform a handover decision for the terminal device 110 based on the reported measurement events and probably based on the precited measurement event by the DU 123. If the CU-CP 122 determines a handover of the terminal device 110 from the current cell to a target cell, it may determine that some configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement may be removed. At block 545, the CU-CP 122 transmits a RRC Reconfiguration message to the terminal device 110 which includes a measObjectToRemoveList IE, to remove the previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements related to, e.g., measurement events A1 , A2, A3, and A5.

[0121] As an alternative, at 550, the terminal device 110 transmits a RRC measurement report (e.g., with the measurement event of A1) to the CU-CP 122. Based on the measurement event of A1 and probably based on the precited measurement event by the DU 123, the CU-CP 122 may determine that the previously activated configurations may be deactivated. In this case, at 555, the CU-CP 122 may transmit a UE context modification request to the DU 123, which may include measurement deactivation information indicating configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be deactivated, e.g., those related to the measurement events A1 , A3, and A5. Upon reception of the UE context modification request, at 560, the DU 123 may transmit the measurement deactivation information in a MAC CE to the terminal device 110.

[0122] The terminal device 110 decodes the MAC CE and de-activates the list of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements indicated in the MeasIDToDeactivateList. The terminal device 110 stops measurement event monitoring. As such, the configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements can be deactivated at the terminal device 110, without using RRC signaling from the CU-CP 122.

[0123] FIG. 6 illustrates an example signaling flow 600 of measurement preparation by the CU-CP 122 and measurement activation by the DU 123 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0124] At 605, the terminal device 110 camps on a given cell in the RAN network device including the DU 123 and the CU-CP 122. The CU-CP 122 wants to prepare one or more measurements in the terminal device 110. The CU-CP 122 encodes a RRC Reconfiguration message containing the IE MeasObjectToPrepareList for measurement preparation information. At 610, the CU-CP 122 sends the measurement preparation information to the DU 123 using the F1AP via the DL RRC Message Transfer message.

[0125] The DU 123 extracts the RRC Reconfiguration message from the DL RRC Message Transfer message and at 615, sends the RRC Reconfiguration message to the terminal device 110 using RRC signaling in a RRC DL Information Transfer message.

[0126] At 620, the terminal device 110 decodes the RRC Reconfiguration message and stores the list of measurement objects indicated in the IE MeasObjectToPrepareList. These configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements are not activated by default.

[0127] At 625, the terminal device 110 encodes and sends a RRC Reconfiguration Complete message to the DU 123. At 630, the DU 123 sends the RRC Reconfiguration Complete message to CU-CP 122 using F1AP in the UL RRC Message Transfer Message.

[0128] When the CU-CP 122 wants to trigger the terminal device 110 to start measurement monitoring and reporting of one or more measurement objects, at 635, the CU-CP 122 determines that an activation criterion/criteria are satisfied. Then the CU-CP 122 encodes a RRC Reconfiguration message containing the IE MeasIDToActivateList and at 640, sends the RRC Reconfiguration message to the DU 123 using the F1AP in a DL RRC Message Transfer message.

[0129] At 645, the DU 123 extracts the RRC Reconfiguration message and sends it to the terminal device 110 using RRC in a RRC DL Information Transfer message.

[0130] At 650, the terminal device 110 decodes the RRC Reconfiguration message and activates the list of measurement objects indicated in the MeasIDToActivateList. Then the terminal device 110 starts measurement event monitoring based on the activated configurations.

[0131 ] At 655, the terminal device 110 encodes and sends a RRC Reconfiguration Complete message to the DU 123. At 660, the DU 123 sends the RRC Reconfiguration Complete message to the CU-CP 122 using F1AP in UL RRC Message Transfer message.

[0132] In some cases, when the CU-CP 122 wants to stop the measurement monitoring and reporting of one or more measurement objects by the terminal device 110, the CU-CP 122 determines a deactivation criterion/criteria are satisfied at 665. At 670, the CU-CP 122 encodes a RRC Reconfiguration message containing new IE MeasIDToDeactivateList and sends it to the DU 123 using the F1AP in a DL RRC Message Transfer message.

[0133] At 675, the DU 123 extracts the RRC Reconfiguration message and sends it to the terminal device 110 using RRC signaling in a RRC DL Information Transfer message.

[0134] At 680, the terminal device 110 decodes the RRC Reconfiguration message and deactivates the list of measurement objects indicated in the MeasIDToDeactivateList. The terminal device 110 stops measurement event monitoring based on the deactivated measurement objects.

[0135] At 685, the terminal device 110 encodes and sends RRC Reconfiguration Complete to DU 123. At 690, the DU 123 sends the RRC Reconfiguration Complete message to CU-CP 122 using F1AP in a UL RRC Message Transfer Message.

[0136] FIG. 7A illustrates an example signaling flow 710 for RRC reconfiguration between the terminal device 110 and the CU-CP 122.

[0137] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the RRC Reconfiguration is enhanced to independently prepare and activate/de-activate measurement objects and/or identities. Accordingly, new optional lEs MeasObjectToPrepareList, MeasIdToActivateList, MeasIdToDeactivateList are introduced. When a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements are only to be prepared at the terminal device 110, at 712, the CU-CP 122 sends RRC Reconfiguration with only the IE MeasObjectToPrepareList (indicating the measurement preparation information) to the terminal device 110. When one or more prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements are to be activated or deactivated, at 712, the CU-CP 122 sends RRC Reconfiguration with the IE MeasIdToActivateList (indicating the measurement activation information) or the IE MeasIdToDeactivateList (indicating the measurement deactivation information) to the terminal device 110. Upon reception of the RRC Reconfiguration, the terminal device 110 sends a RRC Reconfiguration complete message to the CU-CP 122.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements share the same measurement gap configuration or use only different measurement reporting configurations. In this case, the DU 123 can activate prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements independently of the CU-CP 122.

[0139] In some example embodiments, measurement gaps are decided and pre-configured to the terminal device 110 at the time of measurement preparation. A MAC-CE command should activate the measurement gap and also activate the configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement in the terminal device 110.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the DU 123 may request measurement gaps to be configured/removed to the terminal device 110 at the time activating/de-activating the measurement. [0141 ] FIG. 7B illustrates an example signaling flow 720 for MAC-CE measurement activation/deactivation between the terminal device 110 and the DU 123.

[0142] In some example embodiments, MAC CE commands are introduced to activate or deactivate one or more already prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements at the terminal device 110. As shown in FIG. 7B, the DU 123 transmits a MAC CE indicating configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements (measurement objects) with measurement ID to be activated or deactivated.

[0143] FIG. 7C illustrates an example signaling flow 730 for F1AP measurement preparation between the CU-CP 122 and the DU 123.

[0144] In some example embodiments, enhancements are applied in the F1AP interface, e.g., the F1 AP: UE Context Modification or F1 AP: UE Context Setup procedures. As shown in FIG. 7C, at 732, the CU-CP 122 transmits a UE Context Modification request including the IE MeasObjectToPrepareList (indicating the measurement preparation information) to the DU 123. This IE indicates the list of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements that are prepared at the terminal device 110 by the CU-CP 122 which can then be activated/de-activated by the DU 123. At 734, the DU 123 may respond to the CU-CP 122 with a UE Context Modification Response.

[0145] FIG. 7D illustrates an example signaling flow 740 for retrieving the latest measurement activation/deactivation status between the CU-CP 122 and the DU 123.

[0146] At 742, the CU-CP 122 transmit, to the DU 123, a request for an activation or deactivation status of the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus. The request may be carried in a UE Context Modification request, e.g., as gNB-DU configuration query.

[0147] At 744, the DU 123 transmits, to the CU-CP 122, information indicating whether respective previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements in the set are activated or deactivated. The information may be carried in a UE Context Modification response, e.g., as DU to CU RRC information with configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement. [0148] As such, in the case that the DU 123 can control measurement activation/deactivation, the CU-CP 122 can retrieve the latest status of measurement activation/de-activation when CU-CP 122 needs to trigger Xn Handover or NG Handover.

[0149] When the terminal device 110 is handed over from one RAN network node (source node) to another RAN network node (target node), configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement at the source node is sent to the target node in the XnAP: Handover Request -> RRC Context (container with HandoverPreparationlnformation. This IE includes the configuration associated with measurement and/or prediction of the measurement at the source node (HandoverPreparationlnformation -> sourceConfig -> ^Reconfiguration -> measConfig). With the preparation and activation/de-activation split, the CU-CP 122 needs to get the latest activation/deactivation status of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements from the DU 123 so that it can encode the measConfig IE accordingly. When the DU 123 receives F1AP: UE Context Modification Request with the DU 123 configuration query IE, it shall also include the latest status of measurement activation/de-activation status in new IE measIDActivatedList and measIDDeactivatedList in the DU To CU RRC Information.

[0150] FIG. 7E illustrates an example signaling flow 750 for triggering measurement preparation from the DU 123 to the CU-CP 122. In some example embodiments, the DU 123 may trigger measurement preparation for the terminal device 110.

[0151] In scenarios where the DU 123 is capable of measurement event prediction, the DU 123 can send a trigger to the CU-CP 122 when the measurement object needs to be prepared at the terminal device 110 based on the measurement event prediction.

[0152] Hence, the signaling flow 750 of FIG. 7E show such a signaling flow using which the DU 123 can trigger the CU-CP 122 to initiate the measurement object preparation. At 752, the DU 123 transmits, to the CU-CP 122, a request for measurement preparation (e.g., a preparation indication for measurement object, represented as “MeasObjectPreparationlndication”). The request for measurement preparation identifying the terminal device 110, e.g., UE ID. With the trigger, the CU- CP 122 may transmit the measurement preparation information to the terminal device 110 and may also transmit it to the DU 123.

[0153] FIG. 7F illustrates an example signaling flow 750 for the measurement preparation by the CU-CP 122 through enhanced RRC signaling and activation/de-activation by DU 123 through enhanced MAC-CE. The signaling flow 750 also requires enhancements in the F1AP to indicate the list of prepared measurement objects IDs from the CU-CP 122 to the DU 123.

[0154] At 761 , the terminal device 110 camps on a given cell in the RAN network device including the DU 123 and the CU-CP 122. At 762, the CU-CP 122 selects the list of configurations to be prepared in the terminal device 110 and sends the list of prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to the DU 123 during the UE Context Setup procedure using the enhanced F1AP: UE Context Setup Request.

[0155] At 763, the DU 123 receives and stores the list of measurement objects for the terminal device 110 and sends the F1AP: UE Context Setup Response to the CU-CP 122.

[0156] At 764, the CU-CP 122 wants to prepare one or more configurations in the terminal device 110. The CU-CP 122 encodes a RRC Reconfiguration message containing an IE MeasObjectToPrepareList to indicate the measurement preparation information for the terminal device 110 and sends it to the DU 123 using the F1AP: DL RRC Message Transfer message.

[0157] At 765, the DU 123 extracts the RRC Reconfiguration message and sends it to the terminal device 110 using RRC: RRC DL Information Transfer message.

[0158] At 766, the terminal device 110 decodes the RRC Reconfiguration message and stores the list of measurement objects indicated in the MeasObjectToPrepareList. These configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements are not activated by default.

[0159] At 767, the terminal device 110 encodes and sends a RRC Reconfiguration Complete message to the DU 123. At 768, the DU 123 sends the RRC Reconfiguration Complete message to the CU-CP 122 using F1AP: UL RRC Message Transfer Message.

[0160] At 770, the DU 123 identifies a condition due to which it has to activate one or more configurations in the terminal device 110 (i.e., an activation criterion is satisfied), and thus at 776, it sends a new MAC CE to the terminal device 110 to activate the one or more configurations.

[0161] At 777, the terminal device 110 activates the list of measurement IDs indicated in the MAC- CE. The terminal device 110 starts measurement event monitoring.

[0162] At 778, the terminal device 110 encodes a RRC measurement report and sends it to the DU 123 in an UL Information Transfer message. At 779, the DU 123 transmits the RRC measurement report to the CU-CP 122 in an UL RRC Message Transfer message.

[0163] At 780, the DU 123 identifies a condition due to which it has to de-activate one or more measurements in the terminal device 110 (i.e., a deactivation criterion is satisfied), and thus at 787, it sends a new MAC CE to the terminal device 110 to de-activate one or more configurations.

[0164] At 788, the terminal device 110 de-activates the list of measurement objects indicated in the MAC-CE. The terminal device 110 stops measurement event monitoring.

[0165] FIG. 8A shows a flowchart of an example method 801 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 801 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may be or may be comprised in the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1.

[0166] At block 810, the first apparatus receives, via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus.

[0167] At block 812, the first apparatus receives measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

[0168] At block 814, in response to the measurement activation information, the first apparatus performs measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

[0169] In some example embodiments, the method 801 further comprises: receiving measurement deactivation information comprising one or more measurement identities identifying one or more configurations to be deactivated amongst the at least one activated configuration; and in response to the measurement deactivation information, ceasing the measurement and the reporting based on the one or more deactivated configurations.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the measurement preparation information is received via the first RRC signaling from a second apparatus of a network device. In some example embodiments, the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information is received from a third apparatus of the network device.

[0171 ] In some example embodiments, the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information is received via a media access control control element (MAC CE) or downlink control information (DCI).

[0172] In some example embodiments, the method 801 further comprises: receiving, via the first RRC signaling, the measurement preparation information from a second apparatus of a network device; and receiving, via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information from the second apparatus of the network device.

[0173] In some example embodiments, the measurement preparation information further comprises a set of measurement identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively.

[0174] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

[0175] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

[0176] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps; or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, and the measurement activation information further indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information further indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

[0177] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is further cause to: in response to the measurement preparation information, store the set of prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements.

[0178] FIG. 8B shows a flowchart of an example method 802 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 802 will be described from the perspective of the CU-CP 122 in FIG. 1 .

[0179] At block 820, the second apparatus transmits, to a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus.

[0180] At block 822, the second apparatus transmits one of the following: the measurement preparation information to a third apparatus, to cause the third apparatus to activate at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus, or measurement activation information to the first apparatus via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated for the first apparatus amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

[0181] In some example embodiments, the method 802 further comprises: transmitting measurement deactivation information to the first apparatus via third RRC signaling, the measurement deactivation information comprising one or more identities identifying one or more configurations to be deactivated amongst the at least one activated configuration.

[0182] In some example embodiments, the measurement preparation information further comprises a set of identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively.

[0183] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

[0184] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

[0185] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps. [0186] In some example embodiments, the method 802 further comprises: in response to a measurement gap request from the third apparatus, transmit, to the third apparatus, measurement gap information indicating at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated.

[0187] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, and the measurement activation information indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

[0188] In some example embodiments, the method 802 further comprises: transmitting, to the third apparatus, a request for an activation or deactivation status of the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; and receiving, from the third apparatus, information indicating whether respective previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements in the set are activated or deactivated.

[0189] In some example embodiments, the method 802 further comprises: receiving, from the third apparatus, a request for measurement preparation, the request for measurement preparation identifying the first apparatus; and in response to the request for measurement preparation, transmitting the measurement preparation information to the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0190] FIG. 8C shows a flowchart of an example method 803 implemented at a third apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 803 will be described from the perspective of the DU 123 in FIG. 1.

[0191] At block 830, receiving, from a second apparatus, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for a first apparatus.

[0192] At block 832, based on a determination that an activation criterion for at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations is satisfied, transmitting to the first apparatus, measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying the at least one configuration to be activated.

[0193] In some example embodiments, the method 803 further comprises: based on a determination that a deactivation criterion for one or more configurations amongst the at least one activated configuration is satisfied, transmitting measurement deactivation information to the first apparatus, the measurement deactivation information comprising one or more identities identifying indicating the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

[0194] In some example embodiments, the measurement preparation information comprises a set of identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively.

[0195] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

[0196] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

[0197] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps.

[0198] In some example embodiments, the method 803 further comprises: transmit a measurement gap request to the second apparatus; and receive, from the second apparatus, measurement gap information indicating at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated; and wherein the measurement activation information indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

[0199] In some example embodiments, the method 803 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, a request for an activation or deactivation status of the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; and transmitting, to the second apparatus, information indicating whether respective configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements in the set are activated or deactivated.

[0200] In some example embodiments, the method 803 further comprises: transmitting, to the second apparatus, a request for measurement preparation, the request for measurement preparation identifying the first apparatus; and receiving, from the second apparatus, the measurement preparation information in response to the request for measurement preparation. (The method claims, apparatus claims with means-plus-function limitations, and computer readable medium claims will be drafted based on the above apparatus claims.)

[0201] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 801 (for example, the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 801 . The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1 .

[0202] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; means for receiving measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations; and means for in response to the measurement activation information, performing measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

[0203] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving measurement deactivation information comprising one or more identities identifying one or more configurations to be deactivated amongst the at least one activated configuration; and means for in response to the measurement deactivation information, ceasing the measurement and the reporting based on the one or more deactivated configurations.

[0204] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, via the first RRC signaling, the measurement preparation information from a second apparatus of a network device; and means for receiving the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information from a third apparatus of the network device.

[0205] In some example embodiments, the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information is received via a media access control control element (MAC CE) or downlink control information (DCI).

[0206] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, via the first RRC signaling, the measurement preparation information from a second apparatus of a network device; and means for receiving, via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information from the second apparatus of the network device.

[0207] In some example embodiments, the measurement preparation information further comprises a set of identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively. [0208] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

[0209] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

[0210] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps; or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, and the measurement activation information further indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information further indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated. [0211 ] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is further cause to: in response to the measurement preparation information, store the set of prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements.

[0212] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 802 (for example, the CU-CP 122 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 802. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the CU-CP 122 in FIG. 1.

[0213] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; and means for transmitting one of the following: the measurement preparation information to a third apparatus, to cause the third apparatus to activate at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; or measurement activation information to the first apparatus via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated for the first apparatus amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

[0214] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting measurement deactivation information to the first apparatus via third RRC signaling, the measurement deactivation information comprising one or more identities identifying one or more configurations to be deactivated amongst the at least one activated configuration.

[0215] In some example embodiments, the measurement preparation information further comprises a set of identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively.

[0216] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

[0217] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

[0218] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps.

[0219] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: in response to a measurement gap request from the third apparatus, transmit, to the third apparatus, measurement gap information indicating at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated.

[0220] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, and the measurement activation information indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

[0221] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the third apparatus, a request for an activation or deactivation status of the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; and means for receiving, from the third apparatus, information indicating whether respective previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements in the set are activated or deactivated.

[0222] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the third apparatus, a request for measurement preparation, the request for measurement preparation identifying the first apparatus; and means for in response to the request for measurement preparation, transmitting the measurement preparation information to the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0223] In some example embodiments, a third apparatus capable of performing any of the method 803 (for example, the DU 123 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 803. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The third apparatus may be implemented as or included in the DU 123 in FIG. 1.

[0224] In some example embodiments, the third apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for a first apparatus; and means for, based on a determination that an activation criterion for at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations is satisfied, transmitting to the first apparatus, measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying the at least one configuration to be activated.

[0225] In some example embodiments, the third apparatus further comprises: means for, based on a determination that a deactivation criterion for one or more configurations amongst the at least one activated configuration is satisfied, transmitting measurement deactivation information to the first apparatus, the measurement deactivation information comprising one or more identities identifying indicating the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

[0226] In some example embodiments, the measurement preparation information comprises a set of identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively. [0227] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

[0228] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

[0229] In some example embodiments, the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps.

[0230] In some example embodiments, the third apparatus further comprises: transmit a measurement gap request to the second apparatus; and receive, from the second apparatus, measurement gap information indicating at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated; and wherein the measurement activation information indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

[0231] In some example embodiments, the third apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a request for an activation or deactivation status of the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, information indicating whether respective configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements in the set are activated or deactivated.

[0232] In some example embodiments, the third apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, a request for measurement preparation, the request for measurement preparation identifying the first apparatus; and means for receiving, from the second apparatus, the measurement preparation information in response to the request for measurement preparation.

[0233] FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a device 900 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 900 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the terminal device 110 or the network device 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 900 includes one or more processors 910, one or more memories 920 coupled to the processor 910, and one or more communication modules 940 coupled to the processor 910.

[0234] The communication module 940 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 940 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 940 may include at least one antenna.

[0235] The processor 910 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 900 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0236] The memory 920 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 924, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and/or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 922 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0237] A computer program 930 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 910. The instructions of the program 930 may include instructions for performing operations/acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 930 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 924. The processor 910 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 930 into the RAM 922.

[0238] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 930 so that the device 900 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 6. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0239] In some example embodiments, the program 930 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 900 (such as in the memory 920) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 900. The device 900 may load the program 930 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 922 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. , tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0240] FIG. 8 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1000 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1000 has the program 930 stored thereon. [0241 ] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0242] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machineexecutable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0243] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/operations specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0244] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0245] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0246] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0247] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; receive measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations; and in response to the measurement activation information, perform measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: receive measurement deactivation information comprising one or more identities identifying one or more configurations to be deactivated amongst the at least one activated configuration; and in response to the measurement deactivation information, cease the measurement and the reporting based on the one or more deactivated configurations.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: receive, via the first RRC signaling, the measurement preparation information from a second apparatus of a network device; and receive the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information from a third apparatus of the network device.

4. The first apparatus of claim 3, wherein the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information is received via a media access control control element (MAC CE) or downlink control information (DCI).

5. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: receive, via the first RRC signaling, the measurement preparation information from a second apparatus of a network device; and receive, via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information or the measurement deactivation information from the second apparatus of the network device.

6. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the measurement preparation information further comprises a set of identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively.

7. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps; or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, and the measurement activation information further indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information further indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

10. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first apparatus is further cause to: in response to the measurement preparation information, store the set of prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements.

11 . A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; and transmit one of the following: the measurement preparation information to a third apparatus, to cause the third apparatus to activate at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; or measurement activation information to the first apparatus via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated for the first apparatus amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

12. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: transmit measurement deactivation information to the first apparatus via third RRC signaling, the measurement deactivation information comprising one or more identities identifying one or more configurations to be deactivated amongst the at least one activated configuration.

13. The second apparatus of claim 11 or 12, wherein the measurement preparation information further comprises a set of identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively.

14. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

15. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

16. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps.

17. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, and wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: in response to a measurement gap request from the third apparatus, transmit, to the third apparatus, measurement gap information indicating at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated.

18. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, and the measurement activation information indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

19. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 18, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the third apparatus, a request for an activation or deactivation status of the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; and receive, from the third apparatus, information indicating whether respective previously prepared configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements in the set are activated or deactivated.

20. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 19, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: receive, from the third apparatus, a request for measurement preparation, the request for measurement preparation identifying the first apparatus; and in response to the request for measurement preparation, transmit the measurement preparation information to the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

21. A third apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the third apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for a first apparatus; and based on a determination that an activation criterion for at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations is satisfied, transmit, to the first apparatus, measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying the at least one configuration to be activated.

22. The third apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the third apparatus is further caused to: based on a determination that a deactivation criterion for one or more configurations amongst the at least one activated configuration is satisfied, transmit measurement deactivation information to the first apparatus, the measurement deactivation information comprising one or more identities identifying indicating the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

23. The third apparatus of claim 21 or 22, wherein the measurement preparation information comprises a set of identities identifying the set of previously prepared configurations, respectively.

24. The third apparatus of any of claims 21 to 23, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device; wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) of a radio access network (RAN) network device; and wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a distributed unit (DU) of the RAN network device.

25. The third apparatus of any of claims 21 to 24, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement gap; and/or wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate a same measurement object and different reporting configuration.

26. The third apparatus of any of claims 21 to 25, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate respective measurement gaps.

27. The third apparatus of any of claims 21 to 26, wherein the configurations to be prepared in the set indicate no measurement gaps, and wherein the third apparatus is further caused to: transmit a measurement gap request to the second apparatus; and receive, from the second apparatus, measurement gap information indicating at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated; and wherein the measurement activation information indicates at least one measurement gap for the at least one configuration to be activated, and the measurement deactivation information indicates one or more measurement gaps for the one or more configurations to be deactivated.

28. The third apparatus of any of claims 21 to 27, wherein the third apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the second apparatus, a request for an activation or deactivation status of the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; and transmit, to the second apparatus, information indicating whether respective configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements in the set are activated or deactivated.

29. The third apparatus of any of claims 21 to 28, wherein the third apparatus is caused to: transmit, to the second apparatus, a request for measurement preparation, the request for measurement preparation identifying the first apparatus; and receive, from the second apparatus, the measurement preparation information in response to the request for measurement preparation.

30. A method comprising: receiving, by a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus. receiving measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations. in response to the measurement activation information, performing measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

31. A method comprising: transmitting, by a second apparatus and to a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus, and transmitting one of the following: the measurement preparation information to a third apparatus, to cause the third apparatus to activate at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus, or measurement activation information to the first apparatus via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated for the first apparatus amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

32. A method comprising: receiving, by a third apparatus and from a second apparatus, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for a first apparatus. based on a determination that an activation criterion for at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations is satisfied, transmitting to the first apparatus, measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying the at least one configuration to be activated.

33. A first apparatus comprising: means for receiving, via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; means for receiving measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated amongst the set of previously prepared configurations; and means for in response to the measurement activation information, performing measurement and reporting of a measurement result based on the at least one activated configuration.

34. A second apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a first apparatus and via first radio resource control (RRC) signaling, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for the first apparatus; and means for transmitting one of the following: the measurement preparation information to a third apparatus, to cause the third apparatus to activate at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations for the first apparatus; or measurement activation information to the first apparatus via second RRC signaling, the measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying at least one configuration to be activated for the first apparatus amongst the set of previously prepared configurations.

35. A third apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, measurement preparation information comprising a set of configurations associated with measurements and/or prediction of the measurements to be prepared for a first apparatus; and means for based on a determination that an activation criterion for at least one configuration amongst the set of previously prepared configurations is satisfied, transmitting to the first apparatus, measurement activation information comprising at least one identity identifying the at least one configuration to be activated.

36. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 30 or the method of claim 31 or the method of claim 32.