Measurement Gap Configuration in Wireless Communication Systems with Carrier Aggregation

• US 20120178465A1
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HFI Innovation, Inc. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Yih-Shen, Fu, I-Kang, Lin, Shiang-Jiun, Hsu, Chia-Chu
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0058 Transmission of hand-off measurement information, e.g. measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface

Abstract

A method of measurement gap reporting and configuration is provided. In a mobile network, a UE receives a capability enquiry message from a serving base station. The UE comprises one or more radio frequency modules that support a list of frequency bands and a list of carrier aggregation (CA) band combinations. In response to the enquiry, the UE transmits capability information containing measurement parameters to the base station. In one embodiment, the measurement parameters comprise need-for-gap parameters for each frequency band and each CA band combinations associated with a list of to-be-measured frequency bands of target cells. Based on the reported measurement parameters, the eNB transmits a measurement configuration message to the UE. Finally, the UE transmits a measurement gap application message back to the base station. The measurement gap application message indicates whether the UE applies MG for each configured component carrier.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a capability enquiry message from a serving base station by a user equipment (UE), wherein the UE comprises one or more radio frequency modules that support a list of frequency bands and a list of carrier aggregation (CA) band combinations;

transmitting UE capability information containing measurement parameters to the base station, wherein the measurement parameters comprise need-for-gap parameters for each frequency band and each CA band combinations associated with a list of to-be-measured frequency bands of target cells; and

receiving a measurement configuration message from the base station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the need-for-gap parameters are a list of Boolean variables, each variable indicates whether measurement gap is needed for a specific frequency band or CA band combination associated with a specific to-be-measured frequency band.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of to-be-measured frequency bands comprises an inter-frequency band list and an inter-RAT frequency band list.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE reports measurement parameters to the base station when carrier aggregation is configured or re-configured.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a triggering message to the base station such that the base station transmits the UE capability enquiry message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a measurement gap application message in response to the measurement configuration message, wherein the measurement gap application message indicates whether the UE applies a measurement gap for each configured component carrier (CC).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the UE transmits the measurement gap application message when CC configuration is changed in the UE.

8. A user equipment (UE), comprising:

one or more radio frequency modules that support a list of frequency bands and a list of carrier aggregation (CA) band combinations; and

a measurement module that determines measurement parameters, wherein the measurement parameters comprise need-for-gap parameters for each frequency band and each CA band combinations associated with a list of to-be-measured frequency bands, and wherein the UE transmits UE capability information containing the measurement parameters to a base station in response to a UE capability enquiry message.

9. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the need-for-gap parameters are a list of Boolean variables, each variable indicates whether measurement gap is needed for a specific frequency band or CA band combination associated with a specific to-be-measured frequency band.

10. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the list of to-be-measured frequency bands comprises an inter-frequency band list and an inter-RAT frequency band list.

11. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the UE reports measurement parameters to the base station when carrier aggregation is configured or re-configured.

12. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the UE transmits a triggering message to the base station such that the base station transmits the UE capability enquiry message.

13. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the UE transmits a measurement gap application message in response to a measurement configuration message, wherein the measurement gap application message indicates whether the UE applies a measurement gap for each configured component carrier.

14. The user equipment of claim 13, wherein the UE transmits the measurement gap application message when CC configuration is changed in the UE.

15. A method, comprising:

transmitting a capability enquiry message to a user equipment (UE) by a base station, wherein the UE supports a list of frequency bands and a list of carrier aggregation (CA) band combinations;

receiving UE capability information containing measurement parameters from the UE, wherein the measurement parameters comprise need-for-gap parameters for each frequency band and each CA band combinations associated with a list of to-be-measured frequency bands; and

transmitting a measurement configuration message to the UE in response to the measurement parameters.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuration message contains a gap offset that determines a measurement gap reception period (MGRP) and a frame/subframe location for performing measurements.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuration message configures a measurement gap for the UE with component carrier identities.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a measurement gap application message from the UE, wherein the measurement gap application message indicates whether the UE applies a measurement gap for each configured component carrier.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the measurement gap application message is a bitmap, wherein each bit of the bitmap is associated with each configured component carrier.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting a confirmation message to the UE in response to the measurement gap application message.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the base station schedules normal data communication without interruption for a configured component carrier that does not apply a measurement gap.