MEASUREMENT REPORTING IN COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

• US 20130064120A1
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Bodog, Gyula, Suerbaum, Clemens
• Application Number:
  US13/638,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20130064120A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports

Abstract

A communications system comprises a managing entity responsible for handling measurement reports and a network node, the managing entity being capable of sending condition-related parameters to the network node and the network node being capable of controlling measurement reporting in a communications system by: receiving a measurement report from a mobile terminal; determining from the measurement report whether it is a type of measurement report for which condition-related parameters need to be applies; wherein if the measurement report is of the type requiring the condition-related parameters to be applied, applying a load-related condition and a security related condition and if both are satisfied, providing the measurement report to the managing entity.

Claims

1. A method of controlling measurement reporting in a communications system comprising the steps of:

receiving a measurement report at a network node;

determining from the measurement report whether a condition-related parameter needs to be applied;

if the measurement report requires the condition-related parameter to be applied, applying the parameter to determine whether a condition is met to allow the measurement report to be provided to a managing entity.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the condition is related to load.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the condition is related to whether measurement reports relating to a particular network node are to be provided to the managing entity.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which the network node firstly carries out a load-related check based on a load-related parameter, and if this indicates that reporting of measurement reports is currently permitted according to prevailing load conditions, secondly carries out a list-related check in respect of the measurement report to determine whether it relates to an entry on a list.

5. A method according to claim 1 in which a check is carried out to determine whether a measurement report is made in respect of a network node, or an area served by a network node, for which sending of measurement reports is permitted.

6. A method according to claim 5 in which if the check determines that a measurement report is made in respect of a network node, or an area served by a network node, for which sending of measurement reports is not permitted, the network node discards the measurement report without sending it to the managing entity.

7. A method according to claim 1 in which in the event that measured load exceeds a defined load condition, the network element broadcasts a measurement report deactivation command to all mobile terminals for which it is providing service in order to deactivate their sending of measurement reports.

8. A method according to claim 7 in which if, subsequent to broadcasting the measurement report deactivation command, the network node receives a measurement report, it broadcasts an additional measurement report deactivation command.

9. A method according to claim 8 in which the network node discards the measurement report received after it has broadcast the measurement report deactivation command.

10. A method according to claim 1 in which the managing entity controls the network node.

11. A method according to claim 1 in which the managing entity configures the network nodes with at least one of a load-related parameter and a list-related parameter.

12. A network node capable of controlling measurement reporting in a communications system, the network node comprising:

a receiving block capable of receiving a measurement report;

a checking block capable of determining from the measurement report whether a condition-related parameter needs to be applied; and

a detector,

wherein if the checking block indicates that measurement report requires the condition-related parameter to be applied, the detector applies the parameter to determine whether a condition is met to determine to allow the measurement report to be provided to a managing entity.

13. A network management system capable of configuring a network node with a condition-related parameter in order to control measurement reporting in a communications system, the network management system comprising a sending block capable of sending the condition-related parameter to the network node and configuring the network node so that on receiving a measurement report, the network node is able to determine from the measurement report whether the condition-related parameter needs to be applied, and if so, the network node applies the condition-related parameter to determine whether a condition is met to allow the measurement report to be provided to the network management system.

14. A communications system comprising a managing entity and a network node, the managing entity being capable of sending a condition-related parameter to the network node and the network node being capable of controlling measurement reporting, the network node comprising:

a receiving block capable of receiving a measurement report at a network node;

a checking block capable of determining from the measurement report whether a condition-related parameter needs to be applied; and

a detector,

wherein if the checking block indicates that the measurement report requires the condition-related parameter to be applied, the detector applies the parameter to determine whether a condition is met to allow the measurement report to be provided to the managing entity.

15. A method of configuring a network node with a condition-related parameter in order to control measurement reporting in a communications system comprising sending the condition-related parameter to the network node and configuring the network node so that on receiving a measurement report, the network node is able to determine from the measurement report whether the condition-related parameter needs to be applied, and if so, the network node applies the condition-related parameter to determine whether a condition is met to allow the measurement report to be provided to the network management system.