COMPRESSED MODE MEASUREMENTS FOR FLEXIBLE BANDWIDTH CARRIER SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS

• US 20130148527A1
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: SOLIMAN, Samir Salib, PARK, Edwin C., QUICK, Roy Franklin Jr., Awiniyi, Olufunmilola O., DAS, Soumya
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0094 Definition of hand-off measurement parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are provided that may address problems to enabling a user equipment (UE) in connected mode on a normal bandwidth cell to make inter-frequency measurements on another normal bandwidth cell and a flexible bandwidth cell. Some embodiment utilize a set of compressed mode gap configurations for measuring both normal bandwidth and flexible bandwidth inter-frequency cells with the following modification for flexible bandwidth cells: reducing the coherent length used by the UE; using the same cell search parameters at the UE but modifying the compressed mode gap parameters to accommodate both normal bandwidth and flexible bandwidth cell search; and/or maintaining the compressed mode gap parameters but reducing the search window size during cell search coherent accumulation. Some embodiments may configure separate compressed mode measurements configuration for normal bandwidth and flexible bandwidth measurements.

Claims

1. A method for inter-frequency measurements of flexible bandwidth carrier systems, comprising:

identifying, at a user equipment, one or more parameters configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to two or more different bandwidth carriers, wherein at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a flexible bandwidth carrier; and

utilizing the one or more identified parameters to perform one or more inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

reducing one or more cell search coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

reducing one or more cell search non-coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

receiving an increased amount of repetition of a transmission gap pattern to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

receiving an increased length of a transmission gap to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

reducing a window size to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more parameters further comprises at least:

creating, at the UE, one or more compressed gap configurations for a flexible bandwidth carrier system corresponding to one or more compressed gap configurations for a normal bandwidth carrier system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more parameters further comprises at least:

storing, at the UE, one or more compressed gap configurations for a flexible bandwidth carrier system corresponding to one or more compressed gap configurations for a normal bandwidth carrier system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more parameters further comprises at least:

mapping and storing, at the UE, one or more compressed gap configurations transmitted by a base station for searching normal cells to one or more other compressed gap configurations for one or more flexible bandwidth cells.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include at least one or more compressed mode parameters, timing information, or search parameters.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a normal bandwidth carrier.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the bandwidth carriers includes a flexible bandwidth carrier in a serving cell with a higher bandwidth than a flexible bandwidth carrier in a neighboring cell.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the inter-frequency measurements are performed in a connected mode.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the one or more identified parameters comprises:

utilizing separate parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the separate parameters are configured to be utilized at a same time or at separate times.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

utilizing an invalid transmission gap pattern identifier to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

utilizing the invalid transmission gap pattern identifier to identify legacy user equipment.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the one or more identified parameters comprises:

utilizing the same one or more parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one more parameters comprises:

receiving the one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters are transmitted from a base station.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one more parameters comprises:

determining the one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters are stored on a storage medium of the user equipment.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the one or more parameters comprises:

utilizing the same one or more parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to a normal bandwidth carrier and with respect to the at least one of the bandwidth carriers that is a flexible bandwidth carrier.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

running a time source at a dilated time when performing the inter-frequency measurements with respect to at least one of the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

23. A wireless communications system comprising:

means for identifying one or more parameters configured to facilitate inter-frequency measurements with respect to two or more different bandwidth carriers, wherein at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a flexible bandwidth carrier; and

means for utilizing the one or more identified parameters to perform one or more inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

24. The wireless communications system of claim 23, wherein the means for identifying the one or more parameters comprise at least one of:

means for reducing one or more cell search coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

means for reducing one or more cell search non-coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

means for increasing an amount of repetition of a transmission gap pattern to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

means for increasing a length of a transmission gap to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

or

means for reducing a window size to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

25. The wireless communications system of claim 23, wherein the means for utilizing the one or more identified parameters comprise:

means for utilizing separate parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

26. The wireless communications system of claim 23, wherein the means for utilizing the one or more identified parameters comprise:

means for utilizing the same one or more parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

27. The wireless communications system of claim 23, wherein the means for identifying the one more parameters comprise at least one of:

means for receiving the one or more parameters when the one or more parameters are transmitted from a base station;

or

means for determining the one or more parameters when the one or more parameters are stored on a storage medium of the wireless apparatus.

28. A wireless communications device comprising:

at least one processor communicatively coupled with a memory, the memory comprising executable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to;

identify one or more parameters configured to facilitate inter-frequency measurements with respect to two or more different bandwidth carriers, wherein at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a flexible bandwidth carrier; and

utilize the one or more identified parameters to perform one or more inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

29. The wireless communications device of claim 28, wherein the executable code causes the at least one processor to perform at least one of:

reduce one or more cell search coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

reduce one or more cell search non-coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

increase an amount of repetition of a transmission gap pattern to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

increase a length of a transmission gap to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

or

reduce a window size to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

30. The wireless communications device of claim 28, wherein the executable code causes the at least one processor to:

utilize separate parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

31. The wireless communications device of claim 28, wherein the executable code causes the at least one processor to:

utilize the same one or more parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

32. The wireless communications device of claim 28, wherein the executable code causes the at least one processor to perform at least one of:

receive the one or more parameters when the one or more parameters are transmitted from a base station;

or

determine the one or more parameters when the one or more parameters are stored on a storage medium of the wireless communications device.

33. A computer program product for inter-frequency measurements of flexible bandwidth carrier systems, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code configured to identify, at a user equipment, one or more parameters configured to facilitate inter-frequency measurements with respect to two or more different bandwidth carriers, wherein at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a flexible bandwidth carrier; and

code configured to utilize the one or more identified parameters to perform one or more inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises at least one of:

code configured to reduce one or more cell search coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

code configured to reduce one or more cell search non-coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

code configured to increase an amount of repetition of a transmission gap pattern to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

code configured to increase a length of a transmission gap to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

or

code configured to reduce a window size to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises:

code configured to utilize separate parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

36. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises:

code configured to utilize the same one or more parameters of the one or more identified parameters to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

37. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises at least one of:

code configured to receive the one or more parameters when the one or more parameters are transmitted from a base station;

or

code configured to determine the one or more parameters when the one or more parameters are stored on a storage medium of the user equipment.

38. A method for inter-frequency measurements of flexible bandwidth carrier systems, comprising:

identifying one or more parameters configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to two or more different bandwidth carriers, wherein at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a flexible bandwidth carrier; and

transmitting the one or more identified parameters to one or more user equipment to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

reducing one or more cell search coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

reducing one or more non-coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

increasing an amount of repetition of a transmission gap pattern to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

increasing a length of a transmission gap to facilitate inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein identifying the one or more parameters comprises:

reducing a window size to facilitate inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more identified parameters include at least one or more compressed mode parameters, timing information, or search parameters.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a normal bandwidth carrier.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein separate parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein same parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein identifying the one more parameters comprises:

determining the one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters are stored on a storage medium.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein same parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to a normal bandwidth carrier and with respect to the at least one of the bandwidth carriers that is a flexible bandwidth carrier.

50. A wireless communications system, comprising:

means for identifying one or more parameters configured to facilitate inter-frequency measurements with respect to two or more different bandwidth carriers, wherein at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a flexible bandwidth carrier; and

means for transmitting the one or more identified parameters to one or more user equipment to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

51. The wireless communications system of claim 50, wherein the means for identifying the one or more parameters comprise at least one of:

means for reducing one or more cell search coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

means for reducing one or more cell search non-coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

means for increasing an amount of repetition of a transmission gap pattern to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

means for increasing a length of a transmission gap to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

or

means for reducing a window size to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

52. The wireless communications system of claim 50, wherein separate parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

53. The wireless communications system of claim 50, wherein same parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

54. A wireless communications device, comprising:

at least one processor communicatively coupled with a memory, the memory comprising executable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to;

identify one or more parameters configured to facilitate inter-frequency measurements with respect to two or more different bandwidth carriers, wherein at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a flexible bandwidth carrier; and

transmit the one or more identified parameters to one or more user equipment to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

55. The wireless communications device of claim 54, wherein the executable code causes the at least one processor to perform at least one of:

reduce one or more cell search coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

reduce one or more cell search non-coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

increase an amount of repetition of a transmission gap pattern to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

increase a length of a transmission gap to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

or

reduce a window size to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

56. The wireless communications device of claim 54, wherein separate parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

57. The wireless communications device of claim 54, wherein same parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

58. A computer program product for inter-frequency measurements of flexible bandwidth carrier systems, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code configured to identify one or more parameters configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to two or more different bandwidth carriers, wherein at least one of the bandwidth carriers is a flexible bandwidth carrier; and

code configured to transmit the one or more identified parameters to one or more user equipment to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

59. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises at least one of:

code configured to reduce one or more cell search coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

code configured to reduce one or more cell search non-coherent accumulation lengths to facilitate the inter frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

code configured to increase an amount of repetition of a transmission gap pattern to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

code configured to increase a length of a transmission gap to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers;

or

code configured to reduce a window size to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

60. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein separate parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.

61. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein same parameters of the one or more identified parameters are configured to facilitate the inter-frequency measurements with respect to the two or more different bandwidth carriers.