Reporting of non-real-time mdt measurements

ES 2 582 880 T3

DESCRIPTION

Deferred DTM Measurement Reporting

Technical field

The invention relates generally to providing measurement reports to a network from a mobile station. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and computer program product for receiving, at a first network node of a wireless communication network, a recorded measurement report from a first mobile station, such as a network node, a method and a computer program product for allowing a mobile station connected to a wireless communication network to send recorded measurement reports to the network, such a network node, method and computer program product for sending a recorded measurement report from a first mobile station to a first network node of a wireless communication network as well as to such mobile station.

Background

Mobile stations, often referred to as user equipment, have a need to measure various network parameters. Such measurements can be stored in measurement records and then reported to the network.

The Third Generation Cooperation Project (3GPP) is in the process of defining Minimization of Excitation Tests (MDT) solutions. The intent of the work is documented in the 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 36,805, which describes the measurement recording functions of mobile stations or user equipment (UE).

A network (NW) may request the mobile station to make some measurement record. The mobile station executes the registration as requested by the network with certain restrictions, for example, the availability of location information. Mobile station measurement record reporting can be configured separately. This means that the registration period and the reporting period may be different.

The most important use case for MDT is coverage optimization. For coverage optimization, the following mobile station measurements (or similar functionality) are considered:

• periodic downlink pilot measurements • Service Cell becomes worse than a threshold • transmit power margin becomes less than a threshold • Paging Channel failure, such as Control Channel Decoding Error Paging (PCCH) • Broadcast Channel failure

The details of the reporting criteria have not been considered, but real-time reporting and / or non-real-time reporting (also known as deferred or recorded reporting) may be required.

Possible triggers for lagged measurements include:

periodic downlink pilot measurements: Radio environment measurements are recorded periodically, such as Common Pilot Channel Received Signal Code Power (RSCP) (CPICH), Common Pilot Channel Power to Noise ratio (cPiCH Ec / No), or Code Power Time Division Duplexing (TDD) and Interference Signal Code Power (ISCP) Primary Common Control Physical Channel (P-CCPCH) Received Signal Signal (RSCP), Reference Signal Received Power (RSCP) and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) (connected mode only);

the Service Cell becomes worse than a threshold: radio environment measurements, such as CPICH RSCP, CPICH Ec / No, or TDD P-CCPCH RSCP and ISCP, RSRP and RSRQ (connected mode only), are recorded when the metric of a serving cell becomes worse than the configured threshold. A measurement record window (ie a "sliding window" in which the records collected in the UE are kept) is used in order to be able to collect information for a certain period before and after the occurrence of an event;

the transmit power margin becomes less than a threshold: the transmit power margin and radio environment measurements, such as CPICH RSCP, CPICH Ec / No, or TDD P-CcPcH RSCP and ISCP, RsRp and RSRQ ( connected mode only) are recorded when the UE's transmit power margin becomes less than the configured threshold;

random access failure: details about random access and radio environment measurements, such as CPICH RSCP, CPICH Ec / No, or TDD P-CCPCH RSCP and ISCP, RSRP, and RSRQ (connected mode only) are logged

ES 2 582 880 T3 when a random access failure occurs.

An example of real-time reporting is Radio Resource Management (RRM) reporting specified in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 25.331 and 3GPP TS 36.331. Non-real-time reporting details (deferred reporting) are not specified, making it impossible for the network to control reporting.

Document WO2006 / 063309 refers to a system in which some of the mobile terminals measure and notify the network of the operating parameters of the system. From page 21, line 12 to page 22, line 3, the document further teaches that if the mobile terminal is not in a low mobility area or if its power level is low, or if the coverage is unacceptable, then instead of sending a measurement report, the mobile station stores it for a predetermined time and then checks whether the circumstances still persist. If not, the report is sent to the network.

Document US 2005/0119020 refers to an automatic information gathering system that makes use of a mobile station in a mobile network. The mobile station performs the steps of; a) when a trigger condition occurs, it stores the corresponding data, and b) in a notification time and if there is data stored, then the data is sent in a short message to an information gathering device.

XP002629990, is a contribution to Orange's TSG RAN 3GPP MDT Measurement Model R2_100239 and describes the measurement reporting criteria as any of: periodic, event triggered, event triggered periodic reporting, and full temporary storage.

All of these three cited documents teach that the mobile terminal determines when the measurement record should be transmitted to the network.

XP002588155 is a 3GPP TSG RAN contribution from Qualcomm Framework for UE SON Reports, which refers to a Self-Organizing Network (SON) and utilization measurement capabilities in the UE to increase the information available in OAM ( Operation and Maintenance system) about the health of the network and which can reduce manual operator testing. A SON server is an OAM entity that performs SON functionalities. XP002588155 further proposes the establishment of a local interface between the UE and the SON server in the OAM network. The UE records the events that are configured by the SON server, and the UE records are reported to the SON server. Based on the specified policy, SON UE reports can be notified periodically or during periods of low traffic. Alternatively, the server may issue a paging signal to the UE to explicitly request the SON UE reports. There is no information about what triggers or what does not trigger the SON server to send a search signal to request SON UE reports.

A particular problem is the support of deferred reporting on the network. Not all network nodes can be upgraded to support receipt of deferred reports, potentially leading the network to discard the received logged measurement report. Currently the mobile station has no way of knowing if the network is ready to receive the recorded measurement report.

Compendium

The invention is therefore directed towards providing measures that increase the reliability of providing measurement reports to a network from a mobile station.

Among other things, this invention enables a mechanism to control the reporting of deferred reporting.

In one aspect of the invention, there is a method for a mobile station to perform measurements related to one or more connectivity aspects in accordance with a notification configuration and that includes a timer value that indicates how long the notification configuration is valid and stores measurements in an internal register. The mobile station sends a notification related to the presence of recorded measurements to a network and sends a recorded measurement report, as a response to a receipt of a recorded measurement report request from the network.

In another aspect of the invention, a mobile station includes a measurement unit for carrying out measurements related to one or more aspects of connectivity in relation to a wireless communication network, according to a valid notification configuration that includes a value timer that indicates how long the notification settings are valid for. The mobile station also includes a control unit, including timers and which is arranged, according to the valid notification configuration, to send a notification of the presence of the recorded measurements, to receive a request for a report of the recorded measurements from a first node of the wireless communication network and instructing a transmitter to transmit a report of recorded measurements as a response to receiving a request.

An object of the invention is to thereby increase, by means of a wireless communication network, the reliability with which recorded measurement reports are provided to a network node from a mobile station.

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This object is achieved according to a first aspect of the invention through a method for receiving, at a first network node of a wireless communication network, a recorded measurement report from a first mobile station according to a reporting configuration for the mobile station including a timer value indicating how long the reporting configuration setting is valid for. The method comprises:

receive a notification from the first mobile station in the presence of registered measurements, send a request for a registered measurement report to at least the first mobile station, where the sending of the request is made only after receipt of such notification from the station mobile, and receive a recorded measurement report in response to the request.

The object is achieved according to a second aspect of the invention through a first network node of a wireless communication network, to receive a recorded measurement report from a first mobile station according to a reporting configuration for the mobile station. The network node comprises:

a control processor arranged to provide the first mobile station with a reporting configuration including a timer value indicating how long the reporting configuration is valid, to cause a request for a measurement report to be sent registered to at least the first mobile station, and receiving a registered measurement report in response to the request.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for allowing a mobile station connected to a wireless network to send reports of recorded measurements to the network. The method comprises providing a first mobile station, from a network node, a notification configuration that includes a timer value indicating how long the notification configuration is valid for. The notification settings allow the network to receive a notification from the mobile station of the presence of recorded measurements. The method also comprises the step of sending a request for a report of recorded measurements to the first mobile station, in which the sending of the request is carried out only after receipt of said notification from the mobile station, and the step of receiving the report of measurements recorded as a response to the request.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a network node of a wireless communication network to allow a first mobile station to send a report of recorded measurements to the network. The network node comprises a control processor arranged to provide the first mobile station with a notification configuration to allow the network to receive a notification from the first mobile station of the presence of recorded measurements, and to include in the notification configuration a A timer value that indicates how long the notification settings are valid for. The control processor is further arranged to send a request for a report of recorded measurements to the first mobile station, in which the sending of the request is made only after receipt of said notification from the first mobile station, and to receive a report of measurements recorded as a response to the request.

The invention has many advantages. Allows the network to control the reporting of recorded measurements. Loss of recorded measurements can be avoided if the network does not support delayed measurement reception. This further enables the network to perform a number of additional activities such as changing cell coverage.

The reporting settings here can specify that the first mobile station will take measurements when in idle mode.

According to a variant of the first aspect, the method further comprises determining a point in time when to send the request based on at least one request timing criterion.

According to a variant of the second aspect, the control processor is further arranged to determine a point in time when to send the request based on at least one request timing criteria.

The request timing criteria can be based on one or more of the properties: cell load, network load, and centralized database connection.

The report can additionally be received on a signaling radio bearer dedicated to recorded measurement report transmissions.

The reporting configuration can be provided to the first mobile station over the network.

For this reason the method according to the first aspect may further comprise the step of providing the reporting configuration to the first mobile station. For the same reason the control processor of the network node according to the second aspect can be further arranged to provide the reporting configuration to the first mobile station.

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The request may additionally be sent in a radio resource control message, which may be a modified radio resource control message that concerns the capabilities of the mobile station. The recorded measurement report may in turn be received in a modified radio resource control message which is a response message to the radio resource control message comprising the request.

The request can be sent based on data concerning the first mobile station provided in the network. As another alternative, the request may be a reporting power-on indication that is provided by the first network node. As a further alternative the request can be broadcast to a group of mobile stations.

According to another variant of the first aspect, the method further comprises receiving a notification from the first mobile station of the presence of recorded measurements and the sending of a request is then carried out solely on the basis of the receipt of such notification from the mobile station.

According to a variant of the second aspect, the control processor of the network node is further arranged to receive a notification from the first mobile station of the presence of recorded measurements and only send a request based on the receipt of such notification from the mobile station.

The notification may comprise an indication of the type of access technology used by the first mobile station when collecting data for said report.

The indication can also be received as a radio resource control message. The radio resource control message can here be a modified message relating to the connection of a mobile station to the network and more specifically it can be a radio resource control connection establishment completed message.

Another object of the invention is to increase, by a mobile station, the reliability with which recorded measurement reports are provided to a first network node from the mobile station.

This object is achieved according to a fourth aspect of the invention through a method of sending a recorded measurement report from a first mobile station to a first network node of a wireless communication network, where the method comprises:

perform measurements concerning one or more connectivity aspects of the first mobile station in relation to the wireless communication network, said measurements being performed according to a reporting configuration for the first mobile station, store the measurements in an internal register , receiving a request for a registered measurement report from the first network node, and sending a registered measurement report in response to a request.

This object is achieved according to a fifth aspect of the invention through a first mobile station for sending a registered measurement report to a first network node of a wireless communication network, where the mobile station comprises a measurement performing unit for perform measurements concerning one or more connectivity aspects of the first mobile station in relation to the wireless communication network, said measurements that are performed according to a reporting configuration for the first mobile station, and a control unit that orders the measurements to be performed and stores the measurements in an internal register, receives a request for a registered measurement report from the first network node, and instruct a transmitter to transmit a recorded measurement report in response to a request.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, this object is further achieved by a computer program product for sending a report of recorded measurements to a first network node of a wireless communication network. The computer program product comprises computer-readable storage media comprising a set of instructions that make a control unit in the mobile station:

orders the performance of measurements related to one or more aspects of connectivity in and for the first mobile station in relation to the wireless communication network, wherein said measurements are performed according to a notification configuration for the first mobile station, and stores the measurements in an internal log, receive a request for a report of logged measurements from the first node of the network, and instruct a transmitter of the first mobile station to transmit a recorded measurement report as a response to a request.

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Here it is possible for measurements to be performed in idle mode.

It is also possible that the report is sent on a signaling radio bearer dedicated to transmissions of recorded measurement reports.

According to a variant of the fourth aspect, the method further comprises receiving the reporting configuration from a network node.

According to a variant of the fifth aspect, the control unit further receives the reporting configuration from a network node.

The network node can be the first network node here. Alternatively the network node can be an additional network node, where the first and additional network nodes can use different types of access technology and the request and configuration can be received using these different types of access technology.

The request can be further received in a radio resource control message, which radio resource control message can be a modified radio resource control message concerning the capabilities of the mobile station. Additionally it is possible that the registration measurement report is sent in a modified radio resource control message which is a response message to the radio resource control message comprising the request.

As a further alternative, the request may be received as a power-on indication of the reporting that is provided by the first network node. As another alternative, the request can be received through a broadcast to a group of mobile stations carried out by the first network node.

The method may comprise according to a further variant of the fourth aspect determining a point in time when sending the recorded measurement report based on at least one report timing criteria.

The control unit of the mobile station can determine according to a further variant of the fifth aspect a point in time when to send the recorded measurement report based on at least one report timing criteria.

Report timing criteria can be based on one or more of the following properties: mobile station memory consumption, battery level, measurement availability, network load, and when a log campaign is left.

The method may further comprise according to another variant of the fourth aspect, sending a notification to the first network node regarding the presence of recorded measurements and receiving a request for a report in response to such notification.

The control unit of the mobile station may further instruct the transmitter according to another variant of the fifth aspect to send a notification to the first network node regarding the presence of recorded measurements and to receive a request for a report in response to such notification.

The notification may comprise an indication of the type of access technology used by the first mobile station when collecting data for the report. The notification can be further sent based on at least one notification timing criteria.

It is also possible that the notification is sent as a radio resource control message, which may be a modified message relating to the connection of a mobile station to the network. It may especially be a radio resource control connection establishment completion message.

Another object of the invention is to enable, via a wireless communication network, a mobile station to provide recorded measurement reports to a network node in a reliable way.

This object is achieved according to a seventh aspect of the invention through a method of enabling a mobile station connected to a wireless communication network to send recorded measurement reports to the network. This method comprises providing, from a network node, a first mobile station with a reporting configuration for sending recorded measurement reports. This provision of a reporting configuration is made in order to allow the network to send a request for a registered measurement report to the first mobile station and to receive a registered measurement report in response to the request.

This object is also achieved according to an eighth aspect of the invention through a network node of a wireless communication network to allow a first mobile station to send a registered measurement report to the network. This network node comprises a control processor that is arranged to provide the first mobile station with a reporting configuration. This is done in order to allow the network to send a registered measurement report request to the first mobile station and to receive a registered measurement report in response to the request.

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The object is also achieved according to a ninth aspect of the invention through a computer program product to enable a mobile station to send a recorded measurement report to a wireless communication network. The computer program product comprises a computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions that make a network node in the network: provide a first mobile station with a reporting configuration to allow the network to send a request for a registered measurement report to the first mobile station and receiving a registered measurement report in response to the request.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises / comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of indicated features, integers, steps or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers. , steps, components or groups thereof.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 schematically shows an architecture of a wireless communication network comprising radio network controllers, base stations and mobile stations, fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an adaptation in a mobile station that can implement some of the functionality according to the invention, fig. 3 shows a block diagram of a part of a base station that can communicate with mobile stations and implement some of the functionality according to the invention, fig. 4 shows schematically signals exchanged between a mobile station and the network in a first basic variant of the invention, fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a number of method steps that are performed in a network node of the system according to a first embodiment of the invention, fig. 6 shows a flow chart of a number of steps of the method that are performed in a mobile station according to the first embodiment of the invention, fig. 7 schematically shows signals exchanged between a mobile station and a network node in a variant of the first embodiment, fig. 8 shows a flow chart of a number of method steps that are performed in a network node of the system according to a second embodiment of the invention, fig. 9 shows a flow chart of a number of method steps that are performed in a mobile station according to the second embodiment of the invention, fig. 10 schematically shows signals exchanged between a mobile station and the network in a variant of the second embodiment, fig. 11 shows a flow chart of a number of method steps that are performed in a network node of the system according to a third embodiment of the invention, fig. 12 shows a flow chart of a number of method steps that are performed in a mobile station according to the third embodiment of the invention, and fig. 13 schematically shows a computer program product according to the invention comprising a computer-readable storage medium in the form of a CD ROM disk.

Detailed description

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced in other embodiments that deviate from these specific details. In other cases, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the invention in unnecessary detail.

The Third Generation Cooperation Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard for wireless communication systems has recently been finalized, supporting bandwidths up to 20 megahez (MHz). LTE and High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA) are sometimes called "third generation" (3G) communication systems and are currently being standardized by 3GPP. LTE specifications can be seen as an evolution of division multiple access specifications

Current wideband code (WCDMA) ES 2 582 880 T3.

An LTE system uses orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) as a multiple access technique (called OFDMA) on the downlink (DL) from system nodes to user equipment (UE). UE is the term used for mobile stations in LTE and WCDMA. An LTE system has channel bandwidths ranging from around 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz, and supports peak data streams of more than 100 megabits per second (Mb / s) on channels of the largest bandwidth A type The physical channel defined by the LTE downlink is the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), which carries information from higher layers in the LTE protocol stack and to which one or more specific transport channels are mapped. Control information is carried on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). LTE channels are described in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 36.211 V9.1.0, Physical Channels and Modulation, among other specifications.

An IMT-Advanced communication system uses an internet protocol (IP) (IMS) multimedia subsystem of an LTE, HSPA, or other communication system for IMS multimedia telephony (IMT). In the advanced IMT system (which can be called “fourth generation” (4G) mobile communication system), bandwidths of 100 MHz and higher are being considered. 3GPP promulgates lTe, HSPA, WCDMA, and IMT specifications, and specifications that standardize other types of cellular wireless communication systems.

In an OFDMA communication system, the data stream to be transmitted is divided among a number of narrowband subcarriers that are transmitted in parallel. In general, a resource block dedicated to a particular UE is a particular number of particular subcarriers used during a particular period of time. Different groups of subcarriers can be used at different times by different users. Because each subcarrier is narrowband, each subcarrier primarily experiences flat fading, which makes it easier for a UE to demodulate each subcarrier. OFDMA communication systems are described in the literature, for example US 2008/0031368.

FIG. 1 represents the architecture of a WCDMA 10 system, which is a typical cellular communication system. Radio network controllers (RNC) 12, 14 control various radio network functions, including for example radio access bearer establishment, diversity handover, etc. In general, each RNC routes calls to and from a UE, such as a mobile station (MS), mobile phone, or other remote terminal, through the appropriate base station (s) (BS), which They communicate with each other through downlink (DL, or forward) and uplink (UL, or reverse) channels. In FIG. 1, RNC 12 is shown coupled to BS 16, 18, 20, and RNC 14 is shown coupled to BS 22, 24, 26. The architecture of an LTE system differs from that of a WCDMA system in that it lacks RNC as a separate node. Instead, the BS, or eNodeB which is the name of the LTE radio base station, has some of the RNC functions built in, and has an interface for communication with other eNodeBs.

Each BS, or eNodeB in an LTE system, serves a geographic area that is divided into one or more cells. In FIG. 1, BS 26 is shown as having five antenna sectors S1-S5, which can be said to constitute the cell of BS 26, although a sector or other area served by signals from a BS can also be called a cell. Also, a BS can use more than one antenna to transmit signals to a UE. BSs are typically coupled to their corresponding RNCs via dedicated telephone lines, fiber optic links, microwave links, etc. The RNCs 12, 14 connect to external networks such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, etc., although one or more core network nodes, such as a mobile switching center (not shown) and / or a packet radio service node (not shown)

It will be understood that the arrangement of the functionalities depicted in FIG. 1 can be modified into LTE from 3GPP and other communication systems. For example, the functionality of RNCs 12, 14 can be moved to eNodeBs 22, 24, 26, and other functionality can be moved to other nodes in the network. It will also be understood that a base station can use multiple transmitting antennas to transmit information in a cell / sector / area, and those different transmitting antennas can send different, respective pilot signals.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a structure 31 of an eNodeB or eNB, that is to say of a base station BS. This structure 31 which is typical of BS 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and other such transmission nodes in the network 10 can be used to communicate with mobile stations by implementing the methods to be described later. It will also be appreciated that the functional blocks depicted in Figure 2 can be combined and rearranged in a variety of equivalent ways, and that many of the functions can be performed by one or more suitably programmed digital signal processors and other known types of electronic circuitry. .

The eNB structure 31 is operated by a control processor 32, which is typically and advantageously a suitably programmed digital signal processor. Control processor 32 typically provides and receives control and other signals from various devices in frame 31. For simplicity in Figure 2, the control processor 32 as shown is exchanging information with a programmer and selector 33, which receives digital words to be transmitted to the respective mobile stations or to be broadcast from a suitable data generator 34. The scheduler and selector 33 implements resource block and resource element (RB / RE) scheduling and selection in an LTE system, for example, and implements code mapping in a system

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WCDMA / HSPA, for example.

The control processor 32 is configured to monitor the load on the base station, which can be determined for example by simply counting the RBs and REs to be transmitted in a subframe, frame, or group of them. A processor such as control processor 32 can also be configured as a traffic analyzer that determines the load on a BS by monitoring the status of the BS buffer, for example, how much data is waiting for available bandwidth to be transmitted to all mobile stations connected in relation to the number of RB and RE that are and recently transmitted. As discussed above, the load on a BS can also be determined based on the number of its connected mobile stations, or on a WCDMA, HSPA, or equivalent system, based on the number of assigned channelization codes. Based on the determined load, the processor 32 implements other steps of the methods to be described later.

Information is provided from the programmer and selector 33 to a modulator 35 that uses the information to generate a modulation signal suitable for the particular communication system. For example, modulator 35 in an LTE system is an OFDM modulator. The modulation signal generated by modulator 35 is provided to a suitable radio circuit 37 that generates a wireless signal that is transmitted through at least one transmitting antenna 38. The wireless signals transmitted by the mobile stations are captured by at least one receiving antenna 39 that provides those signals to the radio circuit 37 and a demodulator 36. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the same antenna can be used for transmission and reception, as is done to often in a UE.

It will be understood that the control processor 32 can be configured to include one or more of the other devices depicted in Figure 2, which can be implemented by dedicated programmed processors or other suitable logic configured to perform its functions. The combination of data generator 34, scheduler and selector 33, and modulator 35 produces DL frames or subframes to be transmitted. Modulator 35 converts the information into modulation symbols that are provided to radio circuit 37, which records the modulation symbols into one or more suitable carrier signals. In an LTE system for example, the radio circuit 37 records the modulation symbols on a number of OFDM subcarriers. Modulated subcarrier signals are transmitted through antenna 38.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an adaptation 40 in a mobile station that can implement methods of various embodiments of the invention to be described below. It will be appreciated that the functional blocks depicted in Figure 3 can be combined and rearranged in a variety of equivalent ways, and that many of the functions can be performed by one or more suitably programmed digital signal processors. Furthermore, the connections between and the information provided or exchanged by the functional blocks depicted in Figure 3 can be altered in various ways to enable a mobile station to implement other methods involved in the operation of the mobile station.

As depicted in Figure 3, a mobile station receives a DL radio signal through an antenna 41 and typically downconverts the received radio signal to an analog baseband signal on receiver input circuitry (Fe RX) 42. . The baseband signal is spectrally shaped by an analog filter 44 having a bandwidth BW0, and the formed baseband signal generated by filter 44 is converted from analog to digital by an analog to digital converter (ADC). 46.

The digitized baseband signal is further spectrally shaped by a digital filter 48 having a bandwidth BWsinc, which corresponds to the bandwidth of sync signals or symbols included in the DL signal. The formed signal generated by filter 48 is provided to a cell search unit 50 which performs one or more cell search methods as specified for the particular communication system, eg, 3GPP LTE. Typically such methods involve detecting predetermined primary and / or secondary sync channel signals (P / S-SCH) in the received signal.

The digitized baseband signal is also provided by the ADC 46 to a digital filter 52 having the bandwidth BW0, and the filtered digital baseband signal is provided to a processor 54 that implements a fast Fourier transform (FFT). or other suitable algorithm that generates a frequency domain (spectral) representation of the baseband signal. A channel estimation unit 56 receives signals from processor 54 and generates a channel estimation H, j for each of several subcarriers i and cells j based on control and timing signals provided by a control unit 58, which they also provide such control and timing information to processor 54.

The estimator 56 provides the channel estimates H, to a decoder 60 and a signal power estimating unit 62. The decoder 60, which also receives signals from the processor 54, is suitably configured to extract information from the control messages of the signal. radio resources (RRC) or other messages as described below and typically generates signals subject to further processing at the mobile station (not shown). Estimator 62 generates received signal power measurements (eg, reference signal received power estimates (RSRP), received subcarrier power Si, signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), etc.). Estimator 62 can generate estimates of RSRP, Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Received Subcarrier Power Si, SIR, and other measurements.

ES 2 582 880 T3 relevant, in various ways in response to control signals provided by control unit 58. Power estimates generated by estimator 62 are typically used in additional signal processing at the mobile station. Estimator 62 and channel estimation unit 56 may both be the measurement supply units of the invention.

Estimator 62 (or seeker 50, for that matter) is configured to include a suitable signal correlator.

In the arrangement depicted in Figure 3, control unit 58 tracks substantially everything necessary to configure browser 50, processor 54, estimating unit 56, and estimator 62. For estimating unit 56, this includes both the method as the cell identity (for reference signal extraction and cell-specific scrambling of reference signals). Communication between browser 50 and control unit 58 includes the cell identity and, for example, the cyclic prefix setting.

Control unit 58 may determine which of several possible estimation methods is used by estimator 56 and / or estimator 62 for measurements on the detected cell (s). In addition, the control unit 58, which may typically include a correlator or implement a correlator function, can receive information signaled by the network and control the on / off times of the Fe RX 42.

The control unit 58 provides suitable information to an encoder 64, which generates modulation symbols or similar information that is provided to a transmitter input circuitry (FE TX) 66, which generates a suitable transmission signal to the communication system. As depicted in Figure 3, the transmit signal is provided to antenna 41. Control unit 58 with encoder 64 is suitably configured to generate RRC messages and others sent by the mobile station to the network as described below. Finally there is a memory 67 connected to the control unit 58 in order to store the measurement records.

The control unit 58 and other blocks of the mobile station can be implemented by one or more suitably programmed electronic processors, collections of logic gates, etc., that process information stored in one or more memories. As noted above, the mobile station includes memory 67. Alternatively, it may include some other type of information storage functionality. The memory 67 and other information storage functionality is suitable for carrying out the methods and receiving and generating the signals to be described later in cooperation with the control unit 58 and the software executed by the control unit. For example, the memory can be used to collect data for Minimization of Excitation Tests (MDT) under the control of the control unit 58 and possibly other electronic processor (s) in the mobile station and deliver the data. data to the network according to a software executed by the control unit (s) and information and / or requests received from the network. The stored information may include program instructions and data that allow control unit 58 to implement the methods to be described later. It will be appreciated that the control unit typically includes timers, etc., which facilitate its operations.

A first basic variant of the invention will now be described with reference also made to fig. 4, showing signals exchanged between a first mobile station MS and a first network node NN, where the first network node may be a base station or a radio network controller.

As mentioned above the invention is provided to control the reporting, here deferred reporting, of measurements from a mobile station to a network node.

At a minimum, the deferred reporting control may comprise a measurement setup to be logged, a log event trigger, and a log reporting. Fig. 4 shows a schematic image of a delayed measurement procedure. Note that the network node NN or network node entity can be either a base station such as an eNB or a radio network controller (RNC), depending on the access technology. In both cases the node will typically use the structure 31 shown in FIG. two.

Initially the first network node (for example either the eNB or the RNC) configures the deferred measurements. The first network node thus sends a deferred measurement configuration to the first mobile station, step 68. The measurements can be applied to a mobile station that is either connected using radio resource control (RRC) or that is in RRC idle mode. The configuration of the mobile station can be made or carried out using dedicated signaling when the mobile station is in connected mode even though the actual measurements can be made in RRC idle mode, or can be made or carried out with broadcasting. system information, in which case the mobile station, when in idle mode, is expected to read the system information directly. The configuration can be sent in a dedicated RRC message, registered measurement configuration. The configuration typically sets out measurements to be made by the mobile station that concern one or more connectivity aspects in and for the first mobile station in relation to the first communication network, which connectivity aspects may include one or more of the following: measurement object (for example frequency and / or Radio Access Technology (RAT) which involves measuring the mobile station), reporting quantity (for example Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal Received Quality ( RSRQ), measurement type (for example periodic or event triggered).

ES 2 582 880 T3 control processor 32 here can provide configuration data to the programmer and selector 33, which in turn processes the data through the performance of a programming and selection of resource element and resource block or code assignment depending on the type of network. The configuration can also include a timer or timer value that indicates how long the configuration is valid for. Setting this way may only be in effect for a limited time. The processed data is then modulated by modulator 35 onto a suitable carrier, which is then transmitted as a wireless signal on radio circuit 37 through antenna 38. In this way it can be seen that the control processor is arranged to provide to the first mobile station with the reporting settings.

The configuration is then received by the control unit 58 of the mobile station, for example the mobile station 28. The configuration here can be received through the antenna 41, the receiver input circuitry 42, the analog filter 44, the ADC 46, digital filter 52, processor 54, and decoder 60.

When the mobile station MS has received the configuration it performs measurements according to the received measurement configuration and stores the measurement results in the internal register of the mobile station. In this way it collects the measurements according to the configuration, step 69. The measurements can be collected or collected through the control unit 58 which instructs a measurement performing unit, such as the estimator 62, to perform measurements according to the configuration. The measurement unit then performs measurements and sends these to the control unit 58. When the measurements are received, the control unit 58 then stores them in an internal register in memory 67.

After being collected, the recorded measurements are delivered to the network node entity. The mobile station thus performs deferred measurement reporting, step 70. Two alternative forms of reported reporting measurements will be described later. Reporting is typically done through control unit 58 which provides data to encoder 64 for modulation and thereafter to transmitter input circuitry 66 for transmission through antenna 41. In this way it can be viewed that the control unit 58 commands the input circuitry of the transmitter to send the report.

Here it should be noted that deferred measurement reporting may not necessarily correspond to the same network node as the measurement setup. For example, measurements can be configured using an eNB, but reporting can be done to the RNC, ie a mobile station can use a different RAT to report the recorded measurements one received the configuration from.

As a further variant of this general concept it is possible that a mobile station is pre-configured, that is to say it is provided with the configuration beforehand and therefore it would not need to receive it from the network.

A first embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference also made to FIG. 5, which shows a flow chart of a number of method steps that are performed at a network node in the form of a base station or radio network controller, and to FIG. 6, showing a flow chart of a number of corresponding method steps that are performed in a mobile station.

In this first embodiment the first network node, for example the base station 16, provides a reporting configuration to the mobile station MS, for example the first mobile station 28, step 71. This reporting configuration is provided to the first base station in order to allow the network to send a request for a registered measurement report to the first mobile station and receive such a report in response. The configuration can expose which parameters are to be measured, when the measurements are to be made and how the reporting is to be done. The reporting settings can also specify that the mobile station is taking measurements when it is in idle mode. This reporting configuration is thus sent to mobile station 28. It can be carried out more specifically in the same way as described above in connection with the first basic variant of the invention in an RRC message called registered measurement configuration.

The mobile station thus receives such a reporting configuration from the network node, step 76, and then performs measurements according to this reporting configuration, step 78. The measurements can advantageously be performed in idle mode. As measurements are made they are then being stored in an internal measurement register, step 80. This measurement record can be provided through memory 67 connected to control unit 58 of the mobile station. In this way data is collected in the registry. At a suitable time, the time of which can be set by the reporting settings or the selection of which can be set by the reporting settings, a notification is then sent to the first network node from the first mobile station, step 82. The notification is a notification of the presence of registered measurements and is sent in order to allow the first network node to respond to the notification with a request for the registered measurement report. The notification can be sent in an RRC message and therefore the control unit 58 can provide such a message to the encoder 64 for modulation and thereafter transmission on the input circuitry of the transmitter 66 via the antenna 41. In the first embodiment the first mobile station may first send an RRC Connection Request message to the first network node, which responds with an RRC Connection Establishment message. From then on the

ES 2 582 880 T3 first mobile station may send RRC Connection Establishment Completed message. It is this last message that can include a bit position, available recorded measurements, which has been set.

The network node control processor 32 then receives the notification via the antenna 39, the radio circuit 37, and the demodulator 36. As the network node receives the notification from the mobile station, step 72, thereafter sends a request for a measurement report registered in response to the notification, step 73. Here it is possible that such a request is sent only in response to a notification. It is thus possible according to the first embodiment that a measurement request is sent only if there is a previous notification. In this way it can only be sent based on the receipt of a notification from the first mobile station. In this first embodiment, it is additionally the same network node that provides the configuration and sends the request for a measurement report. The request may be sent in the form of an RRC message provided to the scheduler and selector 33 from the control processor 32 for processing, for example a code assignment in WCDMA. Thereafter, the processed data is modulated by the modulator 35 and transmitted to the mobile station through the antenna 38. In this sense, it can be seen that the control processor 32 is ready to send the request. The request is sent in the first embodiment in an RRC UE Information Request message. Here it is possible to use a variable or bit position in this message called LogMeasReportRequest.

The mobile station then receives the request in response to the notification, step 84. The request is received at the control unit 58 through the antenna 41, the receiver input circuitry 42, the analog filter 44, the ADC 46, the digital filter 52, the processor 54 and the decoder 60. The control unit 58 then sends the report in response to the request, step 86. Here it is possible that such a report is sent only in response to a request. In this way it is possible according to the first embodiment that a report is sent only if there is a previous request for measurements. In this first embodiment the report is then sent as soon as possible. The report is sent using encoder 64, transmitter input circuitry 66 and antenna 41. The report is sent in the first embodiment in an RRC UE information response message in a section called LogMeasReport.

The network node then receives the recorded measurement report in response to the request, step 74, which report can be received in the same manner as the notification. The control processor is thus arranged to receive the recorded measurement report in response to the request. The node can then perform a suitable activity such as changing its coverage based on one or more such reports received from various mobile stations.

Here it is also possible for measurements to be made and also for reporting to be done before a complete configuration has been received. The mobile station can for example start the previously mentioned timer and then perform the measurement collection in idle, periodically or event-triggered mode. Then as soon as a connected status is entered, it can inform the network of available log measurements. These can be reported after receiving a request from the network. If the mobile station then enters idle mode again, it can continue to perform measurements according to the configuration again. The measurement may then end when the timer value expires and a final measurement report which is notified and possibly also sent the next time the mobile station is connected. Here it is also possible to receive a new configuration later.

Fig. 7 shows some signals sent between the mobile station and the network node in a variant of this first embodiment.

In this variant, the mobile station indicates the availability of recorded measurements to the network, by sending a notification to the network node, step 82.

If the mobile station has performed the measurements in idle mode, the indication can be made as part of an RRC connection establishment procedure. It may be a modified RRC message relating to the connection of a mobile station to the network. Therefore it may be an RRC Connection Request or RRC Connection Establishment Completed message. Alternatively it is possible to use a special RRC message. This means that the indication can be provided in an RRC Connection Request message, an RRC Connection Establishment Completed message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration Completed message or an RRC Connection Restoration Completed message, for example. through an additional bit position provided for this purpose in these messages. This can be a variable or bit position named logMeasAvailable. It is also possible to create a new type of RRC message that is dedicated to notification. Other possible message types are Cell Update, URA Update, UTRAN Handover for Completion, and UTRAn Mobility Information Confirmation Measurement Report. Alternatively it is possible to provide the indication in a UE Information Response message. If the mobile station has performed RRC Connected Mode measurements, a special RRC message (for example UE Information Indication) or an extension of a current RRC message (for example Measurement Report, Capacity Information of EU). In the first embodiment, the RRC Connection Establishment Completed message is used. If the network node does not support deferred measurement reception, it will simply ignore the indication from the mobile station. Note that the timing of the indication can be determined by the mobile station based on at least one notification timing criteria. This criterion can be a criterion

ES 2 582 880 T3 based on one of mobile station memory consumption, battery level or some other factor. It should also be noted that the mobile station indication may include an indication through which technology or RAT (eg HSPA, LTE, cdma2000, etc.) the measurements were collected. The indication may include an indication of the type of access technology used by the first mobile station when collecting data for the report. The first network node can use this information to determine if it can receive the particular measurements (for example it is capable of decoding the Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) format used for measurement reporting).

The first network node then determines whether it should request logged measurements, ie determines whether it should send a measurement request based on at least one reporting timing criteria, step 88. If the network node supports non-real-time measurement reception, which would normally be done when configuring the mobile station, it can use the current load on the cell, current load on the system, connection to the centralized database to storing reports and various other factors to determine a suitable time to request the mobile station to transmit a measurement record. The reporting timing criteria can be based this way on one or more of the properties load to cell, load to system, and connection to the centralized database. The request is then sent, step 73. The request to the mobile station can be sent using a special RRC message, or using an existing RRC message. The request can be sent in a radio resource control message that concerns the capabilities if the mobile station, such as ueCapabilityEnquiry or ueInformationRequest. In the first embodiment, the ueInformationRequest message is used.

Finally the mobile station, after receiving the request to transmit deferred measurement data, will transmit the recorded measurements to the network node entity, step 86. The transmission can be done using a special RRC message, or using an existing RRC message. (for example ueCapabilityResponse, MeasurementReport). In the first embodiment, the ueInformationResponse message is used, which is a response to the radio resource control message comprising the request.

If the mobile station has data available and has to report the data as available for transmission, but has not received a request to transmit recorded measurements, it can repeat the sending of the indication either periodically, or later if it has moved to a different cell.

As a further variant of the first embodiment it is possible that in order to avoid congesting the signaling radio bearers (SRB) with large measurement registers, a special SRB can be used for deferred measurement reports. This means that the report can be transmitted on a signaling radio bearer dedicated to transmissions of recorded measurement reports.

Still as another variant of the first embodiment it is also possible to omit the indication of the mobile station completely. In such a solution, the network and more specifically the network node can simply ask different mobile stations to provide recorded measurements based on the information available in the network. For example, if the capabilities of the mobile station (for example if the mobile station is in RRC Connected mode and has indicated that it supports deferred measurements) are known in the network, for example from the first network node, the network may request simply to the mobile station to provide any recorded measurements (including previously recorded measurements in idle mode).

After the network and here the first network node has received an indication that the mobile station has recorded the available measurements, or has otherwise determined that the mobile station could have recorded the available measurements, the network selects a suitable occasion to request the recorded measurements from the mobile station. If the network entity doing this, here the first network node, does not support deferred reception of the measurements, it will never request the recorded measurements from the mobile station.

Notifications can be skipped in other scenarios. For example it is possible to use webcasting instead. This is done in a second embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 8, which shows a flow chart of a number of method steps that are performed in a network node in the form of a base station or a radio network controller, and to FIG. 9, which shows a flow chart of a number of corresponding method steps that are performed in a mobile station.

In this second embodiment a network node, for example base station 16, provides a reporting configuration of a mobile station MS, for example first mobile station 28, step 90, through transmission of the configuration to the mobile station. The mobile station then receives the reporting configuration from the network node, step 96, and thereafter performs measurements according to this reporting configuration, step 98. Measurements can also advantageously be performed here in idle mode. As measurements are made they are then being stored in a measurement record, step 100. So far the second and first embodiments operate in the same way.

However, now in the second embodiment there is no notification. Instead the first network node broadcasts a request for measurement reports to a group of mobile stations in its vicinity, which group includes the first mobile station, step 92. In this way it sends a request for measurement reports in a broadcast, which can be seen as a request that is sent to all mobile stations in its vicinity. This can be

ES 2 582 880 T3 to do through the control processor 32 that orders the data generator 34 to include the request in a broadcast that is made. The data generator 34 can then include the request in the data to be broadcast, forward this data to the programmer and selector 33 for processing, followed by modulation of the processed data in the modulator 35 and transmission of the modulated and processed data by the circuit. radio 37 through antenna 38.

According to a mobile station, as the first mobile station, it receives such a request in a broadcast, step 102, then it sends a report in response to the broadcast. It is possible here that only reports are sent as such responses. This means that unless a broadcast is received with a request, no reports will be sent by the mobile station. The network node then receives the report in response to the broadcast, step 94, and can then perform a suitable activity based on one or more such reports. The report here is typically received by the control processor 32 through the antenna 39, the radio circuit 37 and the demodulator 36.

The signals exchanged between a network node and a mobile station in a variant of this second embodiment are shown schematically in fig. 10.

Here the network, in the form of a base station, broadcasts the request, step 92. This can be done through the node broadcasts of a cell level indication that the mobile station can transmit deferred measurement reports in a current cell . Point out that the network entity can use the current load on the cell, the current load on the system, connection to a centralized database to store reports and various other factors to determine an example of a suitable time to broadcast an indication for the mobile stations transmit the measurement records. The broadcast indication can be done using any existing System Information Message (MIB / SIB1) or System Information Block (SIB2 - 13) or using a new SIB or a new RRC message, i.e. a designed RRC message and dedicated to this purpose.

Upon receiving the broadcast indication, step 102, the mobile station may determine a suitable time to report the recorded measurements, based on at least one report timing criterion, which criterion may be based on one or more of the properties consumption of memory of the mobile station, battery level, availability of measurements, or by various other factors. It is also possible that the network, here the first network node, can ask the mobile station to report the recorded measurements immediately.

When the mobile station has determined a suitable time to transmit the recorded measurements, that is, it has determined when to send a report, step 106, (or if it is ordered to report the recorded measurements immediately), the mobile station will transmit the recorded measurements to the entity. network, here the first network node. This will send the report to the network node in response to the broadcast, step 104. The transmission can be done using a special RRC message, or using an existing RRC message (eg udCapabilityResponse, MeasurementReport).

Here it is also possible to use a special SRB for deferred measurement reports in order to avoid congesting the SRBs with large measurement records.

A third embodiment of the invention is also directed towards avoiding the use of prompts. The third embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 11, which shows a flow chart of a number of method steps that are performed at a network node in the form of a base station or radio network controller, and to FIG. 12, which shows a flow chart of a number of corresponding method steps that are performed in a mobile station.

In this third embodiment the mobile station performs measurements according to a reporting configuration having, step 110, the reporting configuration of which may have been received in the same way as described in the first and second embodiments or which may be provided at the mobile station in advance. Measurements here can also advantageously be performed in idle mode. As measurements are made they are then being stored in a measurement register, step 112.

In the third embodiment, the network controls the deferred transmission of measurements by indicating ON / OFF for reporting. For example, the network can use an existing RRC message (for example in ueCapabilityEnquiry or SystemInformationBlock), a new dedicated RRC message, or a new broadcast message.

The first network node can thus provide a reporting ON indication to a mobile station, step 107, through sending such a message.

Through receipt of such a message, the mobile station thus receives a reporting ON indication from the network node, step 114. Once the mobile station has received the ON indication of the reporting, then it can send the report to the corresponding cell at a suitable point in time, for example when the mobile station has no more memory available, periodically, when the mobile station leaves the registration campaign. In this way the mobile station can send the report in response to the reporting on indication.

This can be followed later by the network by sending a reporting OFF indication,

ES 2 582 880 T3 which can be done typically in the same way as a modification of any of the previously described messages. This will disable reporting and therefore no reports will be sent in this case.

The present invention has a number of advantages. Allows the network to control the reporting of recorded measurements. The loss of recorded measurements can be avoided if the network does not support delayed measurement reception. This further enables the network to perform a number of additional activities such as changing cell coverage. Additionally, if the measurements are collected in idle mode, communication over the wireless interface between the base station and the mobile station is not disturbed. Additionally, by sending an indication, reliability in reporting is increased. The risk of losing a measurement report is reduced. It also allows the network to only request reports when they are available. The network does not have to keep track of the presence of reports and can therefore use its processing power for other activities.

In some embodiments of the invention RRC messages were used. Such messages are described in more detail in 3gPp Technical Specifications 36.331 and 25.331.

There are many variants that can be made to the invention apart from those already mentioned. Different network nodes may be used for configuration and reporting. A first network node can for example send the request and a further network node can provide the configuration. In this case the first and additional network nodes can use different types of access technology, ie different RATs. The configuration and request can then be received by the first mobile station using these different types of access technology. Here it is also possible that different access networks are used, where one network node in a first access network is used for configuration and another node in a second access network is used to receive reports, where both access networks can be subnets. of the same communication network. It is also possible that the nodes involved in providing configurations and / or receiving reports are nodes in higher hierarchy levels of the communication network. Such a node can for example be a node in the core network, like a server in a core network. An example is a Mobility Management Entity (MME) server or an Operation and Maintenance (O&M) server. The invention was previously described in relation to MDT and recorded measurement reporting. However, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to this specific area. Reporting according to the invention can also be carried out for example in relation to Automatic Neighbor Relations (ANR).

Additionally in the description given above the control processor that performs the network activities of the invention was essentially a base station. If the node is another node in the network, this node would also be provided with a control processor, for example a master control processor, which communicates with the base station control processor, a slave control processor. Such communication can be done using a suitable network communication interface such as the S1 communication interface in LTE. The slave control processor would then perform the functionality described above under the control of the master control processor.

It will be appreciated that the methods and devices described above can be combined and rearranged in a variety of equivalent ways, and that the methods can be performed by one or more appropriately programmed or configured digital signal processors and other known electronic circuitry (eg, gates. discrete logics interconnected to perform a specialized function, or application-specific integrated circuits). Many aspects of this invention are described in terms of sequences of actions that can be performed, for example, by elements of a programmable computer system. UEs embodying this invention include, for example, mobile phones, pagers, headsets, portable computers, and other mobile terminals, and the like. Furthermore, this invention may be further envisaged to be fully incorporated into any form of computer-readable storage medium that has stored within it an appropriate set of instructions for use by or in connection with an executing system, apparatus, or device. instructions, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or another system that can fetch instructions from a medium and execute the instructions.

Control of the mobile station and / or the base station radio network controller control processor can thus advantageously be provided in the form of a processor with an associated program memory including a computer program code for performing the control unit or control processor functionality. It should be noted that this control unit or control processor can also be provided in the form of hardware, such as in the form of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The computer program code may also be provided on a computer-readable medium, for example in the form of a data carrier, such as a CD-ROM disk or a memory stick, that will implement the function of the control unit or computer processor. control described above when loaded into the aforementioned program memory and executed by the processor. Such a computer program product in the form of a CD ROM disk 118 with such a computer program code 120 is schematically shown in FIG. 13.

Although the invention has been described in connection with what is now considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the described embodiments, but rather is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent provisions. Therefore, the

The invention is only to be limited by the following claims.