WO2021145810A1

WO2021145810A1 - Conditional reconfiguration

Info

Publication number: WO2021145810A1
Application number: PCT/SE2020/051244
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cecilia EKLÖF; Icaro L. J. Da Silva
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2020-01-17
Filing date: 2020-12-21
Publication date: 2021-07-22

Abstract

In an example, a method performed by a wireless device is disclosed. The wireless device is configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition. The method comprises determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition, determining that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled, determining whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition, and if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, executing the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

Description

CONDITIONAL RECONFIGURATION

Technical Field

Examples of the present disclosure relate to conditional reconfiguration.

Background

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

Conditional handover

Handovers are normally triggered when a wireless device, such as for example a User Equipment (UE), experiences poor radio conditions. If the UE enters poor radio conditions, the conditions may quickly become so poor that the actual handover procedure may be difficult to execute. If the uplink (UL) signal quality or strength is already bad, the network may not be able to detect a Measurement Report transmitted by the UE and hence may not be able to initiate the handover procedure. Downlink (DL) problems may lead to that the Handover Command cannot successfully reach the UE. In poor radio conditions the DL message is more often segmented, which increases the risk of retransmissions with an increased risk that the message will not be successfully received by the UE in time. Failed transmission of a Handover Command is a common reason for unsuccessful handovers.

To improve mobility robustness and address the issues above, a concept known as conditional handover is currently being studied in 3GPP. The key idea in conditional handover is that transmission and execution of the Handover Command are separated. This allows a Handover Command to be sent earlier to a UE when the radio conditions are still good, thus increasing the likelihood that the message is successfully transferred. The execution of the Handover Command is done at later point in time based on an associated triggering condition. The triggering condition is typically in the form of a threshold, e.g. candidate target cell becomes X dB stronger than the serving cell.

The threshold used in the preceding measurement reporting event may be lower than the one in the handover execution condition. This allows the serving cell to prepare the handover upon reception of an early measurement report and provide the (conditional) Handover Command (CHO) when the radio link to the UE is still stable. The execution of the conditional handover may be done at a later point in time (and threshold) which is considered optimal for the handover execution.

An example of signaling flow 100 for a conditional handover is shown Figure 1. A UE 102 sends a measurement report 104 with a low threshold to source RAN node 106. At step 108, the source RAN node makes a handover decision based on the early measurement report 104. Source RAN node sends a handover (HO) request 110 to target RAN node 112 (e.g. candidate target node). The target RAN node 112 returns an acknowledgement 114 including HO command to the source RAN node 106. Source RAN node 106 sends a conditional HO command 115 including a HO condition and HO command to UE 102. After some time, the UE 102 may determine (in step 116) that a measurement fulfils the HO condition, which causes the UE to execute the HO command. Synchronization and random access 118 occurs between UE 102 and target RAN node 112. The UE 102 then sends a HO complete message 120 to the target RAN node 112, which in turn sends a path switch request 122 to NAS node 124. NAS node 124 returns an acknowledgement 126 to the target RAN node 112, which then sends a message 128 to the source RAN node 106 to release resources associated with the UE 102.

Here, the Conditional Handover Command 115 is a message that contains both the Handover Command and the associated triggering condition (HO condition). The handover command 115 contains the configuration for the target cell and is assumed to be generated by target node 112. The handover command is a reconfiguration message that is applied by the UE when the condition is fulfilled. It is implemented as a container in the form of a bit string in the first reconfiguration message configuring the conditional handover. The configuration of conditional handover is done in terms of configuring a specific measID containing the condition(s) for the execution and the message to be applied when the condition(s) is fulfilled. An example of conditional configuration addition/modification can be found in 3GPP TS 38.331 V16.0.0, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Measurements and measurement gaps

Measurements are performed by the UE for intra/inter-frequency/inter-RAT mobility. For connected mode mobility, the measurement configurations are signalled to the UE in a dedicated RRC message, typically RRCReconfiguration. There are different types of measurements:

- Intra-frequency neighbour (cell) measurements: Neighbour cell measurements performed by the UE are intra-frequency measurements when the current and target cell operates on the same carrier frequency. This type of measurements does not require measurement gaps by any UE.

- Inter-frequency neighbour (cell) measurements: Neighbour cell measurements performed by the UE are inter-frequency measurements when the neighbour cell operates on a different carrier frequency, compared to the current cell.

- Inter-RAT neighbour (cell) measurements: Neighbour cell measurements performed by the UE are inter-RAT measurements when the neighbour cell operates on a different RAT, compared to the current cell.

Whether a measurement is non gap assisted or gap assisted depends on the UE's capability and the current operating frequency. In non gap assisted scenarios, the UE is able to carry out measurements on other frequencies or other RATs without measurement gaps. In gap assisted scenarios, the UE may not be able to perform such measurements without measurement gaps. During the measurement gaps, the UE does not transmit and/or receive (depending on the capability and configuration) in the current cell, but instead performs measurements on inter-frequency or inter-RAT neighbours. The measurements are sent to the network in a MeasurementReport and are used by the network as a basis for handover decisions. UEs not requiring measurement gaps are capable of performing measurements on inter-frequency and inter-RAT neighbours without interrupting ongoing transmission/reception in the serving cell. The measurement gap configuration included in MeasurementReport is detailed further in 3GPP TS 38.331 V15.8.0, which is incorporated herein by reference. Reports and Events

The network can configure a UEwith different events and certain conditions for when the event should be triggered. The configuration of events is done in the RRCReconfiguration message and when the event is fulfilled the UE sends a report in the MeasurementReport message. A handover is typically triggered by a measurement report from the UE which in turn is triggered by fulfillment of a condition in terms of an event. For NR, the following measurement report triggering events are specified:

A1 Serving becomes better than threshold A2 Serving becomes worse than threshold A3 Neighbor becomes offset better than SpCell A4 Neighbor becomes better than threshold

A5 SpCell becomes worse than threshold 1 and neighbor/SCell becomes better than threshold2

A6 Neighbor becomes offset better than SCell B1 Inter-RAT neighbor becomes better than threshold

B2 PCell becomes worse than thresholdl and inter-rat neighbor becomes better than threshold2

For LTE, the following additional events are specified:

C1 CSI-RS resource becomes better than threshold

C2 CSI-RS resource becomes offset better than reference CSI-RS resource

W1 WLAN becomes better than threshold

W2 All WLAN inside WLAN mobility set becomes worse than thresholdl and a WLAN outside the WLAN mobility set becomes better than threshold2

W3 All WLAN inside WLAN mobility set becomes worse than threshold

V1 The channel busy ratio is above a threshold

V2 The channel busy ratio is below a threshold

H1 The Aerial UE height is above a threshold

H2 The Aerial UE height is below a threshold

In addition, in LTE the A3 and A5 events are specified in terms of “PCell/PSceN” instead of “SpCell” and the A5 event uses the term “neighbor” instead of “neighbor/SCell”. The specification of a UE’s behavior in conjunction with an A3 event is detailed further in section 5.5.4.4 of 3GPP TS 38.331 V15.8.0. The configuration of the event is done in the RRCReconfiguration message as part of MeasConfig.

Summary

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a method performed by a wireless device. The wireless device is configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell. The conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition. The method comprises determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition, and determining that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled. The method also comprises determining whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition, and if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, executing the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method performed by a wireless device. The wireless device is configured with a conditional handover procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional handover procedure is associated with at least one measurement condition, and each measurement condition is associated with an entry condition and a leaving condition. The method comprises, for each measurement condition: if the entry condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the entry condition, considering the measurement condition as fulfilled, and if the leaving condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the leaving condition, considering the measurement condition as not fulfilled. If all of the at least one measurement condition are considered fulfilled, the method comprises executing the conditional handover procedure.

A further aspect of the present disclosure provides a wireless device. The wireless device is configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell. The conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition. The wireless device comprises a processor and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the wireless device is operable to determine that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition, determine that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled, determine whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition, and if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, execute the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

A still further aspect of the present disclosure provides a wireless device. The wireless device is configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition. The wireless device is configured to determine that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition, determine that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled, determine whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition, and if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, execute the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

An additional aspect of the present disclosure provides a wireless device. The wireless device is configured with a conditional handover procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional handover procedure is associated with at least one measurement condition, and each measurement condition is associated with an entry condition and a leaving condition. The wireless device comprises a processor and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the wireless device is operable to, for each measurement condition: if the entry condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the entry condition, consider the measurement condition as fulfilled, and if the leaving condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the leaving condition, consider the measurement condition as not fulfilled. If all of the at least one measurement condition are considered fulfilled, the conditional handover procedure is executed.

A further aspect of the present disclosure provides a wireless device. The wireless device is configured with a conditional handover procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional handover procedure is associated with at least one measurement condition, and each measurement condition is associated with an entry condition and a leaving condition. The wireless device is configured to, for each measurement condition: if the entry condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the entry condition, consider the measurement condition as fulfilled, and if the leaving condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the leaving condition, consider the measurement condition as not fulfilled. If all of the at least one measurement condition are considered fulfilled, the conditional handover procedure is executed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of examples of the present disclosure, and to show more clearly how the examples may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an example of signaling flow for a conditional handover;

Figure 2 is a flow chart of an example of a method performed by a wireless device;

Figure 3 is a flow chart of another example of a method performed by a wireless device;

Figure 4 shows an example of a graph of a measurements of a first property of a signal;

Figure 5 shows an example of graphs of measurements of a first property of a signal and measurements of a second property of the signal;

Figure 6 shows another example of graphs of measurements of a first property of a signal and measurements of a second property of the signal; Figure 7 shows an example of a wireless network in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 8 shows an example of a User Equipment (UE) in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 10 shows a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 11 shows a host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 12 shows methods implemented in a communication system in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 13 shows methods implemented in a communication system in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 14 shows methods implemented in a communication system in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 15 shows methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments;

Figure 16 illustrates a schematic block diagram of virtualization apparatus in accordance with some embodiments; and

Figure 17 illustrates a schematic block diagram of virtualization apparatus in accordance with some embodiments.

Detailed Description

The following sets forth specific details, such as particular embodiments or examples for purposes of explanation and not limitation. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other examples may be employed apart from these specific details. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods, nodes, interfaces, circuits, and devices are omitted so as not obscure the description with unnecessary detail. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functions described may be implemented in one or more nodes using hardware circuitry (e.g., analog and/or discrete logic gates interconnected to perform a specialized function, ASICs, PLAs, etc.) and/or using software programs and data in conjunction with one or more digital microprocessors or general purpose computers. Nodes that communicate using the air interface also have suitable radio communications circuitry. Moreover, where appropriate the technology can additionally be considered to be embodied entirely within any form of computer-readable memory, such as solid-state memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk containing an appropriate set of computer instructions that would cause a processor to carry out the techniques described herein.

Hardware implementation may include or encompass, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, a reduced instruction set processor, hardware (e.g., digital or analogue) circuitry including but not limited to application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC) and/or field programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), and (where appropriate) state machines capable of performing such functions.

There currently exist certain challenge(s). For example, a problem relates to the exact definition of the execution condition in a conditional handover (CHO) (e.g. defined by a measld in the CHO configuration signaling and associated to a frequency, cell and event configuration, like A3 or A5). Currently, an execution condition for a conditional handover is fulfilled if the entry condition for an event remains fulfilled during a configured Time to Trigger (TTT) e.g. field timeToTrigger configured in reportConfig. In other words, the TTT starts when the entry condition for the event configured in reportConfig is fulfilled and, if all measurements remains fulfilled after TTT the condition is said to be fulfilled for CHO execution.

A problem with this solution is that in LTE/NR measurement reporting function, there is a leaving condition. There, according to 38.331 V15.8.0, once the entry condition has been fulfilled, the entry condition does not have to remain satisfied for further reports after the first one, but as long as the leaving condition is not satisfied/fulfilled, measurement reports for the triggered cells are still transmitted. Reports based on these measurements not necessarily fulfilling the entry condition but still within the hysteresis interval may or may not lead to a decision at the network side to perform a handover (or any other mobility related decision such as reconfiguration with sync, SCG addition, SCell addition, SCG change, etc.). The entry condition is a threshold + Hysteresis while the leaving condition is a threshold - Hysteresis, which means that once the UE fulfills the condition it is acceptable that the radio conditions fluctuate within + or - the hysteresis to transmit that report after TTT expires. Defining the entry condition for conditional handover (CHO) has the drawback of saying that CHO is only executed if the entry condition remains for the configured TTT. In other words, fluctuations around the hysteresis are not allowed, otherwise CHO is not executed. That risks the connection to be dropped simply due to fluctuations in the radio conditions within the range of + or - the Hysteresis.

In conditional handover, the UE is configured with a condition for when it should perform handover. It is possible to configure one or two quantities that the UE should measure on, and if two quantities are configured, the conditions for both of the quantities need to be fulfilled (an AND condition) before the UE should execute the handover. The exact handling for when both of the conditions are considered fulfilled is not yet specified or agreed. That issue is particularly important in the case the execution/trigger condition for CHO is associated to measurement identifiers (where each may refer to the same or to a different event, e.g. A3+A5). In that case, the current text would mean that both entry conditions must be fulfilled after each configured TTT to consider the overall condition fulfilled and then perform CHO execution. However, that is sub-optimal in the sense that it makes the fulfilment more restricted, i.e. both entry conditions shall be performed for their TTT to execute CHO, and such a restriction may ignore some fluctuations in the measurements and avoid the UE to execute CHO, which in turn may lead to an RLF.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. For example, examples of this disclosure comprise comprises a method for a UE, the method comprising:

Receiving an RRCRecon figuration message containing conditional reconfiguration(s). The configuration consisting of two (or more) different conditions (e.g. two different measIDs referring to different events or different measurement quantities) that both need to be fulfilled before the UE should execute the handover.

Performing the measurements for the conditions.

Keeping the status of a UE variable updated with the status for each of the conditions, whether the condition is fulfilled or not.

Deciding that both of the conditions (or all, in case of more than two) are considered fulfilled according to the specified rule (different embodiment define different rules, e.g. based on entry condition, based on leaving condition, etc.).

Executing the conditional handover when both (or all, in case of more than two) of the conditions are fulfilled.

Alternative examples of this disclosure comprise a method for a UE, the method comprising:

Receiving an RRCRecon figuration message containing conditional reconfiguration(s). The configuration consisting of one condition that need to be fulfilled before the UE should execute the handover.

The UE having stored measurements for the candidate target cell(s) with varying results.

Deciding that if the conditions can be considered to be fulfilled according to the specified rule (different embodiment define different rules, e.g. based on entry condition, based on leaving condition, etc.).

Executing the conditional handover when the condition(s) is fulfilled.

This method may also in some examples comprise the UE receiving for a given event/Condition configuration (e.g. in reportConfig) two hysteresis values, one to be used as input for the entry condition (Hys_entry), and another one to be used as input for the leaving condition (Hysjeaving).

Examples disclosed herein are described in terms of conditional handover. However, any embodiment disclosed herein may alternatively be applied to any conditional mobility procedure or conditional reconfiguration procedure, including conditional handover.

There are, proposed herein, various embodiments which address one or more of the issues disclosed herein. For example, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method performed by a wireless device, the wireless device configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition. The method comprises determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition, determining that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled, determining whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition, and if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, executing the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). For example, solutions disclosed herein may provide for clearly defined UE behaviour for when multiple conditions can be considered to be fulfilled, the possibility for exact network configuration of the conditions and with minimum impact to the specifications. Example solutions may also provide rules for when a condition(s) can be considered to be fulfilled when the UE has multiple measurements for a candidate target cell when a conditional reconfiguration (e.g. a configuration of a conditional mobility procedure) is received.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of an example of a method 200 performed by a wireless device. The wireless device is configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition. Step 202 of the method 200 comprises determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition. Step 204 of the method 200 comprises determining that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled. Step 206 of the method 200 comprises determining whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition. Step 208 of the method 200 comprises, if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, executing the conditional reconfiguration procedure. Thus for example if multiple entry conditions for the conditional reconfiguration procedure have been fulfilled, and no leaving condition for the conditional reconfiguration procedure has been fulfilled, then the conditional reconfiguration procedure is executed, which may result in for example the wireless device attempting handover to the candidate target cell.

In some examples, determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition comprises determining that the at least one first measurement of the first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first threshold for a first time period. Determining whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition may comprise for example determining whether the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell for a second time period after the first time period satisfies a second threshold. In some examples, determining whether the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the second measurement condition comprises obtaining the at least one second measurement of the first property after the first time period between the first time period and determining whether the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled.

If the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the second measurement condition, the method may in some examples comprise refraining from executing the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

The second measurement condition is the same as the first measurement condition in some examples, or may alternatively be different to the first measurement condition.

The first measurement condition may in some examples be associated with an entry condition associated with the first triggering condition and/or the second measurement condition is associated with a leaving condition associated with the first triggering condition.

In some examples determining that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled may comprise, for one of the at least one second triggering condition, determining that at least one third measurement of a second property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a third measurement condition for a third measurement condition time period. Determining that at least one third measurement of a second property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a third measurement condition for a third measurement condition time period may comprise for example determining that the at least one third measurement of the second property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a third threshold for the third measurement condition time period. The third measurement condition may be associated with an entry condition associated with the one of the at least one second condition. In some examples, the second property of the signal from the candidate target cell may be a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) of the signal from the candidate target cell, or a difference between a RSRP or RSRQ of the candidate target cell and a RSRP or RSRQ of a serving cell of the wireless device.

The first property of the signal from the candidate target cell may for example comprise a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) of the signal from the candidate target cell, or a difference between a RSRP or RSRQ of the candidate target cell and a RSRP or RSRQ of a serving cell of the wireless device.

In some examples, determining whether the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the second measurement condition comprises obtaining the at least one second measurement of the first property in response to determining that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled.

The method 200 may in some examples comprise, in response to determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, setting a first variable to indicate that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled. In some examples, the method may further comprise, in response to determining that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled, setting at least one second variable to indicate that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled. Additionally, in some examples, the method may further comprise executing the conditional reconfiguration procedure if the first variable indicates that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled and the at least one second variable indicates that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled. In some examples, the method 200 may comprise, in response to determining that the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the second measurement condition, setting the first variable to indicate that the first triggering condition has not been fulfilled. In some examples, the method 200 may comprise setting the first variable to indicate that the first condition has not been fulfilled in response to the wireless device changing a status to idle or inactive.

The conditional reconfiguration procedure may in some examples comprise a conditional handover to a potential target cell associated with the conditional reconfiguration procedure, a conditional reconfiguration with sync to the potential target cell, a conditional resume procedure to the potential target cell, or a conditional RRC Resume procedure.

Figure 3 is a flow chart of another example of a method 300 performed by a wireless device. The wireless device is configured with a conditional handover procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional handover procedure is associated with at least one measurement condition. Each measurement condition is associated with an entry condition and a leaving condition. The method comprises, in step 302, for each measurement condition: if the entry condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the entry condition, considering the measurement condition as fulfilled; and if the leaving condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the leaving condition, considering the measurement condition as not fulfilled. Step 304 of the method 300 comprises, if all of the at least one measurement condition are considered fulfilled (e.g. simultaneously), comprises executing the conditional handover procedure.

Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

Embodiments of this disclosure may be described in terms of Conditional Handover (CHO), but embodiments may alternatively be applied in conjunction with any type of conditional mobility procedure or conditional reconfiguration procedure, such as for example Conditional Resume or Conditional PSCell Addition/Change, and potentially with any other type of conditional procedure comprising one or more conditions based on measurement quantities in one or more neighbor cells and possibly also the source/serving cell.

In the context of the method the “conditional handover configuration(s)” may in some examples comprise at least one or more of the following:

An RRCRecon figuration- like message or an RRCReconfiguration message (or any message with equivalent content), possibly containing a reconfigurationWithSync IE using NR terminology (defined in 38.331 specifications) and prepared by target candidates. Or, using the E-UTRA terminology, an RRCConnectionReconfiguration- like message or an RRCConnectionReconfiguration message with mobilityControllnfo IE (defined in 36.331 specifications);

Triggering condition(s) configuration, e.g. A1-A6 triggering events or B1-B2 inter-RAT triggering events (as defined in 38.331 / 36.331 in reportConfig) or a similar event or occurrence, where instead of (or as well as) triggering a measurement report it would trigger a conditional handover or other conditional mobility procedure;

Other conditional handover controlling parameters e.g. a timer defining the validity of candidate target resources, etc. According to a first embodiment, an entry condition (associated to a given measld) is set to fulfilled for each measld (or other representation of a condition) associated to a CHO configuration if all measurements (e.g. after layer 3 filtering) taken during the corresponding timeToT rigger (TTT) defined for this event within the VarCHO-Config.

In another embodiment, that condition e.g. represented by that measld is considered to remain fulfilled only if the entry condition remains fulfilled for follow up measurements after the TTT expires. If a measurement after TTT expires does not fulfill the entry condition, the condition associated to that measld is NOT considered as fulfilled anymore. An example is shown below (ignoring some offsets that may also be configured e.g. frequency specific offset, cell specific offset, etc.):

Figure 4 shows an example of a graph 400 of a measurements of a first property of a signal, e.g. a signal from a candidate target cell. The property in this example comprises a RSRP of a signal from the cell. At time TO, the entry condition associated with a first triggering condition fulfilled for the first time. That is, for example, the execution or trigger condition for a measld is fulfilled. Between TO and T1 , the entry condition remains fulfilled for further measurements taken until time T1 , as all measurements until T1 are still above the entry condition level (e.g. a threshold, which in the examples shown in Figures 4-6 is a first threshold Thresh plus a hysteresis amount Hys). That is, for example, the execution or trigger condition for the measld is fulfilled or remains fulfilled for all measurements. At time T1 , the entry condition is no longer fulfilled, e.g. the execution or trigger condition for the measld is considered as not fulfilled. In some examples, the entry condition for a triggering condition may be for example an A3 event as defined in 3GPP TS 38.331 V15.8.0.

Notice that according to the method described in this example, if multiple measld(s) are configured for a given trigger condition for conditional reconfiguration, upon a given entry condition to be satisfied, the UE executes the conditional reconfiguration if entry condition for all other measld(s) are also fulfilled.

In another example, the execution/trigger condition is considered as not fulfilled because when the second triggering condition is considered fulfilled (e.g. based on RSRQ) due to the fact that the entry condition associated with the second triggering condition is fulfilled, the first entry condition based on RSRP is not fulfilled any longer. Figure 5 illustrates such an example, and shows an example of graphs 500 of measurements 502 of a first property (e.g. RSRP) of a signal and measurements 504 of a second property (e.g. RSRQ) of the signal, e.g. a signal from a candidate target cell. The measurements 502 of the first property correspond to the measurements shown in Figure 4. It can be seen in Figure 5 that at time TO’, the entry condition associated with a second triggering condition is fulfilled for the first time. That is, for example, the execution or trigger condition for a measld is fulfilled (e.g. the measurement exceeds the entry condition level of Thres+Hys). Between TO’ and TO’+TTT, the entry condition remains fulfilled for further measurements taken, however at time T 1 , when the entry condition is no longer fulfilled for the first triggering condition, e.g. the execution or trigger condition for the associated measld is considered as not fulfilled (e.g. it falls below the entry level condition of Thresh+Hys). Thus the conditional reconfiguration procedure is not executed at time TO’+TTT, even though all measurements of the second property (e.g. RSRQ) meet the entry condition in the time period between TO’ and TO’+TTT.

In another example, the execution/trigger condition is fulfilled because when the second condition is fulfilled (e.g. based on RSRQ) due to the fact that the entry condition for the second is fulfilled, the entry condition for the first condition (e.g. based on RSRP) remained fulfilled. Figure 6 illustrates such an example, and shows an example of graphs 600 of measurements 602 of a first property (e.g. RSRP) of a signal and measurements 604 of a second property (e.g. RSRQ) of the signal, e.g. a signal from a candidate target cell. The measurements 604 of the second property correspond to the measurements 504 of the second property shown in Figure 5. However, it is shown that at time TO’+TTT, when the second triggering condition is considered to be fulfilled as all measurements between TO’ and TO’+TTT meet the entry condition (i.e. above the entry condition level), the first triggering condition is still considered as fulfilled as all measurements 602 of the first property after time T0+TTT meet the entry condition for the first triggering condition. Thus, at time TO’+TTT, both triggering conditions are considered fulfilled, and the conditional reconfiguration procedure may execute (e.g. by a UE attempting to handover to another cell).

A corresponding procedure text could be defined for example as follows (changes to a standard are shown in underline and strikethrough):

5.3.5.X.4 Conditional handover monitoring The UE shall:

1 > for each CHO-Configld within the VarCHO-Config:

2> consider the cell which has a physical cell identity matching the value indicated in the ServingCellConfigCommon in the received cho-RRCReconfig to be applicable cell; 2> for each measld included in the measldList within VarMeasConfig indicated in the triggerCondition associated to condReconfigurationld:

3> if the entry condition(s) applicable for this event associated with the CHO-Configld, i.e. the event corresponding with the cho-eventld(s) of the corresponding cho-TriggerConfig within VarCHO-Config, is fulfilled for the applicable cells for all measurements after layer 3 filtering taken during the corresponding timeToTrigger defined for this event within the VarCHO- Config:

4> consider the entry condition for the associated measld within cho-TriggerConfig is fulfilled; 3> if the entry condition(s) applicable for this event associated with the CHO-Configld is fulfilled:

4> if the entry condition applicable for this event associated with the CHO-Configld , i.e. the event corresponding with the cho-eventld of the corresponding cho-TriooerConfig within VarCHO-Config , is not fulfilled for the applicable cells for a measurement after layer 3 filtering: 4> consider the execution/trigger condition for the associated measld within cho-TriggerConfig not to be fulfilled:

2> if entry execution/trigger conditions for all associated measld( s) within cho-TriggerConfig are fulfilled:

4> consider the target cell candidate within the stored cho-RRCReconfig, associated to that CHO-Configld, as a triggered cell;

4> initiate the conditional handover execution, as specified in 5.3.5.X.5;

_{*********************************************************************************************************}

In another example embodiment, the condition represented by a measld is considered to NOT be fulfilled if a leaving condition is satisfied. In other words, as long as the leaving condition is not fulfilled for follow up measurements (after the entry condition was fulfilled), the condition associated to that measld is NOT considered as fulfilled anymore, and thus for example the conditional mobility procedure is not executed. An example of corresponding procedure text could be defined for example as follows (changes to a standard are shown in underline and strikethrough):

5.3.5.X.4 Conditional handover monitoring The UE shall:

1 > for each CHO-Configld within the VarCHO-Config:

2> consider the cell which has a physical cell identity matching the value indicated in the Sen/ingCellConfigCommon in the received cho-RRCReconfig to be applicable cell; 2> for each measld included in the measldList within VarMeasConfig indicated in the triggerCondition associated to condReconfigurationld:

4> consider the entry execution/entry condition for the associated measld within cho- TriggerConfig as is fulfilled;

3> if the leaving condition applicable for this event associated with the CHO-Configld, i.e. the event corresponding with the cho-eventld(s) of the corresponding cho-TriggerConfig within VarCHO-Config, is fulfilled for the applicable cells for all measurements after layer 3 filtering taken during the corresponding timeToTrigger defined for this event within the VarCHO- Config:

4> consider the execution/trigger condition for the associated measld within cho-TriggerConfig is not fulfilled;

4> initiate the conditional handover execution, as specified in 5.3.5.X.5;

As a trigger/Execution condition for conditional reconfiguration may be associated to one or more measld, in some examples the method comprises that the execution condition is fulfilled (e.g. upon which the cell is considered as a triggered cell and candidate for conditional reconfiguration execution upon cell selection) if the trigger conditions associated to all associated measld(s) are fulfilled.

According to a further example embodiment, a UE variable is introduced to define that a trigger condition configuration (represented by a measld) associated to a conditional reconfiguration configuration is fulfilled or not fulfilled. The name of such a UE variable could for example be VarTriggerConditionFulfilled and set per measld associated to a conditional reconfiguration configuration trigger/execution condition. If the condition is fulfilled, according to a defined criterion, the UE variable e.g. VarTriggerConditionFulfilled is set to TRUE. If the condition is not fulfilled according to a defined criterion (or for example is no longer fulfilled), the UE variable VarTriggerConditionFulfilled is set to FALSE. In an alternative, TRUE and FALSE may be interchanged or may be replaced by any other values indicating fulfilment or non- fulfilment of the condition.

As a trigger/execution condition for conditional reconfiguration may be associated to one or more measld, in some examples the method comprises that the execution condition is fulfilled (i.e. upon which the cell is considered as a triggered cell and candidate for CHO execution upon cell selection) if the trigger conditions associated to all associated measld(s) are fulfilled i.e. all UE variables for all measld(s) shall be set to TRUE (or any other appropriate value that indicates fulfilment of the conditions). Herein, an alternative could be to define another UE variable that defines whether the overall execution condition is fulfilled or not.

An ASN.1 example for the UE variable is shown for example below:

- VarTriggerConditionFulfilled

The UE variable VarTriggerConditionFulfilled indicates whether an execution/trigger condition per measld associated to a CHO configuration is fulfilled or not. The setting of this BOOLEAN variable to true means that the condition associated to a given measld within cho- TriggerConfig is fulfilled.

VarTriggerConditionFulfilled UE variable

— ASNlSTART

-- TAG- VarTriggerConditionFulfilled-START

VarTriggerConditionFulfilled ::= SEQUENCE { triggerConditionFulfilled BOOLEAN

OPTIONAL }

-- TAG- VarTriggerConditionFulfilled-STOP — ASN1STOP

Examples of procedure text could be defined as follows, where at least some embodiments are combined (changes to a standard are shown in underline and strikethrough): 5.3.5.X.4 Conditional handover monitoring The UE shall:

1 > for each CHO-Configld within the VarCHO-Config:

2> consider the cell which has a physical cell identity matching the value indicated in the ServingCellConfigCommon in the received cho-RRCReconfig to be applicable cell;

2> for each measld included in the measldList within VarMeasConfig indicated in the triggerCondition associated to condReconfigurationld:

4> consider the entry execution/trigger condition for the associated measld within cho- TriggerConfig as is fulfilled;

4> set the variable triooerConditionFulfilled associated to that measld to true:

3> if the variable triooerConditionFulfilled is set to true for this event:

4> if the entry condition applicable for this event associated with the CHO-Configld , i.e. the event corresponding with the cho-eventld of the corresponding cho-TriooerConfig within

VarCHO-Config , is not fulfilled for the applicable cells for a measurement after layer 3 filtering:

4> set the variable triggerConditionFulfilled associated to that measld to false:

2> if entry execution/trigger conditions for all associated measld( s) within cho-TriggerConfig are fulfilled i.e. if triggerConditionFulfilled is set to true for all associated measld(s) in cho- TriggerConfig:

4> initiate the conditional handover execution, as specified in 5.3.5.X.5;

5.3.5.X.4 Conditional handover monitoring The UE shall:

1 > for each CHO-Configld within the VarCHO-Config:

4> set the variable triggerConditionFulfilled associated to that measld to true:

3> if the leaving condition applicable for this event associated with the CHO-Configld , i.e. the event corresponding with the cho-eventid(s) of the corresponding cho-TriooerConfig within VarCHO-Config , is fulfilled for the applicable cells for all measurements after layer 3 filtering taken during the corresponding timeToTrigger defined for this event within the VarCHO- Config:

2> if entry execution/trigger conditions for all associated measld( s) within cho-TriggerConfig are fulfilled (i.e. if the variable triggerConditionFulfilled is set to true for all associated measld(s) in cho-TriggerConfig:):

4> initiate the conditional handover execution, as specified in 5.3.5.X.5;

In some examples, the variable(s) may be cleaned up (e.g. set to FALSE) under certain cases, such as:

When the UE status becomes IDLE or INACTIVE;

Upon handovers/reconfiguration with sync;

Upon failure cases while the UE has a CHO configuration;

Some other scenario.

Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any appropriate type of system using any suitable components, the embodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wireless network, such as the example wireless network illustrated in Figure 7. For simplicity, the wireless network of Figure 7 only depicts network QQ106, network nodes QQ160 and QQ160b, and WDs QQ110, QQ110b, and QQ110c. In practice, a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device. Of the illustrated components, network node QQ160 and wireless device (WD) QQ110 are depicted with additional detail. The wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices’ access to and/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.

The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio network or other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wireless network may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particular embodiments of the wireless network may implement communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.

Network QQ106 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet data networks, optical networks, wide- area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices.

Network node QQ160 and WD QQ110 comprise various components described in more detail below. These components work together in order to provide network node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments, the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections.

As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodes include multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As another example, a network node may be a virtual network node as described in more detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with access to the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless device that has accessed the wireless network.

In Figure 7, network node QQ160 includes processing circuitry QQ170, device readable medium QQ180, interface QQ190, auxiliary equipment QQ184, power source QQ186, power circuitry QQ187, and antenna QQ162. Although network node QQ160 illustrated in the example wireless network of Figure 7 may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node QQ160 are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium QQ180 may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).

Similarly, network node QQ160 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which network node QQ160 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB’s. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, network node QQ160 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium QQ180 for the different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna QQ162 may be shared by the RATs). Network node QQ160 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node QQ160, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node QQ160.

Processing circuitry QQ170 is configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being provided by a network node. These operations performed by processing circuitry QQ170 may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry QQ170 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

Processing circuitry QQ170 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node QQ160 components, such as device readable medium QQ180, network node QQ160 functionality. For example, processing circuitry QQ170 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium QQ180 or in memory within processing circuitry QQ170. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry QQ170 may include a system on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, processing circuitry QQ170 may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry QQ172 and baseband processing circuitry QQ174. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry QQ172 and baseband processing circuitry QQ174 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ172 and baseband processing circuitry QQ174 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or other such network device may be performed by processing circuitry QQ170 executing instructions stored on device readable medium QQ180 or memory within processing circuitry QQ170. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry QQ170 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry QQ170 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry QQ170 alone or to other components of network node QQ160, but are enjoyed by network node QQ160 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Device readable medium QQ180 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry 00170. Device readable medium QQ180 may store any suitable instructions, data or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry QQ170 and, utilized by network node QQ160. Device readable medium QQ180 may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry QQ170 and/or any data received via interface QQ190. In some embodiments, processing circuitry QQ170 and device readable medium QQ180 may be considered to be integrated. Interface QQ190 is used in the wired or wireless communication of signalling and/or data between network node QQ160, network QQ106, and/or WDs QQ110. As illustrated, interface QQ190 comprises port(s)/terminal(s) QQ194 to send and receive data, for example to and from network QQ106 over a wired connection. Interface QQ190 also includes radio front end circuitry QQ192 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna QQ162. Radio front end circuitry QQ192 comprises filters QQ198 and amplifiers QQ196. Radio front end circuitry QQ192 may be connected to antenna QQ162 and processing circuitry QQ170. Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna QQ162 and processing circuitry QQ170. Radio front end circuitry QQ192 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry QQ192 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters QQ198 and/or amplifiers QQ196. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna QQ162. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna QQ162 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry QQ192. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry QQ170. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node QQ160 may not include separate radio front end circuitry QQ192, instead, processing circuitry QQ170 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna QQ162 without separate radio front end circuitry QQ192. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry QQ172 may be considered a part of interface QQ190. In still other embodiments, interface QQ190 may include one or more ports or terminals QQ194, radio front end circuitry QQ192, and RF transceiver circuitry QQ172, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface QQ190 may communicate with baseband processing circuitry QQ174, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

Antenna QQ162 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna QQ162 may be coupled to radio front end circuitry QQ190 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna QQ162 may comprise one or more omni directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna QQ162 may be separate from network node QQ160 and may be connectable to network node QQ160 through an interface or port.

Antenna QQ162, interface QQ190, and/or processing circuitry QQ170 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna QQ162, interface QQ190, and/or processing circuitry QQ170 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment.

Power circuitry QQ187 may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node QQ160 with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry QQ187 may receive power from power source QQ186. Power source QQ186 and/or power circuitry QQ187 may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node QQ160 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source QQ186 may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry QQ187 and/or network node QQ160. For example, network node QQ160 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry QQ187. As a further example, power source QQ186 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry QQ187. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used.

Alternative embodiments of network node QQ160 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 7 that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node QQ160 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node QQ160 and to allow output of information from network node QQ160. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node QQ160. As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, the term WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE). Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a WD include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, a gaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE) a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc.. A WD may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to- infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device. As yet another specific example, in an Internet of Things (loT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node. The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-loT) standard. Particular examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.). In other scenarios, a WD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. A WD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a WD as described above may be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal.

As illustrated, wireless device QQ110 includes antenna QQ111, interface QQ114, processing circuitry QQ120, device readable medium QQ130, user interface equipment QQ132, auxiliary equipment QQ134, power source QQ136 and power circuitry QQ137. WD QQ110 may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by WD QQ110, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within WD QQ110.

Antenna QQ111 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface QQ114. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna QQ111 may be separate from WD QQ110 and be connectable to WD QQ110 through an interface or port. Antenna QQ111 , interface QQ114, and/or processing circuitry QQ120 may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna QQ111 may be considered an interface.

As illustrated, interface QQ114 comprises radio front end circuitry QQ112 and antenna QQ111. Radio front end circuitry QQ112 comprise one or more filters QQ118 and amplifiers QQ116. Radio front end circuitry QQ114 is connected to antenna QQ111 and processing circuitry QQ120, and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna QQ111 and processing circuitry QQ120. Radio front end circuitry QQ112 may be coupled to or a part of antenna QQ111. In some embodiments, WD QQ110 may not include separate radio front end circuitry QQ112; rather, processing circuitry QQ120 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna QQ111. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 may be considered a part of interface QQ114. Radio front end circuitry QQ112 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry QQ112 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters QQ118 and/or amplifiers QQ116. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna QQ111. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna QQ111 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry QQ112. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry QQ120. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. Processing circuitry QQ120 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD QQ110 components, such as device readable medium QQ130, WD QQ110 functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry QQ120 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium QQ130 or in memory within processing circuitry QQ120 to provide the functionality disclosed herein.

As illustrated, processing circuitry QQ120 includes one or more of RF transceiver circuitry QQ122, baseband processing circuitry QQ124, and application processing circuitry QQ126. In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry QQ120 of WD QQ110 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry QQ122, baseband processing circuitry QQ124, and application processing circuitry QQ126 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry QQ124 and application processing circuitry QQ126 may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 and baseband processing circuitry QQ124 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry QQ126 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ122, baseband processing circuitry QQ124, and application processing circuitry QQ126 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 may be a part of interface QQ114. RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 may condition RF signals for processing circuitry QQ120.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processing circuitry QQ120 executing instructions stored on device readable medium QQ130, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry QQ120 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry QQ120 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry QQ120 alone or to other components of WD QQ110, but are enjoyed by WD QQ110 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Processing circuitry QQ120 may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry QQ120, may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry QQ120 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by WD QQ110, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

Device readable medium QQ130 may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry QQ120. Device readable medium QQ130 may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non- transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry QQ120. In some embodiments, processing circuitry QQ120 and device readable medium QQ130 may be considered to be integrated.

User interface equipment QQ132 may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with WD QQ110. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment QQ132 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to WD QQ110. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment QQ132 installed in WD QQ110. For example, if WD QQ110 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if WD QQ110 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected). User interface equipment QQ132 may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment QQ132 is configured to allow input of information into WD QQ110, and is connected to processing circuitry QQ120 to allow processing circuitry QQ120 to process the input information. User interface equipment QQ132 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment QQ132 is also configured to allow output of information from WD QQ110, and to allow processing circuitry QQ120 to output information from WD QQ110. User interface equipment QQ132 may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment QQ132, WD QQ110 may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment QQ134 is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment QQ134 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source QQ136 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used. WD QQ110 may further comprise power circuitry QQ137 for delivering power from power source QQ136 to the various parts of WD QQ110 which need power from power source QQ136 to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry QQ137 may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry QQ137 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case WD QQ110 may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry QQ137 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source QQ136. This may be, for example, for the charging of power source QQ136. Power circuitry QQ137 may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source QQ136 to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD QQ110 to which power is supplied. Figure 8 illustrates one embodiment of a UE in accordance with various aspects described herein. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE QQ200 may be any UE identified by the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-loT UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. UE QQ200, as illustrated in Figure 8, is one example of a WD configured for communication in accordance with one or more communication standards promulgated by the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 3GPP’s GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, the term WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although Figure 8 is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to a WD, and vice-versa.

In Figure 8, UE QQ200 includes processing circuitry QQ201 that is operatively coupled to input/output interface QQ205, radio frequency (RF) interface QQ209, network connection interface QQ211, memory QQ215 including random access memory (RAM) QQ217, read-only memory (ROM) QQ219, and storage medium QQ221 or the like, communication subsystem QQ231, power source QQ233, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium QQ221 includes operating system QQ223, application program QQ225, and data QQ227. In other embodiments, storage medium QQ221 may include other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown in Figure 8, or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

In Figure 8, processing circuitry QQ201 may be configured to process computer instructions and data. Processing circuitry QQ201 may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry QQ201 may include two central processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a form suitable for use by a computer.

In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface QQ205 may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, output device, or input and output device. UE QQ200 may be configured to use an output device via input/output interface QQ205. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE QQ200. The output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. UE QQ200 may be configured to use an input device via input/output interface QQ205 to allow a user to capture information into UE QQ200. The input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence- sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor. In Figure 8, RF interface QQ209 may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface QQ211 may be configured to provide a communication interface to network QQ243a. Network QQ243a may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network QQ243a may comprise a Wi-Fi network. Network connection interface QQ211 may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM, or the like. Network connection interface QQ211 may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM QQ217 may be configured to interface via bus QQ202 to processing circuitry QQ201 to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM QQ219 may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry QQ201. For example, ROM QQ219 may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium QQ221 may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. In one example, storage medium QQ221 may be configured to include operating system QQ223, application program QQ225 such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file QQ227. Storage medium QQ221 may store, for use by UE QQ200, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

Storage medium QQ221 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppy disk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro- DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity (SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storage medium QQ221 may allow UE QQ200 to access computer-executable instructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied in storage medium QQ221, which may comprise a device readable medium.

In Figure 8, processing circuitry QQ201 may be configured to communicate with network QQ243b using communication subsystem QQ231. Network QQ243a and network QQ243b may be the same network or networks or different network or networks. Communication subsystem QQ231 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network QQ243b. For example, communication subsystem QQ231 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.11, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver may include transmitter QQ233 and/or receiver QQ235 to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter QQ233 and receiver QQ235 of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions of communication subsystem QQ231 may include data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. For example, communication subsystem QQ231 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPS communication. Network QQ243b may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network QQ243b may be a cellular network, a W-Fi network, and/or a near-field network. Power source QQ213 may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE QQ200.

The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may be implemented in one of the components of UE QQ200 or partitioned across multiple components of UE QQ200. Further, the features, benefits, and/or functions described herein may be implemented in any combination of hardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem QQ231 may be configured to include any of the components described herein. Further, processing circuitry QQ201 may be configured to communicate with any of such components over bus QQ202. In another example, any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry QQ201 perform the corresponding functions described herein. In another example, the functionality of any of such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry QQ201 and communication subsystem QQ231. In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment QQ300 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device) or components thereof and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks).

In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments QQ300 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes QQ330. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized. The functions may be implemented by one or more applications QQ320 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications QQ320 are run in virtualization environment QQ300 which provides hardware QQ330 comprising processing circuitry QQ360 and memory QQ390. Memory QQ390 contains instructions QQ395 executable by processing circuitry QQ360 whereby application QQ320 is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment QQ300, comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices QQ330 comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry QQ360, which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors. Each hardware device may comprise memory QQ390-1 which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions QQ395 or software executed by processing circuitry QQ360. Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs) QQ370, also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface QQ380. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media QQ390- 2 having stored therein software QQ395 and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry QQ360. Software QQ395 may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers QQ350 (also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines QQ340 as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines QQ340, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer QQ350 or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance QQ320 may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines QQ340, and the implementations may be made in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry QQ360 executes software QQ395 to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer QQ350, which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Virtualization layer QQ350 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine QQ340. As shown in Figure 9, hardware QQ330 may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware QQ330 may comprise antenna QQ3225 and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware QQ330 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO) QQ3100, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications QQ320.

Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

In the context of NFV, virtual machine QQ340 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtual machines QQ340, and that part of hardware QQ330 that executes that virtual machine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines QQ340, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more virtual machines QQ340 on top of hardware networking infrastructure QQ330 and corresponds to application QQ320 in Figure 9.

In some embodiments, one or more radio units QQ3200 that each include one or more transmitters QQ3220 and one or more receivers QQ3210 may be coupled to one or more antennas QQ3225. Radio units QQ3200 may communicate directly with hardware nodes QQ330 via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station.

In some embodiments, some signalling can be effected with the use of control system QQ3230 which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes QQ330 and radio units QQ3200.

With reference to FIGURE 10, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunication network QQ410, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network QQ411 , such as a radio access network, and core network QQ414. Access network QQ411 comprises a plurality of base stations QQ412a, QQ412b, QQ412c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area QQ413a, QQ413b, QQ413c. Each base station QQ412a, QQ412b, QQ412c is connectable to core network QQ414 over a wired or wireless connection QQ415. A first UE QQ491 located in coverage area QQ413c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station QQ412c. A second UE QQ492 in coverage area QQ413a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station QQ412a. While a plurality of UEs QQ491 , QQ492 are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station QQ412.

Telecommunication network QQ410 is itself connected to host computer QQ430, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. Host computer QQ430 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections QQ421 and QQ422 between telecommunication network QQ410 and host computer QQ430 may extend directly from core network QQ414 to host computer QQ430 or may go via an optional intermediate network QQ420. Intermediate network QQ420 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network QQ420, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network QQ420 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system of Figure 10 as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs QQ491 , QQ492 and host computer QQ430. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection QQ450. Host computer QQ430 and the connected UEs QQ491 , QQ492 are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection QQ450, using access network QQ411, core network QQ414, any intermediate network QQ420 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection QQ450 may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection QQ450 passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station QQ412 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from host computer QQ430 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE QQ491. Similarly, base station QQ412 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE QQ491 towards the host computer QQ430.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to Figure 11. In communication system QQ500, host computer QQ510 comprises hardware QQ515 including communication interface QQ516 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system QQ500. Host computer QQ510 further comprises processing circuitry QQ518, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry QQ518 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer QQ510 further comprises software QQ511, which is stored in or accessible by host computer QQ510 and executable by processing circuitry QQ518. Software QQ511 includes host application QQ512. Host application QQ512 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE QQ530 connecting via OTT connection QQ550 terminating at UE QQ530 and host computer QQ510. In providing the service to the remote user, host application QQ512 may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection QQ550.

Communication system QQ500 further includes base station QQ520 provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware QQ525 enabling it to communicate with host computer QQ510 and with UE QQ530. Hardware QQ525 may include communication interface QQ526 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system QQ500, as well as radio interface QQ527 for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection QQ570 with UE QQ530 located in a coverage area (not shown in Figure 11) served by base station QQ520. Communication interface 00526 may be configured to facilitate connection 00560 to host computer QQ510. Connection QQ560 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in Figure 11) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, hardware QQ525 of base station QQ520 further includes processing circuitry QQ528, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Base station QQ520 further has software QQ521 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system QQ500 further includes UE QQ530 already referred to. Its hardware QQ535 may include radio interface QQ537 configured to set up and maintain wireless connection QQ570 with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE QQ530 is currently located. Hardware QQ535 of UE QQ530 further includes processing circuitry QQ538, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. UE QQ530 further comprises software QQ531, which is stored in or accessible by UE QQ530 and executable by processing circuitry QQ538. Software QQ531 includes client application QQ532. Client application QQ532 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE QQ530, with the support of host computer QQ510. In host computer QQ510, an executing host application QQ512 may communicate with the executing client application QQ532 via OTT connection QQ550 terminating at UE QQ530 and host computer QQ510. In providing the service to the user, client application QQ532 may receive request data from host application QQ512 and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection QQ550 may transfer both the request data and the user data. Client application QQ532 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer QQ510, base station QQ520 and UE QQ530 illustrated in Figure 11 may be similar or identical to host computer QQ430, one of base stations QQ412a, QQ412b, QQ412c and one of UEs QQ491, QQ492 of Figure 10, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in Figure 11 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of Figure 10.

In Figure 11, OTT connection QQ550 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer QQ510 and UE QQ530 via base station QQ520, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE QQ530 or from the service provider operating host computer QQ510, or both. While OTT connection QQ550 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection QQ570 between UE QQ530 and base station QQ520 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE QQ530 using OTT connection QQ550, in which wireless connection QQ570 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the efficiency or reliability of mobility procedures and thereby provide benefits such as improved network efficiency, improved device connectivity, etc.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection QQ550 between host computer QQ510 and UE QQ530, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection QQ550 may be implemented in software QQ511 and hardware QQ515 of host computer QQ510 or in software QQ531 and hardware QQ535 of UE QQ530, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection QQ550 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software QQ511, QQ531 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection QQ550 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect base station QQ520, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station QQ520. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating host computer QQ510’s measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that software QQ511 and QQ531 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection QQ550 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 12 will be included in this section. In step QQ610, the host computer provides user data. In substep QQ611 (which may be optional) of step QQ610, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step QQ620, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In step QQ630 (which may be optional), the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step QQ640 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 13 will be included in this section. In step QQ710 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step QQ720, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step QQ730 (which may be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 14 will be included in this section. In step QQ810 (which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step QQ820, the UE provides user data. In substep QQ821 (which may be optional) of step QQ820, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In substep QQ811 (which may be optional) of step QQ810, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in substep QQ830 (which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step QQ840 of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

Figure 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 15 will be included in this section. In step QQ910 (which may be optional), in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In step QQ920 (which may be optional), the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step QQ930 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

Figure 16 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an apparatus WW00 in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown in Figure 7). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device QQ110 or network node QQ160 shown in Figure 7). Apparatus WW00 is operable to carry out the example method described with reference to Figure 2 and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method of Figure 2 is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus WW00. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities. Virtual Apparatus WWOO may comprise processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause first determining unit WW02, second determining unit WW04, third determining unit WW06, executing unit WW08, and any other suitable units of apparatus WWOO to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in Figure 16, apparatus WWOO includes first determining unit WW02 configured to determine that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition; second determining unit WW04 configured to determine that the at least one second condition has been fulfilled; third determining unit WW06 configured to determine whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition; and executing unit WW08 configured to, if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, execute the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

Figure 17 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an apparatus WW10 in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network shown in Figure 7). The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node (e.g., wireless device QQ110 or network node QQ160 shown in Figure 7). Apparatus WW10 is operable to carry out the example method described with reference to Figure 3 and possibly any other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method of Figure 3 is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus WW10. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

Virtual Apparatus WW10 may comprise processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause considering unit WW12, executing unit WW14, and any other suitable units of apparatus WW00 to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in Figure 17, apparatus WW10 includes considering unit WW12 configured to for each measurement condition, if the entry condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the entry condition, considering the measurement condition as fulfilled, and if the leaving condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the leaving condition, considering the measurement condition as not fulfilled. Apparatus WW10 also includes executing unit WW14 configured to, if all of the at least one measurement condition are considered fulfilled, execute the conditional handover procedure.

The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, for example, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein.

The following enumerated embodiments are provided as part of this disclosure:

Group A Embodiments

1. A method performed by a wireless device, the wireless device configured with a conditional mobility procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional mobility procedure is associated with a first condition and at least one second condition, the method comprising: determining that the first condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first threshold for a first time period; determining that the at least one second condition has been fulfilled; determining whether at least one measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell after the first time period satisfies a second threshold; and if the at least one measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell after the first time period satisfies the second threshold, executing the conditional mobility procedure.

2. The method of embodiment 1 , wherein if the at least one measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell after the first time period does not satisfy the second threshold, refraining from executing the conditional mobility procedure.

3. The method of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the second threshold is the same as the first threshold or is different to the first threshold.

4. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the first threshold is associated with an entry condition associated with the first condition.

5. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the second threshold is associated with a leaving condition associated with the first condition.

6. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein determining that the at least one second condition has been fulfilled comprises, for one of the at least one second condition, determining that at least one measurement of a second property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a third threshold for a second time period.

7. The method of embodiment 6, wherein the third threshold is associated with an entry condition associated with the one of the at least one second condition.

8. The method of embodiment 6 or 7, wherein the second property of the signal from the candidate target cell comprises a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) of the signal from the candidate target cell, or a difference between a RSRP or RSRQ of the candidate target cell and a RSRP or RSRQ of a serving cell of the wireless device.

9. The method of any of embodiments 6 to 8, wherein determining that the at least one measurement of the second property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the third threshold for the second time period comprises determining that the at least one measurement of the second property is greater than the third threshold, or is greater than or equal to the third threshold, for the second time period.

10. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell comprises a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) of the signal from the candidate target cell, or a difference between a RSRP or RSRQ of the candidate target cell and a RSRP or RSRQ of a serving cell of the wireless device.

11. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein determining that the at least one measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the first threshold for the first time period comprises determining that the at least one measurement of the first property is greater than the first threshold, or is greater than or equal to the first threshold, for the first time period.

12. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 11 , wherein determining whether the at least one measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell after the first time period satisfies the second threshold comprises determining whether the at least one measurement of the first property is greater than the first threshold, or is greater than or equal to the first threshold, after the first time period.

13. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the first threshold is a first amount above a reference value, and the second threshold is a second amount below the reference value.

14. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein determining whether the at least one measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell after the first time period satisfies the second threshold comprises obtaining the at least one measurement of the first property after the first time period between the first time period and determining that the at least one second condition has been fulfilled.

15. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein determining whether the at least one measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell after the first time period satisfies the second threshold comprises obtaining the at least one measurement of the first property in response to determining that the at least one second condition has been fulfilled

16. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 15, comprising, in response to determining that the first condition has been fulfilled, setting a first variable to indicate that the first condition has been fulfilled.

17. The method of embodiment 16, comprising, in response to determining that the at least one second condition has been fulfilled, setting at least one second variable to indicate that the at least one second condition has been fulfilled.

18. The method of embodiment 17, comprising executing the conditional mobility procedure if the first variable indicates that the first condition has been fulfilled and the at least one second variable indicates that the at least one second condition has been fulfilled.

19. The method of any of embodiments 16 to 18, comprising, in response to determining that the at least one measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell after the first time period does not satisfy the second threshold, setting the first variable to indicate that the first condition has not been fulfilled.

20. The method of any of embodiments 16 to 19, comprising setting the first variable to indicate that the first condition has not been fulfilled in response to the wireless device changing a status to idle or inactive or performing a mobility procedure.

21. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein the conditional mobility procedure comprises a handover to a potential target cell associated with the conditional mobility procedure, a reconfiguration with sync to the potential target cell, or a resume procedure to the potential target cell.

22. The method of embodiment 21 , wherein the resume procedure comprises an RRC Resume procedure.

23. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising: providing user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer via the transmission to the base station.

Group C Embodiments

24. A wireless device, the wireless device comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; and power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless device.

25. A user equipment (UE), the UE comprising: an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals; radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry; the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry; an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; and a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

26. A communication system including a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE), wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE’s components configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

27. The communication system of the previous embodiment, wherein the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE.

28. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

29. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

30. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the UE, receiving the user data from the base station.

31. A communication system including a host computer comprising: communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

32. The communication system of the previous embodiment, further including the UE.

33. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface configured to communicate with the UE and a communication interface configured to forward to the host computer the user data carried by a transmission from the UE to the base station. 34. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data.

35. The communication system of the previous 4 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing request data; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data in response to the request data.

36. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the base station from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

37. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the UE, providing the user data to the base station.

38. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising: at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted; and at the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client application.

39. The method of the previous 3 embodiments, further comprising: at the UE, executing a client application; and at the UE, receiving input data to the client application, the input data being provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application, wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by the client application in response to the input data.

40. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data originating from a transmission which the base station has received from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

41. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the base station, receiving the user data from the UE.

42. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising at the base station, initiating a transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

Claims

1. A method (200) performed by a wireless device, the wireless device configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition, the method comprising: determining (202) that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition; determining (204) that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled; determining (206) whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition; and if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, executing (208) the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition comprises determining that the at least one first measurement of the first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first threshold for a first time period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining (206) whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition comprises determining whether the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell for a second time period after the first time period satisfies a second threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining (206) whether the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the second measurement condition comprises obtaining the at least one second measurement of the first property after the first time period between the first time period and determining whether the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled.

5. The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method comprises, if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the second measurement condition, refraining from executing the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second measurement condition is the same as the first measurement condition or is different to the first measurement condition.

7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first measurement condition is associated with an entry condition associated with the first triggering condition and/or the second measurement condition is associated with a leaving condition associated with the first triggering condition.

8. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein determining (204) that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises, for one of the at least one second triggering condition, determining that at least one third measurement of a second property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a third measurement condition for a third measurement condition time period.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that at least one third measurement of a second property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a third measurement condition for a third measurement condition time period comprises determining that the at least one third measurement of the second property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a third threshold for the third measurement condition time period.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the third measurement condition is associated with an entry condition associated with the one of the at least one second condition.

11. The method of any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the second property of the signal from the candidate target cell comprises a Reference Signal Received Power, RSRP, or a Reference Signal Received Quality, RSRQ, of the signal from the candidate target cell, or a difference between a RSRP or RSRQ of the candidate target cell and a RSRP or RSRQ of a serving cell of the wireless device.

12. The method of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell comprises a Reference Signal Received Power, RSRP, or a Reference Signal Received Quality, RSRQ, of the signal from the candidate target cell, or a difference between a RSRP or RSRQ of the candidate target cell and a RSRP or RSRQ of a serving cell of the wireless device.

13. The method of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein determining (206) whether the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the second measurement condition comprises obtaining the at least one second measurement of the first property in response to determining that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled.

14. The method of any of claims 1 to 13, comprising, in response to determining (202) that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, setting a first variable to indicate that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising, in response to determining (202) that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled, setting at least one second variable to indicate that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising executing (208) the conditional reconfiguration procedure if the first variable indicates that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled and the at least one second variable indicates that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled.

17. The method of any of claims 14 to 16, comprising, in response to determining (206) that the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies the second measurement condition, setting the first variable to indicate that the first triggering condition has not been fulfilled.

18. The method of any of claims 14 to 17, comprising setting the first variable to indicate that the first condition has not been fulfilled in response to the wireless device changing a status to idle or inactive.

19. The method of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the conditional reconfiguration procedure comprises a conditional handover to a potential target cell associated with the conditional reconfiguration procedure, a conditional reconfiguration with sync to the potential target cell, a conditional resume procedure to the potential target cell, or a conditional RRC Resume procedure.

20. A method (300) performed by a wireless device, the wireless device configured with a conditional handover procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional handover procedure is associated with at least one measurement condition, and each measurement condition is associated with an entry condition and a leaving condition, the method comprising: for each measurement condition: if the entry condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the entry condition, considering (302) the measurement condition as fulfilled; and if the leaving condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the leaving condition, considering (302) the measurement condition as not fulfilled; and if all of the at least one measurement condition are considered fulfilled, executing (304) the conditional handover procedure.

21. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method according to any of claims 1 to 20.

22. A subcarrier containing a computer program according to claim 21, wherein the subcarrier comprises one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal or computer readable storage medium.

23. A computer program product comprising non transitory computer readable media having stored thereon a computer program according to claim 21.

24. A wireless device, the wireless device configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition, the wireless device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the wireless device is operable to: determine (202) that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition; determine (204) that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled; determine (206) whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition; and if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, execute (208) the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

25. The wireless device of claim 24, wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is operable to perform the method (200) of any of claims 2 to 19.

26. A wireless device, the wireless device configured with a conditional reconfiguration procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional reconfiguration procedure is associated with a first triggering condition and at least one second triggering condition, the wireless device configured to: determine (202) that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled, wherein determining that the first triggering condition has been fulfilled comprises determining that at least one first measurement of a first property of a signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a first measurement condition; determine (204) that the at least one second triggering condition has been fulfilled; determine (206) whether at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell satisfies a second measurement condition; and if the at least one second measurement of the first property of the signal from the candidate target cell does not satisfy the second measurement condition, execute (208) the conditional reconfiguration procedure.

27. The wireless device of claim 26, wherein the wireless device is configured to perform the method (200) of any of claims 2 to 19.

28. A wireless device, the wireless device configured with a conditional handover procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional handover procedure is associated with at least one measurement condition, and each measurement condition is associated with an entry condition and a leaving condition, the wireless device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the wireless device is operable to: for each measurement condition: if the entry condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the entry condition, consider (302) the measurement condition as fulfilled; and if the leaving condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the leaving condition, consider (302) the measurement condition as not fulfilled; and if all of the at least one measurement condition are considered fulfilled, execute (304) the conditional handover procedure.

29. A wireless device, the wireless device configured with a conditional handover procedure associated with a candidate target cell, wherein the conditional handover procedure is associated with at least one measurement condition, and each measurement condition is associated with an entry condition and a leaving condition, the wireless device configured to: for each measurement condition: if the entry condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the entry condition, consider (302) the measurement condition as fulfilled; and if the leaving condition associated with the measurement condition is fulfilled for all measurements of a signal from the candidate target cell for a time period associated with the leaving condition, consider (302) the measurement condition as not fulfilled; and if all of the at least one measurement condition are considered fulfilled, execute (304) the conditional handover procedure.