Interference-free neighbor cell measurements

A device in a network, the device comprising:

• a memory to store a plurality of instructions;
• and
• a processor to execute instructions in the memory to:
• select one or more cells in the network,
• coordinate transmissions from the selected one or more cells, and transmissions from neighbor cells of the selected one or more cells, so that transmissions of the selected one or more cells do not interfere with reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells at designated times,
• configure a user equipment, served by the selected one or more cells, to measure reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells at the designated times, where the user equipment generates measurement reports based on the measured reference signals,
• receive, from the user equipment, the measurement reports,
• determine signal strengths of the neighbor cells based on the measurement reports, and
• determine, based on the signal strengths, whether network coverage is sufficient when coverage of the selected one or more cells is reduced or when the selected one or more cells are out of service.

A system in a network, the system comprising:

• means for selecting one or more cells in the network;
• means for coordinating transmissions from the selected one or more cells, and transmissions from neighbor cells of the selected one or more cells, so that transmissions of the selected one or more cells do not interfere with reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells at designated times;
• means for configuring a user equipment, served by the selected one or more cells, to measure reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells at the designated times, where the user equipment generates measurement reports based on the measured reference signals;
• means for receiving, from the user equipment, the measurement reports;
• means for configuring the user equipment with measurement windows that coincide with the reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells at the designated times, where the user equipment measures the reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells in the measurement windows, and collects the measured reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells in the measurement windows;
• means for receiving, from the user equipment and separately from other mobility measurement reports, the collected reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells in the measurement windows;
• means for determining signal strengths of the neighbor cells based on the measurement reports and based on the collected reference signals transmitted by the neighbor cells in the measurement windows;
• and
• means for determining, based on the signal strengths, whether network coverage is sufficient when coverage of the selected one or more cells is reduced or when the selected one or more cells are out of service.