Methods and devices for handling inter-frequency measurements on neighboring ntn cells

A wireless communication method performed by a user equipment, UE camped on a serving cell, for inter-frequency measurement, the method comprising:

• receiving a first system information, SI, block including a list of inter-frequency configurations;
• receiving a second SI block including a list of neighboring non-terrestrial network, NTN cell configurations;
• and
• measuring a first signal on a first inter-frequency candidate specified in the list of inter-frequency configurations when the list of neighboring NTN cell configurations includes a neighbor NTN cell configuration associated with the first inter-frequency candidate.

A user equipment, UE, in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive
• a first system information, SI, block,
• a second SI block, and
• a downlink signal on an inter-frequency candidate;
• and
• a processor configured
• to retrieve a list of inter-frequency configurations from the first SI block, and a list of neighboring non-terrestrial network, NTN cell configurations from the second SI block, and
• to measure the downlink signal received on the inter-frequency candidate when the list of inter-frequency configurations includes the inter-frequency candidate, and the list of neighboring NTN cell configurations includes a neighbor NTN cell configuration associated with the inter-frequency candidate.

A wireless communication method performed by network entity, NE, the method comprising:

• determining a list of inter-frequency configurations and a list of neighboring non-terrestrial network, NTN, cell configurations;
• modifying the list of inter-frequency configurations and/or the list of neighboring NTN cell configurations by:
• excluding a frequency configuration from the list of inter-frequency configurations when the frequency configuration indicates a same priority and a same measurement timing as another frequency configuration from the list of inter-frequency configurations, and/or
• excluding a neighboring NTN cell configuration corresponding to an NTN cell from the list of neighboring NTN cell configurations when the NTN cell is provided via a same satellite as another NTN cell, with a same reselection priority;
• and
• broadcasting the list of inter-frequency configurations and/or the list of neighboring cell NTN configurations as modified.

A network entity, NE, in a wireless communication system, the NE comprising:

• a transceiver configured to broadcast wireless communications;
• and
• a processor configured
• to determine a list of inter-frequency configurations and a list of neighboring non-terrestrial network, NTN, cell configurations;
• to modify the list of frequency configurations and/or the list of neighboring NTN cell configurations by:
• excluding a frequency configuration from the list of frequency configurations when the frequency configuration indicates a same priority and a same measurement timing as another frequency configuration from the list of frequency configurations, and/or
• excluding a neighboring NTN cell configuration corresponding to an NTN cell from the list of neighboring NTN cell configurations when the NTN cell is provided via a same satellite as another NTN cell, with a same reselection priority;
• and
• to trigger the transceiver to broadcast the list of frequency configurations and/or the list of neighboring neighboring NTN cell configurations as modified.