US 8,577,360 B2 · UE-based MDT measuring and reporting in a cellular radio access network

Abstract

In one embodiment, if a UE is performing minimizing drive test (MDT) measurements and a radio link failure (RLF) occurs, the UE may add MDT measurement information to an RLF message to the network. In effect, the UE “piggy-backs” MDT information in the RLF report, and in so doing, provides greater flexibility to UEs reporting MDT information and more robust reporting. In another embodiment, the UE detects that no allowed reporting channel to report MDT measurement information exists, stores the MDT information, and after detecting that allowed reporting channel exists, initiates establishment of a radio link with the radio communications network during which the UE informs the network using an availability indicator that the UE has stored unreported MDT measurement information to be reported to the radio communications network.

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Drawings

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for a user equipment (UE) to report measurement information to a radio communications network, the UE performing the steps comprising:

performing minimizing drive test (MDT) measurements for report to the radio communications network;
detecting a failure to report MDT measurement information;
in response to detecting the failure to report the MDT measurement information, storing unreported MDT measurement information;
detecting a radio link failure;
transmitting a connection reestablishment request message to the radio communications network;
receiving a connection reestablishment message from the radio communications network responding to the transmitted connection reestablishment request message;
in response to the connection reestablishment message, transmitting a connection reestablishment confirmation message to the radio communications network, wherein the connection reestablishment confirmation message includes an indication that stored unreported MDT measurement information is available for transmission;
receiving an information request message from the radio communications network, wherein the information request message includes a report request indicator;
detecting whether the report request indicator in the received information request message is set;
and
in response to detecting that the report request indicator is set, transmitting a radio link failure (RLF) message that also includes at least some of the stored unreported MDT measurement information to the radio communications network.

8 more elements

Apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to report measurement information to a radio communications network, the apparatus comprising:

radio circuitry configured to establish a radio link with the radio communications network;
a memory;
electronic circuitry, coupled to the memory and to the radio circuitry, configured to:
perform minimizing drive test (MDT) measurements for report to the radio communications network;
detect a failure to report MDT measurement information;
in response to detecting the failure to report the MDT measurement information, store unreported MDT measurement information in the memory;
wherein the electronic circuitry and the radio circuitry are configured to:
generate and transmit a connection reestablishment request message to the radio communications network;
receive a connection reestablishment message from the radio communications network responding to the transmitted connection reestablishment request message;
in response to the connection reestablishment message, generate and transmit a connection reestablishment confirmation message to the radio communications network,
wherein the connection reestablishment confirmation message includes an indication that stored unreported MDT measurement information is available for transmission;
receive an information request message from the radio communications network, wherein the information request message includes a report request indicator;
detect whether the report request indicator in the received information request message is set;
in response to detecting that the report request indicator is set, to transmit a radio link failure (RLF) report that includes at least some of the stored MDT measurement information to the radio communications network.

11 more elements

Apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to report measurement information to a radio communications network, the apparatus comprising:

radio circuitry configured to establish a radio link with the radio communications network;
a memory;
electronic circuitry, coupled to the memory and to the radio circuitry, configured to:
perform minimizing drive test (MDT) measurements for report to the radio communications network;
detect that no allowed reporting channel to report MDT measurement information exists;
in response to detecting that no allowed reporting channel to report MDT measurement information exists, store unreported MDT measurement information in the memory;
detect an allowed reporting channel to report MDT measurement information;
in response to the detected allowed reporting channel, generate and transmit a connection reestablishment request message to the radio communications network;
receive a connection reestablishment message from the radio communications network responding to the transmitted connection reestablishment request message;
in response to the connection reestablishment message, generate and transmit a connection reestablishment confirmation message to the radio communications network,
wherein the connection reestablishment confirmation message includes an indication that stored unreported MDT measurement information is available for transmission;
receive an information request message from the radio communications network, wherein the information request message includes a report request indicator;
detect whether the report request indicator in the received information request message is set;
in response to detecting that the report request indicator is set, to transmit a radio link failure (RLF) report that includes at least some of the stored unreported MDT measurement information to the radio communications network.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,557 words

Summary1,528 words

#The technical field relates to radio communications, and more particularly, to UE-based minimizing drive time (MDT) measuring and reporting in a cellular radio access network.

#FIG. 1 shows a radio or wireless communications system 1 where wireless terminals 2 (also known as mobile stations and/or user equipment units (UEs)) communicate via a radio access network (RAN) to one or more core networks (shown as a cloud 3). In a cellular communications system, the radio access network (RAN) covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, with each cell area being served by a base station, e.g., a radio base station (RBS), which in some networks may also be called a “NodeB” (UMTS) or “eNodeB” (LTE). A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio base station equipment at a base station site. Each cell is identified by an identity within the local radio area, which is broadcast in the cell. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the user equipment units (UE) within range of the base stations.

#In some versions of a radio access network, several base stations are typically connected (e.g., by landlines or microwave) to a controller node (such as a radio network controller (RNC) or a base station controller (BSC)) which supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto. The radio network controllers are typically connected to one or more core networks.

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#FIG. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of a wireless communications system;

#FIG. 2 illustrates a non-limiting example of a wireless LTE communications system;

#FIG. 3 is a flowchart diagram illustrating non-limiting example procedures for UE-based MDT measuring and reporting in a cellular radio access network when radio communication is temporarily disrupted between a UE and the RAN and re-connected by a radio connection reestablishment procedure;

Detailed description2,830 words

#In the following description, for purposes of explanation and non-limitation, specific details are set forth, such as particular nodes, functional entities, techniques, protocols, standards, etc. in order to provide an understanding of the described technology. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other embodiments may be practiced apart from the specific details disclosed below. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods, devices, techniques, etc. are omitted so as not to obscure the description with unnecessary detail. Individual function blocks are shown in the figures. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functions of those blocks may be implemented using individual hardware circuits, using software programs and data in conjunction with a suitably programmed microprocessor or general purpose computer, using applications specific integrated circuitry (ASIC), and/or using one or more digital signal processors (DSPs). The software program instructions and data may be stored on computer-readable storage medium and when the instructions are executed by a computer or other suitable processor control, the computer or processor performs the functions.

#Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that block diagrams herein can represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry or other functional units embodying the principles of the technology. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

#The functions of the various elements including functional blocks, including but not limited to those labeled or described as “computer”, “processor” or “controller” may be provided through the use of hardware such as circuit hardware and/or hardware capable of executing software in the form of coded instructions stored on computer readable medium. Thus, such functions and illustrated functional blocks are to be understood as being either hardware-implemented and/or computer-implemented, and thus machine-implemented.

Facts

Application

12/938,930Filed 3 Nov 2010 · us provisional application

Priority

12 Apr 2010

Published

US 2011/0250880 A113 Oct 2011

Granted

5 Nov 2013

Term ends

2 Jun 2031

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 211 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

H04W 76/18
Connection setup: management of setup rejection or failure
H04W 24/10
Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements: scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
H04W
Wireless communication networks

Timeline

12 Apr 2010Priority claimedParent application 61/323,154
3 Nov 2010Application filedUS 12/938,930
16 Feb 2011Assigned to Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)assignment of assignor's interest
13 Oct 2011PublishedUS 2011/0250880 A1
5 Nov 2013GrantedUS 8,577,360 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
2 Jun 2031Term endsEstimated, includes 211 days of adjustment

UE-based MDT measuring and reporting in a cellular radio access network

Life of this patent

UE-based MDT measuring and reporting in a cellular radio access network

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims19

Description4,557 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,557 words