Method and apparatus for providing improved mobility procedure
View Patent ↗A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in order to provide measurement reports on a more timely basis. Additionally, the method, apparatus and computer program product may provide measurement reports without first having initiated a cell reselection process. As such, the network entity, such as a radio network controller (RNC), may provide increased control in regards to the mobility procedure, such as cell redirection or handover, based at least in part upon the measurement result. From the perspective of a mobile terminal, one method includes receiving instructions to perform a cell update procedure based upon a new measurement. In response to obtaining the new measurement, the method also includes causing the cell update procedure to be triggered. In this regard, the cell update procedure includes provision of a cell update message that includes measurement results.
1. A method for operating a mobile terminal comprising:
receiving from a network, at the mobile terminal, an indication of one or more frequency layers with one or more cells to be measured;
obtaining measurement results for the one or more cells;
providing, from the mobile terminal to the network, a report that includes the measurement results;
refraining from initiating a cell reselection process when said measurement results satisfy predefined criteria for cell reselection; and
effectuating, by the mobile terminal in response to receiving a connection release message from a radio network controller (RNC) associated with the network, a cell reselection comprising a connection request message sent to an identified cell.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving an indication of a priority of the one or more frequency layers according to which the respective frequency layers are to be measured.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein obtaining the measurement results comprises obtaining the measurement results with a frequency that is based upon the priority of the one or more frequency layers.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein obtaining the measurement results comprises obtaining measurements of signal strength of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile terminal is configured for use in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement results comprise at least one of:
a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers; and
a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers.
7. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
receive from a network, at the apparatus, an indication of one or more frequency layers with one or more cells to be measured;
obtain measurement results for the one or more cells;
provide, from the apparatus to the network, a report that includes the measurement results;
refrain from initiating a cell reselection process when said measurement results satisfy predefined criteria for cell reselection; and
effectuate, by the apparatus in response to receiving a connection release message from a radio network controller (RNC) associated with the network, a cell reselection comprising a connection request message sent to an identified cell.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive the indication by receiving an indication of a priority of the one or more frequency layers according to which the respective frequency layers are to be measured.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to obtain the measurement results by obtaining the measurement results with a frequency that is based upon the priority of the one or more frequency layers.
10. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to obtain the measurement results by obtaining measurements of signal strength of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers.
11. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory are embodied by a mobile terminal.
12. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory are configured for use in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.
13. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising user interface circuitry configured to facilitate at least some functions of the apparatus by receiving user input and providing output.
14. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the measurement results comprise at least one of:
a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers; and
a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable memory having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions which, when executed by a mobile terminal, cause the mobile terminal at least to:
receive from a network, at the mobile terminal, an indication of one or more frequency layers with one or more cells to be measured;
obtain measurement results for the one or more cells;
provide, from the mobile terminal to the network, a report that includes the measurement results;
refrain from initiating a cell reselection process when said measurement results satisfy predefined criteria for cell reselection; and
effectuate, by the mobile terminal in response to receiving a connection release message from a radio network controller (RNC) associated with the network, a cell reselection comprising a connection request message sent to an identified cell.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable memory according to claim 15 wherein the program code instructions for receiving the indication comprise program code instructions which cause the mobile terminal at least to receive an indication of a priority of the one or more frequency layers according to which the frequency layers are to be measured.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable memory according to claim 16 wherein the program code instructions for obtaining the measurement results comprise program code instructions which cause the mobile terminal at least to obtain the measurement results with a frequency that is based upon the priority of the one or more frequency layers.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable memory according to claim 15 , wherein the program code instructions for obtaining the measurement results comprises obtaining measurements of signal strength of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable memory according to claim 15 , wherein the measurement results comprise at least one of:
a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers; and
a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) of the one or more cells of the one or more frequency layers.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable memory according to claim 15 , wherein the mobile terminal is configured for use in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.