Methods and apparatuses for inter-network measurement in a wireless network

1. A method for inter-network measurement at a terminal device in a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving an inter-network measurement configuration message containing measurement configurations, wherein the measurement configurations comprise information on measurement type that indicates:

a blind measurement mode for neighbor network discovery if an access node serving the terminal device is unaware of any neighbor network, and

a monitory measurement mode for specific inter-network interference condition detection if the access node is aware of at least one neighbor network;

performing the inter-network measurement based on the measurement configurations contained in the inter-network measurement configuration message, so as to obtain information on inter-network interference, wherein the performing the inter-network measurement comprises:

in the monitory measurement mode:

monitoring a beacon signal from a neighbor network to detect signal transmission in a beam direction in which the terminal device receives signals from the access node, wherein the monitoring the beacon signal comprises detecting a synchronization signal in the beacon signal, and

performing measurements on the beacon signal when the synchronization signal is detected, and

in the blind measurement mode:

detecting a beacon signal from another neighbor network in omni-direction or a random beam direction to discover the other neighbor network, and

obtaining a Network Identity (NI) of the other neighbor network from the detected beacon signal, wherein the NI is a global unique identity of the other neighbor network,

wherein the access node and the other neighbor network belong to two different network operators that operate in overlapping areas; and

reporting a measurement result of the inter-network measurement, wherein the measurement result includes the information on inter-network interference.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement configurations further comprise information on measurement trigger, which indicates a timing to trigger the inter-network measurement, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the inter-network measurement is triggered based on the information on measurement trigger, and

wherein the inter-network measurement is performed in response to determining that the inter-network measurement is triggered.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the information on measurement trigger comprises one of:

a terminal device-specific measurement starting point and a measurement period;

information on event trigger indicating a trigger condition to trigger the inter-network measurement; and

beacon timing offset of a monitored neighbor network, a measurement starting point, and a measurement period, wherein the measurement period is determined based on mobility speed of the terminal device and adjusted adaptively based on receiving signal behavior.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement configurations further comprise information on reporting rules for measurement result reporting, wherein the information on reporting rules comprises one or more of:

a predetermined interference level threshold for the blind measurement mode; and

a predetermined interference level threshold for the monitory measurement mode, and

wherein the measurement result is reported in response to meeting the reporting rules.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement configurations further comprise information on measurement object, which indicates at least one of a neighbor network and an access node to be monitored, and wherein the information on measurement type further indicates the blind measurement mode for further neighbor network discovery if the access node is aware of at least one neighbor network.

6. A terminal device for inter-network measurement in a wireless network, the terminal device comprising a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor, whereby the terminal device is operative to perform the method of claim 1 .

7. An apparatus for inter-network measurement at a terminal device in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

a message receiving module configured to receive an inter-network measurement configuration message containing measurement configurations, wherein the measurement configurations comprise information on measurement type that indicates:

a blind measurement mode for neighbor network discovery if an access node serving the terminal device is unaware of any neighbor network, and

a monitory measurement mode for specific inter-network interference condition detection if the access node is aware of at least one neighbor network;

a measurement performing module configured to perform the inter-network measurement based on the measurement configurations contained in the inter-network measurement configuration message, so as to obtain information on inter-network interference, wherein, to perform the inter-network measurement, the measurement performing module is configured to:

in the monitory measurement mode:

monitor a beacon signal from a neighbor network to detect signal transmission in a beam direction in which the terminal device receives signals from the access node, wherein the monitoring of the beacon signal is performed by detecting a synchronization signal in the beacon signal, and

perform measurements on the beacon signal when the synchronization signal is detected, and

in the blind measurement mode:

detect a beacon signal from another neighbor network in omni-direction or a random beam direction to discover the other neighbor network, and

obtain a Network Identity (NI) of the other neighbor network from the detected beacon signal, wherein the NI is a global unique identity of the other neighbor network, and

wherein the access node and the other neighbor network belong to two different network operators that operate in overlapping areas; and

a result reporting module configured to report a measurement result of the inter-network measurement, wherein the measurement result includes the information on inter-network interference.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the measurement configurations further comprise information on measurement trigger, which indicates a timing to trigger the inter-network measurement, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a trigger determination module configured to determine whether the inter-network measurement is triggered based on the information on measurement trigger, and

wherein the measurement performing module is configured to perform the inter-network measurement in response to determining that the inter-network measurement is triggered.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the information on measurement trigger comprises one of:

a terminal device-specific measurement starting point and a measurement period;

information on event trigger indicating a trigger condition to trigger the inter-network measurement; and

beacon timing offset of a monitored neighbor network, a measurement starting point, and a measurement period, wherein the measurement period is determined based on mobility speed of the terminal device and adjusted adaptively based on receiving signal behavior.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the measurement configurations further comprise information on reporting rules for measurement result reporting, wherein the information on reporting rules comprises one or more of:

a predetermined interference level threshold for the blind measurement mode; and

a predetermined interference level threshold for the monitory measurement mode, and

wherein the result reporting module is configured to report the measurement result in response to meeting the reporting rules.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the measurement configurations further comprise information on measurement object, which indicates at least one of a neighbor network and an access node to be monitored, and wherein the information on measurement type further indicates the blind measurement mode for further neighbor network discovery if the access node is aware of at least one neighbor network.