Automatic neighbour relation (ANR) based on detection and reporting of unknown cell based on measurement triggering criterion

1. A method of operation of a User Equipment, UE, to assist a base station in a wireless communication network with automatic neighbor relation, comprising:

receiving reference signal configurations for a plurality of cells and a measurement report triggering criterion, wherein:

the reference signal configurations are configurations for reference signals to be used by the UE for radio resource management, RRM, measurement reporting for the plurality of cells; and

the measurement report triggering criterion is related to detection, by the UE, of an unknown cell while performing measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations for the plurality of cells, where the unknown cell is a cell other than the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations;

detecting the unknown cell while performing the measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations wherein detecting the unknown cell comprises:

performing synchronization signal measurement in accordance with the reference signal configurations, where a synchronization signal from a detected cell is detected while performing the synchronization signal measurement; and

identifying the detected cell as the unknown cell upon determining that: (a) the detected cell is not one of the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations and (b) a measurement for the synchronization signal from the detected cell is greater than a certain threshold; and

sending a report for the unknown cell to the base station serving a serving cell of the UE in accordance with the measurement report triggering criterion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, the reference signal configuration for each cell of the plurality of cells comprises information that defines measurement gaps during which the UE can measure on a synchronization signal transmitted on each cell as a synchronization source for a respective one of the reference signals transmitted on each cell.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the report for the unknown cell is a measurement report, and the method further comprises:

after sending the measurement report for the unknown cell to the base station, receiving, from the base station, a request to read a globally unique identity of the unknown cell;

obtaining the globally unique identity of the unknown cell from system information broadcast by the unknown cell; and

reporting the globally unique identity of the unknown cell to the base station.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining a globally unique identity of the unknown cell from system information broadcast by the unknown cell;

wherein the report for the unknown cell comprises the globally unique identity of the unknown cell to the base station.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the UE is in connected mode.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference signals are layer 3 reference signals for mobility purposes.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference signals are Channel State Information Reference Signals, CSI-RSs.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference signals are beamformed.

9. A User Equipment, UE, for assisting a base station in a wireless communication network with automatic neighbor relation, the UE configured to:

receive reference signal configurations for a plurality of cells and a measurement report triggering criterion, wherein:

the reference signal configurations are configurations for reference signals to be used by the UE for Radio Resource Management, RRM, measurement reporting for the plurality of cells; and

the measurement report triggering criterion is related to detection, by the UE, of an unknown cell while performing measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations for the plurality of cells, where the unknown cell is a cell other than the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations;

detect the unknown cell while performing the measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations wherein detecting the unknown cell comprises:

performing synchronization signal measurement in accordance with the reference signal configurations, where a synchronization signal from a detected cell is detected while performing the synchronization signal measurement; and

identifying the detected cell as the unknown cell upon determining that: (a) the detected cell is not one of the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations and (b) a measurement for the synchronization signal from the detected cell is greater than a certain threshold; and

send a report for the unknown cell to the base station serving a serving cell of the UE in accordance with the measurement report triggering criterion.

10. A User Equipment, UE, for assisting a base station in a wireless communication network with automatic neighbor relation, comprising:

an interface configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the base station; and

a processor operable to cause the UE to:

receive, via the interface, reference signal configurations for a plurality of cells and a measurement report triggering criterion, wherein:

the reference signal configurations are configurations for reference signals to be used by the UE for Radio Resource Management, RRM, measurement reporting for the plurality of cells; and

the measurement report triggering criterion is related to detection, by the UE, of an unknown cell while performing measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations for the plurality of cells, where the unknown cell is a cell other than the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations;

detect the unknown cell while performing the measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations wherein detecting the unknown cell comprises:

performing synchronization signal measurement in accordance with the reference signal configurations, where a synchronization signal from a detected cell is detected while performing the synchronization signal measurement; and

identifying the detected cell as the unknown cell upon determining that: (a) the detected cell is not one of the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations and (b) a measurement for the synchronization signal from the detected cell is greater than a certain threshold; and

send, via the interface, a report for the unknown cell to the base station serving a serving cell of the UE in accordance with the measurement report triggering criterion.

11. A method of operation of a base station in a wireless communication network to interact with a User Equipment, UE, to provide automatic neighbor relation, comprising:

providing, to the UE, reference signal configurations for a plurality of cells and a measurement report triggering criterion, wherein:

the reference signal configurations are configurations for reference signals to be used by the UE for Radio Resource Management, RRM, measurement reporting for the plurality of cells; and

the measurement report triggering criterion is related to detection, by the UE, of an unknown cell while performing measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations for the plurality of cells, where the unknown cell is a cell other than the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations; and

receiving, from the UE in accordance with the triggering criterion, a report for unknown cell detected by the UE while performing the measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations wherein the UE detected the unknown cell by:

performing synchronization signal measurement in accordance with the reference signal configurations, where a synchronization signal from a detected cell is detected while performing the synchronization signal measurement; and

identifying the detected cell as the unknown cell upon determining that: (a) the detected cell is not one of the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations and (b) a measurement for the synchronization signal from the detected cell is greater than a certain threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, the reference signal configuration for each cell of the plurality of cells comprises information that defines measurement gaps during which the UE can measure on a synchronization signal transmitted on each cell as a synchronization source for a respective one of the reference signals transmitted on each cell.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the report for the unknown cell is a measurement report, and the method further comprises:

upon receiving the measurement report for the unknown cell from the UE, providing, to the UE, a request to read a globally unique identity of the unknown cell; and

receiving the globally unique identity of the unknown cell from the UE.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the report for the unknown cell received from the UE comprises a globally unique identity of the unknown cell.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the UE is in connected mode.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the reference signals are layer 3 reference signals for mobility purposes.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the reference signals are Channel State Information Reference Signals, CSI-RSs.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the reference signals are beamformed.

19. A base station in a wireless communication network for interacting with a User Equipment, UE, to provide automatic neighbor relation, the base station configured to:

provide, to the UE, reference signal configurations for a plurality of cells and a measurement report triggering criterion, wherein:

the reference signal configurations are configurations for reference signals to be used by the UE for Radio Resource Management, RRM, measurement reporting for the plurality of cells; and

the measurement report triggering criterion is related to detection, by the UE, of an unknown cell while performing measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations for the plurality of cells, where the unknown cell is a cell other than the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations; and

receive, from the UE in accordance with the triggering criterion, a report for the unknown cell detected by the UE while performing the measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations wherein the UE detected the unknown cell by:

performing synchronization signal measurement in accordance with the reference signal configurations, where a synchronization signal from a detected cell is detected while performing the synchronization signal measurement; and

identifying the detected cell as the unknown cell upon determining that:

(a) the detected cell is not one of the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations and

(b) a measurement for the synchronization signal from the detected cell is greater than a certain threshold.

20. A base station in a wireless communication network for interacting with a User Equipment, UE, to provide automatic neighbor relation, comprising:

an interface configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the UE; and

a processor configured to cause the base station to:

provide, to the UE via the interface, reference signal configurations for a plurality of cells and a measurement report triggering criterion, wherein:

the reference signal configurations are configurations for reference signals to be used by the UE for Radio Resource Management, RRM, measurement reporting for the plurality of cells; and

the measurement report triggering criterion is related to detection, by the UE, of an unknown cell while performing measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations for the plurality of cells, where the unknown cell is a cell other than the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations; and

receive, from the UE via the interface in accordance with the triggering criterion, a report for the unknown cell detected by the UE while performing the measurements in accordance with the reference signal configurations wherein the UE detected the unknown cell by:

performing synchronization signal measurement in accordance with the reference signal configurations, where a synchronization signal from a detected cell is detected while performing the synchronization signal measurement; and

identifying the detected cell as the unknown cell upon determining that:

(a) the detected cell is not one of the plurality of cells for which the UE has received the reference signal configurations and

(b) a measurement for the synchronization signal from the detected cell is greater than a certain threshold.