Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for providing synchronization signal block (SSB) transmission pattern

1. A method performed by user equipment (UE) for handling a configuration of neighbouring cells in a wireless communications network comprising a first network node and a third network node, the method comprising:

receiving, from the first network node, nominal timing of a plurality of Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) transmissions configured for the third network node;

based on measurements and/or detection attempts by the UE on received signals corresponding to the nominal timing, obtaining a configuration comprising a pattern indicative of whether or not each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions are actually transmitted by the third network node according to the nominal timing, and

sending the configuration to the first network node.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pattern comprises any one out of: one pattern and a group of patterns.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pattern is further indicative of one of the following: actual UE measurements on each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions, or availability of each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions for UE measurements.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the obtained configuration comprises one or more of the following: an SSB configuration and a beam configuration.

5. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor comprising a user equipment (UE), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to the method of claim 1 .

6. A User Equipment (UE) arranged to handle a configuration of neighbouring cells in a wireless communications network comprising a first network node and a third network node, the UE comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the UE to:

receive, from the first network node, nominal timing of a plurality of Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) transmissions configured for the third network node;

based on measurements and/or detection attempts by the UE on received signals corresponding to the nominal timing, obtain a configuration comprising a pattern indicative of whether or not each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions are actually transmitted by the third network node according to the nominal timing, and

send the configuration to the first network node.

7. The UE according to claim 6 , wherein the pattern is further indicative of one of the following: actual UE measurements on each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions, or availability of each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions for UE measurements.

8. The UE according to claim 6 , wherein the configuration comprises one or more of the following: an SSB configuration and a beam configuration.

9. The UE according to claim 6 , wherein the pattern comprises any one out of: one pattern and a group of patterns.

10. A method performed by a first network node for managing a configuration of neighbouring cells in a wireless communications network that comprises the first network node and a third network node, the method comprising:

sending, to a user equipment (UE), nominal timing of a plurality of Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) transmissions configured for the third network node;

receiving, from the UE, a configuration comprising a pattern indicative of whether or not each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions are actually transmitted by the third network node according to the nominal timing; and

managing the configuration of the neighbouring cells based on the received configuration comprising the pattern.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein managing the configuration of the neighbouring cells comprises determining at least one of the following based on the received configuration:

a common set of SSBs actually transmitted by at least a plurality (N) of the neighbouring cells, wherein the plurality (N) is less than all of the neighboring cells,

a common set of SSBs not actually transmitted by any of the neighbouring cells, and

for each particular neighbouring cell, a load characteristic or metric based on whether an SSB is actually transmitted in the particular neighbouring cell.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein managing the configuration of neighbouring cells based on the received configuration comprises one or more of the following:

sending all or a part of the received configuration to another network node,

sending all or a part of the received configuration to one or more UEs,

configuring measurement gaps,

configuring measurement cycles,

configuring Discontinuous Reception (DRX),

updating one or more measurement objects

reporting configurations for one or more UEs,

configuring the set of SSBs for measurements,

configuring measurement gaps for one or more UEs,

configuring one or more own transmissions, and

sending the configuration to a second network node operating in the wireless communications network.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pattern comprises one of the following: one pattern and a group of patterns.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pattern is further indicative of one of the following: actual UE measurements on each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions, or availability of each of the plurality of configured SSB transmissions for UE measurements.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the obtained configuration comprises one or more of the following: an SSB configuration and a beam configuration.

16. A first network node arranged to manage a configuration of neighbouring cells in a wireless communications network that comprises the first network node and a third network node, the first network node comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the first network node to perform operations corresponding to the method of claim 10 .

17. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor comprising a first network node arranged to manage a configuration of neighbouring cells in a wireless communications network, configure the first network node to perform operations corresponding to the method of claim 10 .