Controlling network measurements

1 . An apparatus in a radio access network, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive, during connection release, a message from a network element, wherein

the message is a radio resource control release command comprising instructions to perform measurements of given carriers during given based on a defined measurement gap pattern during next connection setup in the radio access network,

the measurement gap pattern is a time window during which the apparatus is not required to receive or transmit on a serving carrier and switches from the serving carrier to the given carriers for the measurements, the measurement gap pattern being configured by the network element as part of early measurement reporting (EMR) configuration at the connection release, and

the measurement gap pattern includes a measurement gap length and a gap periodicity, the measurement gap length indicates duration for the measurements on the given carrier, and the gap periodicity includes a repetition period at which the measurements occur;

start connection setup with the radio access network while a timer of the EMR is running;

perform the measurements of the given carriers during the given measurement gap pattern during a connection setup phase, when the user equipment is configured with EMR and a connection set up measurement gap pattern; and

report measurement result to the network element.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , where the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to:

report the measurement result to the network element after the network element sent a request regarding the measurements.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , where the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to:

receive the message while being in connected state with the network element.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , where the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to:

move to an idle state after receiving the message from the network element;

initiate a timer which has a given duration;

perform the measurements during the next connection set up based on the connection setup being initiated while the timer is running.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the measurements relate to carrier aggregation and dual connectivity applied to the apparatus after the next connection setup.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a location of the measurement gap pattern in a connection setup signalling is based on a synchronization signal block measurement timing configuration.

7 . An apparatus in a radio access network, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

control transmission of a message, during connection release of the user equipment, to a user equipment, the message is a radio resource control release command comprising instructions for the user equipment to perform measurements of given carriers based on a defined measurement gap pattern during next connection setup of the user equipment in the radio access network;

wherein the measurement gap pattern is a time window during which the apparatus is not required to receive or transmit on a serving carrier and switches from the serving carrier to the given carriers for the measurements, and

wherein the measurement gap pattern includes a measurement gap length and a gap periodicity, the measurement gap length indicates duration for the measurements on the given carrier, and the gap periodicity includes a repetition period at which the measurements occur.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , where the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to:

control transmission of the message while the user equipment is in connected state with the network element.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , where the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to:

take the measurement gap pattern of the user equipment into account when the user equipment performs connection setup with adjusting scheduling regarding the user equipment.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , where the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to:

control transmission of a request to the user equipment for results of the measurements made during the given measurement gap pattern; and

control reception of the results.

11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed with an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receiving, during connection release, a message from a network element, wherein

the message is a radio resource control release command comprising instructions to perform measurements of given carriers based on a defined measurement gap pattern during next connection setup a radio a radio access network,

the measurement gap pattern is a time window during which the apparatus is not required to receive or transmit on a serving carrier and switches from the serving carrier to the given carriers for the measurements, and

the measurement gap pattern includes a measurement gap length and a gap periodicity, the measurement gap length indicates duration for the measurements on the given carrier, and the gap periodicity includes a repetition period at which the measurements occur;

starting connection setup with the radio access network;

performing the measurements of the given carriers during the given-measurement gap pattern; and

reporting measurement result to the network element.