System and method for user equipment measurement timing in a relay cell

1. A method for controller operations, the method comprising:

broadcasting a first plurality of subframes to a plurality of communications devices served by a controller in accordance with a first pattern of measurement gaps, the first pattern of measurement gaps specifying a first plurality of time intervals during which none of the first plurality of subframes are transmitted;

determining a second pattern of measurement gaps specifying a second plurality of time intervals during which none of a second plurality of subframes are to be transmitted, wherein the second pattern of measurement gaps is determined in accordance with the first pattern of measurement gaps such that at least some of the second plurality of time intervals overlap with some of the first plurality time intervals; and

communicating the second pattern of measurement gaps to a first one of the plurality of communications devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communications device monitors an available frequency band during the second plurality of time intervals to search for a presence of an alternate controller.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring an available frequency band comprises monitoring available radio access technologies.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the second pattern of measurement gaps comprises transmitting a parameter corresponding to the second pattern of measurement gaps.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second pattern of measurement gaps comprises a measurement gap offset, and wherein the parameter indicates the measurement gap offset.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of subframes comprise Multi-Media Broadcast over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second pattern of measurement gaps comprises identifying a measurement gap offset that produces a maximum overlap between the second plurality of time intervals and the first plurality of time intervals, the maximum overlap between the second plurality of time intervals and the first plurality of time intervals resulting in a minimum number of missed transmission opportunities during communication of the second plurality of subframes.

8. A method for controller operations, the method comprising:

broadcasting a first plurality of subframes in accordance with a first pattern of measurement gaps to a plurality of communications devices being served by a controller, the first plurality of measurement gaps specifying a first plurality of time intervals over which none of the first plurality of subframes are transmitted;

determining a measurement gap offset for a second pattern of measurement gaps specifying a second plurality of time intervals such that at least some of the second plurality of time intervals overlap with some of the first plurality of time intervals, the second plurality of time intervals being intervals during which none of a second plurality of subframes are transmitted; and

transmitting a parameter specifying the measurement gap offset to a first one of the plurality of communications devices.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of subframes comprise a bitmap of subframes in a single radio frame.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of subframes comprise a bitmap of subframes in four consecutive radio frames.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the measurement gap offset for the second pattern of measurement gaps further comprises maximizing an overlap between the second plurality of time intervals and the first plurality of time intervals.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:

broadcast a first plurality of subframes to a plurality of communications devices served by a controller in accordance with a first pattern of measurement gaps, the first pattern of measurement gaps specifying a first plurality of time intervals during which none of the first plurality of subframes are transmitted;

determine a second pattern of measurement gaps specifying a second plurality of time intervals during which none of a second plurality of subframes are to be transmitted,

wherein the instructions to determine the second pattern of measurement gaps includes instructions to determine the second pattern of measurement gaps in accordance with the first pattern of measurement gaps such that at least some of the second plurality of time intervals overlap with some of the first plurality time intervals; and

transmit the second pattern of measurement gaps to a first one of the plurality of communications devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first communications device monitors an available frequency band during the second plurality of time intervals to search for a presence of an alternate controller.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to communicate the second pattern of measurement gaps include instructions to transmit a parameter corresponding the second pattern of measurement gaps.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of subframes comprise Multi-Media Broadcast over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframes.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to determine the second pattern of measurement gaps include instructions to identify a measurement gap offset that produces a maximum overlap between the second plurality of time intervals and the first plurality of time intervals, the maximum overlap between the second plurality of time intervals and the first plurality of time intervals resulting in a minimum number of missed transmission opportunities during communication of the second plurality of subframes.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:

broadcast a first plurality of subframes in accordance with a first pattern of measurement gaps to a plurality of communications devices, the first plurality of measurement gaps specifying a first plurality of time intervals over which none of the first plurality of subframes are transmitted;

determining a measurement gap offset for a second pattern of measurement gaps specifying a second plurality of time intervals such that at least some of the second plurality of time intervals overlap with some of the first plurality of time intervals, the second plurality of time intervals being intervals during which none of a second plurality of subframes are transmitted; and

transmitting a parameter specifying the measurement gap offset to a first one of the plurality of communications devices.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first communications device monitors an available frequency band during the second plurality of time intervals to search for a presence of an alternate controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of subframes comprise Multi-Media Broadcast over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframes.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the instructions to determine the measurement gap offset includes instructions to determine the measurement gap offset that produces a maximum overlap between the second plurality of time intervals and the first plurality of time intervals, the maximum overlap between the second plurality of time intervals and the first plurality of time intervals resulting in a minimum number of missed transmission opportunities during communication of the second plurality of subframes.