Measurement gap enhancements

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a measurement configuration on a first cell specifying a measurement gap for measuring cells on other frequencies. The UE may then measure a second cell and determine an offset between the timing of the two cells. If the measured frequency band is synchronized (or nearly synchronized), the length of the measurement gap may be reduced. In some cases, the UE may then make measurements on the second cell using a reduced measurement interval, and the UE may power down certain components during the rest of the measurement gap to conserve power. In other cases, the UE may coordinate with the serving cell to reduce the measurement gap to minimize the interruption caused by the gaps.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of wireless communication, comprising:
 determining an inter-frequency measurement configuration for a user equipment (UE), wherein the inter-frequency measurement configuration comprises a first measurement gap for measuring cells in frequency bands different from a first frequency band of a first cell;   transmitting an indication of the measurement configuration to the UE;   receiving a timing offset for a second cell in a second frequency band in relation to the first cell in the first frequency band;   determining a second measurement gap based at least in part on the received timing offset; and   transmitting an indication of the second measurement gap to the UE.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of the second measurement gap is used to determine a measurement configuration for more than one UE. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 refraining from transmitting to one or more UEs for a duration based at least in part on the second measurement gap.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second timing offset, wherein the second measurement gap is based at least in part on the second timing offset.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second timing offset is received from a wireless device different from the UE. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication that one or more measurement subframes of the second cell includes a synchronization signal or a reference signal, or both.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the timing offset for the second cell comprises an indication of a difference between a timing of the one or more measurement subframes of the second cell and one or more measurement subframes of the first cell. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the second measurement gap comprises determining the second measurement gap to be a reduced measurement gap in relation to the first measurement gap. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first measurement gap or the second measurement gap is configured to include a first measurement subframe with a synchronization signal and a second measurement subframe with a reference signal. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
 means for determining an inter-frequency measurement configuration for a user equipment (UE), wherein the inter-frequency measurement configuration comprises a first measurement gap for measuring cells in frequency bands different from a first frequency band of a first cell;   means for transmitting an indication of the measurement configuration to the UE;   means for receiving a timing offset for a second cell in a second frequency band in relation to the first cell in the first frequency band;   means for determining a second measurement gap based at least in part on the received timing offset; and   means for transmitting an indication of the second measurement gap to the UE.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the indication of the second measurement gap is used to determine a measurement configuration for more than one UE. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 means for refraining from transmitting to one or more UEs for a duration based at least in part on the second measurement gap.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a second timing offset, wherein the means for determining the second measurement gap is operable to utilize the second timing offset.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
 a processor;   memory coupled with the processor; and   instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to:
 determine an inter-frequency measurement configuration for a user equipment (UE), wherein the inter-frequency measurement configuration comprises a first measurement gap for measuring cells in frequency bands different from a first frequency band of a first cell; 
 transmit an indication of the measurement configuration to the UE; 
 receive a timing offset for a second cell in a second frequency band in relation to the first cell in the first frequency band; 
 determine a second measurement gap based at least in part on the received timing offset; and 
 transmit an indication of the second measurement gap to the UE. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the indication of the second measurement gap is used to determine a measurement configuration for more than one wireless devices. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions are operable to cause to the apparatus to:
 refrain from transmitting to one or more UEs for a duration based at least in part on the second measurement gap.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions are operable to cause to the apparatus to:
 receive a second timing offset, wherein the second measurement gap is based at least in part on the second timing offset; and   determine the second measurement gap based at least in part on the second timing offset.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second timing offset is received from a wireless device different from the UE. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication that one or more measurement subframes of the second cell includes a synchronization signal or a reference signal, or both   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the timing offset for the second cell comprises an indication of a difference between a timing of the one or more measurement subframes of the second cell and one or more measurement subframes of the first cell.