Method and apparatus for cell measurement in a communications system

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for performing radio measurements in a wireless device and methods in a network node for managing radio measurements performed by a wireless. Also disclosed are a network node and a wireless device suitable for performing the disclosed methods. A wireless device obtains an indication of a first cell carrier frequency associated with a first altitude range and an indication of a second cell carrier frequency associated with a second altitude range, determines an altitude of the wireless device and performs a radio measurement on a signal received from a cell operating on the first cell carrier frequency only when the altitude of the wireless device is within the first altitude range and performing a radio measurement on a signal received from a cell operating on the second cell carrier frequency only when the altitude of the wireless device is within the second altitude range.

1 . A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
 receiving one or more parameters which indicates an association between an altitude and a cell carrier frequency, wherein the one or more parameters comprises information to enable the UE to determine whether it is allowed to perform a measurement on a reference signal associated with the cell based on the altitude of the UE; and   reporting a radio measurement performed on the reference signal when the UE is determined to be at an altitude where the UE is allowed to perform the measurement the measurement report further comprising reporting an information about the altitude or the altitude range of the UE at which the UE performed the radio measurement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell carrier frequency is a first cell carrier frequency and the one or more parameters comprise a first altitude range associated with the first cell carrier frequency and is indicated by a first altitude value and a first threshold parameter, wherein the first threshold parameter indicates whether the first altitude range is above or below the first altitude value and a second altitude range associated with a second cell carrier frequency is indicated by a second altitude value and a second threshold parameter, wherein the second threshold parameter indicates whether the second altitude range is above or below the second altitude value and the reported radio measurement comprises a measurement performed on reference signals associated with one or both of the first and second cell carrier frequencies when the UE is determined to be at an altitude where the UE is allowed to perform the measurement on the reference signals of the first and second cell carrier frequencies. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second altitude range starts immediately after the end of the first altitude range and/or the first altitude range is entirely below the second altitude range. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a data service from the network node wherein the data service is based on the reported radio measurement and/or the reported information about the altitude or the altitude range of the UE. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UE is configured to perform a radio resource management or a mobility management operation based on the radio measurement and/or the altitude or the altitude range of the UE. 
     
     
         6 . A method performed by a network node for managing radio measurements performed by a UE in a communications network, the method comprising:
 providing the UE with one or more parameters which indicates an association between an altitude and a cell carrier frequency, wherein the one or more parameters comprises information to enable the UE to determine whether it is allowed to perform a measurement on a reference signal associated with the cell based on the altitude of the UE;   receiving a measurement report comprising a radio measurement performed on the reference signal when the UE is determined to be at an altitude where it is allowed to perform the measurement, further comprising receiving from the UE an information about the altitude or the altitude range of the UE at which the UE performed the radio measurement.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cell carrier frequency is a first cell carrier frequency and the one or more parameters comprise a first altitude range associated with the first cell carrier frequency and is indicated by a first altitude value and a first threshold parameter, wherein the first threshold parameter indicates whether the first altitude range is above or below the first altitude value and a second altitude range associated with a second cell carrier frequency is indicated by a second altitude value and a second threshold parameter, wherein the second threshold parameter indicates whether the second altitude range is above or below the second altitude value and the reported radio measurement comprises a measurement performed on reference signals associated with one or both of the first and second cell carrier frequencies when the UE is determined to be at an altitude where the UE is allowed to perform the measurement on the reference signals of the first and second cell carrier frequencies. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising determining the association of the cell carrier frequency to the altitude based on one or more of:
 cell coverage;   beam characteristics;   frequency range or band; or   antenna characteristics.   
     
     
         9 . A user equipment (UE) for performing radio measurements in a communications system, the UE configured to:
 receive one or more parameters which indicates an association between an altitude and a cell carrier frequency, wherein the one or more parameters comprises information to enable the UE to determine whether it is allowed to perform a measurement on a reference signal associated with the cell based on the altitude of the UE; and   report a radio measurement performed on the reference signal when the UE is determined to be at an altitude where the UE is allowed to perform the measurement, further comprising reporting an information about the altitude or the altitude range of the UE at which the UE performed the radio measurement.   
     
     
         10 . The UE of  claim 9 , wherein the cell carrier frequency is a first cell carrier frequency and the one or more parameters comprise a first altitude range associated with the first cell carrier frequency and is indicated by a first altitude value and a first threshold parameter, wherein the first threshold parameter indicates whether the first altitude range is above or below the first altitude value; and a second altitude range associated with a second cell carrier frequency which is indicated by a second altitude value and a second threshold parameter, wherein the second threshold parameter indicates whether the second altitude range is above or below the second altitude value and the reported radio measurement comprises a measurement performed on reference signals associated with one or both of the first and second cell carrier frequencies when the UE is determined to be at an altitude where the UE is allowed to perform the measurement on the reference signals of the first and second cell carrier frequencies. 
     
     
         11 . The UE of  claim 10 , wherein the second altitude range starts immediately after the end of the first altitude range and/or the first altitude range is entirely below the second altitude range. 
     
     
         12 . The UE of  claim 9 , wherein the UE is configured to receive a data service from the network node wherein the data service is based on the reported radio measurement and/or the reported information about the altitude or the altitude range of the UE. 
     
     
         13 . The UE of  claim 9 , wherein the UE is configured to perform a radio resource management or a mobility management operation based on the radio measurement and/or the altitude or the altitude range of the UE. 
     
     
         14 . A network node for managing radio measurements performed by a user equipment, UE, in a communications network, the network node is configured to:
 provide the UE with one or more parameters which indicates an association between an altitude and a cell carrier frequency, wherein the one or more parameters comprises information to enable the UE to determine whether it is allowed to perform a measurement on a reference signal associated with the cell based on the altitude of the UE; and   receive a measurement report comprising a radio measurement performed on the reference signal when the UE is determined to be at an altitude where it is allowed to perform the measurement, further receiving from the UE an information about the altitude or the altitude range of the UE at which the UE performed the at least one radio measurement.   
     
     
         15 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the cell carrier frequency is a first cell carrier frequency and the one or more parameters comprise a first altitude range associated with the first cell carrier frequency and is indicated by a first altitude value and a first threshold parameter, wherein the first threshold parameter indicates whether the first altitude range is above or below the first altitude value and a second altitude range associated with a second cell carrier frequency is indicated by a second altitude value and a second threshold parameter, wherein the second threshold parameter indicates whether the second altitude range is above or below the second altitude value and the reported radio measurement comprises a measurement performed on reference signals associated with one or both of the first and second cell carrier frequencies when the UE is determined to be at an altitude where the UE is allowed to perform the measurement on the reference signals of the first and second cell carrier frequencies. 
     
     
         16 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the network node is configured to determine the association of the cell carrier frequency to the altitude based on one or more of:
 cell coverage;   beam characteristics;   frequency range or band; or   antenna characteristics.