MEASUREMENT CONFIGURATION FOR ACTIVE TRP MEASUREMENT SETS

There is provided mechanisms for configuring a user equipment with measurement configuration of active TRP measurement sets. A method is performed by a network node. The method includes providing the measurement configuration to the user equipment relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The method includes receiving measurement reporting from the user equipment for at least one TRP included in the first active TRP measurement set and for at least one TRP included in the second active TRP measurement set.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments presented herein relate to a method, a network node, a computer program, and a computer program product for configuring a user equipment with measurement configuration for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active sets of transmission and reception points. Embodiments presented herein further relate to a method, a user equipment, a computer program, and a computer program product for the user equipment to be configured by the network node with the measurement configuration for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active sets of transmission and reception points.

BACKGROUND

In communication networks, there may be a challenge to obtain good performance and capacity for a given communications protocol, its parameters and the physical environment in which the communication network is deployed.

Some wireless communication networks are evolving to support multi-Transmission and Reception Point (mTRP) connectivity for served user equipment. The traditional concept of a cell being associated with a single TRP is therefore becoming more of a logical concept with a cell having the possibility of being associated with multiple TRPs. A cell can constitute of time, frequency, or code, resources from one or more TRPs per user equipment connection, where the TRPs typically are spatially separated on different geographical antenna positions.

One task of mobility techniques is for the network to always use the most relevant resources in downlink (DL) and in uplink (UL) and thus be able to change resources and TRPs used for each user equipment connection as fast as possible. In order to facilitate this, the user equipment are configured by the network with measurement configuration. Further, a minimum of signaling between the network and user equipment should be used to allow the network to configure the user equipment with the most relevant resources and TRPs.

However, there could be scenarios where current mobility techniques do not enable the best TRPs to be selected.

Hence, there is a need for techniques enabling improved selection of TRPs, especially in mTRP scenarios.

SUMMARY

An object of embodiments herein is to provide techniques that address the above issues and that support network selection of TRPs to use for realizing a connection for a user equipment according to different performance metrics.

According to a first aspect there is presented a method for configuring a user equipment with measurement configuration of active TRP measurement sets. The method is performed by a network node. The method comprises providing the measurement configuration to the user equipment relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The method comprises receiving measurement reporting from the user equipment for at least one TRP included in the first active TRP measurement set and for at least one TRP included in the second active TRP measurement set.

According to a second aspect there is presented a network node for configuring a user equipment with measurement configuration of active TRP measurement sets. The network node comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network node to provide the measurement configuration to the user equipment relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network node to receive measurement reporting from the user equipment for at least one TRP included in the first active TRP measurement set and for at least one TRP included in the second active TRP measurement set.

According to a third aspect there is presented a network node for configuring a user equipment with measurement configuration of active TRP measurement sets. The network node comprises a provide module configured to provide the measurement configuration to the user equipment relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The network node comprises a receive module configured to receive measurement reporting from the user equipment for at least one TRP included in the first active TRP measurement set and for at least one TRP included in the second active TRP measurement set.

According to a fourth aspect there is presented a computer program for configuring a user equipment with measurement configuration for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on processing circuitry of a network node, causes the network node to perform a method according to the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect there is presented a method for is configured by a network node with measurement configuration of active TRP measurement sets. The method is performed by a user equipment. The method comprises obtaining the measurement configuration from the network node relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The method comprises evaluating performance for the first active TRP measurement set and performance for the second active TRP measurement set. The method comprises providing measurement reporting towards the network node of the performance for at least one TRP included in the first active TRP measurement set and the performance for at least one TRP included in the second active TRP measurement set.

According to a sixth aspect there is presented a user equipment for is configured by a network node with measurement configuration for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The user equipment comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the user equipment to obtain the measurement configuration from the network node relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the user equipment to evaluate performance for the first active TRP measurement set and performance for the second active TRP measurement set. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the user equipment to provide measurement reporting towards the network node of the performance for at least one TRP included in the first active TRP measurement set and the performance for at least one TRP included in the second active TRP measurement set.

According to a seventh aspect there is presented a user equipment for is configured by a network node with measurement configuration for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The user equipment comprises an obtain module configured to obtain the measurement configuration from the network node relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets. The user equipment comprises an evaluate module configured to evaluate performance for the first active TRP measurement set and performance for the second active TRP measurement set. The user equipment comprises a provide module configured to provide measurement reporting towards the network node of the performance for at least one TRP included in the first active TRP measurement set and the performance for at least one TRP included in the second active TRP measurement set.

According to an eighth aspect there is presented a computer program for a user equipment to be configured by a network node with measurement configuration for the user equipment to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on processing circuitry of the user equipment, causes the user equipment to perform a method according to the fifth aspect.

According to a ninth aspect there is presented a computer program product comprising a computer program according to at least one of the fourth aspect and the eighth aspect and a computer readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored. The computer readable storage medium could be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

Advantageously, these aspects enable network selection of different active TRP resource usage sets according to different performance metrics.

Advantageously, these aspects enable the network node to select and use best possible TRPs for UL, separate from TRPs used for DL.

Advantageously, these aspects enable different performance metrics to be used for evaluating the different active TRP measurement sets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1is a schematic diagram illustrating an example wireless communication network100where embodiments presented herein can be applied. The wireless communication network100could be a third generation (3G) telecommunications network, a fourth generation (4G) telecommunications network, a fifth generation (5G) telecommunications network, or any evolvement thereof, and support any 3GPP telecommunications standard, where applicable. The wireless communication network100could alternatively be a non-cellular and/or a non-3GPP network, such as an IEEE 802.11 communications network, or any other wireless IEEE compliant communications network. The communication wireless network100comprises a network node200provided in a (radio) access network110. The network node200is configured to, via TRPs140a,140b,provide network access to user equipment300over wireless links150a,150b.As the skilled person understands, the network node200might be operatively connected to a plurality of TRPs140a,140b.The (radio) access network110is operatively connected to a core network120. The core network120is in turn operatively connected to a service network130, such as the Internet. The user equipment300is thereby enabled to, via the network node200and its TRP140a,140b,access services of, and exchange data with, the service network130. Examples of network nodes200are radio access network nodes, radio base stations, base transceiver stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs, gNBs, access points, and integrated access and backhaul nodes. Examples of user equipment300are wireless devices, mobile stations, mobile phones, handsets, wireless local loop phones, smartphones, laptop computers, tablet computers, network equipped sensors, network equipped vehicles, and so-called Internet of Things devices.

As disclosed above, there is a need for techniques enabling improved support for network selection of TRPs. In more detail, in mTRP scenarios it might be beneficial if TRPs used for DL transmission can be selected independent of TRPs used for UL transmissions. Further, UL measurements performed by the network node200for each user equipment300can be rather resource costly. Current schemes therefore result in unwanted limitations for selecting best TRPs, especially in heterogeneous networks where there is a mix of TRPs configured for high DL transmission power and TRPs configured for low DL transmission power. The TRPs that are best for UL transmission might then differ from the TRPs that are best for DL transmission since the interference situation for the user equipment is different in UL and DL, and the available user equipment power for UL transmission is typically lower than the available TRP power for DL transmissions per user equipment. This also implies that the performance metric used for selecting which TRP to be used for DL transmission might not be the best performance metric when selecting which TRP to be used for UL transmission.

The embodiments disclosed herein therefore relate to mechanisms for configuring a user equipment300with measurement configuration and for a user equipment300to be configured by a network node200with measurement configuration. In order to obtain such mechanisms there is provided a network node200, a method performed by the network node200, a computer program product comprising code, for example in the form of a computer program, that when run on processing circuitry of the network node200, causes the network node200to perform the method. In order to obtain such mechanisms there is further provided a user equipment300, a method performed by the user equipment300, and a computer program product comprising code, for example in the form of a computer program, that when run on processing circuitry of the user equipment300, causes the user equipment300to perform the method.

Reference is now made toFIG.2illustrating a method for configuring a user equipment300with measurement configuration for the user equipment300to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets140a,140bas performed by the network node200according to an embodiment.

The network node200provides measurement configuration to the user equipment300as in step S102:

S102: The network node200provides the measurement configuration to the user equipment300relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment300to at the same time support at least two active measurement TRP measurement sets.

In general terms, active TRP measurement sets (or active sets of TRPs to use for measurements) are defined for the user equipment300to report the performance of the TRPs in the active TRP measurement sets. Thus, the user equipment300then evaluates performance for the first active TRP measurement set and performance for the second active TRP measurement set and then provides measurement reporting towards the network node200of the performance. Hence, the network node200is configured to perform step S104:

S104: The network node200receives measurement reporting from the user equipment300for at least one TRP140a,140bincluded in the first active TRP measurement set and for at least one TRP140a,140bincluded in the second active TRP measurement set.

The network node200can from the measurement reporting determine which (one or more) TRPs shall be selected and used when configuring and scheduling the user equipment300for actual (data) communication.

The active TRP measurement sets thus identify those TRPs that the user equipment300is to evaluate the performance of and provide measurement reporting of to the network node200. The network node200might then, as a function of the received measurement reporting, select which TRP (or TRPs) that is (or are) to be used for actual (data) communication (in contrast to being used for pure measurement purposes) with the user equipment300in uplink and/or in downlink.

This method allows the user equipment300(as well as the network node200itself) to maintain at least two configured active TRP measurement sets for the user equipment300to measure, evaluate, and report to the network node200. As will be disclosed in more detail below, this can be used to support the network node200to update the members in each active TRP measurement set.

Hence, a distinction is herein made between active TRP sets used for measurements and active TRP sets used for actual communication. The former is herein referred to as active TRP measurement sets. This distinction is made since there is a difference between the user equipment300on the one hand providing measurement reporting according to configuration by the network node200, and the network node200on the other hand selecting (and configuring the user equipment300with) the actual TRP resources to be use by the user equipment300for actual communication.

Embodiments relating to further details of configuring a user equipment300with measurement configuration for the user equipment300to at the same time support at least two active TRP measurement sets140a,140bas performed by the network node200will now be disclosed.

Further aspects of the measurement configuration will be disclosed next.

In some aspects, evaluation of the active TRP measurement sets is based on different measured quantities metrics. Hence, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300might further be configured by the network node200to evaluate performance of the first active TRP measurement set and of the second active TRP measurement set according to mutually different measurement quantities.

In other aspects, the evaluation of the active TRP measurement sets is based on the same measured quantities, or metrics, but using a compensation with different offset factors. Hence, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300might further be configured by the network node200to evaluate performance of the first active TRP measurement set and of the second active TRP measurement set according to identical measurement quantities but with an offset between uplink performance and downlink performance.

There might be different ways in which the performance of the active TRP measurement sets is measured. In some aspects the performance pertains to resource usage. That is, in some embodiments, the performance pertains to usage of time/frequency resources for communicating with the network node200via at least one of the TRPs140a,140b.

In some aspects, the first active TRP measurement set is for DL and the second active TRP measurement set is for UL. That is, in some embodiments, the first active TRP measurement set is for the user equipment300to evaluate downlink performance and the second active TRP measurement set is for the user equipment300to evaluate uplink performance. Hence, one active TRP measurement set can be defined for DL and another active TRP measurement set can be defined for UL. When these TRP measurement sets have been defined, the performance of each of these TRP measurement set will be reported by the user equipment300when actions, as taken by the network node200, are needed, for examples for the network node200to determine which of these TRPs to be scheduled in DL and UL, respectively, for communication with the user equipment300. DL scheduling decisions can be based on the reporting of the quality of the DL reference signals of the active TRP measurement set defined for DL. UL scheduling decisions can be based on the reportings of the quality of the DL reference signals of the active TRP measurement set defined for UL.

Aspects of how the user equipment300might be configured by the network node200to evaluate the performance of the active TRP measurement sets will be disclosed next.

In some aspects, the UL performance is to be evaluated using a path metric, such as path gain or pathloss. That is, in some embodiments, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300further is configured by the network node200to evaluate the uplink performance according to a path metric, such as path gain or pathloss. In this respect, the path gain and the pathloss can be expressed as follows:

Path gain=UE received DL reference signal power−NW transmitted DL reference signal power [dB]

Pathloss=NW transmitted DL reference signal power−UE received DL reference signal power [dB]

In this respect, the parameter “UE received DL reference signal power” is the reference signal power as received by the user equipment300from the network node200via one of the TRPs. The parameter “NW transmitted DL reference signal power” is the reference signal power as transmitted by the network node200via one of the TRPs. Information about the NW transmitted DL reference signal power per TRP might be provided to the user equipment300from the network node200.

In some aspects, the DL performance is to be evaluated using a received signal metric, such as reference signal received power or received signal quality. That is, in some embodiments, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300further is configured by the network node200to evaluate the downlink performance according to a power metric, such as reference signal received power.

Hence, in some examples, one active TRP measurement set can be used and evaluated for best UL performance, based on a path metric, whereas another active TRP measurement set is used and evaluated for best DL performance e.g., based on received DL reference signal power.

There could be different criteria for when the user equipment300is to provide the measurement reporting to the network node200. In particular, in some embodiments, the user equipment300further is configured by the network node200to only provide the measurement reporting when the first active TRP measurement set fulfils a first measurement report triggering condition and/or the second active TRP measurement set fulfils a second configured measurement report triggering condition. The first measurement report triggering condition and the second measurement report triggering condition are selected from a set of events. Non-limiting examples of such events are:Event 1: A detected TRP enters Reporting Range,Event 2: An active TRP leaves Reporting Range,Event 3: A detected TRP leaves Reporting Range,Event 4: A detected TRP becomes better than an active TRP,Event 5: Change of best active TRP,Event 7: An active TRP becomes worse than an absolute threshold,Event 8: An active TRP becomes better than an absolute threshold,Event 9: Change of best TRP (active or detected),Event 10: A TRP becomes worse than an absolute threshold, andEvent 11: A TRP becomes better than an absolute threshold.

These are all just some examples of events.

In some examples, according to the measurement configuration, the event of the first measurement report triggering condition is different from the event of the second measurement report triggering condition.

In some aspects, the user equipment300is configured to maintain active TRP measurement sets that are based on different metrics, different frequency bands, or different event criteria, where one active TRP measurement set is actually used by the user equipment300for communication with the network node200whereas other active TRP measurement sets are candidates to be used by the user equipment300for communication with the network node200(and hence used for measurement purposes only). In particular, in some embodiments, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300is allowed to maintain at least two different TRP measurement sets for evaluating downlink performance. The downlink performance for the at least two different TRP sets is to be evaluated according to any of: mutually different measurement quantities, mutually different frequency bands, mutually different downlink triggering conditions.

The measurement configuration provided by the network node200to the user equipment300in step S104is maintained by the ser equipment300. In some aspects, the network node200might provide updates to the measurement configuration. Hence, in some embodiments, the network node200is configured to perform (optional) steps S106and S108:

S106: The network node200updates which at least one TRP140a,140bto be included in the first active TRP measurement set and which at least one TRP140a,140bto be included in the second active TRP measurement set.

S108: The network node200signals updating information to the user equipment300identifying which at least one TRP140a,140bto be included in the first active TRP measurement set and which at least one TRP140a,140bto be included in the second active TRP measurement set.

The user equipment300might then evaluate the performance of the fist active TRP measurement set and the second active TRP measurement set as updated and the network node200might again receive measurement reportings by again entering step S104, as illustrated inFIG.2.

In this respect, the network node200might update the first active TRP measurement set and/or the second active TRP measurement set. When both the first active TRP measurement set and the second active TRP measurement set are to be updated, the network node200might either provide the update for both the first active TRP measurement set and the second active TRP measurement set in one and the same message, or provide the respective updates in separate messages; one message for the first active TRP measurement set and another message for the second active TRP measurement set.

The network node200might select to use resources from all or a subset of the TRPs based on the received active TRP measurement set information and configure the user equipment300with the selection of TRPs to be used. In downlink it might be so that the user equipment300should, according to network configuration, be prepared and implicit use the reported active TRP measurements set also for active TRP resource usage. In UL it might be so that the user equipment300should, according to network configuration, be prepared and implicit use one or several of the reported active TRP measurements set also for active TRP resource usage set.

The network node200might add, release, or replace TRPs140a,140bfor serving the user equipment300based on the measurement reporting in step S104. That is, in some embodiments, the updating at least partly is based on the measurement reporting received from the user equipment300. Further, the updating of the active TRP measurement sets might be based on different measured quantities and event criteria for the different active TRP measurement sets.

Reference is now made toFIG.3illustrating a method for a user equipment300to be configured by a network node200with measurement configuration for the user equipment300to at the same time support at least two active measurement TRP measurement sets140a,140bas performed by the user equipment300according to an embodiment. The network node200provides measurement configuration to the user equipment300as in step S102. It is assumed that the user equipment300receives this measurement configuration. Hence, the user equipment300is configured to perform step S202:

S202: The user equipment300obtains the measurement configuration from the network node200relating to at least a first active TRP measurement set and a second active TRP measurement set for the user equipment300to at the same time support at least two active measurement TRP measurement sets140a,140b.

The user equipment300then evaluates performance for the first active TRP measurement set and performance for the second active TRP measurement set and then provides measurement reporting towards the network node200of the performance. That is, the user equipment300is configured to perform steps S204and S208: S204: The user equipment300evaluates performance for the first active TRP measurement set and performance for the second active TRP measurement set.

S208: The user equipment300provides measurement reporting towards the network node200of the performance for at least one TRP140a,140bincluded in the first active TRP measurement set and the performance for at least one TRP140a,140bincluded in the second active TRP measurement set.

As disclosed above, the active TRP measurement sets identify those TRPs that the user equipment300is to evaluate the performance of and provide measurement reporting of to the network node200.

Embodiments relating to further details of a user equipment300to be configured by a network node200with measurement configuration for the user equipment300to at the same time support at least two active measurement TRP measurement sets140a,140bas performed by the user equipment300will now be disclosed.

Further aspects of the measurement configuration will be disclosed next.

As disclosed above, in some aspects, the evaluation of the active TRP measurement sets is based on different measured quantities metrics. Hence, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300might further be configured by the network node200to evaluate the performance of the first active TRP measurement set and of the second active TRP measurement set according to mutually different measurement quantities.

As further disclosed above, in other aspects, the evaluation of the active TRP measurement sets is based on the same measured quantities, or metrics, but using a compensation with different offset factors. Hence, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300might further be configured by the network node200to evaluate the performance of the first active TRP measurement set and of the second active TRP measurement set according to identical measurement quantities but with an offset between uplink performance and downlink performance.

As disclosed above, there might be different ways in which the performance of the active TRP measurement sets is measured. As further disclosed above, in some aspects the performance pertains to resource usage. That is, in some embodiments, the performance pertains to usage of time/frequency resources for communicating with the network node200via at least one of the TRPs140a,140b.

As disclosed above, in some aspects, the first active TRP measurement set is for DL and the second active TRP measurement set is for UL. That is, in some embodiments, the first active TRP measurement set is for evaluating downlink performance and the second active TRP measurement set is for evaluating uplink performance.

Aspects of how the user equipment300might be configured by the network node200to evaluate the performance of the active TRP measurement sets will be disclosed next.

As disclosed above, in some aspects, the UL performance is to be evaluated using a path metric, such as path gain or pathloss. That is, in some embodiments, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300further is configured by the network node200to evaluate the uplink performance according to a path metric, such as path gain or pathloss.

As disclosed above, in some aspects, the DL performance is to be evaluated using a received signal metric, such as reference signal received power or received signal quality. That is, in some embodiments, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300further is configured by the network node200to evaluate the downlink performance according to a power metric, such as reference signal received power.

In some aspects, the user equipment300in step S208only provides the measurement reporting towards the network node200when some measurement report triggering condition is fulfilled. That is, in some embodiments, the user equipment300is configured to perform (optional) step S206:

S206: The user equipment300verifies that the first active TRP measurement set fulfils a first measurement report triggering condition and/or the second active TRP measurement set fulfils a second measurement report triggering condition before providing the measurement reporting.

The first measurement report triggering condition and the second measurement report triggering condition are selected from a set of events. As disclosed above, there could be different criteria for when the user equipment300is to provide the measurement reporting to the network node200. Hence, according to the measurement configuration, the event of the first measurement report triggering condition might be different from the event of the second measurement report triggering condition.

As disclosed above, in some aspects, the user equipment300is configured to maintain active TRP measurement sets that are based on different metrics, different frequency bands, or different event criteria. In particular, in some embodiments, according to the measurement configuration, the user equipment300is allowed to maintain at least two different TRP measurement sets for evaluating downlink performance. The downlink performance for the at least two different TRP measurement sets is to be evaluated according to any of: mutually different measurement quantities, mutually different frequency bands, mutually different downlink triggering conditions.

As disclosed above, in some aspects, the network node200might provide updates to the measurement configuration. Hence, in some embodiments, the user equipment300is configured to perform (optional) step S210:

S210: The user equipment300obtains updating information from the network node200identifying which at least one TRP140a,140bto be included in the first active

TRP measurement set and which at least one TRP140a,140bto be included in the second active TRP measurement set.

The user equipment300might then evaluate the performance of the fist active TRP measurement set and the second active TRP measurement set as updated by again entering step S204, as illustrated inFIG.3

Reference will next be made toFIGS.4,5,6, and7for illustrating a first example of how active TRP measurement sets as maintained for a user equipment300can change over time.FIGS.4,5,6, and7all illustrate a communication network400,500,600,700for one and the same network topology but where the user equipment300from figure to figure traverses the communication network by moving from one location to the next. Therefore, also the active TRP measurement sets for the user equipment300change from figure to figure. In this illustrative example, the user equipment300maintains a first active TRP measurement set for DL and a second active TRP measurement set for UL. Directional arrows from one or more TRP towards the user equipment300show DL connections. Directional arrows from the user equipment300towards one or more TRP show UL connections. According to the network topology, the communication network400,500,600,700comprises four (high-power) macro TRPs denoted TRP1, TRP2, TRP3, and TRP4, as well as seven (low-power) micro TRPs denoted TRP1.1, TRP1.2, TRP2.1, TRP2.2, TRP3.1, TRP4.1, and TRP4.2. The communication network400,500,600,700is sectorized according to the macro TRPs and hence the used notation for the micro TRPs.FIG.4illustrates the situation at time t1. The first active TRP measurement set consists of TRP1.1. The second active TRP measurement set consists of TRP1.1.FIG.5illustrates the situation at time t2>t1. The first active TRP measurement set consists of TRP1. The second active TRP measurement set consists of TRP1, TRP1.2, and TRP2.1.FIG.6illustrates the situation at time t3>t2. The first active TRP measurement set consists of TRP1, TRP2, and TRP3. The second active TRP measurement set consists of TRP1.2, and TRP2.1.FIG.7illustrates the situation at time t4>13. The first active TRP measurement set consists of TRP2. The second active TRP measurement set consists of TRP2.

Reference will next be made toFIG.8for illustrating a second example of how active TRP measurement sets as maintained for a user equipment300can change over time. InFIG.8the performance in terms of path gain in dB is plotted against time. Along the time axis is further denoted which TRP, or TRPs, are members of the active TRP measurement set. Although the performance metric being the path gain indicates that the example relates to an active TRP measurement set for evaluating UL performance, the same results can be found also when evaluating DL performance, but with a different performance metric. In the illustrated example it is for illustrative purposes assumed that there are three TRPs and that any of these TRPs either in isolation or in combination with one or two other TRPs is a member of the active TRP measurement set. At the outset, the performance metric is highest for TRP1and lowest for TRP3. Further, neither TRP2nor TRP3has a performance metric that qualifies these two TRPs to be part of the active TRP measurement set. Hence, at the outset, the active TRP measurement set consists of TRP1. A reporting range is also shown. The reporting range has a fixed offset with respect to the currently best performance metric. Any TRP having a performance metric within the reporting metric is to be reported by the user equipment300to the network node200. Further, the performance metric needs to be better than an entering threshold value (defined as reporting range-hysteresis) during the duration of a timer to be reported. Further, for a TRP to leave the active TRP measurement set the performance metric needs to be lower than a leaving threshold value (defined as reporting range+hysteresis) during the duration of a timer. As can be seen in the figure, the performance metric for TRP1reaches a peak and the declines whereas the performance metric for TRP2increases and eventually is better than the entering threshold value longer than the timer duration. This causes TRP2to also be included in the active TRP measurement set. Further, the performance metric for TRP2even becomes better than the performance metric for TRP1. Eventually, also the performance metric for TRP3is better than the entering threshold value longer than the timer duration. This causes TRP3to also be included in the active TRP measurement set. Eventually, the performance metric for TRP1becomes so low that it will be lower than the leaving threshold value longer than timer duration. This will cause TRP1to be excluded from the active TRP measurement set.

The storage medium230may also comprise persistent storage, which, for example, can be any single one or combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid state memory or even remotely mounted memory.

The network node200may further comprise a communications interface220for communications with other entities, functions, nodes, and devices. As such the communications interface220may comprise one or more transmitters and receivers, comprising analogue and digital components.

The processing circuitry210controls the general operation of the network node200e.g. by sending data and control signals to the communications interface220and the storage medium230, by receiving data and reports from the communications interface220, and by retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium230. Other components, as well as the related functionality, of the network node200are omitted in order not to obscure the concepts presented herein.

FIG.10schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional modules, the components of a network node200according to an embodiment. The network node200ofFIG.10comprises a number of functional modules; a provide module210aconfigured to perform step S102, and a receive module210bconfigured to perform step S104. The network node200ofFIG.10may further comprise a number of optional functional modules, such as any of an update module210cconfigured to perform step S106, and a signal module210dconfigured to perform step S108. In general terms, each functional module210a:210dmay be implemented in hardware or in software. Preferably, one or more or all functional modules210a:210dmay be implemented by the processing circuitry210, possibly in cooperation with the communications interface220and/or the storage medium230. The processing circuitry210may thus be arranged to from the storage medium230fetch instructions as provided by a functional module210a:210dand to execute these instructions, thereby performing any steps of the network node200as disclosed herein.

The network node200may be provided as a standalone device or as a part of at least one further device. For example, the network node200may be provided in a node of the radio access network or in a node of the core network. Alternatively, functionality of the network node200may be distributed between at least two devices, or nodes. These at least two nodes, or devices, may either be part of the same network part (such as the radio access network or the core network) or may be spread between at least two such network parts. In general terms, instructions that are required to be performed in real time may be performed in a device, or node, operatively closer to the cell than instructions that are not required to be performed in real time. Thus, a first portion of the instructions performed by the network node200may be executed in a first device, and a second portion of the instructions performed by the network node200may be executed in a second device; the herein disclosed embodiments are not limited to any particular number of devices on which the instructions performed by the network node200may be executed. Hence, the methods according to the herein disclosed embodiments are suitable to be performed by a network node200residing in a cloud computational environment. Therefore, although a single processing circuitry210is illustrated inFIG.9the processing circuitry210may be distributed among a plurality of devices, or nodes. The same applies to the functional modules210a:210dofFIG.10and the computer program1320aofFIG.13.

FIG.11schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional units, the components of a user equipment300according to an embodiment. Processing circuitry310is provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit (CPU), multiprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product1310b(as inFIG.13), e.g. in the form of a storage medium330. The processing circuitry310may further be provided as at least one application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or field programmable gate array (FPGA).

Particularly, the processing circuitry310is configured to cause the user equipment300to perform a set of operations, or steps, as disclosed above. For example, the storage medium330may store the set of operations, and the processing circuitry310may be configured to retrieve the set of operations from the storage medium330to cause the user equipment300to perform the set of operations. The set of operations may be provided as a set of executable instructions. Thus the processing circuitry310is thereby arranged to execute methods as herein disclosed.

The user equipment300may further comprise a communications interface320for communications with other entities, functions, nodes, and devices. As such the communications interface320may comprise one or more transmitters and receivers, comprising analogue and digital components.

The processing circuitry310controls the general operation of the user equipment300e.g. by sending data and control signals to the communications interface320and the storage medium330, by receiving data and reports from the communications interface320, and by retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium330. Other components, as well as the related functionality, of the user equipment300are omitted in order not to obscure the concepts presented herein.

FIG.12schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional modules, the components of a user equipment300according to an embodiment. The user equipment300ofFIG.12comprises a number of functional modules; an obtain module310aconfigured to perform step S202, an evaluate module310bconfigured to perform step S204, and a provide module310dconfigured to perform step S108. The user equipment300ofFIG.12may further comprise a number of optional functional modules, such as any of a verify module310cconfigured to perform step S206, an obtain module310econfigured to perform step S210. In general terms, each functional module310a:310emay be implemented in hardware or in software. Preferably, one or more or all functional modules310a:310emay be implemented by the processing circuitry310, possibly in cooperation with the communications interface320and/or the storage medium330. The processing circuitry310may thus be arranged to from the storage medium330fetch instructions as provided by a functional module310a:310eand to execute these instructions, thereby performing any steps of the user equipment300as disclosed herein.

FIG.13shows one example of a computer program product1310a,1310bcomprising computer readable means1330. On this computer readable means1330, a computer program1320acan be stored, which computer program1320acan cause the processing circuitry210and thereto operatively coupled entities and devices, such as the communications interface220and the storage medium230, to execute methods according to embodiments described herein. The computer program1320aand/or computer program product1310amay thus provide means for performing any steps of the network node200as herein disclosed. On this computer readable means1330, a computer program1320bcan be stored, which computer program1320bcan cause the processing circuitry310and thereto operatively coupled entities and devices, such as the communications interface320and the storage medium330, to execute methods according to embodiments described herein. The computer program1320band/or computer program product1310bmay thus provide means for performing any steps of the user equipment300as herein disclosed.