Patent Description:
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed a new radio-access technology known as fifth generation (<NUM>) New Radio (NR). The <NUM> wireless technology is primarily designed to address a wide range of use cases categorized into the enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine-type communication (mMTC). Example applications may include industrial wireless sensor networks, video surveillance, or wearables. For various applications, user equipments (UEs) for a <NUM> wireless network can sometimes have reduced capability (RedCap) with lower cost and complexity, smaller form factor, and longer battery life.

The following document is relevant: <CIT> which discusses a cell reselection method, an apparatus and a system.

Some aspects of this disclosure relate to apparatuses and methods for implementing mobility support for user equipments (UEs) with varying capabilities operating in a wireless network. One UE can have a UE capability different from another UE, e.g., reduced capability (RedCap) such as lower cost and complexity, smaller form factor, and longer battery life. UE mobility can refer to the event that a UE can move or handover from communicating with a serving base station to a neighbor base station. A UE can be in different states, e.g., an idle state, an inactive state, or a connected state. Various operations may be performed to support UE mobility for UEs with varying capabilities in different states.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the disclosure and enable a person of skill in the relevant art(s) to make and use the disclosure.

The present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, generally, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

The embodiments related to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are within the scope of the claims.

In a wireless system, e.g., the fifth generation (<NUM>) New Radio (NR) technology, a user equipment (UE) can have reduced capability (RedCap) compared to a regular UE, which results in lower cost and complexity, smaller form factor, and longer battery life for the RedCap UE. Many applications, such as industrial wireless sensor networks, video surveillance, wearables, or more, may benefit from RedCap UEs. A UE capability may be specified in various ways, including: a number of antenna ports of the UE, a data rate that can be associated with the UE, a latency requirement of the UE, or other performance capabilities.

A base station can support various types of UEs, including regular UEs and RedCap UEs. A base station can specify the types of UEs it supports by a UE capability condition, which can be specified in various ways. For example, a base station can specify a UE capability condition by listing a set of UE capabilities that are not allowed to access the base station, which may be called access restrictions. Alternatively, a base station can specify a UE capability condition by listing a set of UE capabilities that are allowed to access the base station. For example, a UE capability condition can specify the base station supports UEs with two receiver antenna ports, but does not support a UE with only one receiver antenna port. A base station can provide UE capability condition in the broadcast information, e.g., master information block (MIB), or system information block (SIB) <NUM>.

In some wireless systems, e.g., NR technology, a UE can be in various states or operational modes. For example, a UE can be in an idle state, an inactive state, or a connected state, where a state can be referred to as a mode as well. UE mobility or UE handover can be managed differently when the UE is in different states. A UE handover from the serving base station to a neighbor base station can also be referred to a re-selection of a base station.

When a UE is in a connected mode, the UE can perform measurements, and report the measurements on the measurement objects to the serving base station to make a decision for the handover. The UE can report the measurements in a periodic manner or when the UE is triggered by an event. For example, a UE can be triggered to report the measurements when the signal strength from a neighbor base station is better than the serving base station by a predetermined offset for a period of time.

When a UE is in an idle mode or an inactive mode, the UE may not have explicit knowledge of the serving base station to manage the handover or mobility of the UE. Since the UE is in an idle mode, there may not be an established connection between the UE and the serving base station. Instead, the UE may just be registered or camped with the serving base station. UE can still listen to information broadcast by the serving base station or neighbor base stations. Based on the broadcast information or signals, the UE can perform various measurements, but does not report any measurements. The UE can use the measurements to decide if it wants to re-select a neighbor cell over the serving cell. Once a UE decides to handover to the neighbor cell, the UE does not inform the neighbor cell about the re-selection. Rather, the UE just starts listening to the broadcast channels of the neighbor cell for paging, for broadcast reception etc., which indicates the UE has performed the handover in the idle state.

In some embodiments, the UE can periodically measure signals from the neighbor base station, which can be provided in the same frequency as the serving base station or in a different frequency. If the neighbor base station provides better signal strength that may satisfy a threshold condition between the measurements of signals from the serving base station and the measurements of signals from the neighbor base station, the UE can start to obtain the broadcast system information from the neighbor base station. The broadcast system information from the neighbor base station can contain the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station. After the UE obtains the broadcast system information from the neighbor base station, and determines that the UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station, the UE completes the handover to the neighbor base station, so that the neighbor base station is the serving cell after the handover.

However, if the UE capability does not meet the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station, it would be a waste of energy for the UE to perform the measurements of signals from the neighbor base station. Even if the neighbor base station has higher signal quality, the neighbor base station does not support the UE since the UE capability does not meet the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station.

In some embodiments, an improved mechanism can be provided. A system information from the serving base station can include a UE capability condition associated with a neighbor base station. The UE can determine whether a UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station. When the UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station, the UE can perform a measurement of a reference signal received from the neighbor base station. In this way, the UE may not perform the measurement of a reference signal received from the neighbor base station when the UE capability does not meet the UE capability condition to save energy. In addition, there may be a threshold condition with respect to relative signal strengths determined between a measurement of a reference signal received from the serving base station and the measurement of a reference signal received from the neighbor base station. If the threshold condition is satisfied, the UE can obtain a system information from the neighbor base station. The UE can obtain the broadcast system information by listening to the neighbor base station, read the broadcast system information, and/or decode the broadcast system information.

The system information from the serving base station can include corresponding UE capability conditions associated with one or more neighbor base stations. If the UE meets the UE capability conditions associated with one or more neighbor base stations, the UE can perform measurements of the corresponding references signals, and select a neighbor base station as a potential next serving base station, when the measurement of a reference signal from the selected neighbor base station satisfies a threshold condition. Afterwards, the UE can obtain the system information from the selected neighbor base station, indicating the UE has performed the handover to the selected neighbor base station at the idle state or inactive state.

<FIG> illustrates a wireless system <NUM> including a UE, e.g., UE <NUM>, configured to handover from communicating with a serving base station to a neighbor base station, according to some aspects of the disclosure. Wireless system <NUM> is provided for the purpose of illustration only and does not limit the disclosed aspects. Wireless system <NUM> can include, but is not limited to, UE <NUM>, a base station <NUM>, a base station <NUM>, and a base station <NUM>, all communicatively coupled to a core network <NUM>. UE <NUM> communicates with base station <NUM> over a carrier <NUM>, communicates with base station <NUM> over a carrier <NUM>, and communicates with base station <NUM> over a carrier <NUM>.

In some examples, wireless system <NUM> can be a NR system, a LTE system, a <NUM> system, or some other wireless system. There can be other network entities, e.g., network controller, a relay station, not shown. Wireless system <NUM> can support a wide range of use cases such as enhanced mobile broad band (eMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC), ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC), and enhanced vehicle to anything communications (eV2X). Wireless system <NUM> can also support industrial wireless sensor networks, video surveillance, or wearables, where UE <NUM> can be a RedCap UE with lower cost and complexity, smaller form factor, and longer battery life.

According to some aspects, base station <NUM>, base station <NUM>, and base station <NUM> can be a fixed station or a mobile station. Base station <NUM>, base station <NUM>, and base station <NUM> can also be called other names, such as a base transceiver system (BTS), an access point (AP), a transmission/reception point (TRP), an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation node B (gNB), a <NUM> node B (NB), or some other equivalent terminology. In some examples, base station <NUM>, base station <NUM>, and base station <NUM> can be interconnected to one another and/or to other base station or network nodes in a network through various types of backhaul interfaces such as a direct physical connection, a virtual network, and/or the like, not shown.

According to some aspects, UE <NUM> can be stationary or mobile. UE <NUM> can be a cellular phone (e.g., a smart phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop, a desktop, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop station, a wireless sensor, a tablet, a camera, a video surveillance camera, a gaming device, a netbook, an ultrabook, a medical device or equipment, a biometric sensor or device, a wearable device (smart watch, smart clothing, smart glasses, smart wrist band, smart jewelry such as smart ring or smart bracelet), an entertainment device (e.g., a music or video device, or a satellite radio), a vehicular component, a smart meter, an industrial manufacturing equipment, a global positioning system device, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device, a machine-type communication (MTC) device, an evolved or enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) device, or any other suitable device that is configured to communicate via a wireless medium. For example, a MTC and eMTC device can include, a robot, a drone, a location tag, and/or the like.

According to some aspects, base station <NUM>, base station <NUM>, and base station <NUM> can be communicatively coupled to core network <NUM>. Base station <NUM> can serve a cell <NUM>, base station <NUM> can serve a cell <NUM> contained within cell <NUM>, and base station <NUM> can serve a cell <NUM> that overlaps with cell <NUM> and cell <NUM>. In some other embodiments, cell <NUM> can overlap partially with cell <NUM>. Cell <NUM>, cell <NUM>, and cell <NUM> can be a macro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, and/or another type of cell. In comparison, a macro cell can cover a relatively large geographic area, e.g., several kilometers in radius, a femto cell can cover a relatively small geographic area, e.g., a home, while a pico cell covers an area smaller than the area covered by a macro cell but larger than the area covered by a femto cell. For example, cell <NUM> and cell <NUM> can be a macro cell, and cell <NUM> can be a pico cell or a femto cell. In addition, cell <NUM> and cell <NUM> can be a pico cell and cell <NUM> can be a femto cell. In some examples, the geographic area of a cell can move according to the location of a mobile base station.

According to some aspects, base station <NUM> can be the serving base station and cell <NUM> can be the serving cell or primary cell. Base station <NUM> and base station <NUM> can be neighbor base station to UE <NUM>. Cell <NUM> can be a secondary cell, or a primary secondary cell. There can be other secondary cells for UE <NUM>, not shown. Data for UE <NUM> can be simultaneously transferred between UE <NUM> and core network <NUM> by a radio connection between UE <NUM> and base station <NUM> at carrier <NUM>, a radio connection between UE <NUM> and base station <NUM> at carrier <NUM>, and a radio connection between UE <NUM> and base station <NUM> at carrier <NUM>. UE <NUM> can communicate with the serving base station, e.g., base station <NUM>, using a first frequency band, and communicate with a neighbor base station, e.g., base station <NUM> or base station <NUM> using a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.

According to some aspects, UE <NUM> can receive a first system information <NUM> from the serving base station, e.g., base station <NUM>. The first system information <NUM> can include a UE capability condition <NUM> associated with a neighbor base station, e.g., base station <NUM>. UE <NUM> is registered with base station <NUM> and can be in an idle state, the first system information <NUM> can be broadcast information received from base station <NUM>. The first system information <NUM> can include information carried by SIB <NUM> or SIB <NUM>. The first system information <NUM> can further include an indication on whether the neighbor base station, e.g., base station <NUM>, supports an extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) capability for the UE. Base station <NUM> can indicate to base station <NUM> UE capability condition <NUM> and its capability to support eDRX by communication through core network <NUM>.

UE <NUM> can include a UE capability <NUM>, and a UE state <NUM>. UE <NUM> can be in various state, an idle state, an inactive state, a connected state, or other states. In some examples, an idle state can be used an example for descriptions. Descriptions about an idle state can be equally applicable to other states, e.g., an inactive state. UE capability <NUM> can include various parameters describing the capability of UE <NUM>, e.g., a number of receive antenna ports or transmit antenna ports of UE <NUM>, a data rate that can be associated with UE <NUM>, a latency requirement of UE <NUM>, or a bandwidth used by UE <NUM>, or more. For example, the number of receive antenna ports and the number of transmit antenna ports of UE <NUM> may be the same, and simply referred to as a number of antenna ports of UE <NUM>. UE <NUM> can determine whether UE capability <NUM> meets UE capability condition <NUM> associated with the neighbor base station, e.g., base station <NUM>.

According to some aspects, UE <NUM> can perform a first measurement <NUM> of a first reference signal received from the serving base station, e.g., base station <NUM>. When UE <NUM> determines that UE capability <NUM> meets UE capability condition <NUM>, UE <NUM> can perform a second measurement <NUM> of a second reference signal received from the neighbor base station, e.g., base station <NUM>.

For network operations such as handover to a neighbor cell, it is desirable to measure cell quality, such as reference signal received power (RSRP) or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) for neighbor cells or cell quality of the serving cell. UE <NUM> can perform various measurements. With NR, the cell quality can be measured by using SS/PBCH blocks (SSB). These are composed of a synchronization signal (SS) and the physical broadcast Channel (PBC). According to some aspects, UE <NUM> can measure a reference signal. In some example, the reference signal can be a synchronizations block (SSB) including Synchronization Signal based Reference Signal Received Power (SS-RSRP), Synchronization Signal based Reference Signal Received Quality (SS-RSRQ), Synchronization Signal based Signal to Noise and Interference Ratio (SS-SINR), Synchronization Signal based Signal to Noise and Interference Ratio (SS-SINR), or Received (linear) average power of the resource elements that carry NR SSB signals and channels (SSB_RP).

However, in some examples, when UE capability <NUM> does not meet UE capability condition <NUM>, UE <NUM> does not perform the second measurement <NUM>. When UE capability <NUM> does not meet UE capability condition <NUM>, UE <NUM> cannot be handed over to the neighbor base station due to the limitations on the support of UE capability provided by the neighbor base station. Therefore, even if UE <NUM> performs the second measurement <NUM>, the data will not be useful.

According to some aspects, the first system information <NUM> can include a threshold condition <NUM> associated with the first measurement <NUM> and the second measurement <NUM>. In some examples, the threshold condition specifies an offset between the first measurement <NUM> and the second measurement <NUM>, where the offset can be specified as a difference between signal strengths of the first measurement <NUM> and the second measurement <NUM>, e.g. as measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm).

According to some aspects, when the first measurement and the second measurement meet the threshold condition <NUM>, UE <NUM> can obtain a second system information <NUM> from the neighbor base station, e.g., base station <NUM>. The second system information <NUM> can be a second broadcast information received from the neighbor base station. The second system information <NUM> can include information carried by Master Information Block (MIB) or SIB <NUM>, and can be used for paging, for broadcast reception etc.. By listening and obtaining the second system information <NUM>, UE <NUM> has performed the handover from serving base station to the neighbor base station in the idle state.

According to some aspects, there can be more than one neighbor base station besides base station <NUM> and base station <NUM>. The first system information <NUM> can further include a second UE capability condition associated with a second neighbor base station. When UE capability <NUM> meets the second UE capability condition associated with the second neighbor base station, UE <NUM> can perform a third measurement on a third reference signal from the second neighbor base station. Afterwards, UE <NUM> can select a next neighbor base station from the first neighbor base station and the second neighbor base station based on the first measurement, the second measurement, the third measurement, and the threshold condition, and obtain the second system information from the next neighbor base station. In some examples, UE <NUM> can select the first neighbor base station to be the next neighbor base station when the second measurement is stronger than the third measurement.

According to some aspects, UE <NUM> can have a UE state <NUM> to be a connected state. During the connected state, UE <NUM> and base station <NUM> can communicate and exchange data. UE <NUM> can provide an indication of the UE capability associated with the UE to the serving base station. The serving base station, e.g., base station <NUM>, can determine that UE capability <NUM> meets UE capability condition <NUM> associated with the neighbor base station, e.g., base station <NUM>. In addition, UE <NUM> can receive information about base station <NUM> from base station <NUM>, store the information about base station <NUM>, and later perform the second measurement <NUM> of the second reference signal from base station <NUM> when UE <NUM> transitioning to an idle state.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of UE <NUM>, having antenna panel <NUM> including one or more antenna elements, e.g., an antenna element <NUM> coupled to transceiver <NUM> and controlled by processor <NUM>. In detail, transceiver <NUM> can include radio frequency (RF) circuitry <NUM>, baseband transmission circuitry <NUM>, and baseband reception circuitry <NUM>. RF circuitry <NUM> can include multiple parallel RF chains for one or more of transmit or receive functions, each connected to one or more antenna elements of the antenna panel. In addition, processor <NUM> can be communicatively coupled to a memory device <NUM>, which are further coupled to the transceiver <NUM>.

In some examples, RF circuitry <NUM> is used by UE <NUM> to perform measurements of reference signals, and to transmit and receive data in the serving cell. Memory device <NUM> can store UE capability <NUM>, UE state <NUM>, the first measurement <NUM> and the second measurement <NUM>. Memory device <NUM> can include instructions, that when executed by the processor <NUM> perform the functions to implement a handover from a serving base station to a neighbor base station described herein. Alternatively, the processor <NUM> can be "hard-coded" to perform the functions described herein.

<FIG> illustrates an example method <NUM> performed by a UE to handover from a serving base station to a neighbor base station, according to some aspects of the disclosure. Method <NUM> can be performed by UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> receives a first system information from a serving base station, where the first system information includes a UE capability condition associated with a neighbor base station. For example, UE <NUM> can receive the first system information <NUM> from base station <NUM>, which is the serving base station. The first system information <NUM> includes UE capability condition <NUM> associated with a neighbor base station, e.g., base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> determines whether a UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station. For example, UE <NUM> can determine whether UE capability <NUM> meets UE capability condition <NUM> associated with base station <NUM>. The UE capability and the corresponding condition comprises a number of antenna ports of the UE, and can further comprise one or more of a data rate of the UE, or a latency requirement of the UE.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> performs a first measurement of a first reference signal received from the serving base station. For example, UE <NUM> can perform the first measurement <NUM> of a first reference signal received from base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> performs a second measurement of a second reference signal received from the neighbor base station responsive to the UE capability meeting the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station. For example, when UE capability <NUM> meets UE capability condition <NUM>, UE <NUM> can perform the second measurement <NUM> of a second reference signal received from base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> obtains a second system information from the neighbor base station responsive to the first measurement and the second measurement meeting a threshold. For example, when the first measurement <NUM> and the second measurement <NUM> satisfy threshold condition <NUM>, UE <NUM> can obtain the second system information <NUM> from base station <NUM>. In some examples, threshold condition <NUM> specifies an offset between the first measurement <NUM> and the second measurement <NUM>, where the offset can be specified as a difference between a signal strength of the first measurement <NUM> and the signal strength of the second measurement <NUM>, e.g. as measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm). When UE <NUM> is in an idle state and obtains the second system information <NUM>, UE has performed the handover from base station <NUM> to base station <NUM>. In an embodiment, the UE <NUM> does not inform the neighbor base station <NUM> about the re-selection.

<FIG> illustrates an example sequence diagram <NUM> illustrating operations performed by a UE <NUM>, a serving base station <NUM>, and one or more neighbor base stations, according to some aspects of the disclosure. Sequence diagram <NUM> is an example of method <NUM> shown in <FIG>. UE <NUM>, base station <NUM>, base station <NUM>, and base station <NUM> can form a wireless system <NUM>, where UE <NUM> is a RedCap UE with only one receiver antenna port. Wireless system <NUM> is similar to wireless system <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> can receive a first system information <NUM> from serving base station <NUM>. The first system information <NUM> includes a UE capability condition for base station <NUM> and a UE capability condition for base station <NUM>. The UE capability condition for base station <NUM> specifies that base station <NUM> can only support a UE with at least <NUM> receiver antenna ports, while the UE capability condition for base station <NUM> specifies that base station <NUM> can support a UE with any capability without any restriction, including supporting a UE with only one antenna port. The first system information <NUM> includes information carried by SIB <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> can determine whether a UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station. In detail, UE <NUM> can determine that UE <NUM> does not meet the UE capability condition for base station <NUM> because the UE capability condition for base station <NUM> requires at least <NUM> receiver antenna ports, while UE <NUM> has only one receiver antenna port. On the other hand, UE <NUM> can determine that UE <NUM> meets the UE capability condition for base station <NUM> because the UE capability condition for base station <NUM> does not have any restrictions and can support any RedCap UE.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> can perform a first measurement of a first reference signal received from the serving base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> can perform a second measurement of a second reference signal received from the neighbor base station <NUM> responsive to the UE capability of UE <NUM> meeting the UE capability condition associated with neighbor base station <NUM>. On the other hand, UE <NUM> does not perform a measurement of a reference signal received from the neighbor base station <NUM> because the UE capability of UE <NUM> does not meet the UE capability condition associated with neighbor base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> can determine whether the first measurement and the second measurement meet a threshold condition, where the threshold condition can be included in the first system information <NUM>. For example, the threshold condition may specify the second measurement of the reference signal from neighbor base station <NUM> to be stronger or have a higher signal quality than the first measurement of the reference signal from serving base station <NUM> by an offset. For example, the offset can be a difference in measured signal strengths indicated the first and second measurements.

At <NUM>, when the first measurement and the second measurement satisfy the threshold condition, UE <NUM> can obtain a second system information from the neighbor base station <NUM>. When UE <NUM> is in an idle state and obtains the second system information from the neighbor base station <NUM>, UE <NUM> has performed the handover from base station <NUM> to base station <NUM>. In an embodiment, the UE <NUM> does not inform the neighbor base station <NUM> about the re-selection.

At <NUM>, base station <NUM> may still broadcast system information to UE <NUM>, but UE <NUM> may not perform any operations on the broadcasted system information from base station <NUM> because UE <NUM> does not meet the UE capability condition for base station <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example sequence diagram <NUM> illustrating operations performed by UE <NUM>, base station <NUM> as a serving base station, and core network <NUM>. The operations in diagram <NUM> illustrate the registration of UE <NUM> having a UE capability, according to some aspects of the disclosure.

At <NUM>, base station <NUM> can broadcast the system information including a UE capability condition for base station <NUM>, and UE <NUM> can receive the system information including the UE capability condition. The UE capability condition can be an access restriction for the base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> can determine that the UE capability of UE <NUM> satisfies the UE capability condition of base station <NUM>, and meets the access criteria. Once the UE capability condition of base station <NUM> is satisfied, UE <NUM> can register with base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> and base station <NUM> can perform operations to establish a random access channel (RACH) between UE <NUM> and base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, base station <NUM> can retrieve from core network <NUM> any saved UE capability for UE <NUM>.

At <NUM>, base station <NUM> can determine that core network <NUM> does not have the UE capability saved for UE <NUM>.

At <NUM>, base station <NUM> can send an inquiry to UE <NUM> for its UE capability.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> can provide an indication of the UE capability associated with UE <NUM> to base station <NUM>.

At <NUM>, base station <NUM> can send the UE capability to core network <NUM> to store the UE capability information into core network <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> and base station <NUM> can perform operations to configure UE <NUM> based on the UE capability.

In addition, UE <NUM> can perform other operations. For example, UE <NUM> can receive, responsive to the UE being in a connected state, information about the neighbor base station from the serving base station, wherein the serving base station determines that the UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; store the information about the neighbor base station; and perform the second measurement of the second reference signal from the neighbor base station responsive to the UE transitioning to an idle state.

Various aspects can be implemented, for example, using one or more computer systems, such as computer system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Computer system <NUM> can be any computer capable of performing the functions described herein such as UE <NUM>, base station <NUM>, base station <NUM>, or base station <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Processor <NUM> is connected to a communication infrastructure <NUM> (e.g., a bus). Computer system <NUM> also includes a main or primary memory <NUM>, such as random access memory (RAM). Main memory <NUM> may include one or more levels of cache. Main memory <NUM> has stored therein control logic (e.g., computer software) and/or data.

According to some aspects, secondary memory <NUM> may include other means, instrumentalities or other approaches for allowing computer programs and/or other instructions and/or data to be accessed by computer system <NUM>. Such means, instrumentalities or other approaches may include, for example, a removable storage unit <NUM> and an interface <NUM>. Examples of the removable storage unit <NUM> and the interface <NUM> may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM or PROM) and associated socket, a memory stick and USB port, a memory card and associated memory card slot, and/or any other removable storage unit and associated interface.

In some examples, main memory <NUM>, the removable storage unit <NUM>, the removable storage unit <NUM> can store instructions that, when executed by processor <NUM>, cause processor <NUM> to perform operations for a UE or a base station, e.g., UE <NUM>, base station <NUM>, or base station <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In some examples, the operations include those operations illustrated and described in <FIG>.

Operations of the communication interface <NUM> can be performed by a wireless controller, and/or a cellular controller. The cellular controller can be a separate controller to manage communications according to a different wireless communication technology. The operations in the preceding aspects can be implemented in a wide variety of configurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of the operations in the preceding aspects may be performed in hardware, in software or both. In some aspects, a tangible, non-transitory apparatus or article of manufacture includes a tangible, non-transitory computer useable or readable medium having control logic (software) stored thereon is also referred to herein as a computer program product or program storage device. This includes, but is not limited to, computer system <NUM>, main memory <NUM>, secondary memory <NUM> and removable storage units <NUM> and <NUM>, as well as tangible articles of manufacture embodying any combination of the foregoing. Such control logic, when executed by one or more data processing devices (such as computer system <NUM>), causes such data processing devices to operate as described herein.

Based on the teachings contained in this disclosure, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) how to make and use aspects of the disclosure using data processing devices, computer systems and/or computer architectures other than that shown in <FIG>. In particular, aspects may operate with software, hardware, and/or operating system implementations other than those described herein.

The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more, but not all, exemplary aspects of the disclosure as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the disclosure or the appended claims in any way.

While the disclosure has been described herein with reference to exemplary aspects for exemplary fields and applications, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, and without limiting the generality of this paragraph, aspects are not limited to the software, hardware, firmware, and/or entities illustrated in the figures and/or described herein. Further, aspects (whether or not explicitly described herein) have significant utility to fields and applications beyond the examples described herein.

Aspects have been described herein with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. In addition, alternative aspects may perform functional blocks, steps, operations, methods, etc. using orderings different from those described herein.

References herein to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," or similar phrases, indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of persons skilled in the relevant art(s) to incorporate such feature, structure, or characteristic into other aspects whether or not explicitly mentioned or described herein.

The breadth and scope of the disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Further, such collection/sharing should only occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. For instance, in the US, collection of, or access to, certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a user equipment (UE), comprising: a transceiver configured to enable wireless communication with a serving base station and one or more neighbor base stations; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to: receive, using the transceiver, a first system information from the serving base station, wherein the first system information includes a UE capability condition associated with a neighbor base station of the one or more neighbor base stations; determine whether a UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; perform a first measurement of a first reference signal received from the serving base station; perform a second measurement of a second reference signal received from the neighbor base station responsive to the UE capability meeting the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; and obtain a second system information from the neighbor base station responsive to the first measurement and the second measurement meeting a threshold condition.

Preferably, wherein the neighbor base station is a first neighbor base station, the UE capability condition is a first UE capability condition, and the first system information further includes a second UE capability condition associated with a second neighbor base station, and wherein the UE capability does not meet the second UE capability condition.

Preferably, wherein the UE is registered with the serving base station and is in an idle state, the first system information is a first broadcast information received from the serving base station, and the second system information is a second broadcast information received from the neighbor base station.

Preferably, wherein the first system information includes information carried by System Information Block (SIB) <NUM> or SIB <NUM>, and the second system information includes information carried by Master Information Block (MIB) or SIB <NUM>.

Preferably, wherein the first system information includes the threshold condition, and the threshold condition specifies an offset between the first measurement and the second measurement.

Preferably, wherein the UE communicates with the serving base station using a first frequency band, and the UE communicates with the neighbor base station using a second frequency band.

Preferably, wherein the neighbor base station is a first neighbor base station, the UE capability condition is a first UE capability condition, and the first system information further includes a second UE capability condition associated with a second neighbor base station, and the processor is further configured to: perform a third measurement on a third reference signal from the second neighbor base station responsive to the UE capability meeting the second UE capability condition associated with the second neighbor base station; select a next neighbor base station from one of the first neighbor base station and the second neighbor base station based on the first measurement, the second measurement, the third measurement, and the threshold condition; and obtain the second system information from the next neighbor base station.

Preferably, wherein the processor is further configured to select the first neighbor base station to be the next neighbor base station responsive to the second measurement being stronger than the third measurement.

Wherein the UE capability comprises a number of receive antenna ports or transmit antenna ports of the UE, a data rate of the UE, or a latency requirement of the UE.

Preferably, wherein the processor is further configured to: provide an indication of the UE capability to the serving base station.

Preferably, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive, responsive to the UE being in a connected state, information about the neighbor base station from the serving base station, wherein the serving base station determines that the UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; store the information about the neighbor base station; and perform the second measurement of the second reference signal from the neighbor base station responsive to the UE transitioning to an idle state.

Preferably, wherein the first system information from the serving base station further includes an indication on whether the neighbor base station supports an extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) capability for the UE.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating of a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a serving base station, a first system information, wherein the first system information includes a UE capability condition associated with a neighbor base station of one or more neighbor base stations; determining whether a UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; performing a first measurement of a first reference signal received from the serving base station; performing a second measurement of a second reference signal received from the neighbor base station responsive to the UE capability meeting the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; and obtaining a second system information from the neighbor base station responsive to the first measurement and the second measurement meeting a threshold condition.

Preferably, wherein the neighbor base station is a first neighbor base station, the UE capability condition is a first UE capability condition, and the first system information further includes a second UE capability condition associated with a second neighbor base station, and the method further comprises: performing a third measurement on a third reference signal from the second neighbor base station responsive to the UE capability meeting the second UE capability condition associated with the second neighbor base station; selecting a next neighbor base station from one of the first neighbor base station and the second neighbor base station based on the first measurement, the second measurement, the third measurement, and the threshold condition; and obtaining the second system information from the next neighbor base station.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to perform operations, the operations comprising: receiving, from a serving base station, a first system information, wherein the first system information includes a UE capability condition associated with a neighbor base station of one or more neighbor base stations; determining whether a UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; performing a first measurement of a first reference signal received from the serving base station; performing a second measurement of a second reference signal received from the neighbor base station responsive to the UE capability meeting the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; and
obtaining a second system information from the neighbor base station responsive to the first measurement and the second measurement meeting a threshold condition.

Claim 1:
A user equipment, UE (<NUM>), comprising:
a transceiver (<NUM>) configured to enable wireless communication with a serving base station (<NUM>) and one or more neighbor base stations; and
a processor (<NUM>) communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
receive, using the transceiver, a first system information from the serving base station, wherein the first system information includes a UE capability condition associated with a neighbor base station (<NUM>) of the one or more neighbor base stations, wherein the UE capability condition includes a parameter describing a number of receive antenna ports or transmit antenna ports of the UE;
determine whether a UE capability meets the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station;
perform a first measurement of a first reference signal received from the serving base station;
perform a second measurement of a second reference signal received from the neighbor base station responsive to the UE capability meeting the UE capability condition associated with the neighbor base station; and
obtain a second system information from the neighbor base station responsive to the first measurement and the second measurement meeting a threshold condition.