Patent Description:
XP051244891, Issues about Inter-carrier Configuration, <NUM> April <NUM>, discloses how to perform cell selection/reselection base on the knowledge of carriers which provide inter-carrier V2X sidelink resource configuration. In particular it is disclosed that the UE may consider the carrier pre-configured for sidelink communication or V2X sidelink communication, or the frequencies pre-configured for providing inter-carrier V2X sidelink configuration to have the highest cell reselection priority.

If the UE cannot detect any cell meeting S criterion on the carriers pre-configured for sidelink communication, it may consider carriers pre-configured for carrying inter-carrier V2X sidelink configuration to have the highest cell reselection priority.

Controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform one or more techniques associated with selecting cells for in-vehicle emergency call services, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. In some aspects, memory <NUM> and/or memory <NUM> may comprise a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the base station <NUM> and/or the UE <NUM>, may perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein.

In some aspects, a wireless device (e.g., UE <NUM>) may include means for determining a selection value for a cell that indicates a priority for selection of the cell by the wireless device, means for calculating, from the selection value, an adjusted selection value for the cell using an offset that increases a priority of selection for cells that support in-vehicle emergency calls, means for selectively selecting the cell based at least in part on the adjusted selection value, and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of UE <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, and/or the like.

In some aspects, a network device (e.g., base station <NUM>) may include means for determining an offset in order to one or more of: increase a priority, for selection by a wireless device, of a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, or adjust a threshold for initiating measurement of neighboring cells based at least in part on whether a serving cell supports in-vehicle emergency calls, means for providing the offset to the wireless device, and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, and/or the like.

A vehicle may be fitted with a wireless device (referred to as an in-vehicle device) that is configured to share vehicle-related information with an emergency call service (sometimes referred to as an "eCall" service). The vehicle-related information may include airbag deployment information, impact sensor information, location information, vehicle identification information, passenger information, and/or the like. If the vehicle is involved in a crash, the in-vehicle device may automatically make an emergency call to the emergency call service and provide the vehicle-related information. The vehicle-related information may bring quicker assistance to passengers in the vehicle. For example, emergency first responders may know a location of the vehicle, a seriousness of the crash, how many passengers are in the vehicle, which airbags deployed, a direction and magnitude of impact, and/or the like. The emergency call will not be handled like a normal telephone call. Instead, the vehicle-related information in the emergency call will reach the emergency call service through a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls.

Many, but not all, cells support in-vehicle emergency calls, or are technically capable of receiving vehicle-related information in an automatic emergency call. If an in-vehicle device is able to connect to a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, but is connected to a different (serving) cell that has a higher selection value due to its signal strength, the in-vehicle device will not be able to send vehicle-related information to the emergency call service if the vehicle is involved in a crash. That is, the in-vehicle device may be configured to send the vehicle-related information, but the serving cell is not capable of receiving the vehicle-related information in an automatic emergency call and relaying the vehicle-related information to the emergency call service. As a result, there may be a longer delay before emergency first responders will be alerted to the crash than if the serving cell did support in-vehicle emergency calls. The emergency first responders may also not receive the vehicle-related information. The longer delay and/or lack of vehicle-related information may lead to a loss of life.

In some aspects described herein, a network device, such as a base station or radio network controller, may enable a wireless device, such as an in-vehicle device of a vehicle, to have a better chance of being connected to a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, in case the vehicle is involved in a crash. The network device may provide an offset that the in-vehicle device may use to calculate a priority of a cell for selection. The in-vehicle device may use the offset to bias for selection of, or increase a priority of, cells that support in-vehicle emergency calls. The in-vehicle device may increase a chance that the in-vehicle device will remain with or select a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, even though the cell would normally have a lesser priority for selection without the offset. As a result, if the vehicle is involved in a crash, the in-vehicle device may send vehicle-related information in an automatic emergency call and a base station of the cell receiving the automatic emergency call will be technically able to receive and relay the vehicle-related information to the emergency call service. Emergency first responders may reach passengers of the vehicle sooner and more lives may be saved. Additionally, or alternatively, traffic around an accident may be affected less or diverted sooner.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of selecting a cell for in-vehicle emergency call services, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a vehicle fitted with a wireless device (e.g., in-vehicle device <NUM>) that may select serving cell <NUM> or neighboring cell <NUM> for wireless communication.

In-vehicle device <NUM> may be configured to make an emergency call and provide vehicle-related information to an emergency call service in case of an emergency, such as a crash. The emergency call may be referred to as an "eCall" and in-vehicle device <NUM> may be part of a government or company initiative that deploys in-vehicle devices that are configured to automatically send vehicle-related information in an emergency call. The emergency call and vehicle-related information may be relayed to the emergency call service by a network device, such as a base station providing a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls. Serving cell <NUM> and neighboring cell <NUM> represent cells provided by base stations. In this example, serving cell <NUM> does not support in-vehicle emergency calls and neighboring cell <NUM> does support in-vehicle emergency calls. In-vehicle device <NUM> is currently connected to or camped on serving cell <NUM>.

Serving cell <NUM> and neighboring cell <NUM> may each have a measure of suitability for serving in-vehicle device <NUM>. The measure of suitability may correspond to a priority of cell selection and may be due to a strength or quality of communications that a cell may provide to in-vehicle device <NUM>. The measure of suitability may be represented by a selection value, such as an S-criterion value. A higher selection value may represent a higher priority for cell selection by in-vehicle device <NUM>. As shown by example <NUM> in <FIG>, serving cell <NUM> has an S-criterion value of <NUM>, which is higher than an S-criterion value of <NUM> for neighboring cell <NUM>. However, serving cell <NUM> does not support in-vehicle emergency calls and in-vehicle device <NUM> is connected to (or camped on) serving cell <NUM>. Consequently, the vehicle is at risk for a longer response time from emergency first responders if the vehicle were to crash. In-vehicle device <NUM> is configured to send vehicle-related information, but such functionality for in-vehicle emergency calls is wasted if serving cell <NUM> is not configured to receive and relay vehicle-related information in an emergency call to the emergency call service.

In some aspects, as shown by reference number <NUM>, in-vehicle device <NUM> may determine a selection value (e.g., S-criterion value) for a cell, such as for serving cell <NUM> and/or for neighboring cell <NUM>. For example, an S-criterion value for serving cell <NUM> may be <NUM>, and an S-criterion value for neighboring cell <NUM> may be <NUM>. As serving cell <NUM> has a higher selection value than neighboring cell <NUM>, it would be expected that in-vehicle device <NUM> would remain connected to serving cell <NUM>, which does not support in-vehicle emergency calls.

<FIG> is a diagram further illustrating the example of selecting a cell for in-vehicle emergency call services, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

In some aspects, as shown by reference number <NUM>, in-vehicle device <NUM> may calculate an adjusted selection value for neighboring cell <NUM> using an offset that increases a priority for cells that support in-vehicle emergency calls. The offset may be referred to as an eCall offset and may be received from a network device. In example <NUM>, the eCall offset is a value of <NUM> and the eCall offset may increase a selection value by <NUM> for a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls. Accordingly, in-vehicle device <NUM> may increase the selection value for neighboring cell <NUM> by <NUM> to arrive at the adjusted selection value of <NUM> for neighboring cell <NUM>. The adjusted selection value for neighboring cell <NUM> is now higher than the selection value of serving cell <NUM>. Neighboring cell <NUM> now has a higher priority for selection for in-vehicle device <NUM> than serving cell <NUM>.

Example <NUM> illustrated by <FIG> and <FIG> involve a positive value of <NUM> for an eCall offset. In some aspects, the eCall offset may be a negative value and in-vehicle device <NUM> may lower a selection value for a cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls. Example <NUM> is only one example of an offset adjusting a priority of a cell for selection. In-vehicle device <NUM> may perform other calculations where an offset in some way increases or decreases a priority of selection for a cell. The offset may be a factor for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, some other manner of adjusting a calculation of a selection value or comparative priority value, and/or the like.

In-vehicle device <NUM> may determine that the adjusted selection value (of <NUM>) for neighboring cell <NUM> indicates a higher priority for cell selection than the selection value (of <NUM>) for serving cell <NUM>. Therefore, as shown by reference number <NUM>, in-vehicle device <NUM> may selectively select, based at least in part on the adjusted selection value of neighboring cell <NUM>, to connect to neighboring cell <NUM>. In-vehicle device <NUM> may proceed with switching to neighboring cell <NUM>. In some aspects, if in-vehicle device <NUM> is in an idle mode, in-vehicle device <NUM> may reselect to neighboring cell <NUM>. In some aspects, if in-vehicle device <NUM> is in connected mode, serving cell <NUM> may hand over in-vehicle device <NUM> to neighboring cell <NUM>.

In example <NUM> illustrated by <FIG>, serving cell <NUM> does not support in-vehicle emergency calls and neighboring cell <NUM> does support in-vehicle emergency calls. In another scenario, serving cell <NUM> does support in-vehicle emergency calls and neighboring cell <NUM> does not. In-vehicle device <NUM> may use an offset in order to increase the selection value of serving cell <NUM> and thus a probability of remaining connected to (or camped on) serving cell <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, in-vehicle device <NUM> may use the offset to decrease a selection value and priority of neighboring cell <NUM>.

In some aspects, in-vehicle device <NUM> may consider a minimum threshold for a selection value for selecting a cell. This is because a serving cell has to have some reasonable expectation of service quality. For example, if the selection value of neighboring cell <NUM> in <FIG> does not satisfy the minimum threshold for a selection value (e.g., S-criterion is <NUM>), even a larger offset may not qualify neighboring cell <NUM> for selection. In-vehicle device <NUM> may not connect to a cell that does not meet a minimum threshold for a selection value, even if the cell supports in-vehicle emergency calls.

Additionally, or alternatively, in-vehicle device <NUM> may initiate measurement of neighboring cells if in-vehicle device <NUM> determines that a signal quality or signal strength of a serving cell is not sufficient or if other factors (e.g., intermittent service, interference, and/or the like) cause in-vehicle device <NUM> to reconsider remaining with the serving cell. In-vehicle device <NUM> may initiate measurement of neighboring cells if a threshold for initiating measurement is satisfied. For example, if a signal strength for communications using serving cell <NUM> drops below a certain signal strength threshold, in-vehicle device <NUM> may determine that a threshold for initiating measurement is satisfied and will proceed with initiating measurements of neighboring cells to determine if in-vehicle device <NUM> is to connect to another cell.

In some aspects, in-vehicle device <NUM> may adjust, based at least in part on the offset, the threshold for initiating measurement of neighboring cells. For example, if serving cell <NUM> supports in-vehicle emergency calls, in-vehicle device <NUM> may use the offset to increase an amount of time before initiating measurement of the neighboring cells. In another example, if serving cell <NUM> does not support in-vehicle emergency calls, in-vehicle device <NUM> may use the offset to decrease an amount of time before initiating measurement of the neighboring cells.

In some aspects, a network device, such as serving cell <NUM> or a radio network controller, may determine an offset in order to one or more of increase a priority of selection for cells that support in-vehicle emergency calls or adjust a threshold for initiating measurement of neighboring cells. The network device may provide the offset to an in-vehicle device, such as in a measurement message. In some aspects, the network device may determine the offset based at least in part on information about the serving cell, information from a minimization of drive test (MDT), and or the like.

Additionally, or alternatively, the network device may cause in-vehicle device <NUM> to reselect or hand over in-vehicle device <NUM> from a serving cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls to a neighboring cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls, only if a difference in a selection value of the serving cell and a selection value of the neighboring cell satisfies a threshold. For example, if serving cell <NUM> supports in-vehicle emergency calls and neighboring cell <NUM> does not, and if conditions at serving cell <NUM> have lowered its suitability for connection and thus lowered its selection value with respect to a selection value of neighboring cell <NUM>, the network device will not cause in-vehicle device <NUM> to reselect to neighboring cell <NUM> or hand over in-vehicle device <NUM> to neighboring cell <NUM> unless a difference between the selection value of serving cell <NUM> and the selection value of neighboring cell <NUM> satisfies a respective reselection threshold or handover threshold. For example, the selection value of serving cell <NUM> may have dropped to <NUM> (even with the offset) compared to a previous value of <NUM>. The selection value of neighboring cell <NUM> may be <NUM>. The network device may not cause in-vehicle device <NUM> to reselect to neighboring cell <NUM> unless the difference between the selection value of serving cell <NUM> and the selection value of neighboring cell <NUM> reaches a threshold of <NUM> (where the selection value of serving cell <NUM> reaches a selection value of <NUM>). Additionally or alternatively, selection value comparisons involving a reselection threshold or a handover threshold may vary in other ways, so as to increase a priority of selecting a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls that are part of a life-saving emergency call service.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a wireless device, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where a wireless device (e.g., in-vehicle device <NUM> and/or the like) performs operations associated with cell selection for in-vehicle emergency call services.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include determining a selection value for a cell that indicates a priority for selection of the cell by the wireless device (block <NUM>). For example, the wireless device (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may determine a selection value for a cell that indicates a priority for selection of the cell by the wireless device, as described above.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include calculating, from the selection value, an adjusted selection value for the cell using an offset that increases a priority of selection for cells that support in-vehicle emergency calls (block <NUM>). For example, the wireless device (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may calculate, from the selection value, an adjusted selection value for the cell using an offset that increases a priority of selection for cells that support in-vehicle emergency calls, as described above.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include selectively selecting the cell based at least in part on the adjusted selection value (block <NUM>). For example, the wireless device (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may selectively select the cell based at least in part on the adjusted selection value, as described above. In some aspects, selecting the cell includes proceeding to connect to the cell.

In a first aspect, the cell is a neighboring cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls. In some aspects, the adjusted selection value, with respect to the selection value, increases a priority of the neighboring cell for selection.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the selection value for the neighboring cell is less than a selection value for a serving cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls. In some aspects, the adjusted selection value for the neighboring cell is greater than the selection value for the serving cell. In some aspects, selectively selecting the cell includes selecting the neighboring cell based at least in part on the adjusted selection value for the neighboring cell being greater than the selection value for the serving cell.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the cell is a neighboring cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls. In some aspects, the adjusted selection value, with respect to the selection value, decreases a priority of the neighboring cell for selection.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the cell is a serving cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls. In some aspects, the adjusted selection value, with respect to the selection value, increases a probability of the wireless device remaining camped on the serving cell.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the cell is a serving cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls. In some aspects, the adjusted selection value, with respect to the selection value, decreases a probability of the wireless device remaining camped on the serving cell.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the cell is a serving cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls. In some aspects, the method further comprises adjusting, based at least in part on the offset, a threshold for initiating measurement of neighboring cells, the offset being set to increase an amount of time before initiating measurement of the neighboring cells.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, the cell is a serving cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls. In some aspects, the method further comprises adjusting, based at least in part on the offset, a threshold for initiating measurement of neighboring cells, the offset being set to decrease an amount of time before initiating measurement of neighboring cells.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, selectively selecting the cell includes determining whether to select the cell based at least in part on a determination that the cell satisfies a selection value threshold.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, process <NUM> further comprises receiving the offset from a network entity.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a network device, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where a network device (e.g., base station for serving cell <NUM>, base station for neighboring cell <NUM>, and/or the like) performs operations associated with cell selection for in-vehicle emergency call services.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include determining an offset in order to one or more of: increase a priority, for selection by a wireless device, of a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, or adjust a threshold for initiating measurement of neighboring cells based at least in part on whether a serving cell supports in-vehicle emergency calls (block <NUM>). For example, the network device (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may determine an offset in order to one or more of: increase a priority, for selection by a wireless device, of a cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, or adjust a threshold for initiating measurement of neighboring cells based at least in part on whether a serving cell supports in-vehicle emergency calls, as described above.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include providing the offset to the wireless device (block <NUM>). For example, the network device (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may provide the offset to the wireless device, as described above.

In a first aspect, determining the offset includes determining the offset based at least in part on information about the serving cell, information from a minimization drive test report, or both.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, providing the offset includes providing the offset in a measurement message.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the network device is a base station that provides a serving cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, and the method further comprises causing the wireless device to reselect from the serving cell to a neighbor cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls, based at least in part on a determination that a difference between a selection value of the serving cell and a selection value of the neighbor cell satisfies a reselection threshold.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the network device is a base station that provides a serving cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls, and the method further comprises causing the wireless device to reselect from the serving cell to a neighbor cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, based at least in part on a determination that a difference between a selection value of the serving cell and a selection value of the neighboring cell satisfies a reselection threshold.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the network device is a base station that provides a serving cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, and the method further comprises handing over the wireless device from the serving cell to a neighboring cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls, based at least in part on a determination that a difference between a selection value of the serving cell and a selection value of the neighbor cell satisfies a handover threshold.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the network device is a base station that provides a serving cell that does not support in-vehicle emergency calls, and the method further comprises handing over the wireless device from the serving cell to a neighboring cell that supports in-vehicle emergency calls, based at least in part on a determination that a difference between a selection value of the serving cell and a selection value of the neighbor cell satisfies a handover threshold.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication performed by a wireless device, comprising:
determining (<NUM>) a selection value for a cell that indicates a priority for selection of the cell by the wireless device;
calculating (<NUM>), from the selection value, an adjusted selection value for the cell using an offset that increases a priority of selection for cells that support in-vehicle emergency calls; and
selectively (<NUM>) selecting the cell based at least in part on the adjusted selection value.