Patent ID: 7917113

Claim:
A method for internally synchronizing cell measurements in a mobile communication apparatus having a first active radio access means adapted to communicate according to a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second passive radio access means adapted to communicate according to a second RAT, comprising the steps of: the mobile communication apparatus performs the following steps: generating a common time event (CTE) upon issuance of a request to initiate the cell measurements; generating a time reference common to the first and the second radio access means by registering counter values from a first and second counter provided in the first and the second radio access means respectively in response to the CTE; obtaining, by said first radio access means, a measurement gap schedule including a time schedule in a time format of said first radio access means, said time schedule indicating a time gap during which the second radio access means is allowed to be active and not interrupt communications of the first radio access means, said measurement gap schedule includes an activation time of the time schedule where the activation time is determined in the time format of said first radio access means and the activation time is determined based on a time distance from the CTE; forwarding said measurement gap schedule to said second radio access means; and translating said measurement gap schedule by said second radio access means using the time reference of the registered counter value in the second counter to determine the activation time in a time format of said second access means.