TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to a radio network node, a user equipment (UE) and methods performed therein regarding wireless communication. Furthermore, a computer program and a computer readable storage medium are also provided herein. In particular, embodiments herein relate to handling one or more measurements in a wireless communications network.

BACKGROUND

In a typical wireless communications network, UEs, also known as wireless communication devices, mobile stations, stations (STA) and/or wireless devices, communicate via a Radio Access Network (RAN) with one or more core networks (CN). The RAN covers a geographical area which is divided into service areas or cells, with each service area or cell being served by a radio network node such as an access node e.g. a Wi-Fi access point or a radio base station (RBS), which in some networks may also be called, for example, a NodeB, a gNodeB, or an eNodeB. The service area or cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio network node. The radio network node operates on radio frequencies to communicate over an air interface with the UEs within range of the radio network node. The radio network node communicates over a downlink (DL) to the UE and the UE communicates over an uplink (UL) to the radio network node.

A Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation (3G) telecommunication network, which evolved from the second generation (2G) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) is essentially a RAN using wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) and/or High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) for communication with user equipment. In a forum known as the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), telecommunications suppliers propose and agree upon standards for present and future generation networks and investigate, e.g., enhanced data rate and radio capacity. In some RANs, e.g., as in UMTS, several radio network nodes may be connected, e.g., by landlines or microwave, to a controller node, such as a radio network controller (RNC) or a base station controller (BSC), which supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural radio network nodes connected thereto. The RNCs are typically connected to one or more core networks.

Specifications for the Evolved Packet System (EPS) have been completed within the 3GPP and coming 3GPP releases, such as New Radio (NR), are worked on. The EPS comprises the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), also known as the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio access network, and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), also known as System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network. E- UTRAN/LTE is a 3GPP radio access technology wherein the radio network nodes are directly connected to the EPC core network. As such, the RAN of an EPS has an essentially “flat” architecture comprising radio network nodes connected directly to one or more core networks.

With the emerging 5G technologies such as NR, the use of very many transmit- and receive-antenna elements may be of great interest as it makes it possible to utilize beamforming, such as transmit-side and receive-side beamforming. Transmit-side beamforming means that the transmitter can amplify the transmitted signals in a selected direction or directions, while suppressing the transmitted signals in other directions. Similarly, on the receive-side, a receiver can amplify signals from a selected direction or directions, while suppressing unwanted signals from other directions.

Positioning has been a topic in LTE standardization since Release 9 of the 3GPP. The primary objective was initially to fulfill regulatory requirements for emergency call positioning but other use cases like positioning for Industrial Internet of Things (1-loT) are becoming important. Positioning in NR is supported, e.g., by the architecture shown in Fig. 1. The Location Management Function (LMF) is the location node in NR. There are also interactions between the location node and the gNodeB via the NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa). The interactions between the gNodeB and the UE are supported via the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol, while the location node interfaces with the UE via the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP). LPP is common to both NR and LTE. It will be appreciated that while Fig. 1 shows both a gNB and an ng-eNB, both may not always be present. Furthermore, when both the gNB and the ng-eNB are present, the NG-C is generally only present for one of them.

In the legacy LTE standards, the following techniques are supported:

• Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID). Essentially cell identity (ID) information to associate the device to the serving area of a serving cell, and then additional information to determine a finer granularity position.

• Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). GNSS information retrieved by the device, supported by assistance information provided to the device from Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC)

• Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA). The device estimates the time difference of reference signals from different base stations and sends the time difference(s) to the E-SMLC for multi-lateration.

• Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UTDOA). The device is requested to transmit a specific waveform that is detected by multiple location measurement units, e.g., an eNB, at known positions. These measurements are forwarded to E-SMLC for multi-lateration. In NR Rel. 16, a number of positioning features were specified including reference signals, measurements, and positioning methods:

Reference signals:

• A new DL reference signal, the NR DL Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) was specified. The main benefit of this signal in relation to the LTE DL PRS is the increased bandwidth, configurable from 24 to 272 resource blocks (RB), which gives a big improvement in time of arrival (TOA) accuracy. The NR DL PRS can be configured with a comb factor of 2, 4, 6 or 12. Comb-12 allows for twice as many orthogonal signals as the comb-6 LTE PRS. Beam sweeping is also supported on NR DL PRS in Rel-16.

• A new UL reference signal, based on the NR UL Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) was introduced and called “SRS for positioning”. The Rel. 16 NR SRS for positioning allows for a longer signal, up to 12 symbols, compared to 4 symbols in Rel. 15 SRS, and a flexible position in the slot, only last six symbols of the slot can be used in Rel. 15 SRS. It also allows for a staggered comb resource element (RE) pattern for improved TOA measurement range and for more orthogonal signals based on comb offsets, comb 2, 4 and 8, and cyclic shifts. The use of cyclic shifts longer than the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol divided by the comb factor is, however, not supported by Rel. 16 despite that this is the main advantage of comb-staggering at least in indoor scenarios. Power control based on neighbour cell Synchronization Signal Block (SSB)/DL PRS is supported as well as spatial Quasi-CoLocation (QCL) relations towards a Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS), an SSB, a DL PRS, or another SRS.

Positioning techniques:

NR positioning supports the following methods: o Methods already in LTE and enhanced in NR:

• Downlink time difference of arrival (TDOA), DL TDOA,

• E-CID

• RAT independent methods, based on non-3GPP sensors such as global positioning system (GPS), pressure sensors, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth, etc.

• Uplink TDOA (UL TDOA) o Methods newly introduced methods in NR: • Multicell round trip time (RTT): the LMF collects RTT measurement as the basis for multi-lateration.

• DL angle of departure (AoD) and UL angle of arrival (AoA), where multi- lateration is done using angle and power, such as reference signal received power (RSRP), measurements.

Measurements:

In NR Rel. 16, the following UE measurements are specified: o DL Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD), allowing for, e.g., DL TDOA positioning o Multi cell UE reception (Rx)-transmission (Tx) Time Difference measurement, allowing for multi cell RTT measurements o DL PRS Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP)

In NR Rel. 16, the following gNB measurements are specified o UpLink Relative Time of Arrival (UL-RTOA), useful for UL TDOA positioning o gNb Rx-Tx time difference, useful for multi cell RTT measurements o UL SRS-RSRP o AoA and Zenith angle of Arrival (ZoA)

Signals configurations:

In NR Rel-16, the DL PRS is configured by each cell separately, and the location server, i.e., LMF, collects all configuration via the NRPPa protocol, before sending an assistance data (AD) message to the UE via the LPP protocol. In the uplink, the SRS signal is configured in RRC by the serving gNodeB, which in turn forwards appropriate SRS configuration parameters to the LMF upon reguest.

Rel-16 NR DL PRS is organized in a 3-level hierarchy: o PRS freguency layer: gathers PRS resource sets from, potentially, multiple base stations, having common parameters in common. If two resource sets are in the same freguency layer, they:

• Operate in the same band with the same subcarrier spacing

• Have the same comb factor

• Have the same starting physical resource block (PRB) and bandwidth o PRS Resource set: corresponds to a collection of PRS beams, i.e., resources, which are all originating from the same Transmission and reception point (TRP). All resources in the same set have the same comb factor o PRS resource: corresponds to a beam transmitting the PRS

Measurement gap.

In release 16, the PRS-based measurements, including PRS RSRP, RSTD for OTDOA and UE Rx-Tx for RTT, are all made in the presence of measurement gaps. During a measurement gap, the UE can expect that the network will not transmit any data and thus the UE can tune itself specifically to measure the PRS. For example, to measure PRS, i.e., DL PRS, the UE will potentially utilize a different bandwidth than the active bandwidth part it is configured with to receive data.

If the UE requires measurement gaps for performing the requested location measurements while measurement gaps are either not configured or not sufficient, or if the UE needs gaps to acquire the subframe and slot timing of the target E-UTRA system before requesting measurement gaps for the inter-RAT RSTD measurements, the UE sends an RRC Location Measurement Indication message to the serving gNB. The message indicates that the UE is going to start location measurements, or that the UE is going to acquire subframe and slot timing of the target E-UTRA system, and includes information required for the gNB to configure the appropriate measurement gaps. When the gNB has configured the required measurement gaps the UE performs the location measurements or timing acquisition procedures.

When the UE has completed the location procedures which required measurement gaps, the UE sends another RRC Location Measurement Indication message to the serving gNB. The message indicates that the UE has completed the location measurements or timing acquisition procedures. See Fig. 2, that shows Location measurement indication procedure from TS 38.305.

In NR, measurement gap pattern (MGP) is used by the UE for performing measurements on cells of the non-serving carriers, e.g., inter-frequency carrier, inter- RAT carriers etc., may also be used for measurements on cells of the serving carrier in some scenarios, e.g., if the measured signals, e.g., SSB, are outside the bandwidth part (BWP) of the serving cell, or for positioning measurements on a positioning frequency layer (PFL). The UE is scheduled in the serving cell only within the BWP. During the gap the UE cannot be scheduled for receiving/transmitting signals in the serving cell. A measurement gap pattern is characterized or defined by several parameters: measurement gap length (MGL), measurement gap repetition period (MGRP), measurement gap time offset (MGTO) with respect to reference time, e.g., slot offset with respect to serving cell’s SFN such as SFN = 0, measurement gap timing advance (MGTA) etc. An example of MGP is shown in Fig. 3. As an example, MGL can be 1.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5 or 6 ms, and MGRP can be 20, 40, 80 or 160 ms. Such type of MGP is configured by the network node and is also called as network controlled or network configurable MGP. Therefore, the serving base station is fully aware of the timing of each gap within the MGP. Fig. 3 shows an example of the measurement gap pattern in NR.

In NR there are two major categories of MGPs: per-UE measurement gap patterns and per-frequency range (FR) measurement gap patterns. In NR the spectrum is divided into two frequency ranges namely FR1 and FR2. FR1 is currently defined from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz. FR2 range is currently defined from 24250 MHz to 52600 MHz. In another example FR2 range can be from 24250 MHz to 71000 MHz. The FR2 range is also interchangeably called as millimeter wave (mmwave) and corresponding bands in FR2 are called as mmwave bands. In future more frequency ranges can be specified e.g. FR3. An example of FR3 is frequency ranging above 52600 MHz or between 52600 MHz and 71000 MHz or between 7125 MHz and 24250 MHz.

Concurrent measurement gap pattern (C-MGP) or interchangeably called as concurrent gaps or concurrent measurement gaps are also being specified. C-MGP comprises multiple measurement gap patterns, e.g., 2 or more MGPs, which can be configured by the network node using the same or different messages, e.g., same or different RRC messages. C-MGP may be used for multiple different types of measurements or for other scenarios such in multi-Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) operation. For example, in multi-USIM operation the UE may be configured with one or more measurement gap patterns for performing measurements on each of the plurality of the network. For example, network A, e.g., by serving cell A, may configure the UE with one or more MGPs for performing measurements on one or more cells of the network B. These MGPs may also be termed as concurrent MGP (C-MGP).

Pre-configured measurement gaps (Pre-MG) are also being specified as part of the Rel-17 Measurement Gaps enhancement work item (Wl). The objective is to allow the configuration of “deactivated” measurement gaps, i.e., the UE only uses the configured gaps to perform measurements under certain situations. Hence the term “pre-configured” measurement gaps. This differs from the legacy procedure, since in this case, only one measurement gap can be configured; i.e., not possible to provide multiple measurement gap configurations at the same time.

Current Gap configuration Procedure

RRC message is used to configure measurement gap; the below information element (IE) is used

- MeasGapConfig

The IE MeasGapConfig specifies the measurement gap configuration and controls setup/release of measurement gaps. o Preconfiguration of measurement gaps (MG) in RRC is supported from RAN1 perspective.

• Each MG in the preconfiguration is associated with an ID

• The information in the UL MAC CE for MG activation request by the UE can be one ID associated with the preconfiguration of the MG

Support the following option, from the agreement made in RAN1#106-e, for a new MG activation procedure to be performed by the gNB for the purpose of positioning. o Option 2: DL MAC CE o For further study (FFS): Deactivation process

PRS Processing window.

Similar to measurement gap configuration, it has been agreed that there can also be Positioning reference signal (PRS) Processing window that can be configured by gNB. o For PRS processing window configuration and indication, at least the following mechanism is supported

• RRC (pre-)configuration for PRS processing window configuration and DL MAC CE activation for PRS processing window, respectively. o Include it in the Liaison statement (LS) to RAN2 and request RAN2 to decide whether DL MAC CE is feasible for this indication

Configuration of PRS Processing window.

It is possible to extend the RRC MG config to also include the PRS processing window and for each PRS window assign an ID and provide the activation/deactivation via MAC CE.

The IE MeasConfig specifies measurements to be performed by the UE, and covers intra-frequency, inter-frequency and inter-RAT mobility as well as configuration of measurement gaps.

MeasConfig information element

SUMMARY

As part of developing embodiments herein one or more problems have been identified. As per current agreement, a gap has to be pre-configured via RRC and then activated using DL-MAC CE. A gap as used herein may be used interchangeably with measurement gap. The total latency for the 1 ^st pre-configured gap can be assumed as RRC Reconfiguration msg + DL-MAC CE.

Based upon the below table [TR 38.857], for the very first configuration of gap there will be no savings of latency; in-fact the first configuration will incur more latency as it requires both RRC and DL-MAC CE for activation. Thus, a gNB needs to provide both RRC message and MAC Control elements, e.g., as follows: Total Duration = TuEProc-RRCReconf + TuEProc-RRCDLInfo + TuEProc-MAC + TgNB-UE

The above latency is also applicable to a DL-PRS Processing window configuration.

For positioning, as a gNB is not a recipient of positioning measurements, an indication has to come either via NRPPa (LMF/location server) or from a LIE that it needs a PRS processing window. Besides, additional information may also be needed so that the gNB can configure the PRS processing window appropriately. Once the window has been configured, the window is assumed to be static or that it will not be altered that often. Hence, a RRC reconfiguration can be applied to inform LIE of any change. Furthermore, where possible, cross layer design should be avoided when the benefit is low. For example, when there is no latency savings when using RRC or MAC CE in these cases.

Adding to the above, and regarding the Rel-17 Measurement Gaps enhancement Wl, RAN2 has agreed the following during RAN2#116-e with respect to pre-configured measurement gaps activation/deactivation:

Therefore, RANTs agreement concerning MAC-CE based activation/deactivation of PRS-related measurements does not point to the same signalling principle sought by RAN2.

Again, when it comes to the Rel-17 Measurement Gaps enhancement Wl, RAN4 has agreed the following, as seen in R4-2120302:

It is thus possible to notice that, as per the previous agreement, there is no actual pre-configuration of the Rel-16 PRS-related measurements as it should always be activated upon configuration. Hence, there is no NW flexibility on configuring multiple configurations and ensuing fast activation and/or deactivation for the measurement gaps for the latency-related savings involved with such legacy mechanism.

An object herein is to provide a mechanism to handle measurements in an efficient manner in the wireless communications network. According to an aspect the object is achieved, according to embodiments herein, by providing a method performed by a radio network node for handling one or more measurements in a wireless communications network. The radio network node transmits to a UE, an RRC message comprising an indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and a trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of one or more configurations of the configuration or configurations. The trigger indication may be a flag, a field identifying a gap, an index, and/or a list.

According to another aspect the object is achieved, according to embodiments herein, by providing a method performed by a UE for handling one or more measurements in a wireless communications network. The UE receives from a radio network node an RRC message comprising an indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and a trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of one or more configurations of the configuration or configurations. The UE activates or deactivates the one or more configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows based on the trigger indication.

According to an aspect the object is achieved, according to embodiments herein, by providing a radio network node, and a UE configured to perform the methods herein, respectively.

Thus, it is herein provided a radio network node for handling one or more measurements in a wireless communications network. The radio network node is configured to transmit to a UE, an RRC message comprising an indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and a trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of one or more configurations of the configuration or configurations.

Furthermore, it is herein provided a UE for handling one or more measurements in a wireless communications network. The UE is configured to receive from a radio network node an RRC message comprising an indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and a trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of one or more configurations of the configuration or configurations. The UE is configured to activate or deactivate the one or more configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows based on the trigger indication.

It is furthermore provided herein a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of the methods herein, as performed by the radio network node and the UE, respectively. It is additionally provided herein a computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of the methods herein, as performed by the radio network node and the UE, respectively.

Embodiments herein disclose procedures for the UE and radio network node for one or more of the following:

• Simultaneous RRC Configurations and RRC Activation of one or more measurement gaps.

• Simultaneous RRC Configurations and RRC De-Activation of one or more measurement gap.

• Simultaneous RRC Configurations and RRC Activation of one or more PRS Processing Windows.

• Simultaneous RRC Configurations and RRC De-Activation of one or more PRS Processing Windows.

To reduce latency and minimize the cross-layer implementation/interaction; only RRC based solution with simultaneous configuration and activation is performed. Thus, minimizing the need of RRC interacting with MAC and reducing delay and complexity through cross layer interaction, and it is herein disclosed a solution to handle measurements in an efficient manner in the wireless communications network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described in more detail in relation to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic architecture of NR according to prior art;

Fig. 2 shows a signalling scheme according to prior art;

Fig. 3 shows a measurement gap pattern according to prior art;

Fig. 4 shows an overview depicting a wireless communications network according to embodiments herein;

Fig. 5 shows a combined flowchart and signalling scheme according to embodiments herein;

Fig. 6 shows a flowchart illustrating a method performed by a radio network node according to embodiments herein;

Fig. 7 shows a flowchart illustrating a method performed by a UE according to embodiments herein;

Figs. 8a-8b show schematic overviews depicting embodiments of a radio network node according to embodiments herein;

Figs. 9a-9b show schematic overviews depicting embodiments of a UE according to embodiments herein; Fig. 10 schematically illustrates a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer;

Fig. 11 is a generalized block diagram of a host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection; and

Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 are flowcharts illustrating methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments herein relate to wireless communications networks in general. Fig. 4 is a schematic overview depicting a wireless communications network 1. The wireless communications network 1 comprises one or more RANs and one or more CNs. The wireless communications network 1 may use one or a number of different technologies. Embodiments herein relate to recent technology trends that are of particular interest in a New Radio (NR) context, however, embodiments are also applicable in further development of existing wireless communications systems such as e.g. LTE or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA).

In the wireless communications network 1, a user equipment (UE) 10 exemplified herein as a wireless device such as a mobile station, a non-access point (non-AP) station (STA), a STA and/or a wireless terminal, is comprised communicating via e.g. one or more Access Networks (AN), e.g. radio access network (RAN), to one or more core networks (CN). It should be understood by the skilled in the art that “UE” is a non-limiting term which means any terminal, wireless communications terminal, user equipment, narrowband internet of things (NB-loT) device, Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, Device to Device (D2D) terminal, or node e.g. smart phone, laptop, mobile phone, sensor, relay, mobile tablets or even a small base station capable of communicating using radio communication with a radio network node within an area served by the radio network node.

The wireless communications network 1 comprises a first radio network node 12 or just radio network node 12, providing radio coverage over a geographical area, a first service area 11 or first cell, of a first radio access technology (RAT), such as NR, LTE, or similar. The radio network node 12 may be a transmission and reception point such as an access node, an access controller, a base station, e.g. a radio base station such as a gNodeB (gNB), an evolved Node B (eNB, eNode B), a NodeB, a base transceiver station, a radio remote unit, an Access Point Base Station, a base station router, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point or an Access Point Station (AP STA), a transmission arrangement of a radio base station, a stand-alone access point or any other network unit or node capable of communicating with a wireless device within the area served by the radio network node depending e.g. on the first radio access technology and terminology used. The radio network node may be referred to as a serving radio network node wherein the service area may be referred to as a serving cell, and the serving network node communicates with the wireless device in form of DL transmissions to the wireless device and UL transmissions from the wireless device. It should be noted that a service area may be denoted as cell, beam, beam group or similar to define an area of radio coverage.

The wireless communications network 1 may comprise a second radio network node 13 or another radio network node, providing radio coverage over a geographical area, a second service area 14 or second cell, of a second RAT, such as NR, LTE, or similar. The second radio network node 13 may be a transmission and reception point such as an access node, an access controller, a base station, e.g. a radio base station such as a gNodeB (gNB), an evolved Node B (eNB, eNode B), a NodeB, a base transceiver station, a radio remote unit, an Access Point Base Station, a base station router, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point or an Access Point Station (AP STA), a transmission arrangement of a radio base station, a stand-alone access point or any other network unit or node capable of communicating with a wireless device within the area served by the radio network node depending e.g. on the first radio access technology and terminology used. The second radio network node 13 may be referred to as a target radio network node wherein the service area may be referred to as a target cell, and the target network node communicates with a UE in form of DL transmissions to the wireless device and UL transmissions from the UE. It should be noted that a service area may be denoted as cell, beam, beam group or similar to define an area of radio coverage.

According to embodiments herein a radio network node 120, such as the radio network node 12 or the second radio network node 13, transmits, to the UE 10, an RRC messages comprising an indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and a trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of one or more configurations. The UE 10 activates or deactivates one or more configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows based on the received trigger indication.

In order to reduce latency and minimize the cross-layer implementation/interaction; an only RRC based solution with simultaneous configuration and activation is performed. Thus, minimizing the need of RRC and MAC interaction and reducing delay and cross layer interaction. It is herein disclosed a solution that achieves one or more of the following:

• Increased Reliability as RRC is more reliable than MAC;

• Avoid cross layer interactions;

• Reduce latency;

• Implementation freedom for network. The network could choose to only implement RRC based activation, or it could decide to in addition implement MAC based. The network may mean any network node operating in the wireless communications network 1 , e.g., the radio network node 12. Fig. 5 is a combined signalling scheme and flowchart depicting embodiments herein.

Action 501. The first radio network node 12 transmits to the UE 10 the RRC message comprising the indication of one or more configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and the trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of the one or more configurations.

Action 502. The UE 10 activates or deactivates the one or more configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or the one or more PRS processing windows based on the trigger indication.

The method actions may be performed by the radio network node 120 such as the first network node 12 and/or the second network node 13 for handling one or more measurements, or communication, in the wireless communications network according to embodiments will now be described with reference to a flowchart depicted in Fig. 6.

Action 601. The radio network node 120 transmits to the UE 10 the RRC message comprising the indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and the trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of one or more configurations of the configuration or configurations. The trigger indication may be a flag, a field identifying a gap, an index, and/or a list. The flag may comprise an activation flag or/and a deactivation flag. The flag may take two values, one value which activates at least one measurement gap out of the one or more measurement gaps, and one value which deactivates at least one measurement gap out of the one or more measurement gaps. The trigger indication may indicate in a field an identifier of a measurement gap out of the one or more measurement gaps to be activated or deactivated. The UE 10 may upon configuration to activate (or to deactivate) a measurement gap associated with the identifier upon reception of the field. Such an approach may be applied to several gaps, e.g., an identifier for a group of measurement gaps out of the one or more measurement gaps may be provided and the measurement gaps within the identified group would be activated (or deactivated) upon configuration. The radio network node 120 may indicate for at least one measurement gap out of the one or more measurement gaps which group the at least one measurement gap belongs to. Thus, the radio network node 120 may preconfigure the UE 10 with a number of configurations and further indicates which of the configurations to use by the trigger indication in a same RRC message. Thus, the UE will be triggered to perform the measurements according to the configuration or configurations activated and/or deactivated.

The method actions performed by the UE 10 for handling one or more measurements, or communication, in the wireless communications network according to embodiments will now be described with reference to a flowchart depicted in Fig. 7. The actions do not have to be taken in the order stated below but may be taken in any suitable order. Dashed boxes indicate optional features.

Action 701. The UE 10 receives from the radio network node 120 the RRC message comprising the indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and the trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of one or more configurations of the configuration or configurations. The trigger indication may be a flag, a field identifying a gap, an index, and/or a list. The flag may comprise an activation flag or/and a deactivation flag. The flag may take two values, one value which activates at least one measurement gap out of the one or more measurement gaps, and one value which deactivates at least one measurement gap out of the one or more measurement gaps. The trigger indication may indicate in a field an identifier of a measurement gap out of the one or more measurement gaps to be activated or deactivated. The UE 10 may upon configuration to activate (or to deactivate) a measurement gap associated with the identifier upon reception of the field. Such an approach may be applied to several gaps, e.g., an identifier for a group of measurement gaps out of the one or more measurement gaps may be provided and the measurement gaps within the identified group would be activated (or deactivated) upon configuration. The radio network node 120 may indicate for at least one measurement gap out of the one or more measurement gaps which group the at least one measurement gap belongs to. Thus, the radio network node 120 may preconfigure the UE 10 with a number of configurations and further indicates which of the configurations to use by the trigger indication in a same RRC message.

Action 702. The UE 10 activates or deactivates the one or more configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows based on the trigger indication. The UE 10 may, upon reception of the trigger indication, activate or deactivate the one or more configurations.

Action 703. The UE 10 may then perform one or more measurements using one or more activated configurations. The UE 10 may perform one or more measurements on PRS for positioning the UE 10.

Simultaneous Configuration and Activation of PRS Processing window.

In an embodiment, the radio network node 12 configures an activation/deactivation flag, being an example of the trigger indication, such that upon obtaining that flag, the UE 10 shall immediately apply that configuration. The UE 10 will in this embodiment not wait for a separate MAC CE activation/deactivation. The RRC message comprising the flag may itself be a trigger for activation/deactivation, where the flag may indicate which one of the configurations out of several configurations, the UE 10 needs to apply.

In the below two flags are shown, one named id-Activation-r17 and one named id- Deactivation-r17. If the network, e.g., the radio network node 120, includes and sets id- Activation-r17, the UE 10 may activate the gaps upon configuration, otherwise the UE 10 may not activate the gaps upon configuration. If the network includes and sets id- Dectivation-r17, the UE 10 may deactivate the gaps upon configuration, otherwise the UE 10 may not deactivate the gaps upon configuration.

Another approach would be to include a flag being an example of the trigger indication, that can take two values, one value which activates the gaps, and one value which deactivates the gaps.

Another approach is that the radio network node 120 may indicate in a field an identifier of a gap, being an example of the trigger indication. The UE 10 may upon configuration activate (or deactivate) the gap associated to that identifier upon reception of the field. Such an approach could be applied to several gaps, e.g. an identifier for a group of gaps may be provided and the gaps within the identified group would be activated (or deactivated) upon configuration. The radio network node 120 may indicate for the gaps which group the gap belongs to.

Yet another approach is that the radio network node 120 indicates a set (for example a list) of gaps, being an example of the trigger indication, and the UE 10 may activate (or deactivate) the gaps indicated by this set. Underlined text parts are example implementations of embodiments herein.

Below is an ASN.1 RRC example

MeasConfig information element

In this disclosure the term node is used which can be a radio network node or a UE.

Examples of network nodes or radio network nodes are NodeB, base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, gNodeB, master eNodeB (MeNB), secondary eNodeB (SeNB), location measurement unit (LMU), integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, satellite node, non-terrestrial network (NTN) node, high altitude platform (HAPS) node, base transceiver station (BTS), Central Unit (e.g. in a gNB), Distributed Unit (e.g. in a gNB), Baseband Unit, Centralized Baseband, C-RAN, access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, transmission reception point (TRP), RRU, RRH, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node, e.g., Mobility Management Entity (MME), mobile switching center (MME) etc., operations and maintenance (O&M), OSS, SON, positioning server (e.g. LMF, E-SMLC),etc.

The non-limiting term UE refers to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and/or with another UE in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device to device (D2D) UE, vehicular to vehicular (V2V), machine type UE, MTC UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, internet of things (loT) capable device, tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipment (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles etc.

The term radio access technology, or RAT, may refer to any RAT e.g. UTRA, E- UTRA, narrow band internet of things (NB-loT), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, next generation RAT, New Radio (NR), 4G, 5G, etc. Any of the equipment denoted by the term node, network node or radio network node may be capable of supporting a single or multiple RATs.

The term signal or radio signal used herein can be any physical signal or physical channel. Examples of DL physical signals are reference signal (RS) such as primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), CSI-RS, DMRS signals in SS/PBCH block (SSB), discovery reference signal (DRS), CRS, PRS etc. RS may be periodic e.g. RS occasion carrying one or more RSs may occur with certain periodicity e.g. 20 ms, 40 ms etc. The RS may also be aperiodic. Each SSB carries NR- PSS, NR-SSS and NR-PBCH in 4 successive symbols. One or multiple SSBs are transmit in one SSB burst which is repeated with certain periodicity e.g. 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms and 160 ms. The UE is configured with information about SSB on cells of certain carrier frequency by one or more SS/PBCH block measurement timing configuration (SMTC) configurations. The SMTC configuration comprises parameters such as SMTC periodicity, SMTC occasion length in time or duration, SMTC time offset with reference to a reference time (e.g. serving cell’s SFN) etc. Therefore, SMTC occasion may also occur with certain periodicity e.g. 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms and 160 ms. Examples of UL physical signals are reference signal such as SRS, DMRS etc. The term physical channel refers to any channel carrying higher layer information e.g. data, control etc. Examples of physical channels are PBCH, NPBCH, PDCCH, PDSCH, sPUCCH, sPDSCH. sPUCCH. sPUSCH, MPDCCH, NPDCCH, NPDSCH, E-PDCCH, PUSCH, PUCCH, NPUSCH etc.

Figs. 8a and 8b are schematic overviews depicting the radio network node 120 in two embodiments for handling one or more measurements in the wireless communications network 1 according to embodiments herein.

The radio network node 120 may comprise processing circuitry 1001 , e.g., one or more processors, configured to perform the methods herein.

The radio network node 120 may comprise a transmitting unit 1002, e.g., a transmitter or a transceiver. The radio network node 120, the processing circuitry 1001 and/or the transmitting unit 1002 is configured to transmit to the UE 10, the RRC message comprising the indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and the trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of the one or more configurations of the configuration or configurations. The trigger indication may be a flag, a field identifying a gap, an index, and/or a list. The flag may comprise an activation flag or/and a deactivation flag. The flag may take two values, one value which activates the gaps, and one value which deactivates the gaps. The trigger indication may indicate in a field an identifier of a gap activation or deactivation. The UE 10 may upon configuration activate (or deactivate) the gap associated to that identifier upon reception of the field. Such an approach could be applied to several gaps, e.g. an identifier for a group of gaps could be provided and the gaps within the identified group would be activated (or deactivated) upon configuration. The radio network node 120 may indicate for the gaps which group the gap belongs to.

The radio network node 120 may comprise a memory 1005. The memory 1005 comprises one or more units to be used to store data on, such as data packets, configuration or configurations, indication, trigger indication, allocated resources, thresholds, events and applications to perform the methods disclosed herein when being executed, and similar. Furthermore, the radio network node 120 may comprise a communication interface 1008 such as comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver and/or one or more antennas.

The methods according to the embodiments described herein for the radio network node 120 are respectively implemented by means of e.g. a computer program product 1006 or a computer program, comprising instructions, i.e. , software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the radio network node 120. The computer program product 1006 may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1007, e.g. a disc, a universal serial bus (USB) stick or similar. The computer-readable storage medium 1007, having stored thereon the computer program product, may comprise the instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the radio network node 120. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be a transitory or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Thus, embodiments herein may disclose a radio network node for handling one or more measurements in a wireless communications network, wherein the radio network node comprises processing circuitry and a memory, said memory comprising instructions executable by said processing circuitry whereby said radio network node is operative to perform any of the methods herein.

Figs. 9a and 9b are schematic overviews depicting the UE 10 in two embodiments for handling one or more measurements in the wireless communications network 1 according to embodiments herein.

The UE 10 may comprise processing circuitry 901 , e.g., one or more processors, configured to perform the methods herein.

The UE 10 may comprise a receiving unit 902, e.g., a receiver or transceiver. The UE 10, the processing circuitry 901 and/or the receiving unit 902 is configured to receive from the radio network node 120, the RRC message comprising the indication of a configuration or configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows, and the trigger indication indicating activation or deactivation of the one or more configurations of the configuration or configurations. The trigger indication may be a flag, a field identifying a gap, an index, and/or a list. The flag may comprise an activation flag or/and a deactivation flag. The flag may take two values, one value which activates the gaps, and one value which deactivates the gaps. The trigger indication may indicate in a field an identifier of a gap activation or deactivation. The UE 10 may upon configuration activate (or deactivate) the gap associated to that identifier upon reception of the field. Such an approach could be applied to several gaps, e.g. an identifier for a group of gaps could be provided and the gaps within the identified group would be activated (or deactivated) upon configuration. The radio network node 120 may indicate for the gaps which group the gap belongs to.

The UE 10 may comprise a triggering unit 903. The UE 10, the processing circuitry 901 and/or the triggering unit 903 is configured to activate or deactivate the one or more configurations for one or more measurement gaps and/or one or more PRS processing windows based on the trigger indication. The UE 10, the processing circuitry 901 and/or the triggering unit 903 may be configured to, upon reception of the trigger indication, activate or deactivate the one or more configurations.

The UE 10 may comprise a measuring unit 904. The UE 10, the processing circuitry 901 and/or the measuring unit 904 may be configured to perform one or more measurements using the one or more activated configurations.

The UE 10 may comprise a memory 905. The memory 905 comprises one or more units to be used to store data on, such as data packets, indications, trigger indications, signal strengths/qualities, measurements, RA procedures, events and applications to perform the methods disclosed herein when being executed, and similar. Furthermore, the UE 10 may comprise a communication interface 908 such as comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver and/or one or more antennas.

The methods according to the embodiments described herein for the UE 10 are respectively implemented by means of e.g. a computer program product 906 or a computer program, comprising instructions, i.e. , software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the UE 10. The computer program product 906 may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 907, e.g. a disc, a universal serial bus (USB) stick or similar. The computer-readable storage medium 907, having stored thereon the computer program product, may comprise the instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the UE 10. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be a transitory or a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium. Thus, embodiments herein may disclose a UE 10 for handling one or more measurements in a wireless communications network, wherein the UE 10 comprises processing circuitry and a memory, said memory comprising instructions executable by said processing circuitry whereby said UE 10 is operative to perform any of the methods herein.

In some embodiments a more general term “radio network node” is used and it can correspond to any type of radio-network node or any network node, which communicates with a wireless device and/or with another network node. Examples of network nodes are NodeB, MeNB, SeNB, a network node belonging to Master cell group (MCG) or Secondary cell group (SCG), base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, gNodeB, network controller, radio-network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote radio Unit (RRU), Remote Radio Head (RRH), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), etc.

In some embodiments the non-limiting term wireless device or user equipment (UE) is used and it refers to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and/or with another wireless device in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of UE are target device, device to device (D2D) UE, proximity capable UE (aka ProSe UE), machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles etc.

Embodiments are applicable to any RAT or multi-RAT systems, where the wireless device receives and/or transmit signals (e.g. data) e.g. New Radio (NR), Wi-Fi, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile communications/enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (GSM/EDGE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), just to mention a few possible implementations.

As will be readily understood by those familiar with communications design, that functions means or circuits may be implemented using digital logic and/or one or more microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other digital hardware. In some embodiments, several or all of the various functions may be implemented together, such as in a single application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or in two or more separate devices with appropriate hardware and/or software interfaces between them. Several of the functions may be implemented on a processor shared with other functional components of a wireless device or network node, for example.

Alternatively, several of the functional elements of the processing means discussed may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware, while others are provided with hardware for executing software, in association with the appropriate software or firmware. Thus, the term “processor” or “controller” as used herein does not exclusively refer to hardware capable of executing software and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware and/or program or application data. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included. Designers of communications devices will appreciate the cost, performance, and maintenance trade-offs inherent in these design choices.

Any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual apparatuses. Each virtual apparatus may comprise a number of these functional units. These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unit to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

With reference to Fig 10, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes a telecommunication network 3210, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises an access network 3211 , such as a radio access network, and a core network 3214. The access network 3211 comprises a plurality of base stations 3212a, 3212b, 3212c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points being examples of the radio network node 12 herein, each defining a corresponding coverage area 3213a, 3213b, 3213c. Each base station 3212a, 3212b, 3212c is connectable to the core network 3214 over a wired or wireless connection 3215. A first user equipment (UE) 3291, being an example of the UE 10, located in coverage area 3213c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 3212c. A second UE 3292 in coverage area 3213a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 3212a. While a plurality of UEs 3291, 3292 are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station 3212.

The telecommunication network 3210 is itself connected to a host computer 3230, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 3230 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections 3221, 3222 between the telecommunication network 3210 and the host computer 3230 may extend directly from the core network 3214 to the host computer 3230 or may go via an optional intermediate network 3220. The intermediate network 3220 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; the intermediate network 3220, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, the intermediate network 3220 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system of Figure 10 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected UEs 3291, 3292 and the host computer 3230. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 3250. The host computer 3230 and the connected UEs 3291 , 3292 are configured to communicate data and/or signalling via the OTT connection 3250, using the access network 3211, the core network 3214, any intermediate network 3220 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection 3250 may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection 3250 passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a base station 3212 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 3230 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE 3291. Similarly, the base station 3212 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 3291 towards the host computer 3230.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to Fig. 11. In a communication system 3300, a host computer 3310 comprises hardware 3315 including a communication interface 3316 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 3300. The host computer 3310 further comprises processing circuitry 3318, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, the processing circuitry 3318 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The host computer 3310 further comprises software 3311 , which is stored in or accessible by the host computer 3310 and executable by the processing circuitry 3318. The software 3311 includes a host application 3312. The host application 3312 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a UE 3330 connecting via an OTT connection 3350 terminating at the UE 3330 and the host computer 3310. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 3312 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 3350.

The communication system 3300 further includes a base station 3320 provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware 3325 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 3310 and with the UE 3330. The hardware 3325 may include a communication interface 3326 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 3300, as well as a radio interface 3327 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 3370 with a UE 3330 located in a coverage area (not shown in Fig.11) served by the base station 3320. The communication interface 3326 may be configured to facilitate a connection 3360 to the host computer 3310. The connection 3360 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in Fig.11) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, the hardware 3325 of the base station 3320 further includes processing circuitry 3328, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The base station 3320 further has software 3321 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

The communication system 3300 further includes the UE 3330 already referred to. Its hardware 3335 may include a radio interface 3337 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 3370 with a base station serving a coverage area in which the UE 3330 is currently located. The hardware 3335 of the UE 3330 further includes processing circuitry 3338, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The UE 3330 further comprises software 3331 , which is stored in or accessible by the UE 3330 and executable by the processing circuitry 3338. The software 3331 includes a client application 3332. The client application 3332 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the UE 3330, with the support of the host computer 3310. In the host computer 3310, an executing host application 3312 may communicate with the executing client application 3332 via the OTT connection 3350 terminating at the UE 3330 and the host computer 3310. In providing the service to the user, the client application 3332 may receive request data from the host application 3312 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 3350 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 3332 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that the host computer 3310, base station 3320 and UE 3330 illustrated in Fig. 11 may be identical to the host computer 3230, one of the base stations 3212a, 3212b, 3212c and one of the UEs 3291, 3292 of Fig. 10, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in Fig. 11 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of Fig. 10.

In Fig. 11 , the OTT connection 3350 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 3310 and the user equipment 3330 via the base station 3320, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the UE 3330 or from the service provider operating the host computer 3310, or both. While the OTT connection 3350 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing, e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network.

The wireless connection 3370 between the UE 3330 and the base station 3320 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE 3330 using the OTT connection 3350, in which the wireless connection 3370 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the performance since delay is reduced and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, and better responsiveness.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 3350 between the host computer 3310 and UE 3330, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 3350 may be implemented in the software 3311 of the host computer 3310 or in the software 3331 of the UE 3330, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 3350 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 3311, 3331 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 3350 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the base station 3320, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the base station 3320. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signalling facilitating the host computer’s 3310 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that the software 3311 , 3331 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 3350 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 12 will be included in this section. In a first step 3410 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep 3411 of the first step 3410, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step 3420, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In an optional third step 3430, the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional fourth step 3440, the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 13 will be included in this section. In a first step 3510 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step 3520, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step 3530, the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 14 will be included in this section. In an optional first step 3610 of the method, the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step 3620, the UE provides user data. In an optional substep 3621 of the second step 3620, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In a further optional substep 3611 of the first step 3610, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in an optional third substep 3630, transmission of the user data to the host computer. In a fourth step 3640 of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 15 will be included in this section. In an optional first step 3710 of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In an optional second step 3720, the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In a third step 3730, the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station. It will be appreciated that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings represent non-limiting examples of the methods and apparatus taught herein. As such, the apparatus and techniques taught herein are not limited by the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Instead, the embodiments herein are limited only by the following claims and their legal equivalents.