Abstract: Methods of MDT information logging and reporting are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided to resolve shortcomings of prior art by correlating UL measurements with QoS information to enable UL performance analysis and accurate detection of coverage problems. In another embodiment, a method is provided to resolve the shortcomings of the prior art by making DL measurements and location information collecting or logging conditional on UL measurements.

Abstract: A method of collecting and providing traffic statistics in a cellular network in accordance is proposed. A UE establishes an RRC connection with a base station. The UE starts to collect traffic statistics that comprises a CDF curve or a PDF diagram for packet inter-arrival time. The UE may receive a measurement configuration from the base station for the traffic statistics collection. The UE then reports a representation of the traffic statistics to the base station for RRC reconfiguration. The UE may also receive a reporting request from the base station that specifies a representation format. The representation format includes one or more probability values at corresponding inter-arrival time points, at least one slope of the CDF, one or more steep events in the CDF, or a PDF range.

Abstract: A method of using additional uplink measurements for MDT UL coverage is provided. A base station (eNodeB) establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication network. The eNodeB and the UE are configured for Minimization of Drive Test (MDT). The eNodeB receives a Power Headroom Report (PRH) corresponds to a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) from the UE, and forwards the PHR to an MDT server. The eNodeB performs uplink measurement of a Demodulation Reference Signal (DM-RS) allocated in the PUSCH. The uplink measurement also involves measuring an uplink Received Interference Power (RIP) associated with the PUSCH. The eNodeB then reports uplink measurement results to the MDT server. The MDT server is able to determine uplink coverage based on the PHR and the uplink measurement results.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided to enhance scheduling request to multiple schedulers with inter base station carrier aggregation. In one novel aspect, the UE monitors and detects one or more SR triggering event. The UE selects one or more base stations based on predefined criteria and sends the SR to the selected one or more base stations. In one embodiment, at least one LC of the UE is associated with multiple BSs with association priorities. In one embodiment, the association priorities are configured by the network. In other embodiments, the association priorities are derived based on predefined UE configurations, or are derived from load information received by the UE, or are derived from radio measurements. In one novel aspect, the UE upon detecting SR failure triggered on a triggering LC, sends SR failure indication to a RRC layer or associates the triggering LC with a different base station.

Abstract: A method of throughput and data volume measurement for minimization of drive test (MDT) is proposed. A base station establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication network. The base station or UE measures transmitted or received data volume during a transmission time of a data burst between the base station and the UE. When the data burst spans multiple measurement periods and the data burst is split at each measurement period boundary. For each measurement period, data volume during the measurement period is measured to generate a measurement result. When throughput measurement is performed by the network, the base station receives location information that is available during the transmission time of the data burst. The data volume measurement is logged with time stamp such that each measurement result can correlated with the location information.

Abstract: A method of throughput and data volume measurement for minimization of drive test (MDT) is proposed. A base station establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication network. The base station or UE measures transmitted or received data volume during a transmission time of a data burst between the base station and the UE. When the data burst spans multiple measurement periods and the data burst is split at each measurement period boundary. For each measurement period, data volume during the measurement period is measured to generate a measurement result. When throughput measurement is performed by the network, the base station receives location information that is available during the transmission time of the data burst. The data volume measurement is logged with time stamp such that each measurement result can correlated with the location information.

Abstract: Various schemes are provided to improve SR resource utilization by adapting SR resource allocation to traffic pattern. In a first Scheme, SR resource allocation is configured more accurately. In one example, UE provides assistant information for eNB to determine or adjust SR configuration based on the received assistant information. In a second Scheme, multiple SR periods are configured and adapted to traffic pattern. In one example, eNB configures a set of SR resources with multiple SR periods, and UE applies different SR periods based on predefined events. Unused SR resources could be recycled by eNB for PUSCH data transmission. In a third Scheme, multiple SR allocations are configured and adapted to concerned applications. In one example, eNB configures multiple sets of SR resources adapted to predefined applications, and UE applies SR configurations based on corresponding applications. The additional SR configurations could be activated and/or deactivated.

Abstract: A method of user equipment (UE) indication of traffic-related information to network is provided. The method comprises a UE determining a traffic indicator and transmitting the traffic indicator to a base station. In one embodiment, the traffic indicator indicates either that default power consumption is preferred or low power consumption is preferred. For example, when the UE is in background traffic or sparse traffic, low power consumption is preferred. In another embodiment, the traffic indicator indicates a time pattern of the traffic history. From the network perspective, upon receiving and evaluating information contained in the traffic indicator, the network triggers a QoS modification procedure by applying one or more QoS modification algorithms.

Abstract: A method of managing user consent for minimization of drive test (MDT) measurements collection is provided. In one novel aspect, user consent information is handled by a centralized server having a central database. The user consent information is only stored in one place, and can be updated easily from a customer care system. The user consent information can easily be used as a basis for charging. In one embodiment, the centralize server is part of a home subscriber server (HSS), and the user consent information is part of subscription information. The solution enables managing user consent for MDT measurement collection with maximum simplicity and minimum impact to the current system.

Abstract: Methods for small cell discovery in heterogeneous networks are proposed for efficient cell search and better power saving. In one novel aspect, a user equipment (UE) measures small cells only when the UE enters into the vicinity of the small cells. For example, the UE detects the proximity of small cells and reports proximity indication information to the network. Based on the vicinity indication, the network provides suitable measurement configuration for small cells. In a second novel aspect, the UE performs guided search for small cell discovery. In a third novel aspect, the UE increases search rate for small cells when it is in the vicinity of small cells, and decreases search rate for small cells when it is not in the vicinity of small cells. The detection may be based on location information provided by the network or based on vicinity detection information autonomously stored by the UE.

Abstract: A method of UE RSRQ measurement precaution for interference coordination is provided. The UE receives radio signals of a neighbor cell under measurement. The neighbor cell applies a TDM silencing pattern for inter-cell interference coordination (TDM ICIC). The UE determines a measurement pattern that includes multiple subframes. The UE performs RSRQ measurements of the cell over multiple subframes and obtains multiple RSRQ measurement samples. The UE derives RSRQ measurement result by estimating the multiple RSRQ samples and applying a weighted average. RSRQ samples estimated to be more applicable are taken into account to more extent (e.g., applied with more weight), and/or RSRQ samples estimated to be less applicable are taken into account to less extent (e.g., applied with less weight, or discarded with zero weight). With UE precaution, a more predictable RSRQ measurement result is produced.

Abstract: A method of inter-cell interference coordination is provided for UE measurements and network access procedure. In a first embodiment, a UE in idle mode performs measurements on received radio signals applying a simplified radio resource restriction for interference coordination. The UE determines the restricted radio resource without receiving explicit measurement configuration. In a second embodiment, during various phases of a network access procedure, the UE indicates its interference status and/or additional interference information to its serving base station to enhance interference coordination. In a third embodiment, the UE in connected mode performs measurements on both interference-protected transmission resources and non-interference-protected transmission resources. The UE measurement results are used for scheduling, radio link monitoring, and/or mobility management to increase radio spectrum efficiency and to improve user experience.

Abstract: A method of implicit signaling to support In-Device coexistence interference avoidance is provided. A UE sends an IDC interference indication to an eNB. The indication indicates that a serving frequency becomes unusable due to a coexistence interference problem. The indication does not explicitly indicate a frequency index or a frequency location of the unusable serving frequency. The eNB determines the serving frequency as unusable in an implicit manner. The eNB also determines an implied unusable frequency region based on the received IDC indication. The implied unusable frequency region is between the serving frequency and the ISM band. In one advantageous aspect, the eNB configures a condition for the UE, such that the UE is refrained from sending IDC interference indications unless the condition is satisfied.

Abstract: Methods for enhanced heterogeneous network mobility are proposed. In a first novel aspect, the cell size of a target cell is considered when determining the TTT value. In one embodiment, pico-specific Time-to-Trigger (TTT) value is configured. When the target cell to be measured is a picocell, pico-specific TTT value is applied. In a second novel aspect, precise mobility state estimation (MSE) is achieved by considering the effect of cell size. In one embodiment, when counting cell changes, a cell change to/from a small cell would be counted to lesser extent than a cell change between large cells. UE uses effective parameters for measurement evaluation, by applying better speed state estimation with speed scaling and by applying parameter differentiation that can be dependent on cell size.

Abstract: A method of inter-cell interference coordination is provided for UE measurements and network access procedure. In a first embodiment, a UE in idle mode performs measurements on received radio signals applying a simplified radio resource restriction for interference coordination. The UE determines the restricted radio resource without receiving explicit measurement configuration. In a second embodiment, during various phases of a network access procedure, the UE indicates its interference status and/or additional interference information to its serving base station to enhance interference coordination. In a third embodiment, the UE in connected mode performs measurements on both interference-protected transmission resources and non-interference-protected transmission resources. The UE measurement results are used for scheduling, radio link monitoring, and/or mobility management to increase radio spectrum efficiency and to improve user experience.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided to configure two-tier identifiers for serving cells of a UE configured with inter-eNB carrier aggregation (CA). In one novel aspect, cell group identifiers are configured. The cell group identifier is a super set of one or more uplink group identifiers that are associated with serving cells served by the same base station. In one embodiment, different MAC entities are associated with different cell group identifiers. The UE performs uplink alignment, monitoring and management procedures linking to the cell group identifier. In another novel aspect, a group TAG, which is a super set identifier of one or more cell TAGs associated with serving cells served by the same base station, is configured. In one embodiment, the UE performs uplink alignment procedure based on the status of the group TAG, which is determined based on the status of the cell TAGs associated with the group TAG.

Abstract: A method of failure event reporting for initial connection setup failure is proposed. In one embodiment, a UE first camps in RRC_IDLE mode in a cell served by a base station. The UE then detects a connection setup failure when performing a random access channel (RACH) procedure with the base station in an RRC connection attempt. The UE records a failure event report when the RACH procedure fails. Later, the UE transmits the failure event report to the network in RRC_CONNECTED mode. The failure event report comprises information that refers to the earlier RRC connection attempt. The failure event report also comprises available location information or available mobility measurements at the time the initial connection setup failure occurs. Based on the failure event report, the network can adopt corrective actions accordingly to mitigate the failure.

Abstract: A method of throughput and data volume measurement for minimization of drive test (MDT) is proposed. A base station establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication network. The base station or UE measures transmitted or received data volume during a transmission time of a data burst between the base station and the UE. When the data burst spans multiple measurement periods and the data burst is split at each measurement period boundary. For each measurement period, data volume during the measurement period is measured to generate a measurement result. When throughput measurement is performed by the network, the base station receives location information that is available during the transmission time of the data burst. The data volume measurement is logged with time stamp such that each measurement result can correlated with the location information.

Abstract: A method of user equipment (UE) indication of traffic-related information to network is provided. The method comprises a UE determining a traffic indicator and transmitting the traffic indicator to a base station. In one embodiment, the traffic indicator indicates either that default power consumption is preferred or low power consumption is preferred. For example, when the UE is in background traffic or sparse traffic, low power consumption is preferred. In another embodiment, the traffic indicator indicates a time pattern of the traffic history. From the network perspective, upon receiving and evaluating information contained in the traffic indicator, the network triggers a QoS modification procedure by applying one or more QoS modification algorithms.

Abstract: Various schemes are provided to improve SR resource utilization by adapting SR resource allocation to traffic pattern. In a first Scheme, SR resource allocation is configured more accurately. In one example, UE provides assistant information for eNB to determine or adjust SR configuration based on the received assistant information. In a second Scheme, multiple SR periods are configured and adapted to traffic pattern. In one example, eNB configures a set of SR resources with multiple SR periods, and UE applies different SR periods based on predefined events. Unused SR resources could be recycled by eNB for PUSCH data transmission. In a third Scheme, multiple SR allocations are configured and adapted to concerned applications. In one example, eNB configures multiple sets of SR resources adapted to predefined applications, and UE applies SR configurations based on corresponding applications. The additional SR configurations could be activated and/or deactivated.