Signal measurement method for adding secondary node in dual connectivity environment and electronic device of same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12022544-B2
Application number	US-201917294787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2019
Priority date	Nov 19, 2018
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a signal measurement method for adding a secondary node in an electronic device and the electronic device thereof, and the electronic device may include a first communication circuit configured to provide first wireless communication using a first frequency range, a second communication circuit configured to provide second wireless communication using a second frequency range, a processor operatively connected with the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit, and a memory operatively connected with the processor, and configured to store at least one first measurement configuration information, and the memory may store instructions for, when executed, causing the processor to, using the first communication circuit, perform communication connection with a master node (MN) base station operating as an MN, while performing the communication connection with the MN base station, measure a state of a signal from at least one base station for operating as a secondary node (SN) using the at least one first measurement configuration information, using the second communication circuit, and transmit a first message including at least part of the measurement result, to the MN base station.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device of a network comprising:
a first communication circuit configured to provide first wireless communication using a first frequency range;
a second communication circuit configured to provide second wireless communication using a second frequency range;
a processor operatively connected with the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit; and
a memory operatively connected with the processor, and configured to store at least one first measurement configuration information,
wherein the memory stores instructions for, when executed, causing the processor to,
using the first communication circuit, perform communication connection with a master node (MN) base station operating as an MN,
while performing the communication connection with the MN base station, measure a state of a signal from at least one base station for operating as a secondary node (SN) using the at least one first measurement configuration information, using the second communication circuit,
transmit a first message comprising at least part of the measurement result, to the MN base station;
receive a second message from the MN base station, a second message comprising at least one second measurement configuration information for performing signal state measurement using the second communication circuit;
transmit the first message comprising at least part of the measurement result, to the MN base station, based on the at least one second measurement configuration information; and
determine a start timing for measuring the state of the signal from at least one base station for operating as the secondary node by using the at least one first measurement configuration information based on a timing of recognizing that the network supports a dual connectivity environment based on information received from the MN base station.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to,
based on the at least one second measurement configuration information, update and store the at least one first configuration information in the memory.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to,
receive from the MN base station, a third message comprising information an SN base station for operating as a secondary node selected based on the first message, and
perform communication connection with the SN base station.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to,
store measurement configuration information obtained based on system information of the communication-connected SN base station in the memory to be included in the at least one first measurement configuration information.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to,
determine validity with respect to the at least one first measurement configuration information, and
based on the determination result, measure a state of a signal from at least one base station for operating as the secondary node using the first measurement configuration information determined to be valid.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to,
during the communication connection with the MN base station, determine whether communication connection with the base station for operating as the secondary node is necessary based on an amount of packets accumulated at the electronic device while waiting for transmission, a quality of service (QoS) requested by an application executed in the electronic device, or attribute information of the application, and
as a result of the determination, measure the state of the signal from at least one base station for operating as the secondary node only if determining that the communication connection with the base station for operating as the secondary node is necessary.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to,
set a valid time with respect to the at least one first measurement configuration information, and
determine that the first measurement configuration information is valid, based on the valid time.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the valid time is set differently according to mobility of the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to,
store the at least one first measurement configuration information in association with at least one MN base station, and
determine that first measurement configuration information associated with the MN base station which performs the communication connection is valid among the at least one first measurement configuration information.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to,
calculate a time required to measure the state of the signal from at least one base station for operating as the SN using the at least one first measurement configuration information, and
based on the calculation result, determine the measurement start timing for measuring the state of the signal from at least one base station for operating as the SN using the at least one first measurement configuration information.

11. An operating method of an electronic device of a network comprising:
using a first communication circuit, performing communication connection with a master node (MN) base station operating as an MN;
together with performing the communication connection with the MN base station, measuring a state of a signal received from at least one base station for operating as a secondary node (SN) using the at least one first measurement configuration information, using a second communication circuit;
transmitting a first message comprising at least part of the measurement result, to the MN base station; and
receiving from the MN base station, a second message comprising at least one second measurement configuration information for performing signal state measurement using the second communication circuit,

wherein transmitting the first message comprising at least part of the measurement result comprises transmitting the first message comprising at least part of the measurement result, to the MN base station, based on the at least one second measurement configuration information, and
wherein the measuring the state of the signal received from at least one base station for operating as the secondary node (SN) comprises determining a start timing for measuring the state of the signal from at least one base station for operating as the secondary node by using the at least one first measurement configuration information based on a timing of recognizing that a network supports a dual connectivity environment based on information received from the MN base station.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein measuring the state of the signal from at least one second base station using the at least one first measurement configuration information comprises:
determining validity with respect to the at least one first measurement configuration information; and
measuring the state of the signal from the at least one base station for operating as the SN using first measurement configuration information determined to be valid.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chung Wonsuk
• Kim Jihwan
• Lee Taeseop
• Cha Jiyoung
• Kim Hyejeong
• Lee Sangho
• Park Suyoung

Classifications

• H04W48/08

  Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery (signalling during connection H04W76/00) · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W24/10 Primary

  Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} · CPC title

• H04W76/15 Primary

  Setup of multiple wireless link connections · CPC title