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LTE UE Measurements Overview

When LTE eNB asks for measurements, let's have a look at how it goes through. UE measurement is configured with RRC Connection Reconfiguration procedure. Here is protocol sequence for that. Definitely RRC Connection Reconfiguration with measConfig option gives LTE devices preparation of cell measurement from when it is received. There are several kinds of new IEs under this message below.


First of all, this RRC Connection Reconfiguration for this purpose has measConfig node, which includes measObjectIDs, reportConfigIDs, and measIDs. measObjectIDs define measured object cells with channel numbers and reportConfigIDs does measurement and report criteria for instance events or periodic type. In the end of the message, measIDs combine both measObjectIDs and reportConfigIDs as process IDs.
  • measObjectID: defines measured object cell (e.g. carrierFreq)
  • reportConfigID: defines measurement and report criteria (e.g. Events)
  • measID: combines both measObjectID and reportConfigID as process ID


Here is measConfig IE node of a simple RRC Connection Reconfiguration message. You may notice a few nodes in blue and red, which are mapped to the gray blocks below. 

rrcConnectionReconfiguration-r8
    measConfig
        measObjectToAddModList: 2 items
            Item 0
                MeasObjectToAddMod
                    measObjectId: 1
                        measObject: measObjectEUTRA (0)
                            measObjectEUTRA
                                carrierFreq: 2175
                                allowedMeasBandwidth: mbw50 (3)
                                .... 0... presenceAntennaPort1: False
                                neighCellConfig: No MBSFN subframes are present in all neighbour cells (1)
                                offsetFreq: dB0 (15)
            Item 1
                MeasObjectToAddMod
                    measObjectId: 2
                        measObject: measObjectEUTRA (0)
                            measObjectEUTRA
                                carrierFreq: 5790
                                allowedMeasBandwidth: mbw50 (3)
                                .... ..0. presenceAntennaPort1: False
                                neighCellConfig: No MBSFN subframes are present in all neighbour cells (1)
                                offsetFreq: dB0 (15)
        reportConfigToAddModList: 1 item
            Item 0
                ReportConfigToAddMod
                    reportConfigId: 1
                    reportConfig: reportConfigEUTRA (0)
                        reportConfigEUTRA
                            triggerType: event (0)
                                event
                                    eventId: eventA3 (2)
                                        eventA3
                                            a3-Offset: 0dB (0)
                                            .... .0.. reportOnLeave: False
                                    hysteresis: 1dB (2)
                                    timeToTrigger: ms640 (11)
                            triggerQuantity: rsrp (0)
                            reportQuantity: both (1)
                            maxReportCells: 1
                            reportInterval: ms1024 (4)
                            reportAmount: r8 (0)
        measIdToAddModList: 2 items
            Item 0
                MeasIdToAddMod
                    measId: 1
                        measObjectId: 1
                        reportConfigId: 1
            Item 1
                MeasIdToAddMod
                    measId: 2
                        measObjectId: 2
                        reportConfigId: 1
        quantityConfig
            quantityConfigEUTRA
        measGapConfig: setup (1)
            setup
                gapOffset: gp0 (0)
                    gp0: 30

If measured values meet what measConfig (measObjectID, reportConfigID, and measID), this kind of Measurement Report can be anticipated. It delivers what is defined as reportQuantity under RRC Connection Reconfiguration as well as measured cell's physical cell ID. One of measIDs with PCell (Primary or Serving Cell) measured value must be reported and may include NeighCells one.

Then here is an example Measurement Report devices are sending below.

measurementReport-r8
    measResults
        measId: 2
        measResultPCell
            rsrpResult: -85dBm <= RSRP < -84dBm (56)
            rsrqResult: -11dB <= RSRQ < -10.5dB (18)
        measResultNeighCells: measResultListEUTRA (0)
            measResultListEUTRA: 1 item
                Item 0
                    MeasResultEUTRA
                        physCellId: 2
                        measResult
                            rsrpResult: -83dBm <= RSRP < -82dBm (58)
                            rsrqResult: -5.5dB <= RSRQ < -5dB (29)


# References
  • TS36.331 5.5.1 Introduction
  • TS36.331 5.5.2 Measurement configuration
  • TS36.331 6.3.5 Measurement information elements
  • LTE, The UMTS Long Term Evolution From Theory to Practice 3.2.5 Measurements