Measurement reporting

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in order to provide for periodic measurements related to a frequency identified by the network, such as a downlink frequency associated with a secondary uplink frequency. In the context of a method, a message is caused to be transmitted to a mobile terminal indicating that the mobile terminal is to perform periodic measurements in relation to a secondary uplink frequency. Following the performance of the periodic measurements by the mobile terminal, the method also includes receiving an indication of the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency that have been performed by the mobile terminal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in measurement reporting, the method comprising:
 causing a message to be transmitted to a mobile terminal indicating that the mobile terminal is to perform periodic measurements in relation to a secondary uplink frequency; and   receiving an indication of the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency performed by the mobile terminal,   wherein the message identifies the secondary uplink frequency and includes control information specific to the secondary uplink frequency, independent of any other frequency to be measured.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the control information includes at least one of:
 a reporting amount that indicates a number of times that a periodic measurement is to be reported,   an interval at which results of the periodic measurements are to be reported, and   a reporting cell status.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the message includes a flag indicating that the mobile terminal is to perform the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the periodic measurements comprises receiving at least one of:
 an indication of a quality of a cell on a downlink frequency associated with the secondary uplink frequency,   an indication of a strength of signals on the downlink frequency associated with the secondary uplink frequency, and   a pathloss.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for use in measurement reporting, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
 cause a message to be transmitted to a mobile terminal indicating that the mobile terminal is to perform periodic measurements in relation to a secondary uplink frequency; and   receive an indication of the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency performed by the mobile terminal,   wherein the message identifies the secondary uplink frequency and includes control information specific to the secondary uplink frequency, independent of any other frequency to be measured.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the control information includes at least one of:
 a reporting amount that indicates a number of times that a periodic measurement is to be reported,   an interval at which results of the periodic measurements are to be reported, and   a reporting cell status.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the message includes a flag indicating that the mobile terminal is to perform the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the apparatus to receive the indication of the periodic measurements by receiving at least one of:
 an indication of a quality of a cell on a downlink frequency associated with the secondary uplink frequency,   an indication of a strength of signals on the secondary uplink frequency, and   a pathloss.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is embodied by a radio network controller. 
     
     
         10 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method for use in measurement reporting, the method comprising:
 causing a message to be transmitted to a mobile terminal indicating that the mobile terminal is to perform periodic measurements in relation to a secondary uplink frequency; and   receiving an indication of the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency performed by the mobile terminal,   wherein the message identifies the secondary uplink frequency and includes control information specific to the secondary uplink frequency, independent of any other frequency to be measured.   
     
     
         11 . A method for use in measurement reporting, the method comprising:
 receiving a message indicating that periodic measurements are to be performed periodically in relation to a secondary uplink frequency;   in response to receipt of the message, performing the periodic measurements periodically in relation to the secondary uplink frequency; and   causing an indication of the periodic measurements to be provided to a network,   wherein the received message identifies the secondary uplink frequency and includes control information specific to the secondary uplink frequency, independent of any other frequency to be measured, and   wherein performing the periodic measurements comprises performing the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency identified by the message.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the control information includes at least one of:
 a reporting amount that indicates a number of times that a periodic measurement is to be reported,   an interval at which results of the measurements are to be reported, and   a reporting cell status.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein causing an indication of the periodic measurements to be provided comprises causing a periodic measurement to be reported a number of times indicated by the reporting amount included within the control information. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein causing an indication of the periodic measurements to be provided comprises causing the indication of the periodic measurements to be provided in accordance with the interval included within the control information. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein performing the periodic measurements comprises determining at least one of:
 a quality of a cell on a downlink frequency associated with the secondary uplink frequency,   an indication of a strength of signals on the secondary uplink frequency, and   a pathloss.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the received message includes a flag indicating that periodic measurements are to be performed in relation to the secondary uplink frequency. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for use in measurement reporting, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
 receive a message indicating that periodic measurements are to be performed periodically in relation to a secondary uplink frequency;   in response to receipt of the message, perform the periodic measurements periodically in relation to the secondary uplink frequency; and   cause an indication of the periodic measurements to be provided to a network,   wherein the received message identifies the secondary uplink frequency and includes control information specific to the secondary uplink frequency, independent of any other frequency to be measured, and   wherein performing the periodic measurements comprises performing the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency identified by the message.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the control information includes at least one of:
 a reporting amount that indicates a number of times that a periodic measurement is to be reported,   an interval at which results of the periodic measurements are to be reported, and   a reporting cell status.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the apparatus to cause an indication of the periodic measurements to be provided by causing a periodic measurement to be reported a number of times indicated by the reporting amount included within the control information. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the apparatus to cause an indication of the periodic measurements to be provided by causing the indication of the periodic measurements to be provided in accordance with the interval included within the control information. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform the periodic measurements by determining at least one of:
 a quality of a cell on a downlink frequency associated with the secondary uplink frequency,   an indication of a strength of signals on the secondary uplink frequency, and   a pathloss.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the received message includes a flag indicating that periodic measurements are to be performed in relation to the secondary uplink frequency. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is embodied by a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , further comprising user interface circuitry adapted to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile telephone through use of a display or a touch screen. 
     
     
         25 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method for use in measurement reporting, the method comprising:
 receiving a message indicating that periodic measurements are to be performed periodically in relation to a secondary uplink frequency;   in response to receipt of the message, performing the periodic measurements periodically in relation to the secondary uplink frequency; and   causing an indication of the periodic measurements to be provided to a network,   wherein the received message identifies the secondary uplink frequency and includes control information specific to the secondary uplink frequency, independent of any other frequency to be measured, and   wherein performing the periodic measurements comprises performing the periodic measurements in relation to the secondary uplink frequency identified by the message.