FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication, and in particular, to methods, devices and a computer readable medium for a restriction on a measurement for a neighbor cell.

BACKGROUND

In wireless communications, Cell Reference Signal (CRS) muting is a novel feature realizing reduced CRS transmissions. For a cell with CRS muting enabled, a Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement for this cell only can be performed on particular Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) with an always-on CRS. If a UE performs the measurement outside of these PRBs (or bandwidth), measurement results may be wrong.

In contrast, for a cell with CRS muting disabled, a UE can measure the cell in any bandwidth. For an enhanced Machine Type Communication (eMTC) UE, the measurement may be performed in any narrow band in a cell bandwidth. For a normal UE, the measurement may be done in a full cell bandwidth, depending on UE implementation.

Additionally, CRS muting is a cell level feature, that is, it can be enabled or disabled on a cell basis. This means that neighbor cells, either on a same or on a different carrier than a serving cell, may be in a different CRS muting state from the serving cell. For example, it is possible that CRS muting is enabled in the serving cell but disabled in a neighbor cell, or CRS muting is disabled in the serving cell but enabled in a neighbor cell.

In a communication network with CRS muting enabled in some cells and disabled in some other cells, it is desirable to ensure that UEs perform neighbor cell measurements on correct bandwidths.

SUMMARY

In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices and a computer readable medium for a restriction on a measurement for a neighbor cell.

In a first aspect, there is provided a method implemented by a network device in a communication system. The method comprises determining a neighbor cell on a frequency layer capable of CRS muting, a cell reference signal in the neighbor cell being transmitted on a predetermined physical resource if the neighbor cell enables CRS muting. The method also comprises in response to the determination, transmitting measurement restriction information to a terminal device in a cell of the network device, the measurement restriction information indicating that a RRM measurement for any neighbor cell on the frequency layer is restricted to be performed on the predetermined physical resource.

In a second aspect, there is provided a method implemented by a terminal device in a communication system. The method comprises receiving, from a network device, measurement restriction information indicating that a RRM measurement for any neighbor cell on a frequency layer is restricted to be performed on a predetermined physical resource. The method also comprises performing, on the predetermined physical resource, the RRM measurement for a neighbor cell on the frequency layer.

In a third aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions thereon. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the network device to perform acts. The acts comprise determining a neighbor cell on a frequency layer capable of CRS muting, a cell reference signal in the neighbor cell being transmitted on a predetermined physical resource if the neighbor cell enables CRS muting. The acts also comprise in response to the determination, transmitting measurement restriction information to a terminal device in a cell of the network device, the measurement restriction information indicating that a RRM measurement for any neighbor cell on the frequency layer is restricted to be performed on the predetermined physical resource.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions thereon. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the terminal device to perform acts. The acts comprise receiving, from a network device, measurement restriction information indicating that a RRM measurement for any neighbor cell on a frequency layer is restricted to be performed on a predetermined physical resource. The acts also comprise performing, on the predetermined physical resource, the RRM measurement for a neighbor cell on the frequency layer.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon. The instructions, when executed on at least one processor of a device, cause the device to carry out the method according to the first or second aspect.

It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

