TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to wireless communications and, more particularly, to methods, apparatus and systems for configuring a minimization of drive test function in a wireless network with a multi-connectivity architecture.

BACKGROUND

For network optimization of a present mobile communication system, a drive test is usually used to check whether the coverage quality and the system performance achieve desired design requirements. In a conventional drive test, professional people, e.g. network optimizers, drive vehicles along random routes. Each of them uses a measurement terminal to record events and measurement values along the route, and provides the records to the operator for network optimization. This process requires significant labor and time, which imposes a heavy burden for the network operator to build and maintain the network.

In order to reduce the cost and complexity of a manual drive test, the Third Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP) introduces a Minimization of Drive Test (MDT) function in Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) and Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) release-10 version. The UTRAN includes base station Node B and radio network controller (RNC). The E-UTRAN includes evolved base station eNB. The core network (CN) corresponding to the UTRAN includes a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) server, a serving GPRS (general packet radio service) support node (SGSN), etc. The CN corresponding to the E-UTRAN includes an HSS, a Mobile Management Entity (MME), etc. The MDT function automatically collects measurement information by a user equipment (UE) or a terminal, and reports the measurement information to a radio access network (RAN) through a control plane signaling. For a UTRAN system, the measurement information is reported to an RNC; for an E-UTRAN system, the measurement information is reported to an eNB. Then the measurement information is reported to a Trace Collection Entity (TCE) of an Operation and Maintenance (OAM) system through the RAN for network optimization, e.g. for discovering and solving the network coverage issue.

In addition, the MDT function can be used to collect wireless measurement information in areas, e.g. indoor areas and private areas, where a manual drive test cannot reach. But existing technology on MDT focuses merely on a drive test in a wireless network under a single-connectivity architecture, where a terminal connects merely to a single base station for service. Thus, existing systems and methods for configuring MDT in a wireless network are not entirely satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are directed to solving the issues relating to one or more of the problems presented in the prior art, as well as providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In accordance with various embodiments, exemplary systems, methods, devices and computer program products are disclosed herein. It is understood, however, that these embodiments are presented by way of example and not limitation, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who read the present disclosure that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be made while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, a method performed by a first wireless communication node is disclosed. The method includes: transmitting, to a second wireless communication node, configuration information for a minimization of drive test (MDT) measurement; and receiving, from the second wireless communication node, a feedback in response to the configuration information for the MDT measurement. The first wireless communication node and the second wireless communication node are both nodes in a wireless network.

In a further embodiment, a method performed by a first wireless communication node is disclosed. The method includes: transmitting, to a second wireless communication node, a request for a minimization of drive test (MDT) measurement; receiving, from the second wireless communication node, a configuration message for the MDT measurement; and transmitting, to the second wireless communication node, a feedback in response to the configuration message. The first wireless communication node and the second wireless communication node are both nodes in a wireless network.

In another embodiment, a method performed by a first wireless communication node is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, from a second wireless communication node, configuration information for a minimization of drive test (MDT) measurement; transmitting, to the second wireless communication node, a feedback in response to the configuration information for the MDT measurement. The first wireless communication node and the second wireless communication node are both nodes in a wireless network.

In yet another embodiment, a method performed by a first wireless communication node is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, from a second wireless communication node, a request for a minimization of drive test (MDT) measurement; transmitting, to the second wireless communication node, a configuration message for the MDT measurement; and receiving, from the second wireless communication node, a feedback in response to the configuration message. The first wireless communication node and the second wireless communication node are both nodes in a wireless network.

In a different embodiment, a wireless communication node configured to carry out a disclosed method in some embodiment is disclosed.

In still another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for carrying out a disclosed method in some embodiment is disclosed.

