GB2640165A

GB2640165A - Early processing of candidate cell configuration based on early processing configuration

Info

Publication number: GB2640165A
Application number: GB2404778.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kainulainen Jani-Pekka; Karoliina Dimnik Riikka; Dosti Endrit; STANCZAK Jedrzej; Dalsgaard Lars
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2024-04-04
Filing date: 2024-04-04
Publication date: 2025-10-15
Also published as: WO2025209710A1

Abstract

A method includes receiving 1210 by a user device, e.g. user equipment, UEs (131, 132, 133 and 135, fig 1; 210 figs 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a serving cell (136, provided by gNB 134, 220) of a network (130), a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M < N; receiving 1220 an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; based on the early processing configuration, discarding one or more existing candidate cell configurations, and performing 1230 the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receiving 1240 a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, performing 1250 the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay. The method may further include: transmitting capability indication indicating that the UE supports early processing of M candidate cell configurations. Early processing includes a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration, and the cell switch command includes an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch to an indicated cell for which the early processing has been performed.

Description

EARLY PROCESSING OF CANDIDATE CELL CONFIGURATION BASED ON

EARLY PROCESSING CONFIGURATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

[00011 This description relates to wireless communications.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A communication system may be a facility that enables communication between two or more nodes or devices, such as fixed or mobile communication devices. Signals can be carried on wired or wireless carriers.

[0003] An example of a cellular communication system is an architecture that is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). A recent development in this field is often referred to as the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UNITS) radio-access technology. EUTRA (evolved UNITS Terrestrial Radio Access) is the air interface of 3GPP's Long Term Evolution (L 1E) upgrade path for mobile networks. In LTE, base stations or access points (APs), which are referred to as enhanced Node AP (eNBs), provide wireless access within a coverage area or cell.

In LTE, mobile devices, or mobile stations are referred to as user equipments (UE). LIE has included a number of improvements or developments. Aspects of LTE are also continuing to improve.

[0004] 5G New Radio (NR) development is part of a continued mobile broadband evolution process to meet the requirements of 50, similar to earlier evolution of 3G and 4G wireless networks. In addition, 5G is also targeted at the new emerging use cases in addition to mobile broadband. A goal of 5G is to provide significant improvement in wireless performance, which may include new levels of data rate, latency, reliability, and security. 50 NR may also scale to efficiently connect the massive Internet of Things (IoT) and may offer new types of mission-critical services. For example, ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) devices may require high reliability and very low latency. 6G and other networks are also being developed.

SUMMARY

[0005] An apparatus may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receive, from the sewing cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; perform early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration; receive, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[00061 A method may include: receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a serving cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receiving, by the user device from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration; receiving from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0007] An apparatus may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receive, by the user device, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations, wherein the early processing configuration provides instructions for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; perform early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration; receive a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[00081 A method may include: receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a sewing cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receiving, by the user device from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations, wherein the early processing configuration provides instructions for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration; receiving from the sewing cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0009] An apparatus may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to-receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receive, from the sewing cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; based on the early processing configuration, discard from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receive, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0010] A method may include: receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a sewing cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receiving, by the user device from the sewing cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; based on the early processing configuration, discarding from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and performing the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receiving from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0011] An apparatus may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM), the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; based on a trigger event, discard from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receive from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0012] A method may include: receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a sewing cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM), the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; based on a trigger event, discarding from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and performing the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receiving from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0013] Other example embodiments are provided or described for each of the example methods, including: means for performing any of the example methods; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform any of the example methods; and an apparatus including at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform any of the example methods.

[0014] The details of one or more examples of embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example procedure for LTM according to an

example embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 3 is an example of an information element (1E) that may be employed for configuration of LTM.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example signalling procedure for LTM.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example signalling procedure for LTM.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating components of mobility latency.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example procedure of early processing configuration.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example procedure where candidate cells may be pre-processed in order of their quality.

[0023] FIG. 9 depicts an information element (IE) within a radio resource control (RRC) message.

[0024] FIG. 10 depicts an example implementation of an IE within the LTM-config IE.

[0025] FIG. 11 depicts an example implementation of a configuration information element.

[0026] FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a wireless station or node (e g network node (such as gNB), user node or UE, relay node, or other node).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network 130. In the wireless network 130 of FIG. 1, user devices 131, 132, 133 and 135, which may also be referred to as mobile stations (MSs) or user equipment (UEs), may be connected (and in communication) with a base station (BS) 134, which may also be referred to as an access point (AP), an enhanced Node B (eNB), a gNB or a network node. The terms user device and user equipment (UE) may be used interchangeably. A BS may also include or may be referred to as a RAN (radio access network) node, and may include a portion of a BS or a portion of a RAN node, such as e.g., such as a centralized unit (CU) and/or a distributed unit (DU) in the case of a split BS or split gNB. At least part of the functionalities of a BS (e.g., access point (AP), base station (BS) or (e)Node B (eNB), gNB, RAN node) may also be carried out by any node, server or host which may be operably coupled to a transceiver, such as a remote radio head. BS (or AP) 134 provides wireless coverage within a cell 136, including to user devices (or UEs) 131, 132, 133 and 135. Although only four user devices (or UEs) are shown as being connected or attached to BS 134, any number of user devices may be provided. BS 134 is also connected to a core network 150 via a SI interface 151. This is merely one simple example of a wireless network, and others may be used.

[0032] A base station (e.g., such as BS 134) is an example of a radio access network (RAN) node within a wireless network. A BS (or a RAN node) may be or may include (or may alternatively be referred to as), e.g., an access point (AP), a gNB, an eNB, or portion thereof (such as a centralized unit (CU) and/or a distributed unit (DU) in the case of a split BS or split gNB), or other network node.

[0033] Some functionalities of the communication network may be carried out, at least partly, in a central/centralized unit, CU, (e.g., server, host or node) operationally coupled to distributed unit, DU, (e.g., a radio head/node). Thus, 5G networks architecture may be based on a so-called CU-DU split. The gNB-CU (central node) may control a plurality of spatially separated gNB-DUs, acting at least as transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) nodes. In some embodiments, however, the gNB-DUs (also called DU) may comprise e.g., a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the gNB-CU (also called a CU) may comprise the layers above RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC) and an internet protocol (IP) layers. Other functional splits are possible too.

[0034] According to an illustrative example, a BS node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU/DU, ...) or a radio access network (RAN) may be part of a mobile telecommunication system. A RAN (radio access network) may include one or more BSs or RAN nodes that implement a radio access technology, e.g., to allow one or more UEs to have access to a network or core network. Thus, for example, the RAN (RAN nodes, such as BSs or gNBs) may reside between one or more user devices or UEs and a core network. According to an example embodiment, each RAN node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU/DU, ...) or BS may provide one or more wireless communication services for one or more UEs or user devices, e.g., to allow the UEs to have wireless access to a network, via the RAN node. Each RAN node or BS may perform or provide wireless communication services, e.g., such as allowing UEs or user devices to establish a wireless connection to the RAN node, and sending data to and/or receiving data from one or more of the UEs. For example, after establishing a connection to a UE, a RAN node or network node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU/DU, ...) may forward data to the UE that is received from a network or the core network, and/or forward data received from the UE to the network or core network. RAN nodes or network nodes (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU/DU, ...) may perform a wide variety of other wireless functions or services, e.g., such as broadcasting control information (e.g., such as system information or on-demand system information) to UEs, paging UEs when there is data to be delivered to the UE, assisting in handover of a UE between cells, scheduling of resources for uplink data transmission from the UE(s) and downlink data transmission to UE(s), sending control information to configure one or more UEs, and the like. These are a few examples of one or more functions that a RAN node or BS may perform.

[0035] A user device or user node (user terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile terminal, handheld wireless device, etc.) may refer to a portable computing device that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating either with or without a subscriber identification module (SEVI), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: a mobile station (MS), a mobile phone, a cell phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handset, a device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), a laptop and/or touch screen computer, a tablet, a phablet, a game console, a notebook, a vehicle, a sensor, and a multimedia device, as examples, or any other wireless device. It should be appreciated that a user device may also be (or may include) a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an example is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network. Also, a user node may include a user equipment (UE), a user device, a user terminal, a mobile terminal, a mobile station, a mobile node, a subscriber device, a subscriber node, a subscriber terminal, or other user node. For example, a user node may be used for wireless communications with one or more network nodes (e.g., gNB, eNB, BS, AP, CU, DU, CU/DU) and/or with one or more other user nodes, regardless of the technology or radio access technology (RAT). In LTE (as an illustrative example), core network 150 may be referred to as Evolved Packet Core (EPC), which may include a mobility management entity (MME) which may handle or assist with mobility/handover of user devices between BSs, one or more gateways that may forward data and control signals between the BSs and packet data networks or the Internet, and other control functions or blocks. Other types of wireless networks, such as 5G (which may be referred to as New Radio (NR)) may also include a core network.

[0036] In addition, the techniques described herein may be applied to various types of user devices or data service types, or may apply to user devices that may have multiple applications running thereon that may be of different data service types. New Radio (5G) development may support a number of different applications or a number of different data service types, such as for example: machine type communications (MTC), enhanced machine type communication (eMTC), Internet of Things (IoT), and/or narrowband IoT user devices, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), and ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). Many of these new 5G (NR) -related applications may require generally higher performance than previous wireless networks.

[0037] IoT may refer to an ever-growing group of objects that may have Internet or network connectivity, so that these objects may send information to and receive information from other network devices. For example, many sensor type applications or devices may monitor a physical condition or a status and may send a report to a server or other network device, e.g., when an event occurs. Machine Type Communications (MTC, or Machine to Machine communications) may, for example, be characterized by fully automatic data generation, exchange, processing and actuation among intelligent machines, with or without intervention of humans. Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) may support much higher data rates than currently available in LTE.

[0038] Ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) is a new data service type, or new usage scenario, which may be supported for New Radio (5G) systems. This enables emerging new applications and services, such as industrial automations, autonomous driving, vehicular safety, e-health services, and so on. 3GPP targets in providing connectivity with reliability corresponding to block error rate (BLER) of 10-5 and up to 1 ms U-Plane (user/data plane) latency, by way of illustrative example. Thus, for example, URLLC user devices/UEs may require a significantly lower block error rate than other types of user devices/UEs as well as low latency (with or without requirement for simultaneous high reliability). Thus, for example, a URLLC UE (or URLLC application on a UE) may require much shorter latency, as compared to an eMBB UE (or an eMBB application running on a UE).

[0039] The techniques described herein may be applied to a wide variety of wireless technologies or wireless networks, such as 56 (New Radio (NR)), cmWave, and/or mmWave band networks, IoT, MTC, eMTC, eMBB, URLLC, 6G, etc., or any other wireless network or wireless technology. These example networks, technologies or data service types are provided only as illustrative examples.

[0040] A user device (or UE) may measure various signals and may transmit one or more measurement reports to the network. For example, a UE may measure reference signals received from one or more network nodes (e.g., gNBs or DUs), including channel state information-reference signals (CS1-RSs) and/or synchronization signal block (SSB) reference signals, demodulation references signals, and/or other reference signals. Based on received reference signals, the UE may measure various signal parameters, e.g., such as reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), or other signal parameter.

[0041] The PHY (physical) layer may refer to layer 1 (L1) and MAC (media access control) may refer to layer 2 (L2). RSRP, RSRQ, SINR and RSSI are signal quantities measured at layer 1 (LI). The UE may send LI measurement reports (e.g., CSI-RS reports, which include measurements of one or more signal parameters for one or more cells) to a gNB, source DU or serving cell. These Ll measurement reports may be sent periodically, for example, or aperiodically. L 1/L2 measurement reports may include no averaging or filtering of measurement values or may include less averaging or filtering than what is performed for L3 measurement reports. LI (or LI/L2) measurement reports may be transmitted by a UE to a serving network node or source DU and may cause the network node to trigger or initiate a L1/L2 triggered mobility (LTM) handover of the UE to another cell. LI measurements (e.g., RSRP RSRQ, RSSI) may be provided or reported periodically to the DU (MAC/PHY).

[0042] Layer 3 (L3) measurement reports may be event-based measurement reports, e.g., which may be triggered when a cell (e.g., a neighbour cell) has a RSRP or RSSI (or other signal parameter) that meets some handover (HO) event criteria. For example, a L3 measurement report may be transmitted by a UE to a serving cell or network node if, e.g., a serving cell measured signal becomes/is worse than a threshold, a neighbour cell signal measurement is or becomes better than a first threshold and/or serving cell signal measurement becomes an offset threshold worse than a neighbouring cell's signal measurement, etc. Thus, L3 measurement reports may be event-triggered measurement reports.

[0043] The L3 measurement report may include or may be based on averaging and/or filtering of multiple signal samples, or averaging over a longer period of time, as compared to the Ll measurement report. Also, L3 measurement reports may be transmitted to a CU, and may be event-triggered measurement reports and may trigger a network node to initiate or trigger a handover (e.g., L3 handover, which may be basic handover or conditional handover) of the UE to another cell. A L3 handover (L3 HO) may be, for example, based on a L3 measurement report. In response to receiving a L3 measurement report from a UE, a source network node (e.g., gNB, or source CU) may send a handover request to a target network node (e.g., target CU). The source network node may transmit to the UE a RRC reconfiguration message including a HO command to cause the UE to perform handover to the target cell, or a CHO configuration (to configure the conditional handover conditions that will trigger or cause the UE to initiate CHO to the target cell). Because the L3 HO (either HO or conditional handover (CHO)) is based on a L3 measurement report, e.g., which may require more time to obtain or measure (e.g., based on more signal measurement samples and/or filtering and/or averaging of the measurement samples) as compared to a LI measurement report, the L3 measurement report may be transmitted by a UE well after radio conditions with a serving cell/serving network node have already degraded. If a handover configuration is not already prepared for a HO or CHO to the target cell, then the source network node may need to send a message to the target node to request and prepare the HO configuration for the UE, which may cause significant delay, e.g., of 100ms or more, before the UE can perform a L3 HO or CHO to the target cell. This significant delay may increase the likelihood the UE will suffer a radio link failure (RLF) or loss in connectivity.

[0044] In 3GPP Release 18, additional mobility enhancements, for example layer 1 / layer 2 or L1/L2-triggered mobility (LTM) is introduced to facilitate faster inter-cell mobility than traditional mobility mechanisms based on RRC signalling. LTM is a procedure in which a gNB may receive Ll or L2 or L3 measurement report(s) from a UE, and on this basis the gNB may change a serving cell of the UE by a cell switch command that may be transmitted or signalled via a media access control (MAC) control element (CE) (e.g., MAC CE). The cell switch command may indicate an LTM candidate cell configuration that the gNB previously prepared and provided to the UE through RRC signalling. In an example, the LTM candidate cell configuration may be within a configuration message such as RRC and may be part of an information element such as an LTM-Config IE. An example of the LTM candidate cell configuration is depicted in FIG. 3. In an example, based on receiving the cell switch command, the UE may switch to a target cell (or a target cell configuration) according to the cell switch command, where the target cell is one of the candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration. The LTM procedure may be employed to reduce latency of a mobility procedure. When LTM is configured by the network, it may be possible to activate transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states of one or more cells (e.g., multiple cells) that are different from the current serving cell of the UE. In an example, the TCI state may correspond to one or more downlink reference signals, either synchronization signal block (SSB) or configured periodic CSI-RS, where each reference signal is associated with a specific quasi co location (QCL) type. For example, the TCI states of the LTM candidate cells may be activated in advance before any of those cells become the serving cell. This allows the UE to be downlink (DL) synchronized with those cells, thereby facilitating a faster cell switch to one of the one or more cells when cell switch is triggered.

[00451 When configured by the network, it is possible to initiate uplink (UL) timing advance (TA) acquisition (called early TA) procedure of one or more cells (or multiple cells) that are different from the current serving cell. If the cell has the same timing offset (NTA) as the current serving cell or Nn =0, early TA acquisition procedure may not be required. The network may request the UE to perform early TA acquisition of a candidate cell before a cell switch. The early TA acquisition procedure may be triggered by physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order (e.g., a mechanism by which the gNB may force the UE to transmit a physical layer random access channel (PRACH)) preamble as part of a random access (RACH) procedure, or realized through UE based TA measurement as configured by a RRC procedure (e.g., RRC or RRC message). In an example, the gNB to which the candidate cell belongs may calculate the TA value and may send it to the gNB to which the serving cell belongs. The serving cell may send the TA value in the LTM cell switch command MAC CE when triggering LTM cell switch. In another example, the UE may perform the TA measurement for the candidate cells after being configured by the RRC procedure. In an example, the exact time the UE performs TA measurement may be determined by the UE (e.g., may be up to the UE implementation). The UE may apply the measured TA value and may perform random access channel (RACH) less (e.g., RACH-less) LTM procedure upon receiving the cell switch command. In an example, the network may send a TA value in the LTM cell switch command MAC CE e.g., without early TA acquisition.

[0046] In an example, depending on the availability of a valid TA value, the UE may perform either a RACH-less LTM or RACH-based LTM cell switch. If the TA value is provided in the cell switch command, the UE may apply the TA value as instructed (e.g., indicated, configured, and/or the like) by the network. In the case where UP-based TA measurement is configured, but no TA value is provided in the cell switch command, the UE may apply the TA value by itself if available. Meanwhile, the UE may perform RACH-less LTM cell switch upon receiving the cell switch command. If no valid TA value is available, the UE may perform RACH-based LTM cell switch (in which a random access (RACH) procedure is performed by the UE with the target cell).

[0047] In an example, regardless of whether the UE is configured for UP-based TA measurement for a certain candidate cell, the UE may follow the PDCCH order, which may include performing a random access procedure towards the candidate cells. This also applies to the candidate cells for which the UE is capable of deriving TA values by itself In another example, regardless of whether the UE has already performed a random access procedure towards the candidate cells, the UE may follow the UE-based measurement configuration if configured by the network.

[0048] In an example, for RACH-less LTM, the UE may access the target cell using either a configured grant or a dynamic grant. The configured grant may be provided in the LTM candidate configuration, and the UP may select the configured grant occasion associated with the beam indicated in the cell switch command. In an example, upon initiation of LTM cell switch to the target cell, the UE may start to monitor PDCCH on the target cell for dynamic scheduling. In an example, before RACH-less LTM procedure completion, the UE may not trigger random access procedure if it does not have a valid Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resource for triggered scheduling requests (SRs).

[0049] In an example, a security key may be maintained upon an LTM cell switch. In an example, subsequent LTM procedures may be supported by the UP and/or the network. In an example, the LTM procedure may support intra-gNB-DU mobility, intra-gNB-CU mobility, and/or inter-gNB-DU mobility. LTM procedure may support intra-frequency and inter-frequency mobility, including mobility (handover or cell switch) to inter-frequency cell that is not a current sewing cell. Accordingly, LTM may be supported for licensed spectrum. In another example, while the UE has stored LTM candidate configurations, the UE may also execute any L3 handover command sent by the network (e.g., the base station, gNB, eNB, NG-RAN, a cell of the base station, and/or the like).

[0050] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example procedure for LTM. At step 1, the UE 210 may send a measurement report message to the gNB 220. In an example, the UE may be in RRC connected state or mode. The gNB 220 may determine or decide to configure LTM and may initiate LTM preparation. At step 2, the gNB 220 may transmit an RRC reconfiguration message to the UE 210 that may include the LTM candidate configurations.

For example, FIG. 3 depicts an example of LTM configuration information element in abstract syntax notation 1 (ASN.1). At step 3, the UE 210 may store the LTM candidate configurations and transmit an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the gNB 220. At step 4a, the UE 210 may perform DL synchronization with the candidate cell(s) before receiving the cell switch command. At step 4b, when UE-based TA measurement is configured, the UE 210 may acquire the TA value(s) of the candidate cell(s) by measurement. The UE 210 may perform early TA acquisition with the candidate cell(s) as requested by the network before receiving the cell switch command. This may be done via contention free random access (CFRA) triggered by a PDCCH order from the source cell. In order to minimize the data interruption due to CFRA during a switch from the source cell to the candidate cell(s), the UE 210 may not receive random access response from the network for the purpose of TA value acquisition and the TA value of the candidate cell may be indicated in the cell switch command. In an example, the UE 210 may not maintain the TA timer for the candidate cell and may rely on network implementation to guarantee the TA validity. At step 5, the UE 210 may perform LI measurements on the configured candidate cell(s) and transmit Ll measurement reports to the gNB 220. At step 6, the gNB 220 may determine or decide to execute cell switch to a target cell and may transmit a MAC CE. The MAC CE may trigger a cell switch by including (or indicating) the candidate (or candidate cell) configuration index of the target cell. Based on receiving the MAC CE (or cell switch command), the UE 210 may typically then perform cell switch (or RRC) processing for the target candidate cell configuration in which the UE decodes and performs validity confirmation of the target candidate cell configuration identified by the MAC CE (where the target candidate cell configuration was one of N (e.g., 8) candidate cell configurations previously received by the UE via message 2 above), and then the UE may perform a cell switch to the target cell and may apply the target candidate cell configuration indicated by candidate configuration index. At step 7, the UE 210 may perform the random access procedure towards the target cell, if UE 210 does not have a valid TA of the target cell. At step 8, the UE 210 may complete the LTM cell switch procedure by sending an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the target cell. If the UE 210 has performed a random access (RA) procedure in step 7, the UE 210 may consider or determine that the LTM cell switch execution is successfully completed when the random access procedure is successfully completed. For RACH-less LTM, the UE 210 may determine or consider that the LTM cell switch execution is successfully completed when the UE 210 determines that the network has successfully received its first UL data.

[0051] FIG. 3 is an example of an information element (IE) that may be employed for configuration of LTM as noted in the example procedure of FIG. 2.

[0052] As noted, the UE may receive N (e.g., N=8) candidate cell configurations within the RRC Reconfiguration message, e.g., such as at step 2 of FIG. 2. And, the UE may typically wait until receiving the cell switch command (MAC CE) at step 6 of FIG. 2 before performing processing of the full candidate cell configuration (e.g., including performing decoding and validity confirmation of the target candidate cell configuration for the cell indicated by the MAC CE or cell switch command. The processing of the candidate cell configuration may introduce a cell switch processing delay (or RRC processing delay) of around 10ms, for example. After the UE has performed processing of the candidate cell configuration for the indicated candidate cell (e.g., performing decoding and validity confirmation for the candidate cell configuration for the indicated target candidate cell), the UE may then perform cell switch or handover to the indicated candidate cell.

[0053] Therefore, according to an example, a UE may perform early processing of a candidate cell configuration, e.g., in which the UE may perform processing of a candidate cell configuration(s) before the UE receives the cell switch command (e.g., which may be provided via MAC CE, shown as step 6 in FIG. 2). This early (or earlier) processing of a candidate cell configuration may reduce the cell switch processing latency, at least in some cases. For example, if the UE performs early processing for one or more candidate cell configurations and stores these early processed candidate cell configurations in memory before the UE receives the cell switch command or MAC CE, the UE may avoid the latency of processing of the target cell configuration if the indicated target cell for cell switch (e.g., indicated by the MAC CE or cell switch command) is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing was performed.

[0054] In an embodiment, the early processing may include at least one of performing decoding of one or more candidate cell configurations that were received via RRC Reconfiguration message at step 2, or performing a validity check for the one or more candidate cell configurations. In an embodiment, the UE performs both decoding and validity check as the early processing. Compliance check is used equivalently with the validity check in the 3GPP standardization documentation, and the equivalence applies to this document as well. The validity check may comprise checking syntax of the received configuration and applying the configuration by verifying, if use of the configuration will lead to a correct UE behaviour. In other words, the validity check may be understood as a conflict check where the UE evaluates the received configuration for potential conflicts that would cause undesired operation of the UE.

[0055] However, in some cases, a UE may have limited resources (e.g., limited processing and/or memory resources), which may prevent the UE from performing early processing of all N (e.g., all 8) candidate cell configurations received via the RRC Reconfiguration message at step 2. For example, while the network node may have provided N candidate cell configurations to the UE, the UE may only be able to pre-process or perform early processing for M (e.g., M = 2 or 3) of the N (e.g., N = 8) candidate cell configurations and store these in memory. It may be unclear to the UE which of the N candidate cell configurations provided via the RRC Reconfiguration message (step 2, FIG. 2) the UE should perform early processing. Likewise, it may be unclear to the network node as to which of the N candidate cell configurations the UE has performed early processing. For example, in existing technologies, the UE may be configured with a parameter value between 1 and maxNrofLTM-Configs candidate cells (maximum number of candidate cell configurations, which may also be referred to as N) wherein maxNrofLTM-Configs=8. As noted, the UE may support capability of pre-processing or early processing of an LTM candidate cell RRC configuration where the number of cells that the UE is capable to pre-process (or early process) is M. In an example, the UE capability may be indicated or defined as, e.g., a number (M) of candidate cells supported for the UE for early ASN.I decoding and validity check. Therefore, in an example, the number of provided candidate cell configurations (e.g., N=8) provided by the network node may exceed the UE capability to perform early processing of only M candidate cell configurations. In an example, when the maxNrofLTMConfigs > M (or N is greater than M), and, in other words, the UE is capable of processing, pre-processing, and/or storing candidate cell configurations only for a subset of LTM candidate cells, it is not clear which candidate cell configuration(s) the UE may pre-process (e.g., early process). Therefore, it is not clear whether at the time of receiving the cell switch command for a target cell, the target cell configuration(s) has been pre-processed. As a result, delay or interruption during the mobility procedure may or may not comprise the processing delay. Furthermore, signalling between the UE and the network may not be synchronized properly and may cause inconsistent behaviour of the UE and/or the network. Based on an existing implementation, the UE is expected to have pre-processed the target cell configuration(s) if number of cells in candidate cell configuration is up to the number of cells the UE is capable to pre-process and/or the UE has received TCI state activation command (for max M cells) or PDCCH order for the target cell before the cell switch command.

[0056] In another example, a problem that may arise is that in some cases a condition for early processing (or pre-processing) may be fulfilled for a cell while the capability (or resources) of the UE for early processing or pre-processing of candidate cell configurations is already exhausted. For example, UE resources or capability for early processing may be exhausted, e.g., where the UE has M early processed candidate cell configurations that are stored in memory, and as a result, the UE is unable to store more early processed candidate cell configurations. For example, if the UE pre-processing capability M is 2 candidate cell configurations and TCI state activation for a candidate cell triggers early processing of the candidate cell configuration, and if the UE has pre-processed the candidate cell configurations of cell 1 and candidate cell 2 based on ICI state activation, thereby exhausting the UE's capabilities of performing early processing and storing 2 early processed candidate cell configurations. And after a TCI state is activated for cell 3, the UE may be expected by the network to perform early processing (or pre-processing) of candidate cell 3 configuration, although the UE has already pre-processed a number of cell configuration(s) according to its capability, and thus, may be unable to perform early processing of the candidate cell configuration for candidate cell 3. In this case, it is not clear what the UE may do and hence it is unclear what kind of cell switch delay to expect for the target cell.

[0057] In another example, if the number of LTM candidate cell configuration(s) (or LTM candidate cells) is larger than the UE capability to pre-process the candidate cell configurations, it is not defined what the UE may do in this case. For example, if the number of configured (N) candidate cell (s) exceeds the UE pre-processing capability (M), and the UE does not support early TCI state activation or early TA acquisition through PDCCH order, or the network does not send TCI state activation command (MAC-CE) or PDCCH order to any of the configured candidate cells, it is not clear which candidate cell configuration(s) the UE will pre-process (perform early processing). If the behaviour is not defined, the network does not know the UE behaviour and may be limited on how many cells the network may configure for the UE.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example signalling procedure for layer 1/layer2 triggered mobility (LTM). The problem may be further illustrated in the example of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pre-processing capability of the UE 210, M=1 (e.g., the UE supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations) and two candidate cells (cells 1 and 2) are configured. At step 1, the UE indicates to the gNB 220 that the UE 210 is capable of pre-processing or early processing of M=1 candidate cell configuration(s), e.g., the UE is capable of supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations. At step 2, the UE 210 may receive LTM candidate cell configuration(s) for cell 1 and cell 2, e.g., via RRC Reconfiguration message or other message. The UE 210 may be first triggered to preprocess cell 1 configuration with TCI state activation MAC-CE (step 3), which consumes the UE pre-processing capability. In step 4, the UE 210 may be triggered to pre-process cell 2 configuration by another TCI state activation MAC-CE. At step 5, the UE 210 may receive cell switch command for cell 2. Unless control signalling or a configuration is provided to the UE that defines or configures the UE's behaviour for early processing of candidate cell configurations, it is unclear what the UE 210 may do in this scenario, e.g., whether the TIE will perform early processing for candidate cell 2 configuration. And, likewise, it may be unclear to the gNB 220 whether the UE 210 has performed (or should be expected to have performed) early processing of the cell 2 configuration before the UE receives the cell switch command.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example signalling procedure for LTM. In another example as depicted in FIG. 5, at step 1, the UE 210 may indicate to the gNB 220 that the UE 210 is capable of supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations e.g., capable of pre-processing M=2 candidate cell configurations (or candidate target cell configuration(s)). At step 2, the UE 210 may receive from a serving cell of a network node gNB 220, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility or LTM. In an example, the message may include N candidate cell configurations, where N is greater than M. In other words, for example, the UE may receive an RRC reconfiguration message that may include LTM candidate configuration of cells with candidate cell IDs 1...N, where N is greater than M. It is unclear which candidate cell configuration(s) the ITE 210 may pre-process when N>M. At step 3, the TIE 210 may send an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the gNB 220. At step 4, the UE 210 may receive a cell switch command from the gNB 220 indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells (e.g., for one of the configured candidate cells). The network (e.g., the gNB 220) may not know if an element of mobility delay such as cell switch processing delay, e.g., TURT-RRC-processing= 0 ms (if early processing was performed for the indicated cell in the cell switch command before receiving the cell switch command), or 10ms (if early processing was not performed for the indicated cell before the UE receives the cell switch command or MAC CE).

[00601 Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a technique or mechanism in which the network node (e.g., gNB) and the UE can agree on which candidate cell configurations early processing will be performed, or an order or priority of early processing on candidate cell configurations, or other technique that defines how the UE should perform early processing (e.g., so that the network node will know for which candidate cells the cell switch processing will be Oms, and for which candidate cells the cell switch processing may be the standard cell switch processing delay of 10 ms, for example).

[00611 Thus, according to an example embodiment, the network node or gNB may provide the UE with an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations. The early processing configuration may, for example, provide a configuration or instructions on how the UE should perform early processing of candidate cell configurations, e.g., which may instruct or indicate to the UE how the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations should be performed. The early processing configuration may, for example, include, e.g., a list or order of candidate cells to be early processed, instructions as to a priority of candidate cells (or candidate cell configurations) for early processing, or other instructions indicating a manner in which the UE should perform early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations. The early processing configuration may also provide instructions as to a possible discarding of already processed or previously early processed candidate cell configuration(s) that are stored in memory, that can or should be discarded or deleted and/or replaced with one or more other early processed candidate cell configurations. The early processing configuration may be especially useful in a case where the UE supports early processing (e.g., decoding validity confirmation and/or storage) of only M candidate cell configurations, where the gNB may have provided N candidate cell configurations to the UE, where N is greater than M (e.g., the number of candidate cell configurations provided to the UE is greater than the number of candidate cell configurations for which early processing is supported by the UE).

[00621 The UE may receive from a serving cell or serving gNB (or network node) a message (e.g., a RRC Reconfiguration message) configuring N (e.g., N= 8) candidate cells for mobility (e.g., for LTM mobility). The message may include N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N. For example, the gNB may provide N= 8 candidate cell configurations in the RRC Reconfiguration message, and the UE may only support early processing (or pre-processing) of M=2 candidate cell configurations. As noted, early processing of a candidate cell configuration may include decoding and performing validity check (validity confirmation) of a candidate cell configuration before receipt of a cell switch command. Early processing may also include storing the processed (e.g., decoded and validity confirmed) candidate cell configuration in memory before receiving the cell switch command.

[0063] The UE may also receive from the serving cell or sewing gNB an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configuration (e.g., providing instructions as to how the UE should perform early processing of one or more of the candidate cell configurations). The early processing configuration may be received by the UE as part of or within the message that provided the N candidate cell configurations (e.g., within or as part of the RRC Reconfiguration message), or the early processing configuration may be provided within a different or separate message. The UE may then perform the early processing of one or more of the candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration. The UE may receive a cell switch command (e.g., which may be a MAC CE, indicating one of the N candidate cells) from the serving gNB, indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells. When (in a case where) the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, the UE then performs the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay or even without the cell switch processing delay. Thus, for example, if early processing of a candidate cell configuration for the indicated candidate cell was performed for the indicated cell (indicated by the cell switch command) and stored in memory of the UE before the cell switch command is received by the UE, the UE may skip or omit performing cell switch processing for that candidate cell configuration, since that candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell (indicated by the cell switch command) was early processed (or already pre-processed) and stored in memory based on the early processing configuration before the cell switch. On the other hand, for example, when (or in a case where) early processing of the candidate cell configuration for the indicated candidate cell (indicated for cell switch in the cell switch command) was not performed for the indicated cell and stored in memory of the UE before the cell switch command is received by the UE, the LIE may perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a cell switch processing delay, since the UE must first perform processing (e.g., decoding and validity confirmation) of the candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell, before completing the cell switch.

[0064] Therefore, the use of the early processing configuration may allow the UE to perform early processing on one or more candidate cell configurations, and the latency due to cell switch processing delay may be avoided or at least reduced in a case where early processing was performed on the candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell (the cell indicated for cell switch by cell switch command). As described in greater detail herein, the early processing configuration may include a variety of instructions, parameters, information elements, or other information that may indicate how the UE should perform early processing on one or more candidate cell configurations. For example, the early processing configuration may include, e.g., a list of candidate cells to be early processed in order, instructions to process the candidate cells according to order of candidate cell IDs (candidate cell identifiers), a priority of early processing for the N candidate cells, an indication for each of the N candidate cells indicating whether the candidate cell is configured for early processing, an indication of a number or a maximum number of cells or candidate cell configurations to be early processed (or pre-processed), a list of indices pointing to candidate cells for which early processing is to be performed or not performed, an indication to perform early processing for one or more cell types, an indication to perform early processing based on a quality of a quality of the candidate cells (e.g., based on RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI, or other signal parameter measurement for the candidate cells), etc. In some cases, the early processing may be performed by the UE based on a trigger event, e.g., where the trigger event may include, for example: receiving the early processing configuration; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; and/or a measurement report. In addition, the early processing configuration may include instructions related to retention (retaining in memory) and/or discarding of early processed candidate configurations that are stored in memory. For example, discarding of one or more previously early processed candidate cell configurations may be performed to create or free up UE resources to allow a newer or more recent, or higher priority candidate cell configuration to be early processed and stored in memory. Further examples, details and operations are described herein below.

[0065] Example embodiments may enhance the LTM procedure and signalling that enable the network to provide early processing candidate target cell configuration(s). The methods may further comprise indication to the UE of early processing, indication and instruction of early processing or decoding order based on cell type, a trigger, measurement report, and/or the like. The embodiments may comprise indications or instructions indicating which cell configuration(s) are to be early processed or pre-processed. Example embodiments enhance the performance of the system by providing instructions and clarity to the network node about whether the target cell configuration is early processed (pre-processed).

[0066] In other words, example embodiments may enhance a configuration procedure and signalling to clarify the behaviour of the LIE and therefore, enable configuration of the UE in the case where the early pre-processing capability of the UE may be less than the number of configured candidate LTM cells. Example embodiments may apply even if the number of configured candidate cells is equal or less than the LE pre-processing capability (e.g., the capability of supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations).

[0067] Furthermore, an example embodiment may define how the UE may act in the case that early processing or pre-processing of a candidate cell configuration is triggered while the UE has already pre-processed a number of candidate cell configuration(s) according to UE capability to pre-process (M>1), based on earlier pre-processing triggers. An example embodiment may be directed to at least one of the following alternatives.

[0068] Alternative 1: The UE may not be required to pre-process more candidate cell configurations, if based on earlier triggers, the pre-processing capability of the UE is full (e.g., the UE has allocated memory for the pre-processed configuration and pre-processed maximum number of cells already). In other words, when the pre-processing capability of the UE is consumed or is full, the UE may indicate that resource or memory of the UE is full or occupied by the existing pre-processed or early processed candidate cell configurations.

[0069] Alternative 2: The UE may (always) be required to pre-process candidate cell configurations based on the latest or the most recent trigger.

[0070] Alternative 3: Different pre-processing triggers may have different priorities, where some triggers may have higher priority than others. Therefore, for example, if trigger for cell 1 is fulfilled while the pre-processing capability of the UE is full, the UE may preprocess cell I_ configuration if the trigger for cell 1 has higher priority than the triggers based on which the UE pre-processed the existing or earlier candidate cell configurations.

[0071] In another example embodiment, the methods may be directed to determining which cells have been pre-processed at the time of the cell switch, and further determining which existing pre-processed candidate cell configuration(s) may be discarded when the UE capability is exceeded according to example embodiments of Alternative 2 and/or Alternative 3, where the new trigger may require the UE to pre-process a new candidate cell configuration.

[0072] Therefore, an example embodiment may be directed to one or more of the following options for discarding of the candidate cell configurations. Option 1: The UE may discard the earliest pre-processed candidate cell configuration that was triggered for preprocessing first in time (e.g., first in first out). Option 2: The UE may discard the already (existing) pre-processed candidate cell configuration(s) for the cell or cells with lowest priority trigger (e.g., based on an earlier stated trigger list related to LTM candidate cell configuration). Option 3: The UE may be allowed to discard all previously pre-processed candidate cell configurations at the time of a new pre-processing trigger either: when the UE has already pre-processed up to M candidate cell configurations based on its capability, or independent of whether pre-processing capability (or capacity) of the UE is full or not.

[0073] In another example embodiment, the alternatives and options above may be predefined, preconfigured, and/or configured by the network or the UE. In another example, when pre-processing capability of the UE becomes full, the prioritization and discarding may be determined based on UE implementation. For example, the UE may be implemented in a way that supports one or more of options 1-3 and alternatives 1-3. In other words, the UE behaviour, may not be limited or restricted to the alternatives and options stated above and therefore, the UE may make a decision or a determination to follow one or more of the alternatives and/or options independently. In an example, the UE based on the implemented alternative(s) and option(s) may perform cell switch with T_LTM_RRC-pmeessing being zero, but the network node may not know the expected cell switch delay in advance. However, a shorter cell switch delay may still be beneficial from the UE and the network node point of view.

[0074] In an example, a user device or a UE may be capable of supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, e.g., due to resource limitations of the UE. In an example, when the early processing (pre-processing) capability of the UE is consumed or is full, the UE may indicate to the gNB or network node that (a dedicated) memory space of the UE is full or occupied by at least M candidate cell configurations or an existing preprocessed or early processed candidate cell configurations.

[0075] In an example, the network may transmit a message to the UE, wherein the message is for configuring N candidate cells for mobility, LTM, early processing, and/or the like. In an example, the message may include N candidate cell configurations, wherein N is greater than or equal to M. In an example, the network may include a serving cell of a network node wherein the network node may be a base station, a gNB, an eNB, a RAN node, an NG-RAN node, and/or the like.

[0076] In an example embodiment, a candidate cell configuration may be a LTM candidate cell configuration, a candidate target cell configuration (or target candidate cell configuration), a LTM candidate target cell configuration, and/or the like and may be used interchangeably throughout the description of example embodiments.

[0077] In an example embodiment, discarding may include purging, deleting, removing, erasing, dropping, and/or the like of an element, a configuration, (e.g., a candidate cell configuration) from the memory of the UE. The configuration may include the early processed, existing early processed, existing pre-processed configuration(s), and/or the like. The action of discarding may be performed for example, when the resources and/or memory capacity of the UE is full, and the UP is unable to store candidate cell configurations beyond a memory space or other resource capacity. In an example, the action of discarding may be performed when the UE capability that indicates supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations has been exhausted, e.g., the UE has performed early processing (and storage) of M candidate cells.

[0078] In an example embodiment, early processing, pre-processing, and/or the like may be used interchangeably. The early processing may include decoding and validation of information elements within a message, or a message that may include candidate cell configurations (such as a RRC message, a RRC reconfiguration message, and/or the like). In an example, the early processing may include storing of the information elements, decoded information elements, decoded and validated information elements, and/or the like. The early aspect of the processing may include performing of the processing prior to (or before) receiving a cell switch command. In an example, the early aspect of the processing may include performing of the processing after receiving the message (e.g., the RRC message) and prior to (or before) receiving the cell switch command. In other words, performing early processing of one or more of N candidate cell configurations may include performing decoding and validity confirmation for one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command. In an example embodiment, the early processing may include a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration.

[0079] In an example embodiment, the cell switch command may include a LTM cell switch command indicating a LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed. In an example, the cell switch command may be indicated by a MAC CE. The cell switch command may indicate the LTM candidate configuration that the gNB previously prepared and provided to the UE through RRC signalling or the RRC message. In an example, based on receiving the cell switch command, the UE may perform a cell switch to a target cell (based on the target cell configuration) and according to the cell switch command.

[0080] In an example, a condition or a trigger under which the UE may pre-process or early process a candidate cell configuration before the cell switch may be referred to as a pre-processing trigger or early processing trigger. The trigger may be at least one or more of the following. The trigger may be related to LTM candidate cell configuration (e.g., an indication or a further condition). For example, the GE may be triggered to perform the early processing upon receiving a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility. In an example, the message may include one or more of N candidate cell configurations. For example, the UE may be triggered to perform the early processing based on a TCI state activation. For example, the UE may receive a SSB that is transmitted from a candidate cell. In an example, the TCI state may correspond to one or more downlink reference signals, either SSB (synchronization signal block) or a configured periodic CSI-RS, where each reference signal may be associated with a specific QCL type. For example, the TCI states of the LTM candidate cell(s) may be activated in advance before any of those cells become the serving cell. In another example, the UE may be triggered by the PDCCH order that may include a mechanism by which the gNB may trigger the UE to initiate a PRACH procedure or perform a random access procedure towards the candidate cell. Furthermore, the UE may be triggered to perform the early processing in response to measurement report for a candidate cell.

[0081] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating example components of mobility latency. HO interruption time for Ll/L2-based inter-cell mobility may, for example, be the time from when the UE receives the cell switch command until when the UE performs the first DL/UL reception/transmission on an indicated beam of a target cell. The latency of the mobility procedure may be characterized by the example components of FIG. 6. The following table, Table 1 includes a description of each example component.

TRRC Processing time for RRCRecwiliguration carrying candidate configurations Tcmd Time for processing L1/L2-command (hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) and parsing) Ti_ cm-law- Early ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check processing TT:FM-Processing UE processing including applying target cell parameters and L1/L2 change Trirsi_Rs Time for fine tracking and acquiring full timing information TRs_proc. Time for SSB processing Turin-16 Interruption uncertainty in acquiring the first UL transmission TRAR Time for random access response (RAR) delay Tfirsi-data Time for UE performs the first DL/UL reception/ transmission on the indicated beam of the target cell, after RAR Table 1: components of mobility latency with respect to FIG. 6 [0082] In an example embodiment, the UE may be capable of supporting pre-processing (early processing) of up to M candidate cell configurations (e.g., candidate target cell configurations) prior to performing a cell switch. LTM cell switch delay may be defined based on an element of the components of mobility latency such as TI,Tm_RRc-processing. The TUFM_RRC-processing may depend on whether the target cell configuration is processed before the cell switch command is received by the UE.

[0083] In an example, the UE capability may indicate a number of cells, e.g., including both special cell (SpCell) and secondary cell (SCell), on which the UE may support early ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check. The UE capability indication may be implemented by one bit UE capability of early ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check.

[0084] As an illustrative example with respect to FIG. 6, TT,TM_RRC-processing may be zero, when (e.g., one or more or even all, of) the following conditions are met: number of configured candidate cells across all frequency layers are less than or equal to a number of cells that the UE supports early ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check, or a number of candidate cells with activated TCI state(s) is less than or equal to a number of cells the TIE supports early ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check, and the UE has received TCI activation command on target cell more than X ms ago where: Option 1: X = THARQ+l3ms and Option 2: X = max {TCI activation delay', THARQ+l3ms}. In an example, PDCCH-order RACH may trigger early ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check on the candidate cell.

[0085] In an example with respect to FIG. 6, for a UE not supporting [early ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check], Texecution time/ Ttarget-RRC-processing for ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check of target cell configuration may be added in the cell switch delay requirements (e.g., the value may be 10ms).

[0086] In an example with respect to FIG. 6, the LTM cell switch delay DLTM may be the delay from the end of the last transmission time interval (TTI) containing the MAC-CE command for cell switch until the time the UE transmits the first UL message on the target cell. When the target cell and the target joint UL/DL TCI state or separate UL and DL TCI states in the MAC-CE LTM cell switch command are known, the LTM cell switch delay may be defined as following: DLIM = Tcmd + Tuixi-interrupt where: Tcmd equals to THARQ + 3ms, and THARQ is the timing between cell switch command and acknowledgement.

[0087] In an example, the target cell in the LTM cell switch command may be known if the following conditions are met: During the last 5 seconds before the reception of the cell switch command: 1) The UE has sent a valid LI or L3 measurement report for the target cell, and 2) One of the SSBs measured from the NR target cell configured for measurement remains detectable according to the cell identification conditions, 3) One of the SSBs measured from the target cell also remains detectable during the cell switch delay according to the cell identification conditions. Otherwise, the cell may be unknown.

[0088] In an example, the target joint DL/UL TCI state or separate DL and UL TCI states in the LTM cell switch command may be known if the following conditions are met: 1) During the period from the last transmission of the reference signal (RS) resource used for the layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP) measurement reporting for the target DL/UL TCI state to the completion of LTM cell switch, where the RS resource for Ll-RSRP measurement is the RS in target DL/UL TCI state or quasi co-located to the target DL/UL TCI state, 2) LTM cell switch command is received within 1280 ms upon the last transmission of the RS resource for beam reporting or measurement, 3) The UE has sent at least one Ll-RSRP report for the target DL/UL TCI state before the LTM cell switch command, 3) The target DL/UL TCI state remains detectable during the LTM cell switching period, 4) The SSB associated with the target DL/UL TCI state remain detectable during the cell switching period, 5) signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the TCI state > -3dB. Otherwise, the target joint DL/UL TCI state or separate DL and UL TCI state may be unknown.

[0089] In an example with respect to FIG. 6, the interruption time TITM-intenupt may be the time between the end of the last TTI containing the MAC-CE command for LTM cell switch until the time the UE transmits the first UL message on the target cell, excluding Term and may be defined as follows: TT.TM-iniorrupt = Tin-RRC-proccssing + TLTM-processing + Tfirsi-RS + TRS-proe + MS, where: TUFM-RRC-procesqing may be the time for ASN.I decoding and validity and compliance check for the RRC configuration of the LTM target cell indicated in the LTM cell switch command.

[0090] In an example with respect to FIG. 6, T Mt-RAC-processing = 0, if the UE supports early processing (pre-processing) e.g., [earl yDecodingAildFalidi lyCheck] capability, and at least one of the following conditions are met: - The number of candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early ASN.1 decoding and validity check].

-The UE has received LTM candidate cell TCI state activation command for the target cell at least [THARQ + 13 ms or max{ TCI activation delay', THARQ 13ms)] before the LTM cell switch command, and the number of candidate cells with TCI state(s) in LTM candidate cell active TCI state list does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early ASN.1 decoding and validity check].

-UE has received PDCCH order for early RACH for the target cell.

Otherwise TLIM-RRC-processing = 10 ms.

[0091] In an example with respect to FIG. 6, Turm_pmcessing may be the time for UE processing, that may include applying the target cell parameters and Ll/L2 change. If the UE supports Vaster LTA 1 processing] capability, the value of II-FM-processing equals to [faster intra-ER processing delay (I 0 ins or 15 Ins)] for FRI to FRI and FR2 to FR2 LTM cell switch, or [faster inter-FR processing delay (20 ms or 30 ins)] for FRI to FR2 and FR2 to FR1 LTM cell switch.

Otherwise, the value of Tunu-processing may be equal to -20 ms for FRI to FRI and FR2 to FR2 LTM cell switch, or - 40 ms for FRI to FR2 and FR2 to FR1 LTM cell switch.

[0092] In an example with respect to FIG. 6, Tfirst-RS may be the time for fine time tracking and acquiring full timing information of the target cell. TRs_proe may be the time for SSB processing. In an example, Tfirst-RS = 0 and TRs-proc= 0 under the following conditions: - The target TCI state indicated in the LTM cell switch command is in the LTM candidate cell active TCI state list or in the serving cell active TCI state list, and - The time between receiving the MAC-CE activating the target TCI state and the LTM cell switch command is at least [THARQ + 3Nssittobtframejt,I-1 erUKn, ( lirst-SSD+ TSSB-pros) NR slot length, and - L1-RSRP measurement period is not larger than 160 ms.

Otherwise, Tlitst-RS is the time to the first SSB transmission on the target cell [after Tcmd], and TRS-pros= 2 ms.

[0093] In an example with respect to FIG. 6, TirrM-iii may be the interruption uncertainty during the LTM cell switch. For RACH-based LTM cell switch, TierM-pi may be the interruption uncertainty in acquiring the first available PRACH occasion in the new cell. Turm_ii_ may be up to the summation of SSB to PRACH occasion association period and 10 ms. SSB to PRACH occasion associated period. For RACH-less LTM cell switch, Tiel-Vi-pTis the uncertainty on transmitting the first uplink transmission on the target cell.

[0094] In the following, example alternatives for early processing or pre-processing are described.

[0095] Alternative 1: In an example embodiment, the candidate cell configurations may be pre-processed in the order of triggers in time, and after pre-processing has been triggered for up to M candidate cells (for example in RRC configuration). The UE may not be required to pre-process more candidate cell configurations (for example due to TCI state activation or PDCCH order). For example, the UE has performed pre-processing according to the capability of the UE, and decoded and stored the candidate cell configurations to the UE memory. In this case, the UE may maintain or retain the pre-processed candidate cell configuration(s) and may not be required to react to subsequent triggers prior to LTM cell switch command, which may indicate the target cell. If at the time of cell switch, the pre-processing has been triggered to more than M cells (e.g., up to the UE capability to preprocess M cell configuration(s)), the UE may be allowed time for processing the candidate cell configuration of the target cell if the trigger for this cell arrived later than the first M triggers. For example, with UE capability M= 2, if the UE is indicated to pre-process candidate cell configuration for cell 1 and cell 2 at LTM candidate cell configuration, and after that TCI state is activated for cell 3, the UE may not be expected to pre-process cell 3 configuration. If cell 3 is the target cell in the cell switch command, the UE may be allowed to do the pre-processing of cell 3 configuration during the cell switch (TLTM RRC-processing = 10 ms). If cell 1 or cell 2 is the target cell, the UE may be expected to have pre-processed the configuration of cell 1 or cell 2 and may not be allowed processing time during the cell switch (e.g., TLTM_RRC-processing = 0). As a result, in an example embodiment with TCI state activation and PDCCH order as pre-processing triggers, and with respect to FIG. 6, the delay may be determined as follows: TLTM-RRC-processing may be the time for ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check for the RRC configuration of the LTM target cell indicated in the LTM cell switch command. TLTM-RRC-proccssing = 0, if the UE supports [earlyDecodingAndValidityCheck] capability, and at least one of the following conditions are met: - The number of candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early ASN.1 decoding and validity check].

- The UE has received LTM candidate cell TCI state activation command for the target cell at least [Tnikito + 13 ms or maxfTC1 activation delay', THARQ+ 13msl] before the LTM cell switch command.

- The UE has received PDCCH order for early RACH for the target cell.

[0096] With respect to alternative 1 and FIG. 6, TLTM-RRC-processing = 0 if the number of candidate cells with TCI state(s) in the LTM candidate cell, active TCI state list, and the number of candidate cells for which PDCCH order was received exceed the UE capability [number of candidate cells for early ASN.1 decoding and validity check]. In addition, TLTMRite-processing = 0 if the target cell is one of the first [number of candidate cells for early ASN.1 decoding and validity check] candidate cells for which TCI state was activated or PDCCH order was received. Otherwise, Turini-RRC-processing = 10 ms.

[0097] Alternative 2: The LIE may (always) be expected to pre-process the candidate cell configurations based on the latest trigger. If the UE has already pre-processed M candidate cell configurations, at the time of a new trigger the UE may pre-process the configuration(s) based on the latest trigger. If the UE cannot maintain the already pre-processed M candidate cell configurations, the UE may discard one or more of the pre-processed candidate cell configurations based on a discarding rule. For example, with UE capability M=1, if the UE is indicated to pre-process candidate cell configuration for cell 1 at LTM candidate cell configuration, and after that TCI state is activated for cell 2, the UE may be expected to pre-process cell 2 configuration. The UE may discard the pre-processed cell 1 configuration. If cell 1 is the target cell in the cell switch command, the UE may be allowed to do the preprocessing of cell 1 configuration during the cell switch (Turm_RRe-processing = 10 ms). If cell 2 is the target cell, the UE may be expected to have pre-processed the configuration of cell 2 and may not be allowed processing time during cell switch (e.g., TLTM RRC-processing = 0). As a result, based on TCI state activation and PDCCH order as pre-processing triggers and with respect to FIG. 6, the delay may be determined as follows. The TITM-RRC-processing may be the time for ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check for the RRC configuration of the LTM target cell indicated in the LTM cell switch command. TUBI-RRC-processing = 0, if the UE supports [earlyDecodingAndValidityCheck] capability, and at least one of the following conditions are met: - The number of candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early ASN.1 decoding and validity check].

- The UE has received LTM candidate cell TCI state activation command for the target cell at least [ THARQ± 13 ms or max{ TCI activation delay', TIIARQ+ 13ms}] before the LTM cell switch command.

- The UE has received PDCCH order for early RACH for the target cell.

[0098] Therefore, with respect to Alternative 2 and FIG. 6, TLIM-RRC-procesqing = 0 if the number of candidate cells with TCI state(s) in the LTM candidate cell, active TCI state list, 15 and the number of candidate cells for which PDCCH order was received exceed the UE capability [number of candidate cells for early ASN.I decoding and validity check]. In addition, TLIM-RRC-processing = 0 if the target cell is one of the latest [number of candidate cells for early ASAI.I decoding and validity check] candidate cells for which TCI state was activated or PDCCH order was received. Otherwise TLIM-RRC-processing = 10 ms.

[0099] Alternative 3: In an example, priority order of different pre-processing triggers may be defined for example as (e.g., 1 being the highest priority): 1) PDCCH order, 2) TCI state activation, 3) L1-RSRP reported, and 4) condition based on LTM candidate cell configuration (e.g., indication). For example, according to the example priority list as above, if the UE pre-processed cell 2 and cell 3 configurations based on measurement report(s), and receives TCI state activation command for cell 1, the UE may pre-process cell 1 configuration. If the UE pre-processed cell 2 and cell 3 based on TCI state activation, and cell 1 measurement report triggers pre-processing of configuration cell 1, the UE may not be expected to pre-process cell 1 configuration. As a result, based on the PDCCH order having higher priority than TCI state activation and with respect to FIG. 6, the delay may be determined as follows. The TLIM-RRC-processing may be the time for ASN.I decoding and validity/compliance check for the RRC configuration of the LTM target cell indicated in the LTM cell switch command. TT,TM-RRC-processing = 0, if the UE supports the [earlynecodingAndkrellidityCheck] capability, and at least one of the following conditions are met: - The number of candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early ASN.1 decoding and validity check].

- The UE has received LTM candidate cell TCI state activation command for the target cell at least [THARQ + 13 ms or max{ TCI activation delay', Tit:kw + 13ms}] before the LTM cell switch command.

- The LIE has received PDCCH order for early RACH for the target cell.

[0100] Therefore, with respect to Alternative 2 and FIG. 6, TLTM-RRC-processing = 0 if the number of candidate cells with TCI state(s) in the LTM candidate cell, active TCI state list, and the number of candidate cells for which PDCCH order was received exceeds the UE capability [number of candidate cells for early ASN.I decoding and validity check]. In addition, TLI11-RRC-processing = 0 if PDCCH order was received for the target cell as one of the last [number of candidate cells for early ASK.] decoding and validity check] PDCCH orders after receiving the LTM candidate cell configuration. Otherwise, TLIM-RRC-processing = 10 ms.

[0101] In an example, the discarding rules with respect to an alternative of an example embodiment, may be described as follows. In an example the discarding rules for earlier pre-processed configurations or existing pre-processed (early processed) configuration(s) may include the following. When the UE cannot maintain the previously pre-processed LTM candidate cell configurations at the time of a new trigger, the UE may be required to be configured with options indicating which of the earlier pre-processed configuration(s) the UE discards. In the following, three options are described.

[0102] Option 1: In an example, a first in first out principle may be followed or implemented wherein, the UE may discard the pre-processed configuration(s) that was triggered for pre-processing first in time. In this option, the UE may be (only) allowed to discard as many candidate cell configurations as needed to not exceed its pre-processing capability. For example, when the UE capability is to pre-process M=2, the candidate cell configuration(s) that the UE is expected to have pre-processed may change with different triggers as follows: 1) If the UE is indicated to pre-process cell 1 configuration in LTM candidate cell configuration, the pre-processed candidate cell configuration may be cell 1 configuration.

2) If the UE reports measurement results for cell 2, the pre-processed candidate cell configurations may be configuration(s) of cell 1, and cell 2.

3) If the UE receives TCI state activation command for cell 3, the UE may discard cell 1 candidate cell configuration and pre-processed candidate cell configurations may be configuration(s) of cell 2, cell 3.

[0103] With respect to option 1, if cell switch command to cell 1 is received: The UE may be allowed to do the processing of target cell configuration during the cell switch (TLTM RRC-processing = 10 ms). If a cell switch command to cell 2 or cell 3 is received, the UE may be expected to have pre-processed the configuration of the target cell and may not be allowed processing time during cell switch (ThrmititC-processing = 0).

[0104] Option 2: In an example, the UE may discard the already pre-processed candidate cell configuration(s) with lowest priority trigger. In an example, the UE may (only) be allowed to discard as many candidate cell configurations as needed to not exceed its preprocessing capability. For example, the priority list may be as follows: 1) PDCCH order, 2) TCI state activation, 3) LI-RSRP reported and 4) Condition based on LTM candidate cell configuration (e.g., indication). The UE capability may be to pre-process M=2, and the configuration(s) that the UE is expected to have pre-processed may change with different triggers as follows: 1) If the UE is indicated to pre-process cell 1 configuration in LTM candidate cell configuration, pre-processed candidate cell configuration may be configuration of cell 1.

2) If the UE reports measurement results for cell 2 and cell 3: the UE may discard preprocessed candidate cell configuration of cell 1, and pre-processed configurations may be: configuration(s) of cell 2, and cell 3.

3) If the UE receives TCI state activation command for cell 3: pre-processed candidate cell configurations may be configuration(s) of cell 2, and cell 3.

4) If the UE reports measurement results for cell 2 and cell 4, pre-processed candidate cell configurations may be configuration(s) of cell 2, and cell 3 (e.g., because cell 3 has higher priority trigger than cell 4).

5) If the UE receives TCI state activation command for cell 4, the UE may discard pre- processed configuration of cell 2 (e.g., lower priority than cell 3 and cell 4) and pre-processed configurations may be cell 3, cell 4.

[0105] With respect to option 2, if cell switch command to cell 1 or cell 2 is received, the DE may be allowed to do the processing of candidate cell configuration (or target cell configuration) during the cell switch (TLTM RRC-processing 10 ms). If a cell switch command to cell 3 or cell 4 is received, the UE may be expected to have pre-processed the configuration of the target cell(s) and may not be allowed processing time during cell switch (TT,TM_RRC-processing = 0).

[0106] Option 3: In an example, based on a new pre-processing trigger, the UE may be allowed to discard all the previously pre-processed candidate cell configurations. The network (or the network node, gNB) may (only) assume that the UE has pre-processed the candidate cell configuration(s) for which the trigger happened the latest. Option 3 may be used either: a) if the UE capability to pre-process is full before the new trigger, or b) always based on any new trigger even if the UE capability to pre-process is not full.

[0107] For example, with Option 3b, the UE capability to pre-process M=2, the candidate cell configuration(s) that the UE is expected to have pre-processed may change with different triggers as follows: 1) IF the UE is indicated to pre-process cell 1 and cell 2 configurations in LTM candidate cell configuration: the pre-processed configurations may be configuration(s) of cell 1, and cell 2.

2) If the UE receives TCI state activation command for cell 3: the UE may discard cell 1 and cell 2 configuration and the pre-processed configuration may be configuration of cell 3.

[0108] With respect to option 3, if cell switch command to cell 1 or cell 2 is received, the UE may be allowed to do the processing of target cell configuration during the cell switch (TL'rM RRC-processing = 10 ms). If cell switch command to cell 3 is received, the UE may be expected to have pre-processed the configuration of the target cell and is not allowed processing time during cell switch ((Turm RRC-processing = 0). In an example embodiment, options 1-3 may be employed together with Alternatives 2 and 3 as any kind of combination.

[0109] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example procedure of early processing configuration. As noted, procedure of FIG.7 may include network configuration or indication that causes specified UE 210 behaviour as per an example embodiment. In an example, the indication or configuration may be provided in LTM configuration as part of UE 210 reconfiguration (e.g. RRC reconfiguration message). At step 1, the UE 210 may transmit (or send) a message to the gNB 220 indicating a pre-processing (early processing) capability support of 2 cell configurations e.g., M=2. For example, the UE may indicate support of early processing of M candidate cell configurations. At step 2, the UE 210 may send a measurement report to the gNB 220. At step 3, the gNB 220 may determine or decide which candidate cells are to be early processed or pre-processed. At step 4, the gNB 220 may send an RRC reconfiguration message to the UE 210 that may include LTM configuration, early processing (pre-processing) indication of one or more candidate cells, and/or the like. In other words, the UE may receive an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations. At step 5, the UE 210 may apply one or more specified rules based on the message received in step 4. In an example, the UE may perform early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration. At step 6, the UE 210 may send an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the gNB 220. At step 7, the UE 210 may receive from the gNB 220, a cell switch or handover command that may include a candidate 1D. In an example, the UE may receive from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells. In an example, when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, the UE may perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0110] With respect to an example embodiment, the UE may perform one or more actions 10 based on the RRC message and/or based on predetermined rule(s). The actions may be performed according to the following handling alternatives as described.

[0111] Handling alternative L the UE may process the first M candidate cell configuration(s) in the ordered list manner. The UE may process the first M candidate cell configuration(s) in the ordered list manner based on a list provided by the network signalling such as e.g., ltm-CandidateList-r18. Upon receiving the LTM configuration (e.g., LTM candidate cell configuration(s)), the UE may process the first M candidate cell configuration(s) in the list based on an order. The UE may process the list based on an order regardless of the candidate ID (e.g., candidateId) value in the list. Upon receiving the LTM configuration, the UE may retain or store previously processed candidate cell configurations that may include M candidate cell configuration(s) in order. The UE may process the list starting from the smallest candidateId and proceeding to larger, even if the provided list is not in order. For example, candidates 1,2,3 may be processed first within a list where candidate list order may be 4,3,2,1.

[0112] Handling alternative 2: An explicit indication may be employed that may indicate which candidate cell configuration(s) to be pre-processed. In an example, a separate new indication or list in the LTM configuration such as the LTM-Config 1E may be specified which may indicate which candidate cell configuration(s) are to be early processed or preprocessed. The number of cell configuration(s) indicated for pre-processing may be the same or less than UE capability to pre-process candidate cell configurations. Alternative 2 may be implemented in combination with the alternative 1.

[0113] Handling alternative 3: The candidate cells to be pre-processed may depend (or based) on a type of candidate cell (e.g., candidate cell type). In an example implementation, the memory that UE requires to be reserved for the pre-processing may depend on a complexity of the configuration and a depth of the configuration tree. Therefore, the candidate cell configuration(s) to be pre-processed may depend on candidate cell type. In an example, a prioritized cells may be e.g., candidate cells that are one or more of the following (or any other suitable criteria) type: - UE's current serving cells (configured SCe11 or PSCe11); -Neighbour cells (non-serving cells); - Primary cell (PCell) candidate cells; - Primary secondary or primary cell of a SCG (PSCell) candidate cells; - Frequency range 1 (FRI) cells; - Frequency range 2 (FR2) cells on the same frequency range as PCell or PSCeII; or -Cells on different frequency range as PCell or PSCell.

[0114] In each of handling alternatives 1-3 above, pre-processing may be defined to start at the time of the UE receiving the RRC configuration. In another embodiment, preprocessing may be related to another trigger e.g., TCI state activation for multiple candidate cells. In an example embodiment, this may be indicated by a capability indication.

[0115] Handling alternative 4: Candidate cell configuration(s) may be pre-processed in order of the quality or the corresponding candidate cell, for example RSRP or SS-RSRP. In an example, the quality may be measured with respect to a target cell beam or signal. In an example, the RSRP may be the linear average of reference signal power (in Watts) across a specified bandwidth. A new UE indication (or capability) may be employed to inform or notify the network that the UE may pre-process one or more (up to maxNrofITMEarlyConfigs-r18) of the configured candidate cells in an order based on the quality (e.g., a quality value may be in dB, dBm, and/or the like) of the candidate cells, for example SSRSRP. In an example embodiment, the pre-processing may be done (performed) in an order according to the last or most recent measurement report.

[0116] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example procedure where candidate cell configuration(s) may be pre-processed in order of a quality of the corresponding candidate cell (e.g., quality of ce111, ... quality of cell N). At step 1, the UE 210 may receive from a service cell of the gNB 220, configuration of cells 1... N. At step 2, the UE 210 may send to the serving cell, a configuration complete message. At step 3, the UE 210 may receive synchronization signal block (SSB) from cell 1. At step 4, the UE 210 may receive synchronization signal block (SSB) from cell N. At step 5, the UE 210 may perform preprocessing based on measurement reports e.g., order of measured quality with respect to the target cell. At step 6, the UE 210 may send a measurement report to the serving cell of the gNB 220. At step 7, the UE may perform pre-processing based on measurements e.g., reporting order.

[0117] In the following, some example embodiments of handling alternatives are described based on an example configuration as follows.

[0118] Example configuration 1: In an example, the UE may be configured with candidate cells as follows.

- Candidate cell #1, serving SCell in a master cell group (MCG); - Candidate cell #2, neighbour cell; Candidate cell #3, serving SCell in a secondary cell group (SCG); - Candidate cell #4, neighbour cell; and -UE capability to pre-process candidate cell configurations is 2 cells.

[0119] Handling alternative 1: with respect to the example configuration 1, the UE may process the first M candidate cells in the ordered list manner. The UE may process the candidate cell configuration of Candidate cell #1 and Candidate cell #2 in order manner when receiving the RRC configuration including candidate cell list. If the UE has previously processed cell 3, the cell 3 may be processed and cell 1. If candidateIds (candidate cell IDs) of cell 2 and 3 are included in the positions of the list 1 and 2 respectively, the candidate cells 2 and 3 may be processed. In an example, the UE may not be required to process more than what the UE capability indicates. It may be specified that UE is required to process at least one or more (or N) first cells indicated in the list, regardless of whether the UE has previously processed any of the cells in candidate cell list.

[0120] With respect to the handling alternative 1 and FIG. 6, TL1M-1111C-processing may be the time for ASN.1 decoding and validity/compliance check for the RRC configuration of the LTM target cell indicated in the LTM cell switch command. TL 1-RRC-processing= 0, if the UE supports [earlyDecodingAtzdFdidityCheck] capability, and at least one of the following conditions are met and otherwise TLIM-1111C-processing = 10 ms: - The number of candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early.A.S'N. I decoding and validity check].

- The target cell is one of the first [number of candidate cells for early A.S'N.

decoding and validity check] candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration.

- The UE has received LTM candidate cell TCI state activation command for the target cell at least [THAJ&Q+ 13 ms or maxr TCI activation delay', THAW + l3ms)] before the LTM cell switch command, and the number of candidate cells with TCI state(s) in LTM candidate cell list, and active TCI state list does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early itS7c. I decoding and validity check].

- UE has received PDCCH order for early RACH for the target cell.

[0121] In an example embodiment and with respect to alternative 1, the RRC configuration message, the RRC reconfiguration message, the message, an element of an early processing configuration, and/or the like may be implemented as follows.

[0122] FIG. 9 depicts an information element (IE) within an RRC message. As depicted in the example FIG. 9, within an LTM-candidate IE of NR RRC, a flag or a Boolean indication may be employed directly under each LTM-Candidate IE. For example, the IE may include a variable such as Itm-EarlyRRC-Processing and a corresponding Boolean or Enumerated indication. For example, a true indication may indicate that the candidatelD configuration may be early processed. Subsequently, a false indication may indicate that the candidatelD configuration may not be early processed.

[0123] In another example, and with respect to alternative 1, the information on the number of configured LTM-Candidate cells that are subject to early RRC processing may be 15 provided directly in the LTM-Config IE. In an example, the LTM-Config LE may be within the message, the RRC message, and/or the like.

[0124] FIG. 10 depicts an example implementation of an IE within the LTM-config IE.

For example, the IE may be ltm-NumOfEarlyRRC-ProcessingCand-r18 that may be an integer in a range of INTEGER (1.. maxNrotLTM-Configs-r18). The integer value corresponding to the Itm-Num0fEarlyRRC-ProcessingCand-r18 variable may indicate the number of candidate cell configurations that are subject to early processing.

[0125] Handling alternative 2 may be described based on an example configuration 2.

The example configuration 2 may be as follows: [0126] Network may indicate the cells for pre-processing as follows: -Candidate cell #1, serving SCell in MCG -PRE-PROCESS - Candidate cell #2, neighbour cell - Candidate cell #3, serving SCell in SCG - Candidate cell #4, neighbour cell -PRE-PROCESS [0127] The UE may pre-process candidate cell configuration of candidate cell #1 and candidate cell #4 when receiving the RRC configuration. The indication may be a flag, or a list indicating which candidate cells to pre-process. The configuration may be outside of the object to be processed, and/or included in another object (e.g., measurement configuration).

[0128] FIG. 11 depicts an example implementation of a configuration information element. In an example, with respect to configuration 2, handling alternative 2 may be based on an explicit indication of which candidate cells to be pre-processed. The information element may include ltm-earlyCandidateToAddModList indicating a list of LTM early candidate configurations to add and/or modify. In an example, the ltmearlyCandidateToAddModList may indicate a list of early processing, pre-processing, and/or the like of candidate cell configurations, wherein candidate cell configurations may be added or modified within the list. As depicted in FIG. 11, maxNrofLTM-EarlyConfigs-r18 may be the number of cells based on the UE capability to support early processing of an LTM candidate cell RRC configuration e.g., "M" as noted in an example embodiment. In one implementation, Itm-earlyCandidateToAddModList-r18 may include a list of indices pointing to the list of the LTM candidate IDs and corresponding to each LTM candidate ID, there is an indication indicating whether the candidate cell configuration may be decoded early. In another implementation, the Itm-earlyCandidateToAddModList-r18 may include a list of candidate configurations which may be decoded early. The remaining list of LTM candidates which may not be decoded early may be indicated in ltm-CandidateToAddModList-r18.

[0129] As a result, based on alternative 2 and with respect to FIG. 6, TLTM-RRC-processing may be determined as follows.TLTM-RRC-processing = 0, if the UE supports [earlyDecodingAndValidityCheck] capability, and at least one of the following conditions is met (otherwise IITM-RRC-processing = 10 ms): - The number of candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early AS7V.1 decoding and validity check].

- Network has indicated the target cell for early ASN.1 decoding with [pre-process] flag in LTM candidate cell configuration.

UE has received LTM candidate cell TCI state activation command for the target cell at least [THARQ+ 13 ms or max[TCI activation delay', THARo+ 13ms1] before the LTM cell switch command, and the number of candidate cells with TCI state(s) in LTM candidate cell and active TCI state list do not exceed [number of candidate cells for early ASN. 1 decoding and validity check].

- UE has received PDCCH order for early RACH for the target cell.

[0130] Handling alternative 3: In an example, the candidate cells to be pre-processed depend on candidate cell type. Alternative 3 may be described with the following example rules.

[0131] Example rule 1: UE may prioritize pre-processing of current serving cells.

Therefore, the UE may pre-process candidate cell configuration of candidate cell #1 and candidate cell #3 when receiving the RRC configuration.

[0132] Example rule 2: UE may prioritize pre-processing of neighbour cells. Therefore, the UE may pre-process candidate cell configuration(s) of candidate cell #2 and candidate cell #4 when receiving the RRC configuration.

[0133] Furthermore with respect to alternative 3, if the number of prioritized cells exceeds the number of cells the UE is capable to pre-process, further criteria such as Alternative 1 may be implemented.

[0134] As a result, based on alternative 3 and with respect to FIG. 6, TLTM-RRC-processing may be determined as follows. TLIM-121"2-processing -0 if the UE supports [earlyDecodingAndValidityCheck] capability, and at least one of the following conditions are met (otherwise TLTM-RAC-process mg 10 ms): - The number of candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells.for early ASN.1 decoding and validity check].

- Option 1: Target cell is the current serving (neighbour) cell of the UE and the number of serving (neighbour) cells in LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early A,S'N. I decoding and validity check] capability.

- Option 2 (combined with Alternative 1): Target cell is one of the first [number of candidate cells for early ASN. I decoding and validity check] serving (neighbour) cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration.

-The UE has received LTM candidate cell TCI state activation command for the target cell at least [THARQ+ 13 ms or maxfTCI activation delay', THARQ+ 13ms1] before the LTM cell switch command, and the number of candidate cells with TCI state(s) in LTM candidate cell and active TCI state list does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early ASN. I decoding and validity check].

-The UE has received PDCCH order for early RACH for the target cell.

[0135] Handling alternative 4: In an example, candidate cells may be pre-processed in order of their quality, for example SS-RSRP. lf, for example, the UE support is configured with maxNrofLTM = 8 while supporting maxNrofLTM-EarlyConfigs-r18 = 4, the UE may pre-process 4 candidate cells in the order of the candidate cell SS-RSRP as reported to the network in the latest measurement report. In one example, this may be done after a measurement report is sent to the network. In another example, when a new candidate cell enters the candidate pre-processing list, this may trigger sending a measurement report to the network.

[0136] As a result, based on alternative 4 and with respect to FIG. 6, TLTM-RRC-processing may be determined as follows. TFFv-RRC-processing= 0 if the UE supports [earlynecodingAndValidnyCheck] capability, and at least one of the following conditions is met (otherwise TLTM-RRC-processing = 10 ms): - The number of candidate cells in the LTM candidate cell configuration does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early AS7V.1 decoding and validity check].

- UE has sent a Ll measurement report including measurement results for the target cell after receiving the LTM candidate cell configuration, and the target cell is reported as one of the first [number of candidate cells for early ASN. decoding and validity check] in the latest measurement report.

-UE has received LTM candidate cell TCI state activation command for the target cell at least [TIIARQ+ 13 ms or max{ TCI activation delay', THARQ + 1 3 ms}1 before the LTM cell switch command, and the number of candidate cells with TCI state(s) in LTM candidate cell active TCI state list does not exceed [number of candidate cells for early AASW 1 decoding and validity check].

-UE has received PDCCH order for early RACH for the target cell.

[0137] Handling alternative 5: In an example, dedicated signalling options for candidate cell configuration processing may be employed. In an example, the signalling of which candidate cells to process may be based on a dedicated indication, other than RRC from the network e.g., MAC CE, DCI or lower layer ASN.1 message. For example, the network may include Alternatives 1-4 in MAC CE or downlink control information (DCI) message. Upon receiving this indication, the UE may perform indicated processing of the candidate cells as described in the alternatives 1-4. The number of candidates may follow the maximum number of pre-processed cells or cell configurations.

[0138] In an example, the UE may employ a handling method according to an implementation, configuration, pre-configuration, and/or the like. In the following, further handling alternatives are described.

[0139] Handling alternative 1: In an example embodiment, the UE may perform pre-processing of the list in order. The UE may process the first M candidate cells in the ordered list manner based on ltm-CandidateList-r18 (e.g., as depicted in example FIG. 3 and FIG. 10).

Upon receiving the LTM configuration, the UE may retain previously processed configurations and include M candidate cells (or candidate cell configurations) in-order. The UE may free memory (e.g., discard) of the existing configured cells and replace the existing configurations with the first ones in the list.

[0140] In other words, the UE may perform the early processing or pre-processing of candidate cell configurations in the order of triggers in time, and after pre-processing has been triggered for up to M candidate cells, the UE may be implemented not to pre-process more candidate cell configurations. For example, the UE has performed pre-processing according to its capability, and stored the decoded configurations to the UE memory. In this case, the UE may retain or maintain the pre-processed configurations e.g., stored in the memory, and may not react to subsequent triggers prior to LTM cell switch command, which indicates the target cell. If at the time of the cell switch, the pre-processing has been triggered to more than M cells (e.g., the UE capability to pre-process), the UE may process the candidate cell configuration(s) of the target cell if the trigger for this cell arrived later than the first M triggers.

[0141] Handling alternative 2: In an example embodiment, the UE may receive an indication from the network to process candidate cells. If the candidate cell is the one that the UE has previously pre-processed, the UE may ignore the candidate cell indication. In an example, despite the network transmitting indication, the UE may delay the triggering of the pre-processing until another trigger occurs.

[0142] In other words, the UE may be implemented to (always) perform early processing or pre-process the candidate cell configurations based on the latest trigger. If the UE has already pre-processed M candidate cell configurations, at the time of a new trigger the UE may pre-process the configuration(s) based on the latest trigger. If the UE cannot maintain the already (existing) pre-processed M candidate cell configurations (e.g., cannot store or retain in memory), the UE may discard one or more of the pre-processed configurations based on a selected discarding rule as described in an example embodiment.

[0143] Handling alternative 3: In an example, the UE may (only) process the candidate cell if candidate cell type matches with a pre-defined criterion or one or more criteria.

Therefore, the candidate cells to be pre-processed may depend on candidate cell type, where the prioritized cells may be e.g., candidate cells that are one or more of the following (or any other suitable criteria): - Current serving cells of the UE (e.g., configured SCell or PSCell); - Neighbour cells (or non-serving cells); -PCell candidate cells; - PSCeII candidate cells; - FR1 cells; - FR2 cellsCells on the same frequency range as PCell or PSCell; - Cells on different frequency ranges than PCell or PSCe11; [0144] To save memory, the UE may only process PCell part of the configuration and leave the PSCell part of the configuration unprocessed. In case of a handover or a cell switch, the UE may further process the PSCe11 configuration.

[0145] In each of the handling alternatives 1-3, pre-processing may be defined to start at the time of the UE receiving the RRC configuration. In another embodiment, pre-processing may be related to some other triggers e.g., TCI state activation for multiple candidate cells. Furthermore, if the number of prioritized cells exceeds the number of cells the UE is capable to pre-process, further criteria such as those described in handling alternative I may be employed.

[0146] In other words, the UE may be implemented with priority order for different pre-processing triggers. Priority order of different pre-processing triggers may be defined for example as follows (with I. Being the highest priority): 1) PDCCH order, 2) TCI state activation, 3) Ll-RSRP reported, 4) Condition based on LTM candidate cell configuration (e.g., indication), and/or the like.

[0147] In an example, when the UE pre-processing capability is full, the UE may make a determination or a decision whether to pre-process or early process a new candidate cell configuration based on the priority of the new trigger compared to an earlier trigger. For example, the UE may select not to early process or pre-process if the new trigger has lower priority than the earlier trigger(s) and the UE may select to pre-process if the new trigger has higher priority than the earlier trigger(s).

[0148] In an example, options for discarding rules for earlier pre-processed configurations may be described as follows.

[0149] In an example, when the UE cannot maintain or retain (in memory) the previously pre-processed LTM candidate cell configurations at the time of a new trigger, the following 25 implementation options may be employed: [0150] Option 1: A method based on a first in first out principle may be implemented and the UE may be implemented to discard the pre-processed configuration(s) that was triggered for pre-processing first in time. In this option, the UE may (only) discard as many configurations as needed to not exceed its pre-processing capability e.g., M. [0151] Option 2: The UE may discard the already pre-processed configuration(s) for the cell with lowest priority trigger. In addition, the UE may (only) discard as many configurations as needed to not exceed its pre-processing capability of e.g., M. [0152] Option 3: Based on a new pre-processing trigger, the UE may discard all the previously pre-processed candidate cell configurations. Accordingly, TLTM RRC-processing -0 may apply (only) if the number of cells in candidate cell configuration or active TCI state list is up to the UE capability to pre-process.

[0153] In an example, option 3 may be implemented either when the UE capability or capacity (e.g., memory capacity) to pre-process is full before the new trigger, or always based on any new trigger even if the UE capability to pre-process is not full. Options 1-3 may be implemented together with Alternatives 2 and 3 as any kind of combination.

[0154] Handling alternative 4: In an example embodiment, the UE may pre-process one or more (e.g., up to maxNrofLTN4-EarlyConfigs-r18) of the configured candidate cells in an order or based on the quality of the candidate cells. For example, a threshold value for SS-RSRP / RSRQ / SINR may be employed. For example, if a value of the RSRP or SS-RSRP exceeds the threshold value, the UE may process all the candidate cells up to the UE capability. In an example, the UE may exceed the capability indicated to the network and may process all the cells for which the measured quality value exceeds the threshold. In another example, the UE may process the cells for which the threshold value is exceeded, and have been reported to the network (e.g., the cells which have not been reported but exceeded the threshold and are not pre-processed). In an example, the pre-processing may be performed in an order according to a last measurement report. In an example, the UE may (only) perform the early processing or the pre-processing after a measurement report is sent to the network. In another example, when a new candidate cell is added (or entered) to the candidate pre-processing list, the UE may be triggered to send a measurement report to the network.

[0155] In an example embodiment with respect to handling alternative 4, the UE may be implemented to pre-process some or all configured candidate cell configurations without any trigger for pre-processing. The UE may be implemented to do so for example in a case that the UE is in high mobility and cell switch is likely to happen very soon, or in a case that recent measurement results (reported or not reported) for one or more of the candidate cells show that the one or more candidate cell(s) may be a (likely, or probable) target cell.

[0156] In other words, UE implementation whether to pre-process or early process new configuration(s) or discard the existing ones may be based on the UE radio conditions, mobility status or state of the UE memory. For example, when the UP pre-processing capability or capacity is full, the UE may make a decision or a determination to pre-process a new candidate cell configuration under one or more of the following criteria and conditions: Latest measurement results for the serving cell (e.g., L1-RSRP or L3-RSRP). For example, if the serving cell signal level is low and cell switch is likely to be performed soon.

- Latest measurement results for the candidate cell for which pre-processing is triggered. For example, candidate cell signal level is better than serving cell or above a threshold value.

Latest measurement results for the previously pre-processed candidate cells. For example, if the measured Ll -RSRP or L3-RSRP for the new candidate cell is better than L1-RSRP or L3-RSRP of the previous candidate cells.

The UE has some spare memory for storing another candidate cell configuration even though its reported capability is consumed.

UE is in high mobility and cell switch is therefore likely to happen soon.

[0157] In an example implementation, if none of the above conditions (or any further condition) is met, the UE may select or determine not to early process or pre-process the new candidate cell configuration(s).

[0158] In an example, the UE may under specific conditions be implemented to discard (from memory) or keep the previously pre-processed candidate cell configurations (in the memory) either when its pre-processing capability is full (e.g., if memory space is full) or if it is not full. The UE may determine or decide to keep storing the previously pre-processed candidate cell configuration(s) if one or more of the following conditions are met: - Latest measurement results for the previously processed candidate cell are better than serving cell measurement results, e.g., being above a threshold value, or good (better or close enough) compared to other candidate cell measurement results (e.g., the cell is still considered as a valid candidate for cell switch).

- The UE has some spare or additional available memory for storing another candidate cell configuration even though its reported capability (M) is consumed.

[0159] In an example, if none of the above conditions (or any further condition) are met, the UE may determine or select to discard the previously pre-processed and stored candidate cell configuration(s).

[0160] In an example embodiment, if the UE has pre-processed and stored a candidate cell configuration before (performing) a cell switch, TT,TM_RRC-pr"eussing = 0 in the cell switch delay. In an example embodiment, if the UE has pre-processed and stored a candidate cell configuration before a cell switch e.g., before receiving a cell switch command, TLI11_1212Cproceqsing = 0 in the cell switch delay with respect to FIG. 6.

[0161] FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 1210 includes receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a serving cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N. Operation 1220 includes receiving, by the user device from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations. Operation 1230 includes performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration. Operation 1240 includes receiving from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells. Operation 1250 includes when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0162] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations includes: performing decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.

[0163] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations further includes: storing the one or more decoded and validity confirmed candidate cell configurations in memory before receiving the cell switch command and / or during the cell switch command processing.

[0164] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the message is at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) message, an RRC 25 reconfiguration message, a medium access control (MAC) message, or an ASN.1 message [0165] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: transmitting a capability indication indicating that the user device supports early processing of M candidate cell configurations.

[0166] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the early processing configuration at least includes the following for each of the N candidate cells: an identifier of the candidate cell, and an indication of whether the candidate cell is configured for the early processing.

[0167] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the early processing configuration includes an indication of a maximum number of the N candidate cells that are subject to the early processing.

[0168] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the early processing configuration includes at least one of the following: a first list of indices pointing to one or more of the N candidate cells and indicating which of the N candidate cells for which early processing is to be performed, or a second list of indices pointing to one or more candidate cells for which early processing is not to be performed.

[0169] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the early processing includes a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration, and the cell switch command includes an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch to an indicated cell for which the early processing has been performed.

[0170] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: transmitting to the serving cell of the network node, a measurement report, wherein the receiving the cell switch command includes receiving, based on a measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0171] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the cell switch processing delay includes radio resource control (RRC) processing delay of a candidate cell configuration.

[0172] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is not one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with the cell switch processing delay.

[0173] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with the cell switch processing delay includes: performing decoding and validity confirmation of a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell after receiving the cell switch command.

[0174] With respect to the method of FIG. 12, the method may further include: wherein the message includes the early processing configuration.

[0175] FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a TIE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 1310 includes receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a serving cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N. Operation 1320 includes receiving, by the user device from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations, wherein the early processing configuration provides instructions for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations. Operation 1330 includes performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration. Operation 1340 includes receiving from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells. Operation 1350 includes when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0176] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein the performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations includes: performing at least decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.

[0177] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein the instructions indicate either a set of cells for the early processing, or a prioritization or order of the N candidate cells for the early processing.

[0178] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein the instructions include instructions for performing the early processing for the N candidate cell configurations based on an ordered list of cells of the N candidate cells, wherein the performing early processing includes performing early processing of candidate cell configurations of a first M candidate cells of the ordered list, wherein M is a number of candidate cells or candidate cell configurations supported by the user device for the early processing.

[0179] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein the instructions include instructions for performing the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on a list of cells of the N candidate cells for which the early processing is indicated.

[0180] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein each of the N candidate cells is of a cell type, wherein the instructions include instructions for performing the early processing for one or more candidate cell configurations based on an indication of one or more cell types of the candidate cells for which the early processing is indicated, wherein the one or more cell types includes one or more of the following: a current serving cell of the user device, a neighbor or non-serving candidate cell, a primary cell (PCell) candidate cell, a primary secondary cell (PSCell) candidate, a frequency range 1 (FR1) candidate cell, a frequency range 2 (FR2) candidate cell, a candidate cell on the same frequency range as a PCell or a PSCell, or a candidate cell on different frequency range as a PCell or a PSCell.

[0181] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein the instructions include instructions for performing the early processing of candidate cell configurations for one or more of the candidate cells based on an indication of a quality of each of the candidate cells, wherein the quality of a candidate cell is determined based on a measurement of a signal received from the candidate cell, wherein the quality of a signal includes at least one of: a reference signal received power (RSRP), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).

[0182] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: retaining in memory one or more existing or previously early processed candidate cell configurations, and performing the early processing of one or more additional candidate cell configurations based on the instructions.

[0183] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: performing the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations based on an order of identifiers of the candidate cells, wherein the order is based on one of an ascending order of the identifiers of the candidate cells or a descending order of the identifiers of the candidate cells.

[0184] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein the early processing is triggered based on an early processing configuration information element (IE) contained within the message, wherein the message includes one of the following: a RRC message, a RRC reconfiguration message, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a downlink control information (DCI) message.

[0185] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein the early processing includes a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration, and the cell switch command may include an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0186] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: transmitting to the serving cell of the network node, a layer 1 measurement report, wherein the receiving the cell switch command includes receiving, based on the layer 1 measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0187] With respect to the method of FIG. 13, the method may further include: wherein the message includes the early processing configuration.

[0188] FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 1410 includes receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a serving cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N. Operation 1420 includes receiving, by the user device from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations. Operation 1430 includes based on the early processing configuration, discarding from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and performing the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations. Operation 1440 includes receiving from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells. Operation 1450 includes when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0189] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: wherein the discarding includes discarding an earliest or first processed candidate cell configuration of one or more previously early processed candidate cell configurations that are stored in memory.

[0190] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: wherein the early processing is performed for one or more candidate cell configurations based on a trigger, and wherein the discarding includes: discarding a candidate cell configuration having a lowest priority trigger, wherein the priority of the trigger is based on a type of the trigger being at least one of the following: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, a report of layer 1 reference signal received power (LI-RSRP), a report of layer 3 reference signal received power, or a configuration for layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing.

[0191] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: wherein the discarding includes: discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the message or in response to receiving the early processing configuration, and based on a determination that a number of stored or existing processed candidate cell configurations is M. [0192] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: wherein the discarding includes at least one of the following: discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the message, or discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the early processing configuration.

[0193] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: determining not to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration, based on a number of existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations being M. [0194] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: determining to perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations based on a most recent or latest trigger.

[0195] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: wherein a trigger includes at least one of the following: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reception, an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, a report of layer 1 reference signal received power (LI -RSRP), a report of layer 3 reference signal received power, or a configuration for LTM early processing.

[0196] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: determining to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration having a higher trigger priority than an existing or stored early processed candidate cell configuration having a lower trigger priority, if a number of existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations is M. [0197] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: discarding the existing or stored early processed candidate cell configuration having the lower trigger priority.

[0198] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: wherein the early processing is triggered based on at least one of the following: the receiving of the early processing configuration that includes a configuration for a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing for one or more candidate cells, an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, or a measurement report for a candidate cell.

[0199] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: wherein the performing early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations includes: performing decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.

[0200] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: wherein the early processing includes a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration, and the cell switch command may include an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0201] With respect to the method of FIG. 14, the method may further include: transmitting to the serving cell of the network node, a layer 1 measurement report, wherein the receiving the cell switch command includes receiving, based on the layer 1 measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0202] FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 1510 includes receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a serving cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM), the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N. Operation 1520 includes based on a trigger event, discarding from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and performing the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations. Operation 1530 includes receiving from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells. Operation 1540 includes when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0203] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: receiving, by the user device from the serving cell, a LTM early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations.

[0204] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the user device performs the early processing of candidate cell configurations for a first M candidate cells of the N candidate cells based on an ordered list indicated by the early processing configuration.

[0205] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the order of the early processing of the M candidate cells is based on at least one of the following: performing early processing of the first M candidate cells on the ordered list in order, performing early processing of the first M candidate cells on the ordered list in order, regardless of candidate cell IDs for the candidate cells on the ordered list, performing early processing of M candidate cells on the ordered list based on candidate cell ID, starting from a smallest candidate cell ID and proceeding to higher or larger candidate cell IDs on the ordered list, or performing early processing of M candidate cells on the ordered list based on candidate cell ID, starting from a largest candidate cell ID and proceeding to smaller or lower candidate cell IDs on the ordered list.

[0206] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: retaining one or more early processed candidate cell configurations, and performing the early processing of M candidate cell configurations based at least on the ordered list.

[0207] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: freeing up memory by discarding from memory one or more existing early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and replacing in memory the one or more discarded early processed candidate cell configurations with an additional early processed candidate cell configuration.

[0208] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: determining not to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration based on a determination that the candidate cell configuration is an existing early processed candidate cell configuration stored in memory.

[0209] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: determining to delay the performing of the early processing of one or more candidate cell 25 configurations.

[0210] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein each of the N candidate cells is of a cell type, wherein the early processing configuration includes instructions for performing the early processing for one or more candidate cell configurations based on an indication of one or more cell types of the candidate cells for which layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing is indicated, wherein the one or more cell types includes one or more of the following: a current serving cell of the user device, a neighbor or non-serving candidate cell, a primary cell (PCell) candidate cell, a primary secondary cell (PSCell) candidate, a frequency range 1 (FRI) candidate cell, a frequency range 2 (FR2) candidate cell, a candidate cell on the same frequency range as a PCell or a PSCell, or a candidate cell on different frequency range as a PCell or a PSCell.

[0211] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the early processing is performed based on the trigger event, wherein the trigger event may include at least one of the following: receiving the early processing configuration for the early processing for one or more candidate cells, an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, or a measurement or a measurement report for a candidate cell.

[0212] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the performing early processing includes: performing the early processing of candidate cell configurations for one or more of the candidate cells based on an indication of a quality of each of the N candidate cells, wherein the quality of a candidate cell is determined based on a measurement of a signal received from the candidate cell, wherein the quality of the signal may include at least one of: a reference signal received power (RSRP), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).

[0213] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the indication of the quality of each of the N candidate cells is based on a quality value measured with respect to a candidate cell exceeding a threshold value.

[0214] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the performing early processing includes: performing early processing of a candidate cell configuration for a candidate cell for which the quality value of the candidate cell exceeds a threshold value.

[0215] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: performing the early processing of a candidate cell configuration for all of the N candidate cells.

[0216] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the performing early processing includes: performing early processing of a candidate cell configuration for a candidate cell for which the quality value of the candidate cell exceeds the threshold value and the quality value has been reported to the network.

[0217] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations is performed for the candidate cells in an order according to a last measurement report for the candidate cells.

[0218] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the early processing is performed after a transmission of a measurement report.

[0219] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: transmitting a measurement report in response to receiving a candidate cell configuration within the message.

[0220] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the early processing is performed without any trigger.

[0221] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the early processing is performed based on at least one of: a mobility condition of the user device being in high mobility, or a recent reported or not reported measurement for one or more candidate cells indicates that a candidate cell may be a likely target cell for handover or cell switch.

[0222] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations includes: performing decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.

[0223] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: wherein the early processing includes a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration, and the cell switch command includes an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0224] With respect to the method of FIG. 15, the method may further include: transmitting to the serving cell of the network node, a layer 1 measurement report, wherein the receiving the cell switch command includes receiving, based on the layer 1 measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0225] Some examples will now be described, based on the description and figures provided herein.

[0226] Example 1. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receive, from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; perform early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration; receive, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0227] Example 2. The apparatus of example 1, wherein the performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations includes: performing at least decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.

[0228] Example 3. The apparatus of example 2, wherein the performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations further includes: storing the one or more decoded and validity confirmed candidate cell configurations in memory before receiving the cell switch command and / or during the cell switch command processing.

[0229] Example 4. The apparatus of any of examples 1-3, wherein the message is at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) message, an RRC reconfiguration message, a medium access control (MAC) message, or an ASN.1 message.

[0230] Example 5. The apparatus of any of examples 1-4, wherein the apparatus is further caused to transmit a capability indication indicating that the user device supports early processing of M candidate cell configurations.

[0231] Example 6. The apparatus of examples 1-5, wherein the early processing configuration at least includes the following for each of the N candidate cells: an identifier of the candidate cell, and an indication of whether the candidate cell is configured for the early processing.

[0232] Example 7. The apparatus of any of examples 1-6, wherein the early processing configuration includes an indication of a maximum number of the N candidate cells that are subject to the early processing.

[0233] Example 8. The apparatus of any of examples 1-7, wherein the early processing configuration includes at least one of the following: a first list of indices pointing to one or more of the N candidate cells and indicating which of the N candidate cells for which early processing is to be performed, or a second list of indices pointing to one or more candidate cells for which early processing is not to be performed.

[0234] Example 9. The apparatus of any of examples 1-8 wherein: the early processing includes a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration, and the cell switch command may include an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch to an indicated cell for which the early processing has been performed.

[0235] Example 10. The apparatus of example 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to transmit to the serving cell of the network node, a measurement report, wherein the receiving the cell switch command may include receiving, based on a measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0236] Example 11. The apparatus of any of examples 1-10, wherein the cell switch processing delay may include radio resource control (RRC) processing delay of a candidate cell configuration.

[0237] Example 12. The apparatus of any of examples 1-9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is not one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with the cell switch processing delay.

[0238] Example 13. The apparatus of examples 12, wherein the performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with the cell switch processing delay includes: performing decoding and validity confirmation of a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell after receiving the cell switch command.

[0239] Example 14. The apparatus of any of examples 1-14, wherein the message includes the early processing configuration.

[0240] Example 15. An apparatus may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receive, by the user device from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations, wherein the early processing configuration provides instructions for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; perform early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on the early processing configuration; receive from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0241] Example 16. The apparatus of example 15, wherein the performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations includes: performing at least decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.

[0242] Example 17. The apparatus of any of examples 15-16, wherein the instructions indicate either a set of cells for the early processing, or a prioritization or order of the N candidate cells for the early processing.

[0243] Example 18. The apparatus any of examples 15-17, wherein the instructions may include instructions for performing the early processing for the N candidate cell configurations based on an ordered list of cells of the N candidate cells, wherein the performing early processing may include performing early processing of candidate cell configurations of a first M candidate cells of the ordered list, wherein M is a number of candidate cells or candidate cell configurations supported by the user device for the early processing.

[0244] Example 19. The apparatus any of examples 15-18, wherein the instructions may include instructions for performing the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations based on a list of cells of the N candidate cells for which the early processing is indicated.

[0245] Example 20. The apparatus any of examples 15-19, wherein each of the N candidate cells is of a cell type, wherein the instructions may include instructions for performing the early processing for one or more candidate cell configurations based on an indication of one or more cell types of the candidate cells for which the early processing is indicated, wherein the one or more cell types includes one or more of the following: a current serving cell of the user device; a neighbor or non-serving candidate cell; a primary cell (PCell) candidate cell; a primary secondary cell (PSCeII) candidate; a frequency range 1 (FR1) candidate cell; a frequency range 2 (FR2) candidate cell; a candidate cell on the same frequency range as a PCell or a PSCell; or a candidate cell on different frequency range as a PCell or a PSCell.

[0246] Example 21. The apparatus any of examples 15-20, wherein the instructions may include instructions for performing the early processing of candidate cell configurations for one or more of the candidate cells based on an indication of a quality of each of the candidate cells, wherein the quality of a candidate cell is determined based on a measurement of a signal received from the candidate cell, wherein the quality of a signal may include at least one of: a reference signal received power (RSRP), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).

[0247] Example 22. The apparatus of any of examples 15-21, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: retain in memory one or more existing or previously early processed candidate cell configurations, and perform the early processing of one or more additional candidate cell configurations based on the instructions.

[0248] Example 23. The apparatus of any of examples 15-22, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations based on an order of identifiers of the candidate cells, wherein the order is based on one of an ascending order of the identifiers of the candidate cells or a descending order of the identifiers of the candidate cells.

[0249] Example 24. The apparatus any of examples 15-23, wherein the early processing is triggered based on an early processing configuration information element (1E) contained within the message, wherein the message may include one of the following: a RRC message; a RRC reconfiguration message; a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE); or a downlink control information (DCI) message.

[0250] Example 25. The apparatus of any of examples 15-24 wherein: the early processing may include a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration; and the cell switch command may include an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0251] Example 26. The apparatus of example 25, wherein the apparatus is further caused to transmit to the serving cell of the network node, a layer 1 measurement report; wherein the receiving the cell switch command may include receiving, based on the layer 1 measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0252] Example 27. The apparatus of any of examples 15-26, wherein the message includes the early processing configuration.

[0253] Example 28. The apparatus of any of examples 15-27, wherein the memory includes a random access memory, a cache memory, an internal storage, or a processing unit register.

[0254] Example 29. An apparatus may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receive, from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; based on the early processing configuration, discard from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receive, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0255] Example 30. The apparatus of example 29, wherein the discarding includes discarding an earliest or first processed candidate cell configuration of one or more previously early processed candidate cell configurations that are stored in memory.

[0256] Example 31. The apparatus of an of examples 29-30, wherein the early processing is performed for one or more candidate cell configurations based on a trigger; wherein the discarding includes: discarding a candidate cell configuration having a lowest priority trigger, wherein the priority of the trigger is based on a type of the trigger being at least one of the following: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, a report of layer 1 reference signal received power (Ll -RSRP), a report of layer 3 reference signal received power, or a configuration for layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing.

[0257] Example 32. The apparatus of any of examples 29-31, wherein the discarding includes: discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the message or in response to receiving the early processing configuration, and based on a determination that a number of stored or existing processed candidate cell configurations is M. [0258] Example 33. The apparatus of any of examples 29-32, wherein the discarding includes at least one of the following: discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the message; or discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the early processing configuration.

[0259] Example 34. The apparatus of any of examples 29-33, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine not to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration, based on a number of existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations being M. [0260] Example 35. The apparatus of any of examples 29-34, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine to perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations based on a most recent or latest trigger.

[0261] Example 36. The apparatus of any of examples 29-35, wherein a trigger may include at least one of the following: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reception; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a report of layer 1 reference signal received power (LI-RSRP); a report of layer 3 reference signal received power; or a configuration for LTM early processing.

[0262] Example 37. The apparatus of any of examples 29-36, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration having a higher trigger priority than an existing or stored early processed candidate cell configuration having a lower trigger priority, if a number of existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations is M. [0263] Example 38. The apparatus of example 37, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: discard the existing or stored early processed candidate cell configuration having the lower trigger priority.

[0264] Example 39. The apparatus of any of examples 29-38, wherein the early processing is triggered based on at least one of the following: the receiving of the early processing configuration that includes a configuration for a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing for one or more candidate cells; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; or a measurement report for a candidate cell.

[0265] Example 40. The apparatus of any of examples 29-39, wherein the performing early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations includes: performing decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.

[0266] Example 41. The apparatus of any of examples 29-40 wherein: the early processing includes a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration, the cell switch command may include: an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0267] Example 42. The apparatus of example 41, wherein the apparatus is further caused to transmit to the serving cell of the network node, a layer 1 measurement report, wherein the receiving the cell switch command includes receiving, based on the layer 1 measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0268] Example 43. An apparatus may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM), the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; based on a trigger event, discard from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receive from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.

[0269] Example 44. The apparatus of example 43, further including: receiving, by the user device from the serving cell, a LTM early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations.

[0270] Example 45. The apparatus of example 44, wherein the user device performs the early processing of candidate cell configurations for a first M candidate cells of the N candidate cells based on an ordered list indicated by the early processing configuration.

[0271] Example 46. The apparatus of example 43-45, wherein the order of the early processing of the M candidate cells is based on at least one of the following: performing early processing of the first M candidate cells on the ordered list in order; performing early processing of the first M candidate cells on the ordered list in order, regardless of candidate cell Ins for the candidate cells on the ordered list; performing early processing of M candidate cells on the ordered list based on candidate cell ID, starting from a smallest candidate cell ID and proceeding to higher or larger candidate cell IDs on the ordered list; or performing early processing of M candidate cells on the ordered list based on candidate cell ID, starting from a largest candidate cell ID and proceeding to smaller or lower candidate cell IDs on the ordered list.

[0272] Example 47. The apparatus of any of examples 43-46, further including: retaining one or more early processed candidate cell configurations; and performing the early processing of M candidate cell configurations based at least on the ordered list.

[0273] Example 48. The apparatus of any of examples 44-47, including: freeing up memory by discarding from memory one or more existing early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory; and replacing in memory the one or more discarded early processed candidate cell configurations with an additional early processed candidate cell configuration.

[0274] Example 49. The apparatus of any of examples 44-48, further including: determining not to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration based on a determination that the candidate cell configuration is an existing early processed candidate cell configuration stored in memory.

[0275] Example 50. The apparatus of any of examples 44-49, further including: determining to delay the performing of the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations.

[0276] Example 51. The apparatus any of examples 44-50, wherein each of the N candidate cells is of a cell type, wherein the early processing configuration includes instructions for performing the early processing for one or more candidate cell configurations based on an indication of one or more cell types of the candidate cells for which layer I/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing is indicated, wherein the one or more cell types includes one or more of the following: a current sewing cell of the user device; a neighbor or non-sewing candidate cell; a primary cell (PCell) candidate cell; a primary secondary cell (PSCeII) candidate; a frequency range 1 (FR1) candidate cell; a frequency range 2 (FR2) candidate cell; a candidate cell on the same frequency range as a PCell or a PSCell; or a candidate cell on different frequency range as a PCell or a PSCell.

[0277] Example 52. The apparatus of any of examples 44-51, wherein the early processing is performed based on the trigger event, wherein the trigger event includes at least one of the following: receiving the early processing configuration for the early processing for one or more candidate cells; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; or a measurement or a measurement report for a candidate cell.

[0278] Example 53. The apparatus of any of examples 44-52, wherein the performing early processing includes: performing the early processing of candidate cell configurations for one or more of the candidate cells based on an indication of a quality of each of the N candidate cells, wherein the quality of a candidate cell is determined based on a measurement of a signal received from the candidate cell, wherein the quality of the signal may include at least one of a reference signal received power (RSRP), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINK).

[0279] Example 54. The apparatus of example 44-53, wherein the indication of the quality of each of the N candidate cells is based on a quality value measured with respect to a candidate cell exceeding a threshold value.

[0280] Example 55. The apparatus of any of examples 44-54, wherein the performing early processing includes: performing early processing of a candidate cell configuration for a candidate cell for which the quality value of the candidate cell exceeds a threshold value.

[0281] Example 56. The apparatus of any of examples 44-55, further including performing the early processing of a candidate cell configuration for all of the N candidate cells.

[0282] Example 57. The apparatus of any of examples 44-56, wherein the performing early processing includes: performing early processing of a candidate cell configuration for a candidate cell for which the quality value of the candidate cell exceeds the threshold value and the quality value has been reported to the network.

[0283] Example 58. The apparatus of any of examples 44-57, wherein the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations is performed for the candidate cells in an order according to a last measurement report for the candidate cells.

[0284] Example 59. The apparatus of any of examples 44-58, wherein the early processing is performed after a transmission of a measurement report.

[0285] Example 60. The apparatus of any of examples 44-59, further including transmitting a measurement report in response to receiving a candidate cell configuration within the message.

[0286] Example 61. The apparatus of any of examples 44-60, wherein the early processing is performed without any trigger.

[0287] Example 62. The apparatus of any of examples 44-61, wherein the early processing is performed based on at least one of a mobility condition of the user device being in high mobility; or a recent reported or not reported measurement for one or more candidate cells indicates that a candidate cell may be a likely target cell for handover or cell switch.

[0288] Example 63. The apparatus of any of examples 44-62, wherein the performing early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations includes: performing decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.

[0289] Example 64. The apparatus of any of examples 44-63 wherein: the early processing includes a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration; and the cell switch command may include an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0290] Example 65. The apparatus of example 64, further including transmitting to the serving cell of the network node, a layer 1 measurement report; wherein the receiving the cell switch command may include receiving, based on the layer 1 measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.

[0291] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a wireless station or node (e.g., UE, user device, AP, BS, eNB, gNB, RAN node, network node, TRP, or other node) 1300 according to an example embodiment. The wireless station 1300 may include, for example, one or more (e.g., two as shown in FIG. 16) RF (radio frequency) or wireless transceivers 1302A, 1302B, where each wireless transceiver includes a transmitter to transmit signals and a receiver to receive signals. The wireless station also includes a processor or control unit/entity (controller) 1304 to execute instructions or software and control transmission and receptions of signals, and a memory 1306 to store data and/or instructions.

[0292] Processor 1304 may also make decisions or determinations, generate frames, packets or messages for transmission, decode received frames or messages for further processing, and other tasks or functions described herein. Processor 1304, which may be a baseband processor, for example, may generate messages, packets, frames or other signals for transmission via wireless transceiver 1302 (1302A or 1302B). Processor 1304 may control transmission of signals or messages over a wireless network, and may control the reception of signals or messages, etc., via a wireless network (e.g., after being down-converted by wireless transceiver 1302, for example). Processor 1304 may be programmable and capable of executing software or other instructions stored in memory or on other computer media to perform the various tasks and functions described above, such as one or more of the tasks or methods described above. Processor 1304 may be (or may include), for example, hardware, programmable logic, a programmable processor that executes software or firmware, and/or any combination of these. Using other terminology, processor 1304 and transceiver 1302 together may be considered as a wireless transmitter/receiver system, for example.

[0293] In addition, referring to FIG. 16, a controller (or processor) 1308 may execute software and instructions, and may provide overall control for the station 1300, and may provide control for other systems not shown in FIG. 16, such as controlling input/output devices (e.g., display, keypad), and/or may execute software for one or more applications that may be provided on wireless station 1300, such as, for example, an email program, audio/video applications, a word processor, a Voice over IP application, or other application or software.

[0294] In addition, a storage medium may be provided that includes stored instructions, which when executed by a controller or processor may result in the processor 1304, or other controller or processor, performing one or more of the functions or tasks described above.

[0295] According to another example embodiment, RF or wireless transceiver(s) 1302A/1302B may receive signals or data and/or transmit or send signals or data. Processor 1304 (and possibly transceivers 1302A/1302B) may control the RF or wireless transceiver 1302A or 1302B to receive, send, broadcast or transmit signals or data [0296] Example embodiments are provided or described for each of the example methods, including: An apparatus (e.g., 1300, FIG. 16) including means (e.g., processor 1304, RF transceivers 1302A and/or 1302B, and/or memory 1306, in FIG. 16) for carrying out any of the methods; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memory 1306, FIG. 16) comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor (processor 1304, FIG. 16), are configured to cause a computing system (e.g., 1300, FIG. 16) to perform any of the example methods; and an apparatus (e.g., 1300, FIG. 16) including at least one processor (e.g., processor 1304, FIG. 16), and at least one memory (e.g., memory 1306, FIG. 16) including computer program code, the at least one memory (1306) and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor (1304), cause the apparatus (e.g., 1300) at least to perform any of the example methods.

[0297] Embodiments of the various techniques described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Embodiments may be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of a data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers.

Embodiments may also be provided on a computer readable medium or computer readable storage medium, which may be a non-transitory medium. Embodiments of the various techniques may also include embodiments provided via transitory signals or media, and/or programs and/or software embodiments that are downloadable via the Internet or other network(s), either wired networks and/or wireless networks. In addition, embodiments may be provided via machine type communications (MTC), and also via an Internet of Things (JOT).

[0298] As used in this application, the term circuitry' or "circuit" refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and soft-ware (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present. This definition of circuitry' applies to all uses of this term in this application. As a further example, as used in this application, the term 'circuitry' would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term 'circuitry' would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or another network device.

[0299] The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it may be stored in some sort of carrier, distribution medium, or computer readable medium, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. Such carriers include a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, photoelectrical and/or electrical carrier signal, telecommunications signal, and software distribution package, for example. Depending on the processing power needed, the computer program may be executed in a single electronic digital computer, or it may be distributed amongst a number of computers.

[0300] Furthermore, embodiments of the various techniques described herein may use a cyber-physical system (CPS) (a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities). CPS may enable the embodiment and exploitation of massive amounts of interconnected ICT devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, ...) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber physical systems, in which the physical system in question has inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals. The rise in popularity of smartphones has increased interest in the area of mobile cyber-physical systems. Therefore, various embodiments of techniques described herein may be provided via one or more of these technologies.

[03011 A computer program, such as the computer program(s) described above, can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit or part of it suitable for use in a computing environment.

A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[03021 Method steps may be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program or computer program portions to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps also may be performed by, and an apparatus may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

[03031 Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer, chip or chipset. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. Elements of a computer may include at least one processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also may include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magnetooptical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0304] To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments may be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a user interface, such as a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0305] Embodiments may be implemented in a computing system that includes a backend component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a frontend component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an embodiment, or any combination of such backend, middleware, or frontend components. Components may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), e.g., the Internet.

[0306] While certain features of the described embodiments have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the various embodiments.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, by the apparatus supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations from a cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less than N; receive, from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; based on the early processing configuration, discard from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receive, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, perform the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discarding comprises discarding an earliest or first processed candidate cell configuration of one or more previously early processed candidate cell configurations that are stored in memory.
3 The apparatus of an of claims 1-2, wherein the early processing is performed for one or more candidate cell configurations based on a trigger; wherein the discarding comprises: discarding a candidate cell configuration having a lowest priority trigger, wherein the priority of the trigger is based on a type of the trigger being at least one of the following: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a report of layer 1 reference signal received power (Li-RSRP); a report of layer 3 reference signal received power; or a configuration for layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing.
The apparatus of any of claims 1-3, wherein the discarding comprises: discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the message or in response to receiving the early processing configuration, and based on a determination that a number of stored or existing processed candidate cell configurations is M.
5. The apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the discarding comprises at least one of the following: discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the message; or discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the early processing configuration.
The apparatus of any of claims 1-5, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine not to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration, based on a number of existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations being M.
The apparatus of any of claims 1-6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine to perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations based on a most recent or latest trigger.
8. The apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein a trigger comprises at least one of the following: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reception; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a report of layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP); a report of layer 3 reference signal received power; or a configuration for LTM early processing.
The apparatus of any of claims 1-8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration having a higher trigger priority than an existing or stored early processed candidate cell configuration having a lower trigger priority, if a number of existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations is M.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: discard the existing or stored early processed candidate cell configuration having the lower trigger priority.
11. The apparatus of any of claims 1-10, wherein the early processing is triggered based on at least one of the following: the receiving of the early processing configuration that includes a configuration for a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing for one or more candidate cells; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; or a measurement report for a candidate cell.
12. The apparatus of any of claims 1-11, wherein the performing early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations comprises: performing decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.
13. The apparatus of any of claims 1-12 wherein: the early processing comprises a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration; and the cell switch command comprises an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to transmit to the serving cell of the network node, a layer 1 measurement report; wherein the receiving the cell switch command comprises receiving, based on the layer 1 measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.
15. A method comprising: receiving, by a user device supporting early processing of M candidate cell configurations, from a serving cell of a network node, a message configuring N candidate cells for mobility, the message including N candidate cell configurations, wherein M is less 25 than N; receiving, by the user device from the serving cell, an early processing configuration for the early processing of one or more of the N candidate cell configurations; based on the early processing configuration, discarding from memory one or more existing candidate cell configurations or previously early processed candidate cell configurations stored in memory, and performing the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations; receiving from the serving cell, a cell switch command indicating a cell switch to an indicated cell of the N candidate cells; and when the indicated cell in the cell switch command is one of the one or more candidate cells for which early processing has been performed and a candidate cell configuration for the indicated cell is stored in memory, performing the cell switch to the indicated cell with a reduced cell switch processing delay.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the discarding comprises discarding an earliest or first processed candidate cell configuration of one or more previously early processed candidate cell configurations that are stored in memory.
17. The method of an of claims 15-16, wherein the early processing is performed for one or more candidate cell configurations based on a trigger; wherein the discarding comprises: discarding a candidate cell configuration having a lowest priority trigger, wherein the priority of the trigger is based on a type of the trigger being at least one of the following: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a report of layer I reference signal received power (Li-RSRP); a report of layer 3 reference signal received power; or a configuration for layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing.
18. The method of any of claims 15-17, wherein the discarding comprises: discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the message or in response to receiving the early processing configuration, and based on a determination that a number of stored or existing processed candidate cell configurations is M.
19. The method of any of claims 15-18, wherein the discarding comprises at least one of the following: discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the message; or discarding all existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations in response to receiving the early processing configuration.
20. The method of any of claims 15-19, further comprising: determining not to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration, based on a number of existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations being M.
21. The method of any of claims 15-20, further comprising: determining to perform the early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations based on a most recent or latest trigger.
22. The method of any of claims 15-21, wherein a trigger comprises at least one of the following: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reception; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a report of layer 1 reference signal received power (Ll-RSRP); a report of layer 3 reference signal received power; or a configuration for LTM early processing.
23. The method of any of claims 15-22, further comprising: determining to perform the early processing of a candidate cell configuration having a higher trigger priority than an existing or stored early processed candidate cell configuration having a lower trigger priority, if a number of existing or stored processed candidate cell configurations is M.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: discarding the existing or stored early processed candidate cell configuration having the lower trigger priority.
25. The method of any of claims 15-24, wherein the early processing is triggered based on at least one of the following: the receiving of the early processing configuration that includes a configuration for a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing for one or more candidate cells; an activation of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; or a measurement report for a candidate cell.
26. The method of any of claims 15-25, wherein the performing early processing of one or more candidate cell configurations comprises: performing decoding and validity confirmation of one or more of the candidate cell configurations before receiving the cell switch command.
27. The method of any of claims 15-26 wherein: the early processing comprises a layer 1/layer 2 triggered mobility (LTM) early processing of a candidate cell configuration; and the cell switch command comprises an LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to an indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting to the serving cell of the network node, a layer 1 measurement report, wherein the receiving the cell switch command comprises receiving, based on the layer 1 measurement report, the LTM cell switch command indicating an LTM cell switch or handover to the indicated cell for which the LTM early processing has been performed.