WO2015063372A1

WO2015063372A1 - Methods and apparatus for network conditions measurement

Info

Publication number: WO2015063372A1
Application number: PCT/FI2014/050815
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars Dalsgaard; Jorma Johannes Kaikkonen; Sari Kaarina Nielsen
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2013-11-04
Filing date: 2014-10-31
Publication date: 2015-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-04

Abstract

Systems and techniques for selecting a reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric to be used by a user device in making RSRQ measurements. Auser device is controlled to interpret a metric selection command from a base station specifying whether a first or a second RSRQmetric supported by the user device is to be used in making RSRQ measurements, selectsthe first or the second metric based on the metric selection command, and usesthe selected metric to perform RSRQ measurements. The first metric may be a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI)component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call-specific reference (CRS) signal, and the second metric may bean enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a subframe.

Description

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK

CONDITIONS MEASUREMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates generally to wireless communication. More particularly, the invention relates to improved systems and techniques for measurement of characteristics elating to network conditions. DEFINITION OF ABBREVIATIONS:

The following definitions will assist in understanding various abbreviations used in this application:

elCIC enhanced inter-cell interference coordination

UE user equipment

RSRQ reference symbol received quality

RSSI received signal strength indicator

eNB evolved nodeB

RSRP reference symbol received power BACKGROUND:

Modern communication systems operators, particularly cellular networking operators, are constantly seeking to improve communication efficiency. One important aspect of interference management is measurement of signal quality. In systems operating according to third generation partnership project (3 GPP) specifications, the reference signal received quality (RSRQ) metric is used. One developing approach is enhanced inter-cell interference coordination. Such coordination is becoming more and more important in environments in which macro cells and small cells coexist, with small cells being deployed in the region served by the macro cells. Base stations coordinate activities such as connection and handoffs based on network conditions experienced by user devices. A user device transmits a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) metric to a base station, and the base station can make decisions based on the RSRQ metric. Various manifestations of 3GPP networks may use enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) to manage interference and network behavior, and user devices may use an RSRQ metric adapted to elCIC operation. User devices that use the RSRQ metric adapted to elCIC are being introduced more and more, but many user devices use an RSRQ metric that is not specifically adapted to elCIC operation. Legacy and elCIC RSRQ metrics are discussed, for example, in 3 GPP technical specification (TS) 36.214. The legacy metric is based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call-specific reference signal (CRS). The metric adapted to elCIC cases is based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a subframe. The effects of differences between metrics can be seen, for example, in the number of handovers, ping pong effect between cells, radio link failures, and so forth.

SUMMARY:

In one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises controlling a user device to interpret a metric selection command from a base station specifying whether a first or a second reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric supported by the user device is to be used in making RSRQ measurements, selecting the first or the second metric based on the metric selection command, and using the selected metric to perform RSRQ measurements.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method comprises controlling a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric to be used by a user device for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and interpreting a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises means for controlling a user device to interpret a metric selection command from a base station specifying whether a first or a second reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric supported by the user device is to be used in making RSRQ measurements, means for selecting the first or the second metric based on the metric selection command, and means for using the selected metric to perform RSRQ measurements.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method comprises means for controlling a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric to be used by a user device for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and means for interpreting a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises at least one processor and memory storing a program of instructions. The memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least control a user device to interpret a metric selection command from a base station specifying whether a first or a second reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric supported by the user device is to be used in making RSRQ measurements, select the first or the second metric based on the metric selection command, and use the selected metric to perform RSRQ measurements.

In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises at least one processor and memory storing a program of instructions. The memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least control a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric to be used by a user device for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and interpret a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

In another embodiment of the invention, a computer readable medium stores a program of instructions. Execution of the program of instructions by at least one processor configures an apparatus to at least control a user device to interpret a metric selection command from a base station specifying whether a first or a second reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric supported by the user device is to be used in making RSRQ measurements, select the first or the second metric based on the metric selection command, and use the selected metric to perform RSRQ measurements.

In another embodiment of the invention, a computer readable medium stores a program of instructions. Execution of the program of instructions by at least one processor configures an apparatus to at least control a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric to be used by a user device for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and interpret a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Fig. 1 illustrates a wireless network according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a process according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 3 illustrates elements that can be used for carrying out embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

Embodiments of the present invention recognize that the different RSRQ metrics provide different information, and that the RSRQ metric received by a base station is likely to be misinterpreted if it is not aware which RSRQ metric is being used. It is likely to be very difficult for a network to control the UEs in the presence of two different RSRQ metrics with no way to distinguish them, and network complexity may be significantly increased to provide for proper control or, alternatively, UE behavior will be less predictable.

One or more embodiments of the present invention, therefore, provide for a UE capable of supporting use of either a legacy RSRQ metric or an elCIC RSRQ metric, or both, with the UE being configurable (for example, by an instruction from the base station). It will be recognized that although exemplary embodiments of the invention are described here in terms of legacy RSRQ and elCIC RSRQ metrics, selection and configuration discussed below may be extended to address any appropriate measurement mechanisms for which a choice among alternatives needs to be made. Configuration may direct the UE which metric to use for RSRQ measurements (the legacy metric, the elCIC metric, or both, and may alternatively or in addition direct the UE to report which metric is used. Such an approach may be particularly valuable in the case of minimization of drive tests (MDT) logged measurements in scenarios in which a network configuration could vary in different areas.

Fig. 1 illustrates a wireless network 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising a macro base station, implemented as a macro evolved Node B (eNB) 102, defining a macro cell 104, which is the area served by the macro eNB 102. Within the area of the macro cell 104 are deployed small eNBs 106A-106C, defining small cells 108A-108C. The network 100 serves UEs 110A-110E, each of which provides RSRQ reports to its serving base station. The UEs 11 OA- HOC are able to use either available RSRQ metric (either the legacy RSRQ metric or the elCIC metric), and the UEs HOD and 110E are able to use only the legacy RSRQ metric. In one or more embodiments of the invention, each eNB is able to direct a UE to use one RSRQ metric or the other, and in addition, in one or more embodiments of the invention, the UEs 11 OA- HOC, in response to receiving a direction from an eNB, send a confirmation acknowledging the direction received from the eNB. The UEs HOD and 110E will not understand, and therefore will not confirm, the direction from an eNB, so that the eNB sending the direction will recognize that these UEs are not able to switch between the legacy and the elCIC metrics and will also recognize (because UEs using the elCIC networks are all understood to be configured to use one or both metrics as directed) that the UEs HOD and 110E will use only the legacy metric. Once the eNB identifies the RSRQ measurement metric being used, the network is able to optimize appropriate measurement parameters, such as L3 -filter parameters or event-triggered reporting criteria for the RSRQ measurement metric being used. The eNB's identification of the UE as being capable or incapable of using the elCIC metric also allows it to set an appropriate metric for use during idle mode. For example, one or more of the UEs 11 OA- HOC may be directed to use the elCIC RSRQ metric, or both metrics, during idle mode, while the UEs HOD and 110E will be understood to be unable to use the elCIC metric.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, eNBs, UEs, the MeasObjectEUTRA information element (presented in part below) defined for 3GPP networks may be configured to use an additional field. MeasObjectEUTRA information element

MeasObjectEUTRA SEQUENCE {

carrierFreq ARFCN-ValueEUTRA,

allowedMeasBandwidth Allowed MeasBandwidth,

presenceAntennaPortl PresenceAntennaPortl ,

neighCellConfig NeighCellConfig,

offsetFreq Q-OffsetRange DEFAULT dBO,

-- Cell list

cellsToRemoveList CelllndexList OPTIONAL, -- Need ON cellsToAddModList CellsToAddModList OPTIONAL, -- Need ON

-- Black list

blackCellsToRemoveList CelllndexList OPTIONAL, -- Need ON blackCellsToAddModList BlackCellsToAddModList OPTIONAL, -- Need ON cellForWhichToReportCGI PhysCellld OPTIONAL, -- Need ON

[[measCycleSCell-r10 MeasCycleSCell-r10 OPTIONAL, -- Need ON measSubframePatternConfigNeigh- O MeasSubframePatternConfigNeigh-r10 OPTIONAL

-- Need ON

]]■

[[widebandRSRQ-Meas-r11 BOOLEAN OPTIONAL --Cond WB-RSRQ

]]

The additional field may suitably be called RSRQelCIC-Meas, defined as follows: RSRQelCIC-Meas

If this field is set to TRUE, the UE shall, when performing RSRQ meeasurements, use all OFDM signals over the given measurement period for measuring RSSI in accordance with TS 36.133 and TS36.214.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, in the case of dedicated signaling and event triggered reporting, the ReportConfigEUTRA information element 'triggerQuantity' parameter could be extended to include one or more additional enumerated values indicating which of the RSRQ modes should be used in evaluation. In the case of minimize drive testing logged measurements, the UE could indicate the measurement metric being used by adding a new field in 'VarLogMeasReport-rlO'. Alternatively, a field in 'LogMeasInfo-rlO'may enable a network to distinguish which metric is being used and for which cell (the serving cell or a neighbor cell).

Fig. 2 illustrates a process according to an embodiment of the present invention. At block 202, an eNB transmits a signal requesting reference signal receive quality reporting from one or more UEs being served by the eNB. The signal specifies the RSRQ metric to be used - either a legacy RSRQ metric or an elCIC RSRQ metric. At block 204, UEs capable of using either or both metrics confirm the specification of the metric, and UEs that are not capable of using the elCIC RSRQ metric do not confirm. At block 206, the UEs perform RSRQ measurement as directed or, if not able to respond to the direction, according to their capability, and report the eNB measurements. At block 208, the eNB evaluates the reports based on the metrics being used. Because the eNB has directed the metrics to be used, and receives confirmations from UEs capable of following the directions, it is able to identify the metric being used by each UE and interpret reports accordingly. At block 210, the eNB performs scheduling, handover, and other operations for each UE based at least in part on the RSRQ information reported by the UEs.

It is also possible to support the new RSRQ metric while maintaining support for the existing metric. Thus, for example, when the UE is configured with restricted measurements for elCIC the new metric may be used. Systems according to embodiments of the present invention may also be designed so as to be capable of configuring restricted measurements independently from elCIC.

Fig. 3 illustrates details of an eNB (eNB) 300, and a user equipment (UE) 350. The eNB 300 may suitably comprise a transmitter 302, receiver 304, and antenna 306. The eNB 300 may also include a processor 308 and memory 310. The eNB 300 may employ data 312 and programs (PROGS) 314, residing in memory 310.

The UE 350 may suitably comprise a transmitter 352, receiver 354, and antenna 356. The UE 350 may also include a processor 358 and memory 360. The UE 350 may employ data 362 and programs (PROGS) 364, residing in memory 360.

At least one of the PROGs 314 in the eNB 300 is assumed to include a set of program instructions that, when executed by the associated DP 308, enable the device to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention, as detailed above. In these regards the exemplary embodiments of this invention may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored on the MEM 310, which is executable by the DP 308 of the eNB 300, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware). Similarly, at least one of the PROGs 364 in the UE 350 is assumed to include a set of program instructions that, when executed by the associated DP 358, enable the device to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this invention, as detailed above. In these regards the exemplary embodiments of this invention may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored on the MEM 360, which is executable by the DP 358 of the UE 350, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware). Electronic devices implementing these aspects of the invention need not be the entire devices as depicted at Figure 1 or Fig. 3 or may be one or more components of same such as the above described tangibly stored software, hardware, firmware and DP, or a system on a chip SOC or an application specific integrated circuit ASIC.

In general, the various embodiments of the UE 350 can include, but are not limited to personal portable digital devices having wireless communication capabilities, including but not limited to cellular telephones, navigation devices, laptop/palmtop/tablet computers, digital cameras and music devices, and Internet appliances.

Various embodiments of the computer readable MEM 310 and 360 include any data storage technology type which is suitable to the local technical environment, including but not limited to semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, removable memory, disc memory, flash memory, DRAM, SRAM, EEPROM and the like. Various embodiments of the DP 308 and 358 include but are not limited to general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and multi-core processors.

Mechanisms according to one or more embodiments of the present invention provide for (to take a few examples), better RSRQ metric for efficient offloading, increased measurement information available to the network, and an RSRQ metric that better and more precisely reflects load conditions.

In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises at least one processor and memory storing a program of instructions. The memory storing the program of instructions is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least control a user device to receive a metric selection command from a base station specifying a reference signal receive quality metric to be used for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and, in response to the metric selection command, send to the base station a selection confirmation indicating the metric to be used.

In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is further caused to select the metric to be used based on the metric selection command.

In another embodiment of the invention, the reference signal receive quality metric is one of a legacy metric and an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination metric.

In another embodiment of the invention, the metric selection command is included in a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element received from the base station.

In another embodiment of the invention, if the field comprising the metric selection command is set to TRUE, a user device receiving the command will, when performing reference signal receive quality measurements, use all orthogonal frequency division multiplexing symbols over the given period for measuring a reference signal strength indicator.

In another embodiment of the invention, the metric selection is based at least in part on a 'triggerQuantity' parameter in the ReportConfigEUTRA information element, wherein the 'triggerQuantity ' includes one or more enumerated values indicating which reference signal receive quality measurement metric should be used.

In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises at least one processor and memory storing a program of instructions. The memory storing the program of instructions is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least control a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality metric to be used for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and interpret a reference signal received quality report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

In another embodiment of the invention, failure by the base station to receive a confirmation indicates that the reference signal receive quality metric being used is a legacy metric.

In another embodiment of the invention, the base station includes the metric selection command in a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element received from the base station.

In another embodiment of the invention, the base station interprets the reference signal receive quality based at least in part on recognition of the metric used by the user device.

In another embodiment of the invention, the base station makes decisions related to connection and handover based on this interpretation.

In one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises controlling a user device to receive a metric selection command from a base station specifying a reference signal receive quality metric to be used for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and, in response to the metric selection command, send to the base station a selection confirmation indicating the metric to be used.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method comprises controlling a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality metric to be used for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and interpret a reference signal received quality report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

In one embodiment of the invention, a computer readable medium stores a program of instructions, execution of which by a processor configures an apparatus to at least control a user device to receive a metric selection command from a base station specifying a reference signal receive quality metric to be used for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and, in response to the metric selection command, send to the base station a selection confirmation indicating the metric to be used.

In another embodiment of the invention, a computer readable medium stores a program of instructions, execution of which by a processor configures an apparatus to at least control a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality metric to be used for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions, and interpret a reference signal received quality report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

While various exemplary embodiments have been described above it should be appreciated that the practice of the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and discussed here. Various modifications and adaptations to the foregoing exemplary embodiments of this invention may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description. It will be further recognized that the various blocks illustrated in Fig. 2 and discussed above may be performed as steps, but the order in which they are presented is not limiting and they may be performed in any appropriate order with or without additional intervening blocks or steps.

Further, some of the various features of the above non-limiting embodiments may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other described features.

The foregoing description should therefore be considered as merely illustrative of the principles, teachings and exemplary embodiments of this invention, and not in limitation thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method comprising:

controlling a user device to interpret a metric selection command from a base station specifying whether a first or a second reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric supported by the user device is to be used in making RSRQ measurements;

selecting the first or the second metric based on the metric selection command; and using the selected metric to perform RSRQ measurements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first metric is a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call- specific reference (CRS) signal, and wherein the second metric is an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a sub frame.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the metric selection command is included in a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element received from the base station.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the metric selection is based at least in part on a 'trigger Quantity ' parameter in a ReportConfigEUTRA information element, wherein the 'trigger Quantity ' parameter includes one or more enumerated values indicating which reference signal receive quality measurement metric should be used.

5. A method comprising :

controlling a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric to be used by a user device for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions; and interpreting a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the metric selection command specifies the user of a first metric or a second metric, wherein the first metric is a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call-specific reference (CRS) signal, and wherein the second metric is an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a subframe.

7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein, the base station includes the metric selection command in a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element received from the base station.

8. The method of claim 5, 6, or 7, wherein the base station interprets the reference signal receive quality based at least in part on recognition of the metric used by the user device.

9. The method of claim 5, 6, or 7, wherein the base station makes decisions related to connection and handover based on the interpretation of reference signal receive quality.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

memory storing a program of instructions;

wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

control a user device to interpret a metric selection command from a base station specifying whether a first or a second reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric supported by the user device is to be used in making RSRQ measurements;

select the first or the second metric based on the metric selection command; and use the selected metric to perform RSRQ measurements.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first metric is a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call- specific reference (CRS) signal, and wherein the second metric is an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a sub frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 or 11, wherein the metric selection command is included in a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element received from the base station.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the metric selection is based at least in part on a 'trigger Quantity ' parameter in a ReportConfigEUTRA information element, wherein the 'trigger Quantity ' parameter includes one or more enumerated values indicating which reference signal receive quality measurement metric should be used.

14. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

memory storing a program of instructions;

control a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric to be used by a user device for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions; and

interpret a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the metric selection command specifies the user of a first metric or a second metric, wherein the first metric is a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call-specific reference (CRS) signal, and wherein the second metric is an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a subframe.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 or 15, wherein the metric selection command is a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element sent by the base station.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, 15, or 16, wherein the base station interprets the reference signal receive quality based at least in part on recognition of the metric used by the user device.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, 15, or 16, wherein the base station makes decisions related to connection and handover based on the interpretation of reference signal receive quality.

19. A computer readable medium storing a program of instructions, execution of which by a processor configures an apparatus to at least:

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the first metric is a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call-specific reference (CRS) signal, and wherein the second metric is an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a subframe.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the metric selection command is included in a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element received from the base station.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 20 or 21, wherein the metric selection is based at least in part on a 'trigger Quantity ' parameter in a ReportConfigEUTRA information element, wherein the 'trigger Quantity ' parameter includes one or more enumerated values indicating which reference signal receive quality measurement metric should be used.

23. A computer readable medium storing a program of instructions, execution of which by a processor configures an apparatus to at least:

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the metric selection command specifies the user of a first metric or a second metric, wherein the first metric is a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call-specific reference (CRS) signal, and wherein the second metric is an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a subframe.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 23 or 24, wherein the metric selection command is a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element sent by the base station.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 23, 24, or 25, wherein the base station interprets the reference signal receive quality based at least in part on recognition of the metric used by the user device.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the base station makes decisions related to connection and handover based on the interpretation of reference signal receive quality.

28. An apparatus comprising:

means for controlling a user device to interpret a metric selection command from a base station specifying whether a first or a second reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric supported by the user device is to be used in making RSRQ measurements;

means for selecting the first or the second metric based on the metric selection command; and

means for using the selected metric to perform RSRQ measurements.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first metric is a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call-specific reference (CRS) signal, and wherein the second metric is an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a subframe.

30. The method of claim 28 or 29, wherein the metric selection command is included in a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element received from the base station.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the metric selection is based at least in part on a 'trigger Quantity ' parameter in a ReportConfigEUTRA information element, wherein the 'trigger Quantity ' parameter includes one or more enumerated values indicating which reference signal receive quality measurement metric should be used.

32. An apparatus comprising:

means for controlling a base station to send a metric selection command to a user device specifying a reference signal receive quality (RSRQ) metric to be used by a user device for making reference signal receive quality measurements in evaluating network conditions; and

interpreting a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) report received from the user device based on a confirmation, or a failure to receive a confirmation, from the user device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the metric selection command specifies the user of a first metric or a second metric, wherein the first metric is a legacy metric based on measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) component from orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals which contain the call-specific reference (CRS) signal, and wherein the second metric is an enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (elCIC) metric based on measuring the RSSI component from all symbols in a subframe.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 or 33, wherein the base station includes the metric selection command in a field in a MeasObjectEUTRA information element received from the base station.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, 33, or 34, wherein the base station interprets the reference signal receive quality based at least in part on recognition of the metric used by the user device.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the base station makes decisions related to connection and handover based on the interpretation of reference signal receive quality.