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Apple patents method for phones to better measure nearby cell towers

Apple describes a way for phones to calculate how often they should check for nearby cell towers. The phone combines two different timing signals from the network to decide when to scan for a new connection.

Why it mattersThis is a routine technical update to how phones manage their cellular connections, likely improving battery life or handoff stability.

In the filing’s own words

Systems and methods for radio resource management (RRM) measurement periodicity enhancements are disclosed herein. In some cases, a user equipment (UE) receives, from a network: a synchronization signal block (SSB)-based measurement timing configuration (SMTC) that indicates an SMTC periodicity for a target serving cell. The UE also receives an SSB periodicity of SSBs on the target serving cell. Then, the UE uses the SMTC periodicity and the SSB periodicity to determine a detection and measurement periodicity for the target serving cell, and proceeds to perform detection of the target serving cell and measurement of the target serving cell according to the detection and measurement periodicity. In some such cases, the UE uses the SSB periodicity value as the detection and measurement periodicity for the target serving cell. Cases where only one (or neither) of the SMTC periodicity and/or the SSB periodicity are provided to the UE are also explained.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An apparatus of a user equipment (UE), comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the UE to: receive, from a network: a synchronization signal block (SSB)-based measurement time configuration (SMTC) for a target serving cell, the SMTC indicating an SMTC periodicity for the target serving cell; and an SSB periodicity of SSBs on the target serving cell; use the SMTC periodicity and the SSB periodicity to determine a detection and measurement periodicity for the target serving cell; and perform detection of the target serving cell and measurement of the target serving cell according to the detection and measurement periodicity for the target serving cell.

Facts

Company
Apple (APPLE INC.)
Official title
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RADIO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT MEASUREMENT PERIODICITY ENHANCEMENTS
Publication number
US20260270898A1
Application number
19167586
Filed
May 10, 2023
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Inventors
7
Claims
16

Classified under

H04W 56/001 Electricity & electronicsH04W 24/10 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.