ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)

5G; NR; Physical layer measurements (3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17)

RTS/TSGR-0138215vh10

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Technical Committee: 3GPP RAN 1 - Radio layer 1 specification
• Current Stage: 12 - Completion
• Completion Date: 26-Apr-2022

Standards Content (Sample)

ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)






TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
5G;
NR;
Physical layer measurements
(3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17)

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 1 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)

Reference
RTS/TSGR-0138215vh10
Keywords
5G
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ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 2 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
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ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 3 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 2
Legal Notice . 2
Modal verbs terminology . 2
Foreword . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 References . 6
3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations . 6
3.1 Definitions . 6
3.2 Symbols . 7
3.3 Abbreviations . 7
4 Control of UE/NG-RAN measurements . 7
5 Measurement capabilities for NR . 8
5.1 UE measurement capabilities . 8
5.1.1 SS reference signal received power (SS-RSRP) . 9
5.1.2 CSI reference signal received power (CSI-RSRP) . 10
5.1.3 SS reference signal received quality (SS-RSRQ) . 11
5.1.4 CSI reference signal received quality (CSI-RSRQ) . 12
5.1.5 SS signal-to-noise and interference ratio (SS-SINR) . 13
5.1.6 CSI signal-to-noise and interference ratio (CSI-SINR) . 14
5.1.7 Void . 14
5.1.8 Void . 14
5.1.9 UE GNSS Timing of Cell Frames for UE positioning for E-UTRA. 14
5.1.10 UE GNSS code measurements. 15
5.1.11 UE GNSS carrier phase measurements . 15
5.1.12 IEEE 802.11 WLAN RSSI . 15
5.1.13 Reference signal time difference (RSTD) for E-UTRA. 15
5.1.14 SFN and frame timing difference (SFTD) . 16
5.1.15 E-UTRA RSRP . 16
5.1.16 E-UTRA RSRQ . 17
5.1.17 E-UTRA RS-SINR . 17
5.1.18 SS reference signal received power per branch (SS-RSRPB) . 18
5.1.19 SRS reference signal received power (SRS-RSRP) . 18
5.1.20 CLI Received signal strength indicator (CLI-RSSI) . 19
5.1.21 Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) . 19
5.1.22 PSBCH reference signal received power (PSBCH-RSRP) . 19
5.1.23 PSSCH reference signal received power (PSSCH-RSRP) . 20
5.1.24 PSСCH reference signal received power (PSCCH-RSRP) . 20
5.1.25 Sidelink received signal strength indicator (SL RSSI) . 21
5.1.26 Sidelink channel occupancy ratio (SL CR) . 21
5.1.27 Sidelink channel busy ratio (SL CBR) . 22
5.1.28 DL PRS reference signal received power (DL PRS-RSRP) . 22
5.1.29 DL reference signal time difference (DL RSTD) . 22
5.1.30 UE Rx – Tx time difference . 23
5.1.31 SS reference signal antenna relative phase (SS-RSARP) . 23
5.1.32 UTRA FDD CPICH RSCP . 24
5.1.33 UTRA FDD carrier RSSI . 24
5.1.34 UTRA FDD CPICH Ec/No . 24
5.1.35 DL PRS reference signal received path power (DL PRS-RSRPP) . 24
5.2 NG-RAN measurement abilities . 25
5.2.1 SSS transmit power . 25
5.2.2 UL Relative Time of Arrival (T ) . 25
UL-RTOA
5.2.3 gNB Rx – Tx time difference. 26
5.2.4 UL Angle of Arrival (UL AoA) . 26
ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 4 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
5.2.5 UL SRS reference signal received power (UL SRS-RSRP) . 26
5.2.6 UL SRS reference signal received path power (UL SRS-RSRPP) . 27
5.2.7 Timing advance (T ) . 27
ADV
Annex A: Change history . 28
History . 31

ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 5 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
Foreword
rd
This Technical Specification has been produced by the 3 Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
The contents of the present document are subject to continuing work within the TSG and may change following formal
TSG approval. Should the TSG modify the contents of the present document, it will be re-released by the TSG with an
identifying change of release date and an increase in version number as follows:
Version x.y.z
where:
x the first digit:
1 presented to TSG for information;
2 presented to TSG for approval;
3 or greater indicates TSG approved document under change control.
y the second digit is incremented for all changes of substance, i.e. technical enhancements, corrections,
updates, etc.
z the third digit is incremented when editorial only changes have been incorporated in the document.
ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 6 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
1 Scope
The present document describes the physical layer measurements for NR.
2 References
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present
document.
[1] 3GPP TR 21.905: "Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications"
[2] 3GPP TS 38.201: "NR; Physical Layer – General Description"
[3] 3GPP TS 38.211: "NR; Physical channels and modulation"
[4] 3GPP TS 38.212: "NR; Multiplexing and channel coding"
[5] 3GPP TS 38.213: "NR; Physical layer procedures for control channels"
[6] 3GPP TS 38.214: "NR; Physical layer procedures for data channels"
[7] 3GPP TS 38.321: "NR; Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification"
[8] 3GPP TS 38.331: "NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification"
[9] 3GPP TS 38.104: "NR; Base Station (BS) radio transmission and reception"
[10] 3GPP TS 36.331: "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio Resource
Control (RRC); Protocol specification"
[11] IEEE 802.11, Part 11: "Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)
specifications, IEEE Std."
[12] 3GPP TS 38.133: "NR; Requirements for support of radio resource management"
[13] 3GPP TS 36.211: "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical channels and
modulation"
[14] 3GPP TS 38.509: "5GS; Special conformance testing functions for User Equipment (UE)"
[15] 3GPP TS 38.901: "Study on channel model for frequencies from 0.5 to 100 GHz"
[16] 3GPP TS 38.455: "NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa)"
[17] 3GPP TS 37.213: "Physical layer procedures for shared spectrum channel access"
[18] 3GPP TS 38.305: "NG Radio Access Network (NG-RAN); Stage 2 functional specification of
User Equipment (UE) positioning in NG-RAN"
3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in TR 21.905 [1] and the following apply. A
term defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same term, if any, in TR 21.905 [1].
ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 7 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
3.2 Symbols
For the purposes of the present document, the following symbols apply:
3.3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 [1] and the following apply. An
abbreviation defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same abbreviation, if any, in
TR 21.905 [1].
ARFCN Absolute Radio-Frequency Channel Number
CLI Cross Link Interference
CSI-RSRP CSI Reference Signal Received Power
CSI-RSRQ CSI Reference Signal Received Quality
E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN
GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System
GSM Global System for Mobile communication
LBT Listen before Talk
SRS Sounding Reference Signal
SS-RSRP Synchronization Signal Reference Signal Received Power
SS-RSRQ Synchronization Signal Reference Signal Received Quality
UTRAN Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network

4 Control of UE/NG-RAN measurements
In this clause the general measurement control concept of the higher layers is briefly described to provide an
understanding on how L1 measurements are initiated and controlled by higher layers.
With the measurement specifications L1 provides measurement capabilities for the UE and NG-RAN. These
measurements can be classified in different reported measurement types: intra-frequency, inter-frequency, inter-system,
traffic volume, quality and UE internal measurements.
In the L1 measurement definitions, see clause 5, the measurements are categorised as measurements in the UE or
measurements in the NG-RAN.

ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 8 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
5 Measurement capabilities for NR
5.1 UE measurement capabilities
The structure of the table defining a UE measurement quantity is shown below.

Column field Comment
Definition
Contains the definition of the measurement.
Applicable for
States in which state(s) it shall be possible to perform this measurement. The following terms are
used in the tables:
RRC_IDLE;
RRC_INACTIVE;
RRC_CONNECTED;

Intra-frequency appended to the RRC state:
Shall be possible to perform in the corresponding RRC state on an intra-frequency cell;
Inter-frequency appended to the RRC state:
Shall be possible to perform in the corresponding RRC state on an inter-frequency cell
Inter-RAT appended to the RRC state:
Shall be possible to perform in the corresponding RRC state on an inter-RAT cell.

ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 9 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
5.1.1 SS reference signal received power (SS-RSRP)

Definition SS reference signal received power (SS-RSRP) is defined as the linear average over the power
contributions (in [W]) of the resource elements that carry secondary synchronization signals. The
measurement time resource(s) for SS-RSRP are confined within SS/PBCH Block Measurement
Time Configuration (SMTC) window duration. If SS-RSRP is used for L1-RSRP as configured by
reporting configurations as defined in TS 38.214 [6], the measurement time resources(s)
restriction by SMTC window duration is not applicable.

For SS-RSRP determination demodulation reference signals for physical broadcast channel
(PBCH) and, if indicated by higher layers, CSI reference signals in addition to secondary
synchronization signals may be used. SS-RSRP using demodulation reference signal for PBCH
or CSI reference signal shall be measured by linear averaging over the power contributions of
the resource elements that carry corresponding reference signals taking into account power
scaling for the reference signals as defined in TS 38.213 [5]. If SS-RSRP is not used for L1-
RSRP, the additional use of CSI reference signals for SS-RSRP determination is not applicable.

SS-RSRP shall be measured only among the reference signals corresponding to SS/PBCH
blocks with the same SS/PBCH block index and the same physical-layer cell identity.

If SS-RSRP is not used for L1-RSRP and higher-layers indicate certain SS/PBCH blocks for
performing SS-RSRP measurements, then SS-RSRP is measured only from the indicated set of
SS/PBCH block(s).

For frequency range 1, the reference point for the SS-RSRP shall be the antenna connector of
the UE. For frequency range 2, SS-RSRP shall be measured based on the combined signal from
antenna elements corresponding to a given receiver branch. For frequency range 1 and 2, if
receiver diversity is in use by the UE, the reported SS-RSRP value shall not be lower than the
corresponding SS-RSRP of any of the individual receiver branches.
Applicable for If SS-RSRP is used for L1-RSRP,
RRC_CONNECTED intra-frequency.

Otherwise,
RRC_IDLE intra-frequency,
RRC_IDLE inter-frequency,
RRC_INACTIVE intra-frequency,
RRC_INACTIVE inter-frequency,
RRC_CONNECTED intra-frequency,
RRC_CONNECTED inter-frequency
NOTE 1: The number of resource elements within the measurement period that are used by the UE to determine
SS-RSRP is left up to the UE implementation with the limitation that corresponding measurement
accuracy requirements have to be fulfilled.
NOTE 2: The power per resource element is determined from the energy received during the useful part of the
symbol, excluding the CP.

ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 10 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
5.1.2 CSI reference signal received power (CSI-RSRP)

Definition CSI reference signal received power (CSI-RSRP), is defined as the linear average over the
power contributions (in [W]) of the resource elements of the antenna port(s) that carry CSI
reference signals configured for RSRP measurements within the considered measurement
frequency bandwidth in the configured CSI-RS occasions.

For CSI-RSRP determination CSI reference signals transmitted on antenna port 3000 according
to TS 38.211 [4] shall be used. If CSI-RSRP is used for L1-RSRP, CSI reference signals
transmitted on antenna ports 3000, 3001 can be used for CSI-RSRP determination.

For intra-frequency CSI-RSRP measurements, if the measurement gap is not configured, UE is
not expected to measure the CSI-RS resource(s) outside of the active downlink bandwidth part.

For frequency range 1, the reference point for the CSI-RSRP shall be the antenna connector of
the UE. For frequency range 2, CSI-RSRP shall be measured based on the combined signal
from antenna elements corresponding to a given receiver branch. For frequency range 1 and 2, if
receiver diversity is in use by the UE, the reported CSI-RSRP value shall not be lower than the
corresponding CSI-RSRP of any of the individual receiver branches.
Applicable for If CSI-RSRP is used for L1-RSRP,
RRC_CONNECTED intra-frequency.

Otherwise,
RRC_CONNECTED intra-frequency,
RRC_CONNECTED inter-frequency
NOTE 1: The number of resource elements within the considered measurement frequency bandwidth and within the
measurement period that are used by the UE to determine CSI-RSRP is left up to the UE implementation
with the limitation that corresponding measurement accuracy requirements have to be fulfilled.
NOTE 2: The power per resource element is determined from the energy received during the useful part of the
symbol, excluding the CP.

ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 11 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
5.1.3 SS reference signal received quality (SS-RSRQ)

Definition Secondary synchronization signal reference signal received quality (SS-RSRQ) is defined as the
ratio of N×SS-RSRP / NR carrier RSSI, where N is the number of resource blocks in the NR
carrier RSSI measurement bandwidth. The measurements in the numerator and denominator
shall be made over the same set of resource blocks.

NR carrier Received Signal Strength Indicator (NR carrier RSSI), comprises the linear average of
the total received power (in [W]) observed only in certain OFDM symbols of measurement time
resource(s), in the measurement bandwidth, over N number of resource blocks from all sources,
including co-channel serving and non-serving cells, adjacent channel interference, thermal noise
etc. For cell selection, according to Clause 4.1 of TS 38.211 [12], the measurement time
resources(s) for NR Carrier RSSI are not constrained. Otherwise, the measurement time
resource(s) for NR Carrier RSSI are confined within SS/PBCH Block Measurement Time
Configuration (SMTC) window duration.

If indicated by higher-layers, if measurement gap is not used, the NR Carrier RSSI is measured
in slots within the SMTC window duration that are indicated by the higher layer parameter
measurementSlots and in OFDM symbols given by Table 5.1.3-1 and, if measurement gap is
used, the NR Carrier RSSI is measured in slots within the SMTC window duration that are
indicated by the higher layer parameter measurementSlots and in OFDM symbols given by Table
5.1.3-1 that are overlapped with the measurement gap, which is defined in TS38.133 [12].
- For intra-frequency measurements, NR Carrier RSSI is measured with timing reference
corresponding to the serving cell in the frequency layer
- For inter-frequency measurements, NR Carrier RSSI is measured with timing reference
corresponding to any cell in the target frequency layer
Otherwise not indicated by higher-layers, if measurement gap is not used, NR Carrier RSSI is
measured from OFDM symbols within SMTC window duration and, if measurement gap is used,
NR Carrier RSSI is measured from OFDM symbols corresponding to overlapped time span
between SMTC window duration and the measurement gap.

If higher-layers indicate certain SS/PBCH blocks for performing SS-RSRQ measurements, then
SS-RSRP is measured only from the indicated set of SS/PBCH block(s).

For frequency range 1, the reference point for the SS-RSRQ shall be the antenna connector of
the UE. For frequency range 2, NR Carrier RSSI shall be measured based on the combined
signal from antenna elements corresponding to a given receiver branch, where the combining for
NR Carrier RSSI shall be the same as the one used for SS-RSRP measurements. For frequency
range 1 and 2, if receiver diversity is in use by the UE, the reported SS-RSRQ value shall not be
lower than the corresponding SS-RSRQ of any of the individual receiver branches.
Applicable for
RRC_IDLE intra-frequency,
RRC_IDLE inter-frequency,
RRC_INACTIVE intra-frequency,
RRC_INACTIVE inter-frequency,
RRC_CONNECTED intra-frequency,
RRC_CONNECTED inter-frequency

Table 5.1.3-1: NR Carrier RSSI measurement symbols
OFDM signal indication Symbol indexes
endSymbol
0 {0,1}
1 For 480 kHz and 960 kHz
{0,1,2,.,11,12}; otherwise
{0,1,2,.,10,11}
2 {0,1,2,…, 5}
3 {0,1,2,…, 7}

ETSI

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3GPP TS 38.215 version 17.1.0 Release 17 12 ETSI TS 138 215 V17.1.0 (2022-04)
5.1.4 CSI reference signal received quality (CSI-RSRQ)

Definition CSI reference signal received quality (CSI-RSRQ) is defined as the ratio of N×CSI-RSRP to CSI-
RSSI, where N is the number of resourc
...