5G Inter-gNB Handover Using Logical Switches Without Context Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G networks face inefficiencies in handover technologies, leading to service interruptions and reduced quality due to increased cellular traffic and device mobility, particularly in the O-RAN disaggregated architecture where inter-gNB handovers involve complex bearer context data transfers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a light inter-gNB handover by mapping logical nodes to physical nodes, allowing sharing of physical CU-UPs and DUs between gNBs, and performing logical switches without actual context data transfer, using index, pointer, or identifier changes to maintain seamless handovers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional inter-gNB handover is performed with full context data transfer, then service continuity is maintained, but handover time increases and network efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handover process into two distinct phases: a heavy lifting phase where context data is transferred and validated, and a lightweight phase where only essential information is exchanged. This segmentation allows the system to maintain service continuity through comprehensive context transfer while reducing handover time by separating critical data transfer from the actual handover execution, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-establishing handover conditions, pre-validating context data, and pre-preparing target gNB resources before the actual handover occurs. The system evaluates handover necessity and prepares all required context information in advance, so that when handover is triggered, the process can execute rapidly without time-consuming data transfers, thus maintaining service continuity while minimizing handover time.
2Productivity
If light inter-gNB handover is performed without context data transfer, then handover efficiency increases, but service continuity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the essential handover function from the context data transfer process. By taking out the core handover operation and performing it independently of full context transfer, the system achieves high handover efficiency. The essential handover function is implemented as a lightweight procedure that maintains service continuity without requiring transfer of all context data, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that facilitates handover without direct context data transfer. The system uses a mediator approach where handover decisions and essential information are exchanged between gNBs through standardized interfaces, eliminating the need for direct context data transfer while maintaining service continuity. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient handover while preserving reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If physical CU-UP and DU resources are shared between multiple gNBs, then resource utilization improves, but handover complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the handover mechanism to work seamlessly across multiple gNBs sharing common physical resources. The system enables any gNB to perform handover functions for any user equipment regardless of which physical CU-UP or DU resources are involved, achieving universal resource sharing. This multi-functionality approach improves resource utilization while managing handover complexity through standardized procedures that work across all resource configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating virtual representations of gNB functions through software-defined architecture. Instead of physically replicating resources, the system copies functional capabilities through software instances that can be dynamically allocated. This allows multiple gNBs to share physical resources efficiently while simplifying handover complexity through virtualization, as the system can copy and migrate functions rather than manage complex physical resource allocations.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies for efficient handover in 5G networks are disclosed. An example method includes responsive to detecting that a user device is located in a geographic area with overlapping 5G coverage from a first gNB and a second gNB and that the user device is moving away from the first gNB's coverage toward the second gNB's coverage, determining to perform a light inter-gNB handover of the user device, and causing execution of the light inter-gNB handover by at least causing a physical switch from a physical CU-CP of the first gNB to a physical CU-CP of the second gNB, a logical switch from a logical CU-UP of the first gNB to a logical CU-UP of the second gNB, a logical switch from a logical DU of the first gNB to a logical DU of the second gBN, and a logical switch from a logical RU of the first gNB to a logical RU of the second gBN, wherein the logical switches are performed without transfer of context data associated with the user device.