5G Handover Policy Control for Real-Time Service Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G network handover mechanisms incur high costs due to inefficient resource allocation and unnecessary data caching and forwarding for real-time services, particularly in Non-Standalone (NSA) mode, which complicates handovers and wastes network resources.
Innovation Solution
A network handover processing method that adjusts handover policies based on service real-time requirements, using a Policy Control Function (PCF) to generate policies based on input from an application side and network data analytics, determining when handover delays exceed thresholds, and optimizing data forwarding and caching to match service needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional handover mechanisms are used to ensure handover performance, then handover reliability is improved, but handover cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of handover policy from static to dynamic by introducing service real-time requirement information. The policy control function entity adjusts handover policies based on varying service requirements (e.g., ultra-reliable low-latency communications vs. enhanced mobile broadband), allowing the system to optimize between handover reliability and cost by selecting appropriate policies for different service types and conditions.
2Reliability
If data caching and forwarding are performed during handover to ensure service continuity, then handover reliability is improved, but resource waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing data caching and forwarding only when necessary, based on service real-time requirement information. For services with strict continuity requirements, full caching and forwarding are performed. For services with more flexible requirements, reduced or no caching is performed, thus avoiding unnecessary resource consumption while maintaining adequate service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of data caching strategy from uniform to variable based on service type. The system adjusts caching duration, caching amount, and forwarding intensity according to service real-time requirements, allowing optimization between service continuity and resource utilization for different service scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If handover policies are adjusted frequently to match service requirements, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a policy control function entity as an intermediary between the network and handover execution. This intermediary receives service real-time requirement information, determines appropriate handover policies, and manages policy distribution to access network entities. This centralized mediation simplifies the overall system architecture by consolidating policy management logic, reducing distributed complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If service real-time requirement information is collected and processed to generate handover policies, then handover adaptability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing handover policy templates and thresholds for different service types before actual handover events occur. The policy control function entity has pre-configured policy sets that can be quickly selected and adjusted based on incoming service real-time requirement information, avoiding the need to generate policies from scratch during time-critical handover situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors service performance and handover outcomes, using this information to refine future policy decisions. The feedback loop allows the policy control function entity to learn from past handover experiences and adjust policies more efficiently over time, reducing processing time while maintaining or improving adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A network handover processing system and method including: receiving service real-time requirement information provided by an application side, the service real-time requirement information being used for indicating a timeliness requirement of services processed between user equipment and the application side; receiving a notification message from a network data analytics function entity; generating, based on the service real-time requirement information, a handover policy to be followed by an access network entity connected to the user equipment in the event of handover upon receiving the notification message; and transmitting the handover policy to a session management function entity to enable the session management function entity to configure the handover policy to other network entities.