Access Node Radio Resource Configuration for Handover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Cellular radio communication systems face challenges in improving performance while ensuring that all communication devices, including less advanced ones, can access radio resources, as proposed new configurations may render certain resources inaccessible to legacy devices.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allow access nodes to dynamically change the configuration of radio resources between a legacy configuration accessible to all devices and an advanced configuration, specifically allocating resources for handover requests from less advanced communication devices, ensuring seamless access and performance enhancement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If new advanced configurations are adopted for radio resources, then system performance is improved by reducing overhead and interference, but less advanced communication devices cannot access the radio resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem performanceVSAvoiddevice compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The access node dynamically switches between first configuration (legacy) and second configuration (advanced) based on the capabilities of communication devices. The configuration is not static but adapts in real-time to serve different device categories, allowing the system to optimize performance for advanced devices while maintaining compatibility with legacy devices through selective configuration application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different radio resource configurations are applied to different device categories locally. Advanced devices receive the second configuration with optimized resource allocation, while legacy devices continue to use the first configuration. This localized quality differentiation allows the system to provide tailored resource allocation without forcing a single configuration on all devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If radio resources are allocated to advanced configuration, then overhead and interference are reduced, but access to control signalling and data becomes unavailable to less advanced devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverhead and interferenceVSAvoidaccess reliability for legacy devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The access node dynamically adjusts resource configuration based on device category. When serving legacy devices, it applies the first configuration that ensures reliable access to control signalling and data. When serving advanced devices, it switches to the second configuration that reduces overhead and interference. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the configuration adaptive rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The radio resources are segmented into different configuration sets (first configuration for legacy devices, second configuration for advanced devices). Each segment is optimized for its specific device category, allowing the system to reduce overhead for advanced devices while maintaining full access reliability for legacy devices through separate resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If configuration change is made to optimize performance, then system efficiency is improved, but handover coordination between access nodes becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem efficiencyVSAvoidhandover coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication mechanism between access nodes is designed to be universal and configuration-agnostic. The same message structure and coordination protocol work regardless of which configuration (first or second) is being used at each access node. This universality simplifies handover coordination by providing a consistent interface for configuration exchange, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from configuration-specific handover procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2848055B8Improving system performance due to configuration change at an access node
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

AI summary

A technique for improving system performance, comprising: sending from a first access node (2) to one more other access nodes neighbouring said first access node a communication (504) about a change in configuration for at least one set radio resources between a plurality of configurations including a first configuration accessible to a first category of communication devices and a second configuration accessible to both said first category and a second category of communication devices.