AI Model Compatibility in Cellular Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing AI/ML model functionality in cellular communication systems faces challenges in maintaining compatibility and adaptability during handover procedures between base stations, leading to potential disruptions in service.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that initiate the performance of AI/ML model functions, receive model compatibility configurations from source base stations, determine compatibility with target base station models, and transmit reports to facilitate conditional handover configurations, which may include data collection, model updates, or model switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If AI/ML model functionality is maintained during handover, then service continuity is improved, but model compatibility issues may arise between different base stations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidmodel compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs model compatibility assessment before handover execution by evaluating whether the target base station's AI/ML model is compatible with the source model. This preliminary action identifies compatibility issues in advance, allowing the system to prepare appropriate responses (model switching, updates, or data collection) to maintain service continuity while addressing compatibility concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the state of AI/ML models during handover by switching between different models, updating model parameters, or collecting data for model adaptation. This allows the system to maintain service continuity by adjusting model parameters or switching to compatible models when compatibility issues are detected between source and target base stations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If model compatibility assessment is performed, then handover reliability is improved, but handover procedure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidhandover procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where compatibility assessment results are reported back to the source base station, which then determines appropriate handover actions. This structured feedback loop improves handover reliability by ensuring compatibility is verified, while the automated nature of the feedback process helps manage procedure complexity through systematic information exchange between network entities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The handover procedure is segmented into distinct phases: model compatibility assessment, compatibility determination, and conditional handover execution. By dividing the complex handover process into manageable segments with clear decision points, the system improves reliability through thorough assessment while making the overall procedure more tractable and manageable despite increased steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If conditional handover configuration is implemented, then service continuity is maintained, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The conditional handover configuration mechanism serves multiple functions: it assesses model compatibility, determines handover feasibility, and executes handover with appropriate model adjustments. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain service continuity through a unified configuration approach that consolidates multiple control functions into a single signaling framework, thereby managing overhead more efficiently.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary model compatibility assessment and determines appropriate handover configurations before actual handover execution. This preliminary action allows the network to prepare conditional handover configurations in advance, reducing the need for additional signaling during the critical handover moment and thereby managing signaling overhead more effectively while ensuring service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4373159B1Ai/ML model functionality in handover scenarios
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4373159B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4373159B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4373159B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus configured to: initiate performance of at least one function enabled with a first model; receive, from a source base station, at least one model compatibility configuration; determine whether the at least one function is compatible with a second model of at least one target base station based, at least partially, on the at least one model compatibility configuration; transmit, to the at least one target base station, at least one report, wherein the at least one report comprises, at least, an indication of a result of whether the at least one function is compatible with the second model of the at least one target base station; and receive, in response to the report, a conditional handover configuration, wherein the conditional handover configuration comprises, at least, an indication to at least one of: perform data collection, update the first model, or switch the first model with another model.