AMF Handover Decision Using Signal Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handover process from Wi-Fi to cellular networks, such as LTE or 5G, can result in poor or dropped connections due to unstable cellular signals, as existing technologies do not adequately assess network conditions before transitioning.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a handover decision process where Mobility Management Entities (MME) and Access and Management Mobility Functions (AMF) receive measurement reports from user devices on signal strength and quality, using new interfaces like S1x and N2, to determine whether to accept or reject handover requests, ensuring a stable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If mobile devices automatically switch networks when network conditions are met, then network switching speed is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates when cellular signal is marginal or unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of cellular network conditions by evaluating signal strength and quality metrics before triggering handover. This advance evaluation prevents premature switching to unstable networks, thereby maintaining connection reliability while still enabling timely handover when conditions are favorable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors cellular signal strength and quality metrics, using this feedback to dynamically adjust handover decisions. This feedback mechanism ensures that handover only occurs when network conditions meet predetermined thresholds, balancing switching speed with connection reliability.
2Ease of operation
If handover is triggered based on basic network conditions, then ease of operation is improved, but connection stability deteriorates due to insufficient network performance assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of cellular network conditions by evaluating signal strength and quality metrics before triggering handover. This advance evaluation prevents premature switching to unstable networks, thereby maintaining connection reliability while still enabling timely handover when conditions are favorable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system evaluates multiple network performance parameters including signal strength and quality metrics rather than relying on basic conditions alone. By changing from simple threshold-based triggering to multi-parameter assessment, the system maintains automatic operation ease while significantly improving connection stability through more rigorous network performance evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
The techniques include receiving a handover request from a user device connected to a first access network and identifying a Non-3GPP Interworking Function (N3IWF) serving the user device. The user device provides to the N3IWF, measurement report indicating network conditions. The techniques further include receiving the measurement report from the N3IWF and determining whether a measurement in the measurement report is above a predetermined threshold. If the measurement is above the predetermined threshold, the handover request is accepted to enable the user device to connect to a second access network.