Association Level Indication for Wireless Handover Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication networks face inefficiencies in handover processes between base stations, particularly in providing effective association and ranging parameter management for user equipment, which affects seamless transitions and network performance.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where a serving base station sends an association level indication to a neighbor base station, requesting ranging parameter sets corresponding to different levels of association, allowing the user equipment to align its transmissions with the neighbor base station's reception window, and coordinates overlapping ranging regions to optimize handover processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the serving base station requests ranging parameter sets from multiple neighbor base stations, then the handover selection capability is improved, but the signaling overhead and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover selection capabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the association levels into distinct categories (first association level and second association level) with different ranging parameter sets. This segmentation allows the serving base station to request only the necessary parameter sets based on the user equipment's scanning type, reducing unnecessary signaling overhead while maintaining handover selection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by requesting only the specific association levels needed for handover decisions rather than all possible association levels. The serving base station requests ranging parameter sets corresponding to association levels based on the scanning type indicator, avoiding excessive requests for unnecessary parameter sets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the user equipment performs scanning to find available base stations, then the handover readiness is improved, but the scanning time and network resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover readinessVSAvoidscanning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the user equipment indicate its scanning type before the actual scanning process. The scanning type indicator (first, second, or third type) is provided in advance, allowing the serving base station to pre-determine which association levels and ranging parameter sets need to be requested, thereby reducing scanning time and network resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by introducing a scanning type indicator that categorizes different scanning scenarios. Based on this parameter change, the system dynamically adjusts the association levels and ranging parameter sets requested from neighbor base stations, optimizing the scanning process for different user equipment conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple association levels are supported for neighbor base stations, then the handover flexibility is improved, but the ranging parameter management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover flexibilityVSAvoidranging parameter management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments association levels into distinct categories (first association level with first ranging parameter set, second association level with second ranging parameter set) and assigns them to different scanning types. This segmentation simplifies parameter management by clearly defining which parameter sets correspond to which association levels, reducing management complexity while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the serving base station as an intermediary that manages the complexity of multiple association levels. The serving base station receives the scanning type indicator from the user equipment, determines the appropriate association levels, and coordinates the ranging parameter requests to neighbor base stations, thereby simplifying the overall management process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8971880B2Association level indication to neighboring base stations

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

AI summary

It is described a method of sending an association level indication to neighboring base stations by a serving base station to indicate to the neighbor base station to report a particular ranging parameter set corresponding to the association level indication for a user equipment requesting scanning of neighbor base stations. According to an embodiment, the ranging parameters of the ranging parameter set are provided to the user equipment in single message or are provided in two or more messages, e.g. in the case of network assisted association reporting.