Base Station Core Network Handover Without Radio Link Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in 5G mobile communication systems is to perform seamless handover between LTE and 5G core networks without disrupting the wireless link between user equipment (UE) and the base station, as existing technologies struggle to manage the transition efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that allow a base station supporting both LTE and 5G core networks to release and re-establish connections between the base station and core network elements, configuring new radio bearers while maintaining the serving cell for the UE, thereby performing handover solely between core networks without disconnecting and re-establishing physical-layer wireless links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handover is performed between core networks while maintaining base station connection, then service continuity is improved, but connection management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handover process into two independent parts: (1) core network element switching handled by releasing first context and establishing second context, and (2) radio bearer reconfiguration handled by configuring new radio bearers. This segmentation allows core network handover to occur independently while maintaining base station connectivity, thus improving service continuity while managing complexity through modular processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by releasing the first context and first connection configuration between the base station and source core network element before establishing the second context with the target core network element. This sequential preliminary action ensures that old connections are cleanly terminated before new ones are formed, reducing management complexity during the transition while maintaining service continuity.
2Reliability
If physical-layer wireless links are disconnected and re-established during handover, then core network switching is achieved, but handover performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core network switching function from the physical-layer connection management. By separating core network element switching from radio bearer management, the patent enables core network handover (releasing first context, establishing second context) without disrupting the physical-layer wireless links between UE and base station. This extraction maintains handover performance while achieving reliable core network switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary that maintains the physical-layer wireless connection while facilitating core network switching. The base station receives the handover command from the target core network element and configures new radio bearers, serving as a mediator that allows core network transition without breaking the UE-base station link, thus preserving handover performance.
3Reliability
If new radio bearers are configured during handover, then connectivity is maintained, but configuration overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making radio bearer configuration conditional and adaptive. New radio bearers are configured between the base station and UE based on the handover command received from the target core network element. This dynamic approach ensures connectivity is maintained when needed (during core network handover) while avoiding unnecessary configuration overhead when core network switching is not required.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiment of the present invention provides a switching method and device and a computer storage medium. The method is applied to a base station capable of supporting access to an LTE core network and a 5G core network; on the premise that the base station does not trigger switching, the method comprises: releasing a first context and a first connection configuration for user equipment (UE) with a network element of a source core network; establishing a second context and a second connection for the UE with a network element of a target core network after receiving a switching command sent from the network element of the target core network; and configuring a new radio bearer with the UE.