Base Station Handover Timing via Multiple Action Times

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless networks, the existing approach of setting a single 'Action Time' for handover between base stations often results in either fast handover failures if the time is too short or longer delays if it is too long, due to inadequate timing for seamless handover processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing multiple 'Action Times' for each target base station, allowing for flexible and optimized handover timing by signaling these values between base stations and mobile stations, enabling dedicated transmission opportunities for fast ranging without contention-based processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single Action Time is set for handover, then the handover process is simplified, but handover failures occur if the time is too short or delays occur if the time is too long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover process simplicityVSAvoidhandover success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single Action Time parameter into multiple Action Time values (AT1, AT2, AT3, etc.) corresponding to different target base stations. This segmentation allows the mobile station to have tailored timing options for handover to each specific target, resolving the contradiction by maintaining simplicity in the overall process while improving reliability through customized timing for each target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the Action Time parameter from a single fixed value to multiple variable values that can be independently optimized for different target base stations. This parameter change enables the system to adapt timing to specific handover scenarios, improving handover success rate while keeping the mechanism straightforward through standardized signaling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If a single Action Time is used, then signaling overhead is reduced, but handover performance deteriorates due to inadequate timing optimization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidhandover efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic Action Time values that can be independently adjusted for each target base station based on specific handover conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize timing for each scenario without requiring complex signaling, as the multiple Action Time values are efficiently conveyed through standardized handover messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary determination of multiple Action Time values before the actual handover execution. By pre-calculating and signaling these values in advance through the handover message, the system enables the mobile station to make informed handover decisions without incurring additional signaling overhead during the critical handover execution phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple Action Times are implemented, then handover timing can be optimized for each target base station, but the signaling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover timing accuracyVSAvoidsignaling structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the multiple Action Time values into a single standardized handover message structure. By combining multiple timing parameters into one unified signaling mechanism, the system achieves accurate timing optimization for each target base station without significantly increasing signaling complexity, as the values are efficiently packaged and transmitted together.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Speed

If a shorter Action Time is set, then handover speed is improved, but handover failures increase due to insufficient preparation time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover speedVSAvoidhandover completion success

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides multiple Action Time values including shorter times for speed-critical scenarios and longer times for reliability-critical scenarios. This allows the system to perform partial optimization by selecting appropriate Action Times based on specific handover conditions, achieving both speed and reliability by having the mobile station choose the most appropriate timing from the available options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8559393B2Indicating action times and fast ranging capabilities of target base stations

Publication Date: 2013.10.15 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

AI summary

According to one example embodiment, a method may include determining whether each of a plurality of target base stations is capable of providing a fast ranging opportunity to a mobile station served by the serving base station, and, for each of the plurality of target base stations which is capable of providing the fast ranging opportunity to the mobile station, determining an action time after which the target base station can send an uplink map to the mobile station, the uplink map indicating when the mobile station should send a fast ranging request. The method may also include sending a handover message to the mobile station, the handover message indicating whether each of the plurality of target base stations is capable of providing the fast ranging opportunity to the mobile station and, for each of the plurality of target base stations which is capable of providing the fast ranging opportunity to the mobile station, indicating the action time after which the target base station can send the uplink map to the mobile station.