Target Base Station Handover Between Unicast and Multicast Bearers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IP multicast technologies are not applicable to mobile networks due to their unique architecture and radio interface, leading to challenges in sharing mobile network resources among multiple users, particularly in ensuring service continuity during UE handovers in MBMS environments.
Innovation Solution
A method where the target base station determines the handover between unicast and multicast/multicast bearers based on data packet reception speed, using synchronization protocol data packet identifiers to ensure that the UE is handed over to the bearer with faster data packet reception, thereby improving service continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the target base station uses only the target bearer for data transmission after handover, then the handover process is simplified, but the service continuity cannot be ensured when the target bearer transmission speed is slower than the original bearer
Solution Approach 1:
The target base station pre-establishes both the target bearer and original bearer before completing the handover. This preliminary setup ensures that when the handover occurs, both transmission paths are ready, and the system can seamlessly switch between them based on transmission speed, thereby ensuring service continuity while maintaining a relatively simple handover process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the transmission path parameter by comparing the transmission speeds of the target bearer and original bearer. Based on this speed comparison, the system selects the optimal bearer for data transmission, allowing flexible adaptation to different network conditions and ensuring both simplified processing and reliable service continuity.
2Reliability
If the target base station receives and processes data packets from both original bearer and target bearer, then the service continuity is ensured, but the processing complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The target base station implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors and compares the transmission speeds of packets from the original bearer and target bearer. Based on this real-time feedback, the system intelligently selects which bearer to use for subsequent transmissions, ensuring service continuity while avoiding unnecessary processing complexity through data-driven decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary speed comparison and bearer selection before actual data transmission begins. By pre-evaluating the transmission capabilities of both bearers and selecting the optimal one in advance, the system reduces the processing burden during actual data transmission while ensuring service continuity.
3Ease of operation
If the system hands over UE from MBMS to unicast during handover, then the handover can be completed, but the service continuity cannot be ensured when unicast cannot cover the UE due to poor signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces the original bearer as an intermediary transmission path during the handover process. When the target bearer cannot provide adequate coverage, the original bearer serves as a backup mediator to maintain data transmission, ensuring that the handover can be completed without compromising service continuity even in poor signal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares the original bearer as a backup transmission path before the handover is fully completed. This preliminary preparation creates a safety cushion that prevents service interruption if the target bearer fails to provide adequate coverage, allowing the handover to proceed while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a user equipment handover method and a base station, and relate to communications technologies. When a target base station determines that the UE needs to be handed over from a source base station to a target base station and needs to perform a handover between a unicast bearer and a multicast/multicast bearer; because a progress of sending a data packet by using a target bearer may be slower than a progress of sending a data packet by using an original bearer, the target base station receives a data packet sent by using the original bearer and a data packet sent by using the target bearer, and when it is determined that a progress of receiving the data packet by the target base station by using the original bearer is faster than or equal to a progress of receiving the data packet by the target base station by using the target bearer, the target base station hands over the UE to the target bearer, and therefore service continuity in a UE handover process is improved.