Base Station SINR Measurement for 5G Handover Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless networks rely on downlink reference signal receive power (RSRP) reports for handover events, which are slow, prone to reporting failures, and inaccurate across frequencies, especially in modern 5G networks with increased handover frequencies and complex beamforming, leading to sub-optimal performance and potential radio link failures.
Innovation Solution
Employing signal-to-interference-noise ratio (SINR) values determined at the base station for handover decisions, using precomputed SINR values from a library and machine learning predictions, which are faster and more accurate, reducing reliance on UE-generated RSRP reports and mitigating issues of transmission power and frequency inaccuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If downlink reference signal receive power (RSRP) reports are used for handover decisions, then handover events can be triggered, but the process becomes slow and consumes significant time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the UE measure downlink reference signals and report RSRP values back to the base station, the patent inverts the approach by having the base station measure uplink signals transmitted by the UE and determine handover decisions based on those uplink measurements. This inversion eliminates the need for separate downlink reference signal transmission and UE reporting, significantly reducing handover decision time while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the handover measurement function from the UE and relocates it to the base station. By having the base station perform both the measurement and the decision-making, the complex process of reference signal transmission, UE measurement, and report generation is eliminated, leaving only the essential measurement and decision functions at the base station
2Loss of information
If uplink transmission from UE to base station is used for RSRP reporting, then handover information can be communicated, but transmission power may be insufficient leading to reporting failures
Solution Approach 1:
The base station uses its own uplink signal measurements to make handover decisions, eliminating the need for the UE to generate and transmit separate RSRP reports. The UE simply transmits uplink signals as part of normal communication, and the base station autonomously extracts handover information from these signals without requiring additional power or separate reporting mechanisms
3Measurement precision
If downlink reference signals are transmitted periodically, then the UE can measure reference signal power, but the UE must wait for signal transmission increasing latency
Solution Approach 1:
The base station continuously measures uplink signals as they are transmitted by the UE during normal communication operations. This preliminary measurement action eliminates the need to wait for periodic downlink reference signals, as the base station already has measurement data available from the ongoing uplink transmissions that occur as part of regular communication
4Adaptability or versatility
If RSRP measurements are performed across multiple frequencies in OFDM networks, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but measurement accuracy decreases for individual frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs separate uplink signal measurements for each frequency that the UE is transmitting on, rather than aggregating measurements across all frequencies. This local measurement approach maintains high precision for each individual frequency while still providing comprehensive multi-frequency coverage, as each frequency is measured independently with dedicated attention
Data Source
AI summary
Determining to initiate a user equipment handover event based on a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio value is disclosed. The disclosed subject matter can employ the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio value in lieu of a reference signal receive power value. In an aspect, a handover based on the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio value can generally be determined faster and with greater reliability than basing the handover on the reference signal receive power value. In an aspect, some embodiments can substitute a determined uplink signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio value for a downlink signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio value. In some embodiments, a predicted signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio value can be determined based on historical channel characteristics, hysterical wireless network environment features, or other historical data. A predicted signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio value can be validated to a determined current signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio value, permitting a validated predicted value to be employed until a next validation event.