Beam Handover Control for Energy-Saving 5G Radio Nodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing network energy consumption during beam handovers, particularly in 5G networks with varying quality-of-service classes, leading to resource load variations and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where a radio access network node transmits beam-specific resource indications and handover configurations to user equipment, allowing for network energy saving handovers by optimizing the use of control and data channel resources, and includes criteria for determining when to monitor these resources based on signal strength, thereby reducing unnecessary communication contexts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If conventional handover procedures are used in 5G networks, then beam handover can be performed, but network energy consumption increases and resource load variations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork energy consumptionVSAvoidhandover efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures handover parameters and resource indications in advance before handover is needed. The UE receives and stores handover configuration information, beam-specific resource indications, and monitoring criteria beforehand, so that when handover becomes necessary, the execution can proceed efficiently without energy-intensive real-time decision-making and resource allocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The handover configuration is segmented into beam-specific resource indications and UE-specific handover parameters. By dividing the handover process into discrete, pre-configured elements (beam resource indications, monitoring criteria, handover execution parameters), the system reduces the energy required for overall handover operations while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If beam-specific resource monitoring is implemented for all user equipment, then handover accuracy improves, but energy consumption and resource wastage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover monitoring accuracyVSAvoidenergy wastage from unnecessary monitoring

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Beam-specific resource monitoring is applied selectively rather than uniformly to all user equipment. The network configures monitoring only for UEs that meet specific criteria (such as those in coverage enhancement mode or experiencing poor signal conditions), while other UEs use conventional monitoring approaches. This localized application of enhanced monitoring maintains accuracy where needed while reducing energy wastage elsewhere

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring behavior is dynamically adjusted by changing parameters such as monitoring activation status, resource indication thresholds, and beam-specific configuration flags. The network can switch between different monitoring modes (enhanced beam-specific monitoring versus conventional monitoring) based on UE conditions, thereby optimizing the balance between handover accuracy and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If comprehensive handover configuration information is transmitted to all user equipment, then handover reliability improves, but signaling overhead and resource load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover success rateVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Comprehensive handover configuration information is transmitted in advance to UEs that are likely to need handover. The network proactively provides beam-specific resource indications, monitoring criteria, and handover parameters before handover becomes necessary, ensuring high reliability when handover executes while avoiding continuous transmission of redundant signaling information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network transmits full handover configuration information selectively to only those UEs that require it (such as UEs in coverage enhancement mode or with specific handover requirements), rather than transmitting to all UEs universally. This partial application of comprehensive configuration reduces overall signaling overhead while maintaining handover reliability for the targeted UEs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12507136B2Beam handover for network energy saving

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A source radio access network node may determine to implement a network energy saving mode with respect to one or more user equipment being served by a beam. The node may configure the user equipment with a handover control channel resource usable by the user equipment to determine scheduling information usable by the user equipment to retrieve a handover information message. The handover information message may comprise a list of potential target nodes and a list of user equipment to be handed over to a target node. A user equipment may determine whether to monitor the handover control channel resource based on whether a handover criterion is satisfied. The user equipment may initiate handover to a target node if the user equipment is indicated in the handover information message or if the handover criterion is violated. The user equipment may transmit, to the source node, a handover success message.