Beam Handover Selection Using Beam Quality and Uplink Resources
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems using beamforming, handover scenarios are challenged by rapid changes in the radio environment, leading to issues in efficiently determining the optimal beam for seamless transitions between cells.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus in a user device for receiving handover information, determining beam quality, and deciding to initiate a connection to a target cell using either dedicated or shared uplink resources based on beam quality thresholds and priorities, ensuring efficient handover by selecting the most suitable beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beamforming is used to improve communication capacity, then system capacity is improved, but handover reliability deteriorates due to rapid changes in radio environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary beam quality measurements and evaluations before handover is triggered. The UE measures beam qualities of both source and target cells in advance, and the network prepares handover information including alternative beam candidates before the actual handover execution, enabling proactive preparation for rapid radio environment changes
Solution Approach 2:
The handover mechanism dynamically adapts to changing beam qualities by continuously monitoring beam quality metrics and adjusting handover decisions. The system evaluates multiple beam candidates and switches between dedicated and shared uplink resources dynamically based on real-time beam quality conditions, making the handover process flexible and responsive to rapid radio environment variations
2Reliability
If dedicated uplink resources are allocated for specific beams, then beam-specific communication quality is improved, but resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of dedicated resource allocation. It receives beam quality measurements from the UE, determines appropriate handover targets and beam candidates, and allocates dedicated uplink resources centrally based on overall system conditions, thereby relieving the UE of complex resource management tasks while maintaining beam-specific communication quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes resource allocation parameters dynamically based on beam quality conditions. When beam quality is good, dedicated resources are allocated for high reliability; when beam quality deteriorates or alternatives exist, the system transitions to shared resources, adjusting the allocation mode parameter to balance quality and complexity
3Reliability
If multiple beam candidates are evaluated for handover, then handover optimization is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of evaluating all possible beam candidates exhaustively, the system performs partial evaluation by focusing on the most promising candidates. The UE measures and reports beam qualities for multiple beams, but the network selects handover targets based on a subset of top candidates, achieving good optimization without the full processing burden of exhaustive evaluation
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided where handover information about one or more target beams of a target cell is provided. The beam quality of those target beams is determined along with beam quality of one or more other beams of the target cell. Dedicated uplink resources associated with the target beams and shared uplink resources are associated with the other beams. It is determined based on the beam quality which of the target and other beams is to be used to initiate a connection to the target cell.