Timing Advance Preconfiguration for Candidate Cell Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networking technologies face challenges in efficiently managing timing advance during handovers and mobility scenarios, particularly in 5G NR networks, leading to inefficiencies and potential connectivity issues.
Innovation Solution
A user equipment apparatus is configured to receive timing advance configuration information before connecting to candidate target cells, enabling it to perform timing advance acquisition and management, including selecting candidate cells based on measurement quality and managing timing advance values and reports, to optimize handover processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If timing advance acquisition is performed after connecting to candidate target cells during handover, then the handover procedure can be completed, but timing advance management becomes complex and may cause connectivity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by acquiring timing advance values for candidate target cells before the handover is executed. The UE receives configuration information from the network including TA acquisition configurations, identifies candidate cells based on measurement reports, and acquires TA values in advance through random access procedures or network provisioning. This pre-acquisition eliminates the complexity of post-handover TA management and ensures connectivity reliability by having TA values ready before the handover occurs.
2Productivity
If timing advance values are acquired for multiple candidate target cells in advance, then handover efficiency is improved, but the time and resources required for TA acquisition increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by acquiring timing advance values selectively for only those candidate target cells that are most likely to be the handover destination. The UE prioritizes TA acquisition based on measurement quality, signal strength, and network configuration, acquiring TA values for a limited subset of candidate cells rather than all possible targets. This approach improves handover efficiency for the most probable scenarios while minimizing the time and resources spent on TA acquisition.
3Reliability
If traditional timing advance management is used during handover, then the procedure can be completed, but latency increases and connectivity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces handover latency by performing timing advance acquisition in advance of the handover execution. The UE receives TA acquisition configurations, identifies candidate target cells, and acquires TA values before the handover is triggered. When handover is executed, the UE can immediately apply the pre-acquired TA values without waiting for post-handover random access procedures, thereby reducing latency and ensuring seamless connectivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment apparatus (UE) includes processor(s) and memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor(s), cause the UE to: establish a connection with a first network node via a serving cell, where the first network node supports the serving cell and supports at least one of distributed unit functionality or a layer 2 protocol of a radio access network (RAN); receive, from a second network node supporting at least one of central unit control plane functionality or a layer 3 protocol of the RAN, a radio resource control (RRC) message including configuration information relating to timing advance, where the configuration information prepares the UE for at least one candidate target cell with which the UE may connect, where the RRC message is received prior to the UE connecting with any of the at least one candidate target cell; and implement a configuration based on the configuration information.