Carrier Aggregation Handover Method for Seamless Service Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular mobile communication systems supporting carrier aggregation, existing handover methods experience delays and disrupt service continuity due to the complexity of managing multiple carriers between NodeBs and user equipment.

Innovation Solution

A handover method that reduces delay by enabling efficient carrier aggregation by determining and configuring primary and secondary component carriers between source and target NodeBs, using measurement results to select optimal carriers and configure radio resources, allowing seamless handover without requiring a random access procedure for component changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing handover methods are used in carrier aggregation environments, then service continuity can be maintained, but handover delay increases due to the complexity of managing multiple carriers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidhandover delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring component carrier information (including primary and secondary component carriers) in the handover request message before the handover execution. This allows the target NodeB to have all necessary carrier configuration information ready in advance, eliminating the need for additional random access procedures and reducing handover delay while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple carriers are managed during handover, then carrier aggregation functionality is maintained, but the complexity of handover procedures increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier aggregation functionalityVSAvoidhandover procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the carrier aggregation configuration into distinct components: primary component carrier information and secondary component carrier information. Each component is separately configured and transmitted in the handover request message, allowing the target NodeB to process them independently and simplifying the overall handover procedure while maintaining full carrier aggregation functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the handover request message as an intermediary to transfer all necessary component carrier configuration information from the source NodeB to the target NodeB. This intermediary mechanism consolidates multiple pieces of information (primary CC, secondary CCs, radio resource configurations) into a single transmission, reducing the complexity of multiple separate signaling exchanges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If component carrier configuration is performed during handover, then seamless carrier aggregation is achieved, but additional random access procedures are required increasing delay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidhandover delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring component carrier information (including primary and secondary component carriers) in the handover request message before the handover execution. This allows the target NodeB to have all necessary carrier configuration information ready in advance, eliminating the need for additional random access procedures and reducing handover delay while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2566246B1Carrier-aggregation-based handover method
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 ELECTRONICS & TELECOMM RES INST
  • EP2566246B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2566246B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2566246B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a method for performing handover in a cellular mobile communication system that supports a carrier aggregation, and a user equipment and a node base (NodeB) using the method. A connection between the user equipment and the NodeB may be maintained and information may be exchanged using a plurality of serving carriers. Before performing the handover, the user equipment may perform measurement with respect to a neighboring NodeB supporting the carrier aggregation, and may provide parameter information to the NodeB in order to support a carrier aggregation function required for the handover. In a handover seamless environment, the continuity of a service may be provided and the performance of the service may be enhanced.