Cell Change Based on Target Cell Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional HS-DSCH cell change procedure in HSDPA networks does not consider HSDPA user loading and throughput in the target cell, leading to potential degradation in user experience due to inadequate performance after cell changes, even if the target cell has stronger signal strength.

Innovation Solution

The method involves evaluating the average number of active HSDPA users and average HSDPA user throughput in the target cell compared to the source cell, as well as congestion levels in the transmission network, to determine whether to perform a HS-DSCH cell change, ensuring that performance and user experience are maintained or improved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cell change is triggered based on signal strength alone (event 1d HS), then the UE can connect to cells with stronger signal, but user throughput may degrade due to high loading in the target cell

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoiduser throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network node performs preliminary evaluation of target cell performance metrics (average number of active HSDPA users, average user throughput, congestion levels) before executing the cell change. This advance assessment prevents selecting target cells that would degrade user experience, resolving the contradiction by ensuring both connection reliability and maintained throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from performance measurements (throughput, loading, congestion levels) to make informed cell change decisions. By continuously monitoring and evaluating target cell conditions before handover, the system avoids selecting overloaded cells, thereby maintaining user throughput while ensuring reliable connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If cell change is performed to maintain signal quality, then connection stability improves, but network congestion in target cell may reduce overall system productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidsystem capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Before performing cell change, the network node preliminarily evaluates target cell conditions including average number of active HSDPA users, congestion levels on transmission interfaces, and user throughput. This advance assessment ensures that cell changes are directed to cells with adequate capacity, maintaining connection stability without compromising system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the decision parameters for cell change from signal strength alone to a composite evaluation including throughput, loading factors, and congestion levels. This parameter expansion allows the system to maintain connection stability while avoiding target cells that would reduce overall system capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional cell change evaluation is used (signal strength based), then handover decisions are simple and fast, but user experience degrades due to inadequate performance assessment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover decision simplicityVSAvoiduser experience quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network node performs preliminary evaluation of multiple performance metrics (throughput, loading, congestion) before making the handover decision. While this adds evaluation steps, it maintains user experience quality by ensuring target cells can actually support the user, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically evaluates and compares multiple performance parameters without requiring complex manual configuration or intervention. The network node autonomously assesses target cell conditions and makes informed decisions, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving user experience quality through comprehensive performance assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3308574B1Systems and methods for cell change based on target cell performance
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3308574B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3308574B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3308574B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Systems and methods for a cell change based on target cell performance are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node in a cellular communications network comprises receiving a measurement report from a wireless device having a serving cell, the measurement report comprising an indication that another cell is better than the serving cell such that the other cell is identified as a target cell for a cell change and the serving cell is identified as a source cell for the cell change. The method further comprises determining whether to perform the cell change from the source cell to the target cell based on one or more parameters indicative of a performance of the target cell. The method further comprises performing the cell change upon determining that the cell change from the source cell to the target cell should be performed.