Base Station Cell Configuration Change Indicator for Mobility Robustness

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobility management in LTE networks faces challenges such as Radio Link Failure, Handover Failure, and Ping-pong Handover due to incorrect handover parameter settings, which can lead to suboptimal user experience and network performance, and existing solutions like Mobility Robustness Optimization (MRO) require manual configuration and are costly to implement.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of active antenna systems and dynamic cell configuration change indicators, such as the Cell Configuration Change Indicator, which allows for adaptive adjustments in cell configuration, including splitting, merging, and shaping of cells, to improve handover processes and load balancing, communicated through messages like RLF Indication and Handover Report, enabling self-optimized network operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual configuration of handover parameters is used for Mobility Robustness Optimization, then mobility failure detection can be improved, but implementation cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility failure detectionVSAvoidimplementation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing base stations to automatically detect mobility failures and exchange diagnostic information through standardized signaling protocols. The source base station autonomously identifies handover failures and initiates information exchange with target base stations without requiring manual configuration or external intervention, thereby improving reliability while reducing implementation complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements feedback mechanisms where base stations exchange handover failure information through RLF Indication and Handover Report messages. This feedback loop enables continuous optimization of handover parameters based on actual network conditions, improving mobility failure detection while maintaining system simplicity through automated information sharing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If active antenna systems with dynamic cell configuration are deployed, then network adaptability and load balancing improve, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic cell configuration where base stations can adjust cell settings in real-time based on traffic conditions. Active antenna systems enable dynamic beamforming and cell splitting/merging operations, allowing the network to adapt to changing load conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized control procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies segmentation by dividing cells into smaller units through cell splitting when needed, or merging cells to optimize resource utilization. This segmentation capability enhances network adaptability by allowing flexible reconfiguration of cell structures without requiring complete system redesign, thereby managing complexity through modular approaches

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If handover parameters are set too conservatively to avoid failures, then reliability improves, but handover delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover success rateVSAvoidhandover delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting and reporting handover failures before they impact user experience. Through continuous monitoring and early warning mechanisms, the network can adjust handover parameters in advance to prevent failures, achieving high reliability without excessive delays by only applying conservative settings when actually needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2982165B1Methods of operating radio access network base stations and related network nodes
Publication Date: 2017.11.15 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2982165B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2982165B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2982165B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Methodsof operating a first base station in a radio access network including a plurality of base stationsmay be provided. For example, acell configuration change indicatormay be transmittedfrom the first base station to a second base station responsive to receivinga Radio Link Failure(RLF)Report at the first base station from a wireless terminal or responsive to receivinga Radio Link Failure Indication message from a third base station.