Cell Coverage Indicator Exchange for Adaptive Handover Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cellular wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining optimal network performance when cell coverage changes dynamically, leading to suboptimal behavior due to the inability of mobility and neighbor relation optimization algorithms to adapt quickly enough to frequent cell coverage modifications.

Innovation Solution

A method for exchanging cell coverage indicators between network control nodes to facilitate adjustments in mobility and radio resource management parameters, allowing for timely adaptation to dynamic cell coverage changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cell coverage changes dynamically to accommodate traffic variations, then network capacity and traffic accommodation improve, but mobility optimization algorithms cannot adapt quickly enough leading to handover failures and dropped calls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidhandover success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by proactively adjusting handover parameters and mobility settings in advance of actual handover events when cell coverage changes are detected. The network control node receives coverage change indications and pre-configures appropriate mobility parameters before handovers are needed, ensuring seamless transitions despite rapid coverage modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network control node continuously monitors handover performance metrics and cell coverage status. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts mobility parameters to maintain optimal handover success rates while adapting to changing coverage conditions, creating a closed-loop control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If mobility parameters are adjusted frequently to match dynamic cell coverage, then handover success rate improves, but system stability deteriorates due to excessive parameter changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover success rateVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing time-varying mobility parameters that adapt to the current operational phase of the network. Different parameter sets are used during initial deployment versus mature operation, allowing the system to be more aggressive during setup and more conservative during stable operation, thus maintaining stability while enabling adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic action through collection periods during which statistics are gathered before parameter adjustments are made. This periodic measurement and adjustment cycle prevents overly frequent changes by requiring sufficient data accumulation, thereby maintaining system stability while still enabling timely adaptations to coverage changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Stability of the object's composition

If collection time for statistics is extended to ensure stable parameter adjustments, then system stability improves, but response time to coverage changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing time-varying collection periods that are shorter during initial deployment phases and longer during mature operation. This dynamic adjustment of the statistics collection duration allows rapid response when the network is evolving while ensuring stability during mature operation, resolving the trade-off between speed and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If handover failure rate is reduced below target through aggressive parameter adjustments, then reliability improves, but handover count increases causing system overload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover failure rateVSAvoidhandover count
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting mobility parameters such as handover thresholds, offsets, and timing advance values based on current network conditions and coverage status. These targeted parameter modifications enable the system to reduce handover failures without triggering excessive handovers, as each parameter is optimized for the specific operational context rather than applying uniform aggressive adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3621335B1Method for adjusting MRO or ANR parameters based on cell coverage indicator
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3621335B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3621335B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3621335B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting and receiving information in a cellular wireless communication system, said cellular wireless communication system comprising: a first network control node arranged for controlling at least one first cell of said cellular wireless communication system, a second network control node arranged for controlling at least one second cell of said cellular wireless communication system; said method comprising the steps of: transmitting, by said first network control node, a cell coverage indicator indicating a cell coverage for said first cell, receiving, by said second network control node, said cell coverage indicator, and using, by said second network control node, said cell coverage indicator for adjusting a cell coverage for said second cell and/or one or more radio resource management parameters associated with said second cell. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method in a first network control node, a method in a second network control node, a first network control node device, a second network control node device, a computer program, and a computer program product thereof.