Cell Handover Decision Using Feedback to Prevent Ping-Pong Effects

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE systems, differing handover policies between base stations cause back-and-forth PingPong handovers between source and target cells, leading to inefficient network operations.

Innovation Solution

A method where a target base station receives and evaluates related information of a handed-over UE, including handover cause and reference values, to determine whether to hand over the UE back to the source cell, prioritizing handovers based on signal quality and resource availability, thereby avoiding PingPong handovers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If base stations use different handover policies, then handover decisions can be made independently and quickly, but back-and-forth PingPong handovers occur between source and target cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover decision speedVSAvoidhandover stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the target base station evaluates the handover cause reference value received from the source base station and compares it with the current signal quality. This feedback loop prevents unnecessary back-and-forth handovers by ensuring handovers only occur when truly needed, thus maintaining handover stability while preserving decision speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the source base station provide handover cause reference value information before the handover occurs. The target base station uses this advance information to pre-evaluate whether the handover is necessary, preventing PingPong effects before they occur and ensuring reliable handover decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If handover decisions are made frequently based on signal quality changes, then responsive handovers can be performed, but unnecessary back-and-forth handovers increase network operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover response speedVSAvoidnetwork operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback by comparing the handover cause reference value with current signal quality measurements. This ensures handovers are triggered only when actually necessary, maintaining responsive handover performance while preventing unnecessary network operations that would reduce overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter evaluation approach by introducing handover cause reference values that categorize different handover scenarios. This allows the system to adjust handover behavior based on the specific cause, maintaining fast response for necessary handovers while filtering out unnecessary ones to preserve network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2876936B1Method and node b for determining cell switching
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2876936B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2876936B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2876936B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention is applicable to the field of communications and specifically provides a method for determining a cell handover. The method includes: receiving related information of a handed-over UE that is sent by a source base station when the source base station initiates a handover operation; and determining, according to the related information of the handed-over UE, whether to hand over the handed-over UE back to a source cell of the source base station, where the related information of the handed-over UE at least includes a handover cause reference value of the UE in the source cell. The technical solutions provided in the present invention have an advantage of avoiding back-and-forth PingPong handovers between a source cell of a source base station and a target cell of a target base station.