Cell Management Method Using Evaluation Period to Filter Ping-Pong Handovers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Frequent cell management operations are caused by rapid changes in channel quality, leading to inefficient handovers and increased network traffic, such as ping-pong handovers, due to the quick fluctuations in RSRP measurements.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of an evaluation period and trigger condition configuration information sent by the network-side device, where cell management operations are only performed if the trigger condition is satisfied for a duration greater than or equal to the evaluation period, thereby reducing unnecessary handovers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If cell management operations are performed immediately when trigger conditions are satisfied, then handover response speed is improved, but frequent ping-pong handovers occur due to rapid channel quality changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover response speedVSAvoidhandover stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by introducing an evaluation period before executing handover. The terminal first evaluates whether the trigger condition continues to be satisfied during this evaluation period, and only performs handover if the condition persists. This preliminary evaluation phase filters out transient fluctuations in channel quality, preventing premature or erroneous handovers while maintaining the ability to respond quickly to sustained quality improvements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If frequent cell management operations are performed to adapt to channel quality changes, then handover accuracy is improved, but network overhead and signaling traffic increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover accuracyVSAvoidnetwork overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through the evaluation period mechanism. Instead of continuously triggering handovers upon any channel quality change, the system periodically re-evaluates the trigger condition during the evaluation period. This periodic verification ensures that handovers are only executed when channel quality improvements are sustained, reducing unnecessary handover signaling and network overhead while maintaining accurate handover decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If the evaluation period is extended, then frequent handovers are reduced, but handover response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover stabilityVSAvoidhandover response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by allowing flexible configuration of the evaluation period duration. The network can adjust the evaluation period parameter based on specific scenarios and requirements. This parameter flexibility enables optimization between handover stability and response time - extending the evaluation period to reduce frequent handovers when stability is prioritized, or shortening it to maintain faster response when speed is critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3809757B1Cell management method, terminal and network-side device
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3809757B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3809757B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3809757B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This disclosure provides a method for cell management, a terminal, and a network-side device. The method, applied to a terminal, includes: receiving configuration information sent by a network-side device, where the configuration information includes an evaluation period and a trigger condition for triggering the terminal to perform a cell management operation; and if the duration of satisfying the trigger condition is less than the evaluation period, skipping performing the cell management operation; and/or if the duration of satisfying the trigger condition is greater than or equal to the evaluation period, performing the cell management operation.