Cell Merging via Shadow Cells to Prevent UE Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing LTE systems, multi-cell merging and splitting processes result in user equipment (UE) being released, leading to unpredictable state and traffic conditions, as existing technologies cannot dynamically manage cell merging and splitting without releasing UEs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for cell merging and splitting that involve receiving merging or splitting instructions, maintaining cell parameters, and handover of UEs to shadow cells, ensuring seamless synchronization and parameter management to prevent UE release during network adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cell merging is implemented by deleting and reconfiguring original cells according to merged cell parameters, then network performance is improved and co-channel interference is reduced, but user equipment (UE) is released and state/traffic cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing shadow cells before actual cell merging occurs. The shadow cells are pre-configured with the parameters of cells to be merged, and UEs are pre-handover to these shadow cells. This preparatory setup ensures that when the original cells are deleted and merged, UEs already have alternative cells to connect to, preventing UE release and maintaining service continuity throughout the merging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses shadow cells as intermediary elements in the cell merging process. These shadow cells act as temporary mediators that hold UE connections during the transition from original cells to merged cells. The shadow cells receive handover commands for UEs and maintain service until the merging is complete, serving as a buffer that prevents direct disruption to UEs when original cells are deleted.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual cell splitting is performed, then network configuration flexibility is improved, but user equipment (UE) is released and service continuity is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating shadow cells in advance before cell splitting operations. When a cell needs to be split, shadow cells are first established with the appropriate parameters for the new cell portions. UEs are then handover to these shadow cells before the actual splitting and deletion of original cell configurations occurs, ensuring service continuity is maintained throughout the splitting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses shadow cells as intermediary structures during cell splitting. These shadow cells temporarily hold UE connections during the transition from a single cell to multiple split cells. The shadow cells serve as a bridge between the original cell and the final split cell configurations, preventing UE release and maintaining reliable service throughout the splitting operation.
3Productivity
If existing cell merging technology is used, then network optimization is achieved, but dynamic multi-cell splitting cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling both cell merging and cell splitting operations through the shadow cell mechanism. The system can dynamically transition between merged and split cell configurations based on network conditions. Shadow cells can be created and deleted as needed, allowing the network to adaptively reconfigure cell structures in response to changing traffic patterns, load conditions, and coverage requirements, thus achieving both optimization and dynamic flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the shadow cell mechanism universal by applying it to both cell merging and cell splitting operations. The same shadow cell infrastructure supports multiple functions: it enables merging by providing target cells for handover, enables splitting by providing source cells for new configurations, and maintains service continuity in both scenarios. This multi-functional approach allows the system to perform various network reconfiguration operations through a single unified mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a cell merging and splitting method and apparatus, and a base station. The method includes: receiving a cell merging instruction sent by a first cell and used for instructing merging of the first cell and a second cell; maintaining a cell parameter of the second cell and a cell parameter of the first cell according to the cell merging instruction; handing over UEs served by the second cell to a first shadow cell and synchronizing information of the handed over UEs with the first cell, where the first shadow cell has the cell parameter of the first cell and is maintained by the second cell; and after handing over all the UEs served by the second cell to the first shadow cell and determining that the information of all the handed over UEs is synchronized with the first cell, stopping maintaining the cell parameter of the second cell. The embodiments of the present invention ensure that as many UEs as possible achieve the best state and traffic effect.