Cell Size Based Handover Target Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular communication networks, the automatic addition of neighbor cells for handover purposes can lead to decreased handover performance due to the inclusion of 'bad' neighbor cells, resulting in an increased number of handovers and network load.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism is introduced where network nodes select target cells based on cell size information, avoiding small cells for fast-moving users and preferring larger cells, and smaller cells for stationary or low-speed users, to optimize handover performance and reduce network load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatic neighbor relation (ANR) is used to add neighbor cells, then the operator is relieved from manual configuration, but handover performance decreases due to inclusion of bad neighbor cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by obtaining and storing cell size information of neighbor cells before handover decisions are made. The source base station retrieves cell size data from the target base station in advance, and uses this information when selecting target cells for handover, thereby preventing poor handover decisions before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the target base station provide cell size information back to the source base station. This feedback mechanism allows the source base station to make informed handover decisions based on the actual size characteristics of potential target cells, improving handover performance while maintaining automated neighbor relation functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If small cells are included as handover targets, then cell selection flexibility increases, but number of handovers increases for fast-moving users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making handover decisions adaptive to user equipment characteristics. For fast-moving user equipment, the source base station preferentially selects larger neighbor cells as handover targets, while for stationary or slow-moving user equipment, smaller cells can be selected. This localized adaptation to different user scenarios optimizes handover performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the cell selection criteria dynamic based on user equipment mobility characteristics. The base station adjusts the preferred cell size for handover targets according to the speed and mobility pattern of the user equipment, transitioning from static cell selection to dynamic, context-aware selection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more neighbor cells are monitored, then handover options increase, but network load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies taking out by extracting and utilizing cell size information as an additional selection criterion from the target base station. This extracted information enables the source base station to filter and prioritize handover candidates more effectively, reducing the number of unnecessary handover evaluations and decreasing network load while maintaining diverse handover options.
Data Source
AI summary
The present solution relates to a method in a first network node (301) for handling handover of a user equipment (105) from a source cell (303) to a target cell (309) in a communication network (300). The first network node (301) selects (504) the target cell (309) from neighbor cells (309) based on information of cell size, which target cell (309) will be used for handover the user equipment (105) to.