Selective Cell Subset Indication for X2 Handover Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE communication systems, the existing X2 signaling protocols require eNBs to process and exchange information about all served cells, leading to suboptimal handover preparation times, increased memory overhead, and CPU processing load, especially for small form factor eNBs, due to the need to handle a large number of potential handover candidates.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to selectively indicate a subset of serving cells as handover candidates between neighboring eNBs using enhanced message fields in X2 setup and configuration update procedures, allowing eNBs to track and manage handover candidate cells independently for each neighbor, thereby reducing unnecessary processing and memory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If eNBs exchange information about all served cells using existing X2 signaling protocols, then complete cell information is available for handover decisions, but handover preparation time increases and CPU processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary subset of cell information (handover candidate cells) from the complete served cell list and transmits this reduced information through X2 signaling. This selective extraction maintains handover decision accuracy while reducing processing time and CPU load by eliminating unnecessary cell data transmission and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the complete served cell information into two parts: handover candidate cells (relevant for handover decisions) and non-candidate cells (not relevant). Only the handover candidate segment is transmitted through X2 signaling, thereby reducing information overhead while preserving the reliability needed for accurate handover decisions.
2Reliability
If eNBs exchange information about all served cells, then all potential handover candidates are identified, but memory overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the handover candidate cell information rather than complete served cell information. This extraction principle reduces the quantity of data that must be stored in memory at eNBs while maintaining reliable identification of all relevant handover candidates through the X2 interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If eNBs process all served cells for handover possibilities, then comprehensive handover options are available, but CPU processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the relevant handover candidate cell information rather than all served cell information. This selective processing maintains adaptability and versatility in handover decisions by focusing computational resources on relevant candidates, thereby reducing CPU processing load while preserving comprehensive handover option availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by processing only the necessary subset of handover candidate cells rather than all served cells. This partial processing approach maintains sufficient handover option availability for reliable decision-making while significantly reducing CPU processing load by avoiding excessive processing of non-candidate cells.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a method comprising determining a first subset of cells served by a first base station to be suitable for handover to a user equipment associated with a second base station, the subset comprising at least one but not all of the cells served by the first base station and providing information to the second base station from the first base station, said information comprising an indication of the determined first subset of cells