Combined UE Handover Techniques for Reliable, Low-Latency Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in achieving zero millisecond handover interruption latency, handover reliability, and reducing handover ping-pongs, particularly in LTE and NR technologies, which are crucial for mobile broadband access and ultra-reliable low latency communications.
Innovation Solution
A combination of handover techniques, including dual connectivity, two protocol stack handover, and conditional handover, is employed to enhance handover processes, allowing simultaneous communication with both source and target base stations to minimize latency and improve reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional handover techniques are used, then handover process is simple, but handover latency is high and reliability is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a second protocol stack and configuring conditional handover parameters before the actual handover is needed. The UE prepares alternative communication paths and stores handover configuration data in advance, so that when handover is triggered, the transition can occur immediately without setup delays, thus reducing handover latency while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second protocol stack as an intermediary layer between the UE and the network during handover. This dual-stack architecture allows the UE to maintain communication through both the original and target base stations simultaneously, providing a buffer that ensures continuous connectivity and reduces interruption latency during the handover transition.
2Reliability
If handover is performed frequently to maintain connection quality, then connection reliability improves, but handover ping-pongs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by pre-configuring conditional handover parameters including event triggers and measurement thresholds before handover is needed. The UE evaluates these pre-set conditions against real-time measurements, allowing it to make informed handover decisions based on sustained quality degradation rather than transient fluctuations, thus preventing unnecessary ping-pong handovers while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE continuously monitors connection quality metrics and compares them against pre-configured thresholds. This feedback loop allows the system to distinguish between temporary quality variations and genuine handover triggers, enabling reliable connection maintenance while avoiding excessive handover operations that would cause ping-pong effects.
3Reliability
If conditional handover with multiple techniques is implemented, then handover reliability and latency improvement are achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a handover system that can operate with multiple protocol stacks and conditional handover techniques simultaneously. The UE is equipped with a unified architecture that can handle traditional handover, dual-stack handover, and conditional handover through a single framework, allowing the system to select the appropriate mode based on network conditions without requiring separate specialized systems for each handover type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by dynamically adjusting handover configuration parameters such as measurement thresholds, event triggers, and protocol stack activation based on network conditions and UE capabilities. This allows the system to optimize handover behavior for different scenarios without increasing fundamental system complexity, as the same infrastructure adapts its parameters rather than requiring different architectures for different handover modes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive, from a source base station (BS), an indication that the UE is to perform a conditional handover from the source BS to a target BS and is to perform at least one of: a two protocol stack handover from the source BS to the target BS or a dual connectivity handover from the source BS to the target BS. The UE may perform the conditional handover and at least one of the two protocol stack handover or the dual connectivity handover based at least in part on the indication. Numerous other aspects are provided.