Conditional Handover Recovery Using Preconfigured Backup Cells

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G networks, conditional handover (CHO) processes face challenges in ensuring successful connection restoration when the user equipment (UE) fails to handover to a target cell, leading to inefficiencies in handover command execution.

Innovation Solution

The base station sends a handover command containing a first cell identifier for the target cell and at least one second cell identifier for alternative cells that the UE can access if the initial handover fails, along with duration information to manage resource allocation and timer settings for these cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network sends a handover command to the UE for handover to a target cell, then the handover process is initiated, but if the UE fails to access the target cell, connection restoration becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection restoration success rateVSAvoidhandover failure recovery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network pre-configures alternative target cells and their identifiers in the handover command before handover failure occurs. When the UE fails to access the primary target cell, it can immediately use the pre-configured alternative cell identifiers to initiate connection restoration without waiting for network intervention, thereby reducing recovery time and improving restoration success rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the UE waits for network instruction after handover failure, then connection restoration can be coordinated, but the recovery time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection restoration coordinationVSAvoidrecovery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The handover command includes pre-configured alternative target cell information and restoration instructions that the UE can execute autonomously upon handover failure. This preliminary configuration enables the UE to immediately initiate connection restoration to alternative cells without waiting for network responses, achieving both coordination (through pre-planned alternatives) and rapid recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the handover command contains only the primary target cell identifier, then the command is simple, but the UE has no alternative if the primary handover fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover success rateVSAvoidhandover command structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handover command is segmented to include a primary target cell identifier and multiple alternative target cell identifiers. This segmentation allows the UE to attempt handover to the primary cell first, and if that fails, sequentially try alternative cells. The segmented structure maintains command clarity while providing multiple handover paths, improving success rate without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handover command is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides the primary target cell for normal handover, and simultaneously provides alternative target cells for failure recovery. This multi-functionality allows a single command structure to handle both successful handover scenarios and failure recovery scenarios, improving reliability without requiring separate commands for each case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4020914B1Handover processing method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4020914B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4020914B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4020914B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed are a handover processing method and apparatus. The method comprises: carrying a first cell identifier and at least one second cell identifier in a handover command, wherein a first cell identified by the first cell identifier is: a target cell for handover, and a second cell identified by the second cell identifier is: a cell that a UE can access after the handover of the UE to the first cell fails; and sending the handover command to the UE.