Conditional Handover Configuration for Weak-Link Cell Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communications systems, particularly in LTE and 5G technologies, fast channel quality attenuation and terminal device movement lead to failures in sending handover messages, resulting in a low handover success rate due to poor serving link quality.

Innovation Solution

A communication method where a terminal device receives conditional handover configuration information from a network device to determine a target cell based on signal quality, allowing it to perform a handover when specific conditions are met, thereby improving handover success rates by reducing signaling overheads and ensuring timely handovers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a user equipment camps on a frequency for potential service while maintaining DRX cycle, then power saving is achieved, but communication reliability deteriorates when network events occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower savingVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The DRX cycle configuration is made dynamic by allowing different DRX cycle lengths for different communication directions. The network can configure first DRX cycle parameters for uplink communication and second DRX cycle parameters for downlink communication, enabling flexible adaptation to different service requirements and improving reliability while maintaining power saving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The DRX operation is segmented into different directions (uplink and downlink) with independent cycle configurations. This allows the system to apply different DRX parameters for different communication scenarios, resolving the conflict between power saving and reliability by optimizing each direction separately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If DRX cycle is used for power saving, then energy consumption is reduced, but response time to network events increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts DRX cycle parameters based on communication direction and service requirements. By configuring different DRX cycles for uplink and downlink, the system can maintain shorter cycles for time-sensitive directions while using longer cycles for less critical directions, balancing energy saving with response time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the DRX cycle parameter values based on communication direction. The network configures first DRX cycle parameters for uplink and second DRX cycle parameters for downlink, allowing optimization of response time for specific directions while maintaining overall energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If single DRX cycle is configured for both uplink and downlink, then configuration simplicity is maintained, but communication reliability in specific directions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The DRX configuration is segmented into direction-specific parameters. The network configures first DRX cycle parameters for uplink communication and second DRX cycle parameters for downlink communication, allowing independent optimization of each direction's reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3893548B1Communication method and communication apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3893548B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3893548B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3893548B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a communication method and a communications apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal device, conditional handover configuration information from a first network device, where the first network device is a network device to which a serving cell belongs, and the serving cell is a cell that currently accessed by the terminal belongs; and determining, by the terminal device, a first target cell based on the conditional handover configuration information. After determining the first target cell that satisfies a trigger condition, the terminal device may perform a handover, that is, the terminal device is handed over from the serving cell to the first target cell. In embodiments of this application, the first network device sends the configuration information to the terminal device. For example, the first network device sends the configuration information to the terminal device when link communication quality is relatively good, so that a success rate of sending the configuration information can be ensured. Further, the terminal device can search for a target cell based on the configuration information, and perform a handover. This can improve a handover success rate.