Conditional Handover Energy Saving Mode Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high energy consumption of 5G systems, particularly in radio access networks, is a significant challenge due to the increased demand for advanced services and denser networks, necessitating effective network energy saving solutions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an energy saving mode during conditional handover between network devices, including base stations, by using request and response messages to indicate energy saving modes and configurations, thereby reducing network energy consumption and improving energy utilization efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If traditional handover procedures are used in 5G networks, then handover reliability is maintained, but network energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork energy consumptionVSAvoidhandover reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring conditional handover parameters and energy saving modes before handover is actually needed. The source base station pre-evaluates candidate target base stations and pre-configures handover conditions, so that when energy saving is needed, the handover can execute immediately without extensive signaling, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by introducing energy saving mode indicators and conditional handover configuration parameters into the handover procedure. These parameters allow the system to dynamically adjust handover behavior based on energy consumption requirements, enabling energy-saving handovers when conditions permit while maintaining traditional handover reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If base stations frequently trigger handover procedures for each terminal device when entering or changing energy saving states, then energy saving responsiveness is improved, but signaling overheads and signaling storms occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy saving responsivenessVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling terminal devices to autonomously execute handover decisions based on pre-configured conditions. Instead of the base station triggering handover for each terminal when energy saving states change, terminals independently evaluate whether handover conditions are met and execute handover autonomously, eliminating the need for frequent base station-triggered handover signaling and reducing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses preliminary action by pre-configuring handover execution conditions and target cell information in advance. When energy saving modes change, terminals can immediately execute handover based on these pre-configured parameters without requiring additional signaling exchanges, thus achieving rapid energy saving responsiveness while minimizing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If conditional handover configuration information is not suspended or deleted when no longer needed, then handover configuration completeness is maintained, but system resource waste occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover configuration completenessVSAvoidsystem resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by implementing mechanisms to monitor and track the validity and usage status of conditional handover configuration information. When handover conditions are no longer met or handover is successfully executed, the system provides feedback to suspend or delete the corresponding configuration information, ensuring that handover configuration completeness is maintained during valid periods while preventing resource waste when configurations are no longer needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4664992A1Method and apparatus for communication, and storage medium and program product
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4664992A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4664992A1 patent drawingFigure 1C-1
  • EP4664992A1 patent drawingFigure 1C-2

AI summary

A communication method and apparatus, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program product are provided. The method is used by a first network device to send, to a second network device, a request message for conditional handover, and receive, from the second network device, a response message for conditional handover. The response message includes indication information, and the indication information indicates at least one energy saving mode of a candidate cell of the second network device and at least one piece of configuration information associated with the at least one energy saving mode for conditional handover. In this way, network energy saving triggered conditional handover is implemented, and energy utilization efficiency is improved.