Conditional Handover for PCI Collision in IAB Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications, particularly in integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks, physical cell identifier (PCI) collisions occur when neighboring cells share the same PCI, leading to inaccurate user equipment (UE) measurements and potential data service interruptions due to PCI changes, resulting in increased latency and interference.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a conditional handover process where a UE receives a configuration indicating a change in PCI, allowing it to initiate a handover to a target cell with a different PCI based on trigger conditions such as signal quality thresholds or time durations, thereby reducing latency and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PCI collision occurs in IAB network, then neighboring cells can be distinguished by UE, but measurement accuracy deteriorates and service interruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures conditional handover parameters and target cell information to the UE before PCI collision occurs. When collision is detected, the UE can immediately execute pre-prepared handover commands without waiting for network reconfiguration, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy and service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces conditional handover as an intermediary mechanism between the source cell and target cell. This intermediary process allows the UE to maintain connection stability during PCI collision by transitioning to a pre-configured target cell that does not experience collision, thus preserving measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If PCI change is implemented to resolve collision, then cell identification accuracy improves, but handover latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary configuration of target cell parameters and handover conditions before PCI collision occurs. When collision is detected, the UE can immediately execute the pre-configured handover without additional signaling delays, thus reducing handover latency while maintaining identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic conditional handover where the UE continuously monitors PCI collision conditions and automatically triggers handover when collision is detected. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt quickly to PCI changes, minimizing handover latency while ensuring accurate cell identification.
3Reliability
If traditional handover procedure is used, then PCI collision can be resolved, but data service interruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures multiple target cells and handover parameters before PCI collision occurs. When collision is detected, the UE can immediately execute handover to a pre-selected target cell without waiting for network reconfiguration, thus resolving PCI collision while maintaining data service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements conditional handover that maintains continuous data service during PCI collision resolution. By pre-configuring target cells and allowing immediate handover execution, the system ensures that data transmission continues without interruption, preserving productivity during the handover process.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network, a wireless node may receive an indication of a conditional handover configuration from a relay node. The conditional handover procedure may specify a set of trigger conditions for a conditional handover procedure supported by the relay node. The indication of the conditional handover may indicate a change of the cell from a first cell identifier to a second cell identifier. The wireless node may determine that a trigger condition of the set of trigger conditions is satisfied. The wireless node may then transmit, to the relay node, a random access message to initiate the conditional handover procedure for the cell from the first cell identifier to the second cell identifier.