Conditional Handover Preference Processing for Radio Link Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication networks face challenges in maintaining stable connections due to radio link or physical layer issues, such as beam failures and radio link failures, which can lead to service interruptions and increased service interruption times, especially in scenarios like IAB deployments where traditional handover procedures are not optimal.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a conditional handover (CHO) preference processing that prioritizes immediate handover to a candidate network area when radio link or physical layer issues are detected, skipping default recovery procedures and utilizing handover configuration information to select the best target cell based on predefined thresholds and timers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional handover procedures are used, then connection stability is maintained under normal conditions, but service interruption time increases when radio link or physical layer issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidservice interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by preparing handover configuration information and identifying candidate target network areas in advance, before radio link failures occur. When issues are detected, the handover can be executed immediately using pre-prepared information, significantly reducing service interruption time while maintaining connection stability under normal conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If default recovery procedures are executed, then connection stability is maintained, but handover execution is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidhandover execution speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts handover execution based on real-time connection conditions. When radio link or physical layer issues are detected, the system switches from normal handover procedures to accelerated conditional handover, prioritizing speed while maintaining reliability through conditional logic that ensures handover only occurs when appropriate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If conditional handover preference processing is implemented, then service interruption time is reduced, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice interruption timeVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by implementing conditional handover preference processing only in specific scenarios where radio link or physical layer issues are detected, rather than universally. This targeted approach reduces service interruption time when needed while minimizing additional processing complexity by avoiding unnecessary conditional checks during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3854140B1Communication connection control using conditional handover
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3854140B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3854140B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3854140B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for use by a communication element or function communicating in a first network area of a communication network, the first network area being controlled by first communication network control element or function, the apparatus comprising at least one processing circuitry, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least:to conduct a processing for a conditional handover procedure of the communication element or function served by the first communication network control element or function, to receive and process, in the processing for the conditional handover procedure, handover configuration information defining how the conditional handover procedure is to be executed at the communication element or function, wherein the handover configuration information includes instructions for the communication element or function, to determine whether a radio link or physical layer issue is present, and in case the presence of the radio link or physical layer issue for the communication connection to the first network area is determined, to conduct a conditional handover preference processing in which an execution of a conditional handover of the communication element or function to another network area is prioritized in comparison to other measures for keeping the communication element or function in connection with the communication network.