Conditional Handover for Wireless Relay Backhaul Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless backhaul links in cellular networks face issues such as reduced data rates and high link failure probabilities due to weak signals at the edge of service areas, necessitating reliable and robust methods for maintaining communication.
Innovation Solution
A wireless node and method that utilize conditional handover configurations, where a wireless node receives a reconfiguration message with triggering conditions and a candidate target cell configuration, and a notification message representing radio conditions, to determine and execute a handover based on these conditions, ensuring seamless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If relay nodes are used to expand coverage area, then service area coverage is improved, but link failure probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements conditional handover by pre-configuring multiple candidate target cells and their corresponding handover conditions before handover is needed. When a backhaul link failure occurs, the relay node can immediately execute the pre-prepared handover to a suitable target cell, eliminating the need for cell search and configuration during failure recovery. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by ensuring rapid failover that maintains reliability while preserving expanded coverage areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes multiple candidate target cells with predefined handover conditions as a buffer against backhaul link failures. These pre-configured alternatives act as a cushion, ensuring that when a relay node's backhaul link fails, there are already suitable target cells ready for immediate handover. This beforehand cushioning maintains service reliability across the expanded coverage area without requiring real-time cell search during failures.
2Device complexity
If manual handover management is used, then handover control is simplified, but handover execution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables relay nodes to autonomously monitor their own backhaul link quality and automatically execute handover decisions based on pre-configured conditions without requiring manual intervention or complex real-time network control. The relay node independently evaluates measurement reports against stored thresholds and triggers handover autonomously when conditions are met. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by simplifying control while achieving rapid handover execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures handover conditions, measurement thresholds, and candidate target cell information in the relay node before handover is needed. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time negotiations and configurations during actual handover execution. The relay node simply compares current measurements against pre-stored conditions and executes the predetermined handover, achieving both simplicity and speed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cell search and configuration are performed during handover, then handover adaptability is improved, but service interruption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs cell search, measurement, and configuration evaluation in advance, storing multiple candidate target cells with their measured parameters and suitability assessments before handover is triggered. When handover becomes necessary, the relay node already has pre-evaluated target cells ready for immediate selection and execution. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by maintaining adaptability through pre-stored candidate information while eliminating time-consuming real-time cell search during handover execution.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless node that communicates over a radio interface with a wireless access node of a radio access network (RAN) through an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, the wireless node comprising: receiver circuitry configured to: receive from the wireless access node a reconfiguration message comprising a conditional handover configuration, the conditional handover configuration comprising a triggering condition and a configuration of a candidate target cell, the triggering condition comprising at least one threshold value; receive from the IAB node a notification message comprising information representing a radio condition measured on a path between the IAB node and the wireless access node, and; processor circuitry configured to perform, based on the triggering condition and the information, a handover using the configuration of the candidate target cell.