Conditional Handover Cell Selection for RAN Slice Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current conditional handover (CHO) mechanisms in wireless networks fail to consider radio access network (RAN) slice information and bandwidth parameters, leading to service degradation and reduced throughput during handovers, especially when multiple candidate cells satisfy the handover conditions simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method allows user equipment (UE) to select a second cell for handover based on RAN slice information or bandwidth parameters, ensuring service continuity and higher throughput by supporting the RAN slice used by the UE or selecting cells with higher bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE selects a candidate target cell based only on signal strength/quality parameters in the current CHO mechanism, then the handover execution is simple and fast, but the service continuity and QOS are degraded when multiple candidate cells satisfy the condition simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the cell selection criteria from only signal strength/quality parameters to include additional parameters such as RAN slice information and bandwidth parameters. This allows the UE to differentiate between multiple candidate cells that satisfy the CHO condition and select the most appropriate one for maintaining service continuity and QOS.
Solution Approach 2:
The network pre-configures the UE with multiple candidate target cells and their associated parameters (RAN slice information, bandwidth parameters) before the handover is triggered. This preliminary provision of information enables the UE to make informed selection decisions when multiple candidates satisfy the CHO condition.
2Productivity
If the UE selects a candidate target cell with lower bandwidth based on signal strength parameters, then the handover execution is straightforward, but the data throughput and QOS are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces bandwidth parameters as an additional criterion for cell selection alongside signal strength parameters. This enables the UE to identify and select candidate cells with higher bandwidth capabilities, thereby improving data throughput and QOS while maintaining a relatively simple selection process.
3Reliability
If the current CHO mechanism only considers signal strength/quality parameters, then the implementation is simple, but the RAN slice-specific service continuity is lost when candidate cells do not support the required slice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates RAN slice information parameters into the cell selection criteria. This allows the UE to evaluate whether candidate cells support the RAN slices required for ongoing services and prioritize or select cells that maintain slice service continuity, preventing service degradation during handover.
Solution Approach 2:
RAN slice information acts as an intermediary parameter that mediates between the signal quality assessment and the final cell selection decision. It provides additional filtering and guidance to ensure that the selected cell supports the required services, thereby maintaining service continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling mobility of a User Equipment (UE) during conditional handover in a wireless network is provided. The method includes receiving a CHO configuration from a first cell in the wireless network. The method includes initiating a data 5 transmission using a RAN slice(s) with the first cell. The method includes detects a plurality of candidate neighbor cells of the first cell satisfying the CHO configuration. The method includes determines whether a second cell supports the RAN slice(s) from the plurality of the candidate neighbor cells. The method includes 10 executing a CHO request to the second cell to continue the data transmission over the one RAN slice(s).