Conditional Handover Targeting with UE Radio Trajectory Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular communication networks lack an effective method to identify suitable target cells for conditional handover with a safe look-ahead time, relying on resource-intensive configurations and imprecise UE positioning, which hinders the timely and efficient initiation of handovers.

Innovation Solution

A method and management node that utilize UE radio resource measurements to assign radio locations to zones in a multidimensional radio space, update UE trajectories, and calculate handover probabilities to neighbor cells, enabling precise initiation of conditional handovers based on probability thresholds and individual UE characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If Conditional HandOver configuration is performed for all neighbor cells, then handover reliability is improved, but network resource consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary subset of neighbor cells that are likely to be target cells for Conditional HandOver, rather than configuring all neighbor cells. This is achieved by determining UE trajectory and identifying neighbor cells along the predicted path, thereby reducing network resource consumption while maintaining handover reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary determination of UE trajectory and pre-identifies potential target cells before handover is needed. By calculating the trajectory based on current position and movement direction, the system prepares the necessary handover configurations in advance, avoiding the need to configure all neighbor cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If precise UE positioning is performed continuously, then target cell prediction accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget cell prediction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial positioning by determining only the essential trajectory information (current position and movement direction) rather than continuous precise positioning. This partial action provides sufficient accuracy for predicting target cells while avoiding the excessive processing complexity of continuous high-precision positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary trajectory determination using available positioning information to pre-identify potential target cells. This preliminary action provides adequate prediction accuracy without requiring continuous complex positioning calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If existing ANR table is used for handover preparation, then system simplicity is maintained, but handover speed and robustness are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidhandover speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces preliminary trajectory-based target cell identification that works in conjunction with the existing ANR table. By pre-determining the UE trajectory and identifying likely target cells in advance, the system accelerates handover preparation while maintaining compatibility with the simple ANR table structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces trajectory information as an intermediary layer between the ANR table and handover execution. This intermediary provides direction-aware target cell selection, improving handover speed and robustness while the ANR table continues to provide the foundational neighbor cell information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4197231B1Method and apparatus for managing conditional handover of a user equipment
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4197231B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4197231B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4197231B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A computer implemented method (200) is disclosed for managing Conditional Handover of a UE in a cellular communication network. The method comprises receiving a report of radio resource measurements performed by a UE (210) and assigning a current radio location of the UE to a radio zone of the communication network on the basis of the contents of the report (220). A radio zone comprises a region of a multidimensional radio space over which the communication network extends that is defined by a particular combination of radio field characteristics (220a). Each cell of the communication network comprises a plurality of radio zones. The method further comprises updating, in a database, a trajectory of the UE through the radio space of the communication network with the radio zone to which the current radio location of the UE is assigned (230), and using the updated trajectory to calculate a probability of Handover of the UE to neighbor cells of the current serving cell of the UE (240). The method further comprises initiating a Conditional Handover procedure for Handover of the UE to neighbor cells for which the probability of Handover is above a first Handover threshold value (250).