Coordinated SPS Resource Reservation for 5G Handover Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR Rel-15 solutions are insufficient to support Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) requirements, particularly in scenarios with high mobility and strict timing/jitter constraints, leading to potential handover failures due to resource allocation conflicts and collisions.
Innovation Solution
A method for coordinated semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) resource reservation across cells, which involves determining available SPS resources in target cells, ensuring seamless handovers by maintaining consistent SPS patterns with accurate timing information, and introducing conflict resolution procedures through Xn and E1/F1 interfaces to minimize resource conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current 5G NR Rel-15 solutions are used for handover, then basic communication continuity is maintained, but resource allocation conflicts and collisions occur leading to handover failures in high mobility TSN scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing resource availability checking in target cells before the handover is executed. The source gNB coordinates with target gNBs to reserve SPS resources in advance, ensuring that when handover occurs, the resources are already confirmed available, thus preventing handover failures due to resource conflicts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordination mechanism between source and target gNBs through the Xn interface. This intermediary coordination allows the source gNB to request and verify resource availability at target cells, acting as a mediator to resolve potential resource conflicts before handover execution.
2Productivity
If semi-persistent scheduling resources are allocated without coordination across cells, then resource allocation is simple and fast, but resource conflicts and collisions occur during handover
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs resource reservation and availability verification in advance before handover execution. By checking target cell resource availability through coordinated SPS reservation procedures, the system ensures reliable resource allocation while maintaining fast handover through pre-prepared resource configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the source gNB receives resource availability information from target gNBs before handover. This feedback allows the source gNB to make informed decisions about handover feasibility and select appropriate target cells with available resources, balancing speed and reliability.
3Reliability
If SPS resources are reconfigured after handover, then resource optimization is achieved, but timing jitter increases violating TSN requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring consistent SPS patterns and timing information in target cells before handover. This ensures that the UE can seamlessly continue using the same SPS resources without reconfiguration, maintaining precise timing requirements for TSN applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs copying by replicating the same SPS resource patterns and timing configurations from source to target cells. This copying approach ensures consistency across cell boundaries, allowing seamless handover without timing disruptions while maintaining TSN synchronization requirements.
4Ease of operation
If resource availability is not checked in target cells before handover, then handover procedure is simplified, but resource conflicts cause handover failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary resource coordination procedure between source and target gNBs that operates in the background. This intermediary mechanism checks resource availability through standardized Xn interface messages, maintaining procedural simplicity while ensuring reliable resource allocation through automated coordination.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an apparatus, said apparatus comprising means for, at a first network entity, determining that first resources scheduled for use by a first cell for communication with a user equipment are available at a second cell, receiving an indication from the user equipment to trigger handover from the first cell to the second cell and causing handover of the user equipment from the first cell to the second cell such that the second cell uses the first resources for communication with the user equipment.