Cross-RAT Handover via Base Station Reference Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current handover technologies in wireless communication systems fail to effectively compare channel qualities between different radio access technologies (RATs), leading to suboptimal handovers between cellular networks and wireless local area networks (WLANs, resulting in potential connections to low-quality base stations and missed opportunities for better service quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for measuring and comparing channel qualities between different RATs, enabling terminals to perform handovers to access points (APs) or eNodeBs that provide optimal service by receiving configuration information including parameters such as trigger, persistence, event, hysteresis, and threshold values to determine the best network for handover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the terminal determines handover based only on AP signal strength, then the handover decision process is simple, but the service quality may be poor due to inability to compare channel qualities between different RATs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary that provides reference signal information to the terminal. This reference signal acts as a mediator enabling the terminal to measure and compare channel qualities of different RATs (cellular and Wi-Fi) without requiring complex terminal-side measurements of all possible parameters. The base station configures and provides the reference signal, which the terminal uses to determine handover decisions based on composite channel quality comparisons.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal scans all channels to find APs and base stations, then the terminal can discover all available networks, but the measurement and comparison process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the channel quality measurement function from the terminal and relocates it to the base station. The base station provides reference signal information that represents the channel quality, eliminating the need for the terminal to perform complex measurements across all channels. The terminal only needs to process the provided reference signal information to compare channel qualities, significantly reducing measurement complexity while maintaining comprehensive network discovery capability.
3Speed
If the terminal performs handover without considering channel quality comparison between RATs, then the handover execution is fast, but the terminal may connect to low-quality base stations or miss better service opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the base station provide reference signal information to the terminal before the handover decision is made. This allows the terminal to pre-calculate and compare channel qualities of different RATs in advance, having the handover decision ready when needed. The reference signal information is configured and provided beforehand, enabling fast execution of informed handover decisions without delaying the actual handover process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a device of a terminal in a wireless communication system can include at least one transceiver and at least one processor operationally coupled with at least one transceiver. At least one processor can receive configuration information from a first network node for a first radio access technology (RAT), measure a first quality for a first signal of the first RAT and a second quality for a second signal of a second RAT on the basis of the received configuration information, and determine, whether a handover to a second network for the second RAT is performed, on the basis of the measured first quality or the measured second quality. The configuration information can include parameters for the handover between the first RAT and the second RAT.