CSG Cell Handover Filtering via Serving Base Station Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current closed subscriber group (CSG) base stations face challenges with high processing loads due to handling non-authorized handover requests and inefficient user authorization, leading to performance issues and increased operational costs.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where radio terminals are informed not to report signal quality measurements from CSG base stations by default, with authorized terminals receiving specific instructions to include these measurements in their reports, and using a central node to manage and filter CSG cell authorization lists to reduce unnecessary signaling and processing loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If CSG base stations handle all handover requests from radio terminals, then handover service coverage is improved, but processing load on CSG base stations increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover service coverageVSAvoidprocessing load on CSG base station
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The serving base station acts as an intermediary that filters handover requests before they reach the CSG base station. It determines whether radio terminals are authorized to access the CSG cell and only forwards authorized handover requests, thereby reducing the processing load on the CSG base station while maintaining comprehensive handover service coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If CSG base stations process all handover requests including non-authorized terminals, then handover capability is improved, but handover performance deteriorates due to rejected requests

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover capabilityVSAvoidhandover performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The serving base station performs preliminary authorization checking before forwarding handover requests to the CSG base station. By determining in advance whether a radio terminal is authorized to access the CSG cell and filtering out non-authorized requests, the system maintains full handover capability while improving handover performance by eliminating rejected requests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If all radio terminals report signal quality measurements from CSG base stations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but signaling load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal quality measurement accuracyVSAvoidsignaling load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different measurement reporting behaviors to different radio terminals based on their authorization status. Authorized terminals report signal quality measurements from CSG base stations, while non-authorized terminals do not report such measurements. This differentiated approach maintains measurement accuracy for authorized users while reducing overall signaling load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If CSG base stations accept handover requests from all radio terminals, then access service coverage is improved, but user authorization management becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess service coverageVSAvoidauthorization management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The serving base station serves as an intermediary that manages user authorization centrally. It maintains authorization information for radio terminals and determines whether each terminal is authorized to access the CSG cell, thereby simplifying authorization management at the CSG base station while maintaining comprehensive access service coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2179614B1Closed subscriber group cell handover
Publication Date: 2019.01.16 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2179614B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2179614B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2179614B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A radio terminal connection may be handed over from a serving base station associated with a serving cell to a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell served by a CSG base station in which only radio terminals belonging to the CSG are permitted to access and receive service from the CSG cell. Radio terminals in the serving cell are generally informed not to report to the serving base station signal quality measurements of signals transmitted by CSG base stations. But if a radio terminal in the serving cell is authorized to access and receive service from the CSG cell, then that radio terminal is instructed to report to the serving base station signal quality measurements of signals transmitted by the CSG base station. Based on that report, the connection may be handed over to the CSG base station. A central node provides a CSG authorization list identifying CSG authorized radio terminals to the serving base station when a listed CSG cell is a neighboring cell which the radio terminal is authorized to access.