Terminal Cell Handover Triggering via DCI for Lower Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cell handover processes in existing technologies suffer from long latency and lack flexibility due to the need for explicit RRC reconfiguration signaling from the network device.

Innovation Solution

The terminal determines cell handover trigger conditions based on DCI indicators, allowing for explicit or implicit instructions, thereby reducing the need for network-side RRC reconfiguration and enhancing system flexibility and reducing latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If explicit RRC reconfiguration signaling is used for cell handover, then handover reliability is improved, but handover latency increases and system flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidhandover latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the terminal with handover trigger conditions and target cell information through RRC signaling before the actual handover is needed. When the measured quality of the serving cell falls below the threshold, the terminal can immediately execute handover to the pre-configured target cell without waiting for real-time RRC reconfiguration, thus reducing handover latency while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the terminal to autonomously determine when handover is needed based on measured signal quality and pre-configured thresholds. The terminal independently monitors serving cell quality, compares it against threshold values, and triggers handover to target cells without requiring continuous network control or explicit handover commands, thereby reducing latency and improving system flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If explicit RRC reconfiguration signaling is used for cell handover, then handover reliability is improved, but system flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidsystem flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The network pre-configures multiple target cells with their respective quality thresholds and handover parameters through RRC signaling before the terminal needs to perform handover. This preliminary configuration allows the terminal to adapt to different handover scenarios (intra-frequency, inter-frequency, inter-RAT) without requiring real-time network intervention, thereby enhancing system flexibility while maintaining reliable handover execution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the terminal to adjust handover decisions based on real-time measured signal quality and changing network conditions. The terminal dynamically selects target cells from pre-configured lists based on current signal metrics, enabling flexible adaptation to varying radio environments without requiring explicit RRC reconfiguration for each handover scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4195767B1Cell handover method and terminal
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP4195767B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4195767B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a cell handover method and a terminal, resolve the problem that a cell handover process in the related art has a relatively long latency and is not flexible enough. The method includes: determining, by a terminal according to a downlink control information DCI indicator, whether a cell handover trigger condition is met; and The terminal performs a cell handover in a case that the cell handover trigger condition is met.