Dual Connectivity Handover for Seamless Wireless Transition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems experience service interruptions during handovers between base stations due to the 'make-after-break' or 'break-before-make' handover methods, where connectivity with the source cell is dropped before establishing connection with the target cell, leading to delays in synchronization and random access procedures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'make-before-break' handover technique that allows User Equipment (UE) to maintain connectivity with both the source and target base stations during the handover process by allocating a portion of UE resources for initiating the handover procedure with the target base station while maintaining connectivity with the source station until the handover is complete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional handover methods (make-after-break or break-before-make) are used, then device complexity is reduced, but service interruption occurs during handover
Solution Approach 1:
The UE establishes connection with the target base station before releasing connection with the source base station. The handover preparation phase includes synchronizing to the target cell, performing random access procedure, and receiving handover command in advance, ensuring seamless transition without service interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The network controller acts as an intermediary to coordinate the handover process. It manages the dual connectivity state, allocates resources for both source and target connections, and orchestrates the timing of connection release to ensure smooth handover execution.
2Reliability
If UE maintains connectivity with both source and target BS during handover, then service interruption is eliminated, but UE resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UE's resources are segmented into distinct pools: one set of resources maintains connection with the source base station while another set establishes connection with the target base station. This segmentation allows independent management of each connection's resources, simplifying the overall resource management during dual connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE dynamically allocates and switches resources between source and target base stations based on handover phase. During preparation, resources are allocated to target; during execution, resources are switched from source to target. This dynamic resource management optimizes connectivity while controlling complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are provided for seamless handover of a User Equipment (UE) between base stations using dual connectivity. The UE receives an indication of a handover of the UE from a source Base Station (BS) to a target BS, wherein the source BS and the target BS are associated with the same Radio Access Technology (RAT). The UE allocates a portion of UE resources for initiating a handover procedure with the target BS, while maintaining connectivity with the source BS. The UE terminates connectivity with the source BS after completion of the handover procedure, wherein the UE is connected to both the source BS and the target BS during at least a portion of the handover procedure.