Dual Connectivity Handover with Secondary Base Station Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing dual connectivity scheme in 3GPP mobile communication systems faces challenges in optimizing handover procedures between master and secondary base stations, particularly in maintaining or changing secondary base station connections during handovers, which affects network efficiency and user equipment (UE) performance.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a series of handover procedures that allow the target base station to determine whether to maintain or change the secondary base station connection, using tunneling identifiers for direct or indirect data forwarding, and bearer type changes between master and secondary cell groups, optimizing data transfer paths based on signal quality and load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the existing dual connectivity scheme is used for handover procedures, then basic connectivity is maintained, but handover efficiency and network performance are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic decision-making in handover procedures by enabling the target base station to evaluate signal quality metrics (such as RSRP, RSRQ) and load conditions in real-time, then dynamically select between maintaining the existing secondary base station connection or establishing a new one. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing network conditions during handover, improving efficiency while maintaining connection stability through condition-based decision rules.
2Reliability
If secondary base station connections are maintained during handover, then connection stability is improved, but data forwarding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the state parameters of bearer configurations during handover by dynamically selecting between different bearer types (MCG bearer, SCG bearer, split bearer) based on signal quality and load conditions. This parameter change approach simplifies data forwarding complexity by transitioning to optimized bearer configurations that reduce forwarding requirements while maintaining connection stability, rather than keeping all possible forwarding paths active simultaneously.
3Productivity
If bearer types are changed during handover, then network performance is optimized, but handover procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes network performance by implementing systematic parameter changes in bearer configurations during handover. The target base station evaluates current network conditions and transitions bearers between different types (MCG, SCG, split) based on predefined criteria involving signal quality thresholds and load conditions. This structured parameter change approach achieves performance optimization while controlling procedure complexity through rule-based decision-making rather than ad-hoc configurations.
4Speed
If direct forwarding with tunneling identifiers is used, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but setup complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring tunneling identifiers and direct forwarding paths during the handover preparation phase. The target base station establishes the necessary forwarding parameters and tunneling configurations before the actual handover execution, enabling efficient direct data transfer from the source base station to the target base station without requiring complex runtime setup. This preliminary configuration reduces setup complexity during execution while maintaining high data transfer efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of controlling a handover procedure of a user terminal from a source master base station to a target master base station, the user terminal being connected to the source master base station and a secondary base station in accordance with a dual connectivity scheme, includes: transmitting, by the source master base station, a handover request to the target master base station; and receiving, by the source master base station, information related to necessity to change the secondary base station from the target master base station.