Dual-Connectivity Handover With Parallel Secondary-Base-Station Addition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing handover procedures for user equipment (UE) with dual connectivity to primary and secondary base stations, particularly in improving mobility and cell management.

Innovation Solution

The UE performs a handover procedure to a secondary base station in parallel with an addition procedure, where the start time of the addition procedure occurs before the end time of the handover procedure, allowing for simultaneous execution of both processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If handover procedure and addition procedure are performed sequentially, then each procedure can be completed thoroughly, but the total time required for base station transition increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure completion reliabilityVSAvoidhandover transition time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The addition procedure for the secondary base station is initiated before the handover procedure is fully completed. By performing the addition procedure in advance (preliminary action), the system reduces the total transition time while ensuring both procedures complete successfully through proper resource allocation and timing coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The handover procedure and addition procedure are executed in parallel rather than sequentially, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the transition process. This parallel execution eliminates idle time between procedures while ensuring both complete reliably through coordinated resource management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Productivity

If handover procedure and addition procedure are performed in parallel, then the overall transition time is reduced, but the complexity of coordinating both procedures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover operation efficiencyVSAvoidprocedure coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The parallel handover and addition procedures are segmented into distinct phases with clearly defined start and end times. By dividing the procedures into manageable segments (handover preparation, addition preparation, simultaneous execution, completion), the system reduces coordination complexity while maintaining high productivity through parallel execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Preparation phases are established before the parallel execution begins, where resources are allocated and procedures are configured in advance. This preliminary action reduces the complexity during the actual parallel execution by pre-establishing the coordination framework and resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the addition procedure starts before the handover procedure ends, then transition efficiency improves, but the risk of resource conflicts between procedures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase station transition speedVSAvoidresource allocation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms to monitor the status of both handover and addition procedures in real-time. This feedback allows dynamic adjustment of resource allocation during parallel execution, ensuring that resource conflicts are detected and resolved while maintaining high transition speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Resource allocation is predetermined and prepared in advance during the preparation phase, before parallel execution begins. This preliminary resource allocation reduces the risk of conflicts during simultaneous procedure execution by establishing clear resource ownership and access rules beforehand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12432781B2Handover in dual connectivity to a primary base station and a secondary base station

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 APPLE INC

AI summary

Some aspects of this disclosure relate to apparatuses and methods for implementing techniques for a user equipment (UE) having dual connectivity. The UE can communicate with a first primary base station in a first primary cell (PCell) and a second primary base station in a second PCell. The UE has dual connectivity in the second PCell using a first wireless carrier to communicate with the second primary base station and a second wireless carrier to communicate with a secondary base station in a primary secondary cell (PSCell). The UE receives a message from the first primary base station to perform a handover procedure. The UE performs the handover procedure according to the received message, and further perform an addition procedure for the secondary base station in parallel with the handover procedure. A start time of the addition procedure can be before an end time of the handover procedure.