Dynamic Access Point Grouping for Wireless Handover Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous networks, especially in ultra-dense and device-to-device communication scenarios, user equipment (UE) frequently needs to acquire and handover network environments due to dynamic changes in access points, leading to adverse user experience and increased signaling load in the core network.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic access point grouping method that allows for the dynamic refreshing and coordination of access point groups (APGs) in a UE-centered manner, reducing the need for frequent handovers and signaling load by dynamically managing and reallocating APs based on UE requirements and network conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the coverage area of each cell is reduced and the number of deployed cells is increased to solve data traffic explosion, then the frequency multiplexing and capacity are increased, but the UE needs to perform frequent handover operations even at low speed or stationary state, seriously adversely affecting user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple access points (APs) into an AP group (APG) that functions as a single logical cell. Multiple physical APs are combined to provide unified coverage and service to UEs, eliminating the need for frequent handovers between individual APs while maintaining the capacity benefits of dense deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an AP group (APG) as an intermediary structure between individual APs and UEs. The APG acts as a mediator that manages multiple APs collectively, providing a stable network interface to UEs and reducing handover frequency while enabling flexible resource allocation across the merged APs.
2Productivity
If the coverage area of each cell is reduced and the number of deployed cells is increased, then the frequency multiplexing is increased, but the signaling load for the core network increases due to frequent handover operations
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple APs into an AP group, the patent reduces the number of individual handover signaling events that reach the core network. The APG presents a unified identity to UEs, consolidating signaling operations and reducing the burden on core network elements while maintaining the spectral efficiency benefits of dense AP deployment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic AP changes are implemented to optimize network services, then the network can adapt to changing conditions, but the UE needs to frequently acquire network environment information, adversely affecting user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary grouping of APs into APGs before UE attachment. The network pre-configures and maintains AP group information, so when a UE attaches or moves, it receives network environment information once for the APG rather than needing to re-acquire information for each individual AP change, reducing acquisition time while maintaining adaptability.
4Reliability
If frequent handover operations are performed to track moving UEs, then the network can maintain connection quality, but the user experience is seriously adversely affected and core network signaling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple APs into an AP group that provides continuous coverage for moving UEs. By treating the APG as a single logical entity, the system can maintain connection quality through the merged AP coverage area without triggering frequent handover operations, thereby improving user experience while preserving connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamic AP grouping method and a dynamic AP grouping device are provided. It is able to provide services to UE in a UE-centered manner as compared with a traditional mode where the services are provided to the UE in a network-centered manner, thereby to prevent the UE from frequently acquiring a network environment, and provide the data transmission service to the UE at a low speed or in a stationary state through APGs. In addition, during the movement of the UE, it is able to transmit the services to the UE through dynamic refresh of APs in the APGs and coordination of the APs in the APG. It is able to reduce the number of handover operations made by the UE, and perform the handover operation in the APG not through a core network, thereby to reduce signaling load of a core network.