Dynamic Handover Load Threshold for Multi-Network QoS

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current handover mechanisms between GSM and UMTS radio networks often result in suboptimal performance due to rigid load threshold criteria, leading to reduced Quality of Service (QoS) as they prioritize one network over another, even if the best-suited network is available, causing potential degradation of existing communications.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that dynamically adjusts the handover load threshold based on the received handover preference message, allowing for flexible handover decisions by considering the load indication and preference indication, enabling handovers to be accepted at higher load levels for preferred networks and rejected for non-preferred networks, thus optimizing resource allocation and QoS.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If rigid load threshold criteria are used for handover decisions, then network stability is improved, but handover performance and Quality of Service deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidhandover performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the handover load threshold adjustable rather than fixed. The threshold is dynamically modified based on handover preference indications received from the core network, allowing the system to adapt between rigid (stable) and flexible (performance-optimized) modes depending on service requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of load threshold values based on handover preference indications. Different threshold configurations are applied depending on whether the service prefers the current or target radio network, transforming a static parameter into a conditional variable that optimizes handover outcomes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If handover load threshold is increased to accept more handovers, then productivity is improved, but Quality of Service deteriorates due to network overload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover acceptance rateVSAvoidQuality of Service
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by setting different load thresholds for different services based on their handover preferences. Rather than using a uniform threshold for all handovers, the system tailors the threshold to each service's requirements, allowing aggressive thresholds for services preferring the target network while maintaining conservative thresholds for others

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the load threshold based on real-time handover preference indications, enabling the network to be more productive (accept more handovers) when services prefer the target network, while maintaining QoS by reverting to conservative thresholds when preferences indicate otherwise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If handover decisions are made based solely on current network load, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover decision complexityVSAvoidhandover flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by receiving handover preference indications from the core network before actual handover execution. This advance information allows the target radio network to pre-configure appropriate load thresholds, simplifying the decision-making process while improving adaptability to service-specific requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from handover preference indications to adjust handover decisions. The core network provides feedback about service preferences, which the target network uses to modify its acceptance criteria, creating a closed-loop system that balances simplicity with adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2014114B1Handover between radio networks
Publication Date: 2013.09.11 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP2014114B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2014114B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2014114B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication system (100) comprises a first radio network supporting a first air interface standard and a second radio network supporting a second air interface standard. The second radio network comprises a network interface (401) which receives a handover request message from the first radio network to hand over a remote station (101) to the second network. A handover preference processor (405) receives a handover preference message for the remote station (101). The handover preference message comprises a preference indication for a radio network for the remote station (101). A load processor (409) determines a load indication for the second radio network and a load threshold processor (407) determines a handover load threshold for the remote station in response to the preference indication. A handover evaluation processor (403) determines whether to accept the handover in response to a comparison of the load indication and the handover load threshold. The invention may allow improved handovers in multi-air interface standard communication systems.