Early Cellular Offloading Without Dedicated Measurement Reports
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment (UE) experiences connectivity issues and degraded data throughput due to delayed handovers from one cellular technology generation to another, often resulting in dropped calls or poor performance when the received signal quality from the serving cell is poor and network loading prevents handovers to neighbor cells.
Innovation Solution
The wireless network proactively offloads UE from a fifth-generation (5G) cell to a fourth-generation (4G) cell based on received signal measurements and determines that a handover to a neighbor 5G cell will not be performed, thereby triggering an early offload to 4G, potentially preventing call drops and improving user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE repeatedly sends A3 event report messages requesting handover to a neighbor cell, then the handover request is made, but the handover may not occur due to network loading constraints, resulting in delayed offloading and degraded user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary evaluation of handover feasibility before the UE commits to repeated handover requests. By assessing neighbor cell loading conditions and other constraints in advance, the network can proactively trigger offloading to alternative technologies (e.g., switching from 5G to 4G) before the UE experiences connectivity degradation, thus avoiding the time loss associated with repeated failed handover attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node acts as an intermediary between the UE's handover requests and the actual handover execution. It monitors both the UE's measurement reports and the neighbor cell's loading conditions, then mediates the decision-making process by determining whether to approve handover or trigger alternative offloading mechanisms, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining handover reliability and preventing time loss.
2Reliability
If the network waits for A2 event report to trigger offloading from 5G to 4G, then the offloading decision is made, but this follows A3 event reports by a considerable length of time, potentially causing call drops
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary assessment of offloading needs by monitoring A3 event reports (handover requests) in advance. When it determines that a handover to a neighbor cell will not be performed due to loading constraints, it proactively triggers offloading to 4G immediately, rather than waiting for the subsequent A2 event report. This preliminary action prevents call drops by initiating offloading before the UE loses connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node uses feedback from A3 event reports (which indicate UE perception of poor serving cell signal quality) to proactively trigger offloading. By interpreting the A3 report as an early warning signal and combining it with knowledge of handover constraints, the network creates a feedback loop that triggers offloading earlier than the traditional A2 report mechanism, thus maintaining call continuity.
3Reliability
If the UE remains on the serving cell with poor signal quality, then connectivity is maintained, but data throughput suffers due to lower modulation and coding schemes and high bit error rates requiring retransmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The network node serves as an intermediary that monitors both UE connectivity status and data throughput conditions. When it detects that the UE is experiencing poor signal quality on the serving cell (through A3 event reports indicating neighbor cell superiority) and determines handover is not feasible, it mediates by triggering offloading to 4G, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable connectivity and preserving data throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the wireless connection by transitioning the UE from 5G to 4G technology. This parameter change (technology generation switch) is triggered proactively when the network determines handover is not possible, allowing the UE to maintain connectivity while potentially achieving better data throughput on the 4G network where modulation and coding schemes are optimized for the current signal conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Solutions for early cellular offloading include: receiving, at a node of a wireless network, from a user equipment (UE), a first message (e.g., an A3, A5, B1, or B2 event report) containing information regarding a serving cell of a first wireless technology generation and information regarding a neighbor cell of the first wireless technology generation (e.g., reference signal receive power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) measurement for fifth generation cellular technology (5G)); determining that a handover to the neighbor cell will not be performed; and based on at least the information regarding the serving cell and determining that the handover to the neighbor cell will not be performed, triggering an offload from the serving cell to a cell of a second wireless technology generation (e.g., fourth generation cellular technology (4G)).