E-UTRAN Base Station Load Balancing via Dynamic Parameter Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Handover and cell reselection processes in mobile telecommunication networks can lead to fully utilized cells while others remain underutilized, causing inefficient use of radio resources, and can result in 'ping-pong' effects when mobile devices switch between E-UTRAN and other Radio Access Technology (RAT) cells.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where E-UTRAN base stations dynamically adjust handover and cell reselection parameters and communicate these changes to neighboring cells of different RATs to optimize load balancing, reducing repeated handovers and reselections by varying thresholds and hysteresis parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If handover and cell reselection parameters are dynamically changed to control load on E-UTRAN cell, then load balancing is improved, but ping-pong effect between E-UTRAN cell and other RAT cell occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload balancing efficiencyVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The E-UTRAN cell monitors its own load conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust handover and cell reselection parameters. When the E-UTRAN cell detects high load, it modifies parameters to discourage mobile devices from selecting this cell, thereby automatically balancing load across the network without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes handover and cell reselection parameters (such as thresholds and hysteresis values) based on the E-UTRAN cell's current load state. These parameter modifications directly influence mobile device behavior, causing devices to prefer alternative cells when the E-UTRAN cell is congested, thus achieving load balancing through parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If E-UTRAN cell changes handover and cell reselection parameters to reduce its load, then resource utilization is improved, but mobile devices repeatedly switch between E-UTRAN cell and other RAT cell

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidhandover time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The E-UTRAN cell proactively modifies handover and cell reselection parameters before mobile devices attempt to connect or handover to it. By pre-adjusting these parameters when load is detected, the system prevents unnecessary handover attempts and ping-pong effects before they occur, saving time and reducing signaling overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The E-UTRAN cell autonomously monitors its own load conditions and self-adjusts its handover and cell reselection parameters without external control. This self-service mechanism enables the cell to automatically optimize its resource utilization and prevent ping-pong effects, reducing the need for network-wide coordination and minimizing handover time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8954075B2Communications system

Publication Date: 2015.02.10 NEC CORP

AI summary

A mobile communications system is described in which an E-UTRAN base station dynamically changes its handover and/or its cell reselection parameters to control the load on the base station and which transmits a message to a non E-UTRAN neighboring cell, so that it can adapt its handover and/or its cell reselection parameters to avoid repeated handover and/or cell reselection of a mobile communications device between the non E-UTRAN cell and the E-UTRAN cell.