Handover Link Selection Using Channel Quality and Loading Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current handover procedures in cellular wireless networks primarily consider channel quality when selecting a new wireless link for mobile stations, neglecting link loading, which can lead to network performance degradation and unnecessary handovers due to overloaded links.
Innovation Solution
A method where base stations evaluate and prioritize wireless links based on both channel-quality metrics and loading metrics, using linear functions and threshold criteria to select the optimal link for handover, ensuring balanced quality and resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handover selection is based only on channel quality, then mobile station can maintain good signal quality, but network performance degrades due to overloaded links
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the handover selection parameter from considering only channel quality to considering both channel quality and link loading metrics. The base station determines a channel-quality metric and a wireless-link loading metric for each available link, then applies a linear function combining both parameters to select the optimal target link, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining signal quality and preserving network performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the base station continuously monitor and determine loading metrics for wireless links, then use this feedback information to influence handover decisions. The linear function incorporates real-time loading conditions to prevent mobile stations from being handed over to overloaded links, thus maintaining network performance while ensuring reliable communication
2Productivity
If handover decisions consider both channel quality and loading metrics, then network efficiency improves, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent manages calculation complexity by using a linear function to combine channel-quality and loading metrics, which is computationally simpler than more complex optimization algorithms. This approach achieves network efficiency improvement through balanced parameter consideration while keeping the computational burden manageable for base station processors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using a simplified linear combination of metrics rather than exhaustive optimization. The base station determines key metrics (channel quality and loading) and applies a straightforward linear function, which provides sufficient network efficiency improvement without requiring excessive computational resources or complex algorithms
3Ease of operation
If mobile station selects links based on limited channel quality information, then selection process is simple, but unnecessary handovers occur due to ignoring link loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the base station acts as a mediator between the mobile station and the handover decision. The base station determines both channel-quality and loading metrics, applies the linear function to evaluate target links, and makes the final handover decision based on this combined assessment, thereby preventing unnecessary handovers while maintaining operational simplicity for the mobile station
Data Source
AI summary
A base station may decide to initiate a handover of a communication with a mobile station from a first wireless link to a new wireless link and identify one or more wireless links for the handover. For each identified wireless link, the base station may then determine a channel-quality metric, a wireless-link loading metric, and perhaps a coverage-area loading metric. In turn, the base station may then select the new wireless link based on the channel-quality metric and one or both of the wireless-link loading metric and the coverage-area loading metric. For example, the base station may apply a linear function that includes as variables the channel-quality metric and the wireless-link loading metric, and the base station may select the identified wireless link that best satisfies this function. The base station may then facilitate the handover of the communication from the first wireless link to the selected new wireless link.