Mobile Network Handover Failure Detection Across Multi-Vendor Cells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods struggle to effectively detect and manage handover failures in 5G networks, particularly in multi-technology and multi-vendor environments, leading to increased service degradation and network congestion due to the distributed nature of eNBs and lack of standardized information exchange.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing data plane and control plane measurements to detect handover failures across multiple vendors' eNBs, without requiring additional interfaces, by analyzing S11 and SGi/S5/S8 interfaces to identify and categorize handover types, enabling network operators to adjust parameters and reduce failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods are used for handover detection, then network operators can maintain basic network operation, but handover failures remain undetected leading to service degradation and network congestion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover failure detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a correlation module as an intermediary component that receives data from both control plane and data plane, processes it, and generates handover failure detection results. This mediator approach allows the system to detect handover failures by analyzing the correlation between control plane signaling and data plane traffic patterns, achieving reliable detection without requiring complex direct monitoring of all handover parameters across the entire network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/equipment-based handover monitoring with an information-processing approach. Instead of relying on complex network equipment modifications or additional hardware interfaces, the system uses software-based analysis of existing data plane and control plane information to detect handover failures, substituting physical complexity with computational analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If additional interfaces are added for handover detection, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity and implementation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover failure detection precisionVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the correlation module multi-functional by enabling it to perform handover failure detection using existing standard interfaces (S11, SGi/S5/S8) without requiring dedicated detection interfaces. The same interfaces used for normal network operation are leveraged to also serve the detection function, allowing one module to handle multiple tasks: processing control plane data, analyzing data plane traffic, and generating detection results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service detection by utilizing the normal operational data flows (control plane and data plane) to detect handover failures. Instead of requiring external monitoring systems or additional interfaces, the network itself generates the detection information through its own operational data, and the correlation module analyzes this self-generated information to identify failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If handover failures are not detected and managed, then network operators avoid complex management systems, but service quality deteriorates and network congestion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service qualityVSAvoidmanagement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the correlation module continuously monitors control plane and data plane data, compares actual handover performance against expected patterns, and generates detection results that can trigger management actions. This feedback loop allows the system to identify handover failures in real-time and provide information for corrective actions, improving service quality through continuous monitoring and analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis by continuously collecting and correlating control plane and data plane data before handover failures fully manifest as service degradation. By analyzing the correlation between signaling and traffic patterns in advance, the system can detect potential failures early and provide warning information, allowing network operators to take preventive actions before service quality severely deteriorates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3840458B1System and method for handover management in mobile networks
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 SANDVINE CORP
  • EP3840458B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3840458B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3840458B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A method for managing handovers on a network including: determining neighboring cells within the network; mapping the neighboring cells; analyzing handover data between the mapped cells, wherein the handover data may be retrieved from network messaging; determining for each handover whether the handover is successful or unsuccessful based on the handover data; and reporting unsuccessful handovers to an operator for the network, a system for managing handovers on a network, the system including: a relation module configured to determine neighboring cells within the network and map the neighboring cells; an analysis module configured to analyzing handover data between the mapped cells, wherein the handover data may be retrieved from network messaging and determine for each handover whether the handover is successful or unsuccessful based on the handover data; and a reporting module configured to report unsuccessful handovers to an operator for the network.