Intra-Cell Handover Gap Control for Lower NTN Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face significant signaling overhead during handover operations, particularly in Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) due to large cell sizes and frequent network device changes, leading to challenges in service continuity and inefficient resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

Wireless devices suspend communication with the network during a designated time period intended for handover, resuming it after the network device change is complete, thereby reducing unnecessary handover signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional handover signaling is performed during network device changes in NTN, then service continuity is maintained, but signaling overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary handover signaling messages from the communication protocol. By identifying that certain handover signaling is redundant when network device changes occur without configuration alterations, the solution eliminates these signaling exchanges while maintaining service continuity, directly reducing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of following the traditional approach where handover signaling is always performed during network device changes, the patent inverts the logic by suspending handover signaling when configuration remains unchanged. This inverted approach maintains reliability while reducing the quantity of signaling messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If handover signaling is performed frequently in NTN due to large cell sizes and frequent network device changes, then network device changes are managed, but system performance deteriorates due to signaling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork device change managementVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing handover signaling only when necessary - specifically when network device changes are accompanied by configuration alterations. By partially suspending handover signaling during changes without configuration modifications, the system maintains adaptability to network device changes while avoiding excessive signaling that would degrade system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If handover operations are performed in NTN scenarios, then network device changes are handled, but resource utilization becomes inefficient due to redundant signaling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork device change handlingVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of frequent network device changes in NTN into a benefit by recognizing that when configuration remains unchanged, the changes do not require handover signaling. This approach transforms what could be a source of inefficiency into an opportunity to reduce signaling overhead and improve resource utilization while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20260012869A1Intra-cell handover optimization

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 APPLE INC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to intra-cell Handover optimization. There provides a wireless device, comprising: at least one antenna; at least one radio coupled to the at least one antenna; and a processor coupled to the at least one radio; wherein the processor is configured to; acquire gap configuration information; stop communication between the wireless device and network side in a time gap indicated by the gap configuration information; and resume the communication between the wireless device and the network side after the time gap.