Base Station Handover Control Using Load Information Confidence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inconsistent or incompatible signaling mechanisms and load calculation methods between base stations from different vendors can lead to failed load information exchange, making it difficult for serving base stations to accurately assess target base station load and decide on handover in wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A method where a first base station requests load information from a second base station, determines if the information was received, and assigns a confidence level based on the response to decide whether to hand over a served WCD, considering vendor compatibility and response reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If base stations from different vendors exchange load information using their respective signaling mechanisms, then interoperability between multi-vendor systems is improved, but inconsistencies in signaling mechanisms and load calculation methods cause failed information exchange and reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary confidence level mechanism that mediates between base stations from different vendors. The serving base station assigns a confidence level to load information from the target base station based on vendor compatibility and response reliability. This intermediary confidence assessment allows the system to handle inconsistencies between different vendors' signaling mechanisms while maintaining reliable handover decisions, effectively resolving the contradiction between interoperability and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the serving base station requests load information from the target base station, then handover decision accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the confidence level assignment specific to each target base station and each load information request. Rather than uniformly treating all load information requests, the serving base station evaluates vendor compatibility and response reliability for each specific target base station, assigning appropriate confidence levels locally. This allows the system to request load information selectively with higher accuracy where needed while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead in cases where confidence levels indicate lower priority.
3Reliability
If the serving base station assigns a confidence level to load information, then handover decision reliability is improved, but the complexity of the handover control mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing vendor compatibility relationships and confidence level criteria before handover decisions are needed. The serving base station maintains information about which vendors are compatible and what confidence levels to assign based on vendor combinations and response patterns. This preliminary preparation reduces the complexity during actual handover operations, as the confidence level assignment becomes a lookup and evaluation process rather than a complex real-time calculation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system to control WCD handover. A first base station will request load information from a second base station, and, based at least in part on a result of that request, the first base station will control handover of the WCD. The first base station may decline to hand over the WCD to the second base station in response to determining that the first base station did not responsively receive load information from the second base station. Further, the first base station may determine a level of confidence in load information of the second base station based on whether the first base station received load information of the second base station and based on whether the first and second base stations are provided by the same vendor, and the first base station may then use that level of confidence as a basis to control handover of the WCD.