Cell Handover MAC Reset for BSR and HARQ Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell handover methods in mobile communication systems result in service quality deterioration due to incomplete resetting of media access control (MAC) layer information, leading to disruptions in data transmission continuity.

Innovation Solution

A method for partial resetting of MAC layer information during cell handover, involving the cancellation of specific buffer status reports (BSRs) and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes based on configuration information of source and target cell groups, ensuring valid BSRs and HARQ processes are maintained in the target cell group.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complete resetting of MAC layer information is performed during cell handover, then service quality is improved, but data transmission continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice qualityVSAvoiddata transmission continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the MAC layer information resetting process by identifying and differentiating between valid BSRs/HARQ processes (those associated with target cell group logical channels) and invalid ones (those associated with source cell group only). This segmentation allows selective resetting, maintaining continuity for valid processes while clearing invalid ones, thus resolving the contradiction between service quality improvement and transmission continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by treating different BSRs and HARQ processes differently based on their association with source or target cell group logical channels. Valid processes associated with target cell group channels maintain their state locally, while invalid processes are reset. This localized differentiation ensures service quality improvement without disrupting overall data transmission continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of moving object

If partial resetting of MAC layer information is performed during cell handover, then data transmission continuity is improved, but service quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission continuityVSAvoidservice quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the terminal device determines the validity of each BSR and HARQ process based on configuration information from both source and target cell groups. This feedback loop ensures that only processes associated with target cell group logical channels are maintained, while others are reset. The feedback mechanism guarantees service quality by ensuring that maintained processes are indeed valid for the target cell group, thus resolving the contradiction between continuity and service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If all triggered BSRs are canceled during cell handover, then resource wastage is prevented, but protocol stack processing continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource wastageVSAvoidprotocol stack processing continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively canceling only those BSRs that are associated with source cell group logical channels, while maintaining BSRs associated with target cell group logical channels. This partial cancellation prevents resource wastage for invalid BSRs while preserving protocol stack processing continuity for valid ones, thus resolving the contradiction between preventing resource wastage and maintaining processing continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Loss of energy

If all HARQ process data packets are deleted during cell handover, then resource wastage is prevented, but data transmission continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource wastageVSAvoiddata transmission continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments HARQ processes into valid and invalid categories based on their association with target cell group logical channels. Data packets in valid HARQ processes (those associated with target cell group channels) are preserved, while data packets in invalid HARQ processes (those associated with source cell group only) are deleted. This segmentation prevents resource wastage for invalid processes while maintaining data transmission continuity for valid ones, resolving the contradiction between preventing resource wastage and maintaining transmission continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4657924A1Cell handover method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4657924A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4657924A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4657924A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a cell handover method and apparatus, and are applied to the communication field. The cell handover method includes: A terminal device receives a handover command from an access network device; based on configuration information of a source cell group and configuration information of a target cell group, cancels a triggered first buffer status report BSR and/or deletes a data packet corresponding to a first hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ process; and then performs handover to the target cell group based on the handover command. In embodiments of this application, a behavior of partially resetting information at a MAC layer by the terminal device can be specified, to improve continuity of data transmission during cell handover, so as to improve user experience.