Handover Control for Multi-Connectivity Services

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular communication networks, frequent handovers between macro and micro base stations disrupt user equipment connectivity, leading to inaccurate handovers due to the lack of knowledge among base stations about providing dual-connectivity services.

Innovation Solution

A method for acquiring and utilizing indication information to determine and request handovers to base stations that can provide multi-connectivity services, ensuring seamless transitions between macro and micro base stations by sending handover requests to target base stations that can offer dual or multi-connectivity services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If frequent handover is performed between macro and micro base stations to maintain coverage, then coverage continuity is improved, but handover accuracy deteriorates due to lack of knowledge about multi-connectivity capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage continuityVSAvoidhandover accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring indication information in base stations and user equipment that identifies which base stations support multi-connectivity services. This advance preparation allows the network to perform accurate handovers to base stations capable of providing dual-connectivity, resolving the contradiction between maintaining coverage continuity and ensuring handover accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If dual-connectivity service is implemented between macro and micro base stations, then service reliability is improved, but system complexity increases due to coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing specific indication information at local levels (in base stations and user equipment) that identifies multi-connectivity capabilities. This localized information structure allows dual-connectivity to be implemented selectively without requiring complex system-wide coordination, thus improving service reliability while controlling system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If base stations are made aware of multi-connectivity capabilities through indication information, then handover accuracy is improved, but information management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover accuracyVSAvoidinformation management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring indication information that identifies base stations capable of multi-connectivity services. This information is prepared in advance and stored in base stations and user equipment, enabling accurate handover decisions without requiring complex real-time information management during handover execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2999267B1Method for controlling handover of user equipment, base station, user equipment, and system
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2999267B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2999267B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2999267B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for controlling handover of user equipment, including: acquiring indication information used for controlling handover of user equipment, where the indication information is used for indicating a cell or base station that can provide a multi-connectivity service to the user equipment; determining, according to the indication information, from the cell or base station that can provide a multi-connectivity service to the user equipment, a target cell or a target base station for handover; and sending a handover request to a base station of the target cell or the target base station, so that the base station of the target cell or the target base station provides a connectivity service to the user equipment. Embodiments of the present invention further provide a corresponding base station, corresponding user equipment, and a corresponding system. By means of the technical solutions of the present invention, user equipment can be accurately handed over to a base station that provides a multi-connectivity service to the user equipment.