Context-Specific Handover Parameter Customization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current handover configurations in 5G communication systems result in sub-optimal performance and service experience due to slow or incorrect handovers, as UEs often stay connected to weaker cells for longer periods or are handed over to less optimal neighboring cells, leading to degraded performance and service interruptions.

Innovation Solution

Customization of handover parameters based on dynamic characterization of the device's radio environment, using a network entity with a processor to determine initial and updated mobility management configurations for UEs, including white lists, measurement reporting configurations, and quality of service metrics, to trigger handovers optimally.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If common handover configuration settings are used for all UEs, then system complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but handover performance deteriorates resulting in slow or sub-optimal handovers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover configuration managementVSAvoidhandover performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by customizing handover parameters (such as measurement thresholds, white lists, and reporting configurations) according to each UE's specific context including location, speed, and service requirements. This allows different parts of the system (different UEs) to have optimized configurations tailored to their local conditions rather than using uniform settings for all users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making handover configurations adaptive and changeable based on real-time UE context. The network entity dynamically adjusts mobility management configurations as UEs move through different environments and conditions, rather than using static pre-configured parameters. This enables the system to respond to changing conditions and optimize handover performance continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If larger hysteresis or time-to-trigger values are used to prevent ping-pong handovers, then handover stability is improved, but handover speed deteriorates causing UEs to stay connected to weaker cells longer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover stabilityVSAvoidhandover execution speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting handover parameters such as hysteresis margins and time-to-trigger values based on UE context. Instead of using fixed conservative values for all UEs, the system modifies these parameters adaptively - using smaller values for UEs in stable conditions and larger values when needed - thereby achieving both fast and stable handovers appropriate to each situation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making handover parameters adaptive rather than static. The network entity continuously monitors UE conditions and adjusts hysteresis and time-to-trigger values in real-time based on factors like UE speed, location, and signal conditions, allowing the system to optimize both stability and speed according to current operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive white lists with many cells are provided to UEs for handover evaluation, then handover accuracy is improved, but detection time increases causing slower handover response

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover target selection accuracyVSAvoidhandover detection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies taking out by selectively extracting and providing only the most relevant candidate cells in the white list based on UE context. Instead of providing comprehensive lists of all possible neighbor cells, the system filters and prioritizes cells that are most likely to be suitable handover targets for the specific UE's location, speed, and service requirements, thereby reducing the evaluation burden while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by customizing the white list content according to each UE's specific context. The network entity generates differentiated white lists tailored to individual UEs based on their location, mobility pattern, and service requirements, providing locally optimized candidate cell sets rather than using a universal comprehensive list for all UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If context-specific mobility management configurations are implemented for each UE, then handover performance is improved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover performanceVSAvoidmobility management configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling UEs to autonomously perform handover evaluations and selections based on context-specific parameters provided by the network. The UE uses the customized mobility management configurations (white lists, thresholds, reporting configurations) to independently assess candidate cells and execute handovers without requiring complex network-side control for each individual handover decision, thereby distributing intelligence and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4011123B1Context-specific customization of handover parameters using characterization of a device's radio environment
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4011123B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4011123B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4011123B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for managing mobility in a wireless communication system includes determining an initial mobility management configuration for a user equipment (UE) in a serving cell based on cell configuration information. The method also includes identifying a current context of the UE based on reports received from the UE. The method further includes determining an updated mobility management configuration for the UE based on the current context of the UE. Additionally, the method includes transmitting a configuration message to update the UE with the updated mobility management configuration. The method also includes determining whether to trigger a handover of the UE based on comparison of the serving cell and neighbor cell measurements with thresholds. The method further includes triggering the handover based on the updated mobility management configuration.