Cellular Handover Parameter Adjustment for Rapid Link Deterioration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular communications networks, handovers are unreliable in environments where the link quality from the serving cell deteriorates rapidly, leading to a high rate of handover failures, which requires time-consuming and expensive manual optimization by network operators.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for automatically identifying situations of rapid link quality deterioration in user equipment devices and adjusting handover parameters in base stations to proactively initiate handovers, using measurement information to select target cells and adjust thresholds and timer values for more aggressive handover policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handover parameters are tuned to initiate handovers more readily (short timer values, low thresholds), then handover reliability improves in rapid deterioration environments, but unwanted signalling into the core network increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing cell-specific handover parameters rather than network-wide uniform parameters. Each cell can have customized handover thresholds, offset values, and timer settings tailored to its specific propagation environment. This allows aggressive handover parameters to be applied only in cells with rapid deterioration characteristics while maintaining conservative parameters in stable cells, thus improving reliability where needed without generating unnecessary signalling elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action through the handover preparation phase where the source base station establishes a radio resource control connection with the target base station before the actual handover executes. This preliminary setup includes pre-negotiating handover parameters and reserving resources, so that when rapid deterioration occurs, the handover can execute immediately without extensive last-minute signalling, thereby improving reliability while controlling signalling volume.
2Reliability
If manual optimization of handover parameters is performed through drive tests and parameter tuning, then handover reliability improves in problem areas, but time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic handover parameter optimization where the network system autonomously monitors handover performance metrics, identifies cells with reliability issues, and adjusts parameters without manual intervention. The system automatically performs functions that would otherwise require drive tests and manual tuning, including detecting rapid deterioration patterns, analyzing handover failure causes, and adjusting thresholds and timer values, thereby maintaining improved reliability while eliminating time-consuming manual optimization processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback through continuous monitoring of handover key performance indicators and automatic adjustment of parameters based on observed performance. The system collects data on handover success rates, radio link quality metrics, and failure patterns, then uses this feedback to dynamically optimize parameters. This closed-loop approach automatically identifies and resolves handover reliability issues without requiring manual drive tests or iterative parameter tuning by operators.
3Quantity of substance
If handover parameters are set conservatively to avoid unwanted signalling, then signalling volume decreases, but handover failures increase in rapid deterioration environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making handover parameters adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts handover thresholds, offsets, and timer values based on real-time radio conditions and historical performance data. In cells experiencing rapid deterioration, parameters automatically become more aggressive (lower thresholds, shorter timers) to ensure timely handovers, while in stable cells parameters remain conservative to minimize signalling. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing aggressive parameters only where and when they are actually needed.
Data Source
AI summary
In a basestation of a cellular communications network, steps are taken to identify at least one situation, in which a user equipment device is liable to experience a rapid deterioration in a quality of a link with the base station. Measurement information is collected, related to the radio conditions experienced by a user equipment device in said situation, and at least one handover parameter is automatically adjusted in the basestation based on the collected information.