Handover Prohibition Timer for Ping-Pong Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication networks, frequent handovers between base stations can occur due to differences in decision criteria, estimation errors, and channel dynamics, leading to ping-pong handovers that result in poor user experience, increased control signaling overhead, and reduced spectral efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method that compares the decision criteria of intended handovers with previous handovers and uses timers and threshold values to determine whether to allow or prevent handovers, thereby preventing consecutive ping-pong handovers between base stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handover decisions are made based on signal quality metrics, then communication continuity is maintained, but frequent ping-pong handovers occur between base stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a handover prohibition timer that is activated before a handover decision can be executed. When a handover is detected, the timer is started and prevents subsequent handovers to the same base station within a predetermined time period. This preliminary preventive measure stops ping-pong handovers before they can occur, maintaining communication continuity while improving spectral efficiency by avoiding unnecessary handover signaling and resource reallocation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If handover decisions are made based on different metrics by base station and mobile station, then local optimization is achieved, but decision disagreements lead to ping-pong handovers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a timer mechanism that provides temporal feedback on handover decisions. The handover prohibition timer creates a feedback loop where recent handover history is taken into account when making new handover decisions. This feedback mechanism reconciles differences between base station and mobile station metrics by introducing a time-based consistency check, preventing ping-pong handovers while preserving local optimization capabilities.
3Device complexity
If mobile station initiates handovers independently, then messaging overhead is reduced, but control loss leads to frequent handovers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the handover control mechanism adaptive and flexible. The handover prohibition timer dynamically adjusts the effective handover decision based on recent history, allowing independent mobile station initiation while preventing control loss from causing ping-pong handovers. The timer creates a dynamic constraint that evolves with handover history, balancing autonomy with reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method and respective entities for avoiding handovers in a ping-pong manner in a communication network. The method comprises comparing, when a handover of a mobile station to a base station is intended, decision criteria of the intended handover with decision criteria of previous handovers of the mobile station to that base station, and deciding on allowing or preventing the intended handover based on the result of the comparison.