Cell Handover QoS Mapping Adaptation for Service Priority Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

When user equipment moves between cells with different QoS mappings, the handling of data flows can result in suboptimal user experiences due to changes in service priorities, leading to erratic network behavior and customer dissatisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for adapting QoS mapping in a cellular mobile communication system by detecting cell changes and aligning QoS parameters across cells, which may involve triggering QoS adaptation procedures in the core network or at the UE, using network functions or UE policies to ensure consistent service quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different QoS mappings are used in different cells, then each cell can optimize its own service handling according to local requirements, but user experience degrades when moving between cells due to changes in service priorities

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS mapping adaptabilityVSAvoidservice priority consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The QoS mapping is made dynamic by detecting cell change events and automatically adapting the mapping when a UE moves between cells with different QoS mappings. The system transitions from static per-cell mappings to a dynamic adaptive mapping that follows the UE across cell boundaries, resolving the contradiction between local optimization and global consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network detects cell changes and determines whether QoS mapping changes are required. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain consistent service priorities by detecting discrepancies and triggering appropriate adaptation actions, balancing local adaptability with global reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If QoS parameters are adapted upon cell change, then user experience consistency is improved, but signaling load and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience consistencyVSAvoidQoS adaptation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The QoS adaptation mechanism operates autonomously by detecting cell changes and automatically determining whether mapping adaptation is needed. The system serves itself by maintaining consistent QoS parameters without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving user experience consistency while managing complexity through automation rather than manual processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by focusing parameter changes specifically on QoS mappings only when cell changes occur and are actually required. This selective parameter change approach avoids unnecessary complexity by adapting QoS parameters conditionally rather than unconditionally, balancing consistency improvement with system complexity management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If QoS mapping adaptation is implemented in the core network, then centralized control and consistency are improved, but signaling load and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized QoS controlVSAvoidQoS adaptation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The core network performs preliminary actions by detecting cell changes and determining whether QoS mapping adaptation is needed before actual service delivery is affected. This advance detection and determination allows the system to prepare QoS parameter changes in advance, maintaining centralized control while minimizing the actual adaptation time impact on service delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4694078A1Method, computer program, and apparatus for adapting a quality-of-service mapping in a mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP4694078A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4694078A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4694078A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Examples relate to methods, computer programs, and apparatuses adapting a Quality-of-Service, QoS, mapping in a cellular mobile communication system. The method (10) is configured for adapting a Quality-of-Service, QoS, mapping in a cellular mobile communication system (400). The cellular mobile communication system (400) is configured to provide one or more services to user equipment (200), UE, based on one or more QoS flows. The method (10) comprises detecting (11) a cell change event of a UE (200) changing between a first radio cell and a second radio cell in the mobile communication system (400). The UE (200) is serviced by the first radio cell based on at least one QoS flow, wherein a QoS mapping used by or associated to the first radio cell is applied to the at least one QoS flow. The method (10) further comprises determining (12) whether the second radio cell uses a different QoS mapping than the first radio cell and in response to the QoS mapping of the second radio cell being different adapting (13) QoS parameters of the QoS flow of the UE (200) based on the QoS mapping of the second radio cell.