Handover Selection Between Infrastructure and Relay Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Future wireless communications networks face challenges in efficiently supporting a wide range of devices with varying data traffic profiles, requiring improved handover procedures to maintain connectivity, especially with devices like low complexity 'Internet of Things' devices and high-resolution video displays.
Innovation Solution
A method for a communications device to receive conditions for handover from a wireless communications network, evaluating and initiating handover to either infrastructure equipment or relay communications devices based on signal quality and device speed, allowing selection between target infrastructure and relay devices for optimal connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional handover procedures are used, then connectivity is maintained for traditional devices, but future wireless networks cannot efficiently support a wide range of devices with different data traffic profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The handover procedure is made dynamic by allowing the communications device to selectively switch between two different handover modes: conventional handover to infrastructure equipment and relay-assisted handover to relay devices. The device evaluates conditions for both modes and dynamically selects the most appropriate one based on current network conditions, device capabilities, and traffic requirements, thereby achieving adaptability across diverse device types while maintaining reliable connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handover mechanism is designed with multi-functionality to support both traditional infrastructure-based handover and modern relay-assisted handover within a single unified procedure. This universal approach enables the system to handle various device types (from low-complexity IoT devices to high-resolution video displays) with different traffic profiles through a single versatile handover framework that can adapt its behavior based on specific requirements.
2Reliability
If handover to infrastructure equipment is used, then direct network access is achieved, but connectivity may be lost in areas with poor infrastructure coverage
Solution Approach 1:
Relay devices serve as intermediary nodes between communications devices and the core network infrastructure. When direct access to infrastructure equipment is unavailable or unreliable, the relay device acts as a mediator that forwards signals and data, extending network coverage to areas that would otherwise be unreachable. This intermediary approach maintains connection reliability while expanding the effective coverage area into previously unserved regions.
3Area of stationary object
If relay devices are introduced to extend coverage, then coverage area increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communications device performs self-service by autonomously evaluating handover conditions for both infrastructure equipment and relay devices, then independently selecting the most appropriate handover target without requiring complex centralized control. The device uses pre-configured criteria and real-time measurements to make its own handover decisions, which simplifies the overall system architecture by distributing the decision-making intelligence to the edge devices rather than requiring complex network-side coordination.
4Measurement precision
If multiple handover conditions are evaluated, then handover accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring handover evaluation criteria and thresholds before actual handover situations arise. The communications device is provided with advance information about available relay devices, their capabilities, and the conditions under which they should be selected. This preliminary preparation enables rapid real-time decision-making during actual handover events, as the device only needs to evaluate against pre-established criteria rather than making complex decisions from scratch, thus achieving both high accuracy and low latency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising receiving, by a communications device from a wireless communications network, one or more conditions for triggering a handover of the communications device to a target infrastructure equipment and one or more conditions for triggering a handover of the communications device to a target communications device configured to relay signals between the communications device and the wireless communications network. The method comprises evaluating the one or more conditions for triggering the handover to the target infrastructure equipment and the one or more conditions for triggering the handover to the target relay communications device. The method comprises initiating the handover to the target infrastructure equipment or the target relay communications device based on the evaluation of the one or more conditions for triggering the handover to the target infrastructure equipment and the one or more conditions for triggering the handover to the target relay communications device.