Mobile Receiver Handover Using 3D Signal Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in handover procedures due to inaccurate cell signal strength modeling and reliance on time-consuming signal scans, leading to suboptimal handover decisions and increased power consumption in mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving and decoding transmission parameter information to determine the availability and characteristics of nearby networks, using three-dimensional signal level models and bitmaps to improve handover accuracy and efficiency, and utilizing transmission parameter signaling to rapidly identify available networks and tune receivers accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional signal scan procedures are used to initialize receivers and perform handover decisions, then network availability can be determined, but the process takes considerable time (up to five minutes) and consumes excessive power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having transmitters pre-broadcast transmission parameter information (TPS data) containing network identification and availability details before receivers need to perform full signal scans. This allows receivers to obtain network availability information quickly without conducting time-consuming scan procedures, reducing initialization and handover time from minutes to seconds while maintaining reliable network detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential network availability and identification information from the complete signal scan process. Instead of performing full signal analysis, receivers decode only the TPS data packets broadcast by transmitters, which contain the critical information needed for handover decisions. This extraction approach eliminates unnecessary scanning steps while preserving the ability to determine network availability accurately
2Reliability
If conventional signal scan procedures are used to initialize receivers and perform handover decisions, then network availability can be determined, but power consumption in mobile receivers increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Transmitters perform the energy-intensive task of generating and broadcasting transmission parameter information in advance, allowing mobile receivers to passively acquire network availability data with minimal power expenditure. The receiver's power consumption is reduced because it only needs to decode brief TPS data packets rather than conducting prolonged active signal scans
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver extracts only the essential network availability information from broadcast TPS data, avoiding the energy-intensive process of performing complete signal scans. This selective extraction of critical parameters (network ID, availability status) from the broadcast information significantly reduces the receiver's power consumption while maintaining reliable network detection capability
3Ease of operation
If handover decisions are based on location, cell coverage area and terminal movement vector information with square area modeling, then handover can be performed, but the modeling is inaccurate and leads to suboptimal decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the modeling parameters from simplified square area assumptions to three-dimensional signal level models that incorporate actual transmitter locations, antenna characteristics, and propagation conditions. This parameter transformation enables more accurate prediction of signal strength and coverage areas, leading to optimized handover decisions that account for real-world electromagnetic propagation rather than geometric abstractions
Data Source
AI summary
A digital video broadcast network comprises a content provider and several transmitters. Each transmitter may transmit more than one signal, different signals having different frequencies, multiplexes and the like and relating to different network types. An integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) is mobile in the area around the transmitters. As well as transmitting service information as part of a network information table on a data layer, the transmitters provide in their output signals transmitter parameter information as TPS data on a physical layer. This TPS information includes information identifying whether there are other networks available, and preferably the number of other networks. Transmission parameters relating to the other networks are included in an other_network_descriptor, forming part of an NIT actual or a BAT, or alternatively in an NIT_other. This information is used by the IRD in signal scan. Using the described broadcast signals, signal scan can be made more efficient, resulting in reduced power consumption and scanning time. IRDs may also receive free field three dimensional models of signal levels created for a group of cells. The models may be in the form of bitmaps and used during handover procedures.