Handover Signaling for Multi-Connectivity Capability Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NSA networking, existing handover mechanisms are unaware whether a candidate base station supports LTE-NR multi-connectivity, leading to potential failure in providing high data rate services during handovers.
Innovation Solution
A method for exchanging LTE-NR multi-connectivity capability information between source and candidate base stations through handover request and acknowledge messages, allowing the selection of a suitable target base station capable of providing multi-connectivity services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the source base station selects a candidate base station based on signal quality and data rate support without checking multi-connectivity capability, then the handover process is simple and fast, but the target base station may not support LTE-NR multi-connectivity services
Solution Approach 1:
The candidate base station includes its multi-connectivity capability information in the handover request acknowledge message before the source base station makes the final handover decision. This preliminary provision of capability information allows the source base station to verify whether the candidate supports multi-connectivity services before completing the handover, ensuring service availability without adding complex separate verification procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-connectivity capability information is merged into the existing handover request acknowledge message that is already part of the standard handover procedure. By combining the capability indication with the existing signaling message rather than creating a separate verification mechanism, the solution ensures reliable capability detection while avoiding additional signaling complexity
2Reliability
If the source base station checks multi-connectivity capability of candidate base stations during handover, then LTE-NR multi-connectivity service availability is ensured, but the handover signaling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The candidate base station prepares and includes its multi-connectivity capability information in the handover request acknowledge message before the source base station completes the handover decision. This preliminary inclusion ensures that the capability information is available when needed for the handover decision, preventing information loss while avoiding repeated exchanges
Solution Approach 2:
The handover request acknowledge message serves multiple functions: it confirms the handover request, provides admission control information, and now also conveys multi-connectivity capability information. By making this existing message multi-functional, the solution ensures complete capability information exchange without adding separate dedicated signaling messages
Data Source
AI summary
A handover method, information exchange method, device and computer readable storage medium are provided. In some embodiments, a first network device may acquire multi-connectivity capability information of a candidate second network device during a handover process, so that the first network device may select, based on the multi-connectivity capability information, a candidate second network device capable of providing an multi-connectivity service as a second network device.