Handover Optimization Using Trainable Module for Cell Border Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication networks face challenges with abrupt handover failures at cell borders, particularly in LTE networks, where mobile terminals experience radio coverage holes and rapid handovers, leading to inefficient handover processes and reduced system performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a self-detection and self-optimization mechanism that uses a trainable software module or database to evaluate and optimize handovers by exchanging border location-based information between base stations, including signal strength measurements and UE history information, to identify problematic handover locations and reject unsuitable handovers, thereby selecting the best base station for maintaining a stable connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If handover is performed to target cell with strongest signal, then connection quality is improved, but rapid handover failures occur at cell borders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover success rateVSAvoidhandover control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The source base station performs preliminary evaluation of neighbor cells using a trained software module or database before executing handover. This pre-evaluation identifies cells that are likely to cause rapid handover failures, allowing the system to avoid selecting problematic target cells even if they have the strongest signal at the moment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from past handover outcomes to continuously improve future handover decisions. By analyzing whether previous handovers to specific cells resulted in rapid failures, the trained software module learns to avoid problematic cells, creating a closed-loop control system that improves reliability over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple neighbor cells are prepared as handover candidates, then handover flexibility is improved, but all preparations are cancelled when target confirms successful handover

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover candidate selectionVSAvoidhandover preparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple neighbor cells are pre-evaluated and ranked before handover execution. The trained software module prepares a prioritized list of candidate cells in advance, so when rapid handover failure occurs, the system can immediately switch to the next best candidate without重新启动 the entire evaluation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The handover candidate list is dynamically maintained and updated based on real-time conditions and historical performance. When a handover failure occurs, the system dynamically switches to alternative candidates from the pre-prepared list, making the handover process adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If UE history information is transmitted in handover request, then successive handover detection is improved, but abrupt handover failures at specific locations cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover history trackingVSAvoidcoverage hole impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds a spatial dimension to handover analysis by incorporating location information (such as GPS coordinates or base station triangulation data) alongside UE history information. This allows the trained software module to identify problematic geographic locations and avoid handovers to cells that cover those areas, detecting abrupt failures based on location patterns rather than just sequential handover counts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

A trained software module or database acts as an intermediary between raw handover data and decision-making. This intermediary processes both UE history information and location data, synthesizing them to identify patterns of abrupt failures at specific locations that would be invisible to simple successive handover detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If self-detection and self-optimization mechanism is implemented, then system performance is improved, but data usage increases for database or training

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem performanceVSAvoiddata usage for training
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements partial self-optimization by using a trained software module that can operate with limited training data initially, providing immediate improvement. The training process is incremental, using only the data necessary to achieve acceptable performance levels rather than requiring exhaustive training datasets, thus balancing productivity gain with data consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2244502B1Handover method
Publication Date: 2011.06.08 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP2244502B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2244502B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2244502B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to methods of using a trainable software module used in the handover procedure employing the location based information for the self optimization of wireless communication networks, in particular for the self optimization of cellular mobile networks. Embodiments of the invention address the problems of radio link failures and rapid handovers immediately after transferring a wireless appliance from one base station apparatus to the other at certain cell border locations by evaluating which base station apparatus a wireless appliance should have its wireless connection transferred to using either a database or a trainable software module.