HeNB Handover via Enhanced Cell Global Identifier
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The limited number of tracking area identifiers (TAIs) available in cellular networks poses a challenge for managing handovers between macro eNBs and Home eNBs (HeNBs), leading to resource taxation and inefficient TAI management, especially in scenarios where HeNBs are deployed in larger numbers with unpredictable geographic coverage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of alternative information, as per 3GPP standards, facilitates handover control without relying on the TAI of eNBs or HeNBs, using enhanced cell global identifiers (ECGIs) and HeNB gateways to manage handovers, thereby reducing the dependency on dedicated TAI resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tracking area identifiers (TAIs) are used to manage handovers between eNBs and HeNBs, then handover management is enabled, but the limited number of TAIs (65535 per provider) causes resource taxation and inefficient TAI management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by allowing HeNBs to share the same TAI as overlaying eNBs, making the TAI identifier serve multiple functions and multiple base stations simultaneously. This eliminates the need for dedicated TAIs for HeNBs, thereby resolving the contradiction between enabling handover management and the limited quantity of available TAIs.
2Ease of operation
If dedicated TAIs are allocated to HeNBs, then handover to HeNBs is facilitated, but TAI planning complexity and overhead signaling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the TAI allocation for HeNBs with the existing eNB TAI structure. By allowing HeNBs to use the same TAI as overlaying eNBs, the system combines the identification resources, eliminating the need for separate TAI planning for HeNBs and reducing overhead signaling complexity while maintaining ease of handover operation.
3Productivity
If HeNBs are deployed in larger numbers with unpredictable geographic coverage, then network coverage and capacity are improved, but TAI resource exhaustion and management inefficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables universal TAI usage across eNBs and HeNBs, allowing a single TAI to identify multiple base stations including both eNBs and HeNBs. This multi-functional approach to TAI allocation allows extensive HeNB deployment to improve network coverage and capacity without exhausting the limited pool of 65535 TAI resources per provider.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are disclosed that facilitate using enhanced cell global identifier to effectively manage the handover of cellular communication services for a mobile device in an LTE network from a source, or serving, evolved Node B (eNB) to a target home evolved Node B (HeNB). The increased use of HeNBs to provide service to mobile devices creates issues for the management of tracking area identifiers associated with the eNB and HeNBs and may increase tracking area update (TAU) signaling in the cellular network. The handover of a mobile device moving from an eNB coverage area to a neighboring HeNB coverage area is managed without use of a tracking area identifier by using enhanced cell global identifiers assigned to the respective HeNB. The following provides examples for minimizing the burden on the network devices to manage the administration of TAIs and that may reduce TAU signaling in the cellular network.