Hyper Cell Mobility Management via Uplink Signal Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hotspot areas with dense small cell deployments, existing mobility management techniques face challenges such as high measurement requirements for user equipment (UE), timely handover difficulties, and excessive air interface signaling, leading to failed handovers and resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A communication method for hyper cells, where a radio access network controller allocates two sets of transmission points (TPs) for UE, with one set measuring uplink reference signals and the other set performing data communication, allowing the network to continuously update the data communication TP set based on measurement reports, reducing the UE's measurement burden and air interface signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE performs measurement and reporting in dense small cell deployments, then handover can be performed, but measurement capability requirement increases and handover may fail due to timely issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional measurement approach by having the network measure uplink reference signals from UE instead of UE measuring downlink signals. This inversion reduces UE measurement complexity while maintaining handover reliability, as the network has sufficient capability to perform measurements on uplink signals from multiple TPs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces TPs as intermediaries that measure uplink reference signals and provide measurement reports to the network controller. This intermediary approach allows distributed measurement capability across multiple TPs, reducing the burden on UE while ensuring reliable handover decisions based on comprehensive measurement data.
2Reliability
If UE performs measurement and reporting in dense small cell deployments, then handover can be performed, but air interface signaling resources are consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the air interface between UE and network by having TPs perform local measurements of uplink reference signals. This extraction eliminates the need for extensive measurement reporting signaling over the air interface, as measurements are obtained locally at TPs and only essential handover decisions require air interface communication.
3Reliability
If traditional mobility management is used in hotspot areas, then service continuity can be maintained, but handover may fail due to small cell coverage area and UE movement speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having TPs continuously measure uplink reference signals and maintain measurement information in advance. When handover is needed, the network controller can immediately make handover decisions based on pre-collected measurement data, eliminating the delay associated with real-time measurement and reporting in traditional systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a communication method and apparatus applied to a hyper cell. The method includes: sending, by UE, an uplink reference signal; measuring, by a TP in the hyper cell, the uplink reference signal sent by the UE; and updating, by a radio access network controller based on a measurement report from the TP, a TP set that provides a communications service for the UE. According to the embodiments of the present invention, UE load and difficulty in mobility management in a hotspot area are reduced.