Inter-Cell Mobility Signaling for Low-Latency Cell Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in optimizing inter-cell mobility, leading to increased latency and inefficiencies in switching between cells.
Innovation Solution
Implementing layer 1 (L1) and layer 2 (L2) signaling for inter-cell mobility, where a network node selects a deactivated cell based on UE measurements and communication parameters, and transmits an identifier and second communication parameter to the UE, enabling beam refinement before cell activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the UE performs beam refinement after cell activation, then the cell switching process is simpler, but the communication latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing beam refinement on the deactivated cell before activation. The network node provides TCI state indications for deactivated cells, allowing the UE to prepare beamforming parameters in advance. When cell activation occurs, the beam refinement is already complete or near-complete, significantly reducing the time required for inter-cell mobility and lowering communication latency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the network node manages multiple deactivated cells, then inter-cell mobility options increase, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential beamforming parameters (TCI states) needed for beam refinement and transmits them to the UE, while leaving other detailed cell configuration parameters to be retrieved only when needed. This selective extraction of information reduces signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to manage multiple deactivated cells for inter-cell mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node prepares and provides TCI state indications for multiple deactivated cells in advance, before the UE actually needs to switch to them. This preliminary provision of beamforming parameters allows the system to maintain multiple mobility options without incurring full signaling overhead for each potential cell, as the essential parameters are already available when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of this disclosure are directed to communications for reducing latency associated with cell mobility and switching activated cells. The techniques described herein relate to a network node configured to: select a deactivated cell based on at least one of a measurement report received from a user equipment (UE) or a first communication parameter, the deactivated cell being one of a plurality of cells within a cell set managed by the network node. The network node is also configured to transmit, to the UE via an activated cell of the cell set, a signal including: (i) an identifier of the deactivated cell, and (ii) a second communication parameter of the deactivated cell.