Inter-cell Soft Handover Method for UMTS Heterogeneous Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In UMTS heterogeneous networks, the difference between uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) coverage boundaries leads to UL resource waste and interference, reducing macro cell performance and causing DL interference in the soft handover area, which existing solutions like Cell Individual Offset (CIO) regulation fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A method for inter-cell soft handover that includes sending control messages with specific intra-frequency measurement events and parameters to User Equipment (UE), redefining the soft handover process based on three measured event reports (Event1a, Event1d, and Event1b) to optimize handover operations, avoiding resource waste and interference by adjusting reporting ranges and delay parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If CIO is regulated to enable the handover area to cover the unbalance area, then UL interference to low-power cells is reduced, but DL interference of the macro cell to UE in the soft handover area is caused

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUL interference to low-power cellsVSAvoidDL interference of macro cell to UE
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement event parameters (Event1a, Event1d, Event1b) including reporting ranges and delay parameters to optimize handover timing and thresholds. This adjusts the handover area boundaries to better align with UL/DL coverage boundaries, reducing both UL interference to low-power cells and DL interference from macro cell without requiring CIO regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If soft handover area is expanded to cover UL/DL unbalance area, then coverage is improved, but UL processing resources of macro cell are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoft handover area coverageVSAvoidUL processing resources of macro cell
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic handover parameter adjustment based on measured event reports. By using multiple events (Event1a for cell addition, Event1d for cell deletion, Event1b for active set update) with different reporting ranges and delay parameters, the system dynamically optimizes the soft handover area to match actual UL/DL coverage conditions, preventing resource waste while maintaining coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If conventional soft handover process is used, then handover simplicity is maintained, but resource waste and interference problems occur in heterogeneous networks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover process simplicityVSAvoidnetwork performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the handover process into distinct measurement events (Event1a, Event1d, Event1b) with specific triggering conditions and actions. This segmentation allows precise control over handover timing and conditions, enabling the system to maintain simplicity while avoiding resource waste and interference by only initiating handover when appropriate measurement criteria are met.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3079402B1Inter-cell soft handover method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 ZTE CORP
  • EP3079402B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3079402B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3079402B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a method and implementation device for inter-cell soft handover. The method for inter-cell soft handover includes that: a control message at least including multiple events of intra-frequency measurement control and their corresponding parameters is sent to User Equipment (UE); measured event reports, reported by the UE, of the multiple events are received; and a soft handover process is executed according to the multiple measured event reports. The soft handover process is redefined on the basis of three soft handover event measurement reports, so that waste of a processing resource of a macro cell in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) heterogeneous network is avoided, UL processing performance of the network is improved, and an lub transmission bandwidth of the macro cell is saved; and in addition, DL interference of the macro cell caused by CIO regulation is avoided.