LTE Handover Target Cell Selection Using Virtual Channel Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE systems face challenges in ensuring service continuity during handovers, as they often select target cells based on signal strength, which may not support the user equipment's active channels, leading to potential service disruptions and inefficient resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method where a serving cell determines the virtual channels supported by neighboring cells and selects a target cell that supports at least one virtual channel of interest to the user equipment, modifying handover behavior to ensure continuity and reduce unnecessary signaling and battery consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If target cell selection is based on signal strength measurements, then handover speed is improved, but service continuity is deteriorated because the selected cell may not support the UE's active channels
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures channel support information in neighboring cells before handover occurs. This allows the UE to be handed over to a cell that already supports its active channels, ensuring service continuity while maintaining fast handover execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where channel support information is exchanged between cells and the network. This feedback enables intelligent selection of target cells that match the UE's channel requirements, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the UE performs RF measurements on all neighboring cells, then measurement accuracy is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes pre-configured channel support information from neighboring cells. This extracted information allows the UE to identify and measure only relevant cells that support its channels, eliminating unnecessary measurements and reducing battery consumption while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of measuring all neighboring cells, the UE performs partial measurements only on cells that are confirmed to support its active channels. This partial action approach reduces energy expenditure while achieving sufficient measurement accuracy for handover decisions.
3Device complexity
If the network selects any cell with strongest signal for handover, then resource utilization is simplified, but channel support compatibility is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures and maintains information about which channels are supported in each neighboring cell. This preliminary action creates a database that simplifies handover decisions by providing ready-made compatibility information, eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis while ensuring channel support compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces channel support information as an intermediary element between the handover decision mechanism and the actual handover execution. This intermediary enables simple signal-strength-based selection to be combined with channel compatibility requirements, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for selecting a target cell for handover of user equipment in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system are described. In accordance with the method, a serving cell: determines virtual channels supported by each of a plurality of neighboring cells; determines a set of virtual channels of interest to a UE; selects a subset of the neighboring cells, which supports at least one virtual channel in the set of virtual channels of interest to the UE; modifies handover behavior, and uses results of the modified handover behavior to select one of the neighboring cells, from the subset, as a target cell for handover of the UE.