Master Base Station Handover Coordination for Dual Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current handover technologies in small cell environments with dual connectivity between macro and small cells face challenges in maintaining seamless communication due to the need for ideal backhaul connections, which are not always feasible, especially when macro and small cells are configured by individual Base Stations, leading to unsupported mobility of User Equipment (UE) with simultaneous connections.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that enable a User Equipment (UE) to configure and reconfigure radio bearers during handover by determining handover events, transmitting handover preparation information, and receiving messages from target Base Stations, allowing the UE to maintain connectivity through dual connectivity with multiple Base Stations, even with non-ideal backhaul conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dual connectivity is configured with individual Base Stations for macro and small cells, then communication capacity and speed are improved, but handover mobility is lost and communication seamlessness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Master Base Station as an intermediary that coordinates handover operations between the UE and multiple Small Base Stations. The Master BS receives handover requests, manages the handover process, and sends control messages to both the UE and target Small BSs, enabling seamless mobility while maintaining dual connectivity architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary handover preparation by having the Master BS send Handover Preparation Information to the target Small BS before actual handover execution. This includes pre-configuring radio resource configuration information and bearer settings, allowing the target BS to be ready to immediately service the UE upon handover completion.
2Speed
If dual connectivity is configured with individual Base Stations, then high speed communication is achieved, but ideal backhaul connection requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control plane functions of multiple Small Base Stations into a single Master Base Station. The Master BS handles RRC connections, handover decisions, and coordination with the UE, while Small BSs focus on data transmission. This consolidation reduces backhaul complexity by eliminating the need for complex inter-BS coordination protocols.
3Reliability
If handover is executed in dual connectivity environment, then mobility is maintained, but radio bearer configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts radio bearer configuration management from the individual Small BSs and centralizes it in the Master BS. The Master BS determines which bearers to maintain, modify, or release during handover and sends consolidated configuration instructions to the UE, simplifying the overall configuration process despite the complexity of maintaining multiple connections.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a handover technique, for supporting mobility of a terminal configuring a dual connectivity with multiple base stations in a small cell environment. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling handover of a terminal, by a first base station configuring a dual connectivity with the terminal. The method may include determining handover of the terminal, transmitting, to a target base station, handover preparation information including radio resource configuration information of a cell associated with a second base station, receiving, from the target base station, a handover message including radio resource configuration information of a cell associated with the target base station, and transmitting an upper layer message included in the handover message to the terminal.