Master UE Grouping for Service Handover in Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face challenges in managing service hand-outs for user equipment (UE) due to delays in determining the target cell for service handovers, leading to potential service failures and degraded network performance, especially in dynamic small cell ad-hoc networks.

Innovation Solution

The system groups UE into clusters based on proximity and selects a master UE to perform inter-frequency and inter-RAT measurements, allowing follower UEs to rely on the master's measurements for service handovers, thereby reducing the need for individual UE measurements and minimizing delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If individual UE measurements are performed for service handovers, then measurement precision is improved, but measurement overhead and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice handover target determination accuracyVSAvoidservice handover delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges measurement activities by having a master UE perform measurements on behalf of multiple follower UEs. The master UE's measurement results are shared with follower UEs, eliminating the need for each follower UE to perform separate measurements. This combining approach maintains sufficient measurement accuracy for handover decisions while dramatically reducing the total measurement time and overhead across the group of UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The master UE performs self-service by autonomously conducting measurements and providing results to follower UEs without requiring each follower UE to independently perform measurements. This self-service mechanism reduces the overall measurement burden on the network while still enabling accurate service handover decisions for all UEs in the group.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If service hand-out target is determined quickly, then service handover reliability is improved, but measurement accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice handout reliabilityVSAvoidservice handover target measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The master UE performs measurements in advance and shares results with follower UEs before service handover decisions are made. This preliminary measurement action allows follower UEs to make informed handover decisions quickly without needing to perform their own time-consuming measurements, thus maintaining both reliability and speed of service handover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The master UE acts as an intermediary that performs measurements and provides measurement results to follower UEs. This intermediary role enables follower UEs to make accurate service handover decisions without directly performing measurements themselves, balancing measurement accuracy with rapid decision-making capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If UE grouping is implemented, then measurement overhead is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement overheadVSAvoidUE grouping management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments UEs into groups with a master UE and follower UEs. This segmentation allows measurement activities to be distributed and coordinated efficiently, reducing overall measurement overhead while the complexity of group management is localized to the master UE and network controller, rather than affecting all UEs equally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3435704B1System and method to facilitate service hand-outs using user equipment groups in a network environment
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP3435704B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3435704B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3435704B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include grouping a plurality of user equipment served by a serving cell radio into one or more groups based on an approximate location of each of the plurality of user equipment and a proximity of each of the plurality of user equipment in relation to each other; selecting a master user equipment for each group; receiving inter-frequency measurement information or inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) measurement information associated with one or more neighboring cell radios; receiving a first service request for a first user equipment of a particular group; and selecting a particular neighboring cell radio for a service hand-out of the first user equipment based, at least in part, on the first service request and inter-frequency measurement information or inter-RAT measurement information received from a particular master user equipment for the particular group.