Micro-Base Station Handover Using Access ID Lists

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently and transparently handover wireless communications between micro-base stations as traffic conditions or base station capabilities change rapidly, especially in densely deployed 5G networks, requiring seamless and efficient management of mobile device communications without modifying the devices.

Innovation Solution

The system enables micro-base stations to initiate and coordinate handovers independently, using access IDs to transfer communications seamlessly between base stations, allowing for transparent handover of downlink and uplink communications, and utilizing a controller to monitor and manage network traffic conditions for balanced traffic distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If micro-base stations are densely deployed to increase network capacity, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but handover management complexity and device modification requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidhandover management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that centrally manages handover decisions for multiple micro-base stations. The controller receives handover requests from user equipment, determines the target base station, and coordinates the handover process, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual base stations and user devices while maintaining efficient handover management in densely deployed networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional handover procedures are used requiring device participation, then handover can be performed, but transparency and seamless handover are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover transparencyVSAvoiddevice involvement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the handover decision-making function from the user device and concentrates it in the controller. The user device simply sends a handover request indicating its preferred target base station, while the controller performs the actual handover decision and coordination. This extraction enables transparent handover where the device is unaware of the complex handover process, achieving seamless handover without requiring device participation in decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If third-party session control is implemented, then handover coordination is improved, but network complexity and modification requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover coordinationVSAvoidnetwork modification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the session control functionality with the existing base station and controller infrastructure. The controller, which already manages resource allocation and base station coordination, also handles handover session control. This merging eliminates the need for separate third-party session control entities, reducing network complexity while maintaining effective handover coordination through the integrated controller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3560239B1Handover in 5g microcellular
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3560239B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3560239B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3560239B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A first micro-base station may be configured initiate communications with a plurality of mobile devices, where each mobile device is associated with an access ID stored in the first micro-base station. The access ID may be a MAC ID. The first micro-base station may determine that a handover trigger has occurred. The first micro-base station may handover communications with at least one of the mobile devices to a second micro-base station by sending a list of access IDs to the second micro-base station. The access IDs sent by the first micro-base station may be a subset of the access IDs of mobile devices communicating with the first micro-base station. The second micro-base station receiving the list may then takeover communications with the at least one mobile device using the access IDs in the list. The handover may be transparent to the mobile devices that are handed over.