Micro Cell Access Method Reducing Handover Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications networks, frequent inter-cell handovers lead to transmission interruptions and increased handover signaling, especially due to increased cell deployment density and interference, resulting in poor user experience and service disruptions.

Innovation Solution

Configuring micro cells that provide service only to a terminal device or group, maintaining connections based on configuration information, and minimizing handovers by using sector scanning and beam training processes to optimize cell configuration and reduce interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional handover procedures are used for inter-cell mobility, then terminal devices can be handed over between cells, but transmission interruption occurs and handover signaling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinter-cell mobilityVSAvoidtransmission continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cell coverage area into multiple sectors, each sector served by a separate transmission point. This allows the terminal device to maintain connections with multiple sectors simultaneously, avoiding the need for handover when moving between sectors within the same cell, thus eliminating transmission interruption while maintaining mobility adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple transmission points into a single logical cell, allowing terminal devices to access services from multiple physical locations through one logical connection. This combination approach enables seamless service continuity as devices move between transmission points without triggering handover procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional handover procedures are used for inter-cell mobility, then terminal devices can be handed over between cells, but handover signaling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinter-cell mobilityVSAvoidhandover signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting cell coverage into sectors with dedicated transmission points, the patent eliminates the need for handover signaling when terminals move between sectors. The segmentation creates independent service areas that can be accessed without inter-cell handover procedures, significantly reducing signaling overhead while preserving mobility functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If cell deployment density increases to improve coverage, then service coverage is enhanced, but inter-cell interference increases and handover failure rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverageVSAvoidinter-cell interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network into multiple transmission points with dedicated sectors, allowing dense deployment without proportional increase in interference. Each transmission point serves specific sectors, and the segmentation enables better interference management by isolating transmission sources, thus allowing higher deployment density while controlling interference levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning specific transmission characteristics to different sectors and transmission points. Each sector can be optimized independently with appropriate beamforming and power control, allowing dense deployment while managing interference locally rather than globally, thus improving coverage without proportionally increasing interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Area of stationary object

If cell deployment density increases to improve coverage, then service coverage is enhanced, but handover procedure failure due to radio link failure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverageVSAvoidhandover success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting coverage into sectors served by dedicated transmission points, the patent enables terminals to maintain stable connections within sectors without frequent handovers. This segmentation reduces exposure to radio link failures that occur during handover transitions, thereby improving handover success rates while maintaining enhanced coverage through dense deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3370453B1Access method, device, and system
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3370453B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3370453B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3370453B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides an access method, an apparatus, and a system. The access method includes: configuring, by a network device, at least one micro cell for the terminal device or a terminal device group in which the terminal device is located, where the micro cell provides a service for only the terminal device or the terminal device group; and maintaining, by the network device, connection(s) between the micro cell and the terminal device based on configuration information of the micro cell after the terminal device accesses the micro cell. In the access method, the terminal device can access the micro cell that provides a service for only the terminal device, and the network device maintains the connection between the micro cell and the UE based on the configuration information of the micro cell after the terminal device accesses the micro cell. Therefore, unlike the prior art, it is ensured that frequent inter-cell handover for various reasons is not required after the terminal device accesses the micro cell, service continuity is ensured, and a large amount of measurement and handover signaling is reduced.