MME Handover Trigger for 5G Return Post Voice Call
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems do not efficiently transfer a 5G capable user equipment (UE) with a 5G subscription back to a 5G network after an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) voice call is terminated, resulting in the UE remaining connected to an LTE network until it initiates a registration request.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a mobility management entity that receives a voice call termination message, determines if the UE has a 5G subscription and capability, and sends a handover message to initiate a handover to the 5G network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the UE remains connected to the LTE network after voice call termination, then the network complexity is reduced and the UE can maintain a stable connection, but the UE cannot utilize its 5G capabilities efficiently and user experience is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The network side initiates a handover action before the UE would naturally need to re-register, using the voice call termination event as a trigger. The MME proactively sends a handover command to the eNodeB, which then executes the handover to 5G network before the UE loses service or needs to re-establish connection, thus maintaining 5G capability utilization without requiring complex UE-initiated registration procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing voice call termination signaling flow to automatically trigger the handover decision and execution. The MME leverages information already present in the delete bearer request message to determine whether to initiate handover, making the system self-activating based on network conditions without requiring external triggers or complex UE-negotiated procedures
2Speed
If the UE initiates a registration request to return to 5G network, then the UE can regain 5G capabilities, but there is a time delay and service interruption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The handover is initiated immediately upon detecting voice call termination, performing the network switch proactively before any service interruption occurs. The MME processes the delete bearer request and simultaneously determines handover eligibility, sending the handover command without waiting for UE-initiated registration, thus eliminating the time delay associated with UE-side registration procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system skips the traditional UE-initiated registration and network re-attachment procedures by directly executing a network-controlled handover. This bypasses multiple signaling rounds and processing delays that would otherwise occur during UE-initiated re-registration, rushing through the network switch in a single coordinated action triggered by voice call termination
3Ease of operation
If the system implements automatic handover to 5G network, then user experience is enhanced, but the device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing delete bearer request signaling message is used for dual purposes: both to terminate the voice call bearer and to trigger the handover decision. The MME extracts handover-relevant information from the same message that carries call termination information, making the existing signaling infrastructure serve multiple functions without adding dedicated handover-triggering mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The MME acts as an intermediary that consolidates the handover decision logic and coordinates the handover execution between the core network and the radio access network. By centralizing this function in the MME, the system avoids distributing complex handover control logic across multiple network elements, reducing overall system complexity while achieving seamless handover
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for providing transference of a user equipment to a 5G network when a voice call is terminated. The systems and method can include receiving, at a mobility management entity, a voice call termination message from a serving gateway, determining, by the mobility management entity, whether the user equipment includes a 5G subscription and 5G capability based on the voice call termination message, and providing, by the mobility management entity, a handover message to the user equipment to initiate a handover to the 5G network based on the determining of whether the user equipment includes the 5G subscription and 5G capability.