MME SRVCC Handover for Voice Service Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reliability of voice services in LTE networks is compromised due to exceptions on the network side, such as interruptions or congestion between the evolved NodeB and the packet data network gateway, leading to disrupted voice communications.

Innovation Solution

A voice service handover method is implemented, where the Mobility Management Entity (MME) receives a connection exception message and determines the affected UE with a voice bearer on the LTE network, then sends an SRVCC handover request to the eNodeB to transfer the voice service from the LTE network to a circuit-switched CS network, ensuring continuity and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If voice service is transmitted over LTE network user plane connection, then service quality and speed are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to network-side exceptions such as interruptions or congestion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice service transmission speedVSAvoidvoice service reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches the voice service transmission path from LTE network to CS network based on real-time network condition detection. When the MME receives a connection exception message indicating LTE network failure, it automatically triggers handover to CS network, and when LTE network recovers, it can switch back, making the transmission path adaptive and dynamic rather than static

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The MME acts as an intermediary between the LTE network and CS network. It monitors the LTE network user plane connection status by receiving connection exception messages from network devices, determines the need for handover, and coordinates the voice service transition between the two networks, serving as a mediator that ensures seamless connectivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If SRVCC handover is implemented to switch from LTE to CS network, then voice service reliability is improved during network exceptions, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice service reliabilityVSAvoidhandover control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the handover control logic from the eNodeB and concentrates it in the MME. The MME independently determines whether handover is needed by analyzing connection exception messages, and then instructs the eNodeB to execute the handover. This separation simplifies the overall system by centralizing the decision-making function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service through automatic detection and self-triggered handover. The MME automatically detects LTE network exceptions by receiving connection exception messages and autonomously decides to initiate SRVCC handover without human intervention, making the reliability improvement mechanism self-activating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3236695B1Voice service switching method and device
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3236695B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3236695B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3236695B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a voice service handover method and a device, and relate to the communications field, so as to resolve a problem that reliability of a voice service of UE is reduced due to an exception that occurs on a network side of an LTE network. A specific solution is as follows: An MME determines that an exception occurs on a network side of an LTE network, where a voice bearer of target UE is established on the network side of the LTE network; and the MME sends, to an eNodeB, an SRVCC handover request message that carries an identifier of the target UE, so that the eNodeB hands over a voice service of the target UE from the LTE network to a CS network. The present invention is applied in a voice service handover process.