Mobile Device Hand-Off Using Air Interface Load Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices face challenges in efficiently hand-off between base stations due to variations in wireless signal strength and load indicators, leading to suboptimal communication performance.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communication device determines air interface metrics based on load indicators, signal quality, and priority to initiate a hand-off to a base station with superior performance characteristics, using a weighted equation that considers factors like communication loading, round trip delay, signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, and quality of service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile communication device uses traditional hand-off methods based solely on signal strength, then the hand-off process is simple, but the communication performance and network resource utilization are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for hand-off decision from solely signal strength to a composite metric including load indicator, signal strength, and other performance characteristics. This allows the system to evaluate multiple dimensions of base station performance simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between simple hand-off logic and optimal communication performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile communication device receives feedback information from base stations including load indicators and performance metrics. This feedback mechanism enables the device to make informed hand-off decisions based on real-time network conditions, improving communication performance while managing the complexity through structured information gathering and processing.
2Productivity
If the base station hands-off devices based on load indicator alone, then network resource utilization improves, but the hand-off decision lacks consideration for communication quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple evaluation criteria including load indicator, signal strength, and other performance characteristics into a unified hand-off decision metric. This combination allows the system to simultaneously consider network resource utilization and communication quality, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
3Reliability
If the mobile device evaluates multiple base stations with multiple metrics, then the hand-off to optimal base station is achieved, but the evaluation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile communication device performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and storing base station information including load indicators and performance metrics before hand-off is needed. This pre-evaluation approach allows for faster hand-off decisions when required, as the device already has the necessary data to compare and select optimal base stations without time-consuming real-time measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communication device wirelessly transfers user communications to a first wireless base station. The mobile communication device determines a first metric based on a load indicator for the first base station. The mobile communication device identifies a second wireless base station and determines a second metric based on a load indicator for the second base station. If the second metric is superior to the first metric, the mobile communication device determines if the second base station has sufficient performance characteristics for communication with the device. If the performance is sufficient, the mobile communication device initiates a hand-off from the first base station to the second base station. The mobile communication device may use additional factors to determine the first and second metrics.