Heterogeneous Network Mobility Optimization via Anchor Cell Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing handover procedures in heterogeneous wireless networks result in significant signaling overhead due to frequent handovers and physical channel reconfigurations when user equipment (UE) moves between cells, leading to inefficiencies in radio resource management and increased control signaling.
Innovation Solution
A new handover procedure is introduced where the UE maintains a connection with a macro node while moving between low-power nodes, using UE-specific parameters for radio resource configuration, allowing seamless handovers without tearing down and rebuilding radio resources, and utilizing UE-specific identities for physical channels to avoid cell-specific reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If horizontal handoff is used to maintain service continuity during mobility, then service continuity is improved, but latency increases and throughput is degraded due to lack of buffering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by buffering data packets at the source base station before the mobile device completes the handoff to the target base station. This ensures that data is ready and waiting at the target station, eliminating latency caused by data transmission delays during mobility. The buffering action is performed in advance of the actual handoff completion.
2Productivity
If data is buffered at the source base station during handoff, then latency is reduced and throughput is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the buffering function into specific components within the base station architecture. The data buffer is segmented as a distinct functional element that can be independently managed, allowing the source base station to buffer only the necessary data packets for handoff without complicating the entire system. This modular approach limits complexity growth.
3Productivity
If buffering is implemented to optimize data transmission, then throughput is improved, but additional buffering resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing buffering only for the specific duration and data volume required during handoff transitions, rather than maintaining continuous buffering for all data traffic. The source base station buffers data partially - only until the handoff is complete and the mobile device is successfully connected to the target base station - thereby improving throughput without requiring excessive buffering resources for all operational states.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for mobility optimization in a heterogeneous network are disclosed herein. A base station includes an anchor module, a context information module, and a transmission point module. The anchor module configures the base station as a virtual anchor cell for a plurality of small cells. The context information module is configured to maintain context information for user equipment (UE). The context information for the UE is maintained by the context information module while any small cell of the plurality of small cells is configured as a TP for the UE. The transmission point (TP) change module is configured to send at least a portion of the context information to a small cell configured as the TP for the UE.