Mobility Report Feedback for Unprepared Cell Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular communication networks face challenges in updating neighbor cell relations, especially during unprepared mobility, where the target base station is not prepared by the source base station, leading to incomplete or inaccurate records of successful cell switching, affecting prioritization and clean-up of neighbor cell relations.

Innovation Solution

A method where the user equipment sends a mobility report to the target base station, which then reports back to the source base station, ensuring that neighbor cell relations are updated and prioritized even in cases of unprepared mobility, by including an identifier of the source cell and a request for a mobility report that confirms a successful switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the target base station is not prepared by the source base station (unprepared mobility), then the switching speed is improved, but the accuracy of neighbor cell relations records deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell switching speedVSAvoidaccuracy of neighbor cell relations records
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the user equipment sends a mobility report to the target base station, which then reports back to the source base station. This feedback loop ensures that the source base station receives confirmation of successful cell switching and can update its neighbor cell relations records accurately, even in unprepared mobility scenarios where the target base station was not pre-configured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If mobility report reporting is implemented for unprepared mobility, then the reliability of neighbor cell relations update is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of neighbor cell relations updateVSAvoidcomplexity of mobility reporting mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the user equipment and base stations multi-functional by enabling them to handle both prepared and unprepared mobility scenarios using the same mobility report mechanism. The user equipment is configured to send mobility reports regardless of whether the target base station was prepared, and the base stations are configured to process these reports and update neighbor cell relations accordingly, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms for different mobility types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2873271B1Methods, user equipment and base station for supporting update of neighbour cell relations in a cellular communications network
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2873271B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2873271B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2873271B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, user equipment (120) and target base station (130) for supporting update of neighbour cell relations in a cellular communications network (100). The user equipment (120) switches from being served in the source cell (115) by the source base station (110) to instead being served in the target cell (135) by the target base station. The user equipment sends (304, 403), to the target base station (130), in association with the switching, an identifier of the source cell (115) in the cellular communications network (100) and a request for mobility report. The request for mobility report requests the target base station (130) to send a mobility report to the source base station (110) or a management entity (140) thereof. The mobility report reporting that a successful switch has taken place between the source cell (115) and the target cell (135), thereby enabling updating of the neighbour cell relations based on the mobility report. Hence, reporting back of successful cell switching is enabled even when the target base station is unprepared by the source base station about the switching. Neighbour cell relations of at least the source base station may be updated based on the mobility report.