Multi-Carrier Handover via Multiple eNBs

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE-A systems, handovers between multi-carrier cells often result in reduced data transmission rates due to the selection of a single carrier with better channel quality, leading to deteriorated user experience and inefficient data throughput at the cell edge.

Innovation Solution

A method for handover between multi-carrier cells involves receiving measurement reports from UE, determining handover to corresponding carriers of different target eNBs, and sending SNs and identifier information to these eNBs, allowing multiple eNBs to perform data interactions through multiple carriers, thereby increasing data throughput and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the source eNB selects only a single eNB as the target eNB during handover, then the handover procedure is simple and easy to implement, but only one carrier can be used to support the current service, reducing the data transmission rate and deteriorating user experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover procedure complexityVSAvoiddata transmission rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the target eNB selection into multiple independent target eNBs (first target eNB and second target eNB), each handling different carriers. The source eNB determines to hand over the UE to multiple target eNBs based on measurement reports, with each target eNB receiving SNs and identifier information for specific carriers. This segmentation allows multiple carriers to be utilized simultaneously, increasing data transmission rate while maintaining manageable complexity through structured carrier-eNB mapping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-dimension handover (one target eNB for all carriers) to a multi-dimensional approach where different carriers are mapped to different target eNBs. The source eNB sends SNs and identifier information to multiple target eNBs, creating a multi-carrier handover structure that operates in the dimension of carrier frequency, thereby increasing throughput while distributing the complexity across multiple specialized target eNBs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the source eNB hands over the UE to the target eNB of the cell with the best channel quality, then the channel quality is optimized, but the UE can use only one carrier, reducing data throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel qualityVSAvoiddata throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the carrier resources across multiple target eNBs, with each target eNB responsible for specific carriers. The source eNB determines to hand over the UE to multiple target eNBs based on measurement reports, allowing the UE to utilize multiple carriers simultaneously. This segmentation enables the system to maintain optimized channel quality for each carrier while aggregating throughput across all carriers, resolving the contradiction between quality optimization and throughput maximization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the handover targets into multiple target eNBs, each handling specific carriers. By combining the resources of multiple target eNBs and multiple carriers, the system achieves both optimized channel quality (by selecting appropriate target eNBs for each carrier) and increased data throughput (by utilizing multiple carriers simultaneously). The source eNB coordinates this by sending SNs and identifier information to multiple target eNBs, creating a unified multi-carrier handover solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2387269B1Method, device and system for multi-carrier cell handover
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2387269B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2387269B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2387269B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to the radio communication field and discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for handover between multi-carrier cells, so that a user equipment (UE) can be handed over to carriers of different cells on multiple target evolved NodeBs (eNBs). The handover method includes: after performing handover request acknowledge , receiving serial numbers (SNs) of data to be transferred and identifier information of target eNBs of other carriers to which the UE is handed over sent by a source eNB; and transferring scheduling information to the target eNBs of other carriers to which the UE is handed over.