Multimode Device Handover via Disabled Sector Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multimode 3G/4G devices experience performance degradation and potential service loss when a subset of sectors in the 3G active set becomes temporarily disabled, leading to inefficient use of network resources and user dissatisfaction in areas with overlapping 3G and 4G coverage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that proactively initiates a handover from 3G to 4G mode when a threshold number of temporarily-disabled sectors is reached, utilizing software enhancements in dual-mode devices without hardware modifications, allowing for seamless transition based on user priority and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device continues to operate in 3G mode when sectors are temporarily disabled, then device complexity and software processing are reduced, but service reliability and communication quality deteriorate due to performance degradation and potential service loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively monitors the status of sectors in the active set and detects when a threshold number of sectors are temporarily disabled. Before service degradation occurs, the system initiates a handover procedure from 3G to 4G mode, ensuring continuous service reliability. This preliminary detection and action prevent the harmful effect of performance degradation while maintaining manageable device complexity through automated threshold-based triggering.
2Reliability
If the device proactively initiates handover to 4G mode, then service reliability and communication quality are maintained, but device complexity and processing requirements increase due to continuous monitoring and threshold evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the device continuously monitors the status of sectors in its active set and evaluates whether a predefined threshold of temporarily disabled sectors has been reached. This feedback loop enables the device to make informed decisions about handover timing, maintaining communication quality while managing processing requirements through structured threshold evaluation rather than continuous complex analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the device by transitioning from 3G mode to 4G mode based on monitored sector status. This parameter change (network mode) is triggered when specific conditions are met (threshold of disabled sectors), allowing the system to maintain communication quality while using defined parameters and thresholds to control the complexity of the decision-making process.
3Productivity
If the device waits for all sectors to be disabled before handover, then device complexity is minimized, but productivity and service continuity deteriorate due to service loss and network resource inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary action by initiating handover before all sectors are completely disabled, based on a threshold evaluation. This ensures service continuity and maintains productivity by preventing service loss, while the handover triggering complexity remains manageable through the use of predefined thresholds and automated monitoring procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of operating multimode 3G/4G communications devices in an overlapping 3G/4G coverage area (e.g., WiMAX or LTE/CDMA EvDO) include determining if a number associated with temporarily-disabled sectors of an available sector set of the multimode device while the device is operational with a 3G base station is at least equal to a threshold number. If the number is at least equal to the threshold number, a scan for a sector in the 4G network to handover the operation of the multimode device from the 3G base station associated with the 3G coverage to a 4G base station associated with the 4G coverage is initiated. A scan for a fixed period of time for a new available sector in the 3G network to be added in the available sector set may be initiated; and, if a new available sector is added to the sector set, it may be redetermined if the number associated with the temporarily-disabled sectors is at least equal to the threshold number, before initiating the scan for a sector in the 4G network.