Multiple-Attachment Mobile Handover Management for Continuous Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile terminals experiencing simultaneous handovers in multiple attachments to cellular networks face connectivity interruptions due to overlapping handover commands, which can lead to loss of connectivity, particularly problematic for applications requiring low latency and low jitter.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method in mobile terminals and network access points to manage handovers by delaying or rejecting handover commands when the maximum number of handovers in progress is reached, using counters and expected end times to ensure continuous connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple handover commands are executed simultaneously for multiple attachments, then handover speed is improved, but connectivity reliability deteriorates due to overlapping handovers causing loss of connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic handover management by introducing a handover counter that tracks the number of ongoing handovers. The system dynamically adjusts handover execution based on real-time conditions: when the counter indicates fewer than (N-1) handovers are in progress, new handovers are permitted; when the counter reaches (N-1), further handovers are blocked. This dynamic control mechanism resolves the contradiction by adapting handover behavior to current system state, ensuring fast handovers when safe while preventing connectivity loss when handovers overlap excessively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by checking the handover counter status before executing a new handover command. The terminal device proactively determines whether executing a handover would cause excessive overlap by comparing the current number of in-progress handovers against the threshold (N-1). This preliminary check prevents the system from entering a problematic state where multiple handovers overlap and cause connectivity loss, thereby maintaining reliability without significantly impacting overall handover speed.
2Reliability
If handover commands are delayed to avoid simultaneous completions, then connectivity reliability is improved, but handover speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of handover execution timing based on the handover counter value. Instead of uniformly delaying or allowing all handovers, the system adjusts the execution parameter dynamically: handovers are allowed when the counter is below the threshold (N-1), and blocked when the counter reaches the threshold. This parameter-based control resolves the contradiction by allowing fast handovers when system conditions permit, while only delaying handovers when necessary to prevent overlap, thus maintaining both speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device performs self-service by autonomously monitoring its own handover state through the handover counter and making independent decisions about whether to execute incoming handover commands. The device serves itself by detecting when it is already engaged in multiple handovers and automatically blocking additional handovers without external intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures connectivity reliability while minimizing unnecessary delays, as the terminal makes real-time decisions based on its actual handover state.
3Reliability
If the terminal blocks additional handover commands when maximum handovers are reached, then connectivity reliability is improved, but handover completion time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing (N-1) handovers to proceed simultaneously but blocking the Nth handover. This partial permission strategy resolves the contradiction by permitting enough parallel handovers to maintain fast connectivity switching, while blocking just enough to prevent the system from becoming overloaded. The threshold (N-1) is carefully chosen to allow sufficient handover parallelism for speed while preventing excessive overlap that would cause connectivity loss, thus balancing completion time and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for multiple attachment of a mobile terminal to access points of a plurality of access points of at least one cellular network. The terminal is able to be attached simultaneously to a given number of different access points, called maximum number of attachments. The method is implemented by the terminal and includes: receiving a command to change access point, called handover command, from one access point of the plurality, called source access point; determining a number of handovers in progress; queuing the received handover command when a maximum number of handovers in progress is reached, this number depending on the maximum number of attachments, executing the received handover command when the maximum number of handovers in progress is not reached.