Network Node Handover via Round Trip Time Comparison

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems have high latency, which is unsuitable for mission-critical machine-to-machine communication applications requiring low latency and high reliability, such as manufacturing, automotive, and medical uses, where delays of 50-200 ms are unacceptable.

Innovation Solution

A network node method that measures and compares round trip times between a serving cell and a target cell to determine the optimal cell for handover, instructing the communication device to switch to the cell with the shorter round trip time, thereby reducing latency for critical message communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If existing wireless communication systems are used for handover, then communication coverage and connectivity are maintained, but latency is high (50-200 ms) which is unacceptable for mission-critical applications

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelatencyVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the handover decision parameter from traditional signal strength metrics to round trip time (RTT) measurements. By measuring and comparing RTT between serving and target cells, the system selects the cell with the shortest RTT, directly optimizing for low latency while maintaining connection reliability through systematic measurement and comparison procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If handover is performed based on traditional signal strength metrics, then connection stability is maintained, but latency requirements for mission-critical MTC are not met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidhandover decision complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary RTT measurements and comparisons before making the handover decision. The network node measures RTT to the server via both serving and target cells in advance, stores these measurements, and uses them to determine the optimal handover target, ensuring low latency is achieved before the actual handover occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces RTT measurement and comparison as an intermediary mechanism between the serving cell and target cell selection. The network node acts as an intermediary that systematically measures, compares, and selects the optimal cell based on RTT, mediating between traditional handover procedures and low-latency requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10575227B2Network node and method therein for handover in wireless communication network

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A network node and method therein for assisting a communication device to perform handover from a serving cell to a target cell in a communication network are disclosed. The network node is configured to obtain a first round trip time between the network node and a server and obtain a second round trip time between a target node in the target cell and the server. The network node is further configured to instruct the communication device to perform handover from the serving cell to the target cell based on at least the first round trip time and the second round trip time.