Non-Terrestrial User Equipment Handover via Preconfigured Beam Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently handling non-terrestrial handovers, particularly in managing handover events between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, which are critical for ensuring low latency and high reliability in 5G networks.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced for facilitating non-terrestrial fast handovers by enabling terrestrial radio network nodes to receive handover requests from user equipment, transmit fast handover requests to non-terrestrial network elements, and provide connection establishment information to user equipment, utilizing non-terrestrial network downlink control resources and beam information to optimize handover processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional handover procedures are used for non-terrestrial networks, then handover reliability is improved, but handover latency increases and energy consumption rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidhandover latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring handover parameters, beam information, and control resource allocations before the handover event occurs. The source gNB prepares target gNB candidate information and the UE is pre-configured with non-terrestrial handover event indications, allowing the handover to execute faster when triggered without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the source gNB acts as a mediator between the UE and target gNB. The source gNB receives the handover request from the UE, processes it with pre-prepared target information, and forwards it to the appropriate target gNB, streamlining the handover process and reducing latency while maintaining reliable connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional handover procedures are used for non-terrestrial networks, then connection establishment reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishment reliabilityVSAvoiduser equipment energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces energy consumption through preliminary action by pre-configuring handover parameters, target gNB information, and control resource allocations before the handover event. This allows the UE to execute the handover with minimal additional energy expenditure while maintaining reliable connection establishment, avoiding repeated failed connection attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE monitors non-terrestrial handover event indications and provides measurement reports to the source gNB. This feedback loop enables the network to optimize handover timing and parameters, ensuring reliable connection establishment while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption from premature or failed handover attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If detailed non-terrestrial handover event indications are transmitted, then handover precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover event detection precisionVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing handover information into multiple stages: pre-configured parameters, measurement reports, handover request indications, and execution commands. This segmented approach allows detailed handover event detection precision to be achieved while distributing signaling overhead across different phases rather than transmitting all information at once, reducing peak signaling burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250309977A1Energy-efficient user equipment non-terrestrial access

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A user equipment may be configured to adjust a configured handover offset criterion to facilitate handover from a terrestrial radio network node to a non-terrestrial radio network node. The adjusted handover offset criterion may facilitate the user equipment being handed over to the non-terrestrial node when a difference between reference signal strengths corresponding to the non-terrestrial node and the terrestrial node equals or exceeds the adjusted handover offset, which may be less than the configured unadjusted handover offset criterion. The terrestrial node may communicate, via backhaul communication links, with the non-terrestrial node or a non-terrestrial network element, to obtain non-terrestrial downlink resource and beam information usable by the user equipment to receive connection establishment setup information. The terrestrial node may transmit the non-terrestrial downlink resource and beam information and a timing advance value to the user equipment for use thereby in receiving connection establishment setup information from the non-terrestrial node.