NR Handover Parameter Pre-provisioning for Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In New Radio (NR) wireless communication systems, handover and cell reselection processes are inefficient due to the need for UE to synchronize with new synchronization signals and provision physical signals and channels based on changing Cell IDs and UE specific parameters, leading to increased spectral resource waste, latency, and processing overhead.
Innovation Solution
The method involves allowing transmit and receive points to communicate using synchronization signals and physical signals and channels provisioned based on existing NR Cell IDs and UE specific parameters, rather than requiring new ones, thereby avoiding the need for network-assigned new parameters and reducing the overhead of provisioning and synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE synchronizes with new synchronization signals and provisions physical signals and channels based on changing Cell IDs and UE specific parameters during handover, then the handover process follows standard LTE procedures, but spectral efficiency decreases, latency increases, and processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures the UE with physical signal and channel parameters (such as scrambling codes, sequence initialization values, and resource allocations) before the handover is actually executed. This preliminary provisioning allows the UE to immediately use the new parameters upon handover without requiring real-time synchronization and parameter derivation, thereby reducing spectral resource waste and processing overhead while maintaining standard compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The network acts as an intermediary by directly providing the UE with the necessary physical signal and channel parameters through RRC signaling or MAC CE messages, rather than requiring the UE to independently derive these parameters from Cell IDs and synchronization signals. This intermediary provisioned approach eliminates the need for complete re-synchronization and parameter re-provisioning, reducing latency and spectral inefficiency
2Reliability
If the UE synchronizes with new synchronization signals and provisions physical signals and channels based on changing Cell IDs and UE specific parameters during handover, then the handover process follows standard LTE procedures, but latency increases and processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures the UE with physical signal and channel parameters (such as scrambling codes, sequence initialization values, and resource allocations) before the handover is actually executed. This preliminary provisioning allows the UE to immediately use the new parameters upon handover without requiring real-time synchronization and parameter derivation, thereby reducing spectral resource waste and processing overhead while maintaining standard compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The UE skips the traditional time-consuming steps of synchronizing with new synchronization signals and deriving parameters from Cell IDs by directly applying the pre-provisioned parameters received from the network. This skipping of intermediate steps dramatically reduces handover latency while still ensuring proper signal and channel provisioning through the pre-configured parameters
3Device complexity
If transmit and receive points use the same NR Cell ID for multiple cells, then network complexity is reduced and mobility is simplified, but the ability to distinguish between different cells and provision unique parameters becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The network segments the cell identification function into two parts: the NR Cell ID (used for hypercell identification and keeping network complexity low) and additional cell-specific parameters (such as physical layer identities, frequency offsets, or location information) that enable differentiation between individual transmit/receive points. This segmentation allows multiple cells to share the same NR Cell ID while still being uniquely identifiable through their specific parameters
Solution Approach 2:
Each transmit/receive point within the hypercell is assigned unique local parameters (such as cell-specific scrambling codes, reference signal configurations, or frequency/time offsets) that distinguish it from other points sharing the same NR Cell ID. This local quality differentiation enables proper cell identification and parameter provisioning without increasing overall network complexity or requiring unique NR Cell IDs for each point
Data Source
AI summary
Provisioning and communicating physical signals and channels in NR networks having a first subset of transmit and receive points that use a first cell ID and a second subset of transmit and receive points that use a second cell ID. Operations include transmitting from, and receiving from, a first transmit and receive point a first signal or channel wherein the first signal or channel is based on a first user equipment (UE) specific parameter assigned via the first subset of transmit and receive points and transmitting from, and receiving from, the first transmit and receive point the plurality of transmit and receive points a second signal or channel wherein the second signal or channel is based on a second UE specific parameter assigned via the second subset of transmit and receive points. A transmit and receive point and a UE for implementing the operations are also disclosed.