5G Wireless Device NSA Handover Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in managing access to 4G LTE anchor cells associated with 5G cellular baseband resources, leading to inefficient handovers and increased control signaling due to ping-pong transitions between 4G LTE RANs, which affects access to 5G resources for 5G-capable wireless devices.
Innovation Solution
A 5G-capable wireless device maintains a database of NSA 4G LTE anchor cells and withhold measurement reports until the associated NSA 5G cell meets predetermined signal power and quality thresholds, allowing it to remain connected to legacy 4G LTE cells and only handover to NSA 4G LTE anchor cells when criteria are met, thereby reducing unnecessary handovers and optimizing access to 5G resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a 5G-capable wireless device is redirected or handed over to a legacy 4G LTE RAN when 5G NSA RAN coverage is inadequate, then access to 5G cellular services is maintained, but ping-pong transitions between different 4G LTE RANs occur due to prioritization causing the device to return to the 4G LTE anchor RAN
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless device performs measurements of the NSA 5G cell and evaluates whether it meets predetermined thresholds before triggering a handover to the legacy 4G LTE RAN. This preliminary evaluation prevents unnecessary handovers and subsequent ping-pong transitions, stabilizing the network connection while maintaining reliable 5G access when available.
2Adaptability or versatility
If prioritization is configured for 5G-capable wireless devices to camp on NSA 4G LTE anchor RAN, then access to 5G cellular services is enabled, but unnecessary handovers and control signaling increase due to ping-pong transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the wireless device continuously measures NSA 5G cell signal characteristics and compares them against predetermined thresholds. This feedback loop enables intelligent decision-making about handover timing, reducing unnecessary control signaling while maintaining adaptability to access 5G services when conditions are favorable.
3Reliability
If handover to legacy 4G LTE RAN is triggered when NSA 5G cell coverage is weak, then service continuity is maintained, but handover occurs too frequently when coverage fluctuates near threshold levels
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless device performs preliminary measurements of NSA 5G cell signal power and quality before initiating handover to legacy 4G LTE RAN. By evaluating whether measurements meet predetermined thresholds in advance, the system ensures service continuity while avoiding frequent handovers that would occur when coverage fluctuates near threshold levels, thereby improving handover efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate to managing access to 5G cellular baseband resources for 5G-capable wireless devices. A 5G-capable wireless device of an MNO, while connected to or camped on a legacy 4G LTE cell of the MNO and not engaged in a 4G only LTE service, determines whether an NSA 5G cell of another MNO satisfies performance criteria before measuring and/or sending measurement data for an NSA 4G LTE anchor cell associated with the NSA 5G cell to a wireless network. Refraining from measuring and/or sending measurement data under certain conditions causes the 5G-capable wireless device of the MNO to remain connected to or camped on the legacy 4G LTE cell of the MNO rather than reselecting or handing over to the NSA 4G LTE cell of another MNO. The 5G-capable wireless device also maintains a database of information for valid NSA 4G LTE cells to which to reselect/handover.