NTN Candidate Cell Measurement Gating for Handover Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
In non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication, terminals waste energy due to performing invalid measurements on all configured candidate cells during cell handover due to high-speed movement of non-terrestrial network devices.
Innovation Solution
A network device provides first indication information to terminals specifying conditions for measurement on candidate cells, such as time, distance, or angle-based criteria, to optimize measurement initiation and avoid energy waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal performs measurement on all configured candidate cells, then the terminal can determine the target cell for handover, but energy waste occurs due to invalid measurement on cells not providing coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The network device determines the coverage period of each candidate cell in advance and provides this information to the terminal before measurement occurs. The terminal then uses this pre-provided coverage period information to decide whether to perform measurement, avoiding wasted energy on cells that will not provide coverage during the measurement window.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new parameter (coverage period) to characterize the temporal availability of each candidate cell. By providing this parameter to the terminal, the system enables the terminal to adjust its measurement behavior based on the coverage status, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining handover reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the terminal measures all candidate cells, then complete measurement data is obtained for handover decision, but measurement validity is reduced due to high-speed movement of non-terrestrial network devices
Solution Approach 1:
The network device performs the action of determining coverage periods for all candidate cells in advance and communicates this information to the terminal before measurement takes place. This preliminary provision of coverage period information allows the terminal to filter out cells that will not be valid during measurement, ensuring measurement precision while avoiding energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal uses the coverage period information provided by the network device to autonomously determine which candidate cells warrant measurement. This self-service mechanism enables the terminal to make intelligent decisions about measurement allocation without requiring continuous network control, reducing energy consumption while maintaining measurement completeness for valid cells.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method and apparatus to resolve a problem that in non-terrestrial network communication, because a terminal performs measurement on all candidate cells configured by a network device, measurement redundancy exists, resulting in energy waste of the terminal. The method includes: a network device determines at least one candidate cell, and sends first indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information indicates a condition for the terminal to perform measurement on at least one candidate cell.