Non-Terrestrial Network Cell Change via Location and Motion Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell change algorithms for non-terrestrial wireless communications networks are inadequate due to path loss dependencies on altitude and high handover rates, particularly in satellite-based systems where coverage regions move rapidly relative to the Earth's surface, leading to service disruptions and inefficient connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining the location and relative motion of communications devices within a cell or spot beam coverage region, allowing for proactive initiation of cell changes based on location and motion data, ensuring continuous service even when devices or network components are moving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cell change algorithms are used in non-terrestrial wireless networks, then handover decisions are made based on standard metrics, but service continuity is disrupted due to high handover rates and path loss dependencies on altitude
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of device location and relative motion before initiating cell change. By calculating the device's position and motion trajectory in advance, the network can proactively prepare handover decisions, reducing service disruptions caused by reactive handovers and lowering overall handover rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and determines the location and relative motion of communications devices, using this feedback information to dynamically adjust cell change decisions. This closed-loop approach optimizes handover timing and reduces unnecessary handovers, improving service continuity while controlling handover rates.
2Reliability
If cell changes are initiated frequently to maintain coverage in moving non-terrestrial networks, then connectivity is maintained, but service continuity is disrupted due to excessive handovers
Solution Approach 1:
By determining device location and relative motion in advance, the system can predict when a device will exit current coverage and prepare handover decisions proactively. This reduces the frequency of actual handover executions and minimizes service disruption time associated with each handover event.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the decision parameters for cell changes by incorporating location and relative motion data alongside traditional signal quality metrics. This multi-parameter approach allows for more accurate handover timing, reducing both the frequency and duration of handover-induced service disruptions.
3Device complexity
If standard cell change algorithms are used without location and motion data, then system complexity is low, but path loss compensation is inadequate due to altitude dependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system preliminarily determines device location including altitude information before making cell change decisions. This advance knowledge of vertical position enables more accurate path loss compensation by accounting for altitude-dependent signal attenuation, improving reliability without requiring complex real-time calculations during handover.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces location and motion data as intermediary information that mediates between traditional signal quality metrics and handover decisions. This intermediary layer provides contextual information about device position and movement, enabling better path loss compensation while maintaining relatively simple algorithmic structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for an infrastructure equipment of a wireless telecommunications network, the wireless telecommunications network comprising a base station and a non-terrestrial network part, the non-terrestrial network part transmitting one or more beams to provide a wireless access interface for transmitting signals to and receiving signals representing data from a communications device within a coverage region of a cell or a spot beam, the method comprising: determining a location of the communications device, determining the coverage region of the cell or the spot beam, determining a relative motion, relative to the communications device, of the coverage region of the cell or the spot beam, and based on the location and the relative motion, initiating a cell change of the communications device.