NTN Handover Cancellation for PCI Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

In low earth orbit (LEO) NTN communication systems, high signaling overheads and power consumption occur due to PCI collisions and frequent handovers in earth moving cells, which are caused by poor geographical isolation and overlapping satellite cells with the same physical cell identifier (PCI).

Innovation Solution

A communication method that involves obtaining first configuration information to initiate a handover to avoid PCI collisions and second configuration information to cancel the handover when certain conditions are met, reducing unnecessary handovers and associated signaling and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal device performs handover to avoid PCI collision, then the PCI collision is avoided, but the signaling overhead and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePCI collision avoidanceVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device autonomously determines whether to execute the handover by evaluating decision conditions (such as whether it is located at the edge of the moving cell and whether there is an adjacent cell with the same PCI in the movement direction). This self-service mechanism avoids unnecessary handovers while still preventing PCI collisions when needed, thereby reducing power consumption and signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the terminal device performs handover to avoid PCI collision, then the PCI collision is avoided, but the signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePCI collision avoidanceVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device independently evaluates whether to execute the handover based on pre-configured decision conditions, eliminating the need for continuous network signaling to manage each handover decision. This reduces signaling overhead while maintaining reliable PCI collision avoidance when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the terminal device is located at the edge of a moving cell with same PCI as adjacent cell, then PCI collision occurs, but frequent handovers increase complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePCI collision avoidanceVSAvoidhandover complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device uses simple, pre-configured decision conditions to autonomously determine whether to execute the handover. The conditions check whether the terminal is at the cell edge and whether an adjacent cell with the same PCI exists in the movement direction. This self-service approach reduces handover complexity while maintaining PCI collision avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4727210A1Communication method and communication apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4727210A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4727210A1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP4727210A1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

This application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The technical solutions provided in this application include: obtaining first configuration information, where the first configuration information indicates a terminal device to perform a first handover, and the first handover is used to avoid a PCI collision; and obtaining second configuration information, where the second configuration information indicates the terminal device to cancel execution of the first handover. In the technical solutions provided in this application, cancelling execution of the first handover by the terminal device can reduce a quantity of handovers of the terminal device, thereby reducing complexity, signaling loss, and power consumption of the terminal device.