NTN-Terrestrial Handover Timing for Energy-Aware Session Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing handovers between non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks, particularly in maintaining quality of service and energy efficiency for diverse use cases like URLLC, eMBB, and mMTC, especially when mobile user equipment demands vary.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a serving radio network node analyzes energy parameters to determine handovers based on energy saving criteria, using conditional handover configurations and profiles to manage transitions between non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks, ensuring efficient resource allocation and energy conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If handover decisions are made based on signal strength alone, then handover speed is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the handover decision parameters from signal strength alone to a composite metric that includes energy consumption parameters. The serving radio network node evaluates both signal strength and energy consumption parameters to make handover decisions, thereby achieving a balance between handover speed and energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If frequent handovers are performed to optimize quality of service, then communication reliability is improved, but network load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements conditional handover configuration where the network pre-configures handover conditions and parameters before actual handover occurs. This allows the network to prepare handover procedures in advance, reducing the frequency of actual handovers while maintaining communication reliability through proactive resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the serving radio network node continuously monitors energy consumption parameters and communication quality, adjusting handover decisions based on real-time feedback. This feedback loop enables the network to optimize handover frequency to maintain reliability without unnecessarily increasing network load.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-terrestrial network nodes continue serving all user equipment, then service coverage is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts certain user equipment from the non-terrestrial network node's service list and redirects them to terrestrial network nodes based on energy consumption evaluations. This extraction allows the non-terrestrial node to reduce its energy consumption by serving fewer users while maintaining service coverage for users who require non-terrestrial network access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different service quality characteristics to different user equipment groups. Users are differentiated based on their energy consumption patterns and service requirements, with the network providing optimized service quality tailored to each group's needs, thereby balancing energy consumption with service coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-terrestrial radio network node may configure user equipment with conditional handover period information and conditional handover configuration information. During establishment of a connection to facilitate delivery of non-terrestrial traffic, the non-terrestrial node may configure a user equipment with an assigned conditional handover profile indication corresponding to the non-terrestrial traffic. Upon determining to suspend delivery of the non-terrestrial traffic during a network energy saving mode, the non-terrestrial node may transmit a conditional handover command, responsive to which the user equipment may determine, based on the assigned conditional handover profile indication and the conditional handover configuration information, a target terrestrial radio network node and may transmit a connection establishment request thereto. Responsive to a connection transfer request transmitted by the target terrestrial node, the non-terrestrial node may transmit session context information corresponding to the non-terrestrial traffic that the target node may use to facilitate delivery thereof during the conditional handover period.