Conditional PCell/PSCell Reservation for Low-Latency Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing conditional primary cell (PCell) and secondary cell (PSCell) addition and changes, particularly in high-frequency bands like mmWave and terahertz bands, leading to increased latency and signaling overhead during handover procedures.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for enhanced conditional PCell/PSCell addition and changes, where a UE determines and stores reservation information and execution conditions for candidate cells, allowing for dynamic application of stored configurations during UE operations, reducing the need for full release and reconfiguration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conditional PCell/PSCell addition and change procedures are implemented in existing wireless communication systems, then mobility management capability is improved, but signaling overhead and latency increase during handover procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility management capabilityVSAvoidhandover latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple candidate PCell/PSCell options with their associated execution conditions before handover is needed. The UE stores these conditional configurations and automatically evaluates them when trigger conditions are met, eliminating the need for real-time network signaling during the actual handover execution, thus reducing latency while maintaining mobility management capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If conditional PCell/PSCell addition and change procedures are implemented in existing wireless communication systems, then mobility management capability is improved, but signaling overhead increases during handover procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility management capabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The network sends conditional configuration messages in advance that include multiple candidate PCell/PSCell configurations and their execution conditions. These configurations are stored in the UE and automatically applied when conditions are met, reducing the need for continuous real-time signaling during handover execution and thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining enhanced mobility management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If full release and reconfiguration is performed during PCell/PSCell changes, then configuration accuracy is maintained, but handover latency and system performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidhandover efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple PCell/PSCell configurations are prepared and validated in advance by the network before handover execution. The UE stores these pre-validated configurations and automatically applies the appropriate one when execution conditions are met, eliminating the need for real-time release and reconfiguration operations. This maintains configuration accuracy while significantly improving handover efficiency and reducing latency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses configuration copying by maintaining multiple pre-configured candidate PCell/PSCell configurations in the UE. Instead of performing full release and reconfiguration during handover, the UE simply copies and activates the appropriate pre-configured candidate configuration, which maintains configuration accuracy while dramatically improving handover speed and system performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4458057B1Method and apparatus for conditional pscell addition and change
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4458057B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4458057B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4458057B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. Methods and apparatuses for enhanced conditional PCell/PSCell addition and changes in a wireless communication system. A method of a UE comprises: receiving reservation information including an indication; determining, based on the indication, whether a candidate PCell/PSCell is reserved; storing, based on a determination that the candidate PCell/PSCell is reserved, the reservation information, CG information and one or more execution conditions associated with the reserved PCell/PSCell; retrieving, after performing a first UE operation, the stored CG information and one or more execution conditions associated with the reserved PCell/PSCell; determining whether one or more execution conditions are met for a reserved PCell/PSCell; and upon determination that one or more execution conditions are met, applying the stored the CG information of the reserved PCell/PSCell to a second UE operation.