Proactive UE Cell and Beam Selection for Conditional Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing handover procedures, particularly in scenarios where multiple candidate target cells and beams are available, leading to suboptimal performance and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for cell and beam selection in a conditional handover procedure, where a user equipment (UE) receives configuration information from a source cell to select a target cell and beam based on quality measurements, enabling proactive preparation for handover to a candidate target cell when certain conditions are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional handover procedures are used where the UE waits for network instruction to select target cell and beam, then the control and coordination are simplified, but handover delay increases and handover efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides the UE with configuration information for multiple candidate target cells and beams in advance, including cell IDs, beam IDs, and associated quality thresholds. The UE performs measurements and evaluates conditions proactively before handover is actually needed, so that when handover becomes necessary, the selection process is already complete or near-complete, significantly reducing handover delay
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously performs cell and beam selection by evaluating measurement results against provided thresholds and conditions without requiring real-time network instructions. The UE independently determines which candidate target cell and beam to handover to based on signal quality measurements (RSRP, RSRQ, SINR) and pre-configured criteria, reducing dependency on continuous network control signaling
2Productivity
If the UE autonomously selects target cell and beam based on quality measurements, then handover efficiency and flexibility improve, but the risk of suboptimal selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides feedback mechanisms where it receives measurement reports from the UE and can adjust the handover configuration, thresholds, and candidate cell lists dynamically. This closed-loop feedback ensures that the autonomous UE selection operates within network-defined parameters, maintaining reliability while preserving efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The handover configuration includes multiple parameters such as quality thresholds (q_RSRP, q_RSRQ, q_SINR), offsets (Ocn, Ocsell), and hysteresis values that can be adjusted by the network to optimize selection reliability. By carefully tuning these parameters, the system balances autonomous UE decision-making with network-controlled quality assurance
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple candidate target cells and beams are configured for conditional handover, then handover options and flexibility increase, but the complexity of configuration and management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The candidate target cells are organized into structured groups with hierarchical configuration. Each candidate cell contains multiple beams with associated quality thresholds, creating a segmented structure that the UE can evaluate systematically. This segmentation makes the complex multi-cell multi-beam configuration manageable through organized, modular assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary configuration of multiple candidate cells and beams with pre-defined quality thresholds and conditions before the UE needs to make handover decisions. This advance configuration includes setting up the candidate cell lists, beam associations, and threshold parameters, so that when handover evaluation is needed, the complex structure is already prepared and the UE simply needs to measure and compare against pre-established criteria
Data Source
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AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may determine a set of cell quality measurements for a set of candidate target cells. The UE may select a target cell, from the set of candidate target cells, and a beam, of one or more beams of the target cell, for a conditional handover procedure and based at least in part on the set of cell quality measurements. The UE may perform the conditional handover procedure to transfer from a source cell to the target cell based at least in part on selecting the target cell and the beam. Numerous other aspects are provided.