RAN Cell Handover Prioritization With Backup Candidate Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio access networks face challenges in efficiently managing cells and terminals, particularly in handling handovers and ensuring network stability amidst varying wireless communication demands and requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for cell management in radio access networks, involving a RAN controller that collects measurement reports from user equipment, identifies candidate cells based on these reports, and transmits handover commands to ensure seamless transitions between cells, including a backup cell in case of failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional handover management is used in radio access networks, then base stations can independently manage cell handovers, but network stability deteriorates under varying wireless communication demands
Solution Approach 1:
A RAN controller is introduced as an intermediary between base stations and user equipment to centrally manage handover decisions. The controller collects measurement reports from multiple base stations, processes this information globally, and makes coordinated handover decisions that maintain network stability while adapting to varying communication demands across the entire RAN.
2Reliability
If multiple candidate cells are provided for handover, then handover reliability improves, but network access overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN controller performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying and ranking multiple candidate cells for each user equipment based on collected measurement reports before handover is actually needed. This advance preparation allows the system to quickly execute handovers with multiple pre-evaluated options, improving reliability without generating excessive overhead during critical handover moments.
3Measurement precision
If handover priority information is transmitted for each cell, then handover decision accuracy improves, but control message complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN controller changes parameters by encoding handover priority information in a structured format within control messages. Each candidate cell is assigned a priority level or ranking parameter that enables accurate decision-making. The controller optimizes the representation of these parameters to convey necessary precision while minimizing message complexity through efficient data structures and encoding schemes.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio access network (RAN) controller is provided. The RAN controller includes at least one transceiver and at least one processor operably coupled to the at least one transceiver. The at least one processor is configured to obtain measurement reports of a plurality of user equipment (UE)s. Each measurement report includes a measurement result per cell of a corresponding UE. The at least one processor is configured to identify candidate cells of a UE among the plurality of UEs, based on the measurement reports. The at least one processor is configured to transmit, to a serving base station for the UE, a control message including identification information for indicating the UE and identification information for indicating the candidate cells of the UE. The control message indicates a handover priority of each cell of the candidate cells. The candidate cells comprise a first cell for access and a second cell for access to be performed in response to a failure of the access to the first cell.