Secondary Base Station Handover Initiation for Dual Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in seamlessly transitioning user equipment between primary and secondary base stations in dual connectivity mode, leading to potential disruptions and inefficiencies in radio resource management.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for initiating a handover between a primary and secondary base station, where the secondary base station controls the connection by providing handover requests and resource information, allowing the user equipment to maintain dual connectivity without interrupting user-plane traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If handover is initiated by the primary base station, then the handover control is centralized, but the handover process causes user-plane traffic interruption and reduces connectivity continuity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity continuityVSAvoidhandover interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional handover initiation role: instead of the primary base station (MeNB) initiating handover to secondary base station (SeNB), the SeNB initiates the handover request to become the primary base station. This inversion allows the handover to be triggered by the node that has the most current user-plane traffic context, enabling seamless transition without interrupting user-plane data flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the target SeNB prepare dual connectivity configuration and resource allocation before the handover is complete. The target SeNB pre-configures the user equipment with dual connectivity parameters and maintains user-plane traffic routing in advance, so that when the handover executes, there is no interruption to data flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the secondary base station takes control of handover initiation, then user-plane traffic continuity is maintained, but the handover procedure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput continuityVSAvoidhandover procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the user equipment as an intermediary in the handover process. The target SeNB sends handover command indicators to the user equipment, which then facilitates the transition by maintaining its radio connections and managing the reconfiguration of bearers. This intermediary role simplifies the overall procedure by leveraging the user equipment's existing dual connectivity capabilities rather than requiring complex direct coordination between base stations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If traditional handover procedure is used, then the primary base station maintains control, but dual connectivity setup is delayed and throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata throughputVSAvoiddual connectivity setup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the target SeNB prepare dual connectivity configuration and resource allocation before the handover is complete. The target SeNB pre-configures the user equipment with dual connectivity parameters and maintains user-plane traffic routing in advance, so that when the handover executes, there is no interruption to data flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the handover procedure with the dual connectivity setup procedure. Instead of performing handover first and then separately establishing dual connectivity, the target SeNB combines both operations into a single coordinated process where the handover trigger simultaneously initiates dual connectivity configuration, reducing overall setup time and enabling faster throughput improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3228120A1A method, apparatus and system for dual connectivity handover initiated by source base station becoming the future secondary base station
Publication Date: 2017.10.11 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY

AI summary

There is provided a method, said method comprising at a secondary base station associated with a user equipment, controlling initiation of a connection between a primary base station and the user equipment, such that the user equipment is in dual connectivity mode with the primary base station and the secondary base station.