Selective Neighbor Cell Detection During Handover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless devices supporting multiple radio access technologies (RATs) face performance degradation and increased power consumption due to tune-away operations between different RATs, particularly when transitioning from advanced RATs like LTE to legacy RATs for services like voice calls.

Innovation Solution

A User Equipment (UE) device with a single radio capable of operating on multiple RATs selectively performs neighbor cell measurement and synchronization based on received signal strength, optimizing operations to minimize performance impact on the primary RAT during handovers and tune-away operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE performs neighbor cell measurement and synchronization for the second RAT during handover on the first RAT, then the UE can maintain better connectivity and service continuity on the second RAT, but the tune-away operations increase power consumption and degrade performance on the first RAT

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity on second RATVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the UE's behavior based on signal strength thresholds. When the signal strength of the current cell on the second RAT is above a threshold, the UE skips neighbor cell measurement and synchronization for the second RAT during handover on the first RAT, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate connectivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the UE performs frequent tune-away operations to monitor the second RAT, then the UE can ensure service continuity on the second RAT, but the performance and throughput on the first RAT deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuity on second RATVSAvoidthroughput on first RAT

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters by conditionally performing neighbor cell measurement and synchronization based on signal strength thresholds. This selective approach reduces the frequency of tune-away operations, thereby improving throughput on the first RAT while maintaining adequate service continuity on the second RAT through threshold-based decision making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the UE performs neighbor cell measurement and synchronization for the second RAT during handover on the first RAT, then the UE can prepare for faster handover to the second RAT, but the handover process on the first RAT is delayed due to tune-away operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover readiness for second RATVSAvoidhandover time on first RAT

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by making the performance of neighbor cell measurement and synchronization conditional on signal strength thresholds. When signal strength is adequate (above threshold), these operations are skipped during handover, reducing the time loss on the first RAT while maintaining handover readiness on the second RAT through selective execution based on current signal conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9369927B2User equipment with selective neighbor cell detection during handover

Publication Date: 2016.06.14 APPLE INC

AI summary

Performing selective tune-away by a user equipment (UE). The UE may include a first radio that is configurable to operate according to a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT. The UE may use the radio to communicate using the first RAT and the second RAT using the first radio. The UE may perform handover for the first RAT. During handover, the UE may perform a page decoding for the second RAT, but may not perform (e.g., may block) neighbor cell detection for the second RAT during the handover of the first RAT. After completion of the handover, the UE may perform neighbor cell detection for the second RAT.