Service-Based Mobility Management in Cellular Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobility management systems in cellular networks face challenges in ensuring homogeneous support for services like IMS PS voice across Tracking Areas or Routing Areas, particularly with the integration of FDD and TDD cells, which can lead to service degradation and unnecessary UE updates.
Innovation Solution
The system implements a service-based mobility strategy where the RAN node ensures the UE camps on cells capable of supporting the required service by moving it to a cell with the necessary capabilities during mobility management procedures, even if the current cell does not support the service, and prioritizes cells that can provide the service for better coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If FDD and TDD cells are included together in a Tracking Area list or Routing Area, then network coverage and resource utilization are improved, but service homogeneity and reliability deteriorate due to incompatible service support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the Tracking Area list or Routing Area into service-capable and service-incapable cells. The RAN node identifies which cells support the required service (e.g., IMS PS voice) and which do not, then selectively manages UE mobility between these segments based on service requirements rather than treating all cells uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different service support characteristics within different parts of the same Tracking Area list or Routing Area. Instead of requiring global homogeneity, the system permits FDD and TDD cells with different service capabilities to coexist, with the RAN node locally determining which cells are suitable for service-based mobility.
2Reliability
If the UE is moved to a cell supporting the required service, then service reliability is improved, but mobility management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the RAN node to autonomously determine UE mobility decisions based on service requirements. The RAN node independently identifies service-capable cells and executes handovers without requiring core network intervention or complex signaling, simplifying the overall mobility management architecture while ensuring service consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the UE camps on a cell that does not support the required service, then coverage flexibility is improved, but service availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the RAN node proactively identify and select service-capable cells for UE camping before service degradation occurs. Instead of allowing the UE to camp on any available cell and then correcting service issues, the system pre-selects cells that support the required service, preventing service unavailability from the outset.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention refers to a method of providing a certain communication service with respect to a user equipment –UE- (10) in a cellular communications network, the communications network comprising a radio access network – RAN-node (12) and a plurality of cells, wherein at least a first cell of the plurality of cells is capable of supporting the certain service, and at least a second of the plurality of cells is not capable of supporting the certain service, and a core network –CN-node (14) involved in a bearer activation process with respect to the UE (10), the radio access network node (12) performing receiving an information indicative of that the UE (10) requests the certain service, while the UE (10) is camping on the second cell, and initiating a movement to the first cell. The invention further refers to a radio access node (14), a computer program loadable into the radio access node.