Sidelink Handover Configuration for Continuous Wireless Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network-controlled sidelink configuration in wireless devices is disrupted during handovers between radio network nodes, as existing technologies fail to coordinate valid sidelink configurations, leading to connectivity interruptions.

Innovation Solution

Source and target radio network nodes coordinate sidelink configurations through messages like HandoverPreparationInformation to ensure seamless handover by aligning configurations, or the device reverts to a stored configuration if the target node lacks support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If network-controlled sidelink configuration is used, then sidelink QoS and radio bearer configuration are optimized, but sidelink connectivity is interrupted during handover

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesidelink connectivityVSAvoidhandover interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The source radio network node determines the sidelink configuration to be used during handover before the handover occurs. This preliminary determination ensures that the configuration is ready and validated, preventing connectivity interruption during the actual handover execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The source radio network node acts as an intermediary by determining and coordinating the sidelink configuration between the source and target nodes. This intermediary role ensures configuration compatibility across handover without requiring direct real-time coordination during the handover event itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sidelink configuration is coordinated between source and target nodes, then configuration compatibility is ensured, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration compatibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The determination of sidelink configuration is extracted from the general handover signaling process and handled separately by the source radio network node. This extraction allows the configuration to be determined independently and included in the handover command without requiring additional coordination signaling between source and target nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The source radio network node performs self-service by autonomously determining the appropriate sidelink configuration based on its knowledge of the target node's capabilities and the current sidelink requirements. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex inter-node coordination signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4011156B1Sidelink configuration
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4011156B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4011156B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4011156B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless device (10) is configured to receive a control message (28) from a source radio network node (14S) of a handover. The control message (28) indicates a sidelink configuration (26) that is usable during and/or after the handover. Alternatively or additionally, the control message (28) indicates a sidelink configuration (26) that is supported by a target radio network node (14T) of the handover. The sidelink configuration (26) is a configuration of a sidelink (16) for the wireless device (10).