UAV Handover Frequency Switching to Reduce Cell Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aerial user equipment (UAVs) experience intra-frequency interference and handover failures due to high transmission power of special serving cell equipment with up-tilted antennas, leading to Radio Link Failures and Handover Failures in LTE and 5G networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that identifies UAVs using unique identification methods, tracks their trajectory, and adjusts transmission gain values of serving cell equipment to minimize intra-frequency interference by switching to less interfered frequencies, ensuring smooth handovers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If high transmission power is used by special serving cell equipment with up-tilted antennas to extend coverage area, then coverage area is improved, but intra-frequency interference increases causing handover failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidintra-frequency interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes transmission power parameters and frequency selection based on UAV location and interference conditions. The network equipment adjusts transmission gain values and switches frequencies to minimize intra-frequency interference while maintaining coverage, directly applying parameter changes to resolve the contradiction between coverage area and interference levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If frequency switching is performed to reduce intra-frequency interference, then handover performance is improved, but handover complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover performanceVSAvoidhandover complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary frequency selection and interference assessment before handover is needed. By pre-identifying suitable frequencies and evaluating interference conditions in advance, the system reduces the complexity of actual handover execution while maintaining reliable handover performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where UAVs report received signal strength and interference levels, and network equipment uses this feedback to make informed frequency switching decisions. This feedback loop enables automated handover management that improves reliability while keeping complexity manageable through intelligent control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260067762A1Handover performance when serving aerial user equipment over advanced networks

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 AT&T TECHNICAL SERVICES CO INC

AI summary

An architecture to improving handover performance when servicing UAVs over advanced networks. A method can comprise determining a first group of frequencies that serving cell equipment is capable of supporting, identifying a first frequency of the first group of frequencies and a second frequency of the first group of frequencies based on determining a probability value associated with the first frequency and the second frequency overlapping, determining a second group of frequencies that are supported by an unmanned aerial vehicle determining that the unmanned aerial vehicle is using the first frequency to communicate with the serving cell equipment, determining handover serving cell equipment for the unmanned aerial vehicle based on tracking data associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, and instructing the target cell equipment to decrease a first transmission gain value associated with the first frequency and increase a second transmission gain value associated with the second frequency.