UE Capability Indication for Intelligent Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional telecommunication systems lack an indication of user equipment's ability to support voice over high speed packet access, leading to potential handover failures and impacts on user experience or network load, as they often require all VoLTE user equipment to support this functionality or execute single radio voice call continuity.

Innovation Solution

A method where user equipment notifies a base station (eNodeB) about its voice over high speed packet access capability, allowing the eNodeB to select appropriate handover mechanisms based on this information, such as packet-switched to packet-switched handover or single radio voice call continuity, during evolved universal terrestrial radio access network operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system requires all VoLTE user equipment to support voice over high speed packet access functionality, then voice call continuity is maintained, but device compatibility and user experience deteriorate when user equipment does not support this functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice call continuityVSAvoiddevice compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of capability indication by introducing a new UE capability parameter (vowHSPA) that explicitly indicates whether the UE supports voice over HSPA. This allows the network to adapt its handover strategy based on the UE's actual capabilities rather than assuming all VoLTE UEs support voice over HSPA, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining voice call continuity and ensuring device compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the eNodeB always executes packet-switched to packet-switched handover, then handover speed is improved, but handover failure rate increases and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover speedVSAvoidhandover success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic handover selection by enabling the eNodeB to choose between packet-switched to packet-switched handover and single radio voice call continuity based on the UE's indicated capabilities and current network conditions. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by selecting the appropriate handover type for each specific scenario rather than always executing packet-switched to packet-switched handover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the eNodeB executes single radio voice call continuity, then compatibility with user equipment is improved, but network load and handover complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidhandover procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary action by having the UE indicate its voice over HSPA capability to the eNodeB before handover is needed. This advance information allows the eNodeB to pre-determine the appropriate handover strategy, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making during handover execution while maintaining compatibility with UEs that do not support voice over HSPA.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system accepts handover failures and delays, then device compatibility is improved, but user experience and network efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidnetwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by using the UE's indicated capability information to guide handover decisions. The eNodeB receives feedback from the UE about its voice over HSPA capability and uses this feedback to select the most appropriate handover method, thereby improving network efficiency by avoiding unnecessary handover failures and delays while maintaining device compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2801221B1User equipment capabilities indication to enable intelligent handover decision
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP2801221B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2801221B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2801221B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

User Equipment Capabilities Indication to Enable Intelligent Handover Decision Telecommunication systems may be enhanced by methods, systems, interfaces, software, and protocols that provide an indication of particular user equipment capabilities to a base station, such as an eNodeB. The indication can be, for example, an indication of a user equipment's ability to support voice over high speed packet access. In certain embodiments, a method includes notifying an eNodeB from a user equipment about the user equipment's capability with respect to voice over a specified kind of internet protocol connection.