UE Handover Initiation via Application-Aware Measurement Reports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handover mechanisms in heterogeneous cellular networks, particularly with micro cells, often result in suboptimal handover decisions leading to increased handover failure and service interruption, due to the low-power nature of micro cells and complex network environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method where User Equipment (UE) generates and transmits a measurement report including application information, such as quality of service class identifiers and application types, to assist Evolved Node Bs (eNBs) in making informed handover decisions between macro and micro cells, optimizing handover parameters like time-to-trigger and A3Offset values based on the application type, thereby reducing handover failure and ping-pong rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional handover mechanisms are used in heterogeneous networks with micro cells, then handover decisions can be made based on basic signal measurements, but handover failure rate increases and service interruption occurs due to low-power micro cell characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of applications into real-time and non-real-time categories before handover execution. This allows the network to pre-determine appropriate handover parameters and strategies based on application requirements, preventing handover failures and service interruptions by having the correct handover policy ready in advance rather than reacting after failure occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes handover parameters dynamically based on application type. For real-time applications, the system uses optimized parameters that prioritize handover success and minimize interruption time. For non-real-time applications, different parameters are used that may accept longer interruption times in exchange for reduced ping-pong effects. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by making handover behavior context-dependent
2Reliability
If handover decisions are made without application information, then the handover process is simple and fast, but handover decisions are suboptimal leading to increased failure rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handover decision process into distinct stages: application information collection, application type classification (real-time vs. non-real-time), and handover parameter selection based on classification. This segmentation allows the system to add complexity only where necessary (in the classification and parameter selection stages) while keeping the actual handover execution simple and efficient
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary classification mechanism that sits between the basic signal measurement and the handover decision. This intermediary layer analyzes application information and translates it into appropriate handover parameters, thereby improving handover decision quality without requiring the entire handover mechanism to become complex
3Productivity
If generic handover parameters are used for all applications, then the handover mechanism is simple to implement, but ping-pong effects increase for non-real-time applications while real-time applications may experience failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different handover parameters and strategies tailored to specific application types. Real-time applications receive handover configurations optimized for speed and reliability, while non-real-time applications receive configurations optimized for stability and ping-pong reduction. This localized optimization improves overall network performance by matching handover behavior to application requirements
4Reliability
If handover parameters are optimized for real-time applications, then handover success rate improves, but non-real-time applications suffer from ping-pong effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts handover parameters based on the detected application type. When a real-time application is detected, the system switches to parameters optimized for handover success. When a non-real-time application is detected, it switches to parameters that minimize ping-pong effects. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for different objectives depending on current application requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of a User Equipment (UE) arranged for handover initiation in a cellular network comprising macro cells and micro cells are disclosed herein. The UE may determine application information associated with an application operating on the UE. The application information can include an operating system identifier. Additionally, the UE can generate a measurement report based on the determined application information. The measurement report can include the application information. Subsequently, the UE can send the measurement report configured to initiate a handover to an Evolved Node B (eNB). The handover can be to a micro cell or a macro cell based on the application information in the measurement report.