UE Handover Prioritization for 5G Core Network Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G wireless communication systems, handovers between different core networks (CN), such as EPC to 5GC, are complex and costly in terms of latency and service impact, often resulting in suboptimal handover decisions that degrade user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and User Equipment (UE) for handling handover by considering the type of core network (CN) while evaluating cells for measurement reporting, where the UE receives measurement configurations for next generation and legacy core entities, identifies neighboring cells supporting these cores, and prioritizes measurement reports accordingly to optimize handover decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the serving cell provides handover to a cell without considering CN type, then handover can be triggered based on signal strength, but the handover may involve unnecessary CN change which increases latency and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary identification of the CN type (EPC or 5GC) for each neighboring cell before handover decision. The UE reads SIB1 messages from neighboring cells to determine their connected core network type, and stores this information for future handover evaluations. This preliminary action allows the serving cell to make informed handover decisions without triggering unnecessary CN changes, thereby reducing handover latency and complexity.
2Reliability
If the UE prioritizes measurement reports for next generation core cells, then handover to 5GC can be optimized, but the complexity of measurement report handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different evaluation criteria to different types of neighboring cells based on their CN type. The UE identifies whether each neighboring cell is connected to EPC or 5GC, and then applies appropriate handover evaluation rules for each type. This local quality approach allows the system to optimize handover decisions for specific CN types while maintaining manageable complexity through structured differentiation rather than uniform complex handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement report handling is segmented into separate processes for EPC-connected cells and 5GC-connected cells. The UE maintains separate measurement evaluations for cells connected to different core networks, allowing independent optimization of handover criteria for each CN type. This segmentation reduces overall complexity by breaking down the unified handover decision into manageable, type-specific sub-processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). A method for handling handover by a UE (400) is provided. The method includes determining, by User Equipment (UE), whether a measurement identity (ID) of a first neighboring cell and a measurement ID of a second neighboring cell are same. If the measurement ID of the first neighboring cell and the measurement ID of the second neighboring cell are different, the method includes prioritizing sending of a measurement report of the first neighboring cell over a measurement report of the second neighboring cell to a serving cell. If the measurement ID of the first neighboring cell and the measurement ID of the second neighboring cell are same, the method includes splitting a measurement report for the first neighboring cell and a measurement report of the second neighboring cell and sending the measurement report of the first neighboring cell before the measurement report of the second neighboring cell.