UE Handover via Source Station for Seamless Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication environments, handovers between cellular stations cause service interruptions lasting 15 to 20 milliseconds, affecting user experience, especially for delay-sensitive services.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced handover procedure where the User Equipment (UE) continues to send or receive User Plane data from the source cellular station after receiving a handover command, and only detaches upon receiving a Radio Resource Control request from the target cellular station, allowing for seamless data transfer during the handover process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional handover procedure is used, then the UE can switch from source cellular station to target cellular station, but service interruption occurs lasting 15 to 20 milliseconds
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary actions by continuing to send and receive User Plane data via the source cellular station even after receiving the handover command, but before completing the handover. This allows data transmission to continue uninterrupted during the handover process, eliminating service interruption. The UE only detaches from the source station after receiving the RRC request message from the target station, ensuring seamless connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handover procedure maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the User Plane data transmission active throughout the handover process. The UE continues to communicate User Plane data with the source cellular station while transitioning to the target station, ensuring that data service remains continuous without interruption. This is achieved by delaying the detachment from the source station until the RRC request message is received from the target station.
2Device complexity
If the UE detaches from the source cellular station immediately after receiving the handover command, then the handover process is simplified, but service interruption increases to 15 to 20 milliseconds
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary data transmission through the source cellular station before finalizing the handover. By continuing to send and receive User Plane data via the source station after receiving the handover command but before detaching, the UE ensures no service interruption occurs. The detachment is delayed until the RRC request message is received, maintaining simplicity while preventing interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The source cellular station acts as an intermediary during the handover process. The UE continues to communicate User Plane data through the source station even after receiving the handover command, using it as a temporary mediator to maintain data flow. This intermediary role of the source station allows seamless transition to the target station without service interruption.
3Reliability
If the UE maintains connection with the source cellular station during handover, then service continuity is improved, but the handover procedure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary data transmission through the source cellular station while maintaining the connection, but this is done through a standardized procedure. The UE continues to send and receive User Plane data via the source station after receiving the handover command, using a clear sequence of operations: continue data transmission, receive RRC request message from target station, then detach. This structured approach improves service continuity while keeping the procedure manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The handover procedure maintains continuity of User Plane data transmission as the primary useful action. By keeping the connection with the source cellular station active during the transition and continuing data transmission through it, the procedure ensures service continuity. The connection is maintained only for the essential purpose of data transmission, making the complexity justified by the continuous service benefit.
Data Source
AI summary
A User Equipment (UE) including a wireless transceiver and a controller is provided. The wireless transceiver performs wireless transmission and reception to and from a first cellular station and a second cellular station. The controller continues to send or receive UP data to or from the first cellular station via the wireless transceiver after receiving a handover command message for a handover of the UE from the first cellular station to the second cellular station, and receives a Radio Resource Control (RRC) request message from the second cellular station via the wireless transceiver after sending a handover complete message to the second cellular station. Also, the controller detaches from the first cellular station in response to receiving the RRC request message.