Carrier Assignment for UE Ping-Pong Between Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, particularly in LTE, ping-ponging between base stations can cause heavy loading of carriers due to repeated inter-base station control channel signaling, leading to delays in handover and other network operations, especially when a relay base station is involved, resulting in poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method where a base station detects ping-ponging between itself and a neighboring relay base station, determines a carrier on which it provides service but the relay base station does not, and switches the user equipment to operate on that carrier, thereby reducing the load on the relay base station's carrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UE is served by multiple neighboring base stations with overlapping coverage, then coverage continuity is improved, but carrier loading increases due to repeated handover signaling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic relay base station from the handover sequence by detecting its involvement and preventing handovers to it, thereby removing the source of excessive signaling load while maintaining coverage continuity through alternative base stations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring handover patterns between base stations, detecting ping-ponging behavior, and using this information to dynamically adjust handover decisions and prevent unnecessary handovers to relay base stations
2Reliability
If frequent handovers are performed between base stations, then coverage continuity is maintained, but handover delay increases due to repeated signaling
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of relay base stations and pre-configures handover restrictions before ping-ponging occurs, preventing unnecessary handovers in advance and avoiding the delays that would result from repeated handover signaling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively identifying relay base stations and preventing handovers to them before the ping-ponging phenomenon can occur, thereby counteracting the potential for increased handover delays
3Area of stationary object
If a relay base station serves both as a regular base station and as a relay, then network coverage is extended, but carrier loading increases due to dual functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into donor base stations and relay base stations, allowing relay base stations to operate in a specialized capacity that extends coverage while preventing them from accepting additional UEs that would increase carrier loading
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a UE situated in both a coverage area of a first base station and a coverage area of a second base station involves detecting that the UE is ping-ponging between being served by the first base station and being served by the second base station and determining that the second base station is a relay base station. Further, the method involves, responsive to detecting the ping-ponging and determining that the second base station is a relay base station, (a) determining a carrier on which the first base station provides service and on which the second base station does not provide service, and (b) based on the first base station providing service on the determined carrier and the second base station not providing service on the determined carrier, causing the UE to be served by the first base station on the determined carrier.