User Equipment Mobility in Small Cell Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous wireless communication networks, highly mobile user equipment experiences service disruptions due to inadequate handover and cell re-selection configurations, particularly when transitioning between macro and small cells, leading to decreased service quality.
Innovation Solution
Implementing specific time values for user equipment to delay handover measurements and reports, with longer time-to-trigger values for small cells to inhibit handovers from highly mobile users and shorter values for macro cells to facilitate timely handovers, thereby improving service continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If handover measurements are performed without delay for small cells, then measurement speed is improved, but unnecessary handovers occur for highly mobile user equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the time-to-trigger value cell-specific and mobility-adaptive. Different time values are assigned to different cell types (small cells receive longer delays, macro cells receive shorter or no delays), and the system dynamically adjusts handover behavior based on user equipment mobility state, transforming a static handover mechanism into a dynamic one that adapts to varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the time-to-trigger parameter based on cell type and mobility state. By modifying this critical timing parameter - extending it for small cells to inhibit handovers of highly mobile users while maintaining it for macro cells - the system resolves the contradiction between fast measurement and reliable handover execution.
2Reliability
If longer time-to-trigger values are used for small cells to inhibit handovers, then handover reliability is improved, but service continuity deteriorates due to delayed measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different time-to-trigger values to different cell types based on their specific characteristics. Small cells, which have limited coverage and are prone to causing service disruptions for mobile users, receive longer delay values. Macro cells, with their extensive coverage, receive shorter or no delays. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by tailoring the measurement delay to the specific needs of each cell type.
3Device complexity
If unified handover parameters are used for all cells, then system complexity is reduced, but service quality deteriorates in heterogeneous networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handover parameter configuration by cell type, dividing the homogeneous parameter set into cell-specific subsets. By separating small cells from macro cells and assigning different time-to-trigger values to each category, the system manages the complexity of heterogeneous networks while maintaining service quality. This segmentation allows tailored optimization for each cell type without requiring completely separate parameter sets for every individual cell.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for mobility estimation in networks including small cells. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a user equipment, at least one of a first time value and a second time value, the first time value being configured for use towards a small cell and configured to have a duration to inhibit a hand over of the user equipment to the small cell, the second time value being configured for use towards a macro cell; and sending, by the user equipment, a measurement report including information representative of at least one of the small cell and the macro cell, the sending being delayed by the first time value, when the user equipment is evaluating the small cell, and by the second time value, when the user equipment is evaluating the macro cell. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.