UE Timing Advance Pre-Configuration for Faster Cell Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networking technologies face challenges in efficiently managing timing advance (TA) acquisition for user equipment (UE) during handovers and other mobility scenarios, leading to inefficiencies and potential connectivity issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a user equipment apparatus and network nodes that facilitate pre-configuration and management of timing advance acquisition for candidate target cells, enabling UE to prepare for and acquire TA before connecting, thereby optimizing handover processes through L1/L2 triggered mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If timing advance acquisition is performed after handover to target cell, then connection reliability is maintained, but handover latency increases and connectivity efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by configuring the UE to acquire timing advance (TA) for candidate target cells before actual handover occurs. The network node provides configuration information enabling the UE to perform TA acquisition in advance for one or more candidate target cells, so that when handover is triggered, the UE already possesses the necessary TA values, eliminating post-handover TA acquisition delays and ensuring immediate connectivity upon handover completion.
2Productivity
If timing advance is acquired for multiple candidate target cells in advance, then handover efficiency improves and latency reduces, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by configuring the UE to acquire timing advance for only one or a limited number of candidate target cells rather than all possible cells. The network node controls which candidate cells the UE should prepare TA for, based on predicted handover scenarios. This selective approach provides sufficient handover efficiency improvement while limiting the UE's processing complexity and memory requirements to manageable levels.
3Reliability
If pre-configuration for TA acquisition is implemented, then connectivity reliability improves, but network signaling overhead and configuration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the pre-configuration mechanism to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same configuration information sent to the UE enables both TA acquisition for handover purposes and can be reused for other mobility scenarios such as cell reselection or dual connectivity establishment. This multi-functional approach reduces redundant signaling overhead while maintaining improved connectivity reliability across different mobility operations.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a user equipment apparatus (UE) that includes processor(s) and memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor(s), cause the UE at least to, establish a connection with a control network node via a serving cell, where the control network node supports at least one of control unit-control plane functionality or a layer 3 protocol of a radio access network; receive, from the control network node, an RRC message that includes: configuration information for preparing the UE for candidate target cell(s) with which the UE may connect, and further configuration information for preparing the UE to acquire timing advance (TA) for other cell(s) with which the UE may connect and/or perform cell detection/measurement, where the further configuration information is received prior to the UE connecting with any of the other cell(s); and implement a configuration based on the configuration information and the further configuration information.