Wireless Handover via Uplink Downlink Signal Negotiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless handover techniques often compromise the efficiency and effectiveness of wireless network resource use by solely relying on downlink signal quality without considering uplink signal quality, leading to inefficient resource allocation and connectivity issues.

Innovation Solution

The system negotiates handover parameters between base stations based on both downlink and uplink signal qualities, ensuring optimal resource allocation and connectivity by exchanging signal quality reports and negotiating handover parameters via an interface, such as the Xn interface, to determine the best handover conditions for user devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If handover decision is based solely on downlink signal quality, then downlink communication effectiveness is improved, but uplink resource utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink communication effectivenessVSAvoiduplink resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines both downlink signal quality metrics (RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ) and uplink signal quality metrics (SRS-RSSI, SRS-RSRP) into a unified handover decision framework. The base station evaluates both downlink and uplink conditions simultaneously when determining whether to initiate handover, ensuring that resource allocation decisions account for bidirectional communication quality rather than relying solely on downlink measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If handover is triggered based on downlink signal quality alone, then user device receives data effectively, but base station cannot receive uplink data efficiently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink data receptionVSAvoiduplink data transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the base station measures uplink signal quality using sounding reference signals (SRS) and uses this feedback information to adjust handover decisions. The base station continuously monitors both downlink and uplink signal qualities and uses this combined feedback to determine optimal handover timing, preventing scenarios where downlink is strong but uplink fails.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If traditional handover methods are used, then device connectivity is maintained, but wireless network resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice connectivityVSAvoidwireless network resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the decision parameters for handover from considering only downlink signal quality to evaluating both downlink and uplink signal quality metrics. By modifying the handover trigger conditions to include uplink measurements (SRS-RSSI, SRS-RSRP) alongside downlink measurements, the system avoids unnecessary handovers and optimizes resource allocation, preventing resource waste while maintaining connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3766282B1Handover of a wireless connection based on uplink and downlink signal qualities
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3766282B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3766282B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3766282B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure describes techniques and systems for handing over a connection of a user device, within a wireless network, based on qualities of downlink signals and qualities of uplink signals. These techniques and systems include a base station and a neighboring base station negotiating handover parameters, based on the qualities of downlink signals as detected by a user device and the qualities of uplink signals as detected by the base station and the neighboring base station. The base station and neighboring base station negotiate the handover parameters via an interface connecting the base station to the neighboring base station.