Uplink-Based UE Handover Triggering in Radio Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In radio communication networks, especially with the rise of smartphones and tablets, the increased demand for high-speed data services leads to bandwidth challenges, and frequent UE measurements for handovers drain battery life and reduce throughput, particularly in heterogeneous networks where small-cells are deployed.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detects UE proximity by analyzing uplink transmissions to trigger handovers between base stations, sharing configuration parameters, and determining handover criteria based on received signal strength and quality, thereby reducing the need for UE measurements and improving mobility and data rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If frequent UE measurements are performed for handover in heterogeneous networks, then handover accuracy is improved, but battery consumption increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the UE performing measurements and reporting to the base station, the base station performs measurements on UE uplink transmissions and determines handover decisions. This inverts the measurement role from mobile device to network infrastructure, eliminating the need for UE to activate measurement functions and thus conserving battery power while maintaining handover accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station uses its own measurement capabilities to autonomously determine UE proximity and trigger handovers without requiring UE participation in measurements. The network serves itself by performing the measurements that would otherwise be performed by the UE, eliminating the energy consumption burden on the mobile device.
2Measurement precision
If frequent UE measurements are performed for handover, then handover decision accuracy is improved, but UE throughput decreases due to reduced scheduling opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is inverted from UE to base station operations. Since the base station performs measurements on uplink transmissions, no measurement gaps or scheduling restrictions are imposed on the UE. The UE maintains full scheduling opportunities on the serving carrier while the base station autonomously determines handover based on its measurements of UE signals.
3Adaptability or versatility
If UE performs measurements on non-serving carrier, then inter-frequency handover capability is improved, but scheduling opportunities on serving carrier decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the UE measuring non-serving carriers during scheduled opportunities, the base station measures UE uplink transmissions to determine proximity to target base stations. This eliminates the need for UE to switch RF chains or perform inter-frequency measurements, maintaining full scheduling opportunities while achieving the same handover decision capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments herein provide a method and system to trigger UE handover in a radio communication network including a serving base station and a plurality of candidate base stations. The serving base station shares uplink transmission information associated with the UE with the candidate base stations. A candidate base station detects the presence of the UE located in radio coverage of the candidate base station by obtaining information from the uplink transmission of the UE. Further, the candidate base station computes a second parameter and sends to the serving base station. The serving base station determines to trigger handover procedure when the second parameter meets handover criteria. Further, the serving base station sends handover command to the UE after determining that the second parameter meets handover criteria.