Wireless Device Handover Using Stored Configurations
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing handover procedures in wireless networks often experience delays due to extensive signaling requirements, which can result in the wireless device losing connection with the source cell before completing the handover, especially under rapidly deteriorating radio conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and wireless device that store handover configurations for target cells, allowing for opportunistic handovers by selecting and connecting to a target cell using the stored configuration without needing additional signaling, and initiating an RRC re-establishment procedure if no stored configuration is available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional handover procedures are used with extensive signaling, then handover completion can be confirmed with network coordination, but the signaling delays cause the wireless device to lose connection with the source cell before handover completes
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless device performs cell selection and identifies a target cell before the handover signaling is complete. By having the target cell selected in advance, the device can quickly apply the stored handover configuration and initiate connection to the target cell without waiting for extensive signaling exchanges, thus reducing handover delay while maintaining reliability through pre-validated cell selection
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless device autonomously applies the stored handover configuration for the selected target cell and initiates the connection procedure itself without requiring additional signaling with the network. This self-service approach eliminates the signaling delay that would otherwise occur between handover decision and execution, allowing the device to complete handover before losing source cell connection
2Reliability
If the wireless device waits for network signaling to complete handover, then proper handover coordination is achieved, but the extensive signaling increases the risk of connection loss during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs cell selection and has target cell configurations stored in advance, so when handover is needed, the device can immediately execute the handover to the pre-selected target cell using the stored configuration. This preliminary preparation enables fast handover execution while the network maintains coordination through the pre-configured handover commands
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless device skips the intermediate signaling steps by directly applying the stored handover configuration and initiating connection to the target cell. This rushing through of the handover process using pre-prepared configurations allows the device to complete handover quickly before connection loss occurs, while the network had already provided the necessary coordination through earlier signaling
3Loss of time
If the wireless device performs cell selection and applies stored handover configuration immediately, then handover delay is reduced, but additional signaling may be required to obtain handover configuration for the selected cell
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides handover configurations for multiple potential target cells in advance, and the wireless device stores these configurations before cell selection. When cell selection identifies a target cell, the device already has the configuration stored and can apply it immediately without additional signaling, thus reducing handover execution time while managing complexity through pre-fetching configurations for candidate cells
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a wireless device (100) for handling handover in a wireless network (102) from a source cell (104) to a target cell when the device has obtained and stored a handover configuration for at least one target cell X (106A-C). Upon detecting a communication failure, the wireless device (100) performs cell selection and initiates handover to one of the target cell(s) X when that cell was selected, by applying the stored handover configuration of the selected cell. When none of the target cell(s) X was selected in the cell selection, the wireless device (100) initiates an RRC re-establishment procedure.