Wireless Handover Latency Reduction via Preliminary Resource Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

High latency in wireless communications systems leads to service interruptions, dropped calls, and poor user experience, especially in environments with high mobility and ultra-dense networks, where connection management processes such as handover can be time-consuming and delay-prone.

Innovation Solution

The method involves providing user equipment with initial uplink resource allocation and transmit power level information by the communications controller, thereby reducing the latency associated with determining these parameters during handover procedures, and potentially omitting the timing advance procedure if synchronized networks or small coverage areas are present.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If random access parameters are exchanged between base stations before handover, then connection reliability is improved, but latency increases due to additional signaling steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidhandover latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The source base station determines and provides the random access preamble and resource allocation to the user equipment in advance, before the handover is executed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time determination during handover, reducing latency while ensuring reliable connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the random access parameter determination process from the target base station and relocates it to the source base station. This extraction allows the parameters to be prepared and communicated beforehand, removing them from the critical handover path and reducing overall handover latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If timing advance procedure is performed during handover, then uplink synchronization is improved, but connection management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink synchronizationVSAvoidconnection management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the timing advance procedure from the handover process entirely by using pre-determined random access parameters that inherently provide uplink synchronization. This extraction eliminates the need for separate timing advance messaging and procedures, reducing complexity while maintaining synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If user equipment determines random access parameters during handover, then adaptability is improved, but latency increases due to real-time determination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter adaptabilityVSAvoidparameter determination latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The source base station determines the random access parameters in advance based on current channel conditions and user equipment characteristics, then provides them to the user equipment before handover. This preliminary determination maintains adaptability to current conditions while eliminating real-time determination latency during the critical handover moment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3417651B1Methods, user equipment and communications controller for managing connections in a wireless communications system
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3417651B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3417651B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3417651B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for digital communications includes receiving first configuration information for an initial uplink message transmitted by the UE to a second communications controller, the first configuration information including a first uplink resource allocation indicator indicating a first uplink resource and a transmit power indicator indicating a transmit power level, the first configuration information is received from a first communications controller, and transmitting the initial uplink message in accordance with the first configuration information.