Wireless Handover Resource Allocation for Coverage Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LTE networks face challenges in providing enhanced coverage and low power consumption for machine-type communication devices, especially in challenging locations, and struggle with handover failures due to incorrect coverage enhancement levels during resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a source network node obtaining and transmitting an indication of resources to a wireless device for use during handover to a target network node, ensuring the device can adapt its random access procedure with the appropriate coverage enhancement level, thereby preventing handover failures and reducing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wireless device uses fixed resource allocation for handover, then the handover procedure is simple, but handover failure occurs when coverage enhancement level prediction is incorrect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the resource allocation adaptive rather than fixed. The network node determines coverage enhancement level based on actual channel conditions and dynamically allocates resources accordingly. This allows the system to adjust resource allocation in real-time based on the wireless device's actual coverage needs, preventing handover failures while managing complexity through automated determination algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network node receives measurement reports from the wireless device about channel conditions and uses this feedback to determine the appropriate coverage enhancement level. This closed-loop feedback system ensures reliable handover by continuously monitoring conditions and adjusting resource allocation based on actual performance data rather than static predictions.
2Reliability
If the network node communicates CE-level via MME, then the handover procedure is standardized, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coverage enhancement level determination from the core network MME and moves it to the access network node. This extraction eliminates the need for additional signaling between MME and eNB for CE-level communication, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining handover reliability through direct local determination at the network node based on available channel state information.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node performs self-service by autonomously determining the coverage enhancement level using its own measurements and available information about the wireless device and target cell conditions. This self-determination capability eliminates dependency on complex inter-node signaling for CE-level exchange, reducing signaling overhead while ensuring reliable handover through locally optimized resource allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain embodiments, a method by a source network node is provided for providing mobility support for enhanced coverage of wireless devices-in handover to a target network node. The method includes obtaining, from the target network node, an indication of at least one resource to be used by the wireless device in handover from the source network node to the target network node. The indication of the at least one resource is transmitted to the wireless device for use in handover from the source network node to the target network node.