Wireless Network Carrier Restriction Management via Inter-Frequency Handover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless telecommunications networks face challenges in managing carrier restrictions, which can lead to handover failures and loss of connectivity when user devices move from areas without restrictions to areas where specific carrier frequencies are prohibited, causing issues with uplink or downlink carriers.
Innovation Solution
The system implements inter-frequency handover procedures to assign new primary carriers that avoid restricted frequency bands, allowing the creation of hybrid primary carriers by pairing unpaired uplink and downlink carriers, and uses supplemental downlink carriers to enhance capacity, thereby enabling seamless handovers while adhering to carrier restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network uses standard handover procedures to maintain connectivity, then user devices can move between coverage areas, but handover failures occur when moving into restricted areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether to perform intra-frequency or inter-frequency handover based on real-time carrier restriction status of the target cell. The handover frequency is adjusted dynamically according to the restriction conditions, enabling adaptive response to different operational environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the handover parameter (frequency) based on carrier restriction conditions. When carrier restrictions are detected in the target cell, the system switches from intra-frequency handover to inter-frequency handover, changing the operational parameters to comply with restrictions while maintaining connectivity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the network prohibits uplink or downlink carriers in restricted areas, then carrier restrictions are enforced, but connectivity is lost for devices moving into these areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a frequency dimension to the handover process. When carrier restrictions block connectivity in the original frequency band, the system transitions to a different frequency band (inter-frequency handover), effectively adding another dimensional option for maintaining connectivity while respecting restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The target base station acts as an intermediary that detects carrier restrictions and communicates this information to the source base station. This intermediary function enables the network to coordinate handovers that respect carrier restrictions while maintaining user connectivity
3Reliability
If the network performs inter-frequency handover to avoid restricted carriers, then connectivity is maintained, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of carrier restrictions in the target cell before executing the handover. The source base station receives advance notification of restriction status, allowing it to pre-determine the appropriate handover frequency and prepare accordingly, simplifying the actual handover execution
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques described herein may be used to manage a wireless telecommunications network that is subject to carrier restrictions. In a handover procedure, a source base station may assign an alternative primary carrier to a user device if the current primary carrier (or a secondary carrier thereof) is prohibited by a target base station. An unpaired downlink carrier may be aggregated to the alternative primary carrier as a supplemental downlink (SDL) carrier. New primary carriers may be created by joining unpaired downlink carriers with unpaired uplink carriers. New primary carriers may include a high frequency downlink carrier and a low frequency uplink carrier. New primary carriers may be allocated to wireless devices within a coverage area based on device type and/or a signal propagation quality of each wireless device.