Handover is key technology of Mobile communication system and make continued conversation possible.

Handover algorithm in Huawei product is flexible and powerful

Upon completion this course, you will be able to: Understand the type of handover. Master handover judgment flow Configure handover data Master handover signaling flow

Chapter 1 Introduction of Handover Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process Chapter 3 HO Data Configuration Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

Purposes of HO
To keep a continuous communication with a moving MS To improve network service performance To reduce the call drop rate To reduce the congestion rate

Classification by Reason
Emergency HO Timing Advance (TA) Emergency HO Bad quality (BQ) Emergency HO Rx_Level_Drop Emergency HO Interference Emergency HO load HO Normal HO Edge HO Layer HO Power Budget (PBGT) HO Speed-sensitive HO (Fast moving MS HO) Concentric Cell HO

Classification by Synchronization

Synchronous handover: source and target cell belong the same BTS Asynchronous handover: source and target cell belong the different BTS

Chapter 1 Introduction of Handover Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process Chapter 3 HO Data Configuration Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process 1.2 Measurement report preprocessing 1.3 Penalty processing 1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking 1.5 Condition of handover

General process of HO Algorithm

M.R. preprocessing
OM forced HO Directed retry
1

Edge HO Layer HO PBGT HO Fast moving MS HO Overlaid/underlaid HO

Penalty processing

TA emergency HO BQ emergency HO RSD emergency HO

Basic ranking

Secondary ranking

Interf. emergency HO Load Sharing HO

HO judgment
1

Processing program

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process 1.2 Measurement report preprocessing 1.3 Penalty processing 1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking 1.5 Condition of handover

Measurement Report
Uplink MR includes uplink receiving level and quality. Downlink MR includes downlink receiving level, downlink receiving quality of the serving cell and other downlink receiving levels from the neighbor cells.

Serving cell
The downlink measurement report of the serving cell

Neighbour cell

The uplink measurement report of MS

The downlink measurement report of the neighbour cell (BCCH)

Measurement Report

Period of measurement report

The downlink MR is sent to BTS in SACCH uplink The interval is 480ms/per time when MS is on TCH The interval is 470ms/per time when MS is on SDCCH

480ms

4 TCH multi-frames

12TCH

1SACCH

12TCH

1 Idle

MR interpolation

Every time BSC receives a measurement report, there will be an update to the basic rank of the cells. BTS may fail to receive the measurement report from MS. Before the rank-update, BSC needs to recover the lost measurement reports according to Filter Table. If the lost MR amount is within the allowed range, then recovers the lost MR according to the algorithm.

How to interpolate MR?

Continuous MR flow

MR

MR

MR

MR
MR

Measurement report No. n

Measurement report No. n+4

filtering

Continuous MR flow

MR

MR

MR

MR

MR

MR

Filter----Average several continuous MR.

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process 1.2 Measurement report preprocessing 1.3 Penalty processing 1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking 1.5 Condition of handover

Penalty Processing
There are altogether four types of penalty process (second step of HO algorithm process ) Penalty on the target cell when a HO fails. Penalty on the original serving cell when an emergency HO ( base on BQ and TA ) is performed. Penalty on other high priority layer cells after a fast moving HO is performed. A new HO attempt is prohibited within the penalty time after an overlaid/underlaid HO fails.

Penalty on the Target Cell

Punish the target cell when a HO fails. This is to avoid the MS to select this cell again in next HO judgment.

Cell A

BTS

HO failure BSC

Cell B

Penalty on the Source Cell

Punish the original serving cell when an emergency HO ( due to BQ and TA) occurs.

Cell A

BTS

BQ& TA HO BSC

Cell B

penalty on Non-umbrella Layer

Giving penalty on the other three layers after MS handovers to Umbrella cell by fast-moving-HO. This is to keep MS staying in the umbrella cell and avoid frequent HO.

Back? No way!

Umbrella

Micro cell

Penalty on Overlaid/underlaid Cell

A new Overlaid/underlaid HO is prohibited within a penalty time after an Overlaid/Underlaid HO failure.

Overlaid Underlaid

Do not attempt again after a failed HO!

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process 1.2 Measurement report preprocessing 1.3 Penalty processing 1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking 1.5 Condition of handover

Procedure of Ranking
Basic ranking and secondary ranking of cells are major parts of the HO judgment. Ranking is made through 16bits-algorithm. The serving cell and the neighbor cells will be listed in a cell list according to their 16bits value. The ranking processes include: M rule K rule 16bits ranking

M rule
Only the cells with received signal level satisfy the following conditions can be put into the candidate cell list. For serving cell RX_LEV (o) >MSRXMIN(o) + MAX(0,Pa(o)) For Neighbor cell RX_LEV (n) > MSRXMIN(n)+ MAX(0,Pa(n))+ OFFSET Pa(0) : MS_TXPWR_MAX(0) P Pa(n) : MS_TXPWR_MAX(n) P MS_TXPWR_MAX( ) : The appointed MS transmitting power by the BSS. P : Max_Power_of_MS Max_Power_of_MS : MS maximum transmitting power

K rule Criterion
After the M rule , the serving cell and candidate neighbor cells are ranked in descending order according to the receiving level only Both the serving cell and the neighbor cells have their own 16bits value. The smaller the value is, the higher the priority and position the cell is in the cell list. The 1st-3rd bits: bit value is decided according to the cell signal level and the penalty process taking place beforehand. The values come from max. 6 candidate cells and 1 serving cell according to the level ranges from 000~110. The value for the cell with the strongest signal level is 000.

16 15 14 13 12 11 10

The 4th bit: determined by HO hysteresis

The 4th bit: bit value is determined by inter-cell HO ( of the same layer ) hysteresis. The 4th bit of the serving cell is always 0, The receiving signal level of the neighbor cell >= The receiving level of the serving cell + Inter-cell HO ( of the same layer ) hysteresis, bit 4th is set to 0. The receiving level of the neighbor cell < The receiving level of the serving cell + Inter-cell HO ( of the same layer ) hysteresis, bit 4th is set to 1. Note: In PBGT HO, whichever the greater of the inter-cell ( of the same layer ) hysteresis and PBGT threshold, that value will be used in the PBGT HO.

16 15 14 13 12 11 10

The 5th10th bit: determined by Layer

The 5th-10th bits: bit value is decided according to their position in Huawei hierarchical network structure. When the signal level of the neighbor cells or the serving cell is lower than the layer HO threshold and hysteresis, this function is turned off and all bits are set to 0. That is to say only when the above criterions are met, then this function take effect. Huawei cell layers can be divided into 4 layers and each layer can be further divided into 16 different priorities. So there are 64 different priorities in Huawei hierarchical cell structure.

16 15 14 13 12 11 10

Hierarchical cell structure

Umbrella Cell GSM900 Cell GSM 900

GSM 900

GSM 900

GSM 900

GSM1800 Cell

GSM1800

GSM1800

GSM1800

Micro Cell

GSM900 GSM1800

GSM900 GSM1800

GSM900 GSM1800

GSM900 GSM1800

The 11th bit: determined by load

The 11th bit: bit value is decided by cell-load-sharing criterion. Serving cell: if Cell Load>= Start threshold of load HO, bit 11th is set to 1, otherwise is set to 0. Neighbor cell: if Cell Load>=Receive threshold of load HO, bit 11th is set to 1, otherwise is set to 0. Refer to Load HO Table for the load HO threshold and load req. on candidate cell. Clue : When the cell load is higher than the threshold, then the bit 11th is set to 1.This is done in order to put the cell in a lower part of the cell list.

16 15 14 13 12 11 10

The 12th/13th bit: determined by co-BSC/MSC

12th bit: bit value is decided by co-BSC criterion. Serving cell: is always set to 0. Neighbor cell: if co-BSC with the serving cell, 12th bit is set to 0, otherwise is set to 1. When the signal level from the neighbor cell or the serving cell is lower than layer HO threshold and hysteresis. This function is turned off and the value is set to 0. If the parameter Co-BSC/MSC Adj. in the HO control table is set to No, then this function is turned off and the value is 0. 13th bit : Bit value is decided by Co-MSC parameter, having the same concept as the 12th bit.

16 15 14 13 12 11 10

The 14th bit: determined by Layer HO

The 14th bit: Layer HO threshold adjustment bit Serving cell criterion Receive level >= layer HO threshold layer HO hysteresis, bit 14th is set to 0. At the same time, bit 13th, 12th and 10th5th bits are set to 0. If the above criterion is not met, then bit 14th is set to 1. Example : 20-5 = 15 ( -95 dBm )

16 15 14 13 12 11 10

The 14th bit: determined by Layer HO

Neighbor cell criterion Receive level >=layer HO threshold + layer HO hysteresis, bit 14th is set to 0. At the same time, bit 13th, 12th and 10th5th bits are set to 0 If the above criterion is not met, then bit 14th is set to 1. Example : 20+5 = 25 ( -85 dBm ) note The layer HO threshold and hierarchical hysteresis correspond to the value of that individual cells value. Usual situation : When the neighbor cells are of the same layer, each of the neighbor cells layer HO threshold value will be the same. Same concept goes for the layer HO hysteresis. This can maintain the entire hierarchical layers of the cell.

16 15 14 13 12 11 10

The 15th bit: determined by Cell Type

The 15th bit: Bit value is decided by cell type Serving cell or Neighbor cells: When cell type is extension cell When cell type is normal cell The 16th bit: Reserved bit 0. 1.

16 15 14 13 12 11 10

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process 1.2 Measurement report preprocessing 1.3 Penalty processing 1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking 1.5 Condition of handover

Types of HO
Emergency HO TA HO BQ HO interference HO Rx_Level_Drop HO Load HO Normal HO Edge HO, layer cell HO and PBGT HO Fast moving HO Overlaid/underlaid HO

TA&Bad Quality HO
TA HO criterion : TA of the serving cell > TA Thrsh. BQ HO criterion : The average value of the uplink quality of the serving cell > UL Qual. Thrsh. The average value of the downlink quality of the serving cell > DL Qual. Thrsh. Requirements on the target cell (same as the above two types of HO) Select the first cell in the neighbor cell list i.e. lowest 16bits value.

Rx_Level_Drop HO
Rx_Level_Drop HO Due to downlink signal level drop Triggered upon detecting rapid level drop during MS busy mode. Requirements for the target cell: The target cell is the first cell in the neighbor cell list.

Interference HO
Interference HO (DL&UL) : When the receiving level > receiving threshold level. But Receiving quality < threshold of quality interference. Requirements for the target cell: The target cell is in the cell list.

Cell Load HO
Cell Load HO Criterions : System load of BSC < Permissible load of HO threshold Load of serving cell > Load HO threshold Requirements for the target cell Load of target cell < Load HO threshold

BTS

BSC

Edge HO
Edge HO Criterion: In N seconds, when there are P seconds that neighbor cells DL or MSs UL signal level is lower than the Edge HO threshold. Then the criterion is met and Edge HO occurs. This method utilizes the P/N rule. Requirements for the target cell: The target cell should be ranked in front of the serving cell.

Layer HO
Layer HO criterions: Serving cell : No requirement. Target cell : Layer of the target cell is lower than the serving cell. Receive level of the target cell > layer cell threshold + layer cell hysteresis. Target cell should be ranked in front of the serving cell. The priority of target cell should be higher than the serving cells.

PBGT HO
PBGT HO Criterions : Target cells path loss is smaller than the serving cells path loss by the PBGT threshold value. Satisfying the P/N rule. Target cell should be ranked in front of the serving cell. Note : PBGT HO can only occur between same-priority cell. If the system permits PBGT HO for the cell, PBGT HO can occur in either inter-BSC or inter-MSC.

Fast-Moving HO
When the serving cell is micro cell : When the MS has traveled through P numbers of cell, and there are Q (=<P) numbers of cell that the MS has traveled in high speed, the criteria is satisfied. MS will be handed over to umbrella cell. When the serving cell is umbrella cell : When the MS is traveling high speed in umbrella cell, a greater penalty can be given to the micro cell for a duration of time (penalty time). In this way, the MS will not use the micro cell. Note :In this case, the micro cell is only used under urgency conditions( Poor TA and BQ ).

Overlaid/Underlaid Cell
Assume, 6TRX in one cell, one CDU and one SCU are adopted Where can we configure BCCH CH? CDU or SCU?

SCU
TRX TRX TRX TRX TRX TRX

Antenna

Antenna
CDU

Overlaid/Underlaid Cell
Purpose Maximize coverage area Reduce interference and improve frequency reuse density Construct method Different combiner loss Decrease the power of TRX By HO parameter, it is called IUO Classify Normal Underlaid/Overlaid IUO: Enhance Underlaid/Overlaid

How to Allocate SDCCH/TCH?

SDCCH SDCCH are always allocated in Underlaid Layer is allocated according the transmission delay of access burst TCH The receiving level TA They are included in MR of SDCCH CH on uplink reported by BTS

Factor of Handover between Under/Overlaid

Normal Underlaid/Overlaid Receiving level Time Advance Quality Enhanced Underlaid/Overlaid Receiving level Time Advance Quality Traffic Load of Underlaid

Normal Overlaid/Underlaid HO
: Division of underlaid and overlaid is decided by MS downlink receive level ,TA value and quality.

underlaid

overlaid
The quality boundary is elided in this figure

Normal Overlaid/Underlaid HO
Criterion for HO from overlaid to underlaid: TA value => TA threshold + TA hysteresis OR RX_LEV <= RX_LEV threshold RX_LEV hysteresis OR Qua. =>Qua. threshold Satisfying P/N rule Criterion for HO from underlaid to overlaid: TA value =< TA threshold TA hysteresis AND RX_LEV >=RX_LEV threshold + RX_LEV hysteresis AND Qua. =<Qua. threshold Satisfying P/N rule

Enhance Overlaid/Underlaid HO
Criterion for HO from overlaid to underlaid: TA value => TA threshold + TA hysteresis OR RX_LEV <= O to U level OR Qua. =>Qua. threshold Satisfying P/N rule Criterion for HO from underlaid to overlaid: TA value =< TA threshold TA hysteresis AND RX_LEV >= U to O level AND Qua. =<Qua. Threshold If the box U to O HO traffic threshold is checked, just in the condition that underlaid load is more than this threshold, U to O handover based on previous conditions can be triggered Satisfying P/N rule

Chapter 1 Introduction of Handover Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process Chapter 3 HO Data Configuration Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

1.1 Intra BSC Handover 1.2 Intra MSC Handover 1.3 Inter MSC Handover

Intra-BSC Handover Signaling process

MS

BTS1

BSC

BTS2

MS

MSC

Measurement Report from MS Channel_Active

Channel_Active ACK HANDOVER COMMAND Handover Access

Handover_Detect PHY INFO PHY INFO First SABM

Establish_IND

Handover Complete Handover_Performed

Intra-BSC Handover Signaling process

Attention In asynchronous HO, if MS could not reach the new TCH channel after the target cell has sent PHY INFO up to max times, the target cell reports CONN FAIL IND to BSC with the reason: HO access failure. After the above message is received, BSC release the assigned TCH channel in the target cell . Max resend times of physical information*Radio link connection timer > Time interval between EST IND and HO DETECT (120~180ms). This is to make sure that the physical information reach MS.

Intra-BSC Handover Signaling process

MS

BTS (Original)

BSC

BTS (Target)

MSC

Measurement Report Measurement Report

Attempted outgoing internal inter cell handovers

Channel_Activate T12++ Attempted incoming internal inter cell handoversT09++ Channel_Activate ACK Handover Command (Old FACCH) Handover Access (New FACCH)

Handover Complete (New FACCH) T10++

Successful incoming internal inter cell handovers

T13++ Successful outgoing internal inter cell handovers RF Channel Release Handover Performed

Measurement Points of Intra BSC Handover

Handover formula definition Internal inter cell radio handover success rate =(Successful incoming internal inter cell handovers + Successful outgoing internal inter cell handovers) / (Incoming internal inter cell handovers + Outgoing internal inter cell handovers ) Internal inter cell handover success rate =(Successful incoming internal inter cell handovers + Successful outgoing internal inter cell handovers) / (Attempted incoming internal inter cell handovers + Attempted outgoing internal inter cell handovers) Internal inter cell radio handover success rate >= Internal inter cell handover success rate

Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

1.1 Intra BSC Handover 1.2 Intra MSC Handover 1.3 Inter MSC Handover

Intra-MSC HO Signaling process

MS

BTS(original)

BSC1

MSC

BSC2

BTS (Target)

Measurement Report Measurement Report Attempted outgoing interBSC inter cell handovers Handover Required Handover Request
Attempted incoming interBSC inter cell handovers

Channel_Active Channel_Active_ACK

Handover_Request_ACK Handover Command Handover Access Handover Detect Handover Complete

Successful incoming inter BSC handovers Successful outgoing interBSC inter cell handovers

Handover Complete

Clear Command (HO Successful)

RF Channel Release Clear Complete

Channel Release process

MS

BTS
Disconnect Release

BSC

MSC

Release Complete Clear_CMD Channel Release Deactive_SACCH First DISC Release_IND UA RF_Release_REQ RF_Release_REQ_ACK Clear_CMP

Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

1.1 Intra BSC Handover 1.2 Intra MSC Handover 1.3 Inter MSC Handover

Signaling process between MSC

MS BSC-A MSC-A MSC-B
MAP_Prepare_HO

VLR-B

BSC-B

MS

HO-REQUIRED

MAP_Allocate_HO_NUM MAP_Send_HO_Repor t MAP_Send_HO_Report_ACK HO-REQUEST

MAP_Prepare_HO_ACK
IAI

HO-REQUEST-ACK

HO-Command

ACM

HO-Access MAP_Process_Access_Signalling HO-Complete MAP_Send_End_Signal Clear-Command Clear-Complete MAP_Send_End_Signal_ACK

Some intermediate steps are omitted

Signaling process between MSC

MS BSC-A MSC-A MSC-B
MAP_Prepare_HO

VLR-B

BSC-B

MS

HO-REQUIRED

MAP_Allocate_HO_NUM MAP_Send_HO_Repor t MAP_Send_HO_Report_ACK HO-REQUEST

MAP_Prepare_HO_ACK
IAI

HO-REQUEST-ACK

HO-Command

ACM

HO-Access MAP_Process_Access_Signalling HO-Complete MAP_Send_End_Signal Clear-Command Clear-Complete MAP_Send_End_Signal_ACK

Some intermediate steps are omitted

Inter-MSC HO Signaling process

Signaling process Abnormal conditions The following conditions will cause HO failure MSC-B fails to identify the target cell. MSC-B does not allow HO to the indicated target cell. The target cell has no channel available. VLR-B has no HO number available. HO error or unsuitable data.

Inter MSC HOSubsequent HO process

Roaming MS MSCa BSS2 Radio transmission signal measurement HO REQUIRED (target cell table) Perform subsequent HO(MAP) (target cell ID, serving cell ID, MSC number) Perform HO (target cell ID, serving cell ID, channel type) HO REQUEST (PCM&Channel type) HO REQUEST ACKNOWLmargin (including New TCH number and HO number) Allocate HO number Send HO report(HON) Radio channel ack. (MAP) (includes New TCH number and HON) IAI ACM Subsequent HO ack. HO COMMAND Send end signal (MAP) ANS End signal (MAP) CLEAR COMMAND CLEAR COMPLETE Release HO report Release HON HO DETECT HO COMPLETE E MSCb MSCb' VLRb VLRb' BSS2' MS

Release (TUP)

Cut physical connection between MSCa and MSCb

~ ~

End signal (MAP) Release (TUP/ISUP)

~ ~

Release HO report Release HON Cut physical connection between MSCAa and MSCb'

Inter MSC HOSubsequent HO process

Subsequent HO

MSC-A

MSC-B
MSC-C

MSC-C

Highway

Inter MSC HO Signaling process

Statistics countersame as Intra MSC HO, Statistics is handled by BSC HO formula-- same as Intra MSC HO

Major differences
There is no HO request information for intra-BSC HO, and all of the HO are analyzed and processed in BSC. Once the target cell as required is found in the BSC, Channel activation information is sent to it directly. When the target cell is not in the same BSC, BSC reports CGI numbers of the serving cell and target cell, and HO cause to MSC through Ho-Required. When MSC finds the LAC of the target cell is in the MSC, it sends Ho-Request to the BSC of the target cell, and the target BSC activates the target cell channel to complete the following procedure. When MSC finds that the target cell LAC does not belong to the MSC, it will query its LAI and GCI Table (including LAC and router address of the adjacent MSC), and send Prepare-HO message to the target MSC-B according to the router address. The message includes CGI of the target cell and indication whether or not to allocate HO number, etc. According to the message, the target MSC-B sends HO-Request message to the target BSC-B after demanding HO number (unless it is not required in the indication) from VLR-B, and sends Prepare-HO acknowledgement to serving MSC after received HO-Request acknowledgement, to execute the next procedure.

Major differences
Inter BSC HO transfers HO-REQ message through MSC, with CGI of the serving cell and target cell carried in the message. Intra BSC HO does not have any CGI in any messages, it is handled inside BSC. Intra BSC HO only sends HO-Performed to MSC upon completion of HO, and MSC is not involved before that time. In inter BSC HO, MSC is involved since the HO request .

Summary

In this course, we have learned:

Summary

Classify of handover Judgment and Ranking step Handover Data Configuration Handover signaling Flow