Smart Soft Handover

Feature Guide

Smart Soft Handover

Version Date Author Reviewer Notes

V1.00 2016-11-09 Feng Hong Wu Xiuling First edition

V1.01 2017-10-31 Feng Hong Wu Xiuling Add the strategy of SFN related and parameters.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Feature Attribute

2 Overview
2.1 Feature Introduction
2.1.1 ZWF21-03-015 Smart Soft Handover
2.2 License Control
2.3 Correlation With Other Features

3 Technical Description
3.1 Configured Neighboring Cells Handover in Primary Scrambling Code Confusion Scenario
3.1.1 Handover Strategy for Configured Neighboring Cells with Primary Scrambling Code Confusion
3.1.2 Candidate Cell Screening Strategy Based on SFN
3.1.3 Target Cell Selection Strategy Based on Distance
3.2 Missing Neighboring Cells Handover
3.2.1 Handover Strategy for Missing Neighboring Cells
3.2.2 Intra-frequency Blacklist Configuration

4 Parameters

5 Related Counters and Alarms

5.1 Related Counters
5.2 Related Alarms

6 Engineering Guide
6.1 Application Scenario
6.2 Feature Activation Procedure
6.3 Feature Validation Procedure
6.4 Feature Deactivation Procedure
6.5 Impact on the Network

7 Abbreviation

8 Reference Document

FIGURES

Figure 3-1 Neighboring Cell Relationship

Figure 3-2 Neighboring Cell Relationship (including a missing neighboring cell)
Figure 6-1 Parameters configuration interface 1
Figure 6-2 Parameters configuration interface 2
Figure 6-3 Parameters configuration interface 3
Figure 6-4 Parameters configuration interface 4
Figure 6-5 Parameters configuration interface 5

TABLES
Table 2-1 License Control List
Table 4-1 Parameter Description
Table 5-1 Counter List
Table 6-1 Feature Validation Procedure
Table 6-2 RNC parameter list

1 Feature Attribute
BSC/RNC Version: [ZXWR RNC V3.16.10.19/ZXUR 9000 V4.16.10.19]

BTS/Node B Version: [ZXSDR V4.16.10]

Attribute: [Optional]

Related Network Element:

NE Name Related or Not Special Requirements
MS/UE -
BTS/Node B -
BSC/RNC √
iTC -
MSC -
MGW -
SGSN -
GGSN -
HLR -
“√”: Related, “-”: Irrelative

2 Overview

2.1 Feature Introduction

2.1.1 ZWF21-03-015 Smart Soft Handover

There are 512 scrambling codes defined in a UMTS network, but scrambling code collision may still occur in neighboring cells in an actual network. Because the
measurement report of a UE indicates only the primary scrambling code of a cell, if multiple neighboring cells have the same primary scrambling code, the RNC cannot
correctly identify the target cell indicated by a UE. As a result, the soft handover may fail. As Small Cells are widely deployed, the number of neighboring cells is increased
drastically, and the number of neighboring cells sharing the same scrambling code is also increased. Therefore, a macro cell is likely to have neighboring cells with the same
scrambling code. As the scrambling code confusion probability in UE’s measurement reports becomes higher and higher, the soft handover success rate is decreased.

To solve this problem, this feature is introduced. If a UE reports a primary scrambling code shared by multiple neighboring cells, the RNC can select the nearest neighboring
cell as the handover target cell according to the geographic information (such as longitude and latitude) or SFN difference. Thus, soft handover failure can be reduced. This
feature achieves smart handovers. It can identify the correct target neighboring cell from the neighboring cells with the same scrambling code, and increase the soft
handover success rate.

In addtition, the RNC always only supports the handover to neighboring cells configured on the OMC-R. But when the network deployment strategy changes, such as
deploying new base station, the existing neighbor relation configuration may be not thorough any more, call drops occur because the handover to non-configured
neighboring cells cannot be executed.

Therefore, the following improvements are introduced in UR15. If a cell in the Detect Set is configured in the RNC, but is not configured as a neighboring cell of the source
cell, it can still be regarded as the target cell to perform soft handovers, to ensure the communication continuity and decrease the call-drop rate. And if the primary
scrambling code reported in the detected set report is reused by multiple cells configured in the RNC, the RNC can select the nearest intra-frequency cell as the handover
target cell according to the geographic information (such as longitude and latitude) or SFN difference.

2.2 License Control

Table 2-1 License Control List

License Configured
Feature ID Feature Name Unit
Control Item NE

Smart Soft
ZWF21-03-015 N/A N/A N/A
Handover
Neighboring Cell Neighboring Cell
ZWF21-20-012 RNC RNC
Monitoring Monitoring

2.3 Correlation With Other Features

1. Required Features

None

2. Mutually Exclusive Features

 None

3. Affected Features

None

3 Technical Description
There are two features described in this paper: the selection of target cell for handover when configured neighboring cells are with primary scrambling code confusion, and
support of the handover to missing neighboring cells.

3.1 Configured Neighboring Cells Handover in Primary Scrambling Code Confusion Scenario
To describe the scrambling code confusion situation, an example is shown, see Figure 3-1.

Figure 3-1 Neighboring Cell Relationship

Cell S is the servicing cell for the UE, Cell 1, Cell 2, and Cell 3 are the neighboring cells of Cell S, and Cell 1 and Cell 3 have the same scrambling code. There are two
scrambling codes in a UE’s measurement report, and one code is used for both cell 1 and cell 3. Because only scrambling codes are available in the UE’s measurement
report, the RNC cannot correctly match the scrambling code to cell 1 or cell 3. So the RNC needs to determine which cell (cell 1 or cell 3) is indicated by the scrambling code
in the measurement report. The function of smart soft handover by determining the target cell according to the geographic information or SFN difference is introduced.

3.1.1 Handover Strategy for Configured Neighboring Cells with Primary Scrambling Code Confusion

This feature is controlled by the parameter UUtranCellFDD.smartHoSwch.

Whether to obtain the SFN is controlled by URncInfo.getBfnSwitch, whether to obtain the latitude and longitude information for calculating the distance between cells is
controlled by UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw.

When UUtranCellFDD.smartHoSwch is set to “1: On”, and URncInfo.getBfnSwitch or UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw is set to “1: On”, if the RNC receives a measurement
report which requires to add a cell into the active set, the RNC obtains the candidate cell list (List1) for handover, which are the configured intra-frequency neighboring cells
and match the primary scrambling code indicated in the measurement report, where, the cells in block state must be eliminated. And then, the target cell of handover is
selected according to the following strategy:

l If URncInfo.getBfnSwitch is set to “1: On”, and UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw is set to “0: Off”, the List1 is screened according to “3.1.2Candidate Cell Screening Strategy
Based on SFN”. For the screened candidate cell list List2:

- If there is only one cell, the cell is the target cell of handover.

- If it is empty or there is more than one cell, the candidate cell with the least time difference (Delta*10) between it and the reported cell is the target cell of
handover.

l If URncInfo.getBfnSwitch is set to “0: Off”, and UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw is set to “1: On”, the target cell of handover is selected from List1 according to “3.1.3Target
Cell Selection Strategy Based on Distance”.

l If URncInfo.getBfnSwitch and UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw are both set to “1: On”, the List1 is screened according to “3.1.2Candidate Cell Screening Strategy Based on
SFN”. For the screened candidate cell list List2:

- If there is only one cell, the cell is the target cell of handover.

- If there is more than one cell, the target cell of handover is selected from List2 according to “3.1.3Target Cell Selection Strategy Based on Distance”.

- If it is empty, the target cell of handover is selected from List1 according to “3.1.3Target Cell Selection Strategy Based on Distance”.

3.1.2 Candidate Cell Screening Strategy Based on SFN

1. Obtain the SFN difference between the reported cell and the serving cell

The UE sends the frame offset (Tm and Off) between the neighboring cell SFN and UE CFN to the RNC through measurement reports. According to that information,
the RNC can obtain the SFN difference as below:

(SFN Cell S – SFN measure report) mod 256

= ((OFF + Tm)Cell S - (OFF + Tm) measure report) mod 256 (1)

2. Obtain the SFN difference between the candidate cells and the serving cell
 The RNC can obtain the SFN of a cell under the RNC itself through cell FP node synchronization between the user plane and NodeB, and calculate the SFN of a
neighboring cell under another RNC. These SFNs are saved and updated periodically, and the update period is indicated by the parameter URncInfo.updateBFNPeriod.

1) The current moment SFN (ms) of candidate cells and serving cell is calculated according to the current time and saved SFN as follows:

SFN current moment = ((Current TimeCurrent moment – TimestampDBS saved)/ 10

+ SFN DBS Saved) mod 4096 (2)

2) The SFN difference between cells: （SFN Cell S – SFN Cell candidate）mod 256 (3)

3. Obtain the SFN difference between the candidate cells and the reported cell (Delta)

Delta = ABS（（SFN Cell S – SFN Cell candidate）mod 256

- （（OFF + Tm）Cell S - （OFF + Tm）measure report ）mod 256） (4)

4. Screen the candidate cells

If the time difference (Delta*10) is greater or equal to the threshold URncInfo.smartHoTimeAccu, the candidate cell is eliminated from candidate cell list.

Note: The information about one scrambling code in a UE measurement report corresponding to multiple cells is exported to CT for network optimization analysis.

3.1.3 Target Cell Selection Strategy Based on Distance

1. Obtain the longitude and latitude of each candidate cell and the serving cell.

For the candidate cell: (Acandidate, Bcandidate).

For the serving cell: (Aserving, Bserving).

Where,

1) A means longitude, and B means latitude.

2) The north and south latitude are based on 0 ~ 90 in database, and is distinguished through the direction parameter, thus the RNC further processes the latitude
and longitude information it has obtained. The south Latitude is set to negative. In other words, LatitudeSign is "1: South" and the latitude as "-Latitude".

2. Compare the longitude and latitude of each candidate cell with that of the serving cell. If the longitude difference or latitude difference is more than 1 degree, the
corresponding candidate cell is eliminated from the candidate list.

3. For the screened candidate list

- If it is empty, there is no target cell which is available for handover.

- If there is only one cell, the cell is the target cell of handover.

- If there is more than one cell, the nearest one to the service cell is selected as the target cell of handover. The distance between the candidate cell and the
serving cell is calculated according to the following formula (the units of A and B are “degree”).

3.2 Missing Neighboring Cells Handover

Missing neighboring cells: Should be but not configured on the OMC-R.

Figure 3-2 Neighboring Cell Relationship (including a missing neighboring cell)

 To describe the missing neighboring cells situation, an example is shown, see Figure 3-2. Cell S is the servicing cell for the UE, Cell 1 and Cell 2 are the configured
neighboring cells of Cell S, Cell 3 is the missing neighboring cell of Cell S, and Cell 1, Cell 2 and Cell 3 have different primary scrambling codes.

When the UE moves to Cell 3, UE reports the primary scrambling code of Cell 3, but the handover to Cell 3 is not supported in the pre-version because the Cell 3 is a
missing neighboring cell, and call drop occurs. So this feature is introduced to support the handover to missing neighboring cells.

3.2.1 Handover Strategy for Missing Neighboring Cells

This feature is controlled by the switches ULogicalRnc.detSetHoOptRncSw and UCelInfoFDD.detSetHoOptSw.

Moreover, as the primary scrambling code reported in the detected set report may be reused by multiple cells configured in the RNC, this feature supports to determine the
target cell according to the SFN difference or geographic information concurrently.

Whether to obtain the SFN is controlled by URncInfo.getBfnSwitch, whether to obtain the latitude and longitude information for calculating the distance between cells is
controlled by UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw.

When ULogicalRnc.detSetHoOptRncSw and UCelInfoFDD.detSetHoOptSw are both set to “1: On”, and URncInfo.getBfnSwitch or UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw is set to “1:
On”, the detected set measurement is started. After the RNC receives the detected set measurement report, the candidate cells for handover are obtained through primary
scrambling code matching. If there is any configured neighboring cell in these cells, the report is handled according to the former strategy of detected set handover. If all
candidate cells are the missing neighboring cells, these cells make up the candidate list and are dealt with according to the following strategy:

1. The RNC screens the cells in the candidate list based on the intra-frequency blacklist and authorization, those cells which are in the intra-frequency blacklist or not
authorized are eliminated from the candidate list. About the intra-frequency blacklist, refer to “3.2.2Intra-frequency Blacklist Configuration”.

2. For the screened candidate list (List1), if it is empty, the detected set handover is not performed. Otherwise, the RNC performs the following strategy:

l If URncInfo.getBfnSwitch is set to “1: On”, and UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw is set to “0: Off”, the List1 is screened according to “3.1.2Candidate Cell Screening
Strategy Based on SFN”. For the screened candidate cell list List2:

- If it is empty, the detected set handover is not performed.

- If there is only one cell, the cell is the target cell of handover.

- If there is more than one cell, the candidate cell with the least time difference (Delta*10) between it and the reported cell is the target cell of handover.

l If URncInfo.getBfnSwitch is set to “0: Off”, and UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw is set to “1: On”, the target cell of handover is selected from List1 according to
“3.1.3Target Cell Selection Strategy Based on Distance”.

l If URncInfo.getBfnSwitch and UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw are both set to “1: On”, the List1 is screened according to “3.1.2Candidate Cell Screening Strategy Based
on SFN”. For the screened candidate cell list List2:

- If there is only one cell, the cell is the target cell of handover.

- If there is more than one cell, the target cell of handover is selected from List2 according to “3.1.3Target Cell Selection Strategy Based on Distance”.

- If it is empty, the target cell of handover is selected from List1 according to “3.1.3Target Cell Selection Strategy Based on Distance”.

Note: If the selected target cell of handover only supports cell reselection, the detected set handover is not performed. Otherwise, the handover is performed normally.

3.2.2 Intra-frequency Blacklist Configuration

For some cells, which are not appropriate for a UE to camp on or whose the handover failure rate is high, they can be not configured as the neighboring cells to avoid the
handover failure. However, after “Missing Neighboring Cells Handover” is introduced, the handover to missing neighboring cells is supported, which may lead to more
handover failures. So the intra-frequency blacklist is introduced. The cells, which are not configured with neighbor relation and not appropriate for handover, are added into
the blacklist to prohibit handover.

The blacklist is configured in the object UUBlkList, UUBlkList.refUUtranCellFDD is used to identify the intra-frequency black cell belonging to the RNC, and
UUBlkList.refUExternalUtranCellFDD is used to identify the intra-frequency black cell belonging to the external RNC.

In macro diversity, the blacklist is subject to that of the best cell.

For Iur interface, the blacklist is not considered.

4 Parameters
Table 4-1 Parameter Description

Parameter Value Default Recommended

Parameter Name GUI Name Unit
Description Range Value Value
 Parameter Value Default Recommended
Parameter Name GUI Name Unit
Description Range Value Value
UUtranCellFDD.smartHoSwch Smart This 0:Off N/A 0:Off 1:On
Handover parameter 1:On
Switch indicates
switch for
smart
handover.
When the
feature is on,
if the
scramble is
multiplexing,
RNC
determines
the target
handover cell
according to
the cells’
geographic
information,
such as
longitude and
latitude.
This
parameter
indicates
whether RNC
start getting 0:Off
Get BFN
URncInfo.getBfnSwitch cell BFN N/A 0:Off 1:On
Switch 1:On
function.
If this switch
is opened,
RNC get the
cell BFN.
This
parameter is
the switch of
whether to
obtain the
latitude and
longitude
information of
cells and
calculate the
distance
between cells.
If the
parameter is
"On", in the
function of
smart soft
handover, the
RNC obtains
Get 0:Off
the latitude
UExtRncInfo.getDistanceSw Distance N/A 0:Off 0:Off
and longitude 1:On
Switch
information of
some
specified cells
and
determines
the target cell
for handover
according to
the distance
between cells.
If the
parameter is
"Off", the
RNC does not
obtain the
latitude and
longitude
information of
cells.
This
parameter is
used to
control the
period of
updating cell
Update BFN
URncInfo.updateBFNPeriod BFN to DBS. 10~180 min 10 10
Period
The larger the
parameter,
the longer
period
updating cell
BFN.
This
Time parameter
Accuracy indicates time
URncInfo.smartHoTimeAccu 0~65535 ms 20 20
for Smart accuracy for
Handover smart
handover.
ULogicalRnc.detSetHoOptRncSw D e t e c t e d T h i s 0: Off N/A 0: Off 1: On
S e t parameter is 1: On
H a n d o v e r the switch of
 Parameter Value Default Recommended
Parameter Name GUI Name Unit
Description Range Value Value
Optimization detected set
RNC Switch h a n d o v e r
optimization.
If the switch is
set to "1:On",
t h e R N C
performs the
handover
even if the
target cell in
the detected
set report
reported by
the UE is not
a configured
neighbor cell.
If the switch is
set to "0:Off",
the RNC does
not perform
the handover
if t h e t a r g e t
cell in the
detected set
r e p o r t
reported by
the UE is not
a configured
neighbor cell.
T h i s
parameter is
the switch of
detected set
handover
optimization.
If the switch is
set to "1: On",
t h e R N C
performs the
handover
even if the
target cell in
the detected
Detected
set report
S e t
r e p o r t e d b y 0: Off
UCelInfoFDD.detSetHoOptSw Handover N/A 0: Off 1: On
the UE is not 1: On
Optimization
a configured
Switch
neighbor cell.
If the switch is
set to "0: Off",
the RNC does
not perform
the handover
if t h e t a r g e t
cell in the
detected set
r e p o r t
reported by
the UE is not
a configured
neighbor cell.
T h i s
parameter
indicates the
phy sical
identity of
intra-RNC
cells in the
blacklist.
Handovers to
a c e l l
corresponding
to this identity
i s
U T R A N
forbiddened.
Blacklist 0 . .
UUBlkList.refUUtranCellFDD If there are no N/A N/A N/A
Physical 2^32-1
cells which
Cell Identity
a r e
f o r b id d e n e d
to be handed
over, this
parameter is
n o t
configured.
The maximum
number of
intra-RNC
cells in the
blacklist for a
cell is 20.
UUBlkList.refUExternalUtranCellFDD E x t e r n a l T h i s 0 . . N/A N/A N/A
U T R A N p a r a m e t e r 2^32-1
B l a c k l i s t indicates the
P h y s i c a lp h y s i c a l
Cell Identity i d e n t i t y o f
inter-RNC
 Parameter Value Default Recommended
Parameter Name GUI Name Unit
Description Range Value Value
cells in the
blacklist.
Handovers to
a c e l l
corresponding
to this identity
i s
forbiddened.
If there are no
cells which
a r e
f o r b id d e n e d
to be handed
over, this
parameter is
n o t
configured.
The maximum
number of
inter-RNC
cells in the
blacklist for a
cell is 20.

5 Related Counters and Alarms

5.1 Related Counters

Table 5-1 Counter List

Counter ID Name
Number of attempted radio link addition for soft handover
C310880137
between cells
Number of successful radio link addition for soft handover
C310880138
between cells
Number of attempted active set update add no configuration
C310327375
adjacent cell
Number of successful active set update add no configuration
C310327376
adjacent cell
Number of attempted active set update add no configuration
C310910202
adjacent cell between cells
Number of successful active set update add no configuration
C310910203
adjacent cell between cells
Number of Measurement Report for no configurat ion
C310327417
adjacent cell

5.2 Related Alarms

This feature has no related alarms.

6 Engineering Guide

6.1 Application Scenario

This feature provides the smart handover function, to improve the system performance in the following two scenarios:
l For a neighboring cell with a reused scrambling code, this feature helps the RNC to identify the correct target neighboring cell, and improves the handover success rate of
the UMTS network.
l For a missing neighboring cell, this feature helps the RNC to perform the handover to it, and ensures communication continuity and decreases the call-drop rate.

6.2 Feature Activation Procedure

The purpose of this chapter is just to guide the reader how to find the GUI location of the parameters which are related to the deployment of this feature. The values indicated
by the captures possibly are not the real value to configure. Please refer to the last column of table in chapter 4 for the practical configuration value.

In the configuration resource tree window, open the [Modify Area → Managed Element->UMTS Logical Function Configuration->UTRAN Cell] interface and set the
parameter “Smart Handover Switch”, as shown in Figure 6-1.

Figure 6-1 Parameters configuration interface 1

In the configuration resource tree window, open the [Modify Area → Managed Element->UMTS Logical Function Configuration interface and set parameter” Global Reserved
Parameter 56: BIT22”, as shown in figure 6-2.

Figure 6-2 Parameters configuration interface 2

In the configuration resource tree window, open the [Modify Area → Managed Element->UMTS Logical Function Configuration->PLMN Relating Configuration -> Logic RNC
Configuration interface and set parameter ” Detected Set Handover Optimization RNC Switch”, as shown in Figure 6-3.

Figure 6-3 Parameters configuration interface 3

In the configuration resource tree window, open the [Modify Area → Managed Element->UMTS Logical Function Configuration->UTRAN Cell -> Extended Info of UTRAN
Cell interface and set parameter ” Detected Set Handover Optimization Switch”, as shown in Figure 6-4.

Figure 6-4 Parameters configuration interface 4

In the configuration resource tree window, open the [Modify Area → Managed Element->UMTS Logical Function Configuration->UTRAN Cell -> Adjacent Relation
Configuration->Utran Neighbouring Cell Black List interface and set parameters ” UTRAN Blacklist Physical Cell Identity” and “External UTRAN Blacklist Physical Cell
Identity”, as shown in Figure 6-5.

Figure 6-5 Parameters configuration interface 5

6.3 Feature Validation Procedure

Table 6-1 Feature Validation Procedure

Test Item Smart Soft Handover_d

1. WCDMA system is ready and works normally;
2. Two NodeB work well. Cell1 belongs to NodeB1, Cell2 and
Cell3 belong to NodeB2. Cell1and Cell2 with the same primary
Scrambling code.
3. All cells are configured the exact longitude and latitude
Preconditions information. The distance is further between cell1 and cell3
than cell2 and cell3, by calculating with the formula in
chapter 3.1.
4. All cells are configured with the same frequency. Cell1 and
Cell2 are Cell3 are configured as neighbor cells.
5. UE camps on Cell3.
1. Configure ‘Smart Handover Switch’ and ‘Global Reserved
Parameter 56: BIT22’ valued “1”.
2. UE initiates a CS service in cell3.
Test Steps 3. Move UE from Cell 3 to the coverage of Cell1 and Cell 2 to
trigger event 1a reported.
4. UE perform softer handover successfully.
5. Release the service.
Anticipative 1. In step3, UE reports event 1a with the PSC of cell1/cell2.
Result 2. In step4, UE will softer handover to nearer Cell2 successfully.

6.4 Feature Deactivation Procedure

Table 6-2 RNC parameter list

Managed Object. logic name Default Deactivation

GUI Name
Value Value
Smart
UUtranCellFDD.smartHoSwch Handover 0:Off 0:Off
Switch
Global
Reserved
URncFunction.gResPara56 0:Off 0:Off
Parameter
56
Detected Set
Handover
ULogicalRnc.detSetHoOptRncSw 0:Off 0:Off
Optimization
RNC Switch
Detected Set
Handover
UCelInfoFDD.detSetHoOptSw 0:Off 0:Off
Optimization
Switch

6.5 Impact on the Network

l When a scrambling code is reused in a neighboring cell, this feature automatically helps the RNC to identify the target cell, and improves the handover success rate.
l When the neighbor relation configuration is incomplete, and the missing neighboring cells exist, this feature automatically helps the RNC to identify the missing
neighboring cell and supports the handover to it, the call-drop rate is decreased.

7 Abbreviation
Abbreviations Full Characteristics
RNC Radio Network Controller
UE User Equipment
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunication System

8 Reference Document
None