GSM Handover Algorithms

----Special Subject Training V1.4

Suitable for staff with junior P&O skill certificates (lower than certificate III)
Issued by GSM Network Planning & Optimization Dept.
 Internal Use Only▲

Version introduction

Version Date Writer Assessor Amendment record

V1.0 2007-07- Chen Chun Zheng Hao None

25
V1.4 2009-03-1 Fei Aiping Chang Haijie Explanation of MR is added.
2
 Internal Use Only▲

Training goals

Get to know theories and classification

of GSM handover;
Get to know the various kinds of ZTE
handover algorithms.
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handovers
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handovers
 Internal Use Only▲
Aims of handovers

Neighbour cell C
Freq. C

Serving
To ensure normal phone calls
cell

BTS
Neighbour cell
B
Freq. B
Neighbour cell A
Freq. A
To improve call quality

GSM handover belongs to system hard handover.

 Internal Use Only▲
Aims of handovers

 Marginal handover—to im
Retrieval handover—to prove the on-going call;
retrieve the on-going calls;

 Forced handover—to bala

nce traffic dispersion in di
fferent cells;

Intra-cellhandover—to red Directed retry—to improve

uce interference in the cell; the call establishment rate.
 Internal Use Only▲
Handover features
•Various algorithms can function simultaneously;
Various algorithms •Controlled by switches;
•System makes handover decision automatically.

Ordering of •Static priority;

target cells •Resource available(%);
•Budget power value.

Automatic traffic •Directed retry;

balance •Traffic load handover started by MSC;
•Priority adjustment by traffic load;
•Force directed-shift handover; 。。。

Unique penalty Fast-fading handover

mechanism algorithm
 Internal Use Only▲
Application scenes for handovers I （ scenes ）

Algorithms UL/DL UL/DL UL/DL Long UL Macr PBGT Traffic l Co-BCCH Forced
interfe quality level MS-B fast- o-micr hando oad han handover traffic-
rence hando hando S dist fading o han ver dover st shift
hando ver ver ance hando dover arted by handov
Path CI-
ver hando ver MSC er
loss& based
ver
TA- concent
based ric
concent handov
ric er
handov
Scenes
er

urban √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Dense √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
urban

suburb √ √ √ √

The table is for reference only!

 Internal Use Only▲
Application scenes for handovers II （ network type
s）
Algorithms UL/DL UL/DL UL/DL Long M UL Macr PBGT Traffic l Co-BCCH Forced
interfer quality level S-BS di fast- o-mi handov oad ha handover traffic-
ence handov handov stance fading cro h er ndover shift
handov er er handov hando ando started handov
Path CI-
er er ver ver by MS er
loss& based
C
TA- concen
based tric
concen handov
tric er
handov
Scenes er

Dual-band √ √ √ √ √ √ √
network
Double-layer √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
network

CO-BCCH √ √ √ √ √ √

Long- √ √ √ √ √
distance
coverage The table is for reference only!
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover
 Internal Use Only▲
Overall handover flow

Overall handover flow

P
f str ena
so
s at lty
o ce R ha fo egy
Pr M n r
fa dov
ilu e
Decision re r
of Selection Ordering Start of
handover of target of target handover
start cells cells
 Internal Use Only▲
What is MR?

UL MR
1. DL DTX performance
2. UL receive level/quality
3. BS Power
4. MS power level
5. TA
6. DL dynamic power control

DL MR
1. UL DTX performance
2. DL receive level/quality
3. Adjacent cell level
4. UL dynamic power control
 Internal Use Only▲
MR cycle
 MR is sent to BTS in SACCH UL direction;
 When MS is in SDCCH, MR cycle is 470ms/time;
 When MS is in TCH, MR cycle is 480ms/time.

26 multi-fra
480ms mes of 4 TC
Hs

12TCH 1SACCH 12TCH 1 空闲

 Internal Use Only▲
Process of MR
Features

Number of MR sh Consider DTX The max number When power contr

all reach the aver weight; of missing MR is Z ol is on, power co
age size of window eroAllowed; mpensation shall b
; e made to handove
r decision threshol
d.

Measurement report is the original data base for handover decision. ZXG10 process
adopts roll average method with various weights, which can ensure smooth handover.
 Internal Use Only▲
The max number of missing MR - ZeroAllowed
 Suppose ZeroAllowed=1
MR1/PR1
MR1

MR2/PR2
MR2 Average_MR1 =(MR1+0+MR3+MR4)/(4-1)
=？

丢 MR3/PR3
MR3 Average_MR2 =(0+MR3+MR4+0)/4
=？
missing
失

MR4/PR4
MR4

MR5/PR5
MR5

MR6/PR6
MR6

MR7/PR7
MR7
 Internal Use Only▲
Handover preprocess at BTS
 Suppose HOPreprocess is open ， and the value is 2.

MR1
Preprocess Result1
MR2
BSC

MR3
Preprocess Result2
MR4

If HOPreprocess=0, how to upload MR?

 Internal Use Only▲
Process of MR at BSC
 Suppose window value=4, N=4
MR1/PR1

MR2/PR2 Average_MR1

MR3/PR3
Average_MR2

MR4/PR4 N/P decision

Average_MR3
MR5/PR5

Average_MR4
MR6/PR6

MR7/PR7
 Internal Use Only▲
Selection of target cells
 Macrocell normal TRX

 Intra-cell  Macrocell special TRX

handover

 Other TRX in microcell

 Handover
types 1 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) +
MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
condition 1 must be satisfied
 Inter-cell
2 ： PBGT(n ) > HO_MARGIN(n)
handover

3 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > avRxLevDL + HO

_MARGIN_LEVEL(n)

4 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > avRxLevDL + HO_MA

RGIN_QUAL(n)
 Internal Use Only▲
Settings of cell layer & priority

Layer1
Layer2 Layer2 Layer2
Layer2
Layer2

Layer3 Layer3 Layer3 Layer3 Layer3 Layer3 Layer3 Layer3 Layer3

 Functions of cell layer structure:

 More reasonable control of traffic dispersion;
 Control of traffic congestion;
 Backup of network capacity redundancy.
Serial Handover causes Handover types Priority After Tmicro overtim Before Tmicro over
es Internal Use Only▲
times
1 CO-BCCH Intra-cell Invalid Invalid
2 UL interference Intra-cell Invalid Invalid
3 DL interference Intra-cell Invalid Invalid

4 UL quality Inter-cell Same layer- upper layer - Upper layer – same layer
lower layer -lower layer
5 DL quality Inter-cell Same layer- upper layer - Upper layer – same layer
lower layer -lower layer
6 UL level Inter-cell Same layer- upper layer - Upper layer – same layer
lower layer -lower layer
7 DL level Inter-cell Same layer- upper layer - Upper layer – same layer
lower layer -lower layer
8 Long distance Inter-cell Same layer- upper layer - Upper layer – same layer
lower layer -lower layer
9 UL fast fading Algorithms
Inter-cell First search for related cells Invalid
are related to Upper layer – same layer
their layers lower layer
10 PBGT Inter-cell According to No cells on same layer
PbgtHoLayer: and lower layer
selected
Same layer- upper layer
lower layer
11 Macro-micro time hyt Inter-cell Handover to lower layer No handover
eresis
12 Traffic Inter-cell According to TrafficHoLa Invalid
yrCtl 、 TrafficHoFreqCtl
 Internal Use Only▲
Parameter-NcellLayer
 (NcellLayer) is a mathematical array. Each element determin
es the layer relation between the serving cell and its adjacen
t cells.
 The number of cells in an array rests on NcellNum.

NcellNum val Meaning

ue
0 N, undefined

1 SAME, the serving cell and its adjacent cells are on

the same layer
2 UPPER, adjacent cells are on the serving cell’s up
layer
3 LOWER, adjacent cells are on the serving cell’s low
layer
Other values Reserved
 Internal Use Only▲
Layer parameter-Tmicro
 Tmicro is started when Tmicro Time duration
the MS accesses into n
ew channel; 50 5s
 The layer selection prio 51 5.1s
rity of target cells will b
e affected, if handover i … …
s started within the tim 200 20s
e set on Tmicro.
 Default: 80(8s).
 Internal Use Only▲
Ordering of target cells

Layer priority of
candidate cells

Resource
Static available(%
priority )
Dynamic
priority

Power budget margin

 Internal Use Only▲
Handover decision/
execution Penalty strategy of inter-cell handover failure

N
Handover failure? Complete handover flow
PenalCount=PenalCount+
Y 1

Start HoFailPenalTime
Y

compare the difference

Y The punished cell owns
between adjacent cell’s
PenalCount<3 the highest priority?
priority and the accepta
ble priority
N N
RxLev(n)=RxLev(n)-PenaltyLe
vOffset ；
Screen the target cell PenaltyCount=PenaltyCount+1

N
HoFailPenalTime
overtimes ？
Y

Relieve the target cell

of penalty
 Internal Use Only▲
Handover decision
Penalty strategy of intra-cell handover failure
Start intra-cell N
Other handover
handover?
Y

Start HoFailPenalTime

N IHoCount=IHoCount+1 ；
TMaxIHo overtimes ？ TMaxIHo=0

Y
N
IHoCount=MaxIHo ？
IHoCount=0
Y Y
Stop starting intra-cell Other handover
handover requirements are satisfied?

Y N
N
IHoCount=MaxIHo ？
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover
 Internal Use Only▲
UL/DL interference handover
UL/DL
Y interference
handover
intra-cell
handover
Idle TCH
available in cell?
UL/DL quality
N Handover
inter-cell
handover
Decision of handover start:
AvRxQualUL
It’s suggested (n) 
that UL/DL InterfFQSS(n)
interference be closed in network with HF open.
255 AvRxLevUL( n)  XOffset  20
YOffset  2 XOffset  20  AvRxLevUL( n)  XOffset  30

InterfFQSS(n)  
YOffset  3 XOffset  30  AvRxLevUL( n)  XOffset  40
YOffset  4 XOffset  40  AvRxLevUL( n)
 Internal Use Only▲
UL/DL quality handover
Decision of handover start:
AvRxQualUL>=HoUlQualThs
AvRxQualDL>=HoDlQualThs
Selection of target cells:

1 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))

2 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > AvRxLevDL + HO_MARGIN_QUAL(n)

That is:
1. Adjacent cell’s level must be larger than the minimum receive level set for it;
2. Adjacent cell’s level shall be larger than the sum of quality handover
threshold and the serving cell’s DL level.
 Internal Use Only▲
UL/DL level handover
Decision of handover start:
AvRxLevelUL=<HoUlLevThs
AvRxLevelDL=< HoDlLevThs
Selection of target cells:

1 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))

2 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > AvRxLevDL + HO_MARGIN_LEVEL(n)

That is:
1. Adjacent cell’s level must be larger than the minimum receive level set for it;
2. Adjacent cell’s level shall be larger than the sum of level handover threshold
and the serving cell’s DL level.
 Internal Use Only▲
Long BS-MS distance handover
Radio
Decision of handover start: environment
quality is
AvDistance>DistanceThreshold(TA) not
regarded as
decision
Selection of target cells: standard.

1 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))

The only condition is that the adjacent cell’s level is larger than the minimum
receive level set for it.

Application range:
This kind of handover is usually used in networks with long distance coverage.
 Internal Use Only▲
PBGT handover
 This handover happens mostly in urban area;
 It isn’t for saving handover, but for better call quality.

Decision of handover start:

Make handover decision to each adjacent cell in rotation;
when an adjacent cell’s PBGT value is higher than 0, handover condition is
satisfied.
Selection of target cells:

1 ： AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))

2 ： PBGT(n ) > HO_MARGIN(n)

That is:
1 ： Adjacent cell’s level shall be larger than the minimum receive
level set for it;
2 ： Its power budget value shall be larger than the PBGT handov
er threshold set for adjacent cell.
 Internal Use Only▲
Directed retry-decision of handover start
MS applies for TCH

Yes Usable TCH

Assignment success
available?

No

Successful force disconn successful Force disconnetion,

etion, force handover and force handover and
ordering ordering attempt
unsuccessful

Yes Directed retry

Directed retry
switch open or not

No

TCH occupancy failure

 Internal Use Only▲
Directed retry handover
 It happens in the process of calling access;
 It dynamically adjusts call traffic between cells;
 It can lower call loss rate;
 Selection of target cells must fulfill condition 1.

Get to know the flow of How to control

internal & external directed retry 2/3G handover priority?

It’s suggested that ordering process be opened first,

since its effect is better than that of directed retry.
 Internal Use Only▲
Penalty on directed retry failure

N (N>3, failure)

No candidate Order c Y
Start the After timer
cells found andidat Handover
dedicated timer expires
e cells

2nd Y
BSC internal
candida Handover
cells
te cell
Candidate N
cells have no
radio
resources BSC external
cells Complete

N (N>3, or T3107 expires, give up directed retry)

Failure due 2nd Y

to radio link Delete the
candida Handover
problem attempt cells
te cell
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover
 Internal Use Only▲
UL fast fading handover
 This is a kind of algorithm for saving handover due to UL level
decrease;
 It is flexibly used in dense urban areas, like micro-cells, highways,
corners and slopes, where in-time outgoing handovers are needed;
 Selection of target cell shall fulfill condition 1;
 Given condition 1 is fulfilled, handover to “relevant cells” is preferred.

MR1/PR1
P unavailable ！

MR2/PR2 Directly
report MR to Number of consecutive
handover decisions (N)
BTS
MR3/PR3

MR4/PR4
 Internal Use Only▲
Macro-micro handover
 Handover trigger conditions: measured values of adjacent
cell’s signal strength is higher than threshold, and this rea
ches certain consecutive times.
AvRxLevUL(n)>= MacroMicroHoThs

 Selection of target cell:

 Condition 1 is fulfilled;
 Layer relation with neighbor cell （ NcellLayer ） is
Lower.
Serving cell: macro Macrocell
cell
Target cell: microc Microcell Microcell
ell

T=-80dBm ；
N=6 ；
 Internal Use Only▲
Traffic handover
 When the serving cell suffers from congestion, for MS which
has established a call, BSC will hand it over to an adjacent cell
which can fulfill traffic handover conditions.

Adjust call traffic in different cells to reach traffic balance.

Decision of handover start:

TCHBusyPercent>TrafficThs

Excluding congested TCHs;

Regardless dynamic HR and dynam
ic PDTCH.

Selection of target cell:

Condition 1 PBGT(n) > TrafficLevThs
 Internal Use Only▲
MSC-started traffic load handover
 It’s started by MSC;
 Select at most NumOfMS calls;
 Handover from high loaded cells to low loaded ones.

Inter-BSC load adjustment;

No data configuration needed at radio side.

Note:
Precondition for this handover algorithm: MSC starts the
function, and BSC supports load report.
Currently, no manufacturer makes this function open. ?????
 Internal Use Only▲
Forced directed-shift handover

The last means to adjust traffic; Mainly used in CO-BCCH cells;



Features
Applicable  Target cell must be
scenes:900M1800M cell of the forced firected shift
same direction; handover cell.
 Internal Use Only▲
Forced directed-shift handover strategy
Decision of handover start:
PathLoss(n)<=MaxLossThs

Only Only
based TA(n)<=MaxTAThs based
on on
Path MaxTAThs=63 MaxLossThs =150 TA
loss

Selection of target cell:

PBGT value must be larger than the difference between PBGT thres
hold and MaxForceHoDiff;
Usable resource in target cell must be larger than HoForceResThs;
Target cell must be the one for dorced directed-shift handover.
 Internal Use Only▲
Comparison between Forced directed-shift handover and
other types of handover
Usually they are valid at the same time, but PBGT‘s priority is higher
Compared than that of forced directed-shift handover;
with PBGT
The MaxLevDiff of forced directed-shift handover must be smaller
handover
than the value of reverse PBGT, or Pingpong handover will be resulted.

Compared Forced directed-shift is the handover between two TCHs during call
with process;
directed Directed retry is carried out when applying for TCH during call

retry access.

Compared  Different trigger conditions (forced directed-shift handover is

with traffic triggered by MS, traffic handover is triggered by BSC.)
handover Different handover flows.
 Internal Use Only▲
Co-BCCH handover-subcell
 Co-BCCH

Carriers in different freq

uency bands belong to diff
erent subcells;
Configuration o
The first subcell is confi
f subcell gured with BCCH.
The first subcell

 Co-channel cell The second subcell

Concentric circle advanc
e technology;
Subcells are allowed to
make power control respec
tively.
 Internal Use Only▲
Co-BCCH handover trigger decision
too small
pathloss &
PathLoss<=PathLossMin
TA And TA<= SubCellTAMin
Based on
pathloss The se
&TA cond s
too large ubcell
Decis pathloss &
PathLoss>= PathLossMax
ion of TA Or TA>= SubCellTAMax
hand
over
trigg
er
C/I good C/I>= GoodCiThs

The fir
Based on C/I st subc
ell
C/I bad C/I=< BadCiThs
Contents

Overview of handover
Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover
 Internal Use Only▲
Options of inter-system (2G-UMTS/TD) handover strategy

Handover to Handover to 3G N Handover to 3G in

MSC side 3G preferred OT preferred hibited

BSC side

Handover to 3G Handover to Handover to 3G p Handover to 3G

preferred 3G preferred referred inhibited
BSC control
preferred
Handover to 3G NOT Handover to Handover to 3G Handover to 3G
preferred 3G NOT NOT preferred inhibited
preferred

Handover to 3G inhi Handover to Handover to 3G Handover to 3G

bited 3G inhibited inhibited inhibited
 Internal Use Only▲
Description of inter-system (2G-UMTS/TD) handover strategy

3G cell Valid decision Start 3G handover, no more attempt to 2G;

preferre 3G handover decision

d Null decision 2G handover decision & selection of target cell;

Select a 3G cell as candidate,

Saving handover try it if there is no usable radio
resource available in 2G cell;
Valid decision

2G cell 2G
Handove Non-saving handover 3G cells are not for candidates;
preferred r decision

Null decision 3G handover decision & selection of target cell;

 Inter-system handover is inhibited; handover algorithms are the sa

3G cell
inhibited me as those of 2G.
 Internal Use Only▲
Questions:
 Please simply describe the relation between layer an
d priority in handover algorithms;
 Please enumerate radio parameters of 2-3G handov
er.