Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
Handover procedures in multi-carrier networks

Abstract:

To perform handover in a multi-carrier network, a node that is currently serving a user equipment, UE, informs the neighboring nodes about the UE position and UE capabilities in terms of supported carriers. The neighboring nodes reply with a figure of merit indicative of connection efficacy, or data from which connection efficacy can be estimated, such as predicted signal quality and strength for each specified carrier. The serving node then determines, based on these predicted values, how to restrict mobility reference signal, MRS, measurements to promising candidate combinations of neighboring nodes and their carriers. Turning on of reference signals is thus limited, excluding nodes and carriers that will not be able to accept handover on technical or policy grounds, as well as nodes or carriers which have poor predicted signal quality.