Intrafrequency Handover

3G RANSIG

Soc Classification level 1 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Intra-frequency handover
Mobile Evaluated Handover

Soft/er handover

Hard handover

UE simultaneously connected to many cells (maximum 3): Cells belonging to same site (intra-BTS),
SOFTER HANDOVER

Arises when inter-RNC SHO is not possible: Iur interface (between neighbouring RNCs) not implemented, or congested, or not supporting user plane, or due to whatever reason inhibiting inter-RNC SHO

Cells belonging to different sites (inter-BTS),

SOFT HANDOVER

The group of serving cells is called

ACTIVE SET

Soc Classification level 2 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Soft Handover
1
UE enters the SHO area, where coverage area of cell 1 and 2 overlap

3 1 2 3

UE exits SHO area. Theres no reason for remaining connected to cell 1.

Cell 1

2
Cell 2 has available resources, so its added to the AS. UE is connected both to cell 1 and 2.

Cell 2

Soc Classification level 3 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Intra-frequency handover

1
SHO need detection (internal in UE) (based on RNP parameters)

2
Measurement reporting (from UE to RNC) (based on RNP parameters)

3
Active Set update (commanded from RNC to UE)

Soc Classification level 4 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Intra-frequency handover: Mobile Evaluated Handover

Intra-frequency handover is said to be mobile evaluated, because its up to the mobile to recognise the need to perform a soft-handover SHO events The following SHO events are currently implemented: EVENT 1A ADDITION
A monitored CPICH is good enough to be added in the active set

EVENT 1B DELETION
A serving CPICH is no more good enough to stay in the active set

EVENT 1C REPLACEMENT
AS is full, a monitored CPICH becomes better than a serving one

Soc Classification level 5 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Intra-frequency handover: Measurements

The handover measurement is based on CPICH Ec/No.

CPICH Ec/No is the received energy per chip divided by the power density in the WCDMA carrier band:

RSCP Ec / No RSSI

received signal code power

received signal strenght indicator

The accuracy of pilot Ec/No measurements is important for handover performance. Measurement accuracy depends on the filtering length and mobile speed. When a UE moves slowly or is stationary, filtering length (in ms) has to be long just enough to avoid fast fades leading to errors and causing unnecessary handovers within a short period. On the other hand long filtering length will cause handover delays to fast moving UEs.

Soc Classification level 6 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Intra-frequency handover: Events 1A and 1B

A monitored adjacent cell is ADDED to the Active Set when its good enough to bring a gain.

A serving cell is DELETED from the Active Set when its no more good enough.

What is meant by good enough?

Soc Classification level 7 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Event 1A : Addition
Ec/No
Reporting Period (RNP parameter, default
0.5s )

Initial cell=CPICH 1
Event 1A reporting range [dB] (RNP parameter, default 4dB )

CPICH 2 is good enough!

Monitored cell=CPICH 2

Time
Soc Classification level 8 Nokia Siemens Networks 3GRANSIG/Phichet

Event 1B : Deletion
Ec/No

CPICH 1

Reference cell

Event 1B reporting range [dB] (RNP parameter, default 6dB )

CPICH 2

CPICH 1 is no more good enough!

Soc Classification level 9 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Time

Event 1C : Replacement
Ec/No

Active set is FULL

CPICH 1 CPICH 2 CPICH 3

Event 1C margin [dB] (RNP parameter, default 4dB )

Monitored cell= CPICH 4

Soc Classification level 10 Nokia Siemens Networks

Time
3GRANSIG/Phichet

Soft Handover: Radio Link Addition

UE Node B (DRNC) Node B (SRNC)
1. Measurement Report

(1/3)
DRNC SRNC

RRC
2. Radio Link Setup Request

RRC RNSAP
3. Radio Link Setup Request

RNSAP

C-NBAP
4. Radio Link Setup Response

C-NBAP
C-NBAP
5. Radio Link Setup Response

C-NBAP

RNSAP

RNSAP
6. Establish Request

AAL2SIG

AAL2SIG

Soc Classification level 11 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Soft Handover: Radio Link Addition

UE Node B (DRNC) Node B (SRNC) DRNC
7. Establish Confirm

(2/3)
SRNC

AAL2SIG AAL2SIG AAL2SIG

8. Establish Request

AAL2SIG

AAL2SIG AAL2SIG

9. Establish Confirm

10. Radio Link Restore Indication

D-NBAP

D-NBAP
11. Radio Link Restore Indication

RNSAP
12. Downlink Synchronisation

RNSAP

DCHFP
13. Uplink Synchronisation

DCHFP DCHFP

DCHFP

Soc Classification level 12 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Soft Handover: Radio Link Addition

UE Node B (DRNC) Node B (SRNC) DRNC

(3/3)
SRNC

14. Active Set Update

RRC
15. Active Set Update Complete

RRC
RRC

RRC

Soc Classification level 13 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Soft Handover: Radio Link Deletion

UE Node B (DRNC) Node B (SRNC)
1. Active Set Update

(1/2)
DRNC SRNC

RRC
2. Active Set Update Complete

RRC RRC
3. Radio Link Deletion Request

RRC

RNSAP
4. Radio Link Deletion Request

RNSAP

D-NBAP
5. Radio Link Deletion Response

D-NBAP D-NBAP
6. Radio Link Deletion Response

D-NBAP

RNSAP

RNSAP

Soc Classification level 14 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet

Soft Handover: Radio Link Deletion

UE Node B (DRNC) Node B (SRNC) DRNC
7. Release Request 8. Release Confirm

(2/2)
SRNC

AAL2SIG

AAL2SIG AAL2SIG

AAL2SIG
AAL2SIG AAL2SIG
9. Release Request

AAL2SIG AAL2SIG

10. Release Confirm

Soc Classification level 15 Nokia Siemens Networks

3GRANSIG/Phichet