Internal Use Only

Version introduction
Version

Date

Writer

Assessor

Amendment record

V1.0

2007-0725

Chen Chun

Zheng Hao

None

V1.4

2009-0312

Fei Aiping

Chang Haijie

Explanation of MR is added.

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

To ensure normal phone calls

Serving
cell
BTS

Neighbour cell A
Freq. A

Neighbour cell
B
Freq. B

To improve call quality

GSM handover belongs to system hard handover.

Internal Use Only

Aims of handovers

Retrieval handoverto

retrieve the on-going calls;

Marginal handoverto
improve the on-going call;

Forced handoverto
balance traffic dispersion
in different cells;

Intra-cell handoverto

reduce interference in the cell;

Directed

retryto improve
the call establishment rate.

Internal Use Only

Handover features
Various algorithms

Ordering of
target cells

Automatic traffic
balance

Unique penalty
mechanism

Various algorithms can function simultaneously;

Controlled by switches;
System makes handover decision automatically.

Static priority;
Resource available(%);
Budget power value.

Directed retry;
Traffic load handover started by MSC;
Priority adjustment by traffic load;
Force directed-shift handover;

Fast-fading handover
algorithm

Internal Use Only

Application scenes for handovers Iscenes

UL/DL
interfe
rence
hando
ver

UL/DL
quality
hando
ver

UL/DL
level
hando
ver

urban

Dense
urban

Algorithms

Long
MSBS
distan
ce
hando
ver

UL
fastfading
hando
ver

Macro
-micro
hando
ver

PBGT
hando
ver

Traffic
load
handov
er
started
by MSC

Scenes

suburb

The table is for reference only!

Co-BCCH
handover
Path
loss&
TAbased
concent
ric
handov
er

CIbased
concent
ric
handov
er

Forced
trafficshift
handov
er

Internal Use Only

Application scenes for handovers IInetwork types

UL/DL
interfer
ence
handov
er

UL/DL
quality
handov
er

UL/DL
level
handov
er

Dual-band
network

Double-layer
network

CO-BCCH

Algorithms

Long
MS-BS
distanc
e
handov
er

UL
fastfading
hando
ver

Macr
omicr
o
hand
over

PBGT
handov
er

Traffic
load
handov
er
started
by
MSC

Scenes

Longdistance
coverage

The table is for reference only!

Co-BCCH
handover
Path
loss&
TAbased
concen
tric
handov
er

CIbased
concen
tric
handov
er

Forced
trafficshift
handov
er

Contents
Overview of handover

Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover

Internal Use Only

The max number of missing MR - ZeroAllowed

Suppose ZeroAllowed=1
MR1/PR1
MR1

missing

MR2/PR2
MR2

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

MR3/PR3
MR3

Average_MR2 =(0+MR3+MR4+0)/4
=

MR4/PR4
MR4
MR5/PR5
MR5
MR6/PR6
MR6
MR7/PR7
MR7

Internal Use Only

Handover preprocess at BTS

Suppose HOPreprocess is openand 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
MR3/PR3

Average_MR1

Average_MR2
N/P decision

MR4/PR4
Average_MR3
MR5/PR5
MR6/PR6
MR7/PR7

Average_MR4

Internal Use Only

Selection of target cells

Intra-cell
handover

Handover
types

Macrocell normal TRX

Macrocell special TRX

Other TRX in microcell

1AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) +

MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
condition 1 must be satisfied

Inter-cell
handover

2PBGT(n ) > HO_MARGIN(n)

3AvRxLevNCell(n) > avRxLevDL +

HO_MARGIN_LEVEL(n)
4AvRxLevNCell(n) > avRxLevDL +
HO_MARGIN_QUAL(n)

Internal Use Only

Settings of cell layer & priority

Layer1
Layer2

Layer3

Layer2

Layer2

Layer2

Layer3

Layer3

Layer3

Layer2

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.

After Tmicro
overtimes

Before Tmicro
Internal Use Only
overtimes

Intra-cell

Invalid

Invalid

UL interference

Intra-cell

Invalid

Invalid

DL interference

Intra-cell

Invalid

Invalid

UL quality

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

DL quality

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

UL level

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

DL level

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

Long distance

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

UL fast fading

Algorithms
Inter-cell

First search for related cells

Upper layer same layer
lower layer

Invalid

Serial

Handover causes

Handover types

CO-BCCH

are related to
their layers

Priority

10

PBGT

Inter-cell

According to
PbgtHoLayer:
Same layer- upper layer
lower layer

No cells on same layer

and lower layer
selected

11

Macro-micro time
hyteresis

Inter-cell

Handover to lower layer

No handover

12

Traffic

Inter-cell

According to
TrafficHoLayrCtl

Invalid

Internal Use Only

Parameter-NcellLayer

(NcellLayer) is a mathematical array. Each element

determines the layer relation between the serving cell and its
adjacent cells.
The number of cells in an array rests on NcellNum.
Meaning

NcellNum
value
0

N, undefined

SAME, the serving cell and its adjacent cells are on

the same layer

UPPER, adjacent cells are on the serving cells up

layer

LOWER, adjacent cells are on the serving cells low

layer

Other values

Reserved

Internal Use Only

Layer parameter-Tmicro

Tmicro is started when

the MS accesses into
new channel;
The layer selection
priority of target cells
will be affected, if
handover is started
within the time set on
Tmicro.
Default: 80(8s).

Tmicro

Time duration

50

5s

51

5.1s

200

20s

Internal Use Only

Ordering of target cells

Layer priority of
candidate cells

Static
priority

Resource
available(%)

Dynamic
priority

Power budget margin

Internal Use Only

Handover decision/
execution

Penalty strategy of inter-cell handover failure

N
Complete handover flow

Handover failure?

PenalCount=PenalCount+
1

Y
Start HoFailPenalTime
Y

Y
PenalCount<3

compare the difference

between adjacent cells
priority and the
acceptable priority

RxLev(n)=RxLev(n)PenaltyLevOffset
PenaltyCount=PenaltyCount+1

Screen the target cell

N
HoFailPenalTime
overtimes
Y
Relieve the target cell
of penalty

The punished cell owns

the highest priority?

Internal Use Only

Handover decision
Penalty strategy of intra-cell handover failure
Start intra-cell
handover?

N
Other handover

Y
Start HoFailPenalTime

IHoCount=IHoCount+1
TMaxIHo=0

TMaxIHo overtimes
Y

IHoCount=MaxIHo

IHoCount=0

Y
Stop starting intra-cell
handover

N
IHoCount=MaxIHo

Y
Other handover
requirements are satisfied?

Contents
Overview of handover

Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover

Internal Use Only

UL/DL interference handover

Y

Idle TCH
available in cell?
N

UL/DL
interference
handover
intra-cell
handover
UL/DL quality
Handover
inter-cell
handover

Decision of handover start:

AvRxQualUL
(n) interference
InterfFQSS(n)
Its suggested
that UL/DL
be closed in network with HF open.
255
YOffset 2

InterfFQSS(n)
YOffset 3
YOffset 4

AvRxLevUL(n) XOffset 20
XOffset 20 AvRxLevUL(n) XOffset 30
XOffset 30 AvRxLevUL(n) XOffset 40
XOffset 40 AvRxLevUL(n)

Internal Use Only

UL/DL quality handover

Decision of handover start:
AvRxQualUL>=HoUlQualThs
AvRxQualDL>=HoDlQualThs

Selection of target cells:

1AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
2AvRxLevNCell(n) > AvRxLevDL + HO_MARGIN_QUAL(n)

That is:
1. Adjacent cells level must be larger than the minimum receive level set for it;
2. Adjacent cells level shall be larger than the sum of quality handover
threshold and the serving cells DL level.

Internal Use Only

UL/DL level handover

Decision of handover start:
AvRxLevelUL=<HoUlLevThs
AvRxLevelDL=< HoDlLevThs

Selection of target cells:

1AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
2AvRxLevNCell(n) > AvRxLevDL + HO_MARGIN_LEVEL(n)
That is:
1. Adjacent cells level must be larger than the minimum receive level set for it;
2. Adjacent cells level shall be larger than the sum of level handover threshold
and the serving cells DL level.

Internal Use Only

Long BS-MS distance handover

Decision of handover start:
AvDistance>DistanceThreshold(TA)

Selection of target cells:

Radio
environment
quality is not
regarded as
decision
standard.

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

The only condition is that the adjacent cells 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 isnt for saving handover, but for better call quality.

Decision of handover start:

Make handover decision to each adjacent cell in rotation;
when an adjacent cells PBGT value is higher than 0, handover condition is satisfied.

Selection of target cells:

1AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
2 PBGT(n ) > HO_MARGIN(n)
That is:
1Adjacent cells level shall be larger than the minimum receive
level set for it;
2Its power budget value shall be larger than the PBGT handover
threshold set for adjacent cell.

Internal Use Only

Directed retry-decision of handover start

MS applies for TCH

Yes
Assignment success

Usable TCH
available?
No

Successful force
disconnetion, force
handover and ordering

successful

Force disconnetion,
force handover and
ordering attempt
unsuccessful

Directed retry

Yes

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

internal & external directed retry

How to control
2/3G handover priority?

Its 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
cells found

Start the
dedicated timer

After timer
expires

BSC internal
cells
Candidate
cells have no
radio
resources

Order
candidat
e cells

2nd
candida
te cell

Y
Handover

Y
Handover

BSC external
cells

Complete

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

Failure due
to radio link
problem

Delete the
attempt cells

2nd
candida
te cell

Y
Handover

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
MR2/PR2
MR3/PR3
MR4/PR4

P unavailable

Directly report
MR to BTS

Number of consecutive
handover decisions (N)

Internal Use Only

Macro-micro handover

Handover trigger conditions: measured values of adjacent

cells signal strength is higher than threshold, and this
reaches certain consecutive times.
AvRxLevUL(n)>= MacroMicroHoThs

Selection of target cell:

Condition 1 is fulfilled;
Layer relation with neighbor cell NcellLayer is
Lower.

Serving cell:
macrocell
Target cell:
microcell

Macrocell
Microcell
T=-80dBm
N=6

Microcell

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
dynamic PDTCH.

Selection of target cell:

Condition 1

PBGT(n) > TrafficLevThs

Internal Use Only

MSC-started traffic load handover

Its 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 scenes:900M1800M
cell of the same direction;

Target cell must be

forced firected shift
handover cell.

Internal Use Only

Forced directed-shift handover strategy

Decision of handover start:
PathLoss(n)<=MaxLossThs
Only
based
on
Path
loss

TA(n)<=MaxTAThs

MaxTAThs=63

MaxLossThs =150

Only
based
on
TA

Selection of target cell:

PBGT value must be larger than the difference between PBGT

threshold 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
Compared
with PBGT
handover

Compared
with
directed
retry

Compared
with traffic
handover

Usually they are valid at the same time, but PBGTs priority is higher
than that of forced directed-shift handover;
The MaxLevDiff of forced directed-shift handover must be smaller
than the value of reverse PBGT, or Pingpong handover will be resulted.

Forced directed-shift is the handover between two TCHs during call

process;

Directed retry is carried out when applying for TCH during call access.

Different trigger conditions (forced directed-shift handover is triggered

by MS, traffic handover is triggered by BSC.)
Different handover flows.

Internal Use Only

Co-BCCH handover-subcell

Co-BCCH

Carriers in different
frequency bands belong to
different subcells;

Configuration
of subcell

The first subcell is

configured with BCCH.

Co-channel cell

Concentric circle
advance technology;
Subcells are allowed to
make power control
respectively.

The first subcell

The second subcell

Internal Use Only

Co-BCCH handover trigger decision

too small
pathloss
&TA

Based on
pathloss
&TA
Decis
ion of
hand
over
trigg
er

PathLoss<=PathLossMin
And TA<= SubCellTAMin

too large
pathloss
&TA

PathLoss>= PathLossMax
Or TA>= SubCellTAMax

C/I good

C/I>= GoodCiThs

The
second
subcell

The
first
subcell

Based on C/I

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

MSC side

Handover to
3G preferred

Handover to 3G
NOT preferred

Handover to 3G
inhibited

BSC side
Handover to 3G
preferred

Handover to
3G preferred

Handover to 3G
preferred

BSC control
preferred

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Handover to 3G NOT
preferred

Handover to
3G NOT
preferred

Handover to 3G
NOT preferred

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Handover to
3G inhibited

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Internal Use Only

Description of inter-system (2G-UMTS/TD) handover strategy

3G cell
preferred

Valid decision

Start 3G handover, no more attempt to 2G;

Null decision

2G handover decision & selection of target cell;

3G handover decision

Saving handover

Select a 3G cell as candidate,

try it if there is no usable radio
resource available in 2G cell;

Non-saving handover

3G cells are not for candidates;

Valid decision

2G cell
preferred

2G
Handove
r decision

Null decision

3G cell
inhibited

3G handover decision & selection of target cell;

Inter-system handover is inhibited; handover algorithms are the

same as those of 2G.

Internal Use Only

Questions:

Please simply describe the relation between layer

and priority in handover algorithms;
Please enumerate radio parameters of 2-3G
handover.