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EP-4309417-B1 - INTELLIGENT MOBILITY IN COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

EP4309417B1EP 4309417 B1EP4309417 B1EP 4309417B1EP-4309417-B1

Inventors

  • RAYMOND, PAUL-ANDRE

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220317

Claims (15)

  1. A computing device (700), comprising: a memory (701) that stores computer instructions; and a processor that executes the computer instructions to perform actions, the actions including: predicting a first handover for a user device (124a-c) in communication with a cellular network (100); obtaining current status data of the cellular network including at least one of current types of user devices (124a-c) served by different cells of the cellular network or current quantity of user devices (124a-c) served by different cells of the cellular network; obtaining predicted status data of the cellular network including at least one of predicted types of user devices served by different cells of the cellular network or predicted quantity of user devices served by different cells of the cellular network; analyzing a tradeoff between a cost for pre-allocation of resources in the cellular network prior to a plurality of predicted handovers and a gain in quality of service based on at least a subset of the current status data and the predicted status data; and causing pre-allocation of resources in the cellular network based, at least in part, on the analyzing of the tradeoff.
  2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the current status data includes current resource utilization in at least one of a cell of the cellular network, an application server, or an edge platform.
  3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the predicted status data includes predicted resource utilization in at least one of a cell of the cellular network, an application server, or an edge platform.
  4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the predicted status data is generated based, at least in part, on predicted resource utilization associated with the first handover.
  5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein predicting the first handover includes predicting at least one of a time, location, source cell, or target cell for the handover.
  6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein predicting the first handover includes associating a first confidence level with the first handover.
  7. The computing device of claim 6, where in the actions further include determining a threshold applicable to the first confidence level based, at least in part, on the analyzing of the tradeoff.
  8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of predicted handovers includes the first handover and at least a second handover predicted for another user device.
  9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the actions further include determining the plurality of predicted handovers in accordance with an area of interest.
  10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the area of interest includes at least one of a geographic area, a sub-network, or one or more cells.
  11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the actions further comprise selecting a subset of predicted handovers including the predicted first handover for the pre-allocation of resources based, at least in part, on the analyzing of the tradeoff.
  12. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises determining a threshold applicable to confidence levels associated with a plurality of predicted handovers.
  13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the threshold is determined based further on at least one of a priority, computational capability, communication capability, or desired quality of service associated with individual user devices of the plurality of user devices.
  14. A computer-implemented method comprising performing the actions of any of claims 1-13 on a computing device according to any of claims 1 to 13.
  15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the actions of any of claims 1-13.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to digital wireless communications and, more particularly, to facilitating intelligent mobility including session and handover management within a 5G communications network. BACKGROUND Description of the Related Art Mobile devices are being used to handle an increasing variety of tasks by more and more users. 3GPP based mobile networks have typically implemented some sophisticated solutions to maintain session while a mobile device is handed over from cell to cell. The advent and implementation of 5G technology has resulted in faster speeds and increased bandwidth, which typically needs more cells in the network. Among other things, mobile edge computing in a macro cell, micro cell, and/or pico cell environment presents new challenges and calls for technological solutions. European patent application EP2891360 describes a method in an RBS of a wireless network, for supporting HO of a UE in a served cell. The method comprises pre-allocating resources for HO of the UE to a target cell candidate. The pre-allocated resources comprise a dedicated preamble for the target cell candidate. The method also comprises receiving a measurement report from the UE triggering a HO and comprising a list of neighbour cells, determining if a cell in the list of neighbour cells corresponds to one of the at least one target cell candidates, and when they correspond transmitting a HO command to the UE comprising the dedicated preamble for the target. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method in the target RBS and to the serving and target RBS themselves. European patent application EP1340398 describes a telecommunications system having a source base station and a destination base station, and a handover unit having a dynamic offset threshold determination unit which establishes a dynamic offset threshold for starting soft handover. When the dynamic offset threshold for soft handover is exceeded, a preliminary portion of a handover sequence is initiated at the destination base station. The preliminary portion of the handover sequence is initiated so that time-critical handover sequence activities (such as L1 uplink synchronization) are well underway, if not completed, by the time the soft handover is actually needed. European patent application EP3216269 describes a method for managing input parameters to a set of models for prediction of a quality of service of a user equipment. A first radio network node operates the set of models for prediction of the quality of service. The quality of service relates to when the user equipment is served by a second radio network node after a handover from the first radio network node to the second radio network node. The first radio network node configures the second radio network node to report the input parameters at least once before the handover. The input parameters are usable by the first radio network node when predicting, by use of the set of models, the quality of service. BRIEF SUMMARY The invention is defined in the independent claims. Optional features are set out in the dependent claims. Briefly described, embodiments of the presently disclosed technology are directed toward systems and methods for facilitating intelligent mobility of user devices in communication networks, e.g., to ensure session continuity in a 5G mobile system. Illustratively, a new "Intelligent Mobility Element" (IME) can be introduced in the communication network that functions to avoid gaps in sessions for user devices and applications when performing handovers between cell sites, by anticipating possible handovers and preparing new connections based on dynamic pre-allocation decisions informed at least in part by machine learning models or other artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified. For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will be made to the following Detailed Description, which is to be read in association with the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a context diagram of an environment for intelligent mobility management in a 5G communications network in accordance with embodiments described herein;Figure 2 illustrates an example of a handover situation in accordance with embodiments described herein;Figure 3 is a block diagram of a non-limiting example of components of the IME 102 in accordance with embodiments described herein;Figure 4 is a flow diagram of a non-limiting, overview example of functions performed by certain components of the IME in accordance with embodiments described herein;Figure 5 illustrates a logical flow diagram showing one embodiment of a process for facilitating intelligent mobility in a communication n