Mobility management based on radio link failure reporting

• US 9,271,204 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Tenny, Nathan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASIA, REDENTOR M
• Application Number:
  US12/618,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20100124918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 370/216, 370/236.2, 370/242, 370/244, 370/248, 370/252, 370/278, 370/282, 370328-329, 370/331, 370/474, 455/432.1, 455/436, 714/2, 714/18, 714/47, 714/48
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0079 in case of hand-off failure or rejection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00837 Determination of triggering parameters for hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure

Abstract

A communication node determines that radio link failure occurred during connected state mobility of an access terminal and reports the radio link failure to another communication node. For example, a target access point may determine that radio link failure occurred during handover of an access terminal and send a radio link failure report message to the access point that was previously serving the access terminal or to some other node (e.g., a network node). In the first case, the serving access point may adjust mobility parameters based on this radio link failure information and, optionally, other reported radio link failure information. In the second case, the other node may send a radio link failure report message to the serving access point, or the other node may adjust mobility parameters based on this radio link failure information (and, optionally, other reported radio link failure information) and send the adjusted mobility parameters to the serving access point.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving a message at a first access point from a second access point, wherein the message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by the first access point; and

utilizing, at the first access point, the indication that radio link failure occurred to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how a second access terminal is to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received from the second access point in connection with handover of the first access terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received from the second access point via a network management node.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network management node comprises an operations and maintenance entity of a cellular network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a record of the radio link failure and other radio link failures, wherein the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the record.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the message comprises statistical information relating to handovers of at least one other access terminal; and

the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the statistical information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message indicates whether the second access point was prepared for handover of the first access terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a context fetch from the second access point, and wherein the second access point was not prepared for handover of the first access terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adapting a handover performance target for the first access point based on the message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

11. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a communication controller configured to receive a message at a first access point from a second access point, wherein the message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by the first access point; and

a mobility controller configured to adapt at least one mobility parameter based on the indication that radio link failure occurred to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how a second access terminal is to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the message is received from the second access point in connection with handover of the first access terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the message is received from the second access point via a network management node.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the mobility controller is further configured to maintain a record of the radio link failure and other radio link failures; and

the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the record.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the message comprises statistical information relating to handovers of at least one other access terminal; and

the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the statistical information.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mobility controller is further configured to adapt a handover performance target for the first access point based on the message.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

18. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for receiving a message at a first access point from a second access point, wherein the message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by the first access point; and

means for utilizing, at the first access point, the indication that radio link failure occurred to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how a second access terminal is to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the message is received from the second access point in connection with handover of the first access terminal.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the message is received from the second access point via a network management node.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for maintaining a record of the radio link failure and other radio link failures, wherein the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the record.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the message comprises statistical information relating to handovers of at least one other access terminal; and

the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the statistical information.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for adapting a handover performance target for the first access point based on the message.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

25. A computer-program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

receive a message at a first access point from a second access point, wherein the message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by the first access point; and

utilize, at the first access point, the indication that radio link failure occurred to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how a second access terminal is to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

26. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein the message is received from the second access point in connection with handover of the first access terminal.

27. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein the message is received from the second access point via a network management node.

28. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein:

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to maintain a record of the radio link failure and other radio link failures; and

the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the record.

29. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein:

the message comprises statistical information relating to handovers of at least one other access terminal; and

the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the statistical information.

30. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code to adapt a handover performance target for the first access point based on the message.

31. The computer-program product of claim 25, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

32. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first access point at a network management node, wherein the first message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by a second access point; and

sending a second message to the second access point based on the receipt of the first message from the first access point, the second message enabling the second access point to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how a second access terminal is to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second message indicates that the radio link failure occurred during handover of the first access terminal to the first access point.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising maintaining statistical information relating to the radio link failure and other radio link failures, wherein the second message comprises the statistical information.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising adapting one or more mobility parameters based on the first message, wherein the second message comprises the one or more mobility parameters.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more mobility parameters comprise a handover performance target for the second access point.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the first message indicates whether the first access point was prepared for handover of the first access terminal.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the first message comprises statistical information relating to handovers at the first access point.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising adapting at least one mobility parameter based on the statistical information, wherein the second message comprises the at least one mobility parameter.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

41. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a communication controller configured to receive a first message from a first access point at a network management node, wherein the first message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by a second access point; and

a mobility controller configured to send a second message to the second access point based on the receipt of the first message from the first access point, the second message enabling the second access point to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how a second access terminal is to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the second message indicates that the radio link failure occurred during handover of the first access terminal to the first access point.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein:

the mobility controller is further configured to maintain statistical information relating to the radio link failure and other radio link failures; and

the second message comprises the statistical information.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein:

the mobility controller is further configured to adapt the at least one mobility parameter based on the first message; and

the second message comprises the at least one mobility parameter.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the second message further enables the second access point to adapt a handover performance target for the second access point based on the second message.

46. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

47. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for receiving a first message from a first access point at a network management node, wherein the first message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by a second access point; and

means for sending a second message to the second access point based on the receipt of the first message from the first access point, the second message enabling the second access point to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how a second access terminal is to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the second message indicates that the radio link failure occurred during handover of the first access terminal to the first access point.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising means for maintaining statistical information relating to the radio link failure and other radio link failures, wherein the second message comprises the statistical information.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising means for adapting at least one mobility parameter based on the first message, wherein the second message comprises the at least one mobility parameter.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the second message further enables the second access point to adapt a handover performance target for the second access point based on the second message.

52. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

53. A computer-program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

receive a first message from a first access point at a network management node, wherein the first message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by a second access point; and

send a second message to the second access point based on the receipt of the first message from the first access point, the second message enabling the second access point to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how a second access terminal is to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

54. The computer-program product of claim 53, wherein the second message indicates that the radio link failure occurred during handover of the first access terminal to the first access point.

55. The computer-program product of claim 53, wherein:

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to maintain statistical information relating to the radio link failure and other radio link failures; and

the second message comprises the statistical information.

56. The computer-program product of claim 53, wherein:

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to adapt the at least one mobility parameter based on the first message; and

the second message comprises the at least one mobility parameter.

57. The computer-program product of claim 53, wherein the second message further enables the second access point to adapt a handover performance target for the second access point based on the second message.

58. The computer-program product of claim 53, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

59. A method of communication, comprising:

transmitting, from an access terminal, a message to a first access point, the message comprising a first indication that radio link failure occurred for the access terminal while being served by a second access point; and

receiving at least one updated mobility parameter related to the second access point, the at least one updated mobility parameter updated by the second access point responsive to a second indication received by the second access point that radio link failure occurred for a second access terminal while being served by the second access point, the at least one updated mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how access terminals are to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the at least one updated mobility parameter further comprises a handover performance target updated by the second access point responsive to the second indication.

62. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for transmitting, from an access terminal, a message to a first access point, the message comprising a first indication that radio link failure occurred for the access terminal while being served by a second access point; and

means for receiving at least one updated mobility parameter related to the second access point, the at least one updated mobility parameter updated by the second access point responsive to a second indication received by the second access point that radio link failure occurred for a second access terminal while being served by the second access point, the at least one updated mobility parameter comprising a measurement reporting parameter that specifies how access terminals are to determine at least one of whether to conduct a measurement for one or more potential target access points, whether to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points, or when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the at least one updated mobility parameter further comprises a handover performance target updated by the second access point responsive to the second indication.

64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the measurement reporting parameter that specifies how the second access terminal is to determine when to report the measurement for the one or more potential target access points comprises a time-to-trigger value.

65. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving a message at a first access point from a second access point, wherein the message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by the first access point; and

utilizing, at the first access point, the indication that radio link failure occurred to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a handover parameter that the first access point uses to determine at least one of when to perform a handover to a target access point or a handover performance target for the first access point.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the message is received from the second access point for the handover.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the message is received from the second access point via a network management node.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the network management node comprises an operations and maintenance entity of a cellular network.

69. The method of claim 65, further comprising maintaining a record of the radio link failure and other radio link failures, wherein the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the record.

70. The method of claim 65, wherein:

the message comprises statistical information relating to handovers of at least one other access point; and

the adaptation of the at least one mobility parameter is based on the statistical information.

71. The method of claim 65, wherein the message indicates whether the second access point for the handover was prepared for the handover.

72. The method of claim 65, wherein the message comprises a context fetch from the second access point that was not prepared for the handover.

73. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving a first message from a first access point at a network management node, wherein the first message comprises an indication that radio link failure occurred for a first access terminal while being served by a second access point; and

sending a second message to the second access point based on the receipt of the first message from the first access point, the second message enabling the second access point to adapt at least one mobility parameter to adjust mobility performance, the at least one mobility parameter comprising a handover parameter that the second access point uses to determine at least one of when to perform a handover to a target access point or a handover performance target for the second access point.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the second message indicates that the radio link failure occurred during the handover of the first access terminal to the first access point.

75. The method of claim 73, further comprising maintaining statistical information relating to the radio link failure and other radio link failures, wherein the second message comprises the statistical information.

76. The method of claim 73, further comprising adapting one or more mobility parameters based on the first message, wherein the second message comprises the one or more mobility parameters.

77. The method of claim 73, wherein the one or more mobility parameters comprise the handover performance target for the second access point.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein the first message indicates whether the first access point was prepared for the handover.

79. The method of claim 73, wherein the first message comprises statistical information relating to handovers at the first access point.

80. The method of claim 79, further comprising adapting one or more mobility parameters based on the statistical information, wherein the second message comprises the one or more mobility parameters.