Handover

www.huawei.com

HUAWEI RNP
Jan 2010

Handover
ISSUE 2.0

Handover is key technology of Mobile

communication system and make
continued
conversation
possible.
Handover algorithm in Huawei product
is flexible and powerful

 Upon completion this course, you will be able

to:

Understand the type of handover.

Master handover judgment flow
Configure handover data
Master handover signaling flow

Chapter 1 Introduction of Handover

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process
Chapter 3 HO Data Configuration
Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

Purposes of HO

To keep a continuous communication with a

moving MS

To improve network service

performance

To reduce the call drop rate

To reduce the congestion rate

Classification by Reason

Emergency HO
Timing Advance (TA) Emergency HO
Bad quality (BQ) Emergency HO
Rx_Level_Drop Emergency HO
Interference Emergency HO
load HO
Normal HO
Edge HO
Layer HO
Power Budget (PBGT) HO
Speed-sensitive HO (Fast moving MS HO)
Concentric Cell HO

Classification by Synchronization

Synchronous handover:
source and target cell
belong the same BTS
Asynchronous handover: source and
target cell belong the different BTS

Chapter 1 Introduction of Handover

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process
Chapter 3 HO Data Configuration
Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process
1.2 Measurement report preprocessing
1.3 Penalty processing
1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking
1.5 Condition of handover

General process of HO Algorithm

M.R.
preprocessing

OM forced HO
Directed retry

Penalty
processing

Basic ranking

Secondary
ranking

TA emergency HO
BQ emergency HO

Edge HO
Layer HO
PBGT HO

RSD emergency
HO

Fast moving MS
HO

Interf. emergency HO

Overlaid/underlaid HO

Load Sharing HO

HO judgment
1

Processing
program

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process
1.2 Measurement report preprocessing
1.3 Penalty processing
1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking
1.5 Condition of handover

Measurement Report
Uplink MR includes uplink receiving level and quality.
Downlink MR includes downlink receiving level,
downlink receiving quality of the serving cell and
other downlink receiving levels from the neighbor
cells.

Serving cell

Neighbour cell
The downlink
measurement report
of the serving cell

The uplink measurement

report of MS

The downlink measurement report

of the neighbour cell (BCCH)

MR interpolation

Every time BSC receives a measurement report,

there will be an update to the basic rank of the
cells.
BTS may fail to receive the measurement report
from MS. Before the rank-update, BSC needs to
recover the lost measurement reports according
to Filter Table. If the lost MR amount is within
the allowed range, then recovers the lost MR
according to the algorithm.

How to interpolate MR?

Continuous MR
flow

MR

Measurement
report No. n

MR

MR

MR

MR

Measurement report
No. n+4

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process
1.2 Measurement report preprocessing
1.3 Penalty processing
1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking
1.5 Condition of handover

Penalty Processing
There are altogether four types of penalty process
(second step of HO algorithm process )
Penalty on the target cell when a HO fails.
Penalty on the original serving cell when an emergency
HO ( base on BQ and TA ) is performed.
Penalty on other high priority layer cells after a fast
moving HO is performed.
A new HO attempt is prohibited within the penalty time
after an overlaid/underlaid HO fails.

Penalty on the Target Cell

Punish the target cell when a HO fails. This is to

avoid the MS to select this cell again in next HO
judgment.

Cell A

BTS

HO failure
BSC

Cell B

Penalty on the Source Cell

Punish the original serving cell when an

emergency HO ( due to BQ and TA) occurs.

Cell A

BTS

BQ& TA HO
BSC

Cell B

penalty on Non-umbrella Layer

Giving penalty on the other three layers after

MS handovers to Umbrella cell by fast-movingHO. This is to keep MS staying in the umbrella
cell and avoid frequent HO.

Back? No way!

Umbrella

Micro cell

Penalty on Overlaid/underlaid
Cell
A new Overlaid/underlaid HO is prohibited
within a penalty time after an
Overlaid/Underlaid HO failure.

Overlaid
Underlaid

Do not
attempt
again after a
failed HO!

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process
1.2 Measurement report preprocessing
1.3 Penalty processing
1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking
1.5 Condition of handover

Procedure of Ranking

Basic ranking and secondary ranking of cells are

major parts of the HO judgment. Ranking is
made through 16bits-algorithm. The serving cell
and the neighbor cells will be listed in a cell list
according to their 16bits value. The ranking
processes include:

M rule
K rule
16bits ranking

M rule
Only the cells with received signal level satisfy the
following conditions
can be put into the
candidate cell list.
For serving cell
RX_LEV (o) >MSRXMIN(o) + MAX(0,Pa(o))
For Neighbor cell
RX_LEV (n) > MSRXMIN(n)+ MAX(0,Pa(n))+ OFFSET
Pa(0) : MS_TXPWR_MAX(0) P
Pa(n) : MS_TXPWR_MAX(n) P
MS_TXPWR_MAX( ) : The appointed MS transmitting power
by the BSS.
P : Max_Power_of_MS
Max_Power_of_MS : MS maximum transmitting power

K rule Criterion

After the M rule , the serving cell and candidate neighbor cells
are ranked in descending order according to the receiving
level only
Both the serving cell and the neighbor cells have their own
16bits value. The smaller the value is, the higher the priority
and position the cell is in the cell list.
The 1st-3rd bits: bit value is decided according to the cell
signal level and the penalty process taking place beforehand.
The values come from max. 6 candidate cells and 1 serving cell
according to the level ranges from 000~110. The value for the
cell with the strongest signal level is 000.

1
6

1
5

1
4

1
3

1
2

1
1

1
0

The 4th bit: determined by HO

hysteresis
The 4th bit: bit value is determined by inter-cell HO ( of the same
layer ) hysteresis.
The 4th bit of the serving cell is always 0,
The receiving signal level of the neighbor cell >= The receiving
level of the serving cell + Inter-cell HO ( of the same layer )
hysteresis, bit 4th is set to 0.
The receiving level of the neighbor cell < The receiving level of the
serving cell + Inter-cell HO ( of the same layer ) hysteresis, bit 4th
is set to 1.
Note: In PBGT HO, whichever the greater of the inter-cell ( of the same
layer ) hysteresis and PBGT threshold, that value will be used in the
PBGT HO.

1
6

1
5

1
4

1
3

1
2

1
1

1
0

The 5th10th bit: determined by

Layer
The 5th-10th bits: bit value is decided according to
their position in Huawei hierarchical network structure.
When the signal level of the neighbor cells or the
serving cell is lower than the layer HO threshold and
hysteresis, this function is turned off and all bits are
set to 0.
That is to say only when the above criterions are met,
then this function take effect.
Huawei cell layers can be divided into 4 layers and each
layer can be further divided into 16 different priorities.
So there are 64 different priorities in Huawei
hierarchical cell structure.

1
6

1
5

1
4

1
3

1
2

1
1

1
0

Hierarchical cell structure

Umbrella
Cell

GSM 900

GSM900
Cell

GSM 900

GSM1800
Cell

GSM1800

Micro Cell

GSM 900

GSM 900

GSM1800

GSM1800

GSM900

GSM900

GSM900

GSM900

GSM1800

GSM1800

GSM1800

GSM1800

The 11th bit: determined by

load
The 11th bit: bit value is decided by cell-load-sharing
criterion.
Serving cell: if Cell Load>= Start threshold of load HO, bit
11th is set to 1, otherwise is set to 0.
Neighbor cell: if Cell Load>=Receive threshold of load HO,
bit 11th is set to 1, otherwise is set to 0.
Refer to Load HO Table for the load HO threshold and load
req. on candidate cell.
Clue : When the cell load is higher than the threshold, then the
bit 11th is set to 1.This is done in order to put the cell in a
lower part of the cell list.

1
6

1
5

1
4

1
3

1
2

1
1

1
0

The 12th/13th bit: determined by coBSC/MSC

12th bit: bit value is decided by co-BSC criterion.
Serving cell: is always set to 0.
Neighbor cell: if co-BSC with the serving cell, 12th bit is set to
0, otherwise is set to 1.
When the signal level from the neighbor cell or the serving cell
is lower than layer HO threshold and hysteresis. This function
is turned off and the value is set to 0.
If the parameter Co-BSC/MSC Adj. in the HO control table is
set to No, then this function is turned off and the value is 0.
13th bit : Bit value is decided by Co-MSC parameter, having
the same concept as the 12th bit.

1
6

1
5

1
4

1
3

1
2

1
1

1
0

The 14th bit: determined by

Layer HO
The 14th bit: Layer HO threshold adjustment bit
Serving cell criterion
Receive level >= layer HO threshold layer HO
hysteresis, bit 14th is set to 0. At the same time, bit 13th,
12th and 10th5th bits are set to 0.
If the above criterion is not met, then bit 14th is set to 1.
Example : 20-5 = 15 ( -95 dBm )

1
6

1
5

1
4

1
3

1
2

1
1

1
0

The 14th bit: determined by

Layer HO
Neighbor cell criterion
Receive level >=layer HO threshold + layer HO hysteresis, bit
14th is set to 0. At the same time, bit 13th, 12th and 10th5th
bits are set to 0
If the above criterion is not met, then bit 14th is set to 1.
Example : 20+5 = 25 ( -85 dBm )
note
The layer HO threshold and hierarchical hysteresis correspond
to the value of that individual cells value.
Usual situation : When the neighbor cells are of the same layer,
each of the neighbor cells layer HO threshold value will be the
same. Same concept goes for the layer HO hysteresis. This
can maintain the entire hierarchical layers of the cell.

1
6

1
5

1
4

1
3

1
2

1
1

1
0

The 15th bit: determined by

Cell Type
The 15th bit: Bit value is decided by cell type

Serving cell or Neighbor cells:

When cell type is extension cell 1.
When cell type is normal cell 0.

The 16th bit: Reserved bit

1
6

1
5

1
4

1
3

1
2

1
1

1
0

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process

1.1 General HO process
1.2 Measurement report preprocessing
1.3 Penalty processing
1.4 Basic ranking and Secondary ranking
1.5 Condition of handover

Types of HO
Emergency HO
TA HO
BQ HO
interference HO
Rx_Level_Drop HO
Load HO
Normal HO
Edge HO, layer cell HO and PBGT HO
Fast moving HO
Overlaid/underlaid HO

TA&Bad Quality HO

TA HO criterion :
TA of the serving cell > TA Thrsh.
BQ HO criterion :
The average value of the uplink quality of the
serving cell >
UL Qual. Thrsh.
The average value of the downlink quality of the
serving cell > DL Qual. Thrsh.
Requirements on the target cell (same as the
above two types of HO)
Select the first cell in the neighbor cell list i.e.
lowest 16bits value.

Rx_Level_Drop HO

Rx_Level_Drop HO

Due to downlink signal level drop

Triggered upon detecting rapid level
drop during MS busy mode.
Requirements for the target cell:

The target cell is the first cell in the

neighbor cell list.

Interference HO

Interference HO (DL&UL) :

When the receiving level >

receiving threshold level. But
Receiving quality < threshold of
quality interference.
Requirements for the target cell:

The target cell is in the cell list.

Cell Load HO

Cell Load HO Criterions :

System load of BSC < Permissible load of HO
threshold
Load of serving cell > Load HO threshold
Requirements for the target cell
Load of target cell < Load HO threshold

BTS

BSC

Edge HO

Edge HO Criterion:
In N seconds, when there are P seconds that
neighbor cells DL or MSs UL signal level is lower
than the Edge HO threshold. Then the criterion is
met and Edge HO occurs. This method utilizes the
P/N rule.
Requirements for the target cell:
The target cell should be ranked in front of the
serving cell.

Layer HO

Layer HO criterions:

Serving cell :

No requirement.

Target cell :

Layer of the target cell is lower than the serving cell.

Receive level of the target cell > layer cell threshold + layer
cell hysteresis.
Target cell should be ranked in front of the serving cell. The
priority of target cell should be higher than the serving
cells.

PBGT HO

PBGT HO Criterions :
Target cells path loss is smaller than the serving
cells path loss by the PBGT threshold value.
Satisfying the P/N rule.
Target cell should be ranked in front of the serving
cell.
Note :
PBGT HO can only occur between same-priority
cell. If the system permits PBGT HO for the cell,
PBGT HO can occur in either inter-BSC or inter-MSC.

Fast-Moving HO

When the serving cell is micro cell :

When the MS has traveled through P numbers of cell,
and there are Q (=<P) numbers of cell that the MS has
traveled in high speed, the criteria is satisfied. MS will
be handed over to umbrella cell.
When the serving cell is umbrella cell :
When the MS is traveling high speed in umbrella cell, a
greater penalty can be given to the micro cell for a
duration of time (penalty time). In this way, the MS will
not use the micro cell. Note :In this case, the micro cell is
only used under urgency conditions( Poor TA and BQ ).

Overlaid/Underlaid Cell
Assume, 6TRX in one cell, one CDU and one SCU are
adopted
Where can we configure BCCH CH? CDU or SCU?

SCU
TRX
TRX
TRX
TRX

Antenna

TRX

Antenna

TRX

CDU

Overlaid/Underlaid Cell

Purpose
Maximize coverage area
Reduce interference and improve frequency reuse
density
Construct method
Different combiner loss
Decrease the power of TRX
By HO parameter, it is called IUO
Classify
Normal Underlaid/Overlaid
IUO: Enhance Underlaid/Overlaid

How to Allocate SDCCH/TCH?

SDCCH
SDCCH are always allocated in Underlaid
Layer is allocated according the transmission delay
of access burst
TCH
The receiving level
TA
They are included in MR of SDCCH CH on uplink
reported by BTS

Factor of Handover between

Under/Overlaid
Normal Underlaid/Overlaid
Receiving level
Time Advance
Quality
Enhanced Underlaid/Overlaid
Receiving level
Time Advance
Quality
Traffic Load of Underlaid

Normal Overlaid/Underlaid HO

Division of underlaid and overlaid is

decided by MS downlink receive
level ,TA value and quality.
underlaid

overlaid
The quality boundary is elided in this figure

Normal Overlaid/Underlaid HO
Criterion for HO from overlaid to underlaid:
TA value => TA threshold + TA hysteresis OR

RX_LEV <= RX_LEV threshold RX_LEV

hysteresis OR

Qua. =>Qua. threshold

Satisfying P/N rule
Criterion for HO from underlaid to overlaid:
TA value =< TA threshold TA hysteresis AND

RX_LEV >=RX_LEV threshold + RX_LEV

hysteresis AND
Qua. =<Qua. threshold
Satisfying P/N rule

Enhance Overlaid/Underlaid HO
Criterion for HO from overlaid to underlaid:
TA value => TA threshold + TA hysteresis OR

RX_LEV <= O to U level OR

Qua. =>Qua. threshold

Satisfying P/N rule
Criterion for HO from underlaid to overlaid:
TA value =< TA threshold TA hysteresis AND

RX_LEV >= U to O level AND

Qua. =<Qua. Threshold

If the box U to O HO traffic threshold is checked, just in
the condition that underlaid load is more than this
threshold, U to O handover based on previous conditions
can be triggered
Satisfying P/N rule

Chapter 1 Introduction of Handover

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process
Chapter 3 HO Data Configuration
Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

Major HO Parameters
Configuration
Major HO parameter configuration
1.[Handover Control Table]
2.[Cell Description Table]
3.[Adjacent Cell Relation Table]
4.[Penalty Table]
5.[Emergency Handover Table]
6.[Load Handover Table]
7.[Normal Handover Table]
8.[Fast-Moving Handover Table]
9.[Concentric Cell Handover Table

Handover Control Table

Meaning

Value
rang
e

Recommen
d
value

Co
BSC/MSC
Adj.

It means whether the 12 and 13 bits acts in the

16bit order. Yes means handover in the same
BSC/MSC is preferred. No means that the 12
and 13 bits are shielded and set to0.

Yes,
No

Yes

Penalty
allowed

It determines whether to punish the target cell

of handover failure, or the original served cell
of handover upon too big TA or bad quality. The
penalty measures can apply to cells in or out of
the same BSC

Yes,
No

Yes

Load HO
allowed

It determines whether to perform the handover

to share traffic load. Load sharing can lower the
channel assignment failure ratio caused by cell
congestion, so as to make evener allocation of
the service in respective cells, and lower the
cell congestion rate , and improve network
performance. It on ly applies in the same BSC or
cells at the same level

Yes,
No

No

MS Fast
moving
HO
allowed

It determines whether to handle the fast

moving MS with the algorithm. It is only
recommended in special a reas (such as a
highway), to lower CPU load. This algorithm
should only be used in suitable conditions, and
usually it is not applied

Yes,
No

No

Parameter
name

Handover Control Table

Value range

Recommen
ded
value

RX _L evel
Drop
HO allowed

It means whether RX _ Level Drop

emergency
handover algorithm is allowed, handover
the MS
which receiving signal level is dropping
quickly in
advance to avoid potential call drop. This
algorithm
should be applied in suitable conditions,
and usually it
is not used. To apply the handover
algorithm, BSC
must have original measurement report.

Yes, No

No

PBGT HO
allowed

It means whether PBGT handover algorithm

is
allowed. PBGT handover algorithm
currently is
processed on LAPD board. To avoid Ping
-pang
handover, PBGT handover is only
performed between
cells at the same layer and with the same
priority, and
meanwhile it is only triggered on TCH.

Yes, No

Yes

Parameter
name

Meaning

Handover Control Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value
range

Recommended
value

Yes means perform measurement report

preprocessing on BTS No means preprocessing
on
BSC, then the two parameters of Send original
measurement report and Send BS/MS power
level
do not act. Yes means decreasing of Abis

MR.
reprocessi
ng

interface
signaling and BSC load, and improving of network

Yes,

response time performance. The switch determines

No

where to perform power control. When it is set to

Yes, power control is performed at BTS side.
When
it is set to No, power control is performed at BSC
side. When setting this parameter, first be clear
whether BTS supports the power control algorithm
to
set or not.

Yes

Handover Control Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value
range

Recommended
value

It means whether to send the original

measurement

Transfer

report to BSC after measurement report

preprocessing

Original

on BTS. When it is set to Yes, BTS sends not

MR.

only

Yes, No

No

Yes, No

Yes

processed measurement rep ort but also

original
measurement report to BSC.
It means whether to send BS/MS power level
from BTS
to BSC. This function is used to view the effect
of power

Transfer

control on BTS. Meanwhile, when preprocessing

is

BS/MS

available , if BS/MS power level is not reported,

power

the uplink

class

and downlink balance measurements will be

Handover Control Table

Parameter
name

Value
Meaning

range

Recomme
nded
value

It indicates the time interval at which a

measurement report
is preprocessed at B TS side and sent to BSC the
Preprocessed measurement report. This parameter

Sent Freq.

acts

Twice

only when Measurement t report preprocessing is

of

enabled

per

Preprocess

For 15:1 link configuration, the report frequency

ed

should be

MR.

second
, Once

as low as once per second due to limited link

per

resource. At

second

this time, for handover nee ding P/N judgment such

as edge
handover, layer handover, PBGT handover and
overlaid/underlaid handover

Accordin
g to
Concrete
conditio
ns

Cell Description Table

Paramete
r
name

Meaning

Value
range

Recommended
value

Layer of
the
cell

Huawei hierarchical network structure is divided into 4

layers. 16 The
priorities can be set for each layer, which provides
enough room
of network planning for the operator to adapt to various
complex
network environment. Normally, Macro layer is the
major 900 layers
layer, Micro layer is the major 1800 layer, Pico is the 900
and
1800 micro cell layer. The smaller layer value, the higher
priority.

1 ~4

M900 : layer
3
M1800:Laye
2r

Cell
priority

Each layer may have 16 priorities, used to control the

handover
priority between cells at the same layer. Usually
priorities of priorities
cells at the same layer are set the same. For cells at the
same
layer, the smaller the priority value, the higher the
priority

1~16

0 ~ 63

25

Layer
HO

It affects the value of the 14th bit in the 16bit ranking ,

and it is
also the level requirement on the target cell for
interference
handover and load handover. Then such level
should be higher than layer handover threshold + layer

Cell Description Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value
range

Recommended
value

Penalty
on
MS
Fasting
moving
HO

It is valid when the fast moving handover

algorithm is
enabled . It is the signal level penalty
value on the other
neighbor cells when MS moves fast and is
handed over
To umbrella cell. The parameter is only
valid within the
penalty time.

0~
63dB

30

Penalty
Time on
MS
Fasting
moving
HO

It means that within this time, the penalty

on the other
neighbor cells will be exerted after MS is
handed over
to umbrella cell by fast moving HO.

0~
255
second
s

40

0 ~ 63

15

Min DL
level
0n
Candidate

This is the min signal level requirement for

the cell itself
to be a candidate cell low configuration
may easily
cause call drops, while too high a

Adjacent Cell Relation Table

Paramet
er
name

Meaning

Value
range

Recommended
value

Min
access
level
offset

This offset is based on Min downlink level of

handover
candidate cell. Different offsets can be defined
for different
adjacent cells, and to enter the candidate cell
list, the
corresponding adjacent cell receiving signal level
must be
higher than the sum of Min. downlink level of
handover
candidate cell and Min. Access level offset.

0 ~ 63dB

It means that PBGT handover is performed when

the
difference between the target cell downlink path
loss and the corresponding to
serving cell downlink path loss is bigger than
PBGT handover
threshold. When PBGT handover is enabled, and
Inter cell
handover hysteresis > PBGT handover
threshold
(corresponding dB value), Intercell handover
hysteresis
takes place of PBGT handover threshold to act.
. PBGT
handover threshold also needs to be adjusted
according to
handover performance statistics result

0~127
correspon
ding
-64~63dB

It is around 68 in
the
densely
populated
downtown, and
around 72 on the
outskirts.

0 ~ 63db

It is around 4 in
the
densely
populated
downtown, and
around 8 on the
outskirts.

PBGT
HO
thrsh

Inter
cell HO
hyster
esis

Handover hysteresis between an adjacent cell

and the serving
cell. It is set to reduce Ping pang HO. The
hysteresis value
also needs to be adjusted according to the
handover
performance statistics result and live network.
Flexible
configuration of the value can effectively lead
handover and
traffic between two adjacent cells.

Penalty Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value
range

Recommend
ed
value

The signal level value in dB, to punish the target

cell

Penalty level
after HO fail

which has caused a HO failure due to problems

such

0 ~ 63 dB

30

as congestion , to prevent MS from a handover

attempt to that cell again. This value is only valid
within the penalty time for handover failure.

Penalty time
after HO fail

Penalty time on the corresponding target cell

after seconds
handover failure

0~
60second

10

The signal level penalty value for the original

serving

Penalty level

cell, to avoid Ping- pang handover after

after BQ HO

emergency

fail

handover upon bad quality. It is only valid within

0 ~ 63d B

the
penalty time for BQ HO.

Penalty time

Penalty time for the original serving cell after BQ

0~

63

Penalty Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value
range

Recom
mende
d
value

Eenalty
level
after
TA HO
fail

The signal strength penalty value for the original

serving cell,
to avoid Ping - pang handover after TA
emergency
handover. It is only valid within the penalty time for
ta
handover

0~
63d B

63

Penalty
time
after TA
HO
fail

Penalty time for the original serving cell after TA

emergency
Seconds handover

0~
60seco
nd

10

Penalty
time
after IUO
HO fail

After an overlaid/underlaid handover failure (big

circle hands Seconds over to small circle or vice
versa), within certain time (this Parameter
configuration value) overlaid/underlaid handover is
forbidden for the same call

0~
16seco
nd

10

Emergency Handover Table

Paramete
r name

Meaning

Value range

Recommended
value

TA
Thrsh.

When TAthis value, emergency handover is

triggered

0~63 bit
period

63

DL
QUAL.
Thrsh

The downlink receiving quality threshold for BQ

emergency handover. When frequency hopping
or DTX is enabled, RQ becomes worse (normal
phenomenon), this value should be set to 70.
The adjustment should also base on the current
network quality and handover statistics. When
triggering emergency handover, the first to
select is the inter-cell handover, the intra-cell
handover is only triggered when there is no
candidate cell and the intra-cell handover is
allowed in the serving cell.

0~70,
correspon
ding to BQ
levels of
0~7

60

The uplink receiving quality threshold for BQ

emergency HO.

correspon
ding to BQ
levels of
0~7

60

UL
QUAL.
Thrsh.

Emergency Handover Table

Paramet
er
name

Meaning

UL
Qual.
Thrsh
for
interf.
HO

Uplink receiving quality threshold in the serving cell

for interference handover. When frequency hopping or
DTX is to enbaled , RQ becomes worse (normal
phenomenon), this
value should be set to 60. The adjustment should also
base
on the current network quality and handover
statistics. When
triggering interference handover. If the serving cell is
in the
first position and intra cell handover is permitted,
perform
intra cell handover . Otherwise select the second
candidate
cell to perform inter cell handover.

correspondi
ng
to BQ levels
of
0~7

Downlink receiving quality threshold in the serving cell

for
interference handover.

0~70,
correspondi
ng
to BQ levels
of
0~7

DL
Qual.
Thrsh.
For
interf
HO

Value range

Recommend
ed
value
50,
interferenc
e
quality
threshold
must be
better than
the
emergency
quality
threshold

50

Emergency Handover Table

Paramet
er
r name

UL
RX_LEV
Thrsh.
For
interf.H
O

DL
RX_LEV
Thrsh.
For
interf
HO.

Meaning

Value
range

Recommend
ed
value

Min uplink receiving power threshold from the serving

cell
required for interf. HO, when interference handover is
triggered if the uplink quality is worse than quality
threshold
and at this time the uplink signal level is higher than
the signal
threshold. When triggering interference handover, If
the
serving cell is in the first position in the cell list, and
intra cell
handover permitted , then start intra cell HO. Otherwise
select
the second cell to perform intercell HO.

0~6
3

25

Min downlink receiving power threshold from the

serving cell
required for interf. HO.

0 ~ 63

30

Emergency Handover Table

Parameter
name.

Filter
Paramete
rs
A1~A8

Filter
paramete
rB

Meaning

Value
range

Recomme
nded
value

Used for configuration of filter for rapid signal

drop judgment, and together with filter
parameter
B, they are 9 parameters for a filter. The
corresponding formula is (in the program, A1~A8
is configuration value minus 10 and B is the
negative configuration value):
C1(nt)=A1C(nt)+A2C(nt-t)+A3C(nt 2t)+
+A8C(nt-7t)
Where, C (nt) is the receiving signal level in the
uplink measurement report of the serving cell
sent at the time of nt. If C1 ( nt ) < B, and C (nt)
is
below the edge handover threshold, then the
signal level is considered to be of rapid drop.

0 ~ 20

10

Used for configuration of filter for rapid signal

drop judgment. Please refer to the explanation
for A1~A8 of filter.

0 ~255

Load Handover Table

Paramete
r
name

System
flux
Thrsh.
For
load HO

Load HO
Thrsh

Load
Req. on
candidat

Recommend
ed
value

Meaning

Value range

The pre condition for load HO is that the system

flow (signaling
flow) is lower the threshold. This value can not be
set too high
because load handover upon max threshold may
cause serious
effect to the system.

0, 8~11
system
flow levels,
to
correspond
ing
0, 70, 80,
90
and 95.

10

Load handover is triggered when the serving cell

load is
than the threshold, TCH seized in the cell has
reaching the
corresponding percentage.

0~7 cell
load
levels,
Correspond
ing
to 0 , 50 ,
60 , 70 ,
75, 80 , 85 ,
90

The Load threshold for the target cells that can

accept MS from
serving cell in load HO, i.e. when the TCH under Idle
mode in
the neigh bor cell is lower than the corresponding
percentage

0~7,
Correspond
ing
to 0 , 50 ,

Load Handover Table

Paramete
r
name

Load HO
bandwid
th

Load HO
step
period

Meaning

Value
range

Recomm
ended
value

This configuration is related to the edge

handover
threshold. Load handover is only allowed when
the MS
receiving level from the serving cell is within
the range of
margin handover threshold, margin handover
threshold +
load handover bandwidth

0~ 63db

25

1~60
seconds

10

When a cell is up to conditions for load

handover, all calls
within the serving cell will send handover
request at the
same time, this will cause abrupt increase on
processor
load, and under certain conditions this will
cause the
target cell congestion and result in call drops.
Thereby,
step by step load handover algorithm is used to
control
handover. The cycle is the time needed for

Normal Handover Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value

Recommended

range

value

During the statistics time, if the time in

which the uplink

25 (without PBGT

receiving level is lower than the value is

Edge HO
UL
RX_LEV
Thrsh.

handover,

longer than
certain time called continuous time, edge
handover
will be performed. If PBGT handover is

downtown),

0~
63

15 (single station
on
outskirts), 15
(with

enabled,

PBGT handover,

Corresponding edge handover threshold

downtown)

will be set
lower

30 (without PBGT
handover,
downtown),

Edge HO
DL
RX_LEV

20 (single station

Downlink consideration for edge HO

63

on
outskirts), 20

Normal Handover Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value range

Recommended
value

It means that within the time

statistics, if the
Edge HO

time in which the signal level is

watch

lower than

time

threshold is higher than the

1 ~16 seconds

1 ~16 seconds

continuous time,
then margin HO is to be triggered
Edge
valid
time

See the above.

Normal Handover Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value range

Recommende
d
value

Layer HO
watch time

statistics time for Layer HO judgment

1 ~ 16
seconds

Layer HO
valid time

Continuous time for Layer HO

judgment

1 ~ 16
seconds

PBGT
watch
time

Statistics time for PBGT HO signal

level judgment.

1 ~ 16
seconds

Continuous time for PBGT HO signal

level judgment.

1 ~ 16
seconds

PBGT valid
time

Normal Handover Table

Meaning

Value
range

Recommende
d
value

MS
Fast
-moving
watch
cells

The cell sum P for judge whether MS is fast moving.

The value, if too large, may cause abrupt increase
of
system flow, while too small value may cause
inaccurate judgment for fast moving MS.

1~ 10

MS
Fast
moving
valid cells

The cell sum N by which MS actually quickly passes.

If
within P cells that MS continuously past, the
number of
cells by which the MS is judged to pass quickly is
equal
to or more than N, then the MS will be judged as a
fast
moving MS.

1~ 10

MS
Fast
moving
Time
Thrsh.

The time threshold (2r/v) determined by the cell

radius
(r) and moving speed (v). If the time in which MS
seconds
passes the cell is smaller than the threshold, then
MS
is judged to quickly pass the cell.

1~ 225

15

Parameter
name

Common Concentric Data

Paramet
er name

Meaning

Value range

Recommended
value

Assign
optimu
m layer

In Overlaid/Underlaid, the following selection

are available for TCH assignment: (1) The
system judges according to the
measurement report on SDCCH and assign to
the best sub-cell. (2) Select the overlaid first
for TCH assignment. (3) Select the underlaid
first for TCH assignment. (4) Do not give
extra priority.

System
optimizatio
n,
overlaid ,
underlaid ,
no
preferential

System
optimization

Assignoptimu
m level
Thrsh.

If system optimization is selected, estimate

(interpolate, filter) current SDCCH level value
through uplink measurement value in the
former SDCCH measurement report, and
compare with Assign-optimum Level
threshold, so as to assign overlaid or
underlaid channel.
If SDCCH is in the overlaid : edge handover
threshold + signal intensity difference
between underlaid and overlaid + uplink
and downlink balance allowance + SDCCH
and TCH difference allowance. If SDCCH is in
the underlaid : edge handover threshold +
uplink and downlink balance allowance +
SDCCH and TCH difference allowance.

0~63

Common Concentric Data

Paramete
r
name

Meaning

Value
range

Recommended
value

Pref.
subcell
in HO of
intraBSC

When the cell is configured into a

Overlaid/Underlaid, there are two processing
methods for incoming handover request in
BSC: (1) No special processing for channel
assignment. (2) Add BCCH signal level value
of the target cell in inter-cell handover
request message to BSC to make BSC allocate
optimum channel for MS from underlaid or
overlaid

Yes, No

Yes

Incomin
g-to-BSC
HO
optimum
layer

If there is a incoming BSC HO, and the

target cell is a Overlaid/Underlaid,
then, this parameter will show which
layer is preferred to provide service for
the MS.

overlaid
,
underlai
d , none

None

Common Concentric Data

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value range

Recommended
value

RX_QUAL
Thrsh.

In case of Qual. Is worse than this

value, MS handover from overlay to
underlay

0--70

60

UO HO
watch
time

P/N judgment statistics time for U/O

HO judgment.

0 ~ 16
seconds

UO HO
valid
time

P/N judgment continuous time for

U/O HO judgment.

0 ~ 16
seconds

TA thrsh. Of
Assignment
Pref.

TA is more than this value, TCH in underlay will

be allocated

0--63

According concrete
condition

TA Thrsh.
Of ImmeAssign Pref.

TA is more than this value, SDCCH in underlay

will be allocated

0--63

According concrete
condition

TA Prfe. Of
ImmeAssign
Allowed

TA attend allocation of SDCCH or not

Yes, No

According concrete
condition

Common Concentric Data

Parameter
name

Recommended
value

Meaning

Value range

TA Thrsh.

It must be bigger than TA

emergency handover threshold.

0~63 bit
period,
with 1 bit
period
correspond
ing to
0.55km

TA
hysteresi
s

Works with TA threshold.

0~63 bit
period

UO HO
watch
time

P/N judgment statistics time for U/O

HO judgment.

0 ~ 16
seconds

UO HO
valid
time

P/N judgment continuous time for

U/O HO judgment.

0 ~ 16
seconds

Normal Concentric Data

Paramete
r name

Meaning

Value range

Recommended
value

RX_LEV
Thrsh

Rx level hysteresis, Receiving Quality

Thrsh.,TA threshold and TA hysteresis
jointly define underlaid area and
overlaid area. It must be bigger than
edge handover threshold, and the
recommended value is: edge handover
threshold + signal intensity difference
between underlaid and overlaid .

0~63

25

RX_LEV
hysteres
is

Works with Rx threshold.

0~63

UO
signal
intensity
differenc
e

Transmitting Power at antenna

difference between underlaid and
overlaid may cause MS receiving signal
intensity difference in underlaid and
overlaid . The parameter usually
indicates the antenna EIRP difference in
dB between underlaid cell and overlaid
cell. According to field measurement,
multi-point measurement is necessary if
the underlaid and overlaid use
different antenna.

0~63dB

Set according
to actual
conditions

Enhance IUO Data

Paramete
r name
Enhance
IUO
Allowed

Meaning

Enable function of Enhance IUO or not

Value range

Yes, No

Recommende
d value
Set
according to
actual
conditions
Set
according to
actual
conditions

UtoO
Traffic HO
Allowed

Enable traffic to be one condition of HO or

not

Yes, No

OtoU HO
Received
Level
Thrsh.

In case of receiving level in overlay is less

than this value, HO occurs from overlay to
underlay

0--63

25

UtoO HO
Received
Level
Thrsh.

In case of receiving level in underlay is more

than this value, and traffic in underlay is
more than Traffic Thrsh. Of Underlay, HO
occurs from underlay to overlay

063

35

Concentric Cell Handover Table

Parameter
name

Meaning

Value range

Recom
mende
d
value

Traffic Thrsh.
Of Underlay

If the traffic in underlay is over this

value, MS will handover from under
to overlay

0100%

80

Underlay HO
Step Period

If there are some handover requests

from under to overlay at the same
time, system will handover the call
with level firstly. This value
determine period per step

1255s

Underlay HO
Step Level

It is the step that handover band

decreases, used to control the grade
by grade handover band from
underlay to overlay with underlay
HO step level

163dB

Penalty Time
of UtoO HO

To prevent ping-pong handover, the

call cant be handed over back within
penalty time when a call is handed
over from underlay to overlay

0255s

10

HO data lookup process

BA2 table defines BCCH frequencies of all neighbor

cells. It is sent to MS by system message 5,
system message 5-bis and system message 5ter
on SACCH channel.
MS reports the serving cell and BCCH, BSIC and
signal levels of 6 strongest neighbor cells to BSS.
This is done through SACCH.
MR pre-process is done in BTS. Module number,
cell number and CGI of all neighbor cells are
derived from Adjacent cell Relation Table, and Cell
Description Table (or External Cell Description
Table) through BCCH and BSIC in the MR.

HO data lookup process

BSC performs HO judgment process, such as

basic rank of cells (completed in LAPD board).
When BSC finds suitable target, It sends HO
request messages containing the target CGI to
MPU of BSC. According to CGI, MPU derive the
module number of the cell from Cell Module
Information Table.
MPU sends a HO command message to the
target module and step up the inter-cell/ intracell HO request counter by one.

Chapter 1 Introduction of Handover

Chapter 2 HO Algorithm process
Chapter 3 HO Data Configuration
Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

1.1 Intra BSC Handover
1.2 Intra MSC Handover
1.3 Inter MSC Handover

Intra-BSC Handover Signaling

process
MS

BTS1

BSC

BTS2

MS

Measurement Report from MS

Channel_Active
Channel_Active ACK

HANDOVER COMMAND
Handover Access

PHY INFO

Handover_Detect

PHY INFO
First SABM
Establish_IND

Handover Complete
Handover_Performed

MSC

Intra-BSC Handover Signaling

process
Attention
In asynchronous HO, if MS could not reach the new
TCH channel after the target cell has sent PHY INFO
up to max times, the target cell reports CONN FAIL
IND to BSC with the reason: HO access failure.
After the above message is received, BSC release
the assigned TCH channel in the target cell .
Max resend times of physical information*Radio
link connection timer > Time interval between EST
IND and HO DETECT (120~180ms). This is to make
sure that the physical information reach MS.

Intra-BSC Handover Signaling

process
MS

BTS (Original)

BSC

BTS (Target)

MSC

Measurement Report
Measurement Report
Channel_Activate
T12++
Attempted incoming internal inter cell handoversT09++

Attempted outgoing internal inter cell handovers

Channel_Activate ACK
Handover Command (Old FACCH)
Handover Access (New FACCH)

Handover Complete (New FACCH) T10++

Successful incoming internal inter cell handovers

T13++ Successful outgoing internal inter cell handovers

RF Channel Release
Handover Performed

Measurement Points of Intra

BSC Handover
Handover formula definition
Internal inter cell radio handover success rate
=(Successful incoming internal inter cell
handovers + Successful
outgoing internal
inter cell handovers) / (Incoming internal inter
cell handovers + Outgoing internal inter cell
handovers )
Internal inter cell handover success rate
=(Successful incoming internal inter cell
handovers + Successful outgoing internal inter
cell handovers) / (Attempted incoming internal
inter cell handovers + Attempted outgoing
internal inter cell handovers)
Internal inter cell radio handover success rate
>= Internal inter cell handover success rate

Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

1.1 Intra BSC Handover
1.2 Intra MSC Handover
1.3 Inter MSC Handover

Intra-MSC HO Signaling process

MS

BTS(original)

BSC1

MSC

BSC2

BTS (Target)

Measurement Report
Attempted outgoing interBSC inter cell handovers
Measurement Report
Handover Required
Handover Request
Attempted incoming interBSC inter cell handovers

Channel_Active

Handover_Request_ACK

Channel_Active_ACK

Handover Command
Handover Access
Handover Detect
Handover Complete
Successful incoming inter BSC handovers
Successful outgoing interBSC inter cell handovers

Handover Complete

Clear Command (HO Successful)

RF Channel Release
Clear Complete

Chapter 4 HO Signaling process

1.1 Intra BSC Handover
1.2 Intra MSC Handover
1.3 Inter MSC Handover

Signaling process between MSC

MS

BSC-A

MSC-A

HO-REQUIRED

MSC-B
MAP_Prepare_HO

VLR-B

BSC-B

MS

MAP_Allocate_HO_NUM
MAP_Send_HO_Repor
t
MAP_Send_HO_Report_AC
K

MAP_Prepare_HO_ACK

HO-REQUEST

HO-REQUEST-ACK

IAI
ACM

HO-Command

MAP_Process_Access_Signalling
Clear-Command

MAP_Send_End_Signal

Clear-Complete
MAP_Send_End_Signal_ACK

HO-Access
HO-Complete

Some intermediate steps are omitted

Signaling process between MSC

MS

BSC-A

MSC-A

HO-REQUIRED

MSC-B
MAP_Prepare_HO

VLR-B

BSC-B

MS

MAP_Allocate_HO_NUM
MAP_Send_HO_Repor
t
MAP_Send_HO_Report_AC
K

MAP_Prepare_HO_ACK

HO-REQUEST

HO-REQUEST-ACK

IAI
ACM

HO-Command

MAP_Process_Access_Signalling
Clear-Command

MAP_Send_End_Signal

Clear-Complete
MAP_Send_End_Signal_ACK

HO-Access
HO-Complete

Some intermediate steps are omitted

Inter-MSC HO Signaling process

Signaling process Abnormal conditions

The following conditions will cause

HO failure

MSC-B fails to identify the target cell.

MSC-B does not allow HO to the indicated target cell.
The target cell has no channel available.
VLR-B has no HO number available.
HO error or unsuitable data.

Inter MSC HOSubsequent HO

process
Roaming
MS

MS
E

MSCa

MSCb

MSCb'

VLRb

VLRb'

BSS2'

BSS2
Radio transmission signal measurement
HO REQUIRED (target cell table)
Perform subsequent HO(MAP) (target cell ID, serving cell ID, MSC number)
Perform HO
(target cell ID, serving cell ID, channel type)

HO REQUEST (PCM&Channel type)

HO REQUEST ACKNOWLmargin (including New TCH number and HO number)
Allocate HO number

Send HO report(HON)
Radio channel ack. (MAP) (includes New TCH number and HON)
IAI
ACM
Subsequent HO ack.
HO COMMAND

HO DETECT
HO COMPLETE

Send end signal (MAP)

ANS
End signal (MAP)

Release (TUP)

~~

Release

CLEAR COMMAND
CLEAR COMPLETE

End signal (MAP)

Release (TUP/ISUP)

~
~

HO report

Release HON

Cut physical connection between MSCa and MSCb

Release HO report

Release HON
Cut physical connection between MSCAa and MSCb'

Inter MSC HOSubsequent HO

process
Subsequent HO

MSC-A

MSC-B
MSC-C

Highway

MSC-C

Inter MSC HO Signaling process

Statistics countersame as Intra MSC HO,

Statistics is handled by BSC
HO formula-- same as Intra MSC HO

Major differences

There is no HO request information for intra-BSC HO, and all of the HO

are analyzed and processed in BSC. Once the target cell as required is
found in the BSC, Channel activation information is sent to it directly.

When the target cell is not in the same BSC, BSC reports CGI numbers of
the serving cell and target cell, and HO cause to MSC through HoRequired. When MSC finds the LAC of the target cell is in the MSC, it sends
Ho-Request to the BSC of the target cell, and the target BSC activates the
target cell channel to complete the following procedure.

When MSC finds that the target cell LAC does not belong to the MSC, it will
query its LAI and GCI Table (including LAC and router address of the
adjacent MSC), and send Prepare-HO message to the target MSC-B
according to the router address. The message includes CGI of the target
cell and indication whether or not to allocate HO number, etc. According to
the message, the target MSC-B sends HO-Request message to the target
BSC-B after demanding HO number (unless it is not required in the
indication) from VLR-B, and sends Prepare-HO acknowledgement to
serving MSC after received HO-Request acknowledgement, to execute the
next procedure.

Major differences

Inter BSC HO transfers HO-REQ message

through MSC, with CGI of the serving cell and
target cell carried in the message.
Intra BSC HO does not have any CGI in any
messages, it is handled inside BSC.
Intra BSC HO only sends HO-Performed to
MSC upon completion of HO, and MSC is not
involved before that time.
In inter BSC HO, MSC is involved since the HO
request .

Summary

Summary

In this course, we have learned:

Classify of handover
Judgment and Ranking step
Handover Data Configuration
Handover signaling Flow

THANK YOU!

Page 104