Intra-Cell Handover

9702844

Intra-Cell Handover
A channel change within the cell in situations of
bad quality and high signal strength.

Bad quality despite

of high signal strength

f1
f2

Achievements
Intra-cell handover can solve temporary co- and
adjacent channel interference as well as
intermodulation problems.
Permanent interference and time dispersion cannot
be solved.

9702846

Quality Vs. Signal Strength Function (FQSS)

Intra-cell handover
criteria fulfilled with
SSOFFSET < 0 and
QOFFSET < 0

rxqual [dtqu]

Intra-cell handover
criteria fulfilled with
SSOFFSET = 0 and
QOFFSET = 0

70

60

Impact of decreasing
the SSOFFSET value
Impact of decreasing
the QOFFSET value

50
(RXLEV = 31 + SSOFFSET
rxqual = 60 + QOFFSET)
40

(RXLEV = 63 + SSOFFSET
rxqual = 50 + QOFFSET)
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

RXLEV
[rxlev units]

The Intra-Cell Handover Criteria

If rxqual_ul > QOFFSETUL + FQSS(rxlev_ul + SSOFFSETUL)
or
rxqual_dl > QOFFSETDL + FQSS(rxlev_dl + SSOFFSETDL)
then an intra-cell handover is requested.
rxlev_ul and rxlev_dl are the received filtered signal strength values
measured in the up and downlink.
rxqual_ul and rxqual_dl are the received filtered quality values
measured in the up and downlink.

Without frequency hopping:

With frequency hopping:

A. Among the idle channels, select

the ones that are on a different
frequency than the current channel.

A. Among the group of idle channels,

select the ones that belong to another
channel group than the current
channel.

Selection of New Channel

B. If no idle channel have been found

with the criterion above, select the
B. If no idle channels have been found
Without
frequency
hopping:
frequency
hopping:
Without
frequency
hopping:
idle timeslot that are on the same
with theWith
criterion
above,
(e.g. there are With frequency hopping:
frequency
as the current
one
group
defined
in channels,
the A. Among the group of idle channels,
A. Among
the idle channel.
channels, select
A.channel
Among
the
group
of idle
A.only
Among
the
idle channels,
select
cell),
select
that are
the ones that are on a different the
select
theidle
ones
that belong
to another
ones
that the
are
on
achannels
different
select the ones that belong to another
on
a
different
timeslot
than
the
current
frequency than the current channel.
channel
group
thanchannel.
the current channel group than the current
frequency
than the
current
channel.
channel.
channel.
B. If no idle channel have been found
B. If no idle channel have been found
C. Ifthe
noB.
idle
channel
hasselect
been
found
with the criterion above, select the
If no
idle
channels
have
beenB.
found
with
criterion
above,
the
If no idle channels have been found
with
the
criteria
above,
select
the
idle
idle timeslot that are on the same
with that
the criterion
above,
idle timeslot
are on the
same(e.g. there
withare
the criterion above, (e.g. there are
channel
on
the
same
channel
group
frequency as the current channel.
only
channelchannel.
group defined only
in theone channel group defined in the
frequency
asone
the current
and timeslot
as
the
current
channel.
cell), select the idle channels that
are select the idle channels that are
cell),
on a different timeslot than the current
on a different timeslot than the current
2. Among these channels, if a TCH/H is requested, the group of idle channels
channel.
channel.
that have been partly allocated for half rate are selected.
C. If no idle channel has been found
C. If no idle channel has been found
3. Among these channels, if a TCH is requested, select the group of idle
with the criteria above, select thewith
idlethe criteria above, select the idle
channels from the least adaptable TCH Capabilities Group.
channel on the same channel group
channel on the same channel group
4. Among these idle channels, select the group and
of idle
Channels
(TCH
or channel.
timeslot
as the
current
and timeslot as the current channel.
SDCCHs) with the lowest interference according to the Idle channel
2. Among
theseischannels,
is requested,
the group
idle channels
2. Among
these channels,
if aof
TCH/H
is requested, the group of idle channels
Measurement
feature
selected. if a TCH/H
that have been partly allocated for
ratebeen
are selected.
thathalf
have
partly allocated for half rate are selected.
5. Among these idle channels, select the group of channels that are hopping
Among
these channels,
if a TCH
is requested,
select theifgroup
3. Among
these channels,
a TCHofisidle
requested, select the group of idle
over as3.many
frequencies
as possible.
channels from the least adaptable
TCH Capabilities
Group.
channels
from the least
adaptable TCH Capabilities Group.
6. Among these channels, an idle channel in accordance with the FIFO principle
4. Among these idle channels, select
the group
idlechannels,
Channelsselect
(TCHthe
or group of idle Channels (TCH or
4. Among
theseofidle
is selected.
SDCCHs) with the lowest interference
according
to lowest
the Idleinterference
channel according to the Idle channel
SDCCHs)
with the
Measurement feature is selected.
Measurement feature is selected.

Channel Allocation at Intra-Cell Handover

Non - hopping cell:
First choice at IHO (change of
frequency)

f1
f2

Last choice at IHO (same frequency

but different timeslot)

f3
allocated channel
Hopping cell:
f1

First choice at IHO (change of

channel group)
Second choice at IHO (change of
timeslot)

f2
f3

Last choice at IHO (same channel

group and timeslot)

f4
allocated channel

IHO Timers and Counters

TMAXIHO
starts

TMAXIHO
starts

TMAXIHO
starts
4th iho attempt

TMAXIHO
starts

Iho inhibited
Ihoc = 1

Ihoc = 2

TINIT
starts

TINIT
starts

Ihoc = 3 Ihoc = 0

TINIT
starts

Ihoc = 1 time

TINIT
starts
TIHO starts

Iho = Intra-cell handover

Ihoc = Intra-cell handover counter
MAXIHO = 3

TMAXIHO is the maximum time between intra-cell handovers, which are

considered consecutive. The parameter is set per subcell.
MAXIHO is the maximum number of allowed consecutive intra-cell handovers.
The parameter is set per subcell.
TIHO is a timer during which intra-cell handover is inhibited. This timer will not
start before TINIT has elapsed. The parameter is also used when inhibiting a
subcell change from an underlaid to an overlaid subcell. The parameter is set
per subcell.

Intra-Cell Handover Between Subcells

Intra-cell handover is only permitted within a subcell and not
between subcells. There are however four important exceptions:
1 If the serving cell is an OL subcell and all channels in that subcell
are occupied an intra-cell handover is allowed to the UL cell in
order not to lose the call.
2 This is also possible the other way around (UL to OL) if chaps 5 or
6 are selected.
3 If the number of consecutive handover reaches the limit MAXIHO
in the OL subcell, an intra-cell handover to the UL cell is allowed.
4 Intra-cell HO to another channel group may be in another subcell.

Parameter Summary
Main controlling parameters
The following parameters are set per subcell.
IHO is the parameter to switch intra-cell handover on/off.
SSOFFSETUL sets the offset to the signal strength in the uplink
direction.
SSOFFSETDL sets the offset to the signal strength in the downlink
direction.
QOFFSETUL sets the quality offset in the uplink direction.
QOFFSETDL sets the quality offset in the downlink direction.

Parameters for Special Adjustments

TMAXIHO is the maximum time between intra-cell
handovers, which are considered consecutive. The
parameter is set per subcell.
MAXIHO is the maximum number of allowed consecutive
intra-cell handovers. The parameter is set per subcell.
TIHO is a timer during which intra-cell handover is inhibited.
The total time when intra-cell handover is inhibited is TIHO +
TINIT. The parameter is set per subcell.
IHOSICH switches intra-cell handover on signalling channels
on/off. The parameter is set per BSC.

Value Ranges and Default Values

Parameter name
IHO
HNDSDCCH
SSOFFSETUL
SSOFFSETDL
QOFFSETUL
QOFFSETDL
TMAXIHO
MAXIHO
TIHO
IHOSICH

9702854

Default value
OFF
1
0
0
0
0
6
3
10
OFF

Value range
ON, OFF
0, 1
- 30 to 30
- 30 to 30
- 50 to 50
- 50 to 50
0 to 60
0 to 15
0 to 60
ON, OFF

Unit
dB
dB
dtqu
dtqu
seconds
seconds