GSM Radio Network Features

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Intra Cell Handover

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GSM Radio Network Features

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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

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GSM Radio Network Features

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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.

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GSM Radio Network Features

Graphic display of the FQSS Table

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GSM Radio Network Features

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The Intra-Cell Handover Criteria

The intra-cell handover algorithm states that an intra-cell
handover shall be requested if:
rxqual-ul > QOFFSETUL + FQSS( RXLEV_UL + SSOFFSETUL )

or
rxqual-dl > QOFFSETDL + FQSS( RXLEV_DL + SSOFFSETDL )

RXLEV_UL/DL is the received filtered UL/DL

values of the signal strength
rxqual_ul/dl is the received filtered quality values UL/DL
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GSM Radio Network Features

The Intra-Cell Handover Criteria for AMR FR

The intra-cell handover algorithm for AMR FR states that
an intra-cell handover shall be requested if:
rxqual_ul > QOFFSETULAFR + FQSS(RXLEV_UL+SSOFFSETULAFR)

or
rxqual_dl > QOFFSETDLAFR + FQSS(RXLEV_DL+SSOFFSETDLAFR)

where:
SSOFFSETULAFR and SSOFFSETDLAFR are signal strength offset
parameters, which shift the curve in the horizontal direction for the case when
traffic using AMR FR transcoder
QOFFSETULAFR and QOFFSETDLAFR are quality offset parameters, which
shift the curve in the vertical direction for the case when traffic using AMR FR
transcoder.
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GSM Radio Network Features

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FQSS Table
RXLEV
<=30
31
32 - 35
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 45
46 - 48
49 - 52
53 - 55
56 - 58
59 - 62
>=63
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rxqual
infinity
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
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GSM Radio Network Features

Selection of a new Channel

In the traffic case intra-cell handover, it is important to find channels with characteristics that differ
compared to the characteristics of the originating channel.
1.

The group of idle channels according to the following intra-cell handover strategy is selected. Note that
it is possible to go from non-hopping channels to hopping channels, and vice versa.
With frequency hopping:

Without frequency hopping:

2.1 Among the groups of idle channels, select the ones

that belong to another channel group than the
current channel.

2.1 Among the idle channels, select the ones

that are on a different frequency than the
current channel.

2.2 If no idle channels have been found with the

criterion above, (e.g. there are only one channel
group defined in the cell), select the idle channels
in that channel group, but with different timeslot
numbers than the current channel.

2.2 If no idle channels have been found with

the criterion above, select the idle timeslots
that are on the same frequency as the
current channel, but with different timeslot
numbers than the current channel.

3.

2.3 If no idle channel has been found with the criteria

above, select the idle channels on the same
channel group and timeslot as the current channel.

Continue the selection as stated in chapter Channel Administration at TCH Channel selection for
single slot connection.
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GSM Radio Network Features

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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
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GSM Radio Network Features

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IHO Timers and Counters

TMAXIHO
starts

TMAXIHO
starts
TMAXIHO
starts

4th iho attempt

TMAXIHO
starts

Iho inhibited
Ihoc = 1 Ihoc = 2 Ihoc = 3Ihoc = 0

TINIT
starts

TINIT
starts

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.
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GSM Radio Network Features

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Interactions with OL/UL Subcells

A subcell change, from OL to UL or UL to OL, due to Intracell handover may be attempted if MAXIHO has been
reached. The prerequisites are:
the criteria for intra-cell handover is fulfilled
the TINIT timer has elapsed and the TMAXIHO timer is still running

In case of congestion, a subcell change may occur:

If congestion occurs in the overlaid subcell, a subcell change to the
underlaid subcell is attempted.
If congestion occurs in the UL subcell, it is possible to allow a
subcell change due to intra-cell handover, by choosing CHAP 5, 6,
8 or 10.

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GSM Radio Network Features

Parameter Summary (I)

SSOFFSETUL sets the offset to the signal strength in the uplink
direction
SSOFFSETULAFR sets the offset to the signal strength in the uplink
direction for traffic using the AMR FR codec type
SSOFFSETDL sets the offset to the signal strength in the downlink
direction
SSOFFSETDLAFR sets the offset to the signal strength in the
downlink direction for traffic using the AMR FR codec type
QOFFSETUL sets the quality offset in the uplink direction
QOFFSETULAFR sets the quality offset in the uplink direction for
traffic using the AMR FR codec type
QOFFSETDL sets the quality offset in the downlink direction.
QOFFSETDLAFR sets the quality offset in the downlink direction for
traffic using the AMR FR codec type
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GSM Radio Network Features

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Parameter Summary (II)

IHO is the parameter to switch intra-cell handover on/off. The
parameter is set per BSC. This parameter is however not considered
in case of an intra-cell handover due to channel rate change.
IHOSICH switches intra-cell handover on signaling channels on/off
TMAXIHO is the maximum time between intra-cell handovers, which
are considered consecutive
MAXIHO is the maximum number of allowed consecutive intra-cell
handovers
TIHO is a timer during which intra-cell handover is inhibited after
having performed too many consecutive intra-cell handovers. The
parameter is also used when inhibiting a subcell change from an
underlaid to an overlaid subcell
HNDSDCCH determines if intra-MSC handover on a signaling channel
is allowed (= 1) or not (= 0).
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GSM Radio Network Features

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Parameters
Parameter name

Default value

Recommended value

Value range

0, 1

HNDSDCCH
IHO

Unit

OFF

ON

ON, OFF

SSOFFSETUL

-10

-30 to 30

dB

SSOFFSETULAFR

-10

-30 to 30

dB

SSOFFSETDL

-30 to 30

dB

SSOFFSETDLAFR

-30 to 30

dB

QOFFSETUL

-50 to 50

dtqu

-50 to 50

dtqu

-50 to 50

dtqu

-50 to 50

dtqu

freq. hop: 0
no freq. hop: -10

QOFFSETULAFR

freq. hop: 10
no freq. hop: 0

QOFFSETDL

freq. hop: 10
no freq. hop: 0

QOFFSETDLAFR

freq. hop: 20
no freq. hop: 10

TMAXIHO

MAXIHO

0 to 60

TIHO

10

10

0 to 60

OFF

OFF

ON, OFF

freq. hop: 2

seconds

0 to 15

no freq. hop: 3
IHOSICH

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GSM Radio Network Features