GSM Handover Algorithms

----Special Subject Training

V1.4

Suitable for staff with junior P&O skill certificates (lower than certificate III)
Issued by GSM Network Planning & Optimization Dept.

Internal Use Only

Version introduction
Version

Date

Writer

Assessor

Amendment record

V1.0

2007-0725

Chen Chun

Zheng Hao

None

V1.4

2009-0312

Fei Aiping

Chang Haijie

Explanation of MR is added.

Internal Use Only

Training goals
Get to know theories and classification
of GSM handover;
Get to know the various kinds of ZTE
handover algorithms.

Contents
Overview of handover

Flow of handovers
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handovers

Internal Use Only

Aims of handovers

Neighbour cell C
Freq. C

To
Toensure
ensurenormal
normalphone
phonecalls
calls

Serving
cell
BTS

Neighbour cell A
Freq. A

Neighbour cell
B
Freq. B

To
Toimprove
improvecall
callquality
quality

GSM
handover
belongs
toto
system
hard
handover.
GSM
handover
belongs
system
hard
handover.

Internal Use Only

Aims of handovers
Retrieval handoverto
Retrieval handoverto

retrieve
retrievethe
theon-going
on-goingcalls;
calls;

Marginal
Marginalhandoverto
handoverto
improve
improvethe
theon-going
on-goingcall;
call;

Forced
Forcedhandoverto
handoverto
balance
balancetraffic
trafficdispersion
dispersion
inindifferent
differentcells;
cells;

Intra-cell handoverto
Intra-cell handoverto

reduce
reduceinterference
interferenceininthe
the
cell;
cell;

Directed retryto improve

Directed retryto improve

the
thecall
callestablishment
establishmentrate.
rate.

Internal Use Only

Handover features
Various
Variousalgorithms
algorithms

Ordering
Orderingof
of
target
cells
target cells

Automatic
Automatictraffic
traffic
balance
balance

Unique
Uniquepenalty
penalty
mechanism
mechanism

Various
Variousalgorithms
algorithmscan
canfunction
functionsimultaneously;
simultaneously;
Controlled
by
switches;
Controlled by switches;
System
Systemmakes
makeshandover
handoverdecision
decisionautomatically.
automatically.
Static
Staticpriority;
priority;
Resource
Resourceavailable(%);
available(%);
Budget
power
Budget powervalue.
value.
Directed
Directedretry;
retry;
Traffic
Trafficload
loadhandover
handoverstarted
startedby
byMSC;
MSC;
Priority
adjustment
by
traffic
load;
Priority adjustment by traffic load;
Force
Forcedirected-shift
directed-shifthandover;
handover;

Fast-fading
Fast-fadinghandover
handover
algorithm
algorithm

Internal Use Only

Application scenes for handovers I scenes

Algorithms

UL/DL
interfe
rence
hando
ver

UL/DL
quality
hando
ver

UL/DL
level
hando
ver

urban

Dense
urban

Long
MSBS
distan
ce
hando
ver

UL
fastfading
hando
ver

Macro
-micro
hando
ver

PBGT
hando
ver

Traffic
load
handov
er
started
by MSC

Scenes

suburb

The table is for reference only!

Co-BCCH
handover
Path
loss&
TAbased
concent
ric
handov
er

CIbased
concent
ric
handov
er

Forced
trafficshift
handov
er

Internal Use Only

Application scenes for handovers II network

types

Algorithms

UL/DL
interfer
ence
handov
er

UL/DL
quality
handov
er

UL/DL
level
handov
er

Long
MS-BS
distanc
e
handov
er

UL
fastfading
hando
ver

Dual-band
network

Double-layer
network

CO-BCCH

Macr
omicr
o
hand
over

PBGT
handov
er

Traffic
load
handov
er
started
by
MSC

Scenes

Longdistance
coverage

The table is for reference only!

Co-BCCH
handover
Path
loss&
TAbased
concen
tric
handov
er

CIbased
concen
tric
handov
er

Forced
trafficshift
handov
er

Contents
Overview of handover

Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover

Internal Use Only

Overall handover flow

Overall handover flow

str Pen
ha ateg alty
n y
fa dov for
ilu e
re r

of
s
s
ce R
o
Pr M

Decision
of
handover
start

Selection
of target
cells

Ordering
of target
cells

Start of
handover

Internal Use Only

What is MR?

UL MR
1.
DL DTX performance
2.
UL receive level/quality
3.
BS Power
4.
MS power level
5.
TA
6.
DL dynamic power control

DL MR
1.
UL DTX performance
2.
DL receive level/quality
3.
Adjacent cell level
4.
UL dynamic power control

Internal Use Only

MR cycle

MR is sent to BTS in SACCH UL direction;

When MS is in SDCCH, MR cycle is 470ms/time;

When MS is in TCH, MR cycle is 480ms/time.

26 multiframes of 4
TCHs

480ms

12TCH

1SACCH

12TCH

Internal Use Only

Process of MR
Features

Number of MR
shall reach the
average size of
window;

Consider DTX
weight;

The max number

of missing MR is
ZeroAllowed;

When power
control is on,
power
compensation
shall be made to
handover decision
threshold.

Measurement
Measurementreport
reportisisthe
theoriginal
originaldata
database
basefor
forhandover
handoverdecision.
decision.ZXG10
ZXG10process
process
adopts
roll
average
method
with
various
weights,
which
can
ensure
smooth
handover.
adopts roll average method with various weights, which can ensure smooth handover.

Internal Use Only

The max number of missing MR - ZeroAllowed

Suppose ZeroAllowed=1
MR1/PR1
MR1
MR1/PR1
MR1

missing
missing

MR2/PR2
MR2
MR2/PR2
MR2

Average_MR1
==
Average_MR1 =(MR1+0+MR3+MR4)/(4-1)
=(MR1+0+MR3+MR4)/(4-1)

MR3/PR3
MR3
MR3/PR3
MR3

Average_MR2
==
Average_MR2 =(0+MR3+MR4+0)/4
=(0+MR3+MR4+0)/4

MR4/PR4
MR4
MR4/PR4
MR4
MR5/PR5
MR5
MR5/PR5
MR5
MR6/PR6
MR6
MR6/PR6
MR6
MR7/PR7
MR7
MR7/PR7
MR7

Internal Use Only

Handover preprocess at BTS

Suppose HOPreprocess is open and the value is 2.

MR1
MR1
Preprocess
PreprocessResult1
Result1
MR2
MR2
BSC
BSC
MR3
MR3
Preprocess
PreprocessResult2
Result2
MR4
MR4

IfIfHOPreprocess=0,
HOPreprocess=0,how
howtotoupload
uploadMR?
MR?

Internal Use Only

Process of MR at BSC

Suppose window value=4, N=4

MR1/PR1
MR2/PR2
MR3/PR3

Average_MR1
Average_MR2
N/P decision

MR4/PR4
Average_MR3
MR5/PR5
MR6/PR6
MR7/PR7

Average_MR4

Internal Use Only

Selection of target cells

Intra-cell
handover

Handover
types

Macrocell normal TRX

Macrocell special TRX

Other TRX in microcell

1 AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) +

MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
condition 1 must be satisfied

Inter-cell
handover

2 PBGT(n ) > HO_MARGIN(n)

3 AvRxLevNCell(n) > avRxLevDL +
HO_MARGIN_LEVEL(n)
4 AvRxLevNCell(n) > avRxLevDL +
HO_MARGIN_QUAL(n)

Internal Use Only

Settings of cell layer & priority

Functions of cell layer structure:

More reasonable control of traffic dispersion;

Control of traffic congestion;
Backup of network capacity redundancy.

After Tmicro
overtimes

Before Tmicro
overtimes
Internal Use Only

Intra-cell

Invalid

Invalid

UL interference

Intra-cell

Invalid

Invalid

DL interference

Intra-cell

Invalid

Invalid

UL quality

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer

-lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

DL quality

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer

-lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

UL level

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer

-lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

DL level

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer

-lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

Long distance

Inter-cell

Same layer- upper layer

-lower layer

Upper layer same layer

-lower layer

UL fast fading

Inter-cell
Algorithms

First search for related cells

Upper layer same layer
lower layer

Invalid

Serial

Handover causes

Handover types

CO-BCCH

are related to
their layers

Priority

10

PBGT

Inter-cell

According to
PbgtHoLayer:
Same layer- upper layer
lower layer

No cells on same layer

and lower layer
selected

11

Macro-micro time
hyteresis

Inter-cell

Handover to lower layer

No handover

12

Traffic

Inter-cell

According to
TrafficHoLayrCtl Traffi

Invalid

Internal Use Only

Parameter-NcellLayer

(NcellLayer) is a mathematical array. Each element

determines the layer relation between the serving cell and its
adjacent cells.
The number of cells in an array rests on NcellNum.
NcellNum
value

Meaning

N, undefined

SAME, the serving cell and its adjacent cells are on

the same layer

UPPER, adjacent cells are on the serving cells up

layer

LOWER, adjacent cells are on the serving cells low

layer

Other values

Reserved

Internal Use Only

Layer parameter-Tmicro

Tmicro is started when

the MS accesses into
new channel;
The layer selection
priority of target cells
will be affected, if
handover is started
within the time set on
Tmicro.
Default: 80(8s).

Tmicro

Time duration

50

5s

51

5.1s

200

20s

Internal Use Only

Ordering of target cells

Layer priority of
candidate cells

Static
priority

Resource
available(%
)
Dynamic
Dynamic
priority
priority

Power budget
margin

Internal Use Only

Handover
Handoverdecision/
decision/
execution
execution

Penalty
Penaltystrategy
strategyofofinter-cell
inter-cellhandover
handoverfailure
failure
N

Handover failure?
Handover failure?

Complete
Completehandover
handoverflow
flow
PenalCount=PenalCount+
PenalCount=PenalCount+
11

Y
Start
StartHoFailPenalTime
HoFailPenalTime

PenalCount<3
PenalCount<3

Y
Y

compare
comparethe
thedifference
difference
between
betweenadjacent
adjacentcells
cells
priority
and
the
priority and the
acceptable
acceptablepriority
priority

N
Screen
Screenthe
thetarget
targetcell
cell
N
HoFailPenalTime
HoFailPenalTime
overtimes
overtimes

Y
Relieve
Relievethe
thetarget
targetcell
cell
ofofpenalty
penalty

The
Thepunished
punishedcell
cellowns
owns
the
thehighest
highestpriority?
priority?
N

RxLev(n)=RxLev(n)RxLev(n)=RxLev(n)PenaltyLevOffset
PenaltyLevOffset
PenaltyCount=PenaltyCount+1
PenaltyCount=PenaltyCount+1

Internal Use Only

Handover
Handoverdecision
decision
Start
Startintra-cell
intra-cell
handover?
handover?

Penalty
Penaltystrategy
strategyofofintra-cell
intra-cellhandover
handoverfailure
failure

Other
Otherhandover
handover

Y
Start
StartHoFailPenalTime
HoFailPenalTime
N

IHoCount=IHoCount+1
IHoCount=IHoCount+1

TMaxIHo=0
TMaxIHo=0

TMaxIHo
TMaxIHo overtimes
overtimes

IHoCount=MaxIHo
IHoCount=MaxIHo

IHoCount=0
IHoCount=0

Y
Stop
Stopstarting
startingintra-cell
intra-cell
handover
handover

N
IHoCount=MaxIHo
IHoCount=MaxIHo

Y
Other
Otherhandover
handover
requirements
requirementsare
aresatisfied?
satisfied?
N

Contents
Overview of handover

Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover

Internal Use Only

UL/DL interference handover

Y

Idle TCH
available in cell?
N

UL/DL
interference
handover
intra-cell
handover
UL/DL quality
Handover
inter-cell
handover

Decision of handover start:

AvRxQualUL
(n) InterfFQSS(n)
Its
Itssuggested
suggestedthat
thatUL/DL
UL/DLinterference
interferencebe
beclosed
closedininnetwork
networkwith
withHF
HFopen.
open.
255
YOffset 2

InterfFQSS(n)
YOffset 3
YOffset 4

AvRxLevUL(n) XOffset 20
XOffset 20 AvRxLevUL(n) XOffset 30
XOffset 30 AvRxLevUL(n) XOffset 40
XOffset 40 AvRxLevUL(n)

Internal Use Only

UL/DL quality handover

Decision of handover start:
AvRxQualUL>=HoUlQualThs
AvRxQualDL>=HoDlQualThs

Selection of target cells:

1 AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
2 AvRxLevNCell(n) > AvRxLevDL + HO_MARGIN_QUAL(n)

That
Thatis:
is:
1.1. Adjacent
Adjacentcells
cellslevel
levelmust
mustbe
belarger
largerthan
thanthe
theminimum
minimumreceive
receivelevel
levelset
setfor
forit;
it;
2.2. Adjacent
Adjacentcells
cellslevel
levelshall
shallbe
belarger
largerthan
thanthe
thesum
sumof
ofquality
qualityhandover
handover
threshold
thresholdand
andthe
theserving
servingcells
cellsDL
DLlevel.
level.

Internal Use Only

UL/DL level handover

Decision of handover start:
AvRxLevelUL=<HoUlLevThs
AvRxLevelDL=< HoDlLevThs

Selection of target cells:

1 AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
2 AvRxLevNCell(n) > AvRxLevDL + HO_MARGIN_LEVEL(n)
That
Thatis:
is:
1.1. Adjacent
Adjacentcells
cellslevel
levelmust
mustbe
belarger
largerthan
thanthe
theminimum
minimumreceive
receivelevel
level set
setfor
forit;
it;
2.2. Adjacent
Adjacentcells
cellslevel
levelshall
shallbe
belarger
largerthan
thanthe
thesum
sumof
oflevel
levelhandover
handoverthreshold
threshold
and
the
serving
cells
DL
level.
and the serving cells DL level.

Internal Use Only

Long BS-MS distance handover

Decision of handover start:
AvDistance>DistanceThreshold(TA)

Selection of target cells:

Radio
environment
quality is
not
regarded as
decision
standard.

1 AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))

The
Theonly
onlycondition
conditionisisthat
thatthe
theadjacent
adjacentcells
cellslevel
levelisislarger
largerthan
thanthe
theminimum
minimum
receive
receivelevel
levelset
setfor
forit.
it.

Application range:
This
Thiskind
kindofofhandover
handoverisisusually
usuallyused
usedininnetworks
networkswith
withlong
longdistance
distancecoverage.
coverage.

Internal Use Only

PBGT handover

This handover happens mostly in urban area;

It isnt for saving handover, but for better call quality.

Decision of handover start:

Make handover decision to each adjacent cell in rotation;
when an adjacent cells PBGT value is higher than 0, handover condition is satisfied.

Selection of target cells:

1 AvRxLevNCell(n) > RXLEV_MIN(n) + MAX(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P(n)))
2 PBGT(n ) > HO_MARGIN(n)
That
Thatis:
is:
11
Adjacent
Adjacentcells
cellslevel
levelshall
shallbe
belarger
largerthan
thanthe
theminimum
minimumreceive
receive
level
levelset
setfor
forit;
it;
22
Its
Itspower
powerbudget
budgetvalue
valueshall
shallbe
belarger
largerthan
thanthe
thePBGT
PBGT
handover
handoverthreshold
thresholdset
setfor
foradjacent
adjacentcell.
cell.

Internal Use Only

Directed retry-decision of handover start

MSapplies
appliesfor
forTCH
TCH
MS

Assignmentsuccess
success
Assignment

Yes

UsableTCH
TCH
Usable
available?
available?
No

Successfulforce
force
Successful
disconnetion,force
force
disconnetion,
handoverand
andordering
ordering
handover

successful

Forcedisconnetion,
disconnetion,
Force
forcehandover
handoverand
and
force
orderingattempt
attempt
ordering
unsuccessful

Directedretry
retry
Directed

Yes

Directedretry
retry
Directed
switchopen
openorornot
not
switch
No
TCHoccupancy
occupancyfailure
failure
TCH

Internal Use Only

Directed retry handover

It happens in the process of calling access;

It dynamically adjusts call traffic between cells;
It can lower call loss rate;
Selection of target cells must fulfill condition 1.

Get
Gettotoknow
knowthe
theflow
flowofof
internal
internal&&external
externaldirected
directedretry
retry

How to control
2/3G handover priority?

Its suggested that ordering process be opened first,

since its effect is better than that of directed retry.

Internal Use Only

Penalty on directed retry failure
N (N>3, failure)

No
Nocandidate
candidate
cells
cellsfound
found

Start
Startthe
the
dedicated
timer
dedicated timer

After
Aftertimer
timer
expires
expires

BSC
BSCinternal
internal
cells
cells
Candidate
Candidate
cells have no
cells have no
radio
radio
resources
resources

Order
Order
candida
candida
tetecells
cells

2nd
2nd
candida
candida
tetecell
cell

Y
Handover
Handover

Y
Handover
Handover

N
BSC
BSCexternal
external
cells
cells

Complete
Complete

N (N>3, or T3107 expires, give up directed retry)

Failure
Failuredue
due
totoradio
link
radio link
problem
problem

Delete
Deletethe
the
attempt cells
attempt cells

2nd
2nd
candida
candida
tetecell
cell

Y
Handover
Handover

Contents
Overview of handover

Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover

Internal Use Only

UL fast fading handover

This is a kind of algorithm for saving handover due to UL level
decrease;
It is flexibly used in dense urban areas, like micro-cells, highways,
corners and slopes, where in-time outgoing handovers are needed;
Selection of target cell shall fulfill condition 1;
Given condition 1 is fulfilled, handover to relevant cells is preferred.

MR1/PR1
MR1/PR1
MR2/PR2
MR2/PR2
MR3/PR3
MR3/PR3
MR4/PR4
MR4/PR4

PPunavailable
unavailable

Directly
Directly
report
reportMR
MRtoto
BTS
BTS

Number
Numberofofconsecutive
consecutive
handover
handoverdecisions
decisions(N)
(N)

Internal Use Only

Macro-micro handover

Handover trigger conditions: measured values of adjacent

cells signal strength is higher than threshold, and this
reaches certain
consecutive times.
AvRxLevUL(n)>=
MacroMicroHoThs

Selection of target cell:

Condition 1 is fulfilled;
Layer relation with neighbor cell NcellLayer is
Lower.

Serving cell:
macrocell
Target cell:
microcell

Macrocell
Microce
ll
T=-80dBm
N=6

Microcell

Internal Use Only

Traffic handover

When the serving cell suffers from congestion, for MS which has
established a call, BSC will hand it over to an adjacent cell
which can fulfill traffic handover conditions.
Adjust
Adjustcall
calltraffic
trafficinindifferent
differentcells
cellsto
toreach
reachtraffic
trafficbalance.
balance.

Decision of handover start:

TCHBusyPercent>TrafficThs
Excluding
Excludingcongested
congestedTCHs;
TCHs;
Regardless
Regardlessdynamic
dynamicHR
HRand
and
dynamic
PDTCH.
dynamic PDTCH.

Selection of target cell:

Condition
Condition11

PBGT(n)
PBGT(n)>>TrafficLevThs
TrafficLevThs

Internal Use Only

MSC-started traffic load handover

Its started by MSC;

Select at most NumOfMS calls;
Handover from high loaded cells to low loaded ones.

Inter-BSC load adjustment;

No data configuration needed at radio side.

Note:
Precondition for this handover algorithm: MSC starts the
function, and BSC supports load report.
Currently, no manufacturer makes this function open. ?????

Internal Use Only

Forced directed-shift handover

The last means to adjust traffic;

Mainly used in CO-BCCH cells;

Features
Applicable
scenes:900M1800M cell of the
same direction;

Target cell must be

forced firected shift
handover cell.

Internal Use Only

Forced directed-shift handover strategy

Decision of handover start:
PathLoss(n)<=MaxLossThs
Only
Only
based
based
on
on
Path
Path
loss
loss

TA(n)<=MaxTAThs
MaxTAThs=63
MaxTAThs=63

MaxLossThs
MaxLossThs=150
=150

Only
Only
based
based
on
on
TA
TA

Selection of target cell:

PBGT value must be larger than the difference between PBGT
threshold and MaxForceHoDiff;
Usable resource in target cell must be larger than HoForceResThs;
Target cell must be the one for dorced directed-shift handover.

Internal Use Only

Comparison between Forced directed-shift handover and

other types of handover
Compared
with PBGT
handover

Usually they are valid at the same time, but PBGTs priority is higher
than that of forced directed-shift handover;
The MaxLevDiff of forced directed-shift handover must be smaller
than the value of reverse PBGT, or Pingpong handover will be resulted.

Compared
with
directed
retry

Forced directed-shift is the handover between two TCHs during call

process;
Directed retry is carried out when applying for TCH during call
access.

Compared
with traffic
handover

Different trigger conditions (forced directed-shift handover is

triggered by MS, traffic handover is triggered by BSC.)
Different handover flows.

Internal Use Only

Co-BCCH handover-subcell

Configuration
of subcell

Co-BCCH

Carriers in different
frequency bands belong to
different subcells;
The first subcell is
configured with BCCH.

Co-channel cell

Concentric circle
advance technology;
Subcells are allowed to
make power control
respectively.

The first subcell

The second subcell

Internal Use Only

Co-BCCH handover trigger decision

too
toosmall
small
pathloss
pathloss
&TA
&TA

Based
Basedon
on
pathloss
pathloss
&TA
&TA
Decis
Decis
ion
ionofof
hand
hand
over
over
trigg
trigg
erer

PathLoss<=PathLossMin
PathLoss<=PathLossMin
And
AndTA<=
TA<=SubCellTAMin
SubCellTAMin

too
toolarge
large
pathloss
pathloss
&TA
&TA

PathLoss>=
PathLoss>=PathLossMax
PathLossMax
Or
OrTA>=
TA>=SubCellTAMax
SubCellTAMax

C/I
C/Igood
good

C/I>=
C/I>=GoodCiThs
GoodCiThs

The
The
second
second
subcell
subcell

The
The
first
first
subcell
subcell

Based
Basedon
onC/I
C/I
C/I
C/Ibad
bad

C/I=<
C/I=<BadCiThs
BadCiThs

Contents
Overview of handover

Flow of handover
Basic handover algorithms
Advanced handover algorithms
Inter-system handover

Internal Use Only

Options of inter-system (2G-UMTS/TD) handover strategy

MSC side

Handover to
3G
preferred

Handover to 3G
NOT preferred

Handover to 3G
inhibited

BSC side
Handover to 3G
preferred

Handover to
3G
preferred

Handover to 3G
preferred

Handover to 3G NOT
preferred

Handover to
3G NOT
preferred

Handover to 3G
NOT preferred

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Handover to
3G
inhibited

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Handover to 3G
inhibited

BSC control
preferred

Handover to 3G
inhibited

Internal Use Only

Description of inter-system (2G-UMTS/TD) handover strategy

3G cell
preferre
d

Valid decision

Start 3G handover, no more attempt to 2G;

Null decision

2G handover decision & selection of target cell;

3G handover decision

Saving handover

Select a 3G cell as candidate,

try it if there is no usable radio
resource available in 2G cell;

Non-saving handover

3G cells are not for candidates;

Valid decision

2G cell
preferred

2G
Handove
r decision

Null decision

3G cell
inhibited

3G handover decision & selection of target cell;

Inter-system handover is inhibited; handover algorithms are the

same as those of 2G.

Internal Use Only

Questions:

Please simply describe the relation between layer

and priority in handover algorithms;
Please enumerate radio parameters of 2-3G
handover.