The first is Fast Handover (Intra-eNB), which allows seamless transitions within the same base station’s coverage area, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity. The second is S1 Handover (Inter-eNB), which enables smooth handovers between different base stations when a device moves between cells, crucial for maintaining connectivity during continuous movement, such as driving. These mechanisms ensure consistent and high-quality mobile communication experiences as users and devices move through various coverage areas.
What are the two mechanisms of handover in 5G?
There are two primary mechanisms for handover, which are designed to ensure seamless and uninterrupted connectivity as a device moves between different cells or base stations. These mechanisms are:
Fast Handover (Intra-eNB Handover):
Intra-eNB (Intra-NodeB) Handover: This type of handover occurs when a device moves within the coverage area of the same base station (NodeB or eNB – evolved NodeB) but needs to switch to a different cell within that base station’s coverage. It’s often referred to as a fast handover because it doesn’t involve changing the serving base station.
Purpose: The primary purpose of intra-eNB handover is to maintain continuity of service quality as a device moves within the same cell’s coverage area. For example, when you’re on a call or streaming data while walking in a city, your device may switch between different sectors of the same cell tower without dropping the call or interrupting your data session.
S1 Handover (Inter-eNB Handover):
Inter-eNB (Inter-NodeB) Handover: This type of handover is more complex and occurs when a device moves from one cell to another and must change the serving base station. It’s also known as inter-cell handover.
Purpose: The primary purpose of inter-eNB handover is to enable a seamless transition for a device as it moves between the coverage areas of different base stations. This is crucial for maintaining connectivity during activities such as driving, where you may transition from one cell to another as you move along a road.
Procedure: Inter-eNB handover involves a series of steps, including measurement and signal quality assessment by the source and target base stations, negotiation of handover parameters, and eventually the handover of the device’s connection to the target base station.
These handover mechanisms in 5G are essential for providing a consistent and high-quality mobile communication experience as users and devices move through different coverage areas. By ensuring smooth transitions between cells and base stations, 5G networks can maintain reliable connectivity for applications like voice calls, video streaming, and real-time data transfer. The specific implementation and optimization of these handover mechanisms may vary depending on the network architecture and the equipment used by the mobile service provider.