Feature Deployment and Testing Guide

Soft and Softer Handover

Feature ID: ZWF21-03-001

Version: V3.11.10

ZTE CORPORATION
NO. 55, Hi-tech Road South, ShenZhen, P.R.China
Postcode: 518057
Tel: +86-755-26771900
Fax: +86-755-26770801
URL: http://ensupport.zte.com.cn
E-mail: support@zte.com.cn
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Revision History

Revision No. Revision Date Revision Reason

R1.0 2012-08-09 First edition

Serial Number: SJ-20120802112720-028

Publishing Date: 2012-08-09 (R1.0)

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 Contents
Chapter 1 Functional Description ............................................................. 1-1
Chapter 2 Preparations .............................................................................. 2-1
Chapter 3 Data Configuration.................................................................... 3-1
Chapter 4 Testing ....................................................................................... 4-1
4.1 Test Purpose...................................................................................................... 4-1
4.2 Steps for Test..................................................................................................... 4-1
4.3 Expected Results ............................................................................................... 4-3

Chapter 5 Counter List............................................................................... 5-1

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 Chapter 1
Functional Description
In a soft handover, a UE maintains several radio links with different NodeBs, while in a
softer handover, a UE concurrently maintains radio link with several cells in a NodeB, and
these several cells are also known as macro diversity.
The soft/softer handover can only occur in intra-frequency cells. Compared with the hard
handover, the soft/softer handover features are as follows:
l The soft and softer handovers are seamless handovers and no service will be
interrupted during handover.
l Macro diversity gain: When a UE maintains radio links with several cells, the receiver
may enhance the accuracy of data receiving and link receiving quality and lower the
transmit power of all links by combining the signal receiving results of several links.
l The best cell where UE is registered may establish a radio connection with the UE in
time so as to lower the transmit power of UE.
In view of the above features, the soft and softer handovers will be taken in intra-frequency
handover in general.
Intra-frequency handover refers to the handover performed between cells under the same
frequency of UTRAN. The intra-frequency handover can be triggered based on Ec/N0 or
RSCP measurement through the parameter IntraMeasQuan.Intra-frequency handover
is measurement-based handover. Intra-frequency measurement contains active set
measurement, monitored set measurement and detected set measurement.

The active set refers to the collection of cells retaining radio connection with UE.
The monitored set refers to the collection of cells retaining no radio connection with UE but
requiring measurement by sending the intra-frequency measurement control message to
UE.
The detected set refers to the collection of intra-frequency cells except cells in the active
set and monitored set.

When conducting intra-frequency measurement, the UE needs to implement layer 3 filter

for the measurement results to avoid measurement fluctuation and then make event
decision and report by using filtered values. The layer 3 filter formula is as follows:

Where,
Fn-1 refers to the result of last filter.

Fn refers to the result of current measurement filter.

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Mn refers to current measurement result.

a = 1/2(k/2) refers to the filter coefficient calculated based on the filter factor K (FilterCoeff
(Intra)).
Intra-frquency measurement means to perform measurement on intra-frequency cells.
Only event-based method of reporting measurement result is supported, and parameter
SofthoMthd is invalid. The event-based report method means the UE judges whether
intra-frequency events are met based on the quality measurement result of cell PCPICH.If
so, it reports intra-frequency events (including such information as event ID, and target
cell) to the RNC.
A series of intra-frequency measurement events are defined in 3GPP as the judgment and
trigger criteria for intra-frequency handover.
Event 1A: A Primary CPICH enters the Reporting Range. It can be used for adding cell to
the active set.
Event 1B: A Primary CPICH leaves the Reporting Range. It can be used for deleting cell
from the active set.
Event 1C: A Non-active Primary CPICH becomes better than an active Primary CPICH. It
can be used for replacing the cell with bad quality in the active set.
Event 1D: The best cell changes. It can be used for soft/softer handover, intra-frequency
hard handover and inter-frequency load balance.

Event 1A-Triggered Handover

Event 1A means the quality of certain cell outside the active set ameliorates. Upon
receiving Event 1A, the RNC adds corresponding target cell into the active set to enhance
the gain of macro diversity. When the cell meets the conditions in the following formula,
the UE reports Event 1A to the RNC.

The meanings of all parameters are described as follows:

R1a: Refers to the reporting range of Event 1A. It is used to control the extent of difficulty
in adding a cell into the active set (RptRange [MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]).
H1a: Refers to the reporting hysteresis of Event 1A. It is used to control the extent of
difficulty in adding a cell into the active set (Hysteresis[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]
(Intra)).
MNew: Refers to measurement of the to-be-evaluated cell outside the active set.
CIONew: Refers to offset of cell outside active set in relation to other cells (CellIndivOffset
(utranRelation)).
Mi: Refers to the mean measurement value of other cells except the best cell in active set.
NA: Refers to the number of other cells except the best cell in active set.

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 Chapter 1 Functional Description

MBest: Refers to the measurement of the best cell in the active set.
W: Refers to the weight proportion (W[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]) of the best cell to
the rest cells in the active set in evaluation standards.
As can be calculated from the above formula, you can increase the probability of triggering
Event 1A by either increasing R1a (Event 1A meets the reporting range conditions) or
decreasing H1a (Decision hysteresis range.Otherwise, you can reduce the probability of
triggering Event 1A.
Event 1A supports period-based report, that is, once Event 1A meets the
reporting range of quality standards, the UE will report Event 1A periodically
(EvtRptInterval[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]) until this event does not meet
reporting conditions or the reporting times reach the maximum allowed times
(EvtRptAmount[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]).
There is restriction on the number of radio links in active set, so Event 1A will not
be reported once the number of cells in the active set reaches certain threshold
(RptDeactThr[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]).

Event 1B-Triggered Handover

Event 1B indicates the quality deterioration of certain cell in the active set. Upon receiving
the Event 1B, the RNC may delete the cell from the active set. When the cell meets the
conditions in the following formula, the UE reports Event 1B to the RNC.

R1b: Refers to the reporting range of Event 1B. It is used to control the extent of difficulty
in dropping a cell from the active set (RptRange [MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]).
H1b Refers to the reporting hysteresis of Event 1B. It is used to control the extent of difficulty
in dropping a cell from the active set (Hysteresis[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT] (Intra)).
MOld: Refers to measurement of the to-be-evaluated cell in the active set.
CIOOld: Refers to offset of cell in active set in relation to other cells (CellIndivOffset
(utranCell)).
Mi: Refers to the mean measurement value of other cells except the best cell in active set.
NA: Refers to the number of other cells except the best cell in active set.
MBest: Refers to the measurement of the best cell in the active set.
W: Refers to the weight proportion (W[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]) of the best cell to
the rest cells in the active set in evaluation standards.
As can be calculated from the above formula, you can decrease the probability of triggering
Event 1B by either increasing R1b (Event 1B meets the reporting range conditions) or
decreasing H1b (Decision hysteresis range). Otherwise, you can increase the probability
of triggering Event 1B.

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Event 1C-Triggered Handover

Event 1C indicates the quality of a cell in non-active set is better than that of a cell in certain
active set. Upon receiving Event 1C, the RNC may replace the cell in the active set with
a cell in non-active set to obtain better gain of macro diversity. When the cell meets the
conditions in the following formula, the UE reports Event 1C to the RNC.

H1c Refers to the reporting hysteresis of Event 1C. It is used to control the extent of difficulty
in replacing a cell in the active set (Hysteresis[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT] (Intra)).
MNew: Refers to measurement of the to-be-evaluated cell outside the active set.
MInAS: Refers to the cell with poorest quality in the active set.

CIONew: Refers to offset of the to-be-evaluated cell outside the active set in relation to
other cells (CellIndivOffset (utranRelation)).
CIOInAS: Refers to offset of cell with poorest quality in active set in relation to other cells
(CellIndivOffset (utranCell)).

As can be calculated from the above formula, you can decrease the probability of triggering
Event 1C by increasing H1c (decision hysteresis range); otherwise, you can increase the
probability of triggering Event 1C.
Event 1C supports period-based report, that is, once Event 1C meets the
reporting range of quality standards, the UE will report Event 1C periodically
(EvtRptInterval[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]) until this event does not meet
reporting conditions or the reporting times reach the maximum allowed times
(EvtRptAmount[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]).
To ensure the gain of macro diversity, the report of Event 1C is only
allowed when the number of cells in the active set reaches certain threshold
(RplcActThr[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]).

Event 1D-Triggered Handover

Event 1D indicates the quality of certain cell within or outside current active set is better
than the best cell in current active set, that is, the best cell changes in the active set. The
following can be triggered upon the receipt of Event 1D:
l Add a cell into the active set (the cell outside the active set reports Event 1D and the
number of links in the active set does not reach the maximum).
l Replace the cell with bad quality in active set (the cell outside the active set reports
Event 1D but the number of links in the active set reaches the maximum).
l The serving cell changes (for HS-DSCH/E-DCH).

When the cell meets the conditions in the following formula, the UE reports Event 1D to
the RNC.

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 Chapter 1 Functional Description

MNotBest: Refers to the measurement of the to-be-evaluated cell within or outside the active
set.
CIONotBest: Refers to the offset of the to-be-evaluated cell within the active set
(CellIndivOffset (utranCell)) or outside the active set (CellIndivOffset (utranRelation)) in
relation to other cells.
CIOBest: Refers to offset of the to-be-evaluated cell in the active set in relation to other
cells (CellIndivOffset (utranCell)).
MBest: Refers to the measurement of the to-be-evaluated cell in the active set.
H1d: Refers to Event 1D report hysteresis (Hysteresis[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]
(Intra)).
As can be calculated from the above formula, you can decrease the probability of triggering
Event 1D by increasing H1d (decision hysteresis range); otherwise, you can increase the
probability of triggering Event 1D.

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 Chapter 2
Preparations
License
N/A

Hardware Requirement
NE Requirement

RNC None

NodeB None

Software Requirement
NE Involved Version Requirement

UE YES UMTS FDD Number: 2

Category: Any
Release: Any

Node B YES V4.11.10.14 ZTE equipment

RNC YES V3.11.10.11 ZTE equipment

MSCS YES ZTE equipment

MGW YES ZTE equipment

SGSN YES ZTE equipment

GGSN NO

HLR NO

Topology
Topology is shown in Figure 2-1 and Figure 2-2.

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Figure 2-1 Soft Handover Networking Topology

Figure 2-2 Softer Handover Networking Topology

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 Chapter 3
Data Configuration
SGSN/GGSN - ZTE
N/A

MSC/MGW - ZTE
Usually, the default configuration supports 12.2k AMR speech. In the
“RAB_AssignmentRequestMsg” message, MSC indicates the traffic class and the MBR:
TRANAP_Message.RAB_AssignmentRequestMsg.rAB_SetupOrModifyList.elem[0].rAB_
SetupOrModifyItemFirst.rAB_Parameters.trafficClass = eRANAP_TrafficClass_convers
ational
TRANAP_Message.RAB_AssignmentRequestMsg.rAB_SetupOrModifyList.elem[0].rAB_
SetupOrModifyItemFirst.rAB_Parameters.maxBitrate.elem[0] = 12200

HLR - ZTE
N/A

RNC
Parameters setting in the RNC
– HSPA Support Method: Support HSUPA, HSDPA and DCH

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Feature Deployment and Testing Guide Feature ID: ZWF21-03-001

Path: View > Configuration Management > RNC Managed Element > RNC Radio
Resource Management > UTRAN Cell > UTRAN Cell xxx > Cell Ability and Cell
Reselection > HSPA Support Method: Support HSUPA, HSDPA and DCH
Cell1 and Cell2 have the same frequency
—-DUARFCN: xxx (Refer to your parameter table)

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 Chapter 3 Data Configuration

Path: View > Configuration Management > RNC Managed Element > RNC Radio
Resource Management > UTRAN Cell > UTRAN Cell xxx > Cell Setup Parameters
> DUARFCN

Cell1 and Cell2 are configured as adjacent cells with different coverage.
—-RNC Identity: xxx (Refer to your parameter table)
—-Cell Identity: xxx (Refer to your parameter table)
—-Neighbouring Physical Cell Identity: xxx(Refer to your parameter table)
—- Does Neighboring Cell Belong to Self Physical RNC: True
—- Share Cover Indication: Neighbor

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Path: View > Configuration Management > RNC Managed Element > RNC Radio
Resource Management > UTRAN Cell > Neighboring Cell xxx > RNC Identity
Path: View > Configuration Management > RNC Managed Element > RNC Radio
Resource Management > UTRAN Cell > Neighboring Cell xxx > Cell Identity
Path: View > Configuration Management > RNC Managed Element > RNC Radio
Resource Management > UTRAN Cell > Neighboring Cell xxx > Neighboring Physical
Cell Identity
Path: View > Configuration Management > RNC Managed Element > RNC Radio
Resource Management > UTRAN Cell > Neighboring Cell xxx > Does Neighboring
Cell Belong to Self Physical RNC
Path: View > Configuration Management > RNC Managed Element > RNC Radio
Resource Management > UTRAN Cell > Neighboring Cell xxx > Share Cover
Indication
— Soft Handover Method: Event Method

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 Chapter 3 Data Configuration

Path: View > Configuration Management > RNC Managed Element > RNC Radio
Resource Management > UTRAN Cell > UTRAN Cell xxx > Modify Advanced
Parameter > UTRAN Cell > Soft Handover Method

Node B
N/A

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 Chapter 4
Testing
Table of Contents
Test Purpose ..............................................................................................................4-1
Steps for Test .............................................................................................................4-1
Expected Results .......................................................................................................4-3

4.1 Test Purpose

The purpose of this test case is to verify if the function of Soft/Softer Handover is working
normal.
Related document:
ZTE UMTS Handover Control Feature Guide.doc

4.2 Steps for Test

In case of soft handover:
1. UE1 makes an AMR 12.2Kbps voice call to another UE or PSTN in Cell1. Hold the
call.

2. UE1 moves from Cell1 to Cell2 to trigger event 1A. Cell2 is added into the active set

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3. UE1 continues moving to Cell2 until trigger event 1B and Cell1 is removed from the
active set

Introduced above are over Soft Handover.

In case of Softer Handover, Cell1 and Cell2 belong to Same NodeB.
RadioLinkAdditionRequestFDDMsg & RadioLinkAdditionResponseFDDMsg
will be present instead of RadioLinkSetupRequestFDDMsg &
RadioLinkSetupResponseFDDMsg.

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 Chapter 4 Testing

4.3 Expected Results

UE1 performs the soft/softer handover successfully.

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 Chapter 5
Counter List
Counter No. Description

C310322211 Statistics of soft handover prepare

C310322212

C310322213

C310322214

C310322215

C310322216 Number of active set update attempted to add

cell, by procedure
C310322217

C310322218

C310322219 Number of active set update failed to add cell,

by procedure
C310322220

C310322221

C310322222 Number of active set update failed to add cell,

by cause
C310322223

C310322224

C310322225

C310322226

C310322227

C310322228

C310322229

C310322230

C310322231

C310322232 Number of active set update attempted to delete

cell, by procedure
C310322233

C310322234

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Counter No. Description

C310322235 Number of active set update failed to delete cell,

by cause
C310322236

C310322237

C310322238

C310322239

C310322240

C310322241

C310322242

C310322243

C310322244

C310322245 Number of active set update attempted to add

cell, by traffic class
C310322246

C310322247

C310322248

C310322249 Number of active set update failed to add cell,

by traffic class
C310322250

C310322251

C310322252

C310322253 Number of active set update attempted to delete

cell, by traffic class
C310322254

C310322255

C310322256

C310322257 Number of active set update failed to delete cell,

by traffic class
C310322258

C310322259

C310322260

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 Chapter 5 Counter List

Counter No. Description

C310322261 Number of active set update attempted to add

cell, by traffic class
C310322262

C310322263

C310322264

C310322265

C310322266

C310322267

C310322268

C310322269 Number of active set update failed to add cell,

by traffic class
C310322270

C310322271

C310322272

C310322273

C310322274

C310322275

C310322276

C310322277 Number of active set update attempted to delete

cell, by traffic class
C310322278

C310322279

C310322280

C310322281

C310322282

C310322283

C310322284

C310322285 Number of active set update failed to delete cell,

by traffic class
C310322286

C310322287

C310322288

C310322289

C310322290

C310322291

C310322292

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