Methods and apparatus for detecting possible repeated handover different radio access technologies

A control node for detecting a possible inter-radio access technology (IRAT) ping pong handover of a user equipment (UE) connection between a source radio access technology (RAT) communications network and a different target RAT communications network, where in an IRAT ping pong handover, the UE connection is handed over from a first cell in the source RAT network to a second cell in the target RAT network and then handed over back to a third cell in the source RAT network within a predetermined limited time during which coverage for the UE connection is available from the source RAT network, the control node being associated with the target RAT network and comprising data processing circuitry configured to:

• determine, by the control node, IRAT ping pong handover information;
• evaluate the UE connection related to an IRAT handover request message from the source RAT network with respect to the handover ping pong information;
• based on the evaluating, determine that the UE connection meets one or more ping pong conditions associated with the handover ping pong information;
• and
• provide an indication of an IRAT ping pong handover condition to a base station in the source RAT network.

A method associated with detecting a possible inter-radio access technology (IRAT) ping pong handover of a user equipment (UE) connection between a source radio access technology (RAT) communications network and a different target RAT communications network, where in an IRAT ping pong handover, the UE connection is handed over from a first cell in the source RAT network to a second cell in the target RAT network and then handed over back to a third cell in the source RAT network within a predetermined limited time during which coverage for the UE connection is available from the source RAT network, the method being implemented by a base station associated with the first cell in the source RAT network and comprising the steps of:

• sending, by the base station, a handover or cell relocation request message to a control node associated with the target RAT communications network;
• receiving an indication of an IRAT ping pong handover condition if the UE connection meets one or more ping pong conditions associated with the handover ping pong information;
• and
• adjusting mobility parameters with respect to the second cell and/or to the target RAT network to avoid a future handover of the UE connection to the second cell.

A source radio access technology (RAT) base station for use in detecting a possible inter-radio access technology (IRAT) ping pong handover of a user equipment (UE) connection between a source radio access technology (RAT) communications network and a different target RAT communications network, where in an IRAT ping pong handover, the UE connection is handed over from a first cell in the source RAT network and served by the source RAT base station to a second cell in the target RAT network and then handed over back to a third cell in the source RAT network within a predetermined limited time during which coverage for the UE connection is available from the source RAT network, the source RAT base station comprising:

• a transmitter configured to send a handover or cell relocation request message to a control node associated with the target RAT communications network;
• a receiver configured to receive an indication of an IRAT ping pong handover condition if the UE connection meets one or more ping pong conditions associated with the handover ping pong information;
• and
• a data processor configured to adjust mobility parameters with respect to the second cell and/or to the target RAT network to avoid a future handover of the UE connection to the second cell.

An operations and maintenance node configured to communicate with a source radio access technology (RAT) communications network and a different target RAT communications network, comprising data processing circuitry configured to:

• receive statistical information determined by one or more control nodes concerning IRAT handover ping pong events during an observation time period;
• determine an IRAT handover ping pong detection time window based on the received statistical information;
• provide the determined IRAT handover ping pong detection time window to enable a network control node to detect an IRAT handover ping pong situation for a user equipment (UE) connection and take action to avoid further IRAT ping pong handover of the UE connection,
• where in an IRAT ping pong handover, the UE connection is handed over from a first cell in the source RAT network to a second cell in the target RAT network and then handed over back to a third cell in the source RAT network within a predetermined limited time.