Forward handover under radio link failure

A device that operates in a wireless environment, the device comprising:

• a processor configured
• to set a configurable and autonomously optimized threshold for a channel quality metric;
• to receive an indication of a radio link failure (RLF) condition when a channel quality metric is below the threshold, wherein the indication of the RLF condition includes a NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset;
• to trigger a RLF timer upon receiving the indication, and wherein the RLF timer is selected to mitigate excessive forward handover pursuits and ensuing target cell attachments;
• and
• to trigger preparation for handover in response to the NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor.

An apparatus that operates in a wireless environment, the apparatus comprising:

• means for configuring an autonomously optimized threshold for a channel quality metric;
• means for conveying the threshold for the channel quality metric;
• means for receiving an indication of a radio link failure (RLF) condition when a channel quality metric is below threshold, wherein the indication of the RLF condition includes a NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset;
• means for triggering a RLF timer upon receiving the indication, wherein the RLF timer is selected to mitigate excessive forward handover pursuits and ensuing target cell attachments;
• and
• means for triggering preparation for handover in response to the NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for:

• configuring an autonomously optimized threshold for a channel quality metric to determine a radio link failure (RLF) criterion;
• conveying the threshold for the channel quality metric;
• receiving an indication of a radio link failure (RLF) condition when the channel quality metric is below threshold, wherein the indication of the RLF condition includes a NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset;
• triggering a RLF timer upon receiving the indication, wherein the RLF timer is selected to mitigate excessive forward handover pursuits and ensuing target cell attachments;
• and
• triggering preparation for handover in response to the NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset.

A method for forward handover under link failure in a wireless system, the method comprising:

• receiving a configurable channel quality metric threshold, the channel quality metric threshold being autonomously optimized and establishes a radio link failure (RLF) criterion;
• conveying an indication of a RLF condition when a channel quality metric is below the threshold, wherein the indication of the RLF condition includes a NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset, and reception of the indication triggers an RLF timer selected to mitigate excessive forward handover pursuits and ensuing target cell attachments;
• preparing for forward handover triggered by the NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset;
• and
• pursuing forward handover.

An apparatus that operates in a wireless environment, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured
• to receive a channel quality metric threshold which determines a radio link failure (RLF) criterion and wherein the channel quality metric threshold is autonomously optimized;
• to generate a channel quality metric;
• to convey a channel quality indicator (CQI) report that indicates a RLF condition as a NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset when the channel quality metric is below the channel quality metric threshold, wherein reception of the CQI report triggers an RLF timer selected to mitigate excessive forward handover pursuits and ensuing target cell attachments;
• and
• to prepare for forward handover triggered by the NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset;
• and
• memory coupled to the processor.

A wireless device comprising:

• means for receiving a radio link failure (RLF) criterion, wherein the RLF criterion is determined by an autonomously optimized threshold for a channel quality metric;
• means for conveying an indication of a RLF condition as a NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset when the RLF criterion is fulfilled, wherein reception of the indication triggers an RLF timer selected to mitigate excessive forward handover pursuits and ensuing target cell attachments;
• means for preparing for forward handover triggered by the NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset;
• and
• means for pursuing forward handover.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for:

• receiving a channel quality metric threshold, wherein the channel quality metric threshold is autonomously optimized;
• conveying an indication of a radio link failure (RLF) condition as a NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset when a channel quality metric is below the channel quality metric threshold, wherein reception of the indication triggers an RLF timer selected to mitigate excessive forward handover pursuits and ensuing target cell attachments;
• and
• pursuing forward handover triggered by the NULL channel quality indicator of RLF onset.