Communication connection control procedure for supporting and conducting handover

Abstract

An apparatus for use by a communication element or function configured to communicate in a communication network comprising a plurality of communication cells, the apparatus comprising at least one processing circuitry, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to execute a handover procedure for changing a communication connection from a source cell currently serving the communication element or function to a target cell; to determine beam information indicating a communication beam of the source cell serving the communication element or function at the time when the handover procedure is executed; and to cause sending the beam information to a communication network control element or function to which the communication element is connected after the handover procedure is ended.

1 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . An apparatus for use by a communication network control element or function of a communication cell configured to communicate with a communication element or function in a communication network comprising a plurality of communication cells, the apparatus comprising
 at least one processing circuitry, and   at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry,   wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least:   to participate in a handover procedure for changing a communication connection of the communication element or function from a source cell currently serving the communication element or function to a target cell;   to obtain and process, when the handover is successfully completed, beam information indicating a communication beam of the source cell serving the communication element or function at the time when the handover procedure is executed; and   to cause forwarding the beam information to a communication network control element or function of the source cell.   
     
     
         59 . The apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least:
 to receive the beam information in a handover confirmation signaling from the communication element or function.   
     
     
         60 . The apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least:
 to obtain, as part of the beam information, an indication of a communication beam of the target cell on which the communication element or function successfully accessed the target cell when conducting the handover procedure.   
     
     
         61 . The apparatus according to  claim 60 , wherein the indication of a communication beam of the target cell on which the communication element or function successfully accessed the target cell is received from the communication element or function, or is determined in the communication network control element or function of the target cell. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein the communication network control element or function comprises a central unit and at least one distributed unit. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus according to  claim 62 , wherein the beam information is obtained at least in part by the at least one distributed unit and forwarded to the central unit, and forwarding of the beam information to the communication network control element or function of the source cell is caused by the central unit. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least:
 to cause forwarding the beam information to the communication network control element or function of the source cell in a context release signaling via a dedicated interface between communication network control elements or functions of the source cell and the target cell.   
     
     
         65 . A method for use in a communication network control element or function of a communication cell configured to communicate with a communication element or function in a communication network comprising a plurality of communication cells, the method comprising
 participating in a handover procedure for changing a communication connection of the communication element or function from a source cell currently serving the communication element or function to a target cell;   obtaining and processing, when the handover is successfully completed, beam information indicating a communication beam of the source cell serving the communication element or function at the time when the handover procedure is executed; and   causing forwarding the beam information to a communication network control element or function of the source cell.   
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 65 , further comprising receiving the beam information in a handover confirmation signaling from the communication element or function. 
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 65 , further comprising obtaining, as part of the beam information, an indication of a communication beam of the target cell on which the communication element or function successfully accessed the target cell when conducting the handover procedure. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the indication of a communication beam of the target cell on which the communication element or function successfully accessed the target cell is received from the communication element or function, or is determined in the communication network control element or function of the target cell. 
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 65 , wherein
 the communication network control element or function comprises a central unit and at least one distributed unit, and   the beam information is obtained at least in part by the at least one distributed unit and forwarded to the central unit.   
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein forwarding of the beam information to the communication network control element or function of the source cell is caused by the central unit. 
     
     
         71 . The method according to  claim 65 , further comprising causing forwarding the beam information to the communication network control element or function of the source cell in a context release signaling via a dedicated interface between communication network control elements or functions of the source cell and the target cell. 
     
     
         72 . A computer program product having a series of operating instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that directs a data processing apparatus when executed thereby to perform operations to enable a communication network control element or function of a communication cell configured to communicate with a communication element or function in a communication network comprising a plurality of communication cells, the operations comprising:
 participating in a handover procedure for changing a communication connection of the communication element or function from a source cell currently serving the communication element or function to a target cell;   obtaining and processing, when the handover is successfully completed, beam information indicating a communication beam of the source cell serving the communication element or function at the time when the handover procedure is executed; and   causing forwarding the beam information to a communication network control element or function of the source cell.   
     
     
         73 . The computer program product according to  claim 72 , further comprising receiving the beam information in a handover confirmation signaling from the communication element or function. 
     
     
         74 . The computer program product according to  claim 72 , further comprising obtaining, as part of the beam information, an indication of a communication beam of the target cell on which the communication element or function successfully accessed the target cell when conducting the handover procedure, wherein the indication of a communication beam of the target cell on which the communication element or function successfully accessed the target cell is received from the communication element or function, or is determined in the communication network control element or function of the target cell. 
     
     
         75 . The computer program product according to  claim 72 , wherein the communication network control element or function comprises a central unit and at least one distributed unit. 
     
     
         76 . The computer program product according to  claim 75 , wherein the beam information is obtained at least in part by the at least one distributed unit and forwarded to the central unit, and forwarding of the beam information to the communication network control element or function of the source cell is caused by the central unit. 
     
     
         77 . The computer program product according to  claim 72 , further comprising causing forwarding the beam information to the communication network control element or function of the source cell in a context release signaling via a dedicated interface between communication network control elements or functions of the source cell and the target cell.