PROJECT TITLE:

HANDOFF 0R HANDOVER
NETWORK (CDMA)

CONCEPT

IN

CELLULAR

SUBMITTED BY:
MUHAMMAD AAMIR
(Intern BSS OPERATIONS NTR-I)
REGION:
BSS OPERATIONS (BSC PESHAWAR)

SUBMITTED TO:
Human Resource (HR) PTCL North

DATED:

Monday, July 27, 2015

Handoff In Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Technology:

A handoff refers to the process of transferring an active call or data session from one cell in a
cellular network to another or from one channel in a cell to another. A well-implemented handoff
is important for delivering uninterrupted service to a caller or data session user.
CDMA systems support handoffs of the mobile from one cell to another while the mobile is in
the idle state, the Access state, or the Traffic Channel state:
Idle Transition from one cell to another while in the idle state must be a hard handoff.
Access Handoffs during Access are permitted only in TIA/EIA-95, but not in IS-95A.
Traffic the in-traffic transition from one cell to another can be either a soft handoff or a hard
handoff.
Figure below show detail explanation of handoff concept.
FIG.1

Idle Handoff
While in the idle state, the mobile may move from one cell to another. Idle handoff arises from
the transition between any two cells. Idle handoff is initiated by the mobile when it measures a
Pilot signal significantly stronger (3 dB) than the current serving Pilot.

FIG.2

Handoff during Access

Handoff in the Access state is specifically prohibited in IS-95A. This prohibition made access
processes easier to implement during the initial development of the early CDMA systems.
Performance was sacrificed for simplicity.
However, Access failures in the handoff region were a significant performance deficiency, and
TIA/EIA-95 includes the following handoff techniques to improve performance:
Access entry handoff
Access probe handoff
Access handoff
Channel assignment into soft handoff

Types of Handoff:
Mobile assisted Soft Handoff
Soft handoff is the process of establishing a link with a target cell before breaking the link with a
serving cell. Mobiles continuously search for Pilot Channels on the current frequency, to detect
potential candidates for handoff.
Both Cells must be on the Same Frequency
The mobile typically contains only one RF receiver. Therefore soft handoff requires that both the
serving and the target cells be transmitting on the same CDMA frequency.

All Cells Deliver coded Frames to the BSC

Each Base Transceiver Station (BTS) participating in a soft handoff transmits identical frames.
The mobile combines these frames and then forwards a single frame to the coder. On the Reverse
link, each BTS independently decodes and then delivers coded frames to the Base Station
Controller (BSC).
FIG.3

Softer Handof

Softer handof is a soft handoff between two sectors of the same cell. Signals
received by different sectors can be combined by the rake receiver in the
BTS. It should be noted, however, that only one voice frame is eventually
forwarded to the BSC. Softer handoff enables greater efficiency in the use of
hardware since only one Channel element is used to support such a handoff.
FIG.4

Soft-Softer Handoff:

Multiple cells and sectors may be involved in a handoff in a variety of ways. The figure depicts a
scenario where a mobile is in softer handoff with two sectors of one cell and is also in soft
handoff with another cell. The BSC will receive a coded frame from each cell and choose the
error-free one.
FIG.5

Hard handoff
A hard handoff entails a brief disconnection from a current serving cell prior to establishing a
connection with a target cell. Hard handoffs can occur for several reasons.
The figure illustrates a hard handoff from a CDMA system to an analog system. Hard handoffs,
however, may also occur between CDMA cells. CDMA-to-CDMA hard handoffs are due to
frequency mismatches, frame offset misalignment, or disjoint cells (cells served by different
BSCs).

FIG.6

Pilot Searching Process

The Mobile Searches for Strong Pilot Signals

The searching process is continuous and is conducted not only to find handoff candidates, but
also to identify usable multi path arrivals from the serving cell.
The Mobile Reports
The handoff process is mobile-assisted, meaning that when the mobile detects a Pilot of
sufficient strength, it reports the event to the Base Station.
The Base Station Directs
When the Base Station receives a report from the mobile, a handoff decision is made and
directions are sent to the mobile to perform the handoff.
FIG.7

Pilot Set

Pilots are grouped into four sets, which prioritize them and increase the efficiency of searching.
The searching process is not standardized, but generally Pilots are searched in the following
order:
Active SetPilot Channels associated with forward Traffic Channels currently assigned to the
mobile. This is a search for additional multi paths of the same Pilot Channels.
Candidate Set Pilot Channels whose strength, as measured by the mobile, exceeds a given
threshold.
Neighbor SetPilot Channels transmitted by cells in the vicinity of the cells currently
transmitting to the mobile. The contents of the Neighbor Set are normally configured by the
system operator, by means of the Neighbor List Message.
Remaining Set All other Pilot Channels that are possible within the current system.
This search is conducted to allow the system to configure itself as well as to account for special
coverage spots within the cell.
FIG.8

Search Windows

The system operator determines the size of the search windows used by the mobile. Searching
over a window of chips accommodates unpredictable changes in propagation delay due to
varying multipath conditions and propagation delay differences between the serving cells and
other cells that may be useful in the future.
Multi path Arrivals:
The figure depicts the signals arriving from three different cells. The horizontal axis is time, in
PN chips. The vertical axis is the Pilot signal-to-noise ratio, Ec/I0, in dB.
FIG.9

. Handoff Signaling Messages

Pilot Strength Measurement Message (PSMM)

Handoff Direction Message (HDM)
Handoff Completion Message (HCM)
Handoff Signaling Parameters:

Pilot Detection Threshold :( T_ADD)

Any Pilot that is strong but is not in the Handoff Direction Message is a source of interference.
This Pilot should be immediately moved into the active set for handoff to avoid voice/data
degradation or a possible drop call. T_ADD affects the percentage of MS in handoff. It should be
low enough to quickly add useful Pilots and high enough to avoid false alarms due to noise.
Pilot Drop Threshold :( T_DROP)
This affects the percentage of MS in handoff. It should be low enough to avoid dropping a good
Pilot that goes into a short fade. It should be high enough not to remove quickly useful Pilots in
the active or candidate state.

Pilot Drop Timer :( T_TDROP)

This is a timer. Whenever the strength of a Pilot in the active set falls below a value of T_DROP,
a timer is started by the MS. If the Pilot strength goes back above T_DROP, the timer is reset;
otherwise the timer expires when a T_TDOP has elapsed since the Pilot strength has fallen below
T_DROP. Every MS maintain a handoff drop timer for each Pilot in the Active and Candidate
Sets.
The Comparison Threshold: T_COMP
An additional parameter, T_COMP, is used to control handoff signaling. When the strength of a
new Pilot exceeded the strength of the current serving Pilot by the amount of the comparison
threshold, the MS will signal the BTS.
FIG.10

The Mobile Adjusts Pilot Priorities as Necessary

When the strength of a Pilot rises above T_ADD, the mobile will autonomously add that Pilot to
its Candidate Set and signal the system by sending a PSMM. If the system directs the mobile to
handoff, the new Pilot will be added to the mobiles Active Set. When the strength of the Pilot

falls below T_DROP for a sufficient period of time (T_TDROP), the mobile signals the Base
Station with a PSMM.

Transition between Pilot Sets

FIG.11

This graph illustrates the soft handoff process. The steps shown in this diagram are:
1. Pilot 2>T_ADD.MS sends PSMM (Pilot Strength Measurement Message) and adds Pilot 2 to
the Candidate Set.
2. Pilot 2>Pilot1+T_COMP*0.5. MS sends another PSMM. BTS decides to add Pilot 2 to the
Active Set and sets up the soft handoff.
3. MS receives message and moves Pilot 2 to the Active Set.
4. Pilot 1<T_DROP. MS starts handoff drop timer for Pilot 1.
5. Drop timer expires. MS sends PSMM indicating that Pilot 1 should be dropped.
6. MS receives message indication that Pilot 1 has been dropped and moves Pilot 1 to the
Candidate Set.
7. Pilot 1< T_DROP. MS starts a new drop timer.
8. Drop timer expires. MS moves Pilot 1 to the Neighbor Set.

Handoff Problems: Window Dropped Calls

Calls are dropped during Hand off is due to:

Calls often drop when strong neighbors suddenly appear outside the neighbor search
window and cannot be used to establish soft handoff.
Neighbor Search Window SRCH_WIN_N should be set to a width at least twice the
propagation delay between any site and its most distant neighbor site
Remaining Search Window SRCH_WIN_R should be set to a width at least twice the
propagation delay between any site and another site which might deliver occasional RF into the
service area.