Sony patents faster wireless handovers using low-level signals
Sony describes a method for moving a connected device from one network node to another using only basic physical and data link layer signals. This approach skips higher-level network layers during the switch and briefly controls the new node's hardware after the transfer.
In the filing’s own words
A method of operating a source central unit (CU) of a wireless communications network is provided. The method includes communicating signals with a communications device operating in a connected state with the source CU, determining that the device is to hand over to a target CU, and performing a handover procedure with the device and the target CU. The handover procedure uses signalling only at a physical layer and/or a data link layer at the source CU, the target CU, and the device. The method further includes controlling, for a specified time period following the handover procedure, a target distributed unit (DU) associated with the target CU.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method of operating a source central unit, CU, of a wireless communications network, the method comprising transmitting signals to and/or receiving signals from a communications device which is operating in a connected state with the source CU, determining that the communications device is to hand over from the source CU to a target CU of the wireless communications network, performing, with the communications device and the target CU, a handover procedure to hand the communications device over from the source CU to the target CU, wherein the handover procedure consists of signalling only at a physical layer at each of the source CU, the target CU, and the communications device and/or a data link layer at each of the source CU, the target CU, and the communications device, and controlling, for a specified time period following the handover procedure, a target distributed unit, DU, associated with the target CU.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- METHODS AND CENTRAL UNITS OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
- Publication number
- US20260292606A1
- Application number
- 19490965
- Filed
- Jul 3, 2024
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04W 36/0038 Electricity & electronicsH04W 12/04 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.