MOB_BSHO-RSP Base Station Handover Response message

Last updated on May 5, 2023

The MOB_BSHO-RSP (Mobile Originating Base Station Handover Response) message is an important part of the communication protocol in cellular networks. It is used to confirm the completion of a handover process from the perspective of the mobile device or user equipment (UE).

Before diving into the details of MOB_BSHO-RSP, it's important to understand the context in which it is used. Handover is a key functionality in cellular networks that enables a mobile device to maintain an ongoing communication session as it moves from one location to another. In particular, handover is used to seamlessly transfer a mobile device's ongoing communication session from one base station (BS) to another.

When a mobile device initiates a handover, it sends a Handover Request message to the target BS, which is responsible for verifying whether it can accommodate the mobile device's communication session. If the target BS is able to accommodate the session, it sends a Handover Command message to the source BS, which is responsible for initiating the handover process. Once the handover process is complete, the source BS sends a Handover Complete message to the mobile device to inform it that the handover has been successful.

The MOB_BSHO-RSP message is used by the mobile device to confirm receipt of the Handover Complete message. This confirmation is important because it allows the source BS to release resources that were allocated for the communication session prior to the handover. Specifically, the MOB_BSHO-RSP message includes information about the status of the handover process, including whether the handover was successful or not.

The MOB_BSHO-RSP message is defined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specification 36.331, which specifies the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol used in Long-Term Evolution (LTE) cellular networks. The message is part of the RRC protocol's Handover Control (HO) procedure, which is used to manage the handover process.

The MOB_BSHO-RSP message is sent by the mobile device to the source BS after it receives the Handover Complete message from the source BS. The message includes a number of fields that provide information about the handover process. These fields include:

Transaction Identifier: This field is used to identify the handover transaction. It is used to match the MOB_BSHO-RSP message with the Handover Complete message.
Handover Completion Status: This field indicates whether the handover was successful or not. The possible values for this field include Success, Failure, and Abort.
Cause: If the Handover Completion Status field indicates that the handover was not successful, this field provides additional information about the reason for the failure.
Target Cell ID: This field indicates the identity of the cell that the mobile device has been handed over to.
Target Cell Timing Advance: This field provides the timing advance value for the target cell. Timing advance is a mechanism used in cellular networks to compensate for the propagation delay of radio signals.
Handover Flag: This field indicates whether the handover was intra-frequency or inter-frequency. Intra-frequency handovers occur when the mobile device moves from one cell to another within the same frequency band. Inter-frequency handovers occur when the mobile device moves from one frequency band to another.
Measurement Results: This field includes measurement results that were used to initiate the handover process.

The MOB_BSHO-RSP message is sent using the RRC protocol's Radio Access Network (RAN) signaling transport mechanism. The message is encapsulated in an RRC Connection Release message, which is used to release the RRC connection that was established for the handover process.

In summary, the MOB_BSHO-RSP message is an essential part of the handover process in cellular networks. It is used by the mobile device to confirm the successful completion of a handover from the source BS to the target BS. The message includes information about the status of the handover, including whether it was successful or not, the target cell ID, and measurement results used to initiate the handover process.

The MOB_BSHO-RSP message is a critical component of the RRC protocol's Handover Control procedure. It allows the source BS to release resources that were allocated for the communication session prior to the handover. Additionally, the message provides valuable information about the quality of the handover process, including any failures or aborts, which can be used to optimize future handovers.

There are some important considerations when implementing the MOB_BSHO-RSP message in cellular networks. For example, it is important to ensure that the message is sent promptly after the mobile device receives the Handover Complete message to avoid resource wastage. Additionally, the message should be sent using an appropriate transport mechanism that can reliably deliver the message to the source BS.

In LTE cellular networks, the MOB_BSHO-RSP message is just one part of the complex handover process that is managed by the RRC protocol. There are several other messages and procedures involved in the handover process, including the Handover Request and Handover Command messages. These messages are used to establish the handover process and facilitate the transfer of the mobile device's ongoing communication session from the source BS to the target BS.

In conclusion, the MOB_BSHO-RSP message is a critical component of the handover process in cellular networks. It is used by the mobile device to confirm the successful completion of a handover from the source BS to the target BS. The message includes valuable information about the quality of the handover process, including any failures or aborts, which can be used to optimize future handovers. Proper implementation of the MOB_BSHO-RSP message is essential for ensuring the reliable and efficient operation of cellular networks.