11 Neighboring Cell Combination

Overview
After the active set is updated, the RNC updates the neighboring cell list by using
the neighboring cell combination algorithm according to the status of the active set.
This list includes the new intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-RAT
neighboring cells. The combination methods of intra-frequency handover, interfrequency handover, and inter-RAT handover are the same. If the radio link of the
drift RNC (DRNC) is added to the active set, the source RNC (SRNC) buffers the
intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-RAT neighboring cell lists of the DRNC
until the radiolink of the DRNC is released. The neighboring cell combination result
is contained in the MEASUREMENT CONTROL message and sent to the UE, which
instructs the UE to perform intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and interRATmeasurement and handover procedures.The maximum number of neighboring
cells of a cell that can be configured is as follows:
The maximum number of intra-frequency neighboring cells is 32, which includes the
cell itself.
The maximum number of inter-frequency neighboring cells of single carrier is 32.
The maximum number of inter-frequency neighboring cells of 2 carriers is 64. No
more than 2carriers of inter-frequency cells can be configured.
The maximum number of inter-RAT neighboring cells of multi-carrier is 32
Neighboring Cell Combination Switch
HO_MC_NCELL_COMBINE_SWITCH is the neighboring cell combination switch.
If the switch is set to ON
measurement objects are chosen from the neighboring cells of all the cells in the
active set.
if the switch is set to OFF
, measurement objects are chosen from the neighboring cells of the bestcell.
HO_MC_NCELL_COMBINE_SWITCH is set to ON by default.

Procedure of the Neighboring Cell Combination

After obtaining the intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-RAT neighboring cells
of each cell in the active set, the RNC calculates the combined neighboring cell set,
which is referred as Sall
, by using the following method. These neighboring cells and active cells are added
to Sall
in the following order until the number reaches the maximum number of
neighboring cells:
Step 1
The best cell in the active is added to Sall. The best cell is reported on event
Step 2
Other cells in the active set are added to Sall
in the in descending order by CPICH Ec/No.
Step3
The neighboring cells of the best cell in the active set are added to Sall.
NprioFlag ( the flag of the priority ) and Nprio ( the priority of the neighboring cell)
, which are set for each neighboring cell, are used to change the order of adding the
neighboring cells to Sall. When NprioFlag is switched to FALSE ,NPrio is cleared.
When NprioFlag is switched to TRUE, NPrio is set simultaneously.
Step4
The neighboring cells of other cells in the active set are added to Sall in descending
order by CPICH Ec/No values of these cells in the active set. The number to be
repeatedly added of each neighboring cell is recorded. The neighboring cells of the
same cell in the active set are added according to Nprio.If the number of the cells in
Sall is more than maximum number of neighboring cells, delete the neighboring
cells whose repeated number in Sall is less. The best cell and its neighboring cells
will not be deleted.