How Phones Switch to Better Cell Towers Seamlessly
Samsung's 2023 patent on a smarter way for phones to switch to new cell towers, called TRPs, by comparing their settings to ensure a smooth connection.
Original patent title: “Method and system to handle handover procedure in multi TRP system”
Samsung's 2023 patent on a smarter way for phones to switch to new cell towers, called TRPs, by comparing their settings to ensure a smooth connection. Granted to Samsung Electronics Co in 2023 with 20 claims and 2 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method for a phone (UE) to switch to a new cell tower (TRP) without dropping its connection, a process called handover. The phone's current tower (source node) first picks a few potential new towers for the phone to consider. The phone then sends a report about its signal strength to these towers. The source node uses this report to decide if a switch is needed. Crucially, before switching, it compares its own internal settings with those of the potential new tower. This comparison can happen at different technical levels (like Layer 2 or Layer 3). If the settings are similar, a quicker, lower-level switch (Layer 2) is triggered, possibly just sending a TRP ID. If they are different, a more involved higher-level switch (Layer 3) is initiated, which might include sending more configuration details. The goal is to make this switch as smooth as possible for the user.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover switching to a new tower without the phone first sending a measurement report.
- Does not cover switching to a new tower without comparing the configurations of the old and new towers.
- Does not cover switching to a new tower if the phone's current tower does not determine a trigger for the handover.
- Does not cover switching that relies solely on signal strength without considering technical configurations.
- Does not cover the phone initiating the handover process itself without a report to the source node.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The key innovation is comparing the technical configurations of the source and target TRPs before initiating a handover. This allows the system to choose the most efficient handover method (Layer 2 vs. Layer 3) based on how compatible the towers are, minimizing disruption.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Modern 5G smartphone handover procedures
Cellular network infrastructure for 5G and beyond
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As mobile networks evolve to use more, smaller transmission points (TRPs) instead of large cells, ensuring seamless connections during handovers is critical for user experience. This patent addresses that challenge by providing a more intelligent and efficient handover process, particularly relevant for 5G and future wireless systems.
Filed
April 20, 2021
Granted
June 27, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Samsung, as the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is likely implementing this technology in its own mobile devices and network infrastructure. Other major telecommunications equipment manufacturers and mobile operators are also developing similar handover mechanisms for 5G Advanced and future networks.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing development of more robust and efficient mobile communication systems. By enabling smarter handovers, it helps ensure better call quality, faster data speeds, and a more reliable user experience as networks become denser with more TRPs.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method for a phone (UE) to switch to a new cell tower (TRP) without dropping its connection, a process called handover. The phone's current tower (source node) first picks a few potential new towers for the phone to consider. The phone then sends a report about its signal strength to these towers. The source node uses this report to decide if a switch is needed. Crucially, before switching, it compares its own internal settings with those of the potential new tower. This comparison can happen at different technical levels (like Layer 2 or Layer 3). If the settings are similar, a quicker, lower-level switch (Layer 2) is triggered, possibly just sending a TRP ID. If they are different, a more involved higher-level switch (Layer 3) is initiated, which might include sending more configuration details. The goal is to make this switch as smooth as possible for the user.
The clever bit
The key innovation is comparing the technical configurations of the source and target TRPs before initiating a handover. This allows the system to choose the most efficient handover method (Layer 2 vs. Layer 3) based on how compatible the towers are, minimizing disruption.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover switching to a new tower without the phone first sending a measurement report.
- Does not cover switching to a new tower without comparing the configurations of the old and new towers.
- Does not cover switching to a new tower if the phone's current tower does not determine a trigger for the handover.
- Does not cover switching that relies solely on signal strength without considering technical configurations.
- Does not cover the phone initiating the handover process itself without a report to the source node.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$66K – $210K
Midpoint $131K · 14.5 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
20 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nigam, A., LATHEEF, F. A., MANDAWARIA, V., & Sharma, N. (2023). How Phones Switch to Better Cell Towers Seamlessly (U.S. Patent No. 11,689,977). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11689977/method-and-system-to-handle-handover-procedure-in-multi-trp-system
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Phones Switch to Better Cell Towers Seamlessly cover?
Samsung's 2023 patent on a smarter way for phones to switch to new cell towers, called TRPs, by comparing their settings to ensure a smooth connection.
Who owns patent US 11689977?
Samsung Electronics Co owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 20, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11689977 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
As mobile networks evolve to use more, smaller transmission points (TRPs) instead of large cells, ensuring seamless connections during handovers is critical for user experience. This patent addresses that challenge by providing a more intelligent and efficient handover process, particularly relevant for 5G and future wireless systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover switching to a new tower without the phone first sending a measurement report.
Same assignee
More from Samsung Electronics Co
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