Handover control in a wireless user equipment (UE)

1. A method of operating wireless User Equipment (UE) to use a target frequency band and handover type for a user application, the method comprising:

user circuitry executing the user application and responsively transferring a service request for a wireless data service to network circuitry;

in response to the service request, the network circuitry wirelessly exchanging initial signaling with a wireless communication network over a source frequency band and selecting a wireless network slice responsive to the initial signaling;

the network circuitry identifying a characteristic of the wireless network slice, selecting the target frequency band and the handover type based on the characteristic of the wireless network slice, and requesting the target frequency band and the handover type by wirelessly exchanging additional signaling with the wireless communication network over the source frequency band;

the user circuitry exchanging data for the user application with the network circuitry; and

the network circuitry exchanging the data with the user circuitry and wirelessly exchanging the data with the wireless communication network over the target frequency band, wherein the wireless network slice handles the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application and wherein the wireless communication network uses the handover type to handover the wireless UE during the delivery of the wireless data service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the handover type comprises a Signal-to-Interference Plus Noise Ratio (SINR) handover type.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the handover type comprises a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) handover type.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the handover type comprises a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) handover type.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the handover type comprises a Received Signal Strength (RSS) handover type.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the network circuitry identifying the characteristic of the wireless network slice comprises selecting an enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) slice type;

the network circuitry selecting the target frequency band based on the characteristic of the selected wireless network slice comprises selecting the target frequency band based on the selected eMBB slice type; and

the wireless network slice handling the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application comprises an eMBB slice handling the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the network circuitry identifying the characteristic of the wireless network slice comprises selecting an Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) slice type;

the network circuitry selecting the target frequency band based on the characteristic of the selected wireless network slice comprises selecting the target frequency band based on the selected URLLC slice type; and

the wireless network slice handling the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application comprises a URLLC slice handling the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the network circuitry identifying the characteristic of the wireless network slice comprises selecting a Machine Type Communication (mMTC) slice type;

the network circuitry selecting the target frequency band based on the characteristic of the selected wireless network slice comprises selecting the target frequency band based on the selected mMTC slice type; and

the wireless network slice handling the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application comprises a mMTC slice handling the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the network circuitry selecting the target frequency band based on the characteristic of the wireless network slice comprises selecting a band range based on a range priority for the characteristic of the wireless network slice and selecting the target frequency band based on the band range.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the network circuitry wirelessly exchanging the initial signaling with the wireless communication network over the source frequency band comprises transferring a UE capability for the wireless network slice and receiving a network identifier for the wireless network slice.

11. A wireless User Equipment (UE) to use a target frequency band and handover type for a user application, the wireless UE comprising:

user circuitry configured to execute the user application and responsively transfer a service request for a wireless data service to network circuitry;

in response to the service request, the network circuitry configured to wirelessly exchange initial signaling with a wireless communication network over a source frequency band and select a wireless network slice responsive to the initial signaling;

the network circuitry configured to identify a characteristic of the wireless network slice, select the target frequency band and the handover type based on the characteristic of the wireless network slice, and request the target frequency band and the handover type by wirelessly exchanging additional signaling with the wireless communication network over the source frequency band;

the user circuitry configured to exchange data for the user application with the network circuitry; and

the network circuitry configured to exchange the data with the user circuitry and wirelessly exchange the data with the wireless communication network over the target frequency band, wherein the wireless network slice handles the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application and wherein the wireless communication network uses the handover type to handover the wireless UE during the delivery of the wireless data service.

12. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the handover type comprises a Signal-to-Interference Plus Noise Ratio (SINR) handover type.

13. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the handover type comprises a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) handover type.

14. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the handover type comprises a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) handover type.

15. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the handover type comprises a Received Signal Strength (RSS) handover type.

16. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein:

the network circuitry is configured to select an enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) slice type;

the network circuitry is configured to select the target frequency band based on the selected eMBB slice type; and

the wireless network slice comprises an eMBB slice that handles the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application.

17. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein:

the network circuitry is configured to select an Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) slice type;

the network circuitry is configured to select the target frequency band based on the selected URLLC slice type; and

the wireless network slice comprises a URLLC slice that handles the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application.

18. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein:

the network circuitry is configured to select a Machine Type Communication (mMTC) slice type;

the network circuitry is configured to select the target frequency band based on the selected mMTC slice type; and

the wireless network slice comprises a mMTC slice that handles the data to deliver the wireless data service to the wireless UE for the user application.

19. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the network circuitry is configured to select a band range based on a range priority for the characteristic of the wireless network slice and select the target frequency band based on the band range.

20. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the network circuitry is configured to transfer a UE capability for the wireless network slice and receive a network identifier for the wireless network slice.