Conditional handover execution probability information to potential target node

1. A method, in a source node operating in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

determining that a user equipment (UE) served by the source node is a candidate for conditional handover configuration;

sending, to a target node for conditional handover of the UE, a conditional handover request that includes one or more parameters indicative of a likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed, wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed comprise a parameter representing a probability value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the UE is a candidate for conditional handover configuration is based on measurement reports received from the UE.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving handover configuration information from the target node, in response to the conditional handover request; and

sending a conditional handover command to the UE, the conditional handover command comprising the handover configuration information and one or more parameters defining a trigger condition for execution of handover to the target node.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises calculating the parameter representing the probability value based on any one or more of the following:

a number of potential target cells for conditional handover of the UE;

a difference between radio link conditions for executing conditional handover and reported radio link conditions for the UE;

a speed or velocity of the UE;

a Doppler spread corresponding to the UE;

a trigger condition for execution of handover to the target node; and

historical data for conditional handovers of UEs served by the source node.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed comprise any one or more of the following:

a parameter representing a number of potential target cells for conditional handover of the UE;

a parameter representing a difference between radio link conditions for executing conditional handover and reported radio link conditions for the UE;

a parameter representing a speed or velocity of the UE;

a parameter representing a trigger condition for execution of handover to the target node.

6. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

determining, after sending the conditional handover request to the target node, that the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed has changed; and

sending, to the target node, a message indicating the change in likelihood.

7. A method, in a target node operating in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving, from a source node serving a first user equipment (UE) a conditional handover request that includes one or more parameters indicative of a likelihood that handover of the first UE to the target node will be executed, wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed comprise a parameter representing a probability value;

allocating resources for the UE, wherein said allocating is based on the parameter representing the probability value and takes into account the likelihood that handover of the first UE to the target node will be executed; and

sending handover configuration information for the first UE to the source node, in response to the conditional handover request.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein allocating resources for the first UE comprises one or more of:

performing an admission control decision, taking into account the likelihood that handover of the first UE to the target node will be executed; and

selecting a random access configuration to be allocated to the first UE for accessing the target node.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises allocating resources for one or more other UEs, taking into account the likelihood that handover of the first UE to the target node will be executed.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the likelihood that handover of the first UE to the target node will be executed comprise and the allocating of resources for the first UE is based on any one or more of the following:

a parameter representing a number of potential target cells for conditional handover of the first UE;

a parameter representing a difference between radio link conditions for executing conditional handover and reported radio link conditions for the first UE;

a parameter representing a speed or velocity of the first UE;

a parameter representing a trigger condition for execution of handover to the target node.

11. The method of claim 7 , the method further comprising:

setting a validity time for the handover configuration information for the UE, based on the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed.

12. The method of claim 7 , the method further comprising:

receiving, after sending the handover configuration information to the source node, a message indicating a change in likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed; and

updating an allocation of resources to the first UE, in response to the change in likelihood.

13. The method of claim 7 , the method further comprising:

receiving, after sending the handover configuration information to the source node, a message indicating a change in likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed; and

allocating resources or updating allocations of resources for one or more other UEs, taking into account the change in likelihood.

14. A source network node comprising:

communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with one or more other nodes in a wireless communication network; and

processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine that a user equipment (UE) served by the source network node is a candidate for conditional handover configuration;

send to a target node for conditional handover of the UE, using the communication interface circuitry, a conditional handover request that includes one or more parameters indicative of a likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed, wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed comprise a parameter representing a probability value.

15. The source network node of claim 14 , wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed further comprise any one or more of the following:

a parameter representing a number of potential target cells for conditional handover of the UE;

a parameter representing a difference between radio link conditions for executing conditional handover and reported radio link conditions for the UE;

a parameter representing a speed or velocity of the UE;

a parameter representing a trigger condition for execution of handover to the target node.

16. The source network node of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises calculating the parameter representing the probability value based on any one or more of the following:

a number of potential target cells for conditional handover of the UE;

a difference between radio link conditions for executing conditional handover and reported radio link conditions for the UE;

a speed or velocity of the UE;

a Doppler spread corresponding to the UE;

a trigger condition for execution of handover to the target node; and

historical data for conditional handovers of UEs served by the source node.

17. A target network node comprising:

communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with one or more other nodes in a wireless communication network; and

processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

receive, from a source node serving a first user equipment (UE) a conditional handover request that includes one or more parameters indicative of a likelihood that handover of the first UE to the target network node will be executed, wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed comprise a parameter representing a probability value;

allocate resources for the UE, based on the parameter representing a probability value and taking into account the likelihood that handover of the first UE to the target network node will be executed; and

send handover configuration information for the first UE to the source node, in response to the conditional handover request.

18. The target network node of claim 17 , wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the likelihood that handover of the UE to the target node will be executed further comprise any one or more of the following:

a parameter representing a number of potential target cells for conditional handover of the UE;

a parameter representing a difference between radio link conditions for executing conditional handover and reported radio link conditions for the UE;

a parameter representing a speed or velocity of the UE;

a parameter representing a trigger condition for execution of handover to the target node.