UE-based expedited handoff

1. A 5G new radio (NR) UE equipment (UE), comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory are executable to:

perform a UE-initiated handoff (HO) procedure after receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message from a base station (gNB) instructing the UE to activate a UE-based HO feature to allow the UE to decide whether to perform the UE-initiated HO procedure based on measurements made by the UE, wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure comprises a PULL mechanism in handoff, wherein in the PULL mechanism a target gNB receives a Random Access Request with a Handoff indication, wherein in the PULL mechanism a target gNB receives a HO-based Random Access Request including a Handoff Vector, and wherein in the PULL mechanism a target gNB informs the Source gNB of impending HO, and prepares the HO process by establishing a Data Forwarding Tunnel and requesting UE contexts.

2. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure further comprises a PUSH mechanism indicating to a source gNB its handoff decision, and wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure informs the source gNB with a target gNB ID.

3. The UE of claim 2 , wherein in the PUSH mechanism, a source gNB performs HO preparation procedures by establishing a forwarding tunnel and pushing UE contexts to the target gNB, and wherein in the PUSH mechanism, the UE receives a Security Handoff Vector generated by the target gNB.

4. The UE of claim 3 , wherein in the PUSH mechanism, the UE sends the Security Handoff Vector to the target gNB during the synchronization and HO-based Random access procedure.

5. The UE of claim 4 , wherein in the PUSH mechanism, the UE sends an Indication that this Random Access is Handoff-Based to the target gNB.

6. The UE of claim 5 , wherein in the PUSH mechanism, the UE may continue to use source gNB keys to receive and transmit data relayed/forwarded through the Target gNB.

7. The UE of claim 5 , wherein in the PUSH mechanism, the UE updates its keys with the Target gNB.

8. The UE of claim 1 , wherein in the PULL mechanism, the UE may continue to use source gNB keys to receive and transmit data relayed/forwarded through the Target gNB.

9. The UE of claim 8 , wherein in the PULL mechanism, the UE updates its keys with the Target gNB.

10. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure comprises using a handoff vector to expedite UE validation and access in a target gNB.

11. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure comprises relaying UE plane data between a source gNB and a target gNB using source gNB keys.

12. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure comprises establishing target gNB keys with the UE and establishing a backbone connection between a target gNB and CN in the background while the UE data is continuously flowing through the target gNB and over the air.

13. A 5G new radio (NR) Base Station (gNB), comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory are executable to:

perform a UE-initiated handoff (HO) procedure after sending a radio resource control (RRC) message to a user equipment (UE) instructing the UE to activate a UE-based HO feature to allow the UE to decide whether to perform the UE-initiated HO procedure based on measurements made by the UE, wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure comprises a PULL mechanism in handoff, wherein in the PULL mechanism a target gNB receives a Random Access Request with a Handoff indication, wherein in the PULL mechanism a target gNB receives a HO-based Random Access Request including a Handoff Vector, and wherein in the PULL mechanism a target gNB informs the Source gNB of impending HO, and prepares the HO process by establishing a Data Forwarding Tunnel and requesting UE contexts.

14. The gNB of claim 13 , wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure further comprises a PUSH mechanism in handoff, and wherein in the PUSH mechanism, a source gNB receives HO indication from the UE with the target gNB ID, performs HO procedures by establishing a forwarding tunnel and forwarding UE contexts with the target gNB.

15. The gNB of claim 13 , wherein the target gNB sends the handoff vector to the Source gNB as credentials and validation of UE-initiated HO procedure, and wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure comprises relaying/Forwarding UE plane data between a source gNB and a target gNB using source gNB keys.

16. The gNB of claim 13 , wherein the UE-initiated HO procedure comprises establishing target gNB keys with the UE and establishing a backbone connection between a target gNB and CN in the background while the UE data is continuously flowing through the target gNB and over the air.