Beyond RSRP: A Sensing-Assisted Handover Framework in V2I Networks

Given the challenges of high mobility and frequent handovers in 5G NR's Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications, the Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) technique, now recognized in IMT-2030 as a usage scenario, is introduced to boost mobile network efficiency. Leveraging this emerging paradigm, our study delves into a V2I network within the 5G NR context, proposing a sensing-assisted handover mechanism and protocol that integrates ISAC to refine the intercell handover process. This mechanism uses precise beamforming and kinematic parameter estimation to reduce signaling and interruption time in inter-cell handover process. This approach enables a distance-based handover triggering mechanism that is both proactive and information-rich, allowing the serving gNB to inform the target gNB of the vehicle's location preemptively. Numerical results from link-level simulations at a crossroad scenario demonstrate that this sensing-assisted handover mechanism enables faster triggering and reduces the interruption time by 76.46%, while enhancing communication performance.