WO2010121251A1 - Dynamic load balancing - Google Patents
Dynamic load balancing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2010121251A1 WO2010121251A1 PCT/US2010/031603 US2010031603W WO2010121251A1 WO 2010121251 A1 WO2010121251 A1 WO 2010121251A1 US 2010031603 W US2010031603 W US 2010031603W WO 2010121251 A1 WO2010121251 A1 WO 2010121251A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- network
- wireless communication
- communication network
- parameters
- load balancing
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 104
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007726 management method Methods 0.000 description 15
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000003044 adaptive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 2
- 125000004122 cyclic group Chemical group 0.000 description 2
- 238000007405 data analysis Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005457 optimization Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000013439 planning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003467 diminishing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003116 impacting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000018910 keratinopathic ichthyosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000013507 mapping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006855 networking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013024 troubleshooting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010200 validation analysis Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
- H04L41/5003—Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
- H04L41/5019—Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
- H04L41/5025—Ensuring fulfilment of SLA by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W16/00—Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
- H04W16/02—Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
- H04W16/06—Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
- H04W16/08—Load shedding arrangements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W28/00—Network traffic management; Network resource management
- H04W28/02—Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
- H04W28/0289—Congestion control
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W28/00—Network traffic management; Network resource management
- H04W28/16—Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
- H04W28/18—Negotiating wireless communication parameters
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W64/00—Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network.
- the present invention relates to dynamic load balancing by altering the coverage areas and optionally altering network parameters such as frequencies of one or a plurality of coverage areas.
- Network planning relies on static approaches for site locations and dimensioning of the radio resources to meet a specified traffic demand at busy hours. Dimensioning fixed resources to satisfy traffic demand for busy hours is an ineffective planning practice and is very expensive for service providers since the resources for every site are often over estimated to meet traffic demand that may occur only in limited time durations.
- Smart antennas were the leading technology and have been considered for IEEE802.16e-2005 and 3GPP LTE standards. Smart antennas or adaptive beamforming use a plurality of antennas to null interferers or track a desired subscriber by means of a narrow beam. However, complex signal processing is required in the base stations, which increases the cost of wireless equipment. Adaptive digital beamforming, as described in IEEE802.16e-2005 for example, is implemented for each subscriber in a cell.
- the above standard i.e., IEEE802.16e-2005
- IEEE802.16e-2005 describes generally ways for setting up the best radiation pattern from base stations to a mobile subscriber and tracking it if necessary according to its mobility in the cell.
- detailed implementation is left unspecified by the standard.
- most of base station vendors have decided not to implement beamforming in their initial products. Initial deployments of products have been more focused on demonstrating the basic features of the broadband technology rather than optional features such as beamforming.
- An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for dynamic load balancing of coverage areas in a wireless communication network.
- the method includes evaluating cell congestion based on location information of subscribers in a wireless communication network; collecting network parameters related to the wireless communication network; and altering network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion. After the network parameters are altered, the coverage areas are narrowed. Improvements in cell congestion and quality of service are then determined based on the narrowing of the coverage areas. Altering of the plurality of network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target quality of service is achieved.
- the narrowing of the coverage area reduces cell congestion by optimizing the coverage area according to actual subscriber distribution within the wireless communication network. Additionally, by narrowing of the coverage areas, for congested areas, overlapping of coverage areas and the number of subscribers in handover zones are reduced. Also, narrowing of the coverage area for some cells increases the range of the coverage areas for other cells. Improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service can be determined based on, for example, a dropped call percentage and a congestion ratio.
- An embodiment of the invention is directed to program recorded on a computer- readable storage medium for dynamic load balancing of coverage areas in a wireless communication network.
- the program causes a computer to execute dynamic load balancing steps that includes evaluating cell congestion based on location information of the subscribers in the wireless communication network; collecting network parameters related to the wireless communication network; altering network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion; narrowing coverage areas based on the altered network parameter; and determining if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on altered network parameters.
- An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for dynamic load balancing of coverage areas in a wireless communication network.
- the system includes a network management apparatus that monitors and performs management of the wireless communication network; at least one controller configured to perform data communications with the network management apparatus; at least one base station configured to perform data communication with the controller; at least one antenna array configured to perform data communication with the base station and the subscribers distributed in coverage areas; and a dynamic load balancing apparatus configured to perform data communication with the network management apparatus and the antenna array.
- the load balancing apparatus is also configured to evaluate cell congestion based on location information of the subscribers in the wireless communication network; collect network parameters related to the wireless communication network; alter network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion; narrow coverage areas based on the altered network parameters; and determine if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on the altered network parameters.
- the altering of the network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target quality of service in the wireless communication network is achieved.
- the system of the invention also includes a location unit configured to gathering location information regarding the subscribers in the wireless communication network.
- the location unit provides location information to the dynamic load balancing apparatus.
- the system includes an extraction module configured to extract network statistics, network topology and parameters, and a target performance criteria related to the wireless communication network.
- the extraction module is also configured to perform data communications with the network management apparatus and the dynamic load balancing apparatus.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus includes a communication interface; at least one processor; and a memory.
- the memory is configured to store a dynamic load balancing program that causes the apparatus to perform the load balancing method noted above.
- the memory includes a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, RAM or other external storage device.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a system for implementing dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 illustrates another similar system for implementing dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method of dynamic load balancing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary balanced coverage area in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 5 illustrates another exemplary balanced coverage area in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a dynamic load balancing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 1 is a system for implementing dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- the wireless communication network 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a dynamic load balancing apparatus 109.
- the wireless communication network 100 refers to any type of computer network that is wireless, and is commonly associated with a telecommunications network whose interconnections are implemented without the use of wires such as with electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves or the like as a carrier.
- the basic components of the wireless communication network 100 include a network management apparatus 101, one or more controllers 102, and one or more base stations 103 for supporting data communications between subscribers 107 distributed throughout coverage areas 105 provided by the wireless communication network 100.
- the network management apparatus 101 exercises monitoring and control over the wireless communication network 100.
- the network management apparatus 101 may include, for example, a network operation center (NOC) that analyze problems, perform troubleshooting, communication with site technicians and other NOCs.
- NOC network operation center
- the network management apparatus 101 may also include any server or other computer implemented to monitor and control the wireless communication network 100.
- Fig. 1 illustrates only one network management apparatus 101, it should be understood that more than one network management apparatus 101 is possible.
- the network management apparatus 101 receives network statistics 110 related to the wireless communication network 100 for assisting in the monitoring and control functions performed.
- the controllers 102 illustrated in Fig. 1 are, for example, base station controllers (BSC), which are part of the wireless system infrastructure that control one or more of the base stations 103 and the corresponding coverage areas 105 provided by the base stations 103.
- BSC base station controllers
- a plurality of subscribers 107 are distributed within the coverage areas 105 for participating in wireless data communications provided by the wireless communications network 100.
- the subscribers 107 may include various types of fixed, mobile, and portable two way radios, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or other wireless networking devices.
- Each coverage area 105 behaves as an independent sector serving its own set of subscribers 107.
- Receive diversity can be supported by the same coverage areas 105 generated by means of an orthogonal polarization in the antenna (not shown) or by totally separate antennas (not shown).
- receive diversity can be supported in angular domain by associating a coverage area 105 to one antenna port and another coverage area 105, typically the adjacent one, to another port. However, both coverage areas 105 are active in the transmit direction.
- each coverage area 105 can be used by a single base station 103 or plurality of base stations 103 operating each on a different frequency channel.
- subscribers 107 of a single coverage area 105 are served by a single base station 103 that can be a single frequency channel for supporting communications in accordance with IEEE802.16e-2005 or multiple frequency channels for supporting communications in accordance with IEEE802.16m.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 can be a server or other similar computer device capable of executing an algorithm for performing dynamic load balancing.
- network topology parameters 111 such as locations of base station (BS) and subscriber station (SS), height of BS and SS antennas relative to terrain and sea level, antenna type, antenna pointing direction, antenna tilt direction, antenna radiation pattern, antenna gain and initial frequency plan.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 also receives equipment and installation characteristics such as a noise figure, maximum transmit power, losses, a receive diversity flag, supported multi-antenna modes, supported modulation and coding schemes, a duplexing mode, supported sub-carriers permutation scheme; and configuration parameters for each base station or subscriber station equipment such as downlink/uplink TDD ratio, frequency band, center frequency and channel bandwidth.
- equipment and installation characteristics such as a noise figure, maximum transmit power, losses, a receive diversity flag, supported multi-antenna modes, supported modulation and coding schemes, a duplexing mode, supported sub-carriers permutation scheme.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 may also receive subscribers statistics such as mean and standard deviation of receive strength signal indicator (RSSI) and carrier to interference ratio (CIR), current transmitter power, current uplink and downlink modulation schemes, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and header check sequence (HCS) errors, receive and transmit throughput for data packets, number of blocked sessions, number of dropped sessions.
- RSSI receive strength signal indicator
- CIR carrier to interference ratio
- CRC cyclic redundancy check
- HCS header check sequence
- receive and transmit throughput for data packets number of blocked sessions, number of dropped sessions.
- a full list for WiMAX can be found in IEEE802.16f and IEEE802.16i.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 receives information regarding a target criteria 112 related to a target quality of service provided to the subscribers 105; and location information regarding the subscribers from a location unit 113.
- the location unit 113 may include a global positioning system (GPS) device that provides exact location information of the subscribers 107.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 includes an algorithm that analyzes the data related to the wireless communication network 100 and sends control signals 115 for altering or shaping the coverage areas 105.
- the load balancing algorithm clustering users based on their instantaneous locations or by means of heuristic approaches; collects statistics to validate previous users clustering decisions and/or predicting new traffic patterns; and continuously learns and adaptively shapes the coverage areas 10, and alters network parameters as the environment or traffic density changes with time.
- network statistics received by the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 can also be provided to the network management apparatus 101.
- the load balancing algorithm may alter other parameters such as antenna tilt angles; transmit power values and frequency plan.
- the load balancing algorithm is not restricted to a single technology and, instead, is adaptable to multiple technologies.
- the load balancing algorithm can optimize multiple service provider networks if sharing data, such as network statistics and equipments characteristics, between them is possible.
- Fig. 2 is system for implementing dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
- the system in Fig. 2 is different from the system in Fig. 1 in that it includes the use of an extraction module 200 and a network database 201. Additionally, Fig. 2 also includes a plurality of antenna arrays 202 that support the coverage areas 105 provided by the wireless communication network 100.
- Figs. 1 and 2 will not be discussed in detail with reference to Fig. 2, since a description of those elements was provided already in the discussion of Fig. 1 above.
- the extraction module 200 extracts the network statistics 110, network topology and parameters 111, and target criteria 112 related to the wireless communication network 100; and provides the information regarding the wireless communication network 100 to the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109.
- the extraction module 200 can be a server or other computing device that extracts the information (e.g., network statistics 110, network topology and parameters 111 and target criteria 112) from a network database 201.
- the network topology parameters 111 includes locations of base station (BS) and subscriber station (SS), height of BS and SS antennas relative to terrain and sea level, antenna type, antenna pointing direction, antenna tilt direction, antenna radiation pattern, antenna gain and initial frequency plan.
- Network statistics 110 include a number of established calls, a number of dropped calls; a number of blocked calls and the like. Additionally, network statistics 110 may also include a mean and standard deviation of receive strength signal indicator (RSSI) and a carrier to interference ratio (CIR), current transmitter power, current uplink and downlink modulation schemes, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and header check sequence (HCS) errors, receive and transmit throughput for data packets, a number of blocked sessions, and a number of dropped sessions.
- RSSI receive strength signal indicator
- CIR carrier to interference ratio
- CRC cyclic redundancy check
- HCS header check sequence
- the extraction module 200 may also provide network statistics 110 and other information regarding the wireless communication network 100 to the network management apparatus 101.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 receives information (e.g., network statistics 110, network topology and parameters 111 and target criteria 112) regarding the wireless communication network 100; and provides control signals 115 for controlling coverage areas 105 to the antenna arrays 202.
- Each antenna array 202 can be a multiple of active antennas coupled to a common source or load to produce a directive radiation pattern forming the coverage areas 105.
- the antenna array can be an integrated digital antenna array.
- Fig. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method of dynamic load balancing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 can execute an algorithm stored therein for performing the method 300 in Fig. 3.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 receives data regarding switch statistics.
- the switch statistics can be sampled once an hour or more frequently if needed.
- the switch statistics may include, but are not limited to the following:
- the dynamic loading balancing apparatus 109 determines, based on the switch statistics (and other network parameters), whether the current operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100 have reached or satisfied a target criteria.
- the target criteria can be predetermined.
- the target criteria can be operator specific and can be changed or priorities altered to match the quality of service needed or desired in the wireless communication network 100. If the target criteria 112 are currently being met, then the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 continues to receive and monitor switch statistics related to the wireless communication network 100.
- step 303 the congestion in the coverage areas is evaluated, which is also referred to as cell congestion.
- Congestion refers to the number of subscribers within the coverage areas.
- Cell congestion can be defined as a ratio of the average downlink power to the maximum base station transmit power. A high ratio is an indication of high number of active subscribers in the cell.
- step 304 if one or more of the cells are congested, then in step 305 one or more of network parameters are altered.
- the network parameters include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Type Macro-Cell, Micro-Cell, Repeater
- step 306 the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 determines if there is any improvement in the operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100 based on the changes made to one or more of the network parameters. If there is improvement, then the one or more of network parameters continued to be changed (as in step 305) until it is determined if there is no improvements in the operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100.
- step 307 the optimization direction of the antenna 202 is modified and in step 308 one or more network parameters are changed, if it is determined that there is no improvement in operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100 in step 306.
- step 309 it is determined again if there is improvement in the operating conditions in the wireless communication network 100 based on the change in optimization direction and changes in parameters. If there is improvement, then the one or more of network parameters continue to be changed (as in step 308) until it is determined if there is no improvement in the operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100. In step 310, if there is no improvement in network operating conditions, then the previous network parameters set are held. The switch statistics are again received (as in step 301) and it is determined if the target criteria is reached or satisfied (as in step 302).
- step 311 it is determined if there is any improvement in network operating conditions. If there are improvements in network operating conditions then steps 305-310 are performed. If there are no improvements, then steps 307-310 are performed.
- a single passive antenna array can be used to create multiple fixed coverage areas but an active antenna array will be preferred to alter the boundaries of coverage areas whenever needed for matching the instantaneous traffic demand.
- a two dimensional active antenna array can offer more flexibility in creating and tailoring coverage areas.
- an active antenna array offers the flexibility preferred by load balancing algorithms, it shall not be considered as a restriction or the only means of creating coverage areas of arbitrary wanted shapes.
- the required number of sectors to meet the peak traffic demand has been determined along with their locations and frequency plan.
- the present invention optimizes base station transmit power, antenna tilt, sub-sectors pointing direction and azimuth widths to balance the traffic between sub-sectors and therefore increase subscribers' satisfaction.
- a minimum, a maximum and a step size values are defined so that a finite number of possibilities are evaluated by the algorithm.
- Average downlink power, number of used codes or channel elements and noise rise are typical network statistics available.
- congested cells can be identified by for example evaluating the ratios previously defined and considering the highest one for a particular cell. Congestion can be alleviated by reducing the coverage for those cells while increasing the coverage of other cells so that no coverage holes are created and the traffic is better distributed. Reducing the coverage can be achieved by reducing base station transmit power or down tilting the antenna or reducing the azimuth width of the sub-sectors or combination of two or more of those actions. Conversely, increasing the coverage is achieved by increasing the base station transmit power or up tilting the antenna or increasing the azimuth width of the sub-sectors or combining two or more of those actions.
- the step size for each parameter is evaluated to avoid making dramatic changes that may significantly alter network performance and stability. Gradual parameters changes can be made and validated prior to making further changes.
- the validation process includes retrieving the most recent statistics, watching critical items such as dropped calls percentage, re-computing the congestion ratios and comparing them with previous values. Further changes are made only if performance improvement, such as fewer dropped calls or better balanced load, is expected. Otherwise, previous parameters won't be altered for some time.
- Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate exemplary balanced coverage areas in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- the load balancing algorithm controls coverage areas 401 such that areas not containing subscribers 402 do not need to be covered for fixed wireless systems and therefore the finite amount of power at the base station 103 can be used to further increase the reach of the coverage areas 401 serving subscribers 402.
- the coverage areas 401 are narrowed to cover only the areas that contain subscribers 402. The narrower the coverage area 401 the higher the reach for a constant amount of power. For mobile systems, such as IEEE802.16e-2005 or 3GPP LTE, coverage areas are optimized to support mobility with the least amount of overhead.
- the coverage areas 401 are overlaid or overlapping for servicing subscribers 402 in different frequency bands for further capacity.
- Such overlay can correspond to the same or different wireless technology. Additionally, the overlapping of coverage areas 401 can be minimized to reduce the number of subscribers 402 being in handover zones.
- Each coverage area 401 behaves as an independent sector serving its own set of subscribers 402.
- Receive diversity is supported by the same coverage areas generated by means of an orthogonal polarization in the antenna or totally separate antennas.
- receive diversity is supported in angular domain by associating a coverage to one base antenna port and another coverage area, typically the adjacent one, to another port. However both coverage areas are active in the transmit direction.
- Fig. 6 is a more detailed description of the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 for performing the method of dynamic load balancing as previously described with reference to Fig. 3.
- the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 includes a memory 601, a processor 602, user interface 603, application programs 604, communication interface 605, and bus 606.
- the memory 601 can be computer-readable storage medium used to store executable instructions, or computer program thereon.
- the memory 601 may include a read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a smart card, a subscriber identity module (SIM), or any other medium from which a computing device can read executable instructions or a computer program.
- ROM read-only memory
- RAM random access memory
- PROM programmable read-only memory
- EPROM erasable programmable read-only memory
- SIM subscriber identity module
- computer program is intended to encompass an executable program that exists permanently or temporarily on any computer-readable storage medium as described above.
- the computer program is also intended to include an algorithm that includes executable instructions stored in the memory 601 that are executable by one or more processors 602, which may be facilitated by one or more of the application programs 604.
- the application programs 604 may also include, but are not limited to, an operating system or any special computer program that manages the relationship between application software and any suitable variety of hardware that helps to make-up a computer system or computing environment of the dynamic load balancing apparatus 601.
- General communication between the components in the dynamic load balancing apparatus 601 is provided via the bus 606.
- the dynamic load balancing algorithm as described with reference to Fig. 3 can be stored, for example, in the memory 601 of the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109.
- the user interface 603 allows for interaction between a user and the dynamic load balancing apparatus 601.
- the user interface 603 may include a keypad, a keyboard, microphone, and/or speakers.
- the communication interface 605 provides for two-way data communications from the dynamic load balancing apparatus 601.
- the communication interface 605 may be a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, a cable modem, or a telephone modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line.
- communication interface 605 may be a local area network (LAN) card (e.g., for EthernetTM or an Asynchronous Transfer Model (ATM) network) to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN.
- LAN local area network
- the communication interface 605 may also include peripheral interface devices, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) interface, and the like.
- the communication interface 605 also allows the exchange of information across one or more wireless communication networks.
- Such networks may include cellular or short-range, such as IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANS). And, the exchange of information may involve the transmission of radio frequency (RF) signals through an antenna (not shown).
- RF radio frequency
- the dynamic load balancing algorithm is based on the following steps: 1) clustering users based on their instantaneous locations or by means of heuristic approaches; and 2) collecting statistics to validate previous users clustering decisions and/or predicting new traffic patterns; and 3) continuous learning and adaptively shaping coverage areas and altering network parameters as the environment or traffic density changes with time.
Abstract
A method, program, system and apparatus perform dynamic load balancing of coverage areas in a wireless communication network. The dynamic load balancing is performed by evaluating cell congestion based on location information of subscribers in the wireless communication network, collecting network parameters related to the wireless communication network and altering network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion. After the network parameter is altered, the coverage areas are narrowed. Improvements in cell congestion and quality of server are then determined based on the narrowing of the coverage areas. Altering of the plurality of network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target quality of service is achieved.
Description
DYNAMIC LOAD BALANCING
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application no. 61/075799 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Load Balancing in Wireless Communication Networks" filed on June 26, 2008, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network. In particular, the present invention relates to dynamic load balancing by altering the coverage areas and optionally altering network parameters such as frequencies of one or a plurality of coverage areas.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Network planning relies on static approaches for site locations and dimensioning of the radio resources to meet a specified traffic demand at busy hours. Dimensioning fixed resources to satisfy traffic demand for busy hours is an ineffective planning practice and is very expensive for service providers since the resources for every site are often over estimated to meet traffic demand that may occur only in limited time durations.
[0003] Apart from optimizing the hardware resources, service providers have to dramatically reduce interference in their network to maximize the number of subscribers and/or the quality that those subscribers can achieve. Smart antennas were the leading technology and have been considered for IEEE802.16e-2005 and 3GPP LTE standards. Smart antennas or adaptive beamforming use a plurality of antennas to null interferers or track a desired subscriber by means of a narrow beam. However, complex signal processing is required in the base stations, which increases the cost of wireless equipment. Adaptive digital beamforming, as described in IEEE802.16e-2005 for example, is implemented for each subscriber in a cell.
[0004] The above standard (i.e., IEEE802.16e-2005) describes generally ways for setting up the best radiation pattern from base stations to a mobile subscriber and tracking it if necessary according to its mobility in the cell. However, detailed implementation is left unspecified by the
standard. Additionally, because of the complexity of the implementation, most of base station vendors have decided not to implement beamforming in their initial products. Initial deployments of products have been more focused on demonstrating the basic features of the broadband technology rather than optional features such as beamforming.
[0005] Therefore, it would be useful to implement an apparatus that can dynamically adjust radio resources and network parameters to match a time varying traffic demand. Additionally, it would be useful to use one or more antennas to create multiple coverage areas that are optimized according to actual user distribution in the wireless communication network and to achieve interference reduction capability by narrowing down coverage areas, while deploying standard base stations rather than new ones that are equipped with adaptive beamforming capability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for dynamic load balancing of coverage areas in a wireless communication network. The method includes evaluating cell congestion based on location information of subscribers in a wireless communication network; collecting network parameters related to the wireless communication network; and altering network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion. After the network parameters are altered, the coverage areas are narrowed. Improvements in cell congestion and quality of service are then determined based on the narrowing of the coverage areas. Altering of the plurality of network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target quality of service is achieved.
[0007] The narrowing of the coverage area reduces cell congestion by optimizing the coverage area according to actual subscriber distribution within the wireless communication network. Additionally, by narrowing of the coverage areas, for congested areas, overlapping of coverage areas and the number of subscribers in handover zones are reduced. Also, narrowing of the coverage area for some cells increases the range of the coverage areas for other cells. Improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service can be determined based on, for example, a dropped call percentage and a congestion ratio.
[0008] An embodiment of the invention is directed to program recorded on a computer- readable storage medium for dynamic load balancing of coverage areas in a wireless communication network. The program causes a computer to execute dynamic load balancing steps
that includes evaluating cell congestion based on location information of the subscribers in the wireless communication network; collecting network parameters related to the wireless communication network; altering network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion; narrowing coverage areas based on the altered network parameter; and determining if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on altered network parameters.
[0009] An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for dynamic load balancing of coverage areas in a wireless communication network. The system includes a network management apparatus that monitors and performs management of the wireless communication network; at least one controller configured to perform data communications with the network management apparatus; at least one base station configured to perform data communication with the controller; at least one antenna array configured to perform data communication with the base station and the subscribers distributed in coverage areas; and a dynamic load balancing apparatus configured to perform data communication with the network management apparatus and the antenna array.
[0010] The load balancing apparatus is also configured to evaluate cell congestion based on location information of the subscribers in the wireless communication network; collect network parameters related to the wireless communication network; alter network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion; narrow coverage areas based on the altered network parameters; and determine if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on the altered network parameters. The altering of the network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target quality of service in the wireless communication network is achieved.
[0011] The system of the invention also includes a location unit configured to gathering location information regarding the subscribers in the wireless communication network. The location unit provides location information to the dynamic load balancing apparatus. Additionally, the system includes an extraction module configured to extract network statistics, network topology and parameters, and a target performance criteria related to the wireless communication network. The extraction module is also configured to perform data communications with the network management apparatus and the dynamic load balancing apparatus.
[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, the dynamic load balancing apparatus includes a communication interface; at least one processor; and a memory. The memory is configured to store
a dynamic load balancing program that causes the apparatus to perform the load balancing method noted above. The memory includes a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, RAM or other external storage device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar and/or structurally similar elements. Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0014] Fig. 1 illustrates a system for implementing dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0015] Fig. 2 illustrates another similar system for implementing dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0016] Fig. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method of dynamic load balancing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0017] Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary balanced coverage area in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0018] Fig. 5 illustrates another exemplary balanced coverage area in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
[0019] Fig. 6 illustrates a dynamic load balancing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] Additional features are described herein, and will be apparent from the following description of the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In the description that follows, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the invention. Well-known elements and processing steps are generally not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the invention.
[0022] In the drawings accompanying the description that follows, often both reference numerals and legends (labels, text descriptions) may be used to identify elements. If legends are
provided, they are intended merely as an aid to the reader, and should not in any way be interpreted as limiting.
[0023] Fig. 1 is a system for implementing dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In particular, the wireless communication network 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a dynamic load balancing apparatus 109. The wireless communication network 100 refers to any type of computer network that is wireless, and is commonly associated with a telecommunications network whose interconnections are implemented without the use of wires such as with electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves or the like as a carrier. The basic components of the wireless communication network 100 include a network management apparatus 101, one or more controllers 102, and one or more base stations 103 for supporting data communications between subscribers 107 distributed throughout coverage areas 105 provided by the wireless communication network 100.
[0024] The network management apparatus 101 exercises monitoring and control over the wireless communication network 100. The network management apparatus 101 may include, for example, a network operation center (NOC) that analyze problems, perform troubleshooting, communication with site technicians and other NOCs. The network management apparatus 101 may also include any server or other computer implemented to monitor and control the wireless communication network 100. Although Fig. 1 illustrates only one network management apparatus 101, it should be understood that more than one network management apparatus 101 is possible. As seen in Fig. 1, the network management apparatus 101 receives network statistics 110 related to the wireless communication network 100 for assisting in the monitoring and control functions performed.
[0025] The controllers 102 illustrated in Fig. 1 are, for example, base station controllers (BSC), which are part of the wireless system infrastructure that control one or more of the base stations 103 and the corresponding coverage areas 105 provided by the base stations 103. A plurality of subscribers 107 are distributed within the coverage areas 105 for participating in wireless data communications provided by the wireless communications network 100. The subscribers 107 may include various types of fixed, mobile, and portable two way radios, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or other wireless networking devices.
[0026] Each coverage area 105 behaves as an independent sector serving its own set of subscribers 107. Receive diversity can be supported by the same coverage areas 105 generated by
means of an orthogonal polarization in the antenna (not shown) or by totally separate antennas (not shown). Alternatively, receive diversity can be supported in angular domain by associating a coverage area 105 to one antenna port and another coverage area 105, typically the adjacent one, to another port. However, both coverage areas 105 are active in the transmit direction.
[0027] Similarly, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) modes are supported by feeding similar coverage areas 105 to each MIMO branch using polarization, angle or space domains. For fixed wireless systems, such as IEEE802.16-2004, each coverage area 105 can be used by a single base station 103 or plurality of base stations 103 operating each on a different frequency channel. For mobile systems, subscribers 107 of a single coverage area 105 are served by a single base station 103 that can be a single frequency channel for supporting communications in accordance with IEEE802.16e-2005 or multiple frequency channels for supporting communications in accordance with IEEE802.16m.
[0028] The dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 can be a server or other similar computer device capable of executing an algorithm for performing dynamic load balancing. A more detailed discussion of the structure of the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 is noted below with reference to Fig, 6. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 receives network topology parameters 111 such as locations of base station (BS) and subscriber station (SS), height of BS and SS antennas relative to terrain and sea level, antenna type, antenna pointing direction, antenna tilt direction, antenna radiation pattern, antenna gain and initial frequency plan.
[0029] Additionally, the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 also receives equipment and installation characteristics such as a noise figure, maximum transmit power, losses, a receive diversity flag, supported multi-antenna modes, supported modulation and coding schemes, a duplexing mode, supported sub-carriers permutation scheme; and configuration parameters for each base station or subscriber station equipment such as downlink/uplink TDD ratio, frequency band, center frequency and channel bandwidth.
[0030] The dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 may also receive subscribers statistics such as mean and standard deviation of receive strength signal indicator (RSSI) and carrier to interference ratio (CIR), current transmitter power, current uplink and downlink modulation schemes, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and header check sequence (HCS) errors, receive and transmit throughput for data packets, number of blocked sessions, number of dropped sessions. A full list for WiMAX can be found in IEEE802.16f and IEEE802.16i.
[0031] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 receives information regarding a target criteria 112 related to a target quality of service provided to the subscribers 105; and location information regarding the subscribers from a location unit 113. The location unit 113 may include a global positioning system (GPS) device that provides exact location information of the subscribers 107. However, location information may also be obtained based on a first install technique or extrapolated from other measurements, or even by referring to map coordinates.
[0032] For example, for a wireless mobile system, subscriber tracking may be determined based on location information embedded in the wireless network components such as the controllers 102. The dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 includes an algorithm that analyzes the data related to the wireless communication network 100 and sends control signals 115 for altering or shaping the coverage areas 105. The load balancing algorithm clustering users based on their instantaneous locations or by means of heuristic approaches; collects statistics to validate previous users clustering decisions and/or predicting new traffic patterns; and continuously learns and adaptively shapes the coverage areas 10, and alters network parameters as the environment or traffic density changes with time. As seen in Fig. 1 , network statistics received by the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 can also be provided to the network management apparatus 101.
[0033] Apart from changing coverage areas in terms of pointing directions and azimuth width of some sub-sectors, the load balancing algorithm may alter other parameters such as antenna tilt angles; transmit power values and frequency plan. The load balancing algorithm is not restricted to a single technology and, instead, is adaptable to multiple technologies. The load balancing algorithm can optimize multiple service provider networks if sharing data, such as network statistics and equipments characteristics, between them is possible.
[0034] Fig. 2 is system for implementing dynamic load balancing in a wireless communication network in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The system in Fig. 2 is different from the system in Fig. 1 in that it includes the use of an extraction module 200 and a network database 201. Additionally, Fig. 2 also includes a plurality of antenna arrays 202 that support the coverage areas 105 provided by the wireless communication network 100. Like elements in Figs. 1 and 2 will not be discussed in detail with reference to Fig. 2, since a description of those elements was provided already in the discussion of Fig. 1 above.
[0035] The extraction module 200 extracts the network statistics 110, network topology and parameters 111, and target criteria 112 related to the wireless communication network 100; and provides the information regarding the wireless communication network 100 to the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109. The extraction module 200 can be a server or other computing device that extracts the information (e.g., network statistics 110, network topology and parameters 111 and target criteria 112) from a network database 201. The network topology parameters 111 includes locations of base station (BS) and subscriber station (SS), height of BS and SS antennas relative to terrain and sea level, antenna type, antenna pointing direction, antenna tilt direction, antenna radiation pattern, antenna gain and initial frequency plan.
[0036] Additionally, the target criteria 112 relates to a certain quality of service to be provided by the wireless communication network 100, which can be set by an operator and stored in the network database 201. Network statistics 110 include a number of established calls, a number of dropped calls; a number of blocked calls and the like. Additionally, network statistics 110 may also include a mean and standard deviation of receive strength signal indicator (RSSI) and a carrier to interference ratio (CIR), current transmitter power, current uplink and downlink modulation schemes, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and header check sequence (HCS) errors, receive and transmit throughput for data packets, a number of blocked sessions, and a number of dropped sessions.
[0037] The extraction module 200 may also provide network statistics 110 and other information regarding the wireless communication network 100 to the network management apparatus 101. The dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 receives information (e.g., network statistics 110, network topology and parameters 111 and target criteria 112) regarding the wireless communication network 100; and provides control signals 115 for controlling coverage areas 105 to the antenna arrays 202. Each antenna array 202 can be a multiple of active antennas coupled to a common source or load to produce a directive radiation pattern forming the coverage areas 105. For example, the antenna array can be an integrated digital antenna array.
[0038] Fig. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method of dynamic load balancing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. By way of example, the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 can execute an algorithm stored therein for performing the method 300 in Fig. 3.
[0039] In step 301, the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 receives data regarding switch statistics. The switch statistics can be sampled once an hour or more frequently if needed. The switch statistics may include, but are not limited to the following:
Exemplary Switch Statistics
[0040] UL and DL Stats For Each Sector/Carrier: Load, Erlangs and Throughput
[0041] Capacity For Each Sector/Carrier
[0042] Sensitive KPIs To Operators Per Sector/Carrier Such as Dropped Calls and
Blocked Calls
[0043] Location Of Most Users (Clusters)
[0044] Year/Month/Day/Time
[0045] Cell ID
[0046] Antenna ID
[0047] Carrier Frequency
[0048] Number Of Established Calls
[0049] Channel Elements (CE) Primary Use
[0050] % Primary Traffic CE Usage
[0051] % Secondary Traffic CE Usage
[0052] Total CE Usage (Erlang)
[0053] Peak # of Walsh Codes
[0054] Soft Handover Overhead %
[0055] Peak DL Power
[0056] Number Of Dropped And Lost Calls
[0057] Number Of Blocked Calls
[0058] UL Thermal Noise Floor (main)
[0059] UL thermal Noise Floor (diversity)
[0060] Average DL Power
[0061] Pilot, Paging and Sync Channels Powers
[0062] Peak Number of Primary Walsh codes
[0063] Reported Or Calculated Sector Load For UL
[0064] In step 302, the dynamic loading balancing apparatus 109 determines, based on the switch statistics (and other network parameters), whether the current operating conditions of the
wireless communication network 100 have reached or satisfied a target criteria. The target criteria can be predetermined. For example, the target criteria can be operator specific and can be changed or priorities altered to match the quality of service needed or desired in the wireless communication network 100. If the target criteria 112 are currently being met, then the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 continues to receive and monitor switch statistics related to the wireless communication network 100.
[0065] Otherwise, in step 303, the congestion in the coverage areas is evaluated, which is also referred to as cell congestion. Congestion refers to the number of subscribers within the coverage areas. Cell congestion can be defined as a ratio of the average downlink power to the maximum base station transmit power. A high ratio is an indication of high number of active subscribers in the cell. In step 304, if one or more of the cells are congested, then in step 305 one or more of network parameters are altered. The network parameters include, but are not limited to, the following:
[0066] Exemplary Network Parameters
[0067] Site Latitude And Longitude
[0068] Type: Macro-Cell, Micro-Cell, Repeater
[0069] Handoff Parameters (T Add, T Drop, Tt Drop, T Comp)
[0070] PA Output Power
[0071] Antenna Direction
[0072] Antenna Height Above Ground And Sea Level
[0073] Antenna Model, Azimuth BW, Elevation BW, Gain, Electrical And Mechanical Tilt
[0074] PN Offset Per Sector
[0075] Morphology: Urban, Highway, Suburban, Rural, Dense Urban
[0076] Number OfRF Carriers Per Sector And Their Frequencies
[0077] Equipment Multi-Antenna Capability: Rx Diversity, STC, MIMO
[0078] Losses From PA Output To Antenna Ports If Applicable
[0079] Multi-Carriers To Antennas Mapping
[0080] Technology: WIMAX, UMTS, HSxPA And Supported Features By The Equipment
[0081] In step 306, the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 determines if there is any improvement in the operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100 based on the changes made to one or more of the network parameters. If there is improvement, then the one or
more of network parameters continued to be changed (as in step 305) until it is determined if there is no improvements in the operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100. In step 307, the optimization direction of the antenna 202 is modified and in step 308 one or more network parameters are changed, if it is determined that there is no improvement in operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100 in step 306.
[0082] Similar to step 306, in step 309, it is determined again if there is improvement in the operating conditions in the wireless communication network 100 based on the change in optimization direction and changes in parameters. If there is improvement, then the one or more of network parameters continue to be changed (as in step 308) until it is determined if there is no improvement in the operating conditions of the wireless communication network 100. In step 310, if there is no improvement in network operating conditions, then the previous network parameters set are held. The switch statistics are again received (as in step 301) and it is determined if the target criteria is reached or satisfied (as in step 302).
[0083] Also, if the target criteria is not reached, then in step 311, it is determined if there is any improvement in network operating conditions. If there are improvements in network operating conditions then steps 305-310 are performed. If there are no improvements, then steps 307-310 are performed.
[0084] Exemplary Implementation
[0085] For hotspot regions of any mature wireless communication network, capacity demand is much higher than any other part of the network. After exhausting all the possible improvements in radio transceivers technology and radio resource management algorithms, the only solution left for satisfying high capacity demand is the classical one in cellular networks of considering more cells or sectors in the network. Additionally, finding new sites locations for dense urban areas is very challenging due to the finite number of tall buildings already occupied and the reluctance of building towers impacting the landscape and the historic and economic value of some cities. Moreover, these towers are heavily taxed to avoid or at least limit their appearance in cities. Therefore, antenna counts become of major importance to wireless operators.
[0086] The alternative of adding antennas and cell sites is to consider sub-sectorization by means of antenna arrays. A single passive antenna array can be used to create multiple fixed coverage areas but an active antenna array will be preferred to alter the boundaries of coverage areas whenever needed for matching the instantaneous traffic demand. In addition to splitting the
azimuth in coverage areas, a two dimensional active antenna array can offer more flexibility in creating and tailoring coverage areas. Although an active antenna array offers the flexibility preferred by load balancing algorithms, it shall not be considered as a restriction or the only means of creating coverage areas of arbitrary wanted shapes.
[0087] By way of example, it is assumed that the required number of sectors to meet the peak traffic demand has been determined along with their locations and frequency plan. The present invention, for example, optimizes base station transmit power, antenna tilt, sub-sectors pointing direction and azimuth widths to balance the traffic between sub-sectors and therefore increase subscribers' satisfaction. For each parameter, a minimum, a maximum and a step size values are defined so that a finite number of possibilities are evaluated by the algorithm. Average downlink power, number of used codes or channel elements and noise rise are typical network statistics available.
[0088] From an initial network configuration, congested cells can be identified by for example evaluating the ratios previously defined and considering the highest one for a particular cell. Congestion can be alleviated by reducing the coverage for those cells while increasing the coverage of other cells so that no coverage holes are created and the traffic is better distributed. Reducing the coverage can be achieved by reducing base station transmit power or down tilting the antenna or reducing the azimuth width of the sub-sectors or combination of two or more of those actions. Conversely, increasing the coverage is achieved by increasing the base station transmit power or up tilting the antenna or increasing the azimuth width of the sub-sectors or combining two or more of those actions.
[0089] The step size for each parameter is evaluated to avoid making dramatic changes that may significantly alter network performance and stability. Gradual parameters changes can be made and validated prior to making further changes. The validation process includes retrieving the most recent statistics, watching critical items such as dropped calls percentage, re-computing the congestion ratios and comparing them with previous values. Further changes are made only if performance improvement, such as fewer dropped calls or better balanced load, is expected. Otherwise, previous parameters won't be altered for some time.
[0090] Retrieving and analyzing switch statistics is a continuous process so that when network quality degrades again as a result of imbalanced traffic, the dynamic load balancing algorithm runs until target criteria are met. Since the algorithm implemented in the dynamic load
balancing apparatus relies on actual live network statistics rather than assumptions regarding propagation environment and traffic density, the results are more accurate than off-line tools and network improvement will be seen in real-time without the need for additional engineering cost of making drive tests and further data analysis.
[0091] Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate exemplary balanced coverage areas in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The load balancing algorithm controls coverage areas 401 such that areas not containing subscribers 402 do not need to be covered for fixed wireless systems and therefore the finite amount of power at the base station 103 can be used to further increase the reach of the coverage areas 401 serving subscribers 402.
[0092] As seen in Fig. 4, the coverage areas 401 are narrowed to cover only the areas that contain subscribers 402. The narrower the coverage area 401 the higher the reach for a constant amount of power. For mobile systems, such as IEEE802.16e-2005 or 3GPP LTE, coverage areas are optimized to support mobility with the least amount of overhead.
[0093] As seen in Figs. 5, the coverage areas 401 are overlaid or overlapping for servicing subscribers 402 in different frequency bands for further capacity. Such overlay can correspond to the same or different wireless technology. Additionally, the overlapping of coverage areas 401 can be minimized to reduce the number of subscribers 402 being in handover zones.
[0094] Each coverage area 401 behaves as an independent sector serving its own set of subscribers 402. Receive diversity is supported by the same coverage areas generated by means of an orthogonal polarization in the antenna or totally separate antennas. Alternatively, receive diversity is supported in angular domain by associating a coverage to one base antenna port and another coverage area, typically the adjacent one, to another port. However both coverage areas are active in the transmit direction.
[0095] Similarly, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) modes are supported by feeding similar coverage areas to each MIMO branch using polarization, angle or space domains. For fixed wireless systems, such as IEEE802.16-2004, each coverage area can be used by a single base station or plurality of base stations operating each on a different frequency channel. For mobile systems, subscribers of a single coverage area are served by a single base station that can be a single frequency channel for IEEE802.16e-2005 or multiple frequency channels that can be supported by IEEE802.16m.
[0096] Fig. 6 is a more detailed description of the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 for performing the method of dynamic load balancing as previously described with reference to Fig. 3. In Fig. 6, the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109 includes a memory 601, a processor 602, user interface 603, application programs 604, communication interface 605, and bus 606.
[0097] The memory 601 can be computer-readable storage medium used to store executable instructions, or computer program thereon. The memory 601 may include a read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a smart card, a subscriber identity module (SIM), or any other medium from which a computing device can read executable instructions or a computer program. The term "computer program" is intended to encompass an executable program that exists permanently or temporarily on any computer-readable storage medium as described above.
[0098] The computer program is also intended to include an algorithm that includes executable instructions stored in the memory 601 that are executable by one or more processors 602, which may be facilitated by one or more of the application programs 604. The application programs 604 may also include, but are not limited to, an operating system or any special computer program that manages the relationship between application software and any suitable variety of hardware that helps to make-up a computer system or computing environment of the dynamic load balancing apparatus 601. General communication between the components in the dynamic load balancing apparatus 601 is provided via the bus 606. The dynamic load balancing algorithm as described with reference to Fig. 3 can be stored, for example, in the memory 601 of the dynamic load balancing apparatus 109.
[0099] The user interface 603 allows for interaction between a user and the dynamic load balancing apparatus 601. The user interface 603 may include a keypad, a keyboard, microphone, and/or speakers. The communication interface 605 provides for two-way data communications from the dynamic load balancing apparatus 601. By way of example, the communication interface 605 may be a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, a cable modem, or a telephone modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface 605 may be a local area network (LAN) card (e.g., for Ethernet™ or an Asynchronous Transfer Model (ATM) network) to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN.
[00100] Further, the communication interface 605 may also include peripheral interface devices, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) interface, and the like. The communication interface 605 also allows the exchange of information across one or more wireless communication networks. Such networks may include cellular or short-range, such as IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANS). And, the exchange of information may involve the transmission of radio frequency (RF) signals through an antenna (not shown).
[00101 ] In an embodiment of the invention, the dynamic load balancing algorithm is based on the following steps: 1) clustering users based on their instantaneous locations or by means of heuristic approaches; and 2) collecting statistics to validate previous users clustering decisions and/or predicting new traffic patterns; and 3) continuous learning and adaptively shaping coverage areas and altering network parameters as the environment or traffic density changes with time.
[00102] Retrieving and analyzing switch statistics is a continuous process so that when network quality degrades again as a result of imbalanced traffic, the dynamic load balancing algorithm runs until target criteria are met. Since the algorithm implemented in the dynamic load balancing apparatus relies on actual live network statistics rather than assumptions regarding propagation environment and traffic density, the results are more accurate than off-line tools and network improvement will be seen in real-time without the need for additional engineering cost of making drive tests and further data analysis.
[00103] From the description provided herein, those skilled in the art are readily able to combine software created as described with the appropriate general purpose or special purpose computer hardware for carrying out the features of the invention.
[00104] Additionally, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claim.
Claims
1. A method for dynamic load balancing of a plurality of coverage areas in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: evaluating cell congestion based on location information of a plurality of subscribers in a wireless communication network; collecting a plurality of network parameters related to the wireless communication network; altering at least one of the plurality of network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion; narrowing at least one of the plurality of coverage areas based on the altered network parameter; and determining if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on the altered network parameter, wherein altering of the plurality of network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target criteria and a quality of service in the wireless communication network are achieved.
2. The method of dynamic load balancing of claim 1 , wherein the network parameters includes operating parameters of the wireless communication network and subscriber parameters.
3. The method of dynamic load balancing of claim 2, wherein the operating parameters of the wireless communication network include network topology parameters.
4. The method of dynamic load balancing of claim 2, wherein the operating parameters of the wireless communication network includes equipment and installation characteristics.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information is determined based on instantaneous locations of the plurality of subscribers or by a heuristic approach.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the narrowing of the at least one coverage area is based on altering a pointing direction of at least one antenna or a transmit power of at least one base station.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the narrowing of the at least one coverage area reduces cell congestion by optimizing the coverage area according to actual subscriber distribution within the wireless communication network.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the narrowing of the at least one coverage area minimizes the overlapping of the plurality of coverage areas to reduce a number of subscribers in handover zones.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein narrowing of the at least one coverage area increases the range of the at least one coverage area.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on a dropped call percentage and a congestion ratio.
11. A program recorded on a computer-readable storage medium for dynamic load balancing of a plurality of coverage areas in a wireless communication network, the program causing a computer to execute dynamic load balancing steps comprising: evaluating cell congestion based on location information of a plurality of subscribers in a wireless communication network; collecting a plurality of network parameters related to the wireless communication network; altering at least one of the plurality of network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion; narrowing at least one of the plurality of coverage areas based on the altered network parameter; and determining if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on the altered network parameter, wherein altering of the plurality of network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target criteria and a quality of service in the wireless communication network are achieved.
12. The program of claim 11 , wherein the network parameters includes operating parameters of the wireless communication network and subscriber parameters.
13. The program of claim 12, wherein the operating parameters of the wireless communication network include network topology parameters.
14. The program of claim 12, wherein the operating parameters of the wireless communication network includes equipment and installation characteristics.
15. The program of claim 11 , wherein the location information is determined based on instantaneous locations of the plurality of subscribers or by heuristic approaches.
16. The program of claim 11 , wherein the narrowing of the at least one coverage area is based on altering a pointing direction of at least one antenna or a transmit power of at least one base station.
17. The program of claim 11 , wherein the narrowing of the at least one coverage area reduces cell congestion by optimizing the coverage area according to actual subscriber distribution within the wireless communication network.
18. The program of claim 11, wherein the narrowing of the at least one coverage area minimizes the overlapping of the plurality of coverage areas to reduce a number of subscribers in handover zones.
19. The program of claim 11, wherein narrowing of the at least one coverage area increases the range of the at least one coverage area.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on a dropped call percentage and a congestion ratio.
21. The system for dynamic load balancing of a plurality of coverage areas in a wireless communication network, the system comprising: a network management apparatus that monitors and performs management of the wireless communication network; at least one controller configured to perform data communications with said with network management apparatus; a least one base station configured to perform data communication with said at least one controller; at least one antenna array configured to perform data communication with said at least one base station and a plurality of subscribers distributed in a plurality of coverage areas; and a dynamic load balancing apparatus configured to perform data communication with said network management apparatus and said at least one antenna array, the load balancing apparatus also being configured to: evaluate cell congestion based on location information of the plurality of subscribers in the wireless communication network; collect a plurality of network parameters related to the wireless communication network; alter at least one of the plurality of network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion; narrow at least one of the plurality of coverage areas based on the altered network parameter; and determine if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on the altered network parameter, wherein altering of the plurality of network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target quality of service in the wireless communication network are achieved.
22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising a location unit configured for gathering location information regarding the plurality of subscribers in the wireless communication network and providing the location information to said dynamic load balancing apparatus
23. The system of claim 21 , further comprising a network database configured to store the target criteria, network topology and parameters, and network statistics regarding the wireless communication network.
24. The system of claim 21 , further comprising an extraction module configured to extract network statistics, network topology and parameters, and target performance criteria related to the wireless communication network, said extraction module also being configured to perform data communications with said network management apparatus and said dynamic load balancing apparatus.
25. An apparatus for dynamic load balancing of a plurality of coverage areas in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising: a communication interface; at least one processor; and a memory, the memory storing a dynamic load balancing program for causing the apparatus to: evaluate cell congestion based on location information of a plurality of subscribers in a wireless communication network; collect a plurality of network parameters related to the wireless communication network; alter at least one of the plurality of network parameters based on the evaluated cell congestion; narrow at least one of the plurality of coverage areas based on the altered network parameter; and determine if there is an improvement in the cell congestion and quality of service based on the altered network parameter, wherein altering of the plurality of network parameters and evaluating of the cell congestion are performed continuously until a target criteria and a quality of service in the wireless communication network are achieved.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/385,752 US8498207B2 (en) | 2008-06-26 | 2009-04-17 | Dynamic load balancing |
US12/385,752 | 2009-04-17 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2010121251A1 true WO2010121251A1 (en) | 2010-10-21 |
Family
ID=41447278
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2010/031603 WO2010121251A1 (en) | 2009-04-17 | 2010-04-19 | Dynamic load balancing |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US8498207B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010121251A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9369886B2 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2016-06-14 | Viavi Solutions Inc. | Methods and apparatus for implementing a self optimizing-organizing network manager |
Families Citing this family (104)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8498207B2 (en) | 2008-06-26 | 2013-07-30 | Reverb Networks | Dynamic load balancing |
US8301156B2 (en) * | 2008-09-25 | 2012-10-30 | Optimi Corporation | Load balancing for capacity improvement in mobile wireless communication networks |
US20110090820A1 (en) | 2009-10-16 | 2011-04-21 | Osama Hussein | Self-optimizing wireless network |
US9826416B2 (en) | 2009-10-16 | 2017-11-21 | Viavi Solutions, Inc. | Self-optimizing wireless network |
US8385900B2 (en) * | 2009-12-09 | 2013-02-26 | Reverb Networks | Self-optimizing networks for fixed wireless access |
US8351938B1 (en) * | 2010-04-09 | 2013-01-08 | Sprint Spectrum L.P. | System and method for dynamic route-update-radius parameters |
US8311551B1 (en) | 2010-04-09 | 2012-11-13 | Sprint Spectrum L.P. | System and method for adaptive route updating for access terminals based on mobility and channel loading |
JP5679410B2 (en) * | 2010-05-27 | 2015-03-04 | 京セラ株式会社 | Wireless communication system, wireless base station, and communication control method |
US8750894B1 (en) | 2010-06-23 | 2014-06-10 | Google Inc. | System and method of location estimation based on intersections and range estimation |
WO2012003627A1 (en) * | 2010-07-06 | 2012-01-12 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Method for communicating with a user equipment using plurality of transmit antennas |
US8195167B1 (en) * | 2010-07-12 | 2012-06-05 | Sprint Spectrum L.P. | Dynamic reverse activity bit offset adjustment based on soft handoff ratio |
WO2012016598A1 (en) * | 2010-08-06 | 2012-02-09 | Nokia Siemens Networks Oy | Method for self-optimized interworking between radio access networks |
US8483059B2 (en) * | 2010-09-15 | 2013-07-09 | Accelera Mobile Broadband, Inc. | Method for congestion avoidance in 4G networks |
WO2012060748A1 (en) * | 2010-11-03 | 2012-05-10 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Eriksson (Publ) | A radio base station and a method therein |
US9060269B2 (en) * | 2010-12-15 | 2015-06-16 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Optimization of cellular network architecture based on device type-specific traffic dynamics |
CN102036341B (en) * | 2010-12-20 | 2013-07-03 | 北京北方烽火科技有限公司 | Method and device for implementing cell blockage |
US8509762B2 (en) | 2011-05-20 | 2013-08-13 | ReVerb Networks, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for underperforming cell detection and recovery in a wireless network |
US9204315B2 (en) * | 2011-06-20 | 2015-12-01 | Alcatel Lucent | Method of coordinating fault detection responses by access nodes of a network |
US8797875B2 (en) | 2011-09-16 | 2014-08-05 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Policy controlled offloading among neighboring networks |
US8750896B2 (en) | 2011-10-13 | 2014-06-10 | At&T Mobility Ii Llc | Femtocell measurements for macro beam steering |
KR102165923B1 (en) | 2011-11-07 | 2020-10-15 | 달리 시스템즈 씨오. 엘티디. | Soft hand-off and routing data in a virtualized distributed antenna system |
US9258719B2 (en) * | 2011-11-08 | 2016-02-09 | Viavi Solutions Inc. | Methods and apparatus for partitioning wireless network cells into time-based clusters |
US9439085B2 (en) * | 2011-11-10 | 2016-09-06 | Viavi Solutions Uk Limited | Geolocation data prioritization system |
CN103139833B (en) * | 2011-11-23 | 2015-12-02 | 中磊电子(苏州)有限公司 | The jamming control method of femto base station |
GB2496908B (en) | 2011-11-28 | 2017-04-26 | Ubiquisys Ltd | Power management in a cellular system |
US8811994B2 (en) | 2011-12-06 | 2014-08-19 | At&T Mobility Ii Llc | Closed loop heterogeneous network for automatic cell planning |
US9485779B2 (en) | 2012-02-15 | 2016-11-01 | Nec Corporation | Method for resource management in a TDD cellular communication network and resource management system |
EP2815541B1 (en) | 2012-02-17 | 2018-06-27 | Osama Tarraf | Methods and apparatus for coordination in multi-mode networks |
CN102547860B (en) * | 2012-03-02 | 2015-07-22 | 中兴通讯股份有限公司 | Load balancing method and system for multi-band network |
EP3179768B1 (en) * | 2012-03-06 | 2020-04-29 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Congestion control method, device, and system |
CN105828379A (en) * | 2012-03-06 | 2016-08-03 | 华为技术有限公司 | Congestion control method, device and system |
US9332458B2 (en) | 2012-03-25 | 2016-05-03 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method for optimizing performance of a communication network |
US9288689B2 (en) | 2012-04-18 | 2016-03-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Configuration of wireless network cloud system based on density estimation |
JP2014003517A (en) * | 2012-06-20 | 2014-01-09 | Nec Saitama Ltd | Mobile communication system and mobile communication method |
JP5954414B2 (en) * | 2012-06-26 | 2016-07-20 | 富士通株式会社 | COMMUNICATION CONTROL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, AND COMMUNICATION CONTROL SYSTEM |
EP2871889B1 (en) * | 2012-07-31 | 2019-09-11 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Terminal selection method, network entity, and system based on self-organizing networks |
US10506454B2 (en) * | 2012-07-31 | 2019-12-10 | Dali Systems Co., Ltd. | Optimization of traffic load in a distributed antenna system |
US9439242B2 (en) | 2012-08-13 | 2016-09-06 | Dali Systems Co., Ltd. | Time synchronized routing in a distributed antenna system |
US8942710B2 (en) | 2012-08-28 | 2015-01-27 | At&T Mobility Ii Llc | Facilitation of idle mode traffic load balancing |
US9357507B2 (en) | 2012-09-13 | 2016-05-31 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Centralized management for pilot pollution mitigation in small cell networks |
EP2907341B1 (en) | 2012-09-25 | 2020-07-15 | Parallel Wireless Inc. | Heterogeneous self-organizing network for access and backhaul |
US9112549B2 (en) | 2012-10-05 | 2015-08-18 | Dali Systems Co. Ltd. | DAS integrated digital off-air repeater |
IL222709A (en) | 2012-10-25 | 2016-02-29 | Intucell Ltd | Method and apparatus for using inter cell interference coordination mechanism in cellular systems |
US9386455B2 (en) | 2012-11-29 | 2016-07-05 | At&T Mobility Ii Llc | Self-organizing network switching matrix |
US9014004B2 (en) | 2012-12-04 | 2015-04-21 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Method for managing load balance in a cellular heterogeneous network |
US9167444B2 (en) | 2012-12-04 | 2015-10-20 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Method for managing heterogeneous cellular networks |
US10491282B2 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2019-11-26 | Ethertronics, Inc. | Communication load balancing using distributed antenna beam steering techniques |
US9226211B2 (en) * | 2013-01-17 | 2015-12-29 | Intel IP Corporation | Centralized partitioning of user devices in a heterogeneous wireless network |
US9042323B1 (en) | 2013-01-18 | 2015-05-26 | Sprint Spectrum L.P. | Method and system of activating a global beam in a coverage area |
IL224926A0 (en) | 2013-02-26 | 2013-07-31 | Valdimir Yanover | Method and system for dynamic allocation of resources in a cellular network |
EP3716677B1 (en) | 2013-06-12 | 2021-09-15 | Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH | Optimization system for distributed antenna system |
US9473956B2 (en) * | 2013-07-02 | 2016-10-18 | Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy | Antenna tilt optimization in a wireless communications network |
GB2518584B (en) | 2013-07-09 | 2019-12-25 | Cisco Tech Inc | Power setting |
US9398465B2 (en) * | 2013-08-08 | 2016-07-19 | Intel IP Corporation | User equipment distribution information collection |
JP2015065602A (en) * | 2013-09-26 | 2015-04-09 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Analysis server and mobile network system |
US9578605B2 (en) | 2013-09-27 | 2017-02-21 | Parallel Wireless, Inc. | Adjusting transmit power across a network |
US9107187B2 (en) | 2013-09-30 | 2015-08-11 | At&T Mobility Ii Llc | Enhanced self-organizing network switching matrix |
US10420170B2 (en) | 2013-10-08 | 2019-09-17 | Parallel Wireless, Inc. | Parameter optimization and event prediction based on cell heuristics |
US20150111589A1 (en) * | 2013-10-18 | 2015-04-23 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method and apparatus for optimizing coverage area of a small cell |
US9474089B2 (en) * | 2013-10-22 | 2016-10-18 | Acer Incorporated | User equipment and base station with configurable carrier |
US9247447B1 (en) | 2013-11-26 | 2016-01-26 | Sprint Spectrum L.P. | Mobility pattern based preemptive load balancing |
US9414310B2 (en) | 2013-11-27 | 2016-08-09 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method for small cell power control in an enterprise network environment |
US20170250927A1 (en) | 2013-12-23 | 2017-08-31 | Dali Systems Co. Ltd. | Virtual radio access network using software-defined network of remotes and digital multiplexing switches |
JP6244894B2 (en) * | 2013-12-24 | 2017-12-13 | 富士通株式会社 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND CALL CONTROL SERVER DEVICE |
EP3108598B1 (en) * | 2014-02-21 | 2018-10-24 | CommScope Technologies LLC | Optimizing network resources in a telecommunications system |
KR102191366B1 (en) | 2014-02-21 | 2020-12-15 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Handover method and apparatus of electronic deivce in a wireless communication system |
US9655102B2 (en) | 2014-06-20 | 2017-05-16 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Interference control in a cellular communications network |
US9844070B2 (en) | 2014-09-10 | 2017-12-12 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method for decoupling long term evolution media access control scheduling from subframe rate procedures |
CN106717084B (en) | 2014-09-15 | 2020-02-14 | 华为技术有限公司 | Apparatus and method for overlapping rate partition |
US10560864B2 (en) | 2014-10-31 | 2020-02-11 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Event-driven network demand finder of a radio access network |
US9729396B2 (en) | 2014-11-04 | 2017-08-08 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method for providing dynamic radio access network orchestration |
US9930566B2 (en) | 2014-12-01 | 2018-03-27 | Cellwize Wireless Technologies Ltd. | Method of controlling traffic in a cellular network and system thereof |
US9113353B1 (en) | 2015-02-27 | 2015-08-18 | ReVerb Networks, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for improving coverage and capacity in a wireless network |
US10349287B2 (en) * | 2015-03-03 | 2019-07-09 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Adaptive sector configuration of an adaptive antenna system |
US9918314B2 (en) | 2015-04-14 | 2018-03-13 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method for providing uplink inter cell interference coordination in a network environment |
CN107852623A (en) | 2015-05-22 | 2018-03-27 | 康普技术有限责任公司 | Checking subsystem for telecommunication system |
US10244422B2 (en) | 2015-07-16 | 2019-03-26 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method to manage network utilization according to wireless backhaul and radio access network conditions |
US9860852B2 (en) | 2015-07-25 | 2018-01-02 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method to facilitate small cell uplink power control in a network environment |
US9648569B2 (en) | 2015-07-25 | 2017-05-09 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method to facilitate small cell uplink power control in a network environment |
US9854535B2 (en) | 2015-07-28 | 2017-12-26 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Determining fractional frequency reuse power levels for downlink transmissions |
US9848389B2 (en) | 2015-08-03 | 2017-12-19 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Selecting cells for downlink inter-cell interference coordination |
US9854536B2 (en) | 2015-08-03 | 2017-12-26 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | User equipment power level selection for downlink transmissions |
US10154415B2 (en) | 2015-08-04 | 2018-12-11 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Resource adaptation for frequency domain downlink inter-cell interference coordination |
US9967067B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2018-05-08 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Serving noise/macro interference limited user equipment for downlink inter-cell interference coordination |
US9826408B2 (en) | 2015-12-07 | 2017-11-21 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method to provide uplink interference coordination in a network environment |
US10219261B2 (en) | 2015-12-08 | 2019-02-26 | At&T Mobility Ii Llc | Method and apparatus for transmitting a control signal to a self organizing network controller |
CN108476416A (en) * | 2016-01-08 | 2018-08-31 | 康普技术有限责任公司 | The system and method for carrying out carrier wave polymerization for using beam forming |
US10143002B2 (en) | 2016-01-12 | 2018-11-27 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method to facilitate centralized radio resource management in a split radio access network environment |
US9813970B2 (en) | 2016-01-20 | 2017-11-07 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method to provide small cell power control and load balancing for high mobility user equipment in a network environment |
US10420134B2 (en) | 2016-02-02 | 2019-09-17 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method to facilitate subframe scheduling in a split medium access control radio access network environment |
US10091697B1 (en) | 2016-02-08 | 2018-10-02 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Mitigation of uplink interference within heterogeneous wireless communications networks |
US10397831B1 (en) * | 2016-04-26 | 2019-08-27 | Sprint Spectrum L.P. | Systems and methods for load balancing between frequency bands based on bandwidth capacity |
KR102648505B1 (en) * | 2017-02-24 | 2024-03-18 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Apparatus and method for load balancing in wireless communication system |
KR101861270B1 (en) | 2017-04-05 | 2018-05-25 | 에스케이텔레콤 주식회사 | Method for controlling of beamforming and apparatus thereof |
KR101870767B1 (en) * | 2018-01-16 | 2018-06-25 | 에스케이 텔레콤주식회사 | Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Data Stream in MIMO System |
US10630568B2 (en) * | 2018-09-07 | 2020-04-21 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Transmission control protocol timestamp rewriting |
CN109472075B (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2022-11-08 | 成都四方伟业软件股份有限公司 | Base station performance analysis method and system |
US11070987B1 (en) * | 2019-11-20 | 2021-07-20 | Sprint Communications Company L.P. | Dynamic antenna array rotation |
CN112954732B (en) * | 2019-12-10 | 2023-04-07 | 中国移动通信有限公司研究院 | Network load balancing method, device, equipment and storage medium |
US20230027476A1 (en) * | 2019-12-18 | 2023-01-26 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Adaptive cell-shaping in a cellular network |
WO2021243639A1 (en) * | 2020-06-04 | 2021-12-09 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Method and apparatus for cell deployment and configuration |
US20230239022A1 (en) * | 2020-07-29 | 2023-07-27 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Multilayer digital sector for advanced antenna systems |
CN113286315B (en) * | 2021-06-11 | 2022-08-09 | 中国联合网络通信集团有限公司 | Load balance judging method, device, equipment and storage medium |
WO2023163695A1 (en) * | 2022-02-23 | 2023-08-31 | Rakuten Symphony Singapore Pte. Ltd. | Sector load imbalance identification system, method, device, and program |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6141565A (en) * | 1997-11-13 | 2000-10-31 | Metawave Communications Corporation | Dynamic mobile parameter optimization |
US6400335B1 (en) * | 2000-08-09 | 2002-06-04 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Dynamic load sharing system and method using a cylindrical antenna array |
US6829491B1 (en) * | 2001-08-15 | 2004-12-07 | Kathrein-Werke Kg | Dynamic and self-optimizing smart network |
US6937863B1 (en) * | 2001-08-15 | 2005-08-30 | Kathrein-Werke Kg | System and method for dynamically adjusting cell sectorization |
Family Cites Families (100)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5425051A (en) * | 1992-11-09 | 1995-06-13 | Norand Corporation | Radio frequency communication network having adaptive parameters |
US20010050943A1 (en) * | 1989-08-03 | 2001-12-13 | Mahany Ronald L. | Radio frequency communication network having adaptive communication parameters |
DE3932015A1 (en) * | 1988-12-15 | 1991-04-04 | Hoechst Ag | GENE AND GENE STRUCTURE, CODING AN AMINOTRANSFERASE, MICROORGANISMS EXPRESSING THIS GENE, AND TRANSAMINATION METHOD USING THE EXPRESSION PRODUCT |
US5802144A (en) * | 1996-04-15 | 1998-09-01 | Mci Corporation | Minimum common span network outage detection and isolation |
US5796722A (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 1998-08-18 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and apparatus for dynamic load balancing using handoff |
US6138016A (en) * | 1996-12-04 | 2000-10-24 | Nortel Networks Corporation | Distributing location tracking functionality in wireless telephone systems |
US6253077B1 (en) * | 1997-05-16 | 2001-06-26 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Downstream power control in point-to-multipoint systems |
US6999766B1 (en) * | 1997-05-19 | 2006-02-14 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method and apparatus for optimization of a cellular network |
US5859839A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 1999-01-12 | Motorola, Inc. | Method for automatically selecting channel powers in a wireless communication system |
US6069871A (en) * | 1997-07-21 | 2000-05-30 | Nortel Networks Corporation | Traffic allocation and dynamic load balancing in a multiple carrier cellular wireless communication system |
US6549529B1 (en) * | 1999-02-01 | 2003-04-15 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | System and method for controlling antenna downtilt/uptilt in a wireless communication network |
US7243054B2 (en) * | 1999-07-14 | 2007-07-10 | Wireless Valley Communications, Inc. | Method and system for displaying network performance, cost, maintenance, and infrastructure wiring diagram |
US6574477B1 (en) * | 1999-10-06 | 2003-06-03 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Dynamic load balancing during message processing in a wireless communication service network |
US7016685B1 (en) * | 2000-08-24 | 2006-03-21 | Santera Systems, Inc. | System and methods of dynamic load balancing across processor nodes |
US6973229B1 (en) * | 2001-02-28 | 2005-12-06 | Lambda Opticalsystems Corporation | Node architecture for modularized and reconfigurable optical networks, and methods and apparatus therefor |
DE60136491D1 (en) * | 2001-03-30 | 2008-12-18 | Nokia Corp | METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A NETWORK BY DEFINING CLUSTERS |
US7260415B1 (en) * | 2001-05-31 | 2007-08-21 | Sprint Spectrum L.P. | Method and system for location-based power control in wireless communications |
US20040266442A1 (en) * | 2001-10-25 | 2004-12-30 | Adrian Flanagan | Method and system for optimising the performance of a network |
RU2232485C2 (en) * | 2001-11-27 | 2004-07-10 | Корпорация "Самсунг Электроникс" | Procedure to form directivity pattern of antenna and device for its realization |
US20030191856A1 (en) * | 2002-04-08 | 2003-10-09 | Paul Lewis | Wireless networking with dynamic load sharing and balancing |
AU2003237454A1 (en) * | 2002-06-06 | 2003-12-22 | Motorola, Inc., A Corporation Of The State Of Delaware | Protocol and structure for mobile nodes in a self-organizing communication network |
US7477920B2 (en) * | 2002-10-25 | 2009-01-13 | Intel Corporation | System and method for automatically configuring and integrating a radio base station into an existing wireless cellular communication network with full bi-directional roaming and handover capability |
DE10251993B4 (en) * | 2002-11-06 | 2012-09-27 | Actix Gmbh | Method and apparatus for optimizing cellular wireless communication networks |
US7561876B2 (en) * | 2003-02-21 | 2009-07-14 | Groundhog Technologies Inc. | System with user interface for network planning and mobility management optimization in a mobile communication network and method thereof |
US7248574B2 (en) * | 2003-02-24 | 2007-07-24 | Autocell Laboratories, Inc. | Apparatus for selecting an optimum access point in a wireless network |
US7150044B2 (en) * | 2003-03-10 | 2006-12-12 | Mci, Llc | Secure self-organizing and self-provisioning anomalous event detection systems |
US7953372B2 (en) * | 2003-04-07 | 2011-05-31 | Yoram Ofek | Directional antenna sectoring system and methodology |
US7162250B2 (en) * | 2003-05-16 | 2007-01-09 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and apparatus for load sharing in wireless access networks based on dynamic transmission power adjustment of access points |
EP1530387A1 (en) * | 2003-11-06 | 2005-05-11 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Transmission power range setting during channel assignment for interference balancing in a cellular wireless communication system |
US8068845B2 (en) * | 2003-11-06 | 2011-11-29 | Panasonic Corporation | Transmission power level setting during channel assignment for interference balancing in a cellular wireless communication system |
FR2865095B1 (en) | 2004-01-08 | 2006-04-28 | Nortel Networks Ltd | METHOD FOR ALLOCATING COMMUNICATION RESOURCES AND RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD |
DE102004002145B4 (en) * | 2004-01-15 | 2007-11-22 | Radioplan Gmbh | Method and device for adapting a radio network model to the conditions of a real radio network |
DE602004028661D1 (en) * | 2004-01-27 | 2010-09-23 | Actix Ltd | TRAFFIC MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A MOBILE RADIO NETWORK FOR TRAFFIC ANALYSIS WITH A HIERARCHICAL APPROACH |
US7310526B2 (en) * | 2004-02-06 | 2007-12-18 | Nec Laboratories America, Inc. | Load-aware handoff and site selection scheme |
FR2869746B1 (en) * | 2004-04-29 | 2006-07-28 | Alcatel Sa | MULTI-CRITERIA LOAD DISTRIBUTION DEVICE FOR PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT OF A LABEL-SWITCHING COMMITATION NETWORK |
US7536205B2 (en) | 2004-06-15 | 2009-05-19 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Apparatus and method for downlink spatial division multiple access scheduling in a wireless network |
US7929459B2 (en) * | 2004-10-19 | 2011-04-19 | At&T Mobility Ii Llc | Method and apparatus for automatically determining the manner in which to allocate available capital to achieve a desired level of network quality performance |
JP4636282B2 (en) * | 2005-01-12 | 2011-02-23 | 日本電気株式会社 | User throughput geographical distribution estimation system and user throughput geographical distribution estimation method |
US7349765B2 (en) * | 2005-02-18 | 2008-03-25 | General Motors Corporation | System and method for managing utility consumption |
US8218477B2 (en) * | 2005-03-31 | 2012-07-10 | Alcatel Lucent | Method of detecting wireless network faults |
US7623455B2 (en) * | 2005-04-02 | 2009-11-24 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Method and apparatus for dynamic load balancing over a network link bundle |
US8369271B2 (en) * | 2005-04-22 | 2013-02-05 | Alcatel Lucent | Method of configuring a cell of a wireless communication system for improved resource utilization |
US20060246844A1 (en) * | 2005-04-28 | 2006-11-02 | Kroboth Robert H | Method and apparatus for depicting quality of service in mobile networks |
US7577103B2 (en) | 2005-06-30 | 2009-08-18 | Alcatel-Lucent Usa Inc. | Dynamic methods for improving a wireless network |
US7535839B2 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2009-05-19 | Alcatel-Lucent Usa Inc. | Method and apparatus for quality-of-service based admission control using prediction of scheduling gain |
JP4578346B2 (en) * | 2005-07-25 | 2010-11-10 | 株式会社エヌ・ティ・ティ・ドコモ | Radio control apparatus and communication method |
KR101302607B1 (en) | 2005-09-01 | 2013-09-02 | 프라운호퍼-게젤샤프트 츄어 푀르더룽 데어 안게반텐 포르슝에.파우. | Stand-alone miniaturised communication module |
GB2430330B (en) * | 2005-09-19 | 2010-03-10 | Agilent Technologies Inc | Allocation of a performance indicator among cells in a cellular communication system |
CA2626883A1 (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2007-05-03 | Seeker Wireless Pty Limited | Detection in mobile service maintenance |
HRP20050953B1 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2012-04-30 | T-Mobile Hrvatska D.O.O. | Base station system performance measurement system in a gsm radio communicatioon network |
US20070147297A1 (en) * | 2005-12-28 | 2007-06-28 | Diaz Alvaro H | Dynamic baseline technique for analyzing wireless networks |
EP2733872B1 (en) * | 2006-03-03 | 2015-09-09 | KTFreetel Co., Ltd. | Method for measuring quality of wireless network |
US20070218862A1 (en) * | 2006-03-14 | 2007-09-20 | Tatman Lance A | System and method for making measurements in customer devices across different service provider networks |
WO2008003815A1 (en) * | 2006-07-07 | 2008-01-10 | Nokia Corporation | Improved radio resource allocation mechanism |
WO2008011149A2 (en) * | 2006-07-20 | 2008-01-24 | Bandspeed, Inc. | Managing wireless base stations using a distributed virtual base station manager |
US20080039089A1 (en) * | 2006-08-11 | 2008-02-14 | Berkman William H | System and Method for Providing Dynamically Configurable Wireless Communication Network |
US7969896B2 (en) * | 2006-08-29 | 2011-06-28 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Method and system for providing connectivity outage detection for MPLS core networks based on service level agreement |
US7757103B2 (en) * | 2006-12-20 | 2010-07-13 | Intel Corporation | Method and apparatus to estimate energy consumed by central processing unit core |
WO2008087535A2 (en) * | 2007-01-18 | 2008-07-24 | Nokia Corporation | Network oriented control of self-optimization measurements |
WO2008102252A1 (en) * | 2007-02-23 | 2008-08-28 | Nokia Corporation | Self optimization of forbidden neighbor cell list |
KR101422141B1 (en) * | 2007-02-27 | 2014-07-28 | 아주대학교산학협력단 | System and method for using resource in a communication system |
US20080225714A1 (en) * | 2007-03-12 | 2008-09-18 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Dynamic load balancing |
WO2008120159A2 (en) * | 2007-03-30 | 2008-10-09 | Nokia Corporation | System and method for self-optimization of interference coordination in communication systems |
US20090023477A1 (en) * | 2007-07-19 | 2009-01-22 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Method and apparatus for reconfiguring a multi-sector base station |
US8165590B2 (en) * | 2007-08-13 | 2012-04-24 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Neighbor cell relation list initialization |
US7941136B2 (en) * | 2007-09-14 | 2011-05-10 | Actix Limited | Mobile phone network optimisation systems |
GB2461242B (en) * | 2007-09-14 | 2010-06-30 | Actix Ltd | Mobile phone network management systems |
US20090163223A1 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2009-06-25 | Elektrobit Wireless Communications Ltd. | Load balancing in mobile environment |
US8780732B2 (en) * | 2008-03-18 | 2014-07-15 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method of network management by assistance from terminal using control-plane signaling between terminal and network |
EP2120493A1 (en) * | 2008-03-19 | 2009-11-18 | Nokia Siemens Networks Oy | Mechanism for automated re-configuration of an access network element |
US8583119B2 (en) * | 2008-04-21 | 2013-11-12 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method and apparatus for management of automatic neighbor relation function in wireless networks |
DE602008004115D1 (en) | 2008-05-28 | 2011-02-03 | Alcatel Lucent | Method for detecting a radio cell failure |
US20090310584A1 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2009-12-17 | Fujitus Microelectronics Limited | Self Organizing Network |
US8498207B2 (en) | 2008-06-26 | 2013-07-30 | Reverb Networks | Dynamic load balancing |
US20100008293A1 (en) * | 2008-07-09 | 2010-01-14 | Qualcomm Incorporated | X2 interfaces for access point base stations in self-organizing networks (son) |
EP2335434A1 (en) * | 2008-08-22 | 2011-06-22 | Research In Motion Limited | Network quality of service update control |
US8301156B2 (en) * | 2008-09-25 | 2012-10-30 | Optimi Corporation | Load balancing for capacity improvement in mobile wireless communication networks |
US20100103911A1 (en) * | 2008-10-28 | 2010-04-29 | Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd. | Apparatus and method providing an IEEE-802.16 self-organizing network |
US20100124934A1 (en) * | 2008-11-20 | 2010-05-20 | Nokia Corporation | Wireless System Improvements Based On Location Positioning System Data |
US8422461B2 (en) * | 2008-11-24 | 2013-04-16 | Pctel, Inc. | Self-configurable wireless network with cooperative interference measurements by base stations |
US20100149984A1 (en) * | 2008-12-13 | 2010-06-17 | Salil Kapoor | Self Dimensioning and optimization of telecom Network - SDAOTN |
US8213951B2 (en) * | 2008-12-23 | 2012-07-03 | At & T Mobility Ii Llc | Using mobile communication devices to facilitate coordinating use of resources |
ES2368385T3 (en) * | 2009-01-29 | 2011-11-16 | Lg Electronics Inc. | SIGNAL TRANSMISSION SCHEME FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMMON IMPROVED DEDICATED CHANNEL. |
CN101801015B (en) * | 2009-02-06 | 2014-03-12 | 中兴通讯股份有限公司 | Method and device for processing out of service faults of cell |
US8301149B2 (en) * | 2009-02-12 | 2012-10-30 | Optimi Corporation | Call quality and coverage improvement in mobile wireless communication networks |
US20100216453A1 (en) * | 2009-02-20 | 2010-08-26 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson | Compensating for cell outage using priorities |
US8543121B2 (en) * | 2009-02-24 | 2013-09-24 | Eden Rock Communications, Llc | Systems and methods for usage-based radio resource management of self-optimizing cells |
US20100232318A1 (en) * | 2009-03-10 | 2010-09-16 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Random access channel (rach) optimization for a self-organizing network (son) |
US8717983B2 (en) * | 2009-04-07 | 2014-05-06 | National Taiwan University MediaTek Inc. | Mechanism of dynamic resource transaction for wireless OFDMA systems |
US20100299419A1 (en) * | 2009-05-15 | 2010-11-25 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method for a self organizing network |
US20110009105A1 (en) * | 2009-07-13 | 2011-01-13 | Jungwoo Lee | Self-organizing networks using directional beam antennas |
US8737359B2 (en) * | 2009-07-30 | 2014-05-27 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Apparatus and method for feedback-based radio resource management (RRM) parameter optimization |
US8526957B2 (en) * | 2009-08-18 | 2013-09-03 | Nokia Siemens Networks Oy | De-centralized transmit power optimization |
US20110090820A1 (en) * | 2009-10-16 | 2011-04-21 | Osama Hussein | Self-optimizing wireless network |
US9826416B2 (en) * | 2009-10-16 | 2017-11-21 | Viavi Solutions, Inc. | Self-optimizing wireless network |
US9100832B2 (en) * | 2009-10-30 | 2015-08-04 | Airhop Communications, Inc. | Method and apparatus for self organized network |
US20110130135A1 (en) * | 2009-12-01 | 2011-06-02 | Hafedh Trigui | Coverage hole detector |
US8385900B2 (en) * | 2009-12-09 | 2013-02-26 | Reverb Networks | Self-optimizing networks for fixed wireless access |
KR101316682B1 (en) * | 2009-12-15 | 2013-10-10 | 한국전자통신연구원 | TNL Connection Setup Method and Apparatus for Base Station Using Downlink Receiver |
US8509762B2 (en) * | 2011-05-20 | 2013-08-13 | ReVerb Networks, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for underperforming cell detection and recovery in a wireless network |
-
2009
- 2009-04-17 US US12/385,752 patent/US8498207B2/en active Active
-
2010
- 2010-04-19 WO PCT/US2010/031603 patent/WO2010121251A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6141565A (en) * | 1997-11-13 | 2000-10-31 | Metawave Communications Corporation | Dynamic mobile parameter optimization |
US6400335B1 (en) * | 2000-08-09 | 2002-06-04 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Dynamic load sharing system and method using a cylindrical antenna array |
US6829491B1 (en) * | 2001-08-15 | 2004-12-07 | Kathrein-Werke Kg | Dynamic and self-optimizing smart network |
US6937863B1 (en) * | 2001-08-15 | 2005-08-30 | Kathrein-Werke Kg | System and method for dynamically adjusting cell sectorization |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9369886B2 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2016-06-14 | Viavi Solutions Inc. | Methods and apparatus for implementing a self optimizing-organizing network manager |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8498207B2 (en) | 2013-07-30 |
US20090323530A1 (en) | 2009-12-31 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8498207B2 (en) | Dynamic load balancing | |
US9826420B2 (en) | Self-optimizing wireless network | |
US9826416B2 (en) | Self-optimizing wireless network | |
EP2679058B1 (en) | Configuring power distribution within cooperation areas of cellular communication networks | |
CN105247927B (en) | Communication control unit, communication control method, radio communications system, base station and terminal installation | |
EP3675548B1 (en) | Device and method for operating beamforming in wireless communication system | |
EP2890022B1 (en) | Radio communication method and radio base station | |
US9615265B2 (en) | Network node and method for adjusting antenna parameters in a wireless communications system | |
Vahid et al. | Small cells for 5G mobile networks | |
EP2132907B1 (en) | Establishing parallel tunnels for higher bit rate | |
EP2709396A1 (en) | Multi-beam radio base station | |
US20230379035A1 (en) | Multi-level beam scheduling in a wireless communications circuit, particularly for a wireless communications system (wcs) | |
US8489031B2 (en) | Interferer detection and interference reduction for a wireless communications network | |
CN112671500B (en) | Co-channel interference suppression method and corresponding communication terminal | |
US10136336B2 (en) | Base station and method thereof | |
EP3360360B1 (en) | System and method for load rebalancing | |
CN110392406B (en) | Method, apparatus and computer readable medium for handover in a communication system | |
CN108667551B (en) | Method for transmitting and receiving signals based on frame structure and access network equipment | |
Bublin et al. | Inter-cell interference management by dynamic channel allocation, scheduling and smart antennas | |
Jiang | Cooperative control of relay based cellular networks |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 6098/CHENP/2010 Country of ref document: IN |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 10765336 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 10765336 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |