Method Of Selecting Operational Parameters In A Communication Network
The present invention provides a method of selecting operational parameters of a communication network. The method is characterised by searching the operational parameter space using a multiple objective simulated annealing (MOSA) process, wherein the objectives are based upon performance indicators (PIs) of the communication network. Moreover, the MOSA process generates an archive of estimated values of a Pareto front, and employs a dominance-based energy function. The present invention thus provides the benefit of enabling assessment of different estimated optimal trade-offs between multiple objectives.
1 . A method of selecting operational parameters of a communication network, characterised by;
searching an operational parameter space using a multiple objective simulated annealing (MOSA) process wherein;
the objectives are based upon performance indicators of the communication network;
the MOSA process generates an archive of estimated values of a Pareto front; and
the MOSA process employs a dominance-based energy function.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the dominance-based energy function, E(x), is defined substantially as
E ( x )=μ( {tilde over (F)} x ),
where μ is a measure defined on {tilde over (F)} x , and {tilde over (F)} x is defined substantially as
{tilde over (F)} x ={yε{tilde over (F)}|yx},
such that {tilde over (F)} x is the set of elements of {tilde over (F)} that dominate solution x, where {tilde over (F)} is the union of the current set of mutually non-dominating solutions found, with the current solution x and the proposed perturbed solution x′.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the difference in the dominance-based energy function between current solution x and proposed perturbed solution x′ is evaluated substantially as
δ
E
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x
,
x
′
)
=
1
F
~
(
F
~
x
-
F
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x
′
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,
all terms as defined herein.
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein additional values of the estimated Pareto front are obtained by randomly sampling an attainment surface of the archive of estimated values of the Pareto front.
5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the MOSA process may propose a perturbation to the present solution x that is scaled using one of two scaling schemes;
i. transversal scaling
ii. location scaling
6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein objectives may be based upon performance indicators of the communication network from any or all of the following categories;
i. Capacity;
ii. Coverage; and
iii. Quality of service.
7 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein cost values are applied the objectives and/or the operational parameters according to a given scenario.
8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the solution with the lowest cost within the archive of estimated values of the Pareto front is chosen for a given scenario.
9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter values associated with a chosen solution are incorporated within the communication network.
10 . (canceled)