Base station system performance measurement system in a GSM radio communication network

1. System for self optimizing a radio communication network comprising a plurality of radio cells, the system comprising:

means for monitoring network resource consumption and quality parameters individually for each cell, and

means for distributing network traffic dynamically between neighboring radio cells in order to maintain satisfactory quality of service in each radio cell,

wherein the means for distributing network traffic is configured to

retrieve input data, including performance measurement data and current network quality parameters,

compute a custom quality index, QI, based on predetermined optimization goals for all radio cells in a selected area,

sort the radio cells into groups according to their individual QI values, wherein a first group 1 contains a radio cell with the lowest quality index, and an endmost group nn contains radio cells with the highest quality index,

improve the quality index for the radio cells of group 1 by adjusting the current cell parameters and shrinking the radio cell coverage area,

reduce the quality index for the radio cells in group nn which are underutilized, by adjusting the current cell parameters and enlarging the radio cell coverage area, calculate the new network configuration parameters, and

wherein the system is an extension system of an operation and maintenance center of a base station system, OMC-B, with interfaces to the OMC-B system and to assigned base station controllers, BSC, for completely automated measurement and data transfer of performance measurement data, and

wherein the system comprises a database for compiling, processing and safekeeping performance measurement data received from OMC-B of the network radio cell sites, and

wherein the system is part of a Network Management Center, NMC, in order to collect performance and quality measurements, statistics and alarm reporting from all OMC-B servers in the network and provide complete network statistics.

2. Method for self optimizing a radio communication network comprising a plurality of radio cells, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the network resource consumption and quality parameters individually for each cell, and

distributing the network traffic dynamically between neighboring radio cells in order to maintain satisfactory quality of service in each radio cell

said distributing step further comprising the steps of:

retrieving input data, including performance measurement data and current network quality parameters,

computing of a custom quality index, QI, based on predetermined optimization goals for all radio cells in a selected area,

sorting the radio cells into groups according to their individual QI values, wherein a first group 1 contains a radio cell with the lowest quality index, and an endmost group nn contains radio cells with the highest quality index,

improving the quality index for the radio cells of group 1 by adjusting the current cell parameters and shrinking the radio cell coverage area,

reducing the quality index for the radio cells in group nn which are underutilized, by adjusting the current cell parameters and enlarging the radio cell coverage area

performing a backup of the network parameters for history tracking purposes and having data for rollback,

calculating the new network configuration parameters,

generating a parameter script file and executing the script file on an Operation and Maintenance Center of the base station system, OMC-B, in an automated process, and

the method further comprising the steps of,

monitoring the network resource consumption and quality parameters on a daily basis, and

automatically collecting, decoding and processing performance measurement data from the OMC-B systems as well as from base station controllers, BSC, and storing them in a database,

whereas these performance measurement data are combined with BSS alarms and network parameters extracted from actual databases in order to provide comprehensive information for quality reporting and optimization.

3. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a program storage device readable by the system, embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform steps for self-optimizing a radio communication network comprising a plurality of radio cells,

the steps comprising the method set forth in claim 2 .