Traffic planning in a network using a variable oversubscription factor
View Patent ↗A system and methodology for network planning in which a software based tool provides network engineers with the capability to more precisely plan for traffic loading within the network on a cell site by cell site basis. Thus for each cell site, variations in geographic location, device mix, historical usage patterns and other factors are taken into account to allow for more accurate network planning and for more efficient use of capital. Cell sites with a higher traffic profile based upon historic device mix and usage patterns will be associated with lower OSF values thus enhancing the user experience for a device user in communication with that cell site. On the other hand, for cell sites with a lesser traffic profile, a higher OSF value is ascribed thus allowing for capital to be deployed elsewhere while still maintaining a positive user experience for users relying on that cell site.
1. A computer-implemented planning system for allocating resources within a network comprising:
a cell site database storage device containing data associated with at least one cell site within said network;
a usage data database storage device containing historical data associated with device usage for devices serviced by said at least one cell site; and
a central processor for determining an oversubscription factor (OSF) value calculated as
OSF
=
Total
Devices
Served
by
Carrier
Tonnage
per
Carrier
Constant
×
Max
Carrier
Capacity
and applied to said at least one cell site wherein said OSF value is uniquely calculated specifically for said at least one cell site.
2. The planning system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a plurality of cell sites and wherein said central processor calculates a unique OSF value for each of said cell sites.
3. The planning system of claim 2 wherein said OSF value calculation is further dependent upon an RF utilization factor.
4. The planning system of claim 2 wherein said OSF value calculation is dependent upon a theoretical maximum carrier capacity associated with said cell site.
5. The planning system of claim 2 wherein said OSF value calculation is dependent upon the total number of devices served by each of said plurality of cell sites.
6. The planning system of claim 1 wherein said OSF value is updated periodically as a result of changes to said historical data.
7. The planning system of claim 6 wherein additional carriers are automatically enabled based upon a decrease in said OSF value associated with said cell site.
8. The planning system of claim 6 wherein the number of carriers is automatically reduced based upon an increase in said OSF value associated with said cell site.
9. A method for allocating resources within a wireless network comprising the steps of:
receiving from a usage data database storage device, historical data associated with devices assigned to at least one cell site within said wireless network;
receiving from a cell site database storage device, data associated with the RF characteristics associated with said at least one cell site within said wireless network; and
calculating, using a central processor, an oversubscription factor (OSF) value calculated as
OSF
=
Total
Devices
Served
by
Carrier
Tonnage
per
Carrier
Constant
×
Max
Carrier
Capacity
to be associated with said at least one cell site within said wireless network wherein said OSF value is based upon said RF characteristics and said historical data.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of calculating an OSF value comprises calculating an OSF value which is a function of theoretical maximum carrier capacity.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of calculating an OSF value comprises calculating an OSF value which is a function of RF utilization.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein said cell site comprises a plurality of sectors and each of said sectors is assigned a unique OSF value.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of periodically receiving updates to said historical data and re-calculating said OSF value based thereupon.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein said wireless network comprises a plurality of cell sites and a unique OSF value is calculated for each one of said plurality of cell sites.