Conflict handling in self-organizing networks

1. A method comprising:

storing, for at least one configuration parameter whose value is changeable by one or more self-organizing network functions, at least short term history information on changes, including which of the one or more self-organizing network functions performed a previously allowed change to the at least one configuration parameter value; and

determining based at least on the history information on changes whether to allow a value of the configuration parameter to change.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an update to the history information; and

updating the history information according to the received update.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

associating a configuration parameter with at least one predetermined condition that utilizes the history information and/or with a token information and/or with a locking information, the at least one predetermined condition defining when a change is allowed to be performed based on the history information.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the predetermined condition utilizing the history information comprises at least one of the following: a value may be changed after a certain time period, the allowability may depend on the direction of the last or intended change, on the size of the intended change and/or a previous change.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the history information includes at least one of the following: a time of a last change, a current value of the parameter, a size of the last change, a direction of the last change, and an indication of a self-organizing network function which performed the last allowed change.

6. A method comprising:

obtaining, in response to an intended change to a configuration parameter that is configurable by one or more self-organizing network functions, history information on changes of the configuration parameter, including which of the one or more self-organizing network functions performed a previously allowed change to the at least one configuration parameter value;

comparing the history information with one or more predetermined conditions; and

in response to the one or more predetermined conditions not being fulfilled, rejecting the intended change; otherwise allowing it.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

detecting the intended change in response to receiving from a self-organizing function a request to change a parameter value.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

detecting that the configuration parameter is locked or a token is needed for the change and the token is reserved; and

rejecting the intended change.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

sending an update to the history information in response to the intended change being performed.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions configured to perform any of the steps of a method as claimed in claim 1 when the program instructions are run on a processor.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one memory comprising computer program code;

at least one processor;

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:

store, for at least one configuration parameter whose value is changeable by one or more self-organizing network functions, at least short term history information on changes, including which of the one or more self-organizing network functions performed a previously allowed change to the at least one configuration parameter value; and

determine based at least on the short term history information, whether to allow a value of the configuration parameter to change.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:

perform at a network element level, at a domain manager level and/or at a network management level.

13. A system comprising:

a first network node comprising at least one processor configured to:

obtain, in response to an intended change to a configuration parameter that is configurable by one or more self-organizing network functions, history information on changes of the configuration parameter, including which of the one or more self-organizing network functions performed a previously allowed change to the at least one configuration parameter value;

compare the history information with one or more predetermined conditions; and

reject, in response to the one or more predetermined conditions not being fulfilled, the intended change, otherwise allowing it; and

a second network node comprising at least one processor configured to store, for at least one configuration parameter whose value is changeable by one or more self-organizing network functions, at least short term history information on changes.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein

the first network node further comprises a self-organizing network management function; and

the second network node comprises a database for storing the information.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13 , the system further comprising a third network node comprising a self-organizing network function configured to request from the first network node permission to change a configuration parameter value.

16. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the history information includes at least one of the following: a time of a last change, a current value of the parameter, a size of the last change, a direction of the last change, and an indication of a self-organizing network function which performed the last allowed change.