Interfrequency and inter-technology neighbor planning on a self-organizing network
In an example, a self-organizing network (SON) provides automated interfrequency load balancing for a base station such as a NodeB. The NodeB may provide a plurality of carriers, such as in a plurality of UARFCN frequencies, and the SON may provide configuration directives for increasing efficiency. For example, when one carrier becomes loaded, the SON may update neighbor associations to take advantage of relatively unloaded frequency carriers. A plurality of scenarios S may be provided, and a policy P may be defined for each. When the NodeB encounters a scenario S, SON may send configuration directives to implement policy P. Similar concept and policy could be applied in conjunction with INTER Technology Neighbor Definitions between LTE and UMTS and UMTS and GSM. Example if GSM Frequency Neighbors needs to be replaced with different Frequency Neighbors from UMTS based on Load or RF conditions.
1. A network device comprising:
an interface for coupling with a telecommunication engine operable for providing wireless uplink and downlink communication services in a plurality of frequency carriers in a cellular network configured in a baseline configuration P 0 , the baseline configuration P 0 including a plurality of neighbor associations, each neighbor association identifying, for a respective first frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network, a respective second frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network to which traffic may overflow for load balancing, wherein each frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network is associated with at least one of the neighbor associations;
an interface for coupling with a self-organizing network controller; and
a policy engine comprising at least a processor operable for:
detecting a network condition scenario S 1 ;
looking up in a policy table a policy P 1 associated with the scenario S 1 ; and
providing to the telecommunication engine configuration directives based on the policy P 1 , wherein the neighbor association associated with the first frequency carrier is changed from identifying the second frequency carrier to identifying a third frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network to which traffic may overflow, wherein the third frequency carrier is not adjacent to the first frequency carrier.
2. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the policy engine is further configured for:
assessing network conditions after sending the configuration directives;
determining that the configuration directives based on PI have degraded network performance; and
sending configuration directives to select a new policy P n .
3. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the policy engine is further operable for:
assessing network conditions after sending the configuration directives;
determining that the configuration directives based on PI have degraded network performance;
identifying a network condition scenario S 2 ; and
sending configuration directives based on a baseline policy P 2 .
4. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the policy engine is further operable for, after a period, sending configuration directives to restore the baseline configuration P 0 .
5. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the policy engine further comprises a plurality of network condition scenarios S, wherein at least some of the network condition scenarios S have associated therewith at least one policy P.
6. The network device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the network condition scenarios S is dynamically selected based on network requirements, and selected from the group consisting of carrier loading, power saving, interference, frequency band loading, noise, key performance indicators, congestion, outages, resource-based, operator-defined conditions, network or carrier borders, new technology, frequency cell turned on, and inter-technology load balancing.
7. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the network condition scenario S comprises automatic neighbor relation management from a first technology to a second technology or to a different frequency of the same technology, wherein the first technology and the second technology are different and are selected from the group consisting of global system for mobile communication, enhanced data rates for GSM evolution, code division multiple access, universal mobile telecommunication system, and long-term evolution.
8. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the network device is further configured to provide operations support system services.
9. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the network device is further configured to provide radio access network management services.
10. One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums having stored thereon executable instructions operable to instruct a processor for:
coupling with a telecommunication engine operable for providing wireless uplink and downlink communication services in a plurality of frequency carriers in a cellular network configured in a baseline configuration P 0 , the baseline configuration P 0 including a plurality of neighbor associations, each neighbor association identifying, for a respective first frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network, a respective second frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network to which traffic may overflow for load balancing, wherein each frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network is associated with at least one of the neighbor associations;
detecting a network condition scenario S 1 ;
looking up in a policy table a policy P 1 associated with the scenario S 1 ;
providing to the telecommunication engine configuration directives based on the policy P 1 , wherein the neighbor association associated with the first frequency carrier is changed from identifying the second frequency carrier to identifying a third frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network to which traffic may overflow, wherein the third frequency carrier is not adjacent to the first frequency carrier; and
providing operation support system services or radio access network management services.
11. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further operable to instruct the processor for:
assessing network conditions after sending the configuration directives;
determining that the configuration directives based on P 1 have degraded network performance; and
sending configuration directives to select a new policy P n .
12. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further operable to instruct the processor for:
assessing network conditions after sending the configuration directives;
determining that the configuration directives based on P 1 have degraded network performance;
identifying a network condition scenario S 2 ; and
sending configuration directives based on a baseline policy P 2 .
13. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further operable to instruct the processor for, after a period, sending configuration directives to restore the baseline configuration P 0 .
14. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further operable to instruct the processor for identifying a plurality of network condition scenarios S, wherein at least some of the network condition scenarios S have associated therewith at least one policy P.
15. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the network condition scenarios S is selected from the group consisting of carrier loading, power saving, interference, frequency band loading, noise, key performance indicators, congestion, outages, resource-based, operator-defined conditions, network or carrier borders, new technology, frequency cell turned on, and inter-technology load balancing.
16. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 10 , wherein the network condition scenario S comprises automatic neighbor relation management from a first technology to a second technology, wherein the first technology and the second technology are different and are selected from the group consisting of global system for mobile communication, enhanced data rates for GSM evolution, code division multiple access, universal mobile telecommunication system, and long-term evolution.
17. A method comprising:
coupling with a telecommunication engine operable for providing wireless uplink and downlink communication services in a plurality of frequency carriers in a cellular network configured in a baseline configuration P 0 , the baseline configuration P 0 including a plurality of neighbor associations, each neighbor association identifying, for a respective first frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network, a respective second frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network to which traffic may overflow for load balancing, wherein each frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network is associated with at least one of the neighbor associations;
detecting a network condition scenario S 1 ;
looking up in a policy table a policy P 1 associated with the scenario S 1 ;
providing to the telecommunication engine configuration directives based on the policy P 1 , wherein the neighbor association associated with the first frequency carrier is changed from identifying the second frequency carrier to identifying a third frequency carrier of the plurality of frequency carriers in the cellular network to which traffic may overflow, wherein the third frequency carrier is not adjacent to the first frequency carrier; and
providing operational support system services or radio access network management services.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
assessing network conditions after sending the configuration directives;
determining that the configuration directives based on PI have degraded network performance; and
sending configuration directives to select a new policy P n .
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
assessing network conditions after sending the configuration directives;
determining that the configuration directives based on PI have degraded network performance identifying a network condition scenario S 2 ; and
sending configuration directives based on a baseline policy P 2 .
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising identifying one of a plurality of network condition scenarios S, wherein at least some of the network condition scenarios S have associated therewith at least one policy P.