Device and method for QOS based cell capacity dimensioning

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for monitoring QoS criteria of Traffic classes of at least one cell in a telecommunication syste, comprising means for setting thresholds, means for monitoring the traffic with regard to the trhresholds for the at least two different traffic classes, and means for adapting the traffic handling capacity of the monitored cell depending on the monitoring result. The monitored traffic classes preferably include circuit-switched traffic and packet-switched traffic, and / or realtime and non-realtime packet-switched traffic. Thresholds are preferably set and monitored for rate of call attempt blocking, and / or data throughput, and / or service blocking.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001] The invention relates to QoS (Quality of Service) based Cell Capacity Dimensioning, particularly for several Traffic Classes.[0002] Operator networks are constantly growing in size. It is not uncommon for networks to encompass 10,000 cells (BTS). Due to the size of the network it is difficult to determine how many TRX (Transceivers) should be deployed in each cell. However, the accurate dimensioning is very important, as both over-dimensioning and under-dimensioning will have serious disadvantages. Over-dimensioning means that frequencies have to be planned for the TRX, thus putting additional constraints on the frequency planning process, which results in sub-optimal network quality. Further, costs are spent unnecessarily on purchasing and installing TRX. Under-dimensioning means that QoS targets will not be met, hence subscribers will obtain sub-standard service.[0003] In the past only one traffic class (voice traffic) was supported in G...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The resources reserved for packet-switched traffic may be the capacity or time slots or area of packet-switched traffic covered by a radio access network or packet-switched traffic support node. The threshold monitoring and cell capacity adaptation are preferably performed by a network management system (NMS).

[0010] The invention basically provides a method and system for automated cell capacity dimensioning for cells serving several traffic classes.

[0011] In accordance with one of preferred implementation of the invention, QoS criteria are set for each traffic class and automatically monitored. The setting and monitoring of the QoS criteria may be effected by setting and monitoring thresholds e.g. for rate of call attempt blocking, and / or data throughput, and / or service blocking.

[0012] The invention maintains good service quality not only for background and non-realtime services such as FTP, downloading e-mails or web-browsing, but also for any realtime application such as video telephony. The required level of capacity can be guaranteed. The actual data throughput can be set so as to not significantly vary from cell to cell as the amount of spare capacity for packet-switched traffic can be equalized for the cells. Moreover, even with packet traffic not being uniformly distributed throughout the network and certain cells having a higher capacity demand than others, the QoS levels experienced by subscribers of packet-switched services do not significantly differ depending on the cell they are attached to. This situation is desirable both for the subscribers as they always get the desired level of service and for the operator as it is possible to offer services with guaranteed QoS.

[0013] With the QoS monitoring of different classes, new services, e.g. (near) realtime services such as Video / Audio streaming and video telephony can be implemented which provide packet-switched QoS management. For example requests for realtime services such as streaming video / audio, video telephony and voice over IP can be treated almost like circuit-switched services. Whilst at the same time FTP and web-browsing can be satisfied with quite different, less demanding QoS requirements.

Problems solved by technology

Due to the size of the network it is difficult to determine how many TRX (Transceivers) should be deployed in each cell.

However, the accurate dimensioning is very important, as both over-dimensioning and under-dimensioning will have serious disadvantages.

Over-dimensioning means that frequencies have to be planned for the TRX, thus putting additional constraints on the frequency planning process, which results in sub-optimal network quality.

Further, costs are spent unnecessarily on purchasing and installing TRX.

For any realtime application such as video telephony this QoS approach is not suitable, as the required level of capacity can not be guaranteed.

Moreover, with packet traffic not being uniformly distributed throughout the network certain cells will have a higher capacity demand than others.

This situation is highly undesirable both for the subscriber as he does not always gets the desired level of service and for the operator as it is not possible to offer services that require QoS guarantees.

Moreover, even with packet traffic not being uniformly distributed throughout the network and certain cells having a higher capacity demand than others, the QoS levels experienced by subscribers of packet-switched services do not significantly differ depending on the cell they are attached to.

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