Antenna Settings for Rapid Wireless Network Reconfiguration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current self-organizing network (SON) algorithms in wireless communications networks are ill-suited to handle rapid changes, such as cell outages, due to their conservative and slow approach, which can lead to prolonged service loss and performance drops.

Innovation Solution

A method and network node configuration that detects events requiring antenna setting adjustments, identifies stored key performance information, assesses candidate settings, and selects the optimal setting to quickly reconfigure the network, enabling rapid mitigation of service losses without the need for extensive measurement periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conservative RAS-SON algorithms are used to test new settings and observe network behavior changes, then network stability is improved, but the response speed to rapid changes like cell outages deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidresponse speed to network changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores multiple candidate antenna settings with their associated KPI impacts before network events occur. When a cell outage or rapid change happens, the network node can immediately retrieve and apply the pre-evaluated candidate settings without needing to perform real-time measurements and assessments, thus achieving both stability and rapid response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts its operation mode based on network conditions. During normal operation, it uses conservative evaluation approaches. When rapid changes are detected (such as cell outages), it switches to a rapid response mode that leverages pre-stored candidate settings, allowing the system to adjust its behavior characteristics according to the operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If extensive measurement periods are used to collect network behavior statistics and KPIs, then confidence in new settings is improved, but the time to implement reconfiguration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfidence in new settingsVSAvoidtime to implement reconfiguration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs comprehensive measurements, statistical collection, and KPI analysis in advance during normal operation periods. Multiple candidate antenna settings are pre-evaluated and stored with their performance characteristics. When reconfiguration is needed, the system can immediately select from these pre-validated candidates without needing to perform extensive real-time measurements, thus achieving both reliability and speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares multiple pre-evaluated candidate settings with known performance characteristics before events occur. These pre-prepared options act as a cushion or buffer that can be immediately deployed when network changes happen, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time evaluation and ensuring reliable reconfiguration decisions can be made quickly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If RAS settings are adjusted frequently to adapt to network changes, then adaptability is improved, but network stability deteriorates due to performance drops from non-optimal settings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to network changesVSAvoidnetwork stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-evaluates multiple candidate antenna settings and stores them with their associated KPI impacts and performance characteristics before they are needed. When network changes occur, the system can quickly retrieve and apply the most appropriate pre-validated candidate setting, enabling frequent adaptation without the risk of applying untested non-optimal settings that could cause performance drops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses stored KPI information and performance data as feedback to select the most appropriate candidate setting for the current network condition. This feedback mechanism ensures that only settings with known positive performance impacts are applied, maintaining stability while enabling adaptability to network changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3326405B1Antenna settings in wireless communications networks
Publication Date: 2022.06.01 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3326405B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3326405B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3
  • EP3326405B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

There is provided mechanisms for determining antenna setting associated with at least one network node in a wireless communications network. A method is performed by a network node. The method comprises detecting an event of a network node in the wireless communications network, the event indicating a need for adjustment of at least one antenna setting of the network node and/or at least one other network node in the wireless communications network. The method comprises determining the adjustment of the at least one antenna setting by identifying stored key performance information based on the event. The method comprises determining the adjustment of the at least one antenna setting by assessing a candidate set of possible antenna settings of the network node and/or the at least one other network node, wherein the candidate set is defined by the key performance information. The method comprises determining the adjustment of the at least one antenna setting by selecting one entry of antenna settings in the candidate set based on the assessing, the one entry defining the adjustment, to be the determined antenna setting.