Cell Range Expansion Elasticity Control in Heterogeneous Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heterogeneous wireless communication networks face challenges in balancing traffic loads across macro and pico cells, leading to inefficiencies in resource utilization and user equipment (UE) handover processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a load balancing entity that measures loads within macro clusters, identifies unbalanced conditions, and adjusts Cell Individual Offsets (CIO) to shift UE connections between macro and pico cells, enabling iterative adjustments until handover conditions are met or threshold limits are reached, thereby achieving load balancing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed Cell Individual Offset (CIO) is applied for fixed time/frequency resource partitioning, then neighbor relation attractiveness is improved, but traffic load balancing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of Cell Individual Offset (CIO) values based on real-time traffic load conditions. The system continuously monitors traffic loads in macro and pico cells and iteratively adjusts CIO values to balance traffic distribution, transforming the static fixed CIO approach into a dynamic adaptive mechanism that responds to changing network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the CIO parameter values dynamically based on measured traffic loads. When pico cell load exceeds a threshold, the system increases the CIO value applied to pico cell measurements, making pico cells less attractive for handover and thereby balancing traffic loads across the heterogeneous network.
2Productivity
If iterative CIO adjustment is performed to balance traffic loads, then resource utilization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where traffic load measurements from macro and pico cells are continuously monitored and fed back to the CIO adjustment algorithm. This closed-loop system iteratively adjusts CIO values based on measured load conditions, enabling automatic traffic balancing without manual intervention while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized feedback processing.
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, a method for carrying out load balancing between cells in a heterogeneous network includes measuring loads within macro clusters in the network. The method additionally includes identifying one or more macro clusters experiencing unbalanced load conditions, and sending balancing indicators to one or more cells in the identified macro cluster(s). In other aspects, a method for carrying out load balancing in a heterogeneous network includes reporting cell loads within a macro cluster, and monitoring for balancing indicators. The method further includes responding to a balancing indicator by iteratively adjusting a value of an individual cell offset for a cell until one or more conditions is satisfied. Example conditions include accomplishment of handover, to or from the cell, of one or more low mobility User Equipment (UE), and making a determination that the value of the individual cell offset has reached a threshold prohibiting further adjustment.