Cell Site Coverage Reconfiguration for Event Traffic Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in managing sudden and substantial increases in demand for services during critical events, leading to insufficient capacity and dropped calls, especially for important communications from authorized and non-authorized personnel, as well as eyewitnesses and victims, due to inadequate network capacity reservation strategies.
Innovation Solution
A network entity that receives position information about an event and determines, based on policy and position data, whether to reconfigure cell site coverage regions to accommodate increased traffic, by adjusting antenna response characteristics to enhance coverage and capacity in the vicinity of the event site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless network capacity is reserved exclusively for authorized emergency personnel during an emergency, then capacity for authorized personnel is improved, but capacity for other important callers (non-authorized personnel, eyewitnesses, victims) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different capacity allocation rules for different locations. Cell sites are identified as being 'in proximity to' the event site versus those that are not. Those in proximity receive priority capacity allocation, while others maintain normal service. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing localized emergency support without globally restricting service to only authorized personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts capacity allocation based on real-time conditions. The network entity continuously monitors event status and automatically reconfigures cell site capacity assignments. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt capacity distribution to actual emergency needs while maintaining flexibility for other callers, rather than implementing a static exclusive reservation system.
2Reliability
If wireless network capacity is reserved exclusively for authorized emergency personnel during an emergency, then capacity for authorized personnel is improved, but overall network load on emergency systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple cell sites with differentiated capacity allocation. Instead of creating a single overloaded emergency network, the system divides capacity allocation across numerous cell sites, with each site providing localized emergency support. This segmentation distributes the emergency communication load across the broader network infrastructure, preventing concentration of traffic on a single emergency system.
3Productivity
If coverage regions of cell sites are reconfigured to increase capacity near an event site, then traffic capacity in the vicinity of the event site is improved, but coverage area for existing users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coverage regions are dynamically reconfigured in response to detected events. The network entity monitors for events and automatically adjusts cell site coverage parameters to prioritize capacity near the event site. This dynamic adjustment allows temporary reallocation of coverage resources during emergencies while maintaining normal coverage conditions when events are not present, resolving the contradiction between emergency capacity and normal coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of cell sites based on event detection. Specifically, it modifies coverage region parameters for cell sites identified as being in proximity to events, adjusting their operational characteristics to increase local capacity. This parameter change approach allows flexible adaptation of coverage properties without permanently reducing overall network coverage capabilities.
4Loss of time
If the wireless network responds to critical events by reserving capacity, then response time for emergency communications is improved, but system complexity for managing capacity allocation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity automatically detects events and triggers capacity allocation adjustments without requiring manual intervention. The system monitors event indicators, identifies affected cell sites, and reconfigures capacity assignments autonomously. This self-service capability reduces response time while managing complexity through automation rather than manual processes, as the system handles the complex allocation decisions algorithmically.
Data Source
AI summary
Network entity, method and computer-readable storage medium for use in a network that includes an arrangement of cell sites, each cell site being configured to provide wireless services to users within a respective coverage region. The network entity comprises an input configured to receive position information regarding occurrence of an event at an event site, and a processing entity configured to determine on a basis of the position information regarding occurrence of the event and policy information regarding the network, whether the event warrants coverage region reconfiguration and, if so, to generate a message commanding an adjustment to the coverage region of at least one cell site. An output is configured to release the message towards the at least one cell site, whereby application of the adjustment to the coverage region of the at least one cell site enables an increase in traffic to be accommodated in a vicinity of the event site.