Cell Site Deactivation via Adjacent Cell Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for deactivating cell sites in cellular communication systems, such as those utilizing Self-Organizing Network (SON) functionalities, can lead to undetectable radio coverage holes or unsatisfactory interference levels due to progressive power reduction.
Innovation Solution
A method for safely deactivating a cell site by determining candidate cells with low load factors, selecting adjacent replacement cells, estimating radio transmission parameters, and configuring replacement cells to maintain service quality, thereby ensuring complete compensation of the deactivated cell site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If progressive power reduction is used to deactivate a cell site, then energy consumption is reduced, but radio coverage holes are generated and service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by selecting replacement cells and configuring them in advance before the actual cell deactivation. The system pre-determines which adjacent cells will take over the deactivated cell's coverage and configures their transmission parameters beforehand, ensuring continuous service quality without coverage holes when deactivation occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses replacement cells as intermediaries to maintain service continuity during cell deactivation. These adjacent cells act as mediators that temporarily assume the role of the deactivated cell, ensuring that users experience uninterrupted service while the original cell is being deactivated and reconfigured.
2Productivity
If cell deactivation is implemented to reduce interference, then network efficiency is improved, but coverage continuity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the coverage areas of adjacent replacement cells to compensate for the deactivated cell's coverage. The system merges the transmission areas of multiple adjacent cells so that their combined coverage equals or exceeds the original cell's coverage area, maintaining continuity despite deactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and configuration of replacement cells before deactivation. By pre-selecting adjacent cells and configuring their parameters in advance, the system ensures that coverage continuity is maintained from the moment of deactivation without creating coverage holes or gaps.
3Reliability
If replacement cells are configured to maintain equivalent transmission parameters, then service quality is preserved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the network to automatically select and configure replacement cells without manual intervention. The system autonomously identifies suitable adjacent cells, evaluates their transmission parameters, and configures them to maintain equivalent service quality, reducing the need for complex manual management while preserving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by adjusting transmission parameters of replacement cells to match the deactivated cell's characteristics. The system modifies parameters such as transmission power, antenna configuration, and radiation patterns of adjacent cells to achieve equivalent coverage and service quality, managing complexity through automated parameter optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
A cellular system includes cell sites, each having multiple cells. Each cell identifies a radio coverage area and includes communication equipment. A method for managing the cellular system includes determining, among the cell sites, a candidate cell site to be at least partially deactivated. The candidate cell includes at least one associated cell with a load factor below a threshold. Replacement cells are selected from other cell sites, where the replacement cells are adjacent to the candidate cell. A target geographical area enclosing the area of the candidate cell and that of the replacement cells is identified, and a transmission parameter for the target geographical area is determined. Communication equipment associated with the replacement cells is selected and configured based on the transmission parameter. Then the candidate cell monitors the transmission parameter in the target geographic area, and at least partially deactivates based on the monitoring.