Distributed Antenna System Self-Configuration via Cell Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed antenna systems (DAS) face challenges in determining neighboring cell relationships and avoiding cell ID conflicts due to overlapping radio footprints with external cells, leading to degraded network performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that use measurement subsystems and operation and management systems to map external and internal cells, determine neighboring cell relationships, and configure DAS to avoid cell ID conflicts by measuring downlink signals and adjusting carrier frequencies, ensuring internal cell IDs do not conflict with external cell IDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If DAS remote units transmit the same downlink cell signal in simulcast mode to extend wireless coverage, then coverage area is improved, but cell ID conflicts occur with external cells leading to degraded network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of external downlink signals at each remote unit before finalizing the DAS configuration. The head-end unit collects these measurements and determines the mapping of external cells, internal cells, and neighboring cells in advance, allowing the system to proactively avoid cell ID conflicts before they degrade network performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where remote units measure external downlink signals and report back to the head-end unit. The head-end unit processes this feedback information to determine cell mappings and identifies neighboring cells, then uses this information to configure the DAS in a way that avoids conflicts with external cells, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes performance
2Reliability
If manual configuration of DAS is performed to avoid cell ID conflicts, then network performance is improved, but system complexity and configuration time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The DAS system performs self-configuration by automatically measuring external downlink signals, determining the mapping of external and internal cells, identifying neighboring cells, and selecting appropriate cell IDs without manual intervention. The head-end unit autonomously processes measurement data and configures the DAS to avoid conflicts, eliminating the need for complex manual configuration while maintaining network performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines cell mapping parameters based on measured signal characteristics. By changing the approach from static manual configuration to dynamic parameter determination based on actual radio environment measurements, the system automatically adapts to the deployment scenario and avoids cell ID conflicts without requiring complex manual setup
3Reliability
If comprehensive measurement of external and internal cells is performed to determine neighboring relationships, then cell ID conflict avoidance is improved, but measurement and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs comprehensive measurement of external and internal downlink signals as a preliminary step during the initial configuration phase. By completing these measurements and determining cell mappings beforehand, the system establishes a foundation for automatic cell ID selection that prevents conflicts without requiring time-consuming manual analysis later
Solution Approach 2:
The head-end unit collects measurement feedback from remote units and processes it to determine the mapping of external cells, internal cells, and neighboring cells. This feedback-driven approach efficiently identifies cell relationships and enables automatic configuration that avoids conflicts, reducing the time required compared to manual methods
Data Source
AI summary
Certain features relate to systems and methods for planning and optimizing a distributed antenna system (“DAS”) based on measurements taken from the radio environment surrounding the DAS. An operation and management system can determine a mapping of external cells based on measurements of downlink signals taken by a measurement subsystem. The operation and management system can determine a mapping of internal cells as well as a neighboring cell relation table. The DAS element management system or network operator can configure the DAS based on the mapping of external cells, mapping of internal cells, and the cell relation table. Additionally, based on neighboring cell signal power measurements taken by user devices, the a common interface between the DAS and the radio access network can determine a radio environment map estimating positions of the user devices connected to the DAS.