LTE Base Station Automatic Neighbor Relation Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rapidly evolving complexity of LTE systems makes manual configuration of base station neighbor lists unsustainable, necessitating an automated solution to reduce human interaction and enhance network capacity.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for automatically updating neighbor lists in LTE systems by receiving neighbor cell detection data from access terminals and neighbor cell management data from an OAM system, allowing the base station to autonomously manage neighbor relations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration of base station neighbor lists is used, then configuration precision can be maintained, but operational complexity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration precisionVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station autonomously performs neighbor cell detection and neighbor list updates by processing measurement reports from access terminals and applying rules from the OAM system, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining accuracy through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors network conditions through measurement reports from access terminals and dynamically updates neighbor lists based on real-time feedback, enabling adaptive configuration that responds to changing network topology and conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration of base station neighbor lists is used, then configuration accuracy can be ensured, but device complexity and operational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station autonomously performs neighbor cell detection and neighbor list updates by processing measurement reports from access terminals and applying rules from the OAM system, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining accuracy through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The automated configuration process is divided into distinct functional modules: neighbor cell detection, measurement report processing, rule application, and neighbor list updates, making the complex operation manageable and maintainable through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If automated neighbor list updates are implemented, then productivity and network capacity increase, but measurement and detection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoiddetection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The OAM system acts as an intermediary that provides pre-defined rules and parameters for neighbor cell identification, reducing the detection complexity at the base station by offloading the rule management function to a centralized system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement report processing mechanism serves multiple functions: detecting neighbor cells, evaluating handover conditions, updating neighbor lists, and generating configuration commands, thereby reducing overall system complexity through multi-functional processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2480021B1Method, apparatus and computer program product for facilitating execution of automatic neighbor relation functions
Publication Date: 2013.08.07 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2480021B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2480021B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2480021B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for an operation and maintenance, OAM, system in a wireless network to facilitate execution of automatic neighbor relation, ANR, functions in a base station, comprising: receiving ANR data from the base station, the ANR data including at least one of neighbor cell detection data or neighbor list report data, the neighbor cell detection data identifying neighbor cells detected by an access terminal, the neighbor list report data including a summary of updates made to a neighbor list; generating neighbor cell management data, the neighbor cell management data generated as a function of the ANR data and including data that facilitates performing at least one ANR function; and transmitting the neighbor cell management data to the base station.