Physical Cell Identifier Assignment for Mobile Network Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication networks, particularly in complex scenarios involving multiple frequency bands, physical cell identifier conflicts (PCI confusions or collisions) occur due to limited unique identifier values, leading to reduced network performance, quality of service, and increased handover failures, especially during inter-frequency handovers.
Innovation Solution
A method that assigns physical cell identifier information to radio cells based on overlap score values calculated from handover likelihood information, considering factors like real-time traffic density, mobility, and digital land usage, to avoid conflicts and ensure unique identifier pairs for each cell, thereby enhancing network performance and reducing battery drain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical cell identifier information is assigned to radio cells in complex network situations involving multiple frequency bands, then network coverage and capacity are improved, but PCI conflicts and confusion occur due to limited unique identifier values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from using a single identifier dimension (PCI only) to a two-dimensional identification system combining PCI with center frequency. This dimensional expansion allows unique identification across multiple frequency bands, resolving conflicts that arise when limited PCI values are reused across different bands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces center frequency as an intermediary parameter that mediates between the limited PCI space and the need for unique identification across multiple bands. By pairing PCI with center frequency, the system creates a composite identifier that maintains uniqueness while preserving the benefits of PCI compression.
2Reliability
If PCI planning is performed to avoid conflicts, then PCI uniqueness is improved, but network deployment time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs PCI assignment with conflict avoidance built into the initial deployment phase by considering center frequency alongside PCI. This preliminary action ensures uniqueness is established before network operation begins, avoiding the need for complex post-deployment planning and reconfiguration.
3Reliability
If user equipment continuously monitors for handover opportunities, then handover quality is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where user equipment receives explicit handover indication information from the network, including target cell PCI and center frequency. This feedback allows the device to stop continuous monitoring and execute handover directly, significantly reducing battery consumption while maintaining handover quality.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for improving overall network performance and/or overall quality of service of a mobile communication network by assigning a physical cell identifier information to a plurality of radio cells, wherein the mobile communication network comprises a core network and an access network, the access network comprising the plurality radio cells, wherein the plurality of radio cells are at least partly overlapping, forming a common radio coverage area, each radio cell of the plurality of radio cells being associated to a base station entity of a plurality of base station entities, each radio cell of the plurality of radio cells using a center frequency, and a unique cell global identifier information being assigned to each radio cell of the plurality of radio cells, wherein the method comprises the following steps: in a first step and for each of a plurality of coverage area elements of the common radio coverage area, a set of handover likelihood information is generated - regarding possible inter-frequency handover events between at least part of the plurality of radio cells and based on the estimated radio signal quality at or within the considered coverage area element -, an element of the set of handover likelihood information being indicative of the possibility and/or the likelihood of a handover of the user equipment from at least one possible source radio cell of the plurality of radio cells to at least one possible target radio cell of the plurality of radio cells, the at least one source radio cell and the at least one target radio cell having, respectively, center frequencies in different frequency bands, in a second step, based on the elements of the sets of handover likelihood information - among the sets of handover likelihood information associated to the plurality of coverage area elements of the common radio coverage area - related to the at least one source radio cell and the at least one target radio cell, an overlap score value is calculated being indicative of the overlap between the at least one source radio cell and the at least one target radio cell, - in a third step, the physical cell identifier information is assigned to the at least one source radio cell and/or the at least one target radio cell dependent on the overlap score value.