Serving Cell Planning for CPE Line-of-Sight Orientation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cellular communications networks face challenges in identifying the best serving cell for customer premises equipment (CPE) due to issues like line-of-sight requirements and indoor propagation losses, especially in 5G networks, which affect signal strength and data throughput.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for serving cell planning that utilizes an installation tool to evaluate network parameters, including distance, coverage area, signal strength, and physical obstructions, to identify and rank the best serving cell for CPE based on its location, providing orientation instructions for optimal connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If CPE is installed indoors, then installation flexibility is improved, but signal strength deteriorates due to indoor propagation losses
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of the best serving cell and determination of optimal CPE orientation before actual installation. By calculating distances to multiple serving cells and predicting signal strengths in advance, the system provides installation instructions that ensure optimal signal reception from the start, mitigating indoor propagation losses through proper positioning rather than requiring post-installation adjustments.
2Device complexity
If CPE orientation is not optimized, then installation complexity is reduced, but network performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the optimal orientation angle for CPE antenna elements before installation by determining which serving cell provides the best signal and computing the required antenna alignment. This preliminary calculation provides clear installation instructions, ensuring that installers position the CPE correctly the first time, thereby achieving optimal network performance without requiring complex real-time optimization procedures.
3Device complexity
If manual serving cell selection is used, then system complexity is reduced, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies the best serving cell by calculating distances from the CPE location to multiple serving cells, accessing network data, and predicting signal strengths without requiring manual intervention. The system self-determines the optimal serving cell and computes the required CPE orientation, providing installation instructions that enable rapid deployment while maintaining simplicity through automated decision-making algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for serving cell planning. Wireless high-speed internet (HSI) is becoming more popular as an alternative to traditional options due to convenience of installation, among other reasons. However, wireless HSI has some propagation challenges such as requiring a line-of-sight (LOS) with the serving cell as well as significant indoor penetration loss for radio signals operating at higher frequencies. Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) devices are developing that mitigate indoor propagation losses but, in order to be effective, it must be determined whether each application can maintain LOS with a serving cell. An installation tool that evaluates various network factors to advise on viability and installation of CPE and indicate an orientation to face the best serving cell would be a valuable tool to maximize effectiveness of the CPE.