Sleeping Cell Detection via Traffic Pattern Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sleeping cells in communication networks are difficult to detect as they do not trigger conventional alarms, leading to degraded user experiences due to improper data connections, and existing solutions require configuration of user equipment or manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
An automated method that monitors performance indicator values to detect sleeping cells by identifying no downlink data, no data transmission, sudden traffic drops, and abnormal data traffic distribution, and performs corrective actions such as deactivation, reactivation, and resetting of base stations and components to address the issue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional alarm systems are used to detect cell failures, then the system remains simple and easy to operate, but sleeping cells cannot be detected as they do not trigger alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network element (such as a gateway or controller) that acts as an intermediary to collect and analyze traffic data from multiple cells. This intermediary processes performance indicator values and detects sleeping cells by identifying abnormal patterns, thereby enhancing detection capability without requiring complex modifications to individual cell components or alarm systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring performance indicator values and comparing them against expected patterns. When deviations indicating sleeping cells are detected, the system generates alerts and triggers corrective actions, creating a closed-loop feedback system that improves reliability through automated detection and response
2Reliability
If user equipment is configured to detect sleeping cells, then detection capability improves, but device complexity and user equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the network infrastructure to perform self-diagnosis by automatically monitoring its own performance indicator values. Network elements autonomously detect sleeping cells through traffic pattern analysis without requiring external user equipment intervention, configuration changes, or additional user-side hardware, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving detection reliability
3Productivity
If manual intervention is required to detect and correct sleeping cells, then system complexity remains low, but productivity and response time decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback loops that continuously monitor performance indicator values, automatically detect sleeping cells through pattern recognition, and trigger corrective actions without human intervention. This automation significantly improves productivity and response time by eliminating manual detection and correction steps
Solution Approach 2:
The network system performs self-diagnosis and self-correction by automatically identifying sleeping cells through traffic analysis and executing predefined corrective actions. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated processes
4Measurement precision
If performance indicator monitoring is implemented to detect sleeping cells, then detection accuracy improves, but the complexity of data collection and analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized or distributed intermediary component that collects performance indicator values from multiple cells, standardizes the data format, and applies analysis algorithms to detect sleeping cells. This intermediary handles the complexity of data aggregation and pattern recognition, allowing individual cells to maintain simplicity while achieving high detection accuracy through centralized intelligence
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method of sleeping cell detection in a communication network. Performance indicator values of cells of the communication network are monitored and one or more of the following events are detected in a cell: no downlink data event, wherein it is detected that data is being transmitted in uplink direction and no data is being transmitted in downlink direction; no data transmission event, wherein requests to open data connections are detected and it is detected that no data is being transmitted in uplink or downlink direction; sudden traffic drop event, wherein it is detected that there is a sudden decrease in the amount of data traffic in the cell; and abnormal distribution event, wherein it is detected that data traffic distribution between uplink and downlink directions is abnormal. Responsively the cell is determined to be a sleeping cell.