Small Cell Planning for Radio Access Network Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio access networks face challenges in achieving performance goals such as network capacity, coverage, signal quality, and energy efficiency due to issues like high handover rates and coverage gaps, which existing technologies struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that receive goal and performance information to determine unmet performance goals, particularly excessive handovers, and generate a small cell plan to improve network performance by activating, deactivating, or deploying small cells based on priority information, location, temporal, and budget considerations, using simulations to identify optimal deployment locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If small cells are deployed to improve network capacity and coverage, then network performance is improved, but device complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of performance data and handover patterns to identify optimal small cell deployment locations before actual deployment. This advance planning reduces deployment complexity by pre-determining the best locations and configurations based on simulated performance improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The small cell deployment plan is dynamically adjusted based on changing network conditions, performance goals, and handover patterns. The system continuously monitors performance data and updates deployment recommendations to maintain optimal network capacity while adapting to evolving requirements.
2Reliability
If small cells are activated to reduce handover rates, then service quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of activating all potential small cells, the system selectively activates only those small cells in high-priority areas where they most effectively reduce handover rates and improve service quality. This partial activation approach maintains service quality while minimizing energy consumption by keeping only necessary small cells operational.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of small cells based on priority information and performance data, adjusting activation states, power levels, and operational modes to optimize the balance between service quality improvement and energy consumption reduction.
3Productivity
If multiple performance goals are pursued simultaneously, then overall network performance is improved, but planning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments multiple performance goals into priority levels and handles them in a structured sequence. By dividing the complex multi-goal optimization problem into manageable segments based on priority, the system reduces planning complexity while still achieving overall network performance improvement across all goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The small cell deployment planning system is designed to handle multiple performance goals simultaneously through a unified planning framework. This multi-functional approach allows the system to optimize for network capacity, coverage, handover reduction, and other goals within a single integrated process, reducing overall planning complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device may include one or more processors configured to receive information associated with one or more performance goals to be achieved within a radio access network (RAN). The device may receive performance information for mobile devices associated with the RAN. The device may determine that at least one performance goal, of the one or more performance goals, is not being achieved within the RAN. The determining may be based on the information associated with the one or more performance goals and the performance information. The device may generate a small cell plan for improving performance within the RAN toward achievement of the at least one performance goal. The small cell plan may identify a set of locations at which a set of small cells are to be activated, deactivated, or deployed. The device may output information associated with the small cell plan.