SON Module Automates Frequency Relation Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication networks face performance issues due to missing or unused frequency relations between cells, leading to connectivity losses, reduced data speeds, and increased congestion, as user equipment struggles to handover frequencies effectively.
Innovation Solution
A self-optimizing network (SON) module automates the process of updating frequency relations by comparing available frequencies with defined relations, adding missing ones and deleting unused ones, thereby ensuring seamless handover capabilities across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If frequency relations are manually configured in the database, then network operators can control handover frequencies, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive for large numbers of cells
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration by automatically detecting available frequencies through network scanning and updating frequency relations without human intervention. The automated frequency relation updater scans the network, identifies usable frequencies, and configures them autonomously, eliminating the need for manual operator input while maintaining accurate frequency information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated electronic scanning and database updating systems. Instead of operators manually entering frequency data, the system uses electronic network scanning to automatically detect frequencies and programmatically updates the database, substituting human labor with automated computational processes.
2Reliability
If frequency relations are not updated automatically, then network operators save computational resources, but frequency relations become outdated leading to handover failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic scanning and updating of frequency relations at scheduled intervals or triggered by specific events. This periodic automation ensures frequency information remains current without requiring continuous manual intervention, maintaining reliability while using efficient resource allocation through time-based or event-based triggering mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where network performance metrics and handover success rates are monitored, and this information feeds back into the frequency relation updating process. When degradation is detected or handover failures occur, the system automatically triggers frequency relation updates to correct the issues, creating a closed-loop control system that self-optimizes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user equipment scans all defined frequency relations, then complete handover options are available, but scanning time increases reducing data transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes obsolete or unavailable frequency relations from the defined frequency list through automated detection and comparison. By taking out frequencies that are no longer valid or usable, the system reduces the total number of frequencies user equipment must scan, decreasing scanning time while preserving all currently valid handover options.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring user equipment to scan all historically defined frequencies, the system implements partial scanning by prioritizing recently updated or high-probability frequencies. The automated frequency relation updater provides a curated subset of relevant frequencies, allowing user equipment to perform partial scans that are sufficient for most handover scenarios without the overhead of exhaustive scanning.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method may include providing, to a cell, a selection of a number of neighboring tiers for selection by the cell. The method also provides a database storing in a first list: frequencies broadcasted from the cell, neighboring co-site cells of the cell, and neighboring cells surrounding the cell for a selected number of tiers. The method provides a database storing defined frequency relations for the cell and frequencies corresponding to the defined frequency relations to provide a second list of frequencies. The second list includes frequencies available for handover to a user equipment in the cell. The method determines if the second list is missing any of the frequencies of the first list. If the determining is positive, the method processes a request to add frequency relations corresponding to the missing frequencies to the defined frequency relations of the cell.