SON Verification Function for Conflict Resolution in Self-Organizing Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-Organizing Networks (SONs) face challenges in coordinating configuration changes across independent SON functions, leading to potential conflicts and performance degradation due to lack of knowledge about external factors and incomplete conflict detection, resulting in inaccurate verification and potential network instability.
Innovation Solution
A SON Verification Function is introduced to monitor network behavior, verify changes, and coordinate configuration management, performance management, and fault management data to identify and revert undesired changes, ensuring accurate verification and conflict resolution while prioritizing high-priority actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent SON functions are implemented to perform configuration changes, then network optimization capabilities are improved, but conflicts between functions occur leading to network instability
Solution Approach 1:
A SON verification function is introduced as an intermediary component that coordinates between multiple independent SON functions and the network elements. This verification function monitors configuration changes, detects potential conflicts before they affect the network, and prevents contradictory changes from being applied, thereby maintaining network stability while allowing multiple optimization functions to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification function performs preliminary checks on configuration changes before they are applied to the network. By verifying the compatibility and correctness of configuration parameters in advance, the system prevents conflicts from occurring, allowing multiple SON functions to safely perform optimizations without compromising network stability.
2Speed
If SON functions independently monitor and change network parameters, then optimization speed is improved, but conflict detection accuracy deteriorates due to incomplete information
Solution Approach 1:
The verification function consolidates information from multiple independent SON functions and network elements into a centralized monitoring point. By merging the data streams and configuration change requests, the verification function achieves complete visibility into network state and potential conflicts, enabling accurate detection that individual functions cannot achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification function acts as an intermediary that collects comprehensive information from all SON functions and network elements, then performs centralized conflict detection. This intermediary position provides complete information availability, improving detection accuracy while maintaining the parallel operation and speed of multiple independent optimization functions.
3Reliability
If pre-action coordination is used to prevent conflicts, then network stability is improved, but verification accuracy deteriorates due to lack of knowledge about external factors
Solution Approach 1:
The verification function implements continuous feedback monitoring of network performance indicators and configuration states. By observing the actual effects of configuration changes on network performance, the verification function can detect whether changes produced desired outcomes or caused unexpected degradation, thereby improving verification accuracy beyond what pre-action coordination alone can achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs both pre-action verification (checking configuration parameters before application) and post-action verification (monitoring network performance after changes). This two-stage approach combines the benefits of preventive coordination with accurate outcome verification, addressing both network stability and verification accuracy requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is proposed a method of operating a network by a SON Verification Function (20), monitoring of a network behaviour and verifying a change in the network based on the monitored network behaviour. The SON Verification Function performs a post-action verification of CM changes and may request from a SON coordinator to undo CM changes.