Self organization of tilts in relay enhanced networks: a distributed solution

Despite years of physical-layer research, the capacity enhancement potential of relays is limited by the additional spectrum required for Base Station (BS)-Relay Station (RS) links. This paper presents a novel distributed solution by exploiting a system level perspective instead. Building on a realistic system model with impromptu RS deployments, we develop an analytical framework for tilt optimization that can dynamically maximize spectral efficiency of both the BS-RS and BS-user links in an online manner. To obtain a distributed self-organizing solution, the large scale system-wide optimization problem is decomposed into local small scale subproblems by applying the design principles of self-organization in biological systems. The local subproblems are non-convex, but having a very small scale, can be solved via standard nonlinear optimization techniques such as sequential quadratic programming. The performance of the developed solution is evaluated through extensive simulations for an LTE-A type system and compared against a number of benchmarks including a centralized solution obtained via brute force, that also gives an upper bound to assess the optimality gap. Results show that the proposed solution can enhance average spectral efficiency by up to 50% compared to fixed tilting, with negligible signaling overheads. The key advantage of the proposed solution is its potential for autonomous and distributed implementation

Interference model and antenna parameters setting effects on 4G-LTE networks coverage

International audienceThe currently emerging Long Term Evolution 4G-LTE cellular networks are based on new technique of transmission called the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). This paper shows the interest of robust approach due to the uncertainty of traffic distribution. First, we develop and validate the interference model based on SINR metric for the deployment of the LTE network, and then we use greedy algorithms to show how frequency and tilt parameter settings can impact the coverage performance metric. Two frequency schemes have been compared to validate our model: the frequency reuse 1 scheme whereby the whole available bandwidth is used in each cell/sector and the frequency reuse 3 scheme in which the entire bandwidth is divided into 3 non-overlapping groups and assigned to 3 co-site sectors within each cell

Interference model and evaluation in LTE networks

International audienceThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of frequency parameter settings while evaluating interference model in LTE (Long Term Evolution); the work is applied on a network. We develop and validate the interference model based on SINR which is used by 3GPP (3rd Group Partnership Project) to estimate the quality of signal received by UE (User Equipment) and issued from eNB (enhanced Node Base). For this aim, two frequency schemes have been compared: the frequency reuse 1 scheme whereby the whole available bandwidth is used in each cell/sector and the frequency reuse 3 scheme in which the entire bandwidth is divided into 3 non-overlapping groups and assigned to 3 co-site sectors within each cell

Use of Geolocation in ACP Systems

Mobile network operators try to keep up with the growing demands of the users and use different bands and carriers, which itself increases the interference of the system and degrades the network quality. It is almost impossible to detect and resolve these issues one by one due to the scale and complexity of the system. Therefore, more and more operators are introducing the solutions that can automatically change network settings and improve network quality. Automated Cell Planning module uses different algorithms that requires optimization and efficiency improvement.  This can be accomplished by splitting the cluster into small bins and selecting worst areas for brute force attack that can reduce the number of iteration hundreds of times. Reducing the number of possible settings decreases the computation time and makes the whole process more efficient. Study and simulation of our new approach is given below

Enabling self organisation for future cellular networks.

The rapid growth in mobile communications due to the exponential demand for wireless access is causing the distribution and maintenance of cellular networks to become more complex, expensive and time consuming. Lately, extensive research and standardisation work has been focused on the novel paradigm of self-organising network (SON). SON is an automated technology that allows the planning, deployment, operation, optimisation and healing of the network to become faster and easier by reducing the human involvement in network operational tasks, while optimising the network coverage, capacity and quality of service. However, these SON autonomous features cannot be achieved with the current drive test coverage assessment approach due to its lack of automaticity which results in huge delays and cost. Minimization of drive test (MDT) has recently been standardized by 3GPP as a key self- organising network (SON) feature. MDT allows coverage to be estimated at the base station using user equipment (UE) measurement reports with the objective to eliminate the need for drive tests. However, most MDT based coverage estimation methods recently proposed in literature assume that UE position is known at the base station with 100% accuracy, an assumption that does not hold in reality. In this work, we develop a novel and accurate analytical model that allows the quantification of error in MDT based autonomous coverage estimation (ACE) as a function of error in UE as well as base station (user deployed cell) positioning. We first consider a circular cell with an omnidirectional antenna and then we use a three-sectored cell and see how the system is going to be affected by the UE and the base station (user deployed cell) geographical location information errors. Our model also allows characterization of error in ACE as function of standard deviation of shadowing in addition to the path-loss

Resource Allocation for Next Generation Radio Access Networks

Driven by data hungry applications, the architecture of mobile networks is moving towards that of densely deployed cells where each cell may use a different access technology as well as a different frequency band. Next generation networks (NGNs) are essentially identified by their dramatically increased data rates and their sustainable deployment. Motivated by these requirements, in this thesis we focus on (i) capacity maximisation, (ii) energy efficient configuration of different classes of radio access networks (RANs). To fairly allocate the available resources, we consider proportional fair rate allocations. We first consider capacity maximisation in co-channel 4G (LTE) networks, then we proceed to capacity maximisation in mixed LTE (including licensed LTE small cells) and 802.11 (WiFi) networks. And finally we study energy efficient capacity maximisation of dense 3G/4G co-channel small cell networks. In each chapter we provide a network model and a scalable resource allocation approach which may be implemented in a centralised or distributed manner depending on the objective and network constraints