Analysis of Cell Load Coupling for LTE Network Planning and Optimization

System-centric modeling and analysis are of key significance in planning and optimizing cellular networks. In this paper, we provide a mathematical analysis of performance modeling for LTE networks. The system model characterizes the coupling relation between the cell load factors, taking into account non-uniform traffic demand and interference between the cells with arbitrary network topology. Solving the model enables a network-wide performance evaluation in resource consumption. We develop and prove both sufficient and necessary conditions for the feasibility of the load-coupling system, and provide results related to computational aspects for numerically approaching the solution. The theoretical findings are accompanied with experimental results to instructively illustrate the application in optimizing LTE network configuration.Comment: The paper contains 22 pages with 9 figures. The paper is submitted to IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications. This is the version in Jan 2012 after one revisio

Radio Network Planning and Resource Optimization : Mathematical Models and Algorithms for UMTS, WLANs, and Ad Hoc Networks

The tremendous popularity of wireless technologies during the last decade has created a considerable expansion of wireless networks both in size and use. This fact, together with a great variety of mobile devices and numerous di®erent services that are becoming increasingly resourcedemanding, have attracted the attention of many researchers into the area of radio resource planning and optimization. Due to network complexity, these tasks require intelligent, automated approaches that are able to deal with many factors in order to enable design of high capacity networks with a high service quality at the lowest possible cost. This is a perfect application of optimization theory. In this thesis, mathematical optimization is considered as the main approach to designing and improving the performance of wireless networks such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and ad hoc networks. Due to different underlying access technologies, the optimization goals, design parameters and system limitations vary by network type. Therefore, the goals of the presented work are to identify a relevant optimization problem for each type of network, to model the problem and to apply the optimization approach in order to facilitate wireless network planning and improve radio resource utilization. The optimization problems addressed in this thesis, in the context of UMTS networks, focus on minimizing the total amount of pilot power which, from the modeling point of view, is not just an amount of power consumed by a certain type of control signal, but also an indicator of the interference level in the network and means of controlling cell coverage. The presented models and algorithms enable °exible coverage planning and optimization of pilot power and radio base station antenna confiration in large networks. For WLANs, in the First part of the study, the access point placement and the channel assignment problems are considered jointly to maximize net user throughput and minimize co- and adjacent channel interference and contention. The second part of the study addresses the contention issue and involves, among the other decisions, optimization of access point transmit power. Due to the dynamic and infrastructureless nature of ad hoc networks, static resource planning is less suitable for this type of network. Two algorithmic frameworks which enable dynamic topology control for power-efficient broadcasting in stationary and mobile networks are presented. In both frameworks, the performance of the presented algorithms is studied by simulations

On Constrained Cell Load Coupling With Applications in LTE Networks

For LTE networks, the levels of resource consumption of the cells, a.k.a. cell load factors, are coupled with each other in a non-linear manner. We establish theoretical and algorithmic results for the constrained load-coupling model. Our focus is on solution existence, i.e., whether or not a network configuration is able to support the traffic demand within the resource limit. We provide theoretical characterizations and concepts for determining feasibility. The concepts are illustrated for maximum demand scaling. Empirical insights are gained via a heterogeneous LTE network scenario.Funding Agencies|Swedish Foundation of Strategic Research</p

Optimizing Small-Cell Range in Heterogeneous and Load-Coupled LTE Networks

We address small-cell range optimization in heterogeneous long-term evolution networks with the performance target of maximizing the scaling-up factor of traffic demand that can be served while accounting for load coupling between cells. We prove the problems complexity and develop a solution approach consisting of two complementary modules. We also demonstrate how to gauge the deviation from global optimality. Performance results show the effectiveness of the approach and highlight the benefit of range optimization.Funding Agencies|Swedish Foundation of Strategic Research</p

Integrated Access Point Placement and Channel Assignment for Wireless LANs in an Indoor Office Environment

Abstract — Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is currently among the most important technologies for wireless broadband access. The IEEE 802.11 technology is attractive for its maturity and low equipment costs. The overall performance of a specific WLAN installation is largely determined by the network layout and the radio channels used. Optimizing these design parameters can greatly improve performance. In this paper, access point (AP) placement and channel assignment are optimized using mathematical programming. Traditionally, these decisions are taken sequentially; AP placement is often modeled as a facility location problem, channel assignment as an (extended) graph coloring problem. Treating these key decisions separately may lead to suboptimal designs. We propose an integrated model that addresses both aspects simultaneously aiming at finding a trade-off between the two optimization objectives. Computational results show that indeed the integrated approach is superior to the sequential one. I

Pilot power optimization and coverage control in WCDMA mobile networks

In mobile networks using wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), common pilot channel (CPICH) signals are used by mobile terminals for channel quality estimation, cell selection, and handover. The strength of the CPICH signal determines the coverage area of the cell, impacts the network capacity, and thereby the quality of service, and is therefore a crucial parameter in network planning and optimization. Pilot power is the most important parameter that allows us to control the strength of the CPICH signal. The more power is spent for pilot signals, the better coverage is obtained. On the other hand, a higher value of the pilot power level in a cell means higher pilot pollution in the network and less power available to serve user traffic in the cell. In this paper, we consider the problem of minimizing the total amount of pilot power subject to a coverage constraint. Our modeling and solution approaches are based on mathematical programming techniques. We present a basic model for pilot power optimization subject to a full coverage constraint as well as its extended version which allows us to study various coverage levels and to consider user traffic distribution over the network. We also propose an efficient algorithm that gives near-optimal solutions to the problem within a reasonable amount of time. We report our numerical experiments for three WCDMA networks of various sizes based on realistic planning scenarios and examine the effect of different levels of the required coverage degree on the total amount of pilot power.WCDMA Network planning Optimization Pilot power Coverage Traffic