SELF-OPTIMIZING WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20110092195A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Shabsigh, Aiman, HUSSEIN, Osama
• Granted Patent: US 9,826,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/14 Network analysis or design
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/142 using statistical or mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

Optimizing a plurality cell sites or sectors in a wireless network includes calculating modifications to a plurality of network parameters for optimizing wireless network performance; evaluating the modification groups to determine conflicts between modifications for a same network parameter; and eliminating the conflicts between modifications for the same network parameter within the modification groups. The modification groups are used to alter at least one network parameter of the critical cell sites or sectors, or of a best neighbor cells sites or sectors for achieving a desired improvement in communications within the wireless network. Optimization is further enhanced by determining the best previous modifications to the wireless network when performance continues to be degraded. Altering wireless network parameters of the critical cell sites or sectors, or the best neighbor cell sites or sectors is performed continuously using the stored modification groups until the desired improvement in communications in the wireless network is achieved.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a plurality cell sites or sectors in a wireless network, the plurality of cell sites or sectors being determined to be within a critical zone of the wireless network where communication has been degraded and needing optimization, the method comprising:

calculating modifications to a plurality of network parameters for optimizing wireless network performance;

storing the modifications for optimizing a plurality of network parameters in a modification queue, the modifications being stored within modification groups in the modification queue;

evaluating the stored modification groups to determine conflicts between modifications for a same network parameter;

eliminating the conflicts between modifications for the same network parameter within the modification groups by performing one of the following;

1) canceling all modification groups with conflicting modifications for the same network parameter,

     2) creating a new modification group that sums all conflicting modifications for the same network parameter in the modification groups, or

     3) creating a new group that sums only minimum modifications for the same network parameter in the modification groups; and

storing the new modification group in modification queue, the new modification group being used for altering at least one network parameter of the critical cell sites or sectors, or of a best neighbor cells sites or sectors for achieving a desired improvement in communications within the wireless network,

wherein altering wireless network parameters of the critical cell sites or sectors, or the best neighbor cell sites or sectors is performed continuously using the stored modification groups until the desired improvement in communications in the wireless network is achieved.

2. The method for optimizing of claim 1, wherein the creating of a new group that sums only minimum modifications includes:

i) if the groups are sharing values with the same sign, then use a minimum change; and

ii) if the groups have values with different signs, then use the minimum/maximum/average of both positive and negative values of the groups.

3. The method for optimizing of claim 1, wherein a modification group includes changes to up tilt and down tilt of an antenna, wherein power changes to the antenna are based on a final result of the up tilt and the down tilt of the antenna.

4. The method for optimizing of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a best previous modification group in the modification queue when performance of the network continues to have degraded performance for a cell site or sector, which includes;

determining all modification groups in the modification queue having a same network parameter most recently modified, and

determining the modification group with the best previous modification to the same network parameter.

5. The method for optimizing of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying cell site or sector for which the degraded condition was detected; and

disabling critical cell or sector so that it is no longer considered when determining future modification groups in the modification queue; and

re-initialize or re-calculating the critical zone.

6. The method for optimizing of claim 4, further comprising:

selecting the best previous modification group in the modification queue, when no critical hour within the critical zone at which the degraded communications occurs is determined.

7. The method for optimizing of claim 4, further comprising:

selecting the best previous modification group in the modification queue, when if the critical cell site or sector in the critical zone has available resources for achieving the desired improvement in communications.

8. The method for optimizing of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a criteria for establishing the critical zone still exist and, if so, continuing to monitor the wireless network for degraded communication conditions.

9. The method for optimizing of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a total time the method for optimizing has been performed;

comparing the total time to a time threshold value; and

stopping the method of optimization if the time threshold has been exceeded,

wherein, if the time threshold has not been exceeded, the method of optimization will continue.

10. A program recorded on a computer-readable storage medium for optimizing a plurality of cell sites or sectors in a wireless network, the plurality of cell sites or sectors being determined to be within a critical zone of the wireless network where communication has been degraded and needing optimization, the program causing a computer to execute optimizing steps comprising:

calculating modifications to a plurality of network parameters for optimizing wireless network performance;

storing the modifications for optimizing a plurality of network parameters in a modification queue, the modifications being stored within modification groups in a the modification queue;

evaluating the stored modification groups to determine conflicts between modifications for a same network parameter;

eliminating the conflicts between modifications for the same network parameter within the modification groups by performing one of the following;

1) canceling all modification groups with conflicting modifications for the same network parameter,

     2) creating a new modification group that sums all conflicting modifications for the same network parameter in the modification groups, or

     3) creating a new group that sums only minimum modifications for the same network parameter in the modification groups; and

storing the new modification group in modification queue, the new modification group being used for altering at least one network parameter of the critical cell sites or sectors, or of a best neighbor cells sites or sectors for achieving a desired improvement in communications within the wireless network,

wherein altering wireless network parameters of the critical cell sites or sectors, or the best neighbor cell sites or sectors is performed continuously using the stored modification groups until the desired improvement in communications in the wireless network is achieved.

11. The program for optimizing of claim 10, wherein the creating of a new group that sums only minimum modifications includes:

i) if the groups are sharing values with the same sign, then use a minimum change; and

ii) if the groups have values with different signs, then use the minimum/maximum/average of both positive and negative values of the groups.

12. The program for optimizing of claim 10, wherein a modification group includes changes to up tilt and down tilt of an antenna, wherein power changes to the antenna are based on a final result of the up tilt and the down tilt of the antenna.

13. The program for optimizing of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a best previous modification group in the modification queue when performance of the network continues have degraded performance for a cell site or sector, which includes;

determining all modification groups in the modification queue having a same network parameter most recently modified, and

determining the modification group with the best previous modification to the same network parameter.

14. The program for optimizing of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying cell site or sector for which the degraded condition was detected; and

disabling critical cell or sector so that it is no longer considered when determine future modification groups in the modification queue; and

re-initialize or re-calculating the critical zone.

15. The program for optimizing of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting the best previous modification group in the modification queue, when no critical hour within the critical zone at which the degraded communications occurs is determined.

16. The program for optimizing of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting the best previous modification group in the modification queue, when if the critical cell site or sector in the critical zone has available resources for achieving the desired improvement in communications.

17. The method for optimizing of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if a criteria for establishing the critical zone still exist and, if so, the wireless network will continue to be monitored for degraded communication conditions.

18. The method for optimizing of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a total time determining the method for optimizing has been performed;

comparing the total time performed to a time threshold value; and

stopping the method of optimization if the time threshold has been exceeded,

wherein, if the time threshold has not been exceeded, the method of optimization will continue.

19. A system for optimizing a plurality cell sites in a wireless network, the system comprising:

an optimization apparatus that monitors network data associated with a plurality of cell sites or sectors and performs alterations to network parameters wireless network;

at least one controller configured to perform data communications with said optimization apparatus;

a least one base station configured to perform data communication with said at least one controller;

at least one controllable antenna configured to perform data communication with said at least one base station and a plurality of subscribers distributed in a plurality of coverage areas; and

a dynamic load balancing apparatus configured to perform data communication with said optimization apparatus and said at least one controllable antenna,

said optimization apparatus being configured to;

calculate modifications to a plurality of network parameters for optimizing wireless network performance;

store the modifications for optimizing a plurality of network parameters in a modification queue, the modifications being stored within modification groups in a the modification queue;

evaluate the stored modification groups to determine conflicts between modifications for a same network parameter;

eliminate the conflicts between modifications for the same network parameter within the modification groups by performing one of the following;

1) canceling all modification groups with conflicting modifications for the same network parameter,

     2) creating a new modification group that sums all conflicting modifications for the same network parameter in the modification groups, or

     3) creating a new group that sums only minimum modifications for the same network parameter in the modification groups; and

store the new modification group in modification queue, the new modification group being used for altering at least one network parameter of the critical cell sites or sectors, or of a best neighbor cells sites or sectors for achieving a desired improvement in communications within the wireless network,

wherein altering wireless network parameters of the critical cell sites or sectors, or the best neighbor cell sites or sectors is performed continuously using the stored modification groups until the desired improvement in communications in the wireless network is achieved.

20. An apparatus for optimizing a plurality cell sites in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface;

at least one processor; and

a memory, the memory storing an optimizing program for causing the apparatus to perform optimizing steps comprising;

calculating modifications to a plurality of network parameters for optimizing wireless network performance;

storing the modifications for optimizing a plurality of network parameters in a modification queue, the modifications being stored within modification groups in a the modification queue;

evaluating the stored modification groups to determine conflicts between modifications for a same network parameter;

eliminating the conflicts between modifications for the same network parameter within the modification groups by performing one of the following;

1) canceling all modification groups with conflicting modifications for the same network parameter,

     2) creating a new modification group that sums all conflicting modifications for the same network parameter in the modification groups, or

     3) creating a new group that sums only minimum modifications for the same network parameter in the modification groups; and

storing the new modification group in modification queue, the new modification group being used for altering at least one network parameter of the critical cell sites or sectors, or of a best neighbor cells sites or sectors for achieving a desired improvement in communications within the wireless network,

wherein altering wireless network parameters of the critical cell sites or sectors, or the best neighbor cell sites or sectors is performed continuously using the stored modification groups until the desired improvement in communications in the wireless network is achieved.