Self-optimization of cell overlap

• US 8,594,660 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Viering, Ingo, Doettling, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US13/266,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20120108232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 455/500, 455/501, 455/414.2, 455/13.4, 455/63.1, 455/25, 455/67.13, 455/114.2, 455/115.1, 455/125
• US Class Current: 455/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

An apparatus includes a report configuration controller configured to command reporting an event defined by receipt of a plurality of signals of different senders, wherein the signals are received at a same location, the signals are received with a strength above an absolute threshold, and a difference of the strengths is within a relative threshold. Another apparatus includes an aggregator configured to aggregate information reflecting an event defined by receipt of a plurality of signals of different senders, wherein the signals are received at a same location, the signals are received with a strength above an absolute threshold, and a difference of the strengths is within a relative threshold; and an aggregated information provider configured to provide the aggregated information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code, the one or more memories and the computer program code configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

command reporting an event defined by receipt of a plurality of respective signals each being associated with a corresponding sender of a plurality of different senders, wherein the plurality of respective signals are received at a same location, each of the respective signals are received with a corresponding strength above an absolute threshold, and the corresponding strength for each of the respective signals falls within a relative threshold; and

adjust the relative threshold based on information on a handover reporting procedure involving a sender connectivity change based on a handover criterion reflecting a difference in signal strength received from a first sender of the plurality of different senders and a second sender of the plurality of different senders.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to command reporting information on the location of receipt of the signals;

and

determine a radial distance of receipt of a respective signal from a corresponding sender of the signal based on information on the location of receipt of the signal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information on the location of receipt of a signal is one of information from a global positioning system and information on a signal propagation time from the location of receipt of the signal to the corresponding sender.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to command the reporting to take place when a condition selected from the following group is fulfilled:

a time period has expired;

there is a new event;

among a plurality of events, a particular sender is concerned at a number of times above a sender number threshold; and

a number of events per time period exceeds an event number threshold.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to command reporting an identity of each sender sending a signal involved in the event.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to evaluate how many events occur per location area and/or time, and to command one of adjustment of transmission power of a sender and adjustment of antenna tilt of a sender.

14. A system comprising an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to aggregate information reflecting the event defined by receipt of the plurality of signals of different senders;

and

wherein the system further comprises an aggregated information provider configured to provide the aggregated information.

7. An apparatus comprising one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code, the one or more memories and the computer program code configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

aggregate information reflecting an event defined by receipt of a plurality of respective signals each being associated with a corresponding sender of a plurality of different senders, wherein the plurality of respective signals are received at a same location, each of the respective signals are received with a corresponding strength above an absolute threshold, and a the corresponding strength for each of the respective signals falls within a relative threshold;

provide the aggregated information;

generate information on a handover reporting procedure involving a sender connectivity change based on a handover criterion reflecting a difference in signal strength received from a first sender of the plurality of different senders and a second sender of the plurality of different senders by comparing the relative threshold with the handover criterion; and

provide the handover criterion as an excluded upper limit for the relative threshold.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to command reporting information on the location of receipt of the respective signals.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information on the location of receipt of a signal of the respective signals is one of information from a global positioning system and information on a signal propagation time from the location of receipt of the signal to the sender.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to provide the aggregated information when a condition selected from the following group is fulfilled:

a time period has expired;

there is a new event;

among a plurality of events, a particular sender is concerned at a number of times above a sender number threshold; and

a number of events per time period exceeds an event number threshold.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to provide an identity of each sender sending a signal involved in the event.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program code are further configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to command one of adjustment of sender transmission power and adjustment of sender antenna tilt.

13. An evolved Node B, comprising:

an apparatus according to claim 7.

15. A method, comprising:

commanding reporting an event defined by receipt of a plurality of respective signals each being associated with a corresponding sender of a plurality of different senders, wherein the plurality of respective signals are received at a same location, each of the respective signals are received with a corresponding strength above an absolute threshold, and the corresponding strength for each of the respective signals falls within a relative threshold; and

adjusting the relative threshold based on information on a handover reporting procedure involving a sender connectivity change based on a handover criterion reflecting a difference in signal strength received from a first sender of the plurality of different senders and a second sender of the plurality of different senders.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the commanding reporting further includes commanding reporting information on the location of receipt of the respective signals;

and the method further comprising;

determining a radial distance of receipt of a signal of the respective signals from a corresponding sender of the signal based on information on the location of receipt of the signal.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the information on the location of receipt of a signal of the respective signals is one of information from a global positioning system and information on a signal propagation time from the location of receipt of the signal to the corresponding sender.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the commanding reporting further includes commanding that the reporting is to take place when a condition selected from the following group is fulfilled:

a time period has expired;

there is a new event;

among a plurality of events, a particular sender is concerned at a number of times above a sender number threshold; and

a number of events per time period exceeds an event number threshold.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

commanding reporting an identity of each sender sending a signal involved in the event.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

evaluating how many events occur per location area and/or time, and

commanding one of adjustment of transmission power of a sender and adjustment of antenna tilt of a sender.

21. A method, comprising:

aggregating information reflecting an event defined by receipt of a plurality of respective signals each being associated with a corresponding sender of a plurality of different senders, wherein the plurality of respective signals are received at a same location, each of the respective signals are received with a corresponding strength above an absolute threshold, and the corresponding strength for each of the respective signals falls within a relative threshold;

generating information on a handover reporting procedure involving a sender connectivity change based on a handover criterion reflecting a difference in signal strength received from a first sender of the plurality of different senders and a second sender of the plurality of different senders by comparing the relative threshold with the handover criterion;

providing the aggregated information; and

providing the handover criterion as an excluded upper limit for the relative threshold.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the aggregating information further includes aggregating information on the location of receipt of the respective signals.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the information on the location of receipt of a signal of the respective signals is one of information from a global positioning system and information on a signal propagation time from the location of receipt of the signal to the corresponding sender.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the providing further includes providing the aggregated information when a condition selected from the following group is fulfilled:

a time period has expired;

there is a new event;

among a plurality of events, a particular sender is concerned at a number of times above a sender number threshold; and

a number of events per time period exceeds an event number threshold.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

providing an identity of each sender sending a signal involved in the event.

26. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

commanding one of adjustment of sender transmission power and adjustment of sender antenna tilt.

27. A computer program product comprising computer-executable components which perform, when the program is run on a computer:

commanding reporting an event defined by receipt of a plurality of respective signals each being associated with a corresponding sender of a plurality of different senders, wherein the plurality of respective signals are received at a same location, each of the respective signals are received with a corresponding strength above an absolute threshold, and the corresponding strength for each of the respective signals falls within a relative threshold; and

adjusting the relative threshold based on information on a handover reporting procedure involving a sender connectivity change based on a handover criterion reflecting a difference in signal strength received from a first sender of the plurality of different senders and a second sender of the plurality of different senders.

28. The computer program product according to claim 27, embodied as a computer-readable storage medium.

29. A computer program product comprising computer-executable components which perform, when the program is run on a computer:

aggregating information reflecting an event defined by receipt of a plurality of respective signals each being associated with a corresponding sender of a plurality of different senders, wherein the plurality of respective signals are received at a same location, each of the respective signals are received with a corresponding strength above an absolute threshold, and the corresponding strength for each of the respective signals falls within a relative threshold;

generating information on a handover reporting procedure involving a sender connectivity change based on a handover criterion reflecting a difference in signal strength received from a first sender of the plurality of different senders and a second sender of the plurality of different senders by being configured to compare the relative threshold with the handover criterion;

and

providing the handover criterion as an excluded upper limit for the relative threshold.

30. The computer program product according to claim 29, embodied as a computer-readable storage medium.