Method and apparatus for coordination of self-optimization functions in a wireless network

• US 9,526,091 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2012
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Chou, Joey
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIH, ALBERT K
• Application Number:
  US13/570,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20130242720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 370/221, 370/254
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0073 Acquisition of primary synchronisation channel, e.g. detection of cell-ID within cell-ID group
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0033 arrangements specific to the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0077 Cooperative coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1607 Details of the supervisory signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1635 Cumulative acknowledgement, i.e. the acknowledgement message applying to all previous messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1819 with retransmission of additional or different redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1825 Adaptation of specific ARQ protocol parameters according to transmission conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1864 ARQ related signaling H04L1/1607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1877 for semi-reliable protocols, e.g. for less sensitive applications like streaming video buffer level management for video bitstream control arrangements H04N21/44004
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/189 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1896 ARQ related signaling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/283 in response to processing delays, e.g. caused by jitter or round trip time [RTT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6275 based on priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 : the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 : Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 : Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0073 : Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences for intercell interference mitigation or co-ordination in orthogonal multiplex systems H04J11/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 : Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1438 : Negotiation of transmission parameters prior to communication modified according to link quality H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1446 : of transmission speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 : using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 : Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 : adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 : adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 : Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 : involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 : Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 : Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/04 : Traffic adaptive resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0236 : radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0278 : using buffer status reports dynamic wireless traffic scheduling definition H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 : Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 : in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 : in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 : where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 : where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 : Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 : taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 : of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1273 : of downlink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 : in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 : between access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 : based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 : using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 : of the traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 : collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 : Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A network management device and method for coordination of self-optimization functions in a wireless network. A network management device for coordination of self-optimization functions includes one or more processors and an interface. The interface communicates with a plurality of enhanced node Bs (eNodeBs). The interface is arranged to receive a request to change a coverage or a capacity of an enhanced node B (eNodeB). The interface is further arranged to transmit a query to the eNodeB to obtain a self-optimizing network (SON) coordination state of the eNodeB. The one or more processors are arranged to determine whether to grant or deny the request based on a coordination policy and the SON coordination state.

Claims

1. A network management device, comprising:

an interface to communicate with a plurality of enhanced node Bs (eNodeBs), the interface being arranged to receive a request to

change a coverage or a capacity of an enhanced node B (eNodeB) of the plurality of eNodeBs;

one or more processors arranged to

determine whether to grant or deny the request based on a coordination policy and a self-optimizing network (SON) coordination state of the eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs, the SON coordination state being a state of SON functions, wherein the SON coordination state is one of;

an energy saving management (ESM) compensating state, wherein the ESM compensating state indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is already providing coverage for other eNodeBs of the plurality of eNodeBs that are switched off for energy-saving purposes by an ESM SON function,

a cell outage compensation (COC) compensating state which indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is already providing coverage of a neighboring eNodeB that is in outage,

a Coverage and Capacity Optimization (CCO) updating state that indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is updating the configuration parameters in a respective cell, and

a SON None state that indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is not impacted by SON functions.

2. The network management device of claim 1, wherein, based on the coordination policy and the SON coordination state, the network management device is to coordinate coverage and capacity changes of the plurality of eNodeBs at the network level in accordance with coverage and capacity requirements of the coordination policy.

3. The network management device of claim 1, wherein the coordination policy is based on at least one of:

inputs from at least one SON function, the at least one SON function being at least one of the ESM, COC and CCO SON functions;

a priority of level of the at least one SON function;

a network operator policy; and

a SON coordination state of the eNodeB.

4. The network management device of claim 3, wherein the coordination policy further includes, if the eNodeB is in the ESM compensating state:

if the request is a COC request requesting that the eNodeB compensate a neighboring eNodeB in outage,

rejecting the COC request if a network operator policy grants priority to ESM compensation, and granting the COC request if the network operator policy grants priority to COC;

if the request is a CCO request, determining whether to grant the request based on the network operator policy; and

if the request is not a COC or CCO request, granting the request.

5. The network management device of claim 3, wherein the coordination policy further includes, if the eNodeB is in the ESM energy saving state:

if the request is a COC request requesting that the eNodeB compensate a neighboring eNodeB in outage,

requesting that the ESM function allow the eNodeB to exit an energy saving function, and

if the ESM function rejects the request, rejecting the COC request, and

if the ESM function accepts the request, accepting the COC request;

if the request is a CCO request, determining whether to grant the request based on the network operator policy; and

if the request is not a COC or CCO request, granting the request.

6. The network management device of claim 3, wherein the coordination policy further includes, if the eNodeB is in the COC compensating state and the request is CCO, determining whether to grant the request based on the network operator policy.

7. The network management device of claim 3, wherein the coordination policy further includes:

if the eNodeB is in one of the CCO updating state and the COC outage state, rejecting the request,

if the eNodeB is in the SON None state, granting the request.

8. The network management device of claim 1, wherein,

the interface is further arranged to receive an indication that an eNodeB in the ESM compensating state is in an outage condition;

and

the one or more processors are further arranged to

change the SON coordination state of the eNodeB to the COC outage state based on the received indication, and

notify the ESM SON function that the ESM SON function is to select a second eNodeB to compensate for eNodeBs compensated by the eNodeB in the COC outage state.

9. The network management device of claim 8, wherein,

the interface is further arranged to

receive an indication that the ESM SON function is unable to select at least a second eNodeB to perform the ESM function of the eNodeB, and

the one or more processors are further arranged to

notify the ESM SON function that energy saving should be deactivated on eNodeBs compensated by the eNodeB based on the received indication.

10. The network management device of claim 1, wherein,

the interface is further arranged to

receive an indication that an eNodeB in the COC compensating state is in an outage condition, and

the one or more processors are further arranged to

change the SON coordination state of the eNodeB to the COC outage state based on the received indication, and

notify the COC SON function that the COC SON function is to select a second eNodeB to compensate (1) the eNodeB in the COC outage state and (2) the eNodeBs compensated by the eNodeB in the COC outage state.

11. The network management device of claim 1, wherein the request is received from an element manager residing in a domain manager in communication with the eNodeB.

12. The network management device of claim 1, wherein the request is received from an element manager residing in the eNodeB.

13. The network management device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive a notification that the coverage or capacity change has been completed; and

update the SON coordination state of the eNodeB.

14. The network management device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further arranged to:

configure at least one parameter of the eNodeB; and

prevent configuration of the at least one parameter for a duration after the processor has configured the at least one parameter.

15. The network management device of claim 14, wherein the at least one parameter is one of a downlink transmission power and an antenna parameter.

16. The network management device of claim 1, wherein the interface is further arranged to communicate a query to the eNodeB to obtain a SON coordination state of the eNodeB.

17. An enhanced node B (eNodeB) comprising:

an interface to communicate with a network management device, the interface arranged to,

transmit a request to change a coverage or a capacity state, and

receive a permission notification indicating whether the request to change the coverage or the capacity state has been granted or denied, and

one or more processors arranged to,

store a self-optimizing network (SON) coordination state in an associated memory, the SON coordination state being a state of SON functions, wherein the SON coordination state is one of;

an energy saving management (ESM) compensating state, wherein the ESM compensating state indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is already providing coverage for other eNodeBs of the plurality of eNodeBs that are switched off for energy-saving purposes by an ESM SON function,

a cell outage compensation (COC) compensating state which indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is already providing coverage of a neighboring eNodeB that is in outage,

a Coverage and Capacity Optimization (CCO) updating state that indicates that a

respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is updating the configuration parameters in a respective cell, and

a SON None state that indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is not impacted by SON functions, and

change the coverage or capacity state based on the permission notification.

18. The eNodeB of claim 17, wherein,

the ESM compensating state indicates that the eNodeB is providing coverage for at least one neighboring eNodeB, the at least one neighboring eNodeB being switched off to conserve energy,

the ESM energy saving state indicates that the eNodeB is switched off to conserve energy,

the COC compensating state indicates that the eNodeB is providing coverage for at least one neighboring eNodeB that is in outage,

the CCO updating state indicates that the configuration parameters of the eNodeB are being updated, and

the SON None state indicates that the eNodeB is not being impacted by SON functions.

19. The eNodeB of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to,

transmit an indication that the coverage or capacity is changed;

and

store an updated SON coordination state.

20. A method of coordinating coverage and capacity changes in a self-optimizing network (SON), the method comprising:

receiving a request to change a coverage or a capacity of an enhanced node B (eNodeB) of a plurality of eNodeBs; and

determining whether to grant or deny the request based on a coordination policy and a SON coordination state of the eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs, the SON coordination state being a state of SON functions, wherein the SON coordination state is one of;

an energy saving management (ESM) compensating state, wherein the ESM compensating state indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is already providing coverage for other eNodeBs of the plurality of eNodeBs that are switched off for energy-saving purposes by an ESM SON function,

a cell outage compensation (COC) compensating state which indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is already providing coverage of a neighboring eNodeB that is in outage,

a Coverage and Capacity Optimization (CCO) updating state that indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is updating the configuration parameters in a respective cell, and

a SON None state that indicates that a respective eNodeB of the plurality of eNodeBs is not impacted by SON functions.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

querying the eNodeB to obtain a SON coordination state of the eNodeB.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein, based on the coordination policy and the SON coordination state, the method coordinates coverage and capacity changes of the plurality of eNodeBs at the network level in accordance with coverage and capacity requirements of the coordination policy.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein denying the request prevents instability in the eNodeB by preventing multiple SON functions from simultaneously changing a same parameter of the eNodeB configuration.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

changing, if the determining determines to grant the request, at least one parameter of the eNodeB, the at least one parameter being one of a downlink transmission power and an antenna parameter.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the coordination policy grants or rejects the request based on at least one of:

inputs from at least one SON function, the at least one SON function being at least one of ESM, COC and CCO;

a priority of level of the at least SON function;

a network operator policy; and

a SON coordination state of the eNodeB.