Coverage adjustment in E-UTRA networks

• US 10,299,146 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Chou, Joey, Mena, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Jr., Otis L
• Application Number:
  US15/702,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20180007572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0013 Rate matching, e.g. puncturing or repetition of code symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0659 by isolating or reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0836 to enhance reliability, e.g. reduce downtime
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/144 over a different radio air interface technology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 : based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 : Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/00 : Power management, e.g. TPC [Transmission Power Control], power saving or power classes gain control in transmitters or power amplifiers H03G3/3042
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 : in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 : using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 : where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 : controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 : Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 : Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and techniques for coverage adjustment in evolved universal terrain radio access networks (E-UTRANs) are described. In some embodiments, a network management (NM) apparatus may receive data representative of first and second radio link failure (RLF) reports including information related to respective disconnections of first and second user equipment (UEs) from an E-UTRAN. The NM apparatus may identify a hole in a coverage area of the E-UTRAN based at least in part on the first and second RLF reports, and may perform an automated coverage and capacity optimization (CCO) action to reconfigure cell resources of the E-UTRAN based on the identified hole. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer readable media (NTCRM) comprising program code, wherein execution of the program code by one or more processors of a network management (NM) apparatus is to cause a Coverage and Capacity Optimization (CCO) component of the NM apparatus to:

collect performance data from a plurality of evolved nodeBs (eNBs) of a wireless cellular network;

identify potential problems or improvements in a configuration and operation of the plurality of eNBs based on the collected performance data;

identify one or more CCO actions based on the identified potential problems or improvements; and

send instructions to one or more eNBs of the plurality of eNBs to perform the one or more CCO actions, wherein the instructions indicate to reconfigure one or more service parameters to implement changes to the wireless cellular network.

2. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1, wherein, to identify the potential problems or improvements, execution of the program code is to cause the CCO component to:

detect a service-deficient coverage area associated with a plurality of evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) cells provided by the plurality of eNBs, wherein the service-deficient coverage area comprises an area with insufficient signal strength to provide threshold connectivity to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

3. The one or more NTCRM of claim 2, wherein the service-deficient coverage area is one or more of:

an entire E-UTRAN cell of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells with coverage by one or more cells of one or more Radio Access Technology (RATs) that are different than E-UTRAN;

an entire E-UTRAN cell of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells without any other radio coverage;

an E-UTRAN coverage hole that is located within an E-UTRAN cell of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells with coverage by one or more cells of one or more RATs that are different than E-UTRAN;

an E-UTRAN coverage hole that is located within an E-UTRAN cell of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells without any other radio coverage;

an E-UTRAN coverage hole that is located between at least two E-UTRAN cells of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells with coverage by one or more cells of one or more RATs that are different than E-UTRAN;

or

an E-UTRAN coverage hole that is located between at least two E-UTRAN cells of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells without any other radio coverage.

4. The one or more NTCRM of claim 2, wherein the instructions are to instruct the one or more eNBs to adapt E-UTRAN cells provided by the one or more eNBs to increase signal strength in the service-deficient coverage area to provide the threshold connectivity to the LTE network.

5. The one or more NTCRM of claim 4, wherein the instructions are to instruct the one or more eNBs to:

increase or decrease a size of E-UTRAN cells provided by the one or more eNBs to extend the E-UTRAN cells into the service-deficient coverage area;

or

increase or decrease capacity of the E-UTRAN cells provided by the one or more eNBs based on a number of user equipment (UEs) within the E-UTRAN cells.

6. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1, wherein, to identify the potential problems or improvements, execution of the program code is to cause the CCO component to:

correlate the performance data with a same user session, a same geographic area, or environmental information.

7. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1, wherein, to identify the one or more CCO actions, execution of the program code is to cause the CCO component to:

control transmission of instructions to initiate performance of one or more minimization of drive tests (MDTs) by the one or more eNBs;

control receipt of MDT data from the one or more eNBs, wherein the MDT data is based on results of the one or more MDTs; and

correlate the MDT data with the performance data and a same user session, a same geographic area, or environmental information.

8. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1, wherein the performance data comprises:

one or more of a number of active UEs in a given area, internet protocol (IP) throughput, upload or download physical resource block (PRB) usage, packet delay, drop rate, loss rate, environmental information, and one or more radio link failure (RLF) reports including RLF data,

wherein the RLF data comprises one or more of reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements, reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurements, or radio resource control (RRC) failure events,

wherein the RSRP measurements include location information or the RSRQ measurements include location information, and

wherein at least some of the performance data is provided to the plurality of eNBs by one or more UEs.

9. The one or more NTCRM of claim 8, wherein, to identify the potential problems or improvements, execution of the program code is to cause the CCO component to:

correlate the RLF data with the one or more of a number of active UEs in a given area, the IP throughput, the upload or download PRB usage, the packet delay, the drop rate, the loss rate, or the environmental information.

10. The one or more NTCRM of claim 1, wherein the one or more service parameters comprise power settings for one or more antennas or an alignment for one or more antennas.

11. An apparatus to be implemented as a Coverage and Capacity Optimization (CCO) component of a network management (NM) computer device, the apparatus comprising:

processor circuitry to;

perform performance monitoring of a plurality of evolved nodeBs (eNBs) of a wireless cellular network, wherein, to perform performance monitoring, the CCO component is to collect performance data from the plurality of eNBs,

identify potential problems or improvements in a configuration and operation of the plurality of eNBs based on the collected performance data,

identify one or more CCO actions based on the identified potential problems or improvements, and

generate instructions to reconfigure one or more service parameters to implement changes to the wireless cellular network, wherein the one or more service parameters comprise power settings for one or more antennas or alignment of one or more antennas; and

communication circuitry coupled with the processor circuitry, the communication circuitry to send the instructions to one or more eNBs of the plurality of eNBs to perform the one or more CCO actions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, to identify the potential problems or improvements, the processor circuitry is to:

detect a service-deficient coverage area associated with a plurality of evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) cells provided by the plurality of eNBs, wherein the service-deficient coverage area comprises an area with insufficient signal strength to provide threshold connectivity to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the service-deficient coverage area is one or more of:

an entire E-UTRAN cell of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells with coverage by one or more cells of one or more Radio Access Technology (RATs) that are different than E-UTRAN;

an entire E-UTRAN cell of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells without any other radio coverage;

an E-UTRAN coverage hole that is located within an E-UTRAN cell of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells with coverage by one or more cells of one or more RATs that are different than E-UTRAN;

an E-UTRAN coverage hole that is located within an E-UTRAN cell of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells without any other radio coverage;

an E-UTRAN coverage hole that is located between at least two E-UTRAN cells of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells with coverage by one or more cells of one or more RATs that are different than E-UTRAN;

or

an E-UTRAN coverage hole that is located between at least two E-UTRAN cells of the plurality of E-UTRAN cells without any other radio coverage.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions are to instruct the one or more eNBs to adapt E-UTRAN cells provided by the one or more eNBs to increase signal strength in the service-deficient coverage area to provide the threshold connectivity to the LTE network.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are to instruct the one or more eNBs to:

increase or decrease a size of E-UTRAN cells provided by the one or more eNBs to extend the E-UTRAN cells into the service-deficient coverage area;

or

increase or decrease capacity of the E-UTRAN cells provided by the one or more eNBs based on a number of user equipment (UEs) within the E-UTRAN cells.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, to identify the potential problems or improvements, the processor circuitry is to:

correlate the performance data with a same user session, a same geographic area, or environmental information.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, to identify the one or more CCO actions, the processor circuitry to:

control transmission of instructions to initiate performance of one or more minimization of drive tests (MDTs) by the one or more eNBs;

control receipt of MDT data from the one or more eNBs, wherein the MDT data is based on results of the one or more MDTs; and

correlate the MDT data with the performance data and a same user session, a same geographic area, or environmental information.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the performance data comprises:

one or more of a number of active UEs in a given area, internet protocol (IP) throughput, upload or download physical resource block (PRB) usage, packet delay, drop rate, loss rate, environmental information, and one or more radio link failure (RLF) reports including RLF data,

wherein the RLF data comprises one or more of reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements, reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurements, or radio resource control (RRC) failure events,

wherein the RSRP measurements include location information or the RSRQ measurements include location information, and

wherein at least some of the performance data is provided to the plurality of eNBs by one or more UEs.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein, to identify the potential problems or improvements, the processor circuitry is to:

correlate the RLF data with the one or more of a number of active UEs in a given area, the IP throughput, the upload or download PRB usage, the packet delay, the drop rate, the loss rate, or the environmental information.

20. One or more non-transitory computer readable media (NTCRM) comprising program code, wherein execution of the program code by one or more processors of an evolved nodeB (eNB)is to cause the eNB to:

collect performance data associated with an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) cell provided by the eNB;

send the collected performance data to a Coverage and Capacity Optimization (CCO) component of a network management (NM) apparatus;

control receipt of an minimization of drive test (MDT) instruction to perform one or more MDTs from the NM apparatus, wherein the MDT instruction is based on identified potential problems or improvements for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network to which the eNB belongs;

initiate performance of the one or more MDTs indicated by the MDT instruction;

collect MDT data comprising information about results of the one or more MDTs; and

send the collected MDT data to the CCO component of the NM apparatus.

21. The one or more NTCRM of claim 20, wherein execution of the program code is to cause the eNB to:

control receipt of a CCO instruction from the CCO component of the NM apparatus, the CCO instruction indicates to reconfigure one or more service parameters to implement changes to a wireless cellular network; and

adapt the E-UTRAN cell provided by the eNB based on the CCO instruction, wherein adaptation of the E-UTRAN cell is to carry out one or more CCO actions.

22. The one or more NTCRM of claim 21, wherein the CCO instruction is based on a detected service-deficient coverage area associated with a plurality of E-UTRAN cells provided by a plurality of eNBs in the LTE network, wherein the service-deficient coverage area comprises an area with insufficient signal strength to provide threshold connectivity to the LTE network, and wherein the one or more CCO actions comprise actions to increase signal strength in the service-deficient coverage area to provide the threshold connectivity to the LTE network.

23. The one or more NTCRM of claim 21, wherein, to adapt the E-UTRAN cell, execution of the program code is to cause the eNB to:

control alignment of one or more antennas of the eNB;

or control power output to the one or more antennas.

24. The one or more NTCRM of claim 21, wherein, to collect the performance data, execution of the program code is to cause the eNB to:

obtain some performance data measured or collected by one or more user equipment (UEs); and

implement one or more measurement collection or data logging processes to generate the performance data.

25. The one or more NTCRM of claim 20, wherein the performance data comprises one or more of a number of active UEs in a given area, internet protocol (IP) throughput, upload or download physical resource block (PRB) usage, packet delay, drop rate, loss rate, environmental information, and one or more radio link failure (RLF) reports including RLF data, wherein the RLF data comprises one or more of reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements, reference signal received quality (RSRQ) measurements, or radio resource control (RRC) failure events, and wherein the RSRP measurements include location information or the RSRQ measurements include location information.