Self-optimizing wireless network

Abstract

Optimizing a plurality cell sites or sectors in a wireless network including receiving network data regarding a plurality of cell sites or sectors; determining a critical zone in which communication is degraded; determining best neighbor cell sites or sectors among the neighbor cell sites or sectors associated with the critical cell sites or sectors; determining if the critical cell sites or sectors in the critical zone have available resources for achieving a desired improvement in communications; determining if the best neighbor cell sites or sectors have available resources for achieving the desired improvement in communications; and altering wireless network parameters of the critical cell sites or sectors, or the best neighbor cells sites or sectors for achieving the desired improvement in communications. Altering wireless network parameters of the critical cell sites or sectors, or the best neighbor cell sites or sectors is performed continuously until the desired improvement in communications in the wireless network is achieved.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention generally relates to planning and optimization for a wireless network. In particular, the present invention relates to a system that monitors network performance, and makes changes to network parameters to enhance performance.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Network planning of a wireless network relies on static approaches for site locations and dimensioning of the radio resources to meet specified traffic demand at busy hours. In a wireless network, a large number of base stations (i.e., cell sites) can be served by one or more antennas. The base station hardware will send a radio frequency signal to the antennas, which will typically be placed on towers or buildings. Each antenna (i.e., sector) serves end-users located in a coverage area. Within a coverage area different types of services can be provided (e.g., voice and data services).[0005]The coverage area provided by an antenna i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for optimizing a plurality cell sites / sectors in a wireless network. The method includes receiving network data regarding a plurality of cell sites / sectors, each cell site / sector corresponding to a coverage area for providing communications in a wireless network; evaluating the network data to determine if communications provided by the plurality of cell sites / sectors has been degraded; and determining a critical zone in which communication is degraded. The critical zone includes critical cell sites / sectors needing improved communications and neighbor cell sites / sectors corresponding to the critical cell sites / sectors.

Problems solved by technology

Input power (i.e., the power sent from the base station or cell site) to the antenna will also affect the coverage of the antenna as well as the interference that impacts the coverage areas of neighboring antennas.

For example, if an antenna's input power is increased, the coverage area of the antenna may increase as well, thereby causing interference to the coverage area of a neighboring antenna and affecting the quality of service in that neighboring antenna's coverage area.

However, network planning and optimization consumes a high amount of human resources.

In addition, it is a lengthy process which is done only when needed or periodically with long periods between implementation.

In addition, because this process is manual and lengthy, it is conducted with low frequency, which results in leaving the network or parts of the network without optimization for long periods of time.

Thus, network resource usage is not maximized and unused available network resources result in significant revenue loss.

Finally, quality of service is degraded, which affects the end user's overall customer satisfaction.

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