The next generation Long Term Evolution (LTE) & LTE-Advanced cellular networks will be equipped with numerous Self-Organizing (SO) functions. These SO functions are being envisioned to be inevitable for technical as well as commercial viability of LTE/LTE-Advanced networks. Therefore, a lot of research effort is currently being channeled to the design of various SO functions. However, given the convoluted and complex interrelationships among cellular system design and operational parameters, a large number of these SO functions are highly susceptible to parametric or logical inter-dependencies. These inter-dependencies can induce various types of conflicts among them, thereby undermining the smooth and optimal network operation. Therefore, an implicit or explicit self-coordination framework is essential, not only to avoid potential objective or parametric conflicts among SO functions, but also to ensure the stable operation of wireless networks. In this paper we present such a self-coordination framework. Our framework builds on the comprehensive identification and classification of potential conflicts that are possible among the major SO functions envisioned by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) so far. This classification is achieved by analyzing network topology mutation, temporal and spatial scopes, parametric dependencies, and logical relations that can affect the operation of SO functions in reality. We also outline a solution approach for a conflict-free implementation of multiple SO functions in LTE/LTE-Advanced networks. Moreover, as an example, we highlight future research challenges for optimum design of Mobility Load Balancing (MLB) and Mobility Robustness Optimisation (MRO).
Abstract-Self-Organising Network (SON) functions have been introduced in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-iven that network densification is emerging as the dominant capacity enhancement theme in both existing and future cellular networks, operational complexity and Operational Expenditures (OPEX) are bound to increase. Another, challenging feature of the future cellular landscape is that, more and more network nodes will be deployed impromptu.Consequently, Self-Organising Network (SON) functions are being considered as essential feature to ensure the technical as well LTE-Advanced Self-Organising Network Conflicts and Coordination Algorithms scale, the analysis of potential conflicts generated by the numerous autonomous functionalities in heterogeneous networks can be extremely challenging. Therefore, Self-Coordination among conflicting SON functions is essential in order to enable a stable network operation with tight operator control over the network behaviour. Self-Coordination among conflicting SON functions is thus understandably endorsed by the 3GPP System Architecture (SA) group (SA5) in 3GPP Release-11 [4].Despite its significance and implications, the problem of self-coordination has not been deeply investigated in literature. We highlight here the main contributions. The Socrates project team took the first step in this direction and organized selected interrelated parameters which could cause parametric conflict into basic groups [5]- [7]. Initial challenges on characteristics, parametric, and measurement conflicts when integrating SON functions into next generation wireless networks were then described in [8]. However, none of these works provide comprehensive identification, annotation and classification of SON function conflicts. Some Self-Coordination mechanisms for SON are described in [9]. However, [9] does not identify the application of these Self-Coordination mechanisms for specific SO function conflicts. In [10], for the first time authors have identified and categorised SON function conflicts, based on different criteria such as the network deployment, the Key Performance Indicators, the measurement and logical dependencies, the output parameters' direction/magnitude, etc. This is a very interesting first step towards self-coordination, however, the resolution of SON conflicts requires a deeper analysis, modeling and classification, as we will describe in the rest of the paper.Until now the state-of-the-art work on SON conflict classification has mainly focused on hard classification where each SON conflict is categorized into exactly one category while ignoring the fact that a SON conflict may arise due to more complicated interactions deriving from more than one conflicting conditions. In this case, it is not optimal to classify a conflict in a certain category, but it is better to work considering that any conflict may have a fuzzier classification, with different degrees of membership to various categories, depending upon the cause of the conflict. We will refer in this paper to t...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.