From Self-Organizing to Cognitive Networks: How Can the Cellular Network Operator Make Use of the Cognitive Paradigm?

Abstract

This chapter provides a compact view on the use of cognitive radio (CR) principles in cellular Radio Access Network (RAN) operation and management. This is achieved through a set of tangible operator-centric scenarios where cognitive features have the potential to bring benefits. These benefits are primarily due to a powerful enabling concept that increases the radio environmental awareness: Radio Environmental Maps (REMs). REMs are obtained by collecting and processing geo-localized measurements/observations reported by multiple network nodes/entities with the purpose of optimizing RAN management and operations like resource allocation/usage efficiency, coverage/capacity/Quality of Service (QoS) optimization. The REM-based operator-centric scenarios which are presented in this chapter provide concrete examples where the cellular operator can apply the cognitive paradigm on its radio networks and have potential benefits/ opportunities which is translated into performance and OPerational EXpenditures (OPEX) gains. Apart from those scenarios, the chapter also presents the REM functional architecture together with a detailed REM system architecture mapped onto the existing 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAN architecture for selfoptimization and self-configuration of femtocells. The REM system architecture details provided by this chapter allows us to make cost calculations for each specific scenario once the requirements in terms of spatial and temporal REM updates are known. An example of signaling cost calculation for a specific measurement reporting message is given at the end of the chapter.