The present application relates to optimization of handover parameters.
In a radio communication system, in moving from a serving cell (source cell) to another cell, a mobile terminal performs switching processing of the serving cell called handover, and continues communication. In order to achieve handover of a mobile terminal, a base station that manages the source cell instructs the mobile terminal to transmit a measurement report when a predetermined event occurs. The predetermined event is, for example, deterioration of radio quality of the source cell. The measurement report generated by the mobile terminal includes measurement results of radio quality of the source cell and its neighboring cells. In response to receiving the measurement report from the mobile terminal, the base station of the source cell determines a cell (target cell) to which a radio link connection switches based on the measurement report, and initiates a handover procedure including signaling with the mobile terminal and the target cell.
Here, introduced is one of transmission events of the measurement report defined by 3GPP TS 36.331 V9.3.0 (June 2010), which is a technical specification regarding LTE (Long Term Evolution)/E-UTRAN (Evolved UTRAN). An essential portion of a reporting event defined as Event A3 (Neighbor becomes offset better than serving) in the above-described literature is expressed by the following Expression (1).
P
S
+O
S
<P
T
+O
T (1)
PS in Expression (1) is a measurement result of radio quality of a source cell, and PT therein is a measurement result of radio quality of a neighboring cell. In a case of LTE, PS and PT are downlink RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) or RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality). The RSRQ is a ratio of the RSRP to total received power (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator).
OS in Expression (1) is an offset value that acts on radio quality of a downlink reference signal of the source cell, and is an HO parameter generally called an a3-offset (or hysteresis). Meanwhile, OT in Expression (1) is an offset value that acts on radio quality of a downlink reference signal of the neighboring cell, and is an HO parameter generally called a CIO (Cell Individual Offset). A value of the CIO (i.e., OT) may be set to be different for each neighboring cell. The CIO is included in a neighbor list (also called a neighboring cell list) of which the base station notifies mobile terminals connected to a cell managed by the base station itself.
When an operating condition of Expression (1) is set to the base station, the base station informs a mobile terminal, connected to the cell managed by the base station, about the operating condition of Expression (1). When a period in which the condition of Expression (1) is satisfied continues exceeding a predetermined period defined as a guard time (TTT: Time to Trigger), the mobile terminal transmits a measurement report to the base station that manages the source cell. If receiving the measurement report from the mobile terminal, the base station determines a target cell based on the measurement report, and initiates handover to the target cell.
However, when the initiation of the handover is too late or too early, a connection failure involving abnormal disconnection of a radio link (hereinafter referred to as RLF (Radio Link Failure)) occurs. In the present description, the connection failure involving RLF caused by inappropriate handover is called handover failure. The handover failure may be classified into Too Late Handover, Too Early Handover, and Handover to Wrong Cell. Too Late Handover corresponds to a situation where a mobile terminal that has experienced RLF in a source cell during execution of a handover procedure tries connection re-establishment (including re-establishment of a radio link) to a target cell, or a situation where a mobile terminal that has experienced RLF in a source cell before initiation of handover tries connection re-establishment to a cell different from the source cell. Too Early Handover corresponds to a situation where a mobile terminal that has experienced RLF in a target cell during execution of a handover procedure or immediately after completion of handover tries connection re-establishment to a source cell. Handover to Wrong Cell corresponds to a situation where a mobile terminal that has experienced RLF in a source cell or a target cell during execution of a handover procedure or immediately after completion of handover tries connection re-establishment to a cell different from both the source cell and the target cell. Handover optimization or MRO (Mobility Robustness Optimization) is a technology of reducing handover failure by detecting the above-described handover failures and adjusting HO parameters is, and is one of major use cases of an SON (Self-Organizing Network).
It is to be noted that “reducing handover failure” is merely one of major targets of handover optimization. For example, “reducing ping-pong handover” is also one of the major targets of the handover optimization. The ping-pong handover means a phenomenon in which a mobile terminal that has performed handover from a cell A to a cell B again performs handover to the original cell A for a short time (e.g., within several seconds). The ping-pong HO may include a case where the mobile terminal further passes through another cell before returning to the cell A (e.g., the cell A→the cell B→a cell C→the cell A). Since the ping-pong handover increases handover processing loads of base stations and a network, it is desirable that the ping-pong handover can be reduced by adjustment of HO parameters.
Namely, the handover optimization should take into consideration a plurality of handover performance indicators (HPIs). Specific examples of the plurality of HPIs include a handover failure rate and a ping-pong handover rate. Non-Patent Literature 1 discloses an optimization technique in which an objective function is defined by a linear weighted sum of a plurality of HPIs in order to simultaneously take into consideration a plurality of HPIs, and in which HO parameters (e.g., an A3-offset (hysteresis) and a TTT) are updated so as to minimize the objective function.
The technique disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1 uses a minimization of a weighted sum in order to optimize a plurality of HPIs (e.g., a handover failure rate and a ping-pong handover rate) that have a relation where if one is improved, the other will be deteriorated. For example, when a handover failure rate (R_HOF) and a ping-pong handover rate (R_PPHO) are taken into consideration, an objective function (it is called HP (HO performance) in Non-Patent Literature 1) can be expressed by the following Expression (2).
HP=w1·R—HOF+w2·R—PPHO (2)
Here, w1 is a weight to the handover failure rate (R_HOF), and w2 is a weight to the ping-pong handover rate (R_PPHO). The weights w1 and w2 are determined based on an operator policy.
A curved line L1 shown in
However, an environment can be considered where there is a plurality of cells having different parameter sensitivity of HPIs (e.g., the handover failure rate and the ping-pong handover rate). In such environment, when a common objective function (e.g., Expression (2)) based on a weighted sum is applied to the plurality of cells, there occur a cell in which the ping-pong handover rate significantly increases, or a cell in which the handover failure rate cannot be sufficiently decreased. For example, an example of
In order to address problems shown in
Accordingly, one of objectives of the present invention is to provide a versatile handover optimization system, a handover optimization control device, a handover parameter adjustment device, and a method and a program regarding these that can effectively perform handover optimization for a plurality of cells having different sensitivity of HPIs (e.g., a handover failure rate and a ping-pong handover rate) with respect to change of an HO parameter.
In a first aspect, a handover optimization system includes an adjustment unit and a control unit. The adjustment unit operates so as to adjust a handover parameter applied to a first cell, in accordance with an optimization target defined using at least one of a plurality of performance indicators regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from the first cell. The control unit operates so as to change the optimization target according to a measurement value of the at least one of the plurality of performance indicators.
In a second aspect, a handover optimization control device includes a control unit. The control unit operates so as to change an optimization target applied to handover optimization processing of a first cell, according to a measurement value of at least one of a plurality of performance indicators regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from the first cell.
In a third aspect, a handover parameter adjustment device includes an adjustment unit. The adjustment unit operates so as to adjust a handover parameter applied to a first cell, in accordance with an adjustment algorithm that is changed according to a measurement value of at least one of a plurality of performance indicators regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from the first cell.
In a fourth aspect, a base station includes the handover parameter adjustment device according to the third aspect described above.
In a fifth aspect, a method for controlling handover optimization includes changing an optimization target applied to handover optimization processing of a first cell, according to a measurement value of at least one of a plurality of performance indicators regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from the first cell.
In a sixth aspect, a handover parameter adjustment method includes adjusting a handover parameter applied to a first cell, in accordance with an adjustment algorithm that is changed according to a measurement value of at least one of a plurality of performance indicators regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from the first cell.
In a seventh aspect, a program includes instructions to cause a computer to perform a method for handover optimization control. The method includes changing an optimization target applied to handover optimization processing of a first cell, according to a measurement value of at least one of a plurality of performance indicators regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from the first cell.
In an eighth aspect, a program includes instructions to cause a computer to perform a method for handover parameter adjustment. The method includes adjusting a handover parameter applied to a first cell, in accordance with an adjustment algorithm that is changed according to a measurement value of at least one of a plurality of performance indicators regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from the first cell.
According to the above-mentioned aspects, can be provided a versatile handover optimization system, a handover optimization control device, a handover parameter adjustment device, and a method and a program regarding these that can effectively perform handover optimization for a plurality of cells having different sensitivity of HPIs (e.g., a handover failure rate and a ping-pong handover rate) with respect to change of an HO parameter.
Hereinafter, specific embodiments will be explained in detail with reference to drawings. Throughout the drawings, the identical and corresponding components are denoted by the same reference symbols, and overlapping explanation is omitted as needed for clarity of explanation.
In addition, the radio communication system 100 includes a handover optimization system 120. The handover optimization system 120 receives handover statistics regarding the cell 131 from the base station 111, and acquires a measurement value of a handover performance indicator regarding the cell 131 based on the handover statistics. The handover optimization system 120 then adjusts an HO parameter applied to the cell 131 based on the measurement value of the handover performance indicator. Here, the handover statistics are statistical information that indicates actual results (measurement values) of outgoing handover from the cell 131. The handover statistics include, for example, the number of handover attempts, the number of handover successes, the number of handover failures, and the number of ping-pong handovers. The number of handover failures may be reported by being divided into the number of Too Late Handovers, the number of Too Early Handovers, and the number of Handovers to Wrong Cells. The handover statistics may include not the number but ratios, for example, a handover failure rate (e.g. a Too Late Handover rate, a Too Early Handover rate, and a Handover to Wrong Cell rate), and a ping-pong handover rate. The handover failure rate may be a value obtained by dividing the number of handover failures within a predetermined period by the number of handover attempts. The ping-pong handover rate may be a value obtained by dividing the number of ping-pong handovers within a predetermined period by the number of handover successes.
Since detection techniques of the handover failure and the ping-gong handover by the base station 111 has already been known well, detailed explanation regarding these is omitted in the present description. For example, the base station 111 can detect handover failure including Too Late Handover, Too Early Handover, and Handover to Wrong Cell by receiving an RLF INDICATION message and a HANDOVER REPORT message, which are defined by 3GPP TS 36.423 V9.5.0, from the neighboring cells 132 and 133. In addition, the base station 111, for example, refers to UE HISTORY INFORMATION included in a HANDOVER REQUEST message defined by 3GPP TS 36.423 V9.5.0, acquires a history of cells in which the mobile terminal 101 located, and thereby can detect the ping-pong handover.
Hereinafter, techniques for determining a handover optimization target and for adjusting an HO parameter performed by the handover optimization system 120 are explained in detail. The handover optimization system 120 includes a handover (HO) optimization control unit 121 and an HO parameter adjustment unit 122. The HO optimization control unit 121 changes an optimization target according to measurement values of one or more HPIs regarding the cell 131. Each HPI regarding the cell 131 is a performance indicator regarding the outgoing handover of the mobile terminal 101 from the cell 131. Specific examples of the HPIs regarding the cell 131 include the number of handover failures (or the handover failure rate) and the number of ping-pong handovers (or the ping-pong handover rate).
The optimization target (or an optimization objective) means an objective of optimization by adjusting a HO parameter. The optimization target is defined using one or more HPIs regarding the cell 131. The optimization target is, for example, “reducing the handover failure rate” or “reducing of the ping-pong handover rate”, etc. The optimization target may be called an optimization strategy or an optimization policy. In addition, the optimization target may be defined as an objective function, or the objective function and a constraint (in a case of constrained optimization). In this case, change of the optimization target may be made by changing the objective function, the constraint, or both of them. For example, the optimization target may be defined using an objective function as a weighted sum of a plurality of HPIs shown in Expression (2). Namely, the optimization target may be “minimizing the objective function of Expression (2)”.
Furthermore, the optimization target is associated with an adjustment algorithm for adjusting an HO parameter. Consequently, change of the optimization target leads to change of the adjustment algorithm for adjusting the HO parameter. Accordingly, it can also be said that the adjustment algorithm for adjusting the HO parameter is determined according to the measurement values of one or more HPIs regarding the cell 131. The adjustment algorithm for adjusting the HO parameter is defined using, for example, (a) an HPI used for evaluation of an optimization state, (b) a threshold value to the HPI, (c) a determination condition to the HPI, (d) an adjustment direction of the HO parameter, and is implemented in the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 hereinafter described.
The HO parameter adjustment unit 122 adjusts an HO parameter applied to the cell 131 in accordance with an optimization target determined (changed) by the HO optimization control unit 121. Specifically, the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 adjusts the HO parameter using an adjustment algorithm being associated with the optimization target determined by the HO optimization control unit 121. Accordingly, it can also be said that the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 adjusts the HO parameter using the adjustment algorithm that is determined according to the measurement values of one or more HPIs regarding the cell 131. The HO parameter to be adjusted by the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 includes, for example, at least one of an A3-offset (hysteresis) that acts on radio quality of the cell 131, a CIO that is determined for each cell pair of the cell 131 and a neighboring cell (e.g., the cell 132) and acts on radio quality of the neighboring cell (e.g., the cell 132), and a TTT. The HO parameter adjusted by the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 is provided to the base station 111, and is applied for handover of the mobile terminal 101 in the cell 131.
The HO optimization control unit 121 and the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 that are shown in
Subsequently, a specific example of changing an optimization target according to a measurement value of an HPI is explained. For example, a handover failure rate and a ping-pong handover rate may be used as the HPIs, and an optimization target according to the measurement values of these two HPIs may be determined.
A table of
As in the examples explained using
As already mentioned, in an environment where there is the plurality of cells having different sensitivity of HPIs (e.g., the handover failure rate and the ping-pong handover rate) with respect to the change of the HO parameter, when a common objective function (e.g., Expression (2)) based on a weighted sum is applied to the plurality of cells, there is a possibility that handover optimization cannot be appropriately performed. In contrast with this, a handover optimization technique mentioned in the present embodiment changes an optimization target (and an HO parameter adjustment algorithm corresponding thereto) regarding handover optimization for each cell according to measurement values of one or more HPIs regarding the each cell. Accordingly, the technique of the present embodiment can effectively and versatilely perform handover optimization for a plurality of cells having different parameter sensitivity as has been explained in the specific examples of
It is to be noted that change of the optimization target explained using
The present embodiment describes a specific example of changing a handover optimization target according to a measurement value of an HPI. A configuration example of the radio communication system 100 according to the present embodiment is the same as
The adjustment algorithms shown in steps S42 to S45 are as follows. In step S42, the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 calculates the following four indicators regarding a cell pair of the cell 131 and a neighboring cell (e.g., the cell 132) based on handover statistics:
the number of Too Late Handovers (N_TL) from the cell 131 to the cell 132;
the number of Too Early Handovers (N_TE) from the cell 131 to the cell 132;
the number of Handovers to Wrong Cells-F (N_WCF) in which the cell 132 is regarded as an inappropriate target cell; and
the number of times of Handovers to Wrong Cells-R (N_WCR) in which the cell 132 is a re-connection cell (i.e. a true target cell).
If (N_TL+N_WCR) is larger than (N_TE+N_WCF) (YES in step S43), HO parameter adjustment to reduce Too Late Handover and Handover to Wrong Cell-R to the cell 132 is performed (step S44). In contrast with this, if the (N_TE+N_WCF) is not less than the (N_TL+N_WCR) (NO in step S43), HO parameter adjustment to reduce Too Early Handover and Handover to Wrong Cell-F to the cell 132 is performed (step S45). In the adjustment of the HO parameter in step S45, a CIO that acts on radio quality of the cell 132 may be decreased by a predetermined step size. In addition or alternatively, a TTT applied to the cell 131 may be increased by a predetermined step size. In addition or alternatively, an A3-offset that acts on the radio quality of the cell 131 may be increased by a predetermined step size. It is to be noted that in step S44, adjustment to increase or decrease the HO parameter in an opposite direction of step S45.
Meanwhile, the adjustment algorithm shown in step S46 is as follows. In step S46, the HO parameter is adjusted in an adjustment direction where the ping-pong handover rate is reduced. Adjustment of the HO parameter in step S46 may be performed similarly to step S45. Namely, in step S46, the CIO that acts on the radio quality of the cell 132 may be decreased by a predetermined step size, the TTT applied to the cell 131 may be increased by a predetermined step size, or the A3-offset that acts on the radio quality of the cell 131 may be increased by a predetermined step size. Accordingly, step S46 may be the same processing as step S45.
A handover optimization technique mentioned in the present embodiment changes the optimization target of handover according to whether or not the ping-pong handover rate exceeds the threshold value P1. In addition, the adjustment algorithm for the HO parameter is changed according to the change of the optimization target. Specifically, when the measurement value of the ping-pong handover rate of the cell 131 exceeds the threshold value P1 (i.e. the region 1 of
The present embodiment describes another specific example of changing the handover optimization target according to the measurement value of the HPI. A configuration example of the radio communication system 100 according to the present embodiment is to the same as
An HO parameter adjustment procedure performed by the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 of the present embodiment may be the same as the adjustment procedure of the second embodiment shown in
A handover optimization technique mentioned in the present embodiment changes the optimization target of handover according to whether or not the ping-pong handover rate exceeds the threshold value P1 similarly to the second embodiment. Furthermore, the handover optimization technique mentioned in the present embodiment changes the optimization target of the handover according to whether or not the handover failure rate exceeds the threshold value F1. In addition, an adjustment algorithm for an HO parameter is changed according to these changes of the optimization target. Specifically, when a measurement value of a ping-pong handover rate of the cell 131 is less than the threshold value P1, and a measurement value of a handover failure rate of the cell 131 is less than the threshold value F1 (i.e. the region 3 of
The present embodiment describes a still other specific example of changing the handover optimization target according to the measurement value of the HPI. A configuration example of the radio communication system 100 according to the present embodiment is the same as
A handover optimization technique mentioned in the present embodiment halts the HO parameter adjustment performed by the HO parameter adjustment unit 122, when a ping-pong handover rate and a handover failure rate of the cell 131 are sufficiently low (i.e., the region 4 of
The present embodiment describes yet still other specific example of changing the handover optimization target according to the measurement value of the HPI. A configuration example of the radio communication system 100 according to the present embodiment is the same as
An HO parameter adjustment procedure by the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 of the present embodiment may be the same as the adjustment procedure of the second embodiment shown in
A handover optimization technique mentioned in the present embodiment changes the optimization target of handover according to whether or not the handover failure rate exceeds the threshold value F2. In addition, an adjustment algorithm for an HO parameter is changed according to the change of the optimization target. Specifically, when the measurement value of the handover failure rate of the cell 131 exceeds the threshold value F2 (i.e. the region A of
The above-mentioned first to fifth embodiments can be combined as appropriate.
In the first to fifth embodiments, for simplification of explanation, the examples have been shown where the plane defined by the two HPIs (e.g., the handover failure rate and the ping-pong handover rate) is divided into a plurality of regions based on one or more conditions (i.e., one or more vertical lines or horizontal lines) using measurement values of only one of these two HPIs. However, in the region division, the plane may be divided into a plurality of regions based on a condition using measurement values of both of the two HPIs. For example, the HO optimization control unit 121 may change the optimization target according to whether or not a sum of the handover failure rate and the ping-pong handover rate exceeds a predetermined reference value (e.g., 90%).
For simplification of explanation, the first to fifth embodiments have described the specific examples of the region division (e.g.,
The processes performed by the HO optimization control unit 121 and the HO parameter adjustment unit 122 that have been explained in the first to fifth embodiments may be implemented by using a semiconductor processing device including an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). In addition, these processes may be implemented by causing a computer system including at least one processor (e.g. a microprocessor, an MPU, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor)) to execute a program. Specifically, one or more programs including instructions to cause a computer system to execute the algorithm regarding the HO optimization control unit 121 (or the HO parameter adjustment unit 122) explained with reference to the flow charts etc. may be created and supplied the program(s) to the computer.
The program(s) can be stored and provided to a computer using any type of non-transitory computer readable media. Non-transitory computer readable media include any type of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic storage media (such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, etc.), optical magnetic storage media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROM (Read Only Memory), CD-R, CD-R/W, and semiconductor memories (such as mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (random access memory), etc.). The program may be provided to a computer using any type of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitory computer readable media can provide the program to a computer via a wired communication line, such as electric wires and optical fibers, or a radio communication line.
Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it will be obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described above.
For example, the whole or part of the embodiments disclosed above can be described as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.
A handover parameter adjustment device including adjustment means for adjusting a handover parameter regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from a first cell,
in which the adjustment means adjusts the handover parameter so as to reduce a second performance indicator regarding handover failure of the outgoing handover while suppressing a first performance indicator regarding a handover processing load of the first cell to not more than a first reference value.
The device according to Supplementary Note 1, in which the adjustment means changes an adjustment algorithm for adjusting the handover parameter depending on whether or not a measurement value of the first performance indicator exceeds the first reference value.
The device according to Supplementary Note 2, in which when the measurement value of the first performance indicator exceeds the first reference value, the adjustment means adjusts the handover parameter so as to reduce the first performance indicator.
The device according to Supplementary Note 3, in which when the measurement value of the first performance indicator is less than the first reference value, the adjustment means adjusts the handover parameter so as to reduce the second performance indicator.
The device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 2 to 4, in which the adjustment means changes the adjustment algorithm further depending on whether or not a measurement value of the second performance indicator exceeds a second reference value.
The device according to Supplementary Note 5, in which when the measurement value of the first performance indicator is less than the first reference value, and the measurement value of the second performance indicator is less than the second reference value, the adjustment means adjusts the handover parameter so as to reduce the first performance indicator.
The device according to Supplementary Note 6, in which the adjustment means changes the adjustment algorithm further depending on whether or not the measurement value of the first performance indicator exceeds a third reference value that is smaller than the first reference value.
The device according to Supplementary Note 7, in which when the measurement value of the first performance indicator is less than the third reference value, and the measurement value of the second performance indicator is less than the second reference value, the adjustment means maintains a current value of the handover parameter.
A handover parameter adjustment device including adjustment means for adjusting a handover parameter regarding outgoing handover of a mobile terminal from a first cell,
in which the adjustment means adjusts the handover parameter so as to reduce a first performance indicator regarding a handover processing load of the first cell while suppressing a second performance indicator regarding handover failure of the outgoing handover to not more than a first reference value.
The device according to Supplementary Note 9, in which the adjustment means changes an adjustment algorithm for adjusting the handover parameter depending on whether or not a measurement value of the second performance indicator exceeds the first reference value.
The device according to Supplementary Note 10, in which when the measurement value of the second performance indicator exceeds the first reference value, the adjustment means adjusts the handover parameter so as to reduce the first performance indicator.
The device according to Supplementary Note 11, in which when the measurement value of the second performance indicator is less than the first reference value, the adjustment means adjusts the handover parameter so as to reduce the first performance indicator.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2012-147290, filed on Jun. 29, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-147290 | Jun 2012 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2013/000230 | 1/18/2013 | WO | 00 |