Cellular network optimisation based on mobile location IST-CELLO

Workshop - Location-based Technologies, Services and Applications, Brussels, 8 March, 2004 Jaakko Lhteenmki Jaakko.Lahteenmaki@vtt.fi Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) Information Technology www.vtt.fi/tte
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OUTLINE
Overall project description Trial on Location-aided planning and Adaptive Coverage Trial and simulations of Location-aided handover Follow-on project plans Conclusions

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Overall project description

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Project partners
Teleplan AS, Norway VTT Information Technology, Finland Project co-ordinator Elisa Communications Corporation, Finland

Center for PersonKommunikation (CPK), Denmark

Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications S.A., Greece Institute of Communications and Computer Systems (ICCS-NTUA), Greece

Motorola S.p.A, Italy Motorola Ltd., UK (sub.contr.)

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Main objective

Enhance performance of mobile systems by using mobile location techniques

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Technical objectives
Improve network planning and monitoring Increase capacity and quality of service by intelligent base station antennas Optimise handover performance Enhance mobility management in multi-system environment

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Basis: retrieving location-related information from user terminals

Flow of measurement reports from terminal to database
Locationcapable terminal
BS BS BS BS BS BS BS

Mobile network operator

Location server

BSC/ RNC

MSC OMC

x,y

user #1 user #2 user #3 user #4 ....

x, y, x, y, x, y, x, y, ....

RXLEV, ... RXLEV, ... RXLEV, ... RXLEV, ... ....

MGIS database

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How MGIS data is used?

CELLO Applications
OMC
Location server
Access to locationrelated performance and coverage data

Location-aided network planning Adaptive Coverage System

Location-aided handover

user #1 user #2 user #3 user #4 ....

x, y, x, y, x, y, x, y, ....

RXLEV, ... RXLEV, ... RXLEV, ... RXLEV, ... ....

Mobile Network Geographic Information System (MGIS)

Location-aided mobility management

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Location-aided network planning (LAP)

Monitoring and planning of mobile network based on location-related data: Coverage verification with live data Detecting problematic areas Propagation model tuning Adaptive coverage planning
ASTRIX Planning tool terminallevel data MGIS
BS

OMC
cell-level data

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Adaptive coverage system (ACS)

Intelligent basestation antennas with variable antenna pattern
Adaptive coverage for temporarily varying traffic demand Realised by switched or steered antenna patterns Application examples: - sports events - rush hours - exhibitions ...
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BS

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Location-aided handover (LAH)

Intelligent handover decisions based on mobile location and direction of motion Avoid ping-pong effects and unnecessary handovers Optimum neighbour planning Pre-emptive handover for reserving resources for wideband services
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serving cell optimum target cell candidate target cell

BS

BS

BS

11

Location-aided mobility management (LAM)

Inter-system handover to other cellular networks and wireless LANs Informing the user of nearby access points offering wideband service Expected results:
Improvement of QoS BS offered to the user Improvement of differrent networks load Signalling of different networks decreased
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INDOOR WLAN ACCESS POINT

potential handover to wideband service

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Time schedule
2001
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
WP1: Management WP2: System design WP3: Location-aided network planning WP4: Adaptive coverage system WP5: Location-aided handover and mobility WP6: Integration and trials WP7: Dissemination and exploitation WP8: Standardisation and support to policy Workshop M1 M2 M3 M9 M12 M8 M5

2002

2003

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

M4

M6 M7 Trial1 Workshop

M11 Trial2 M10 Workshop prelim. std. contrib.

phase I pre-study & specifications

phase II technical development

phase III trials & simulations

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Implementation of data collection to MGIS

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Three approaches for accessing terminal level performance data and location:
Abis/Iub -monitoring - distributed monitoring units (IMU/AMU/WMU) and location servers - DCM algorithm for location
BTS GSM-UMTS network
Abis A, Gb

Network query - O&M protocols used for phone measurement data - SMLC used for location

BSC AMU LS
Iub

core network L-MGIS

NMDI Iu

OMC SMLC

L-MGIS

Terminal application - location, e.g. by GPS - data transmitted by GPRS to MGIS

RNC Node B IMU LS

NMDI

L-MGIS

SMLC = Serving Mobile Location Center (standard network element) LS = Location Server (dedicated) WLAN network
NMDI

AP AMU = Abis monitoring unit IMU = Iub monitoring unit WMU = WLAN monitoring unit

WMU LS

L-MGIS

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Terminal level data and location access

Network query approach increases signalling and SMLC load Terminal application requires specific transmissions (e.g. GPRS) and users terminal resources --> suitable approach for limited groups (e.g. operators own employees Abis/Iub monitoring enables data extraction without loading the network
distributed functionality --> low-cost LS+monitoring unit needed computationally efficient location algorithm needed possibly a specific computer board for location computations
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Trial approach

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Location techniques in trials

Global Positioning System (GPS)
Benefon Esc! phone used

Signal Level Algorithm (SLA)

Location algorithm by Elisa

d3

d1

d2

Database Correlation Method (DCM)

Location algorithm by VTT

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Trials for LAP & ACS

Trial 1: Linnanmki (amusement park, Helsinki)
BS

Trial 2: Linnanmki

DAM algorithm
BS

Measurement reports by SMS

BS

MGIS

MGIS

ASTRIX

DAM = Data analyser module

Switched commercial antennas Pre-planned network plan schedule GSM1800 network of Elisa Communications 8.3.2004

Phase steered Modular Antenna Array (MAA) DAM algorithm for automatic coverage control GSM1800 network of Elisa Communications 19

Simulators and trials for LAH&LAM

LAH simulators (cellular handover) GSM/GPRS & UMTS LAM simulator (inter-system handover: GSM/GPRS & UMTS & WLAN )
Input Data Configuration MGIS data

Traffic Model

Mobility Model

User distribution

RXLEV distribution

Location Server UMTS Admission Control

Slow Fading

handover algorithms

GSM/GPRS Admission Control

MMCF Statistical Analysis

WLAN Admission Control

Trial 2: IP-level LAH

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LAP & ACS Trials

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Trial objectives
Development of the prototypes
MGIS (VTT) ACS antennas (CPK, NTUA) antenna control system (CPK, NTUA, VTT) location-aided planning components (Teleplan)

Demonstrate and evaluate the concept feasibility

concept of collecting information from mobile terminals (probing) antenna control planning & monitoring results accuracy

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Trial area
BS BS

Trial set up
ACS Antenna control by GSM-data

OMC

Field measurements

BS

Measurement reports by SMS Measurement reports

Abisanalyser

ASTRIX planning tool MGIS - MGIS administration - Adaptive coverage control software - Post-processing - Location Server
DB (Oracle) DB (Oracle)

BSC

- maps - ASTRIX database

- MGIS database

CELLO control center hosted by Elisa Communications 8.3.2004 23

Mobile Network Geographical Information System (MGIS)

ADAPTIVE COVERAGE ANTENNAS MEASUREMENT TOOLS
- TEMS - NPSi GSM modem Measurement file Direct database access

TEST APPL.

DAM & ECM ALGORITHMS

MGIS VISUALISATION TOOL (MVT)

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CENTRE (OMC)

INTERNET
MGIS SERVER
OMC file ADMIN. & TOOLS APPLICAT IONS Direct database access DB
(IND)

HTTP

LOCATION-AIDED PLANNING TOOL

ASTRIX

LOCATION SERVERS

Location file DCM ELISA

MGIS DB

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Trial environment: Linnanmki amusement park

Three base station sites for testing

Sight from Case A base station towards Linnanmki

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Antenna system control

switch-box

Antenna(s)

Microcontroller GSM modem

RF Switch

TX/RX

RX

- ACS control software

basestation GSM data Antenna switching commands according to network plan schedule Antenna module

network plan schedule

MGIS database

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Trial results

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Assesment of location techniques

1000
1

900
0.9

GPS DCM

800

SLA

0.8

Cell Id

Probability
GPS DCM SLA Cell ID 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

700

0.7 0.6

Distance [m]

600

500 400

0.5

0.4 0.3

300 200

0.2 0.1 GPS DCM SLA CellID 0 200 400 600

100

Points

Location error [m]

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

Method GPS DCM SLA Cell Id

r.m.s. 7.6 73.9 366.2 461.0

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Propagation model tuning results

Goodness-of-fit criteria
16 dB 14 dB 12 dB 10 dB 8 dB 6 dB 4 dB 2 dB 0 dB s => Only serving n => Serving & Neighbour e => EFTBR=17 - => EFTBR not used Mean StdDev RMS

Mean (dB) >1 <1 ~0 ~0

StdDev (dB) >~10 <~10 <~8 to 9 <~7

RMS (dB) >~10 <~10 <~8 to 9 <~7

Judgement Poor Acceptable Good Very good

-2 dB -4 dB

Prediction error statistics

Proper antenna modelling critical. EFTBR (Effective-Front-To-Back-Ratio) - compensates distortion of antenna diagr. Included Not included

GPSne

GPSn-

TEMS

GPSs-

DCMne

DCMn-

SLAne

GPSse

Effect of location accuracy on tuning - Good fit for TEMS, GPS, DCM data - Unacceptable fit for SLA data Data based on DCM location method feasible for tuning

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DCMse

DCMs-

SLAse

SLAn-

SLAs-

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Signal level estimation accuracy

Selected cell 70

Users terminal can be used for estimation of coverage area (probing technique)

60 50

real probed

RxLev

40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 Trial point 30 40 50

Overall results for DCM location method

Cell cell 1 cell 2 cell 3 cell 4 8.3.2004 Mean difference/ r.m.s 2.9dB / 3.9dB 3.0dB / 3.6dB 1.5dB / 2.1dB 2.9dB / 3.9dB

probing accuracy is clearly better compared to prediction models with typical precision 5-15 dB!

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Measurement-based coverage prediction

Error Correction Method Aim: Improve propagation model predictions by inserting measured and interpolated signal level values in the predicted coverage area matrices. How: Surface fitting techniques are used to interpolate signal level values Three different surface fitting techniques were implemented: MLS, Delaunay triangulation and Averaging. Why: Enable more reliable network planning. Predict coverage areas even without an expensive network-planning tool and digital map

coverage grid

measurement samples

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Coverage estimate based on interpolation of measurement data

Signal Strength with ECM 70 60 50 RxLev 40 30 20 10

Predicted Measured 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Sample number 140 160 180 200

Typical performance of Error Correction Method (ECM) - r.m.s. error 5.0 dB Overall performance: 3-13 dB - large errors when ECM tuning points are far away (>200 metres) 8.3.2004 32

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Automatic reallocation of capacity

DATA ANALYSER MODULE (DAM) Analyses network performance data to detect capacity problems
OMC data Measurement samples (directly from terminals)

Locates the problem area

At cell precision by using OMC data Within the cell by using terminal level measurements

Defines changes to the network configuration

Example of optional antenna lobes

Selects the optimal network plan (cell&antenna configurations) Checks the load of the cells ensuring sufficient service quality in other areas Result: A schedule of network plans to be used in antenna pattern control
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DAM: Tracking of moving hotspot

Example:
Samples from one measurement shown as white dots Yellow circle shows the average location of the samples during the last 3 minutes = hot-spot DAM has selected an optimal network plan The coverage area of one cell is shown

1/4

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DAM: Tracking of moving hotspot

Example:
Samples from one measurement shown as white dots Yellow circle shows the average location of the samples during the last 3 minutes = hot-spot DAM has selected an optimal network plan The coverage area of one cell is shown

2/4

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DAM: Tracking of moving hotspot

Example:
Samples from one measurement shown as white dots Yellow circle shows the average location of the samples during the last 3 minutes = hot-spot DAM has selected an optimal network plan The coverage area of one cell is shown

3/4

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DAM: Tracking of moving hotspot

Example:
Samples from one measurement shown as white dots Yellow circle shows the average location of the samples during the last 3 minutes = hot-spot DAM has selected an optimal network plan The coverage area of one cell is shown

4/4

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Data Analyser Module results

DAM is capable of carrying out the analysis of network performance data and creating a network plan schedule ACS can be effectively used for running the schedule

Example of capacity enhancement with three MAA antennas

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Roadmap for LAP&ACS

Evaluation of coverage and tuning of propagation models based on dedicated field measurements

Current situation with commercial tools

Evaluation of predicted coverage with MGIS data

Semi-automatic tuning of models based on MGIS

Continuous, automatic tuning of models

Object of further R&D

Measurement-based coverage prediction

Automatic reallocation of capacity

ECM interpolation

ACS method DAM algorithm 39

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Example of LAH simulation results

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Simulation results for cellular LAH (Dropped Call Rate)

7 6 5

No LAH PPA MDR TTB

6,37 5,123 4,235

DCR (%)

4 3 2 1 0 0 0,01 0,02 0,03 0,04 0,05

2,012

0,06

0,07

Erlangs per User

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IP level LAH trial

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Trial objectives
Development of the prototypes
Mobile Node and Home Agent protocol stacks (VTT) Control Application (VTT) GPS functionality (VTT) Mobility Management Coordination Function MMCF (NTUA) MT - MMCF communication = CEPPHO protocol (VTT) Handover algorithm (COST function) (NTUA)

Demonstrate and evaluate the concept feasibility

handover performance usage of location information for automatic handover informing the user about nearby hotspot testing of applications
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Trial Scenario
Context: residential area with GPRS coverage and WLAN hot-spots User: moving around with a laptop/handheld while using IP-based applications Routing and location updates based on Mobile IP

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Trial environment

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Network environment

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Handover signalling
Coverage map CEPPHO protocol Network load information

Location, Field Strength NetID

(MGIS) DB

Mobile Terminal

MMCF Server

DB updates, inquiries

Handover command Prediction Information

MMCF = mobility management coordination function

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Handover algorithm
Algorithm predicts the position of the user in the future based on current location and direction of motion The handover is performed only if the predicted time within the hot-spot is long enough COST function based approach Network load can be taken into account

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Trial results

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End-to-end delay during handover

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Summary of results on IP-level LAH

Stabilisation period of several seconds appears in the context of handover Location-aided algorithm was observed to reduce ping-pong effects The handover should not be based only on location information GPS is the the preferred location solution due to high accuracy requirements
indoors, other methods are needed (e.g. WLAN, Bluetooth ..)

Applications must be able to adapt their bitrate beforehand

This is can be done based on location & velocity information
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Follow-on project plans

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Possible continuation of CELLO:

Service usage monitoring

Enhance CELLO functionality for monitoring service usage
Service Providers Cellular network operator
Services:
- location request - traffic info - video trailers - voice book .

User Internet WLAN operator WLAN Multimode

d Ad lu va ed e rv es ice da ta
DB Service Provider (SudP)

terminal

Network operator(s) Teleservice data

SUD

DB Entry: - service provider Id - service Id - terminal location - terminal type and brand - usage time - problem Id .

Monitoring : - service usage - users location - user type data - terminal type - performance data - Rx-level

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Conclusions

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Conclusions (1)
MGIS/LAP concept shows clear improvement to existing planning&monitoring technology
better precision for coverage estimation compared to prediction probing is inherently economical method for data collection suitable for automatic network planning and model tuning GPS or network-based location methods (DCM) are feasible

ACS is a feasible alternative to expensive adaptive antenna approach

intended coverage changes could be realised with a relatively simple arrangement allows manual or automatic reconfiguration of system transparent solution at RF level
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Conclusions (2)
Location-aided IP-level handover (GPRS/WLAN)
network-independent solution trial demonstrated feasibility of two main benefits: (1) informing the user of nearby hot-spots (2) automatic decision of handover based on the COST function

Location-aided cellular handovers

demonstrated by simulation reduced overall number of handovers, clearly reduced dropped call rate and blocking

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