Atoll_3.2.1_ACP

Automatic Cell Planning Module Atoll 3.2.1

Training Programme

1.

Introduction

2.

Para Pa ram met eter erss Use Used d by by AC ACP

3.

Netw Ne twor ork k Rec Recon onfi figu gurat ratio ion n Pr Proc oces esss

4.

Sit ite e Sele Select ctio ion n Proc Proce ess

5.

Other Topics

Training Programme

1.

Introduction

2.

Para Pa ram met eter erss Use Used d by by AC ACP

3.

Netw Ne twor ork k Rec Recon onfi figu gurat ratio ion n Pr Proc oces esss

4.

Sit ite e Sele Select ctio ion n Proc Proce ess

5.

Other Topics

1. Introduction

Automatic optimisation optimisation tool for GSM, UMTS, CDMA, LTE and WIMAX networks To improve existing networks by tuning parameters that can be easily changed remotely •

Antenna electrical tilt

•

Power (BCCH for GSM, CPICH for UMTS, Reference Signal for LTE, and Preamble for WiMAX)

To optimise a network still in the planning phase by: •

Selecting the most appropriate antenna antenna

•

Changing the antenna azimuth

•

Changing the antenna mechanical downtilt

•

Changing the antenna height

•

Selecting the best sites among a list of candidate sites

Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE GSM/UMTS/LTE optimisation can be performed The ACP can also be used in co-planning mode with Wi-Fi

1. Introduction

Principle Optimisation of quality indicators

GSM

UMTS/CDMA

• BCCH coverage • Dominance of best server

• CPICH RSCP coverage • CPICH Ec/Io

LTE • Reference Signal coverage • RSRQ, RSSI

WIMAX • Preamble coverage • Preamble CINR

By automatic adjustments of network parameters •

Power (BCCH for GSM, CPICH for UMTS/CDMA, Reference Signal for LTE, and Preamble for WiMAX)

•

Antenna parameters: •

Antenna pattern

•

Azimuth

•

Mechanical downtilt

•

Electrical downtilt

•

Height

1. Introduction

Principle Optimisation process based on a cost function

The cost function depends on quality figures •

In GSM: the cost decreases when the BCCH coverage and the best s erver’s dominance increase

•

In UMTS/CDMA: the cost decreases when the CPICH coverage and CPICH quality increase

•

In LTE: the cost decreases when the RSRP and RSRQ increase

•

In WIMAX: the cost decreases when t he Preamble coverage and Preamble CINR increase

Iterative algorithm is used

•

Each iteration corresponds to one network parameter change

•

Then, changes are ranked from the change with the most benefit to the change with the least benefit

Training Programme

1.

Introduction

2.

Parameters Used by ACP

3.

Network Reconfiguration Process

4.

Site Selection Process

5.

Other Topics

2. Parameters used by ACP

Focus zone

Requirements Existing and valid path loss matrices

= area where the optimisation will be performed (by default)

Recommendations Creating a computation zone •

Used to define the default area where the ACP calculates statistics on performance indicators

Creating a focus zone •

Used to define the default area in which are the cells to be optimised

Computation zone = zone used to compute statistics on performance indicators (by default)

Training Programme

1.

Introduction

2.


3.


4.


5.

Other Topics

3. Network Reconfiguration Process

Creating an Optimisation Setup Defining Optimisation Parameters and Objectives Running an Optimisation Process Viewing Optimisation Results Analysing Optimisation Results

Creating an Optimisation Setup

To run the optimisation immediately

To save the defined optimisation parameters and run the optimisation later

Defining Optimisation Parameters (1/10)

Selection of the layers to be optimised

Layer(s) configuration Several in case of Multi-RAT networks (GSM+UMTS+LTE)


Selection of the zones to be optimised

Zones definition

Possibility to define zones to be specifically optimized, using: Clutter classes,

•

Hot spots zones,

•

.shp files

•


Evaluation Zone Target evaluation zone where the objectives will be computed •

Computation Zone, by default

Reconfiguration Area Set of cells defining the area where the optimisation will actually be performed

If « Optimise inside zone » is selected: •

The optimisation will only be performed on the cells within the considered zone (Focus or Computation Zone)

If « Smart improve » is selected: •

•

•

In this mode, the ACP will automatically select the cells which can be optimised to improve the optimisation zone without degrading the area outside the target evaluation zone This means that all the sectors which may have a significant effect outside the evaluation zone will be locked More precisely, a cell inside the evaluation zone is optimised if it is not a secondary server within a Best Server Threshold from the best server, when looking at pixels outside the evaluation zone


The ACP can take into consideration a financial cost during the optimisation

No cost control: Optimisation based on quality only  useful when planning a new network

The financial cost is considered: You can specify a maximum financial cost allowed or find a compromise between the financial cost and the quality  useful when improving a live network

Definition of the financial cost for: Each parameter change, Site visit, Etc... • •

•


Selection of the transmitters/cells to be optimised Definition of the parameters that can be modified by ACP

To define the cells optimisation parameters (subcell power in GSM, CPICH power in UMTS, Reference Signal power in LTE)


By default, GSM-UMTS-LTE transmitters sharing the same antenna parameters are linked An auto-link function based on site coordinates, antenna height, azimuth and mechanical tilt is provided


Definition of antenna groups To give some directives when reconfiguring the antenna type or the electrical tilt

Multi band “Physical Antenna” Dual 900 1800 – 36deg20dBi

Multi band “Physical Antenna” Dual 900 1800 – 65deg17dBi

Antenna Element 65deg17dBi@900

Antenna Element 65deg17dBi@1800


Step 1 : create “antenna elements” (using radiating patterns) Done automatically if the “Physical antenna” field is correctly set up in the “Antennas” table

Antenna element: Consists of a set antenna patterns sharing the same gain, beamwidth and frequency band but having a different electrical tilt

Antenna patterns table


Step 2 : create “physical antennas” (using antenna elements) To define multi-band antennas Done automatically if the “Physical antenna” field is correctly set up in the “Antennas” table

Dual-band “physical antenna” (900/1800MHz)

Antenna elements


Step 3 : create “antenna groups” (using physical antennas) Required only if the “Antenna Type” check box is selected in the “Reconfiguration” tab •

Once assigned to the sectors to be optimised, the ACP will be able to select the most appropriate physical antennas from those antenna groups

Antenna groups to be assigned to TXs in the “Reconfiguration” tab Created physical antennas

Defining Objectives (1/11)

ACP allows you to define quality and coverage objectives for each technology Objectives are assessed over a “target zone” (Computation Zone, by default)

Objectives defined by the user

Indicators to be optimized


Objective and zone weighting Objectives and zones can be weighted according to their relative importance

Give a priority to each objective Give priorities to specific zones* (* Priorities only apply if the “zone weighting” option is checked)


Default option: NONE the traffic is assumed to be uniform

Traffic weighting (per objective) ACP is able to focus more specifically on areas with a high traffic

 The quality indicator measured on

each pixel has the same weight

Selection of traffic maps (non-uniform traffic) to weight map pixels  The quality indicators measured on each pixel can be weighted

by using the traffic density on that pixel


Example: Defining UMTS objectives Coverage objectives: UMTS RSCP Coverage

Coverage to be respected while meeting the RSCP coverage conditions

Define the minimum pilot signal level to get on each pixel of the “target zone”


Example: Defining UMTS objectives Quality objectives: UMTS EcIo

Coverage to be respected while meeting the pilot quality conditions

Define the minimum pilot quality to get on each pixel of the “target zone”


Example: Defining UMTS objectives UMTS objectives parameters

For each indicator to optimize, ACP settings (display configuration, shadowing margin…) can be: •

Either, taken from an existing prediction

•

Or, defined manually


Summary of the main indicators that can be optimized for each technology

GSM

UMTS/CDMA

LTE

WIMAX

• BCCH coverage

• CPICH RSCP coverage

• RSRP coverage

• Preamble coverage

• Dominance of best server

• CPICH Ec/Io

• RSRQ, RSSI, RS CINR

• Preamble CINR

• Pilot pollution

• Overlap

(= number of potential servers must be < x)

(= number of cells in the Active Set > 3, by default)

(= number of potential servers must be < x)

• Overlap


Load balancing (optional) ACP enables you to create and manage capacity planning objectives •

To prevent load imbalance between sectors and thus avoid the degradation of some KPIs

Example: Optimisation of a UMTS network by ACP without load balancing

•

Cell A: up-tilt (2°) Cell B: down-tilt (1 °)

Cell B

(Statistics on cell A)

Traffic served

Cell load

•

Cell B

- DL total power Cell A

Cell A

- UL noise rise Interference

•

Cell load A = 75% ; Cell load B = 60%

Cell load A = 98% ; Cell load B = 45%

Risk of congestion

•

Solution: load balancing ! The load balancing feature relies on 2 performance indicators: •

The “average load” improvement (%), measures how the average load improves from t he initial value

•

The “load balance” (%), measures the dispersion of cells l oads


Load balancing (optional) Can be activated in the “objectives” tab under “load balancing”

Recommendation: Keep the default configuration Allows you to select the layers for which load balancing is performed


Load balancing (optional) Traffic related to capacity planning can be defined in the “capacity” tab Traffic can be considered as uniform (evenly spread on each service area) or, generated from traffic maps


Load balancing (optional) ACP is designed to perform load balancing across multiple layers and technologies

For each service used, traffic is balanced across all the available layers and technologies For each service and each technology, define the minimum quality required by a cell to provide the service To increase traffic density specifically on some zones. Traffic is scaled according to the weights defined in the “zone weighting” tab.

Running an Optimisation Process (1/4)

Graphical display of the optimisation progress “Graphs” tab: Variation of performance objectives in real time with iterations

The optimisation process can be paused or stopped early


Graphical display of the optimisation progress “Changes” tab: type and number of changes


Graphical display of the optimisation progress “Quality” tab: coverage and quality improvements (variations)


Graphical display of the optimisation progress “Objectives” tab: to see at a glance if the objective is achieved or not

Select the objective to be analysed (coverage and quality indicators)

Viewing Optimisation Results (1/5)

Optimisation results are stored in the optimisation folder Results available in 7 tabs

Global report available in “Excel” format

“Statistics” tab: synthesised view of optimisation results for each objective Statistics provided for the “target zone” •

To get statistics on the other zones select “show detailed zone results”

Statistics for each objective


“Graph” and “quality” tabs

Histogram displaying statistics within the computation zone or the focus zone Coverage and quality maps before and after the optimisation


“Capacity” tab Provides capacity load statistics for the initial and the optimised network

The graph shows the ratio of cells with a capacity load that is smaller than a given capacity load value (%). Usually, the best result that you can get is a final curve (blue curve) on top of the initial curve (red curve).

Statistics based on the values displayed in the table (on the right)


“Change details” tab Analysis of improvements according to the number of changes Changes are ordered by “profitability” •

The most “profitable” changes will be applied first

Slider to select a subset of all changes and view the corresponding performance improvement on the graph (global improvement and improvement of each objective)

List of changes ranked from the change with the most effect to the change with the least effect Selected changes are displayed in green


“Commit” tab To commit changes that you allowed in the “Change details” tab

Transmitters/cells with parameter changes are displayed in green Initial and final cell parameters displayed

Revert the network to its state before the optimisation was run Apply the set of selected changes

Analysing Optimisation Results (1/5)

Process Quick validation of optimisation results using the ACP maps •

First analysis available without having to commit ACP results

•

Based on the entire set of proposed changes

Deeper analysis with coverage predictions available in the predictions folder •

After committing ACP results

ACP maps available Quality analysis maps •

Display of coverage and quality maps

Coverage analysis •

Status of the coverage according to the defined objectives used in the optimisation

Change analysis •

Analysis of changes: antenna, tilt, azimuth

Best server analysis •

Absolute values of changed parameters


Analysis with ACP maps

ACP maps are automatically calculated and inserted into the folder containing the optimisation results


Analysis with ACP maps Tiptext available for any ACP map •

The exact calculated value is displayed on each pixel

Display properties of ACP maps •

Automatic update of the ACP map aft er changing colours or range of values


Analysis with ACP maps Histogram available on ACP maps

Comparison tool •

Available to compare ACP maps from the same optimisation or from a different optimisation


Analysis with coverage predictions from the predictions folder Requirement: commit results of the optimisation

Calculating prediction studies before and after the optimisation

Generating reports on the predictions studies before and after the optimisation in order to check if network quality figures have been improved

Possibility to “roll back to initial state”

Training Programme

1.

Introduction

2.


3.


4.


5.

Other Topics

4. Site Selection Process

Overview Defining Candidate Sites Viewing Optimisation Results

Overview (1/2)

Examples of site selection process Scenario 1: using ACP to select the best site among several candidates on a given geographical area •

3 candidate sites available

•

Candidate sites are assigned to a group where the minimum and the maximum site occurrence is set to “1”  Among the 3 candidates, the ACP is forced to select only one site

Scenario 2: using ACP to deploy the LTE technology on a given area using existing UMTS sites •

•

About 40 UMTS sites (i.e. 40 candidate sites) available on the target area Candidate sites are assigned to a group where the minimum site occurrence is set to “10” and the maximum to “20”  Among the 40 candidates, the ACP is forced to select between 10 and 20

sites to reach objectives

Overview (2/2)

General process similar to the site reconfiguration process: Creating an optimisation setup

Defining “candidate” sites

Defining objectives and parameters to be optimised •

Note: The “reconfiguration” mode is available (not mandatory) during the site selection process.

Running an optimisation process

Viewing optimisation results

Analysing optimisation results

Defining Candidate Sites (1/3)

By using pre-defined sites Prerequisite: stations to be processed by ACP must be defined in the Atoll document with a given status Two status for sites: • “Existing”:

The site is an active site in the current network. ACP can remove the whole site or one or more sectors of the site to improve the network quality • “Candidate”:

The site is not on-air in the initial network (i.e. all TXs are deactivated). ACP can add the site or only one or more sectors of the site to improve the network quality Check “current site selection” to allow changes (site / sector removal) among “existing” sites Check “current site selection” to display deactivated sites. Then, define groups of sites with a min. and a max. number of sites to be added during the optimisation ( “group” column)


By using pre-defined sites

“Reconfiguration” column:

Select “disable” to prevent ACP from making any changes to the transmitters or to t he cells, as defined in the Transmitters and the [technology] cells tabs In case of network reconfiguration, you can preserve the current angular separation between antennas, and the relative height difference between them

“Advanced” tab:

Allows you to apply the same locking options to a set of sites, and to manage groups


By importing a list of candidate sites

Option 1: import a text file (*.txt) containing at least candidates’ name and coordinates Option 2: import a list of candidate sites from the Atoll project

To allocate a station template to each candidate site

Viewing Site Selection Results (1/3)

Statistics report

Statistics and status of the optimisation (achieved or failed ) for each objective

Select “show change statistics” to get statistics on the sites/sectors added or removed, and all the changes made during the optimisation process


Implementation plan analysis

Sites/TXs/cells added or removed List of changes (antennas, tilts, etc.) if “reconfiguration” mode selected


Transmitters/cells modifications analysis

List of candidate TXs/cells to be added List of TXs/cells to be removed List of changes (antennas, tilts, etc.), if “reconfiguration” mode selected

Training Programme

1.

Introduction

2.


3.


4.


5.

Other Topics

6. Other Topics

Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE Optimisation (in case of several .atl documents) Data Loading and Validity Control Saving Settings to Configuration Files Configuring Default Settings

Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE Optimisation (1/2)

Requirements (in case of several .atl documents) Several Atoll projects (GSM, UMTS and/or LTE .atl files) that must be opened in the same Atoll session

General process similar to a classic optimisation Creating the optimisation setup

Defining optimisation parameters

Running the optimisation process

Viewing optimisation results

Analysing optimisation results

Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE Optimisation (2/2)

Procedure (in case of several .atl documents) Step 1: create the optimisation setup in one single technology document (a LTE document for ex.)

Step 2: import other(s) network(s)’ configuration by importing associated project(s)

(LTE project)

Data Loading and Validity Control (1/2)

Data used when running an optimisation process

Loaded when creating an optimisation setup Radio data (antennas, sites, transmitters) Traffic parameters (services, terminals, etc.)

Direct access when running the optimisation process

Geographic maps (DTM, clutter class and clutter height maps) Traffic maps Path loss matrices

Data Loading and Validity Control (2/2)

Data validity control when running an optimisation process Atoll checks the consistency between the optimisation setup, the actual state of the network and path loss matrices If inconsistencies => existing optimisation setups are locked and new optimisation process cannot be run

Incoherence with existing setup when: Data changes are performed after creating the setup (e.g. new transmitter, transmitter deactivated, different transmitter settings, etc.) Optimisation results have been committed Path loss matrices are missing or not valid

Saving Settings to Configuration Files

Save or load a given setup configuration

Import the configuration file containing optimisation settings Used to apply the same settings when you create a new optimisation setup

Optimisation settings saved in a .PRJ file (objectives per clutter class, lists of cells to be reconfigured, reconfiguration settings, etc.)

Configuring User Preferences

Trade-off between speed and quality

Enables you to activate the “multi-storey” and the “EMF exposure” extensions

Setup Template Configuration

Define default values of the optimisation setup

Configuring Path Loss Matrices Storage

Define the folder to be used by ACP to store path loss matrices (used in case of antenna height optimisation)

Atoll_3.2.1_ACP

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