Covering the key functional areas of LTE Self-Organising Networks (SON), this book introduces the topic at an advanced level before examining the state-of-the-art concepts. The required background on LTE network scenarios, technologies and general SON concepts is first given to allow readers with basic knowledge of mobile networks to understand the detailed discussion of key SON functional areas (self-configuration, -optimisation, -healing). Later, the book provides details and references for advanced readers familiar with LTE and SON, including the latest status of 3GPP standardisation.Based on the defined next generation mobile networks (NGMN) and 3GPP SON use cases, the book elaborates to give the full picture of a SON-enabled system including its enabling technologies, architecture and operation. "Heterogeneous networks" including different cell hierarchy levels and multiple radio access technologies as a new driver for SON are also discussed.* Introduces the functional areas of LTE SON (self-optimisation, -configuration and -healing) and its standardisation, also giving NGMN and 3GPP use cases* Explains the drivers, requirements, challenges, enabling technologies and architectures for a SON-enabled system* Covers multi-technology (2G/3G) aspects as well as core network and end-to-end operational aspects* Written by experts who have been contributing to the development and standardisation of the LTE self-organising networks concept since its inception* Examines the impact of new network architectures ("Heterogeneous Networks") to network operation, for example multiple cell layers and radio access technologies

Foreword xiiiPreface xvList of Contributors xixAcknowledgements xxiList of Abbreviations xxiii1. Introduction 11.1 Self-Organising Networks (SON) 31.2 The Transition from Conventional Network Operation to SON 61.2.1 Automation of the Network Rollout 91.2.2 Automation of Network Optimisation and Troubleshooting 101.2.3 SON Characteristics and Challenges 11References 122. LTE Overview 132.1 Introduction to LTE and SAE 132.1.1 3GPP Structure, Timeline and LTE Specifications 142.1.2 LTE Requirements 162.1.3 System Architecture Overview 162.1.4 Evolved UTRAN 182.1.5 E-UTRAN Functional Elements 192.1.6 Evolved Packet Core 212.1.7 Voice over LTE (VoLTE) 242.1.8 LTE-Advanced 242.1.9 Network Management 302.2 LTE Radio Access Network Scenarios and Their Evolution 332.2.1 LTE Radio Coverage Scenario 332.2.2 LTE for Capacity Enhancement in Existing GERAN/UTRAN 342.2.3 Enhancing LTE Capacity, the Multi-Layer LTE 342.2.4 Data Offloading, LIPA-SIPTO 352.2.5 Multi-Radio Access Network Scenarios or non-GPP 36References 373. Self-Organising Networks (SON) 393.1 Vision 393.2 NGMN Operator Use Cases and 3GPP SON Use Cases 423.2.1 Operational Use Cases 423.2.2 NGMN SON Use Cases and Requirements 473.2.3 SON Use Cases in 3GPP 503.3 Foundations for SON 523.3.1 Control Engineering: Feedback Loops 533.3.2 Autonomic Computing and Autonomic Management 553.3.3 SON Research Projects 573.4 Architecture 603.4.1 Use-Case Related Criteria 623.4.2 System-Level Criteria 643.5 Business Value 653.5.1 The Economics of eNB Sites 653.5.2 General Mode of Operation of SON 683.5.3 Installation and Planning 713.5.4 Network Optimisation 723.5.5 Fault Management 733.5.6 Conclusions 743.6 SON Operational and Technical Challenges 753.6.1 Transition of Operational Processes to SON 753.6.2 Technical (Engineering) Challenges 78References 804. Self-Configuration ('Plug-and-Play') 814.1 Auto-Connectivity and -Commissioning 824.1.1 Preparation 854.1.2 Connectivity Setup, Site-Identification and Auto-Commissioning 874.1.3 LTE-A Relay Auto-Connectivity 934.1.4 Conclusions 1004.2 Dynamic Radio Configuration 1004.2.1 Generation of Initial Transmission Parameters 1064.2.2 Physical Cell-ID Allocation 1114.2.3 Automatic Neighbour Relationship Setup (ANR) 1184.2.4 DRC Architecture 1304.2.5 Conclusions 132References 1335. Self-Optimisation 1355.1 Mobility Robustness Optimisation 1365.1.1 Goals of MRO 1365.1.2 Cell Changes and Interference Challenges 1375.1.3 MRO Relevant Parameters 1405.1.4 Causes for Mobility Problems 1445.1.5 MRO Solutions 1465.1.6 MRO Time Scales 1515.1.7 MRO Performance 1525.2 Mobility Load Balancing and Traffic Steering 1575.2.1 Introduction to Traffic Steering 1575.2.2 SON Policies for Mobility Load Balancing 1595.2.3 A Theoretical View of Load Balancing 1605.2.4 Standardised Features and Procedures to Direct UEs to the Desired Layer 1665.2.5 Exemplary Results of MLB 1825.2.6 Uplink Load Balancing 1895.2.7 Interactions Between TS/MLB and MRO 1905.3 Energy Saving 1935.3.1 Introduction 1935.3.2 Requirements 1955.3.3 Energy Saving Management 1955.3.4 eNB Overlaid Scenario 1965.3.5 Capacity-Limited Network 1985.3.6 Equipment/Local ES 2005.3.7 Example Scenarios and Expected Gains 2015.3.8 Summary 2045.4 Coverage and Capacity Optimisation 2045.4.1 CCO with Adaptive Antennas 2055.4.2 Performance Analysis for Antenna Parameter Optimisation Based CCO 2085.4.3 CCO with TX Power 2165.5 RACH Optimisation 2175.5.1 General 2175.5.2 PRACH Configuration 2185.5.3 RACH Configuration 2195.5.4 RACH/PRACH Configuration Example 2215.5.5 RA Performance 2225.5.6 Self-Optimisation Framework 2235.5.7 UE Reporting 2235.5.8 Inter-eNB Communication 2255.6 RRM and SON (Interference Coordination, P0 Optimisation) 2265.6.1 Interference Coordination 2265.6.2 P0 Optimisation 230References 2326. Self-Healing 2356.1 Introduction 2366.1.1 3GPP Use Cases 2366.1.2 3GPP Self-Healing Process and its Management 2376.1.3 Cell Degradation Management 2386.2 Cell Degradation Detection 2426.3 Cell Degradation Diagnosis and Prediction 2486.3.1 Rule Based Systems 2506.3.2 Bayesian Networks 2516.3.3 Case Based Reasoning 2536.3.4 Neural Networks 2556.3.5 Active Measurements 2566.3.6 Prediction 2576.4 Cell Outage Compensation 2596.4.1 Activation of Cell Outage Compensation 2606.4.2 Means of Cell Outage Compensation 2606.4.3 Interaction between Cell Outage Compensation and Self-Configuration Functions 263References 2647. Supporting Function: Minimisation of Drive Tests (MDT) 2677.1 Introduction 2677.1.1 General 2677.1.2 History and Background 2697.2 Relation to SON 2727.3 Requirements 2737.4 Use Cases 2757.4.1 Operator Scenarios 2767.4.2 Coverage Optimisation 2777.4.3 Mobility Optimisation 2817.4.4 Capacity Optimisation 2817.4.5 Parameterisation for Common Channels 2827.4.6 QoS Verification 2827.5 Overall Architecture 2837.6 Managing MDT 2857.6.1 Subscriber and Equipment Trace 2857.6.2 MDT Configuration Parameters 2857.6.3 Subscription Based MDT 2877.6.4 Area Based MDT 2927.6.5 Supporting Functionality in the Management System 2937.6.6 MDT Reporting 2937.7 MDT Radio Interface Procedures 2957.7.1 Immediate MDT 2967.7.2 Logged MDT 2987.7.3 RLF Reporting 3037.7.4 Measurement Parameters 3057.7.5 Location Information 3087.8 Conclusion 309References 3108. SON for Core Networks 3118.1 Introduction 3118.2 SON for Packet Core Networks 3118.2.1 Packet Core Element Auto-Configuration 3118.2.2 Automatic Neighbour Relation 3138.2.3 S1 Flex (MME Pooling) 3148.2.4 Signalling Optimisation 3158.2.5 Latency Optimisation 3178.2.6 Fast Gateway Convergence with Bidirectional Forward Detection 3188.2.7 Dynamic IP Pool Allocation 3188.2.8 Energy Saving 3198.3 SON for Voice Core Networks 3198.3.1 Voice Over IP Quality Monitoring and Management 3198.3.2 Resource Optimisation in Voice Core Network 320References 3219. SON Operation 3229.1 SON Function Interactions 3239.1.1 Spatial Characteristic 3249.1.2 Temporal Characteristic 3249.1.3 Categories of SON Conflicts 3269.1.4 Network Parameters Related to SON Functions 3299.1.5 Examples for Conflicts between SON Functions 3309.2 Coordination of SON Functions 3349.2.1 Basic Options for SON Coordination 3349.2.2 Goals of SON Function Coordination 3389.2.3 SON Coordination Function Concept 3409.2.4 Coordination Schemes 3469.2.5 Related Work 3529.2.6 SON Function Coordination Example 3529.3 Conclusions 355References 35610. SON for Heterogeneous Networks (HetNet) 35710.1 Introduction 35710.2 Standardisation and Network Architecture 35910.2.1 Network Architecture for HetNet 36110.3 Self-Configuration 36210.3.1 Auto-Connectivity and -Commissioning 36310.3.2 Automatic Site Identification and Hardware-to-Site Mapping 36410.3.3 Automatic Neighbour Relations (ANR) 36510.4 Self-Optimisation: Interference Management 36510.4.1 Interference Characteristics in HetNet Scenarios 36510.4.2 Basic Interference Management Techniques 36610.4.3 Scenarios with Macro eNBs and Micro/Pico eNBs 36910.4.4 Enhanced Time-Domain Interference Management: eICIC 37010.4.5 Outlook on Further Interference Management Innovations 37410.5 Self-Optimisation: Mobility Aspects; MRO and Traffic Steering 37510.5.1 Mobility Robustness Optimisation 37510.5.2 Multi-Layer Traffic Steering and Load Balancing 37710.5.3 IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) Integration 378References 37811. Future Research Topics 37911.1 Future Mobile Network Scenarios 37911.1.1 Heterogeneous Networks 37911.1.2 Cloud RAN 38011.1.3 Requirements for Future OAM Systems 38111.2 Cognitive Radio Networks (CRN) 38111.2.1 From SON to CRN 38111.2.2 Definitions 38211.2.3 Framework 38311.2.4 Artificial Intelligence 38511.3 Applications 38711.3.1 Self-Configuration 38711.3.2 Self-Optimisation 38711.3.3 Self-Healing 38811.3.4 Operation 38811.4 Conclusion 389References 389Index 391