Microcellular

algorithms

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD, 26/03/02, page n 1

Release B6

All rights reserved 2002, Alcatel, Paris.

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction to microcellular algorithms

Chapter 2: Microcellular Parameters setting and Optimisation

2.1. Microcellular handovers

2.2. Directed Retry

2.3. Intelligent Speed discrimination and load sharing

2.4. Different types of microcells

2.5. Minicells

2.6. Idle mode

2.7. Parameter tuning & QoS Monitoring

2.8. Example on the field

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Chapter 1 :
Introduction to
microcellular algorithms

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Introduction

Hierarchical network with two layers :

Umbrella cells
macro macro handover

macro micro
handover

micro macro
handover
micro micro handover

Micro cells (cluster 1)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Micro cells (cluster 2)

continuous
coverage of a large
area

coverage of high
trafic area, hot spot
+
Indoor coverage

General philosophy
Handover strategies

HO strategy : objectives and criteria

Maximising the use of microcells compared to macrocells :

facilitate the mobiles access to the micro-layer

keep mobiles on the micro-layer as long as possible

... while assuring good quality communications and avoiding call drops :
Fast moving mobiles are handled by the macrocell layer

In case of emergency (bad radiolink quality) in the micro layer, calls are handed
over to the macro layer

the tuning of the parameters will result in trade-offs which limit

the load of the macrolayer while ensuring a very good quality of
service in the microcellular area

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

General philosophy
Handover types

Handover Types specific to microcells :

Micro Micro :

management of straigth moving mobile in a street

Micro Macro (emergency HO) :

to avoid drop call when a mobile is moving at street corner or enter a building
(sharp drop in field strength)
to go out of the microcellular area

Macro Micro :

descent to the microlayer (depending of mobile speed)

Others Handover types :

Macro Macro : same as in a macrocellular network (single layer)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

General philosophy
Specific aspects

Specific aspects of microcellular networks

Fast fluctuation of signal level due to :

Fading in urban environments
Street corner effect : sudden signal drop when mobile turns around a corner

Entering buildings

the delay of HO decision and application must be reduced

... but not too much to avoid triggering HO on fading

Problems of outdoor cells overlapping in case of indoor coverage in dense

microcellular network

Fast mobiles stay relatively a short time in a microcell risk of call drops

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

General philosophy
Constraints (1)

Radiolink measurements

TOA cannot be used : distance too short

Decision must be taken quickly :

For microcellular emergency causes, MS may not transmit at

full power

Averaging windows size is generally reduced

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

General philosophy
Constraints (2)

Candidate cell evaluation

Priority based mechanism for evaluation of umbrella and

microcells for emergency HO :
by default, emergency HO first directed to umbrella cell in order
to reduce the risk of drop calls (more reliable measurements
reports on umbrella cells than on microcells that suffer
important signal fluctuations)
However, emergency handovers from indoor microcells should
be directed to umbrella cells in a more cautious way.
priority tuneable through parameters

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Chapter 2 :
Microcellular parameter
settings

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

2.1 Microcellular handover

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Macro layer

Macro to macro handover :

PBGT

better cell

Quality

bad quality in the macro cell

Level

bad level in the macro cell

Distance distance MS-BTS too high

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Micro Constraints

Maximising the use of microcells compared to macrocells

Fast moving mobiles are handled by the macrocell layer

For microcellular emergency causes, MS may not transmit at

full power and averaging window size is reduced

Some cells are selected in priority during the Handover

process (In case of emergency in the micro layer, calls are
handed over by default to the macro layer).

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Microcell Handover Causes

Specific microcell HO causes :

Micro Micro :

Emergency causes (by default Micro

Macro) :

High thresholds : New thresholds to take into account different situations

street corner or entry in a building (sudden drop of signal level)
bad level received in the serving micro (limit of microcell serving area)
Rescue : SACCH frames losses

Macro Micro :

PBGT : straigth moving mobile in a street

Dwell Time : good received level in neighbour microcell

during enough time + Standard causes

Usual emergency cause (Quality, level, distance)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Microcell Handover display

HO emergency
+ PBGT

14
(2 HO
,3
, 4 em
,5 erg
,7 e
, 1 nc
7, y
18
)

Ca
us
e

HO

em

er

ge
nc
y

Umbrella Cell

PBGT (12)

Microcell

Microcell

HO emergency
in case of non availability
of the preferred cell

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Priority of Handover causes

Cause
Cause
Cause
Cause
Cause
Cause
Cause
Cuase
Cause
Cause

Macro
7 : consecutive bad SACCH

17 : level UL microcell - high threshold

18 : level DL microcell - high threshold
2 : quality UL
4 : quality DL
3 : level UL

5 : level DL
6 : distance
15 : intracell UL
16 : intracell DL

Cause 14 : high level neighbour microcell

Cause 12 : power budget
Cause 20 : forced directed retry

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Umbrella Micro

Microcellular Handover
Candidate cell evaluation (1)

In case of emergency HO in microcells, the handover must be directed in

priority to certain cells depending on the microcell coverage and on the
traffic distribution requirements.

Priority tuneable through the parameter EN_RESCUE_UM (Enable,

Disable, Indefinite) and PRIORITY(0,n) :

If EN_RESCUE_UM = Enable, umbrella cells have the highest priority. Among umbrella
cells, priority depends on PRIORITY(0,n)

If EN_RESCUE_UM = Disable, microcells have the highest priority. Among microcells,

priority depends on PRIORITY(0,n)

If EN_RESCUE_UM = Indefinite, priority depends only on PRIORITY(0,n)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Candidate cell evaluation (2)

In case of emergency handovers in indoor

microcells, the received level from outdoor umbrella
cells must be checked before directing in priority
mobiles to these cells :

Umbrella macrocells are filtered with the parameter

OUTDOOR_UMB_LEVEL(0,n) :

Umbrella cells that are received with a level below

OUTDOOR_UMB_LEVEL(0,n) are not kept as candidate cells.

This filtering is available in case of any emergency

handovers in any microcells, indoor or outdoor.

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
PBGT micro-micro (1): Cause 12

Cause 12 (power budget evaluation)

PBGT(n) > HO_Margin(0,n) (n=1...BTSnum)
AV_RXLEV_PBGT_HO RXLEV_LIMIT_PBGT_HO

and
with

EN_PBGT_HO = TRUE
PBGT(n) = Ax_rxlev_ncell(n) - Av_rxlev_pbgt_ho
- (Bs_txpwr_max - Bs_txpwr )
- (Ms_txpwr_max(n) - Ms_txpwr_max )
+ Ping_Pong_Margin(n, call_ref)

Averaging : A_PBGT_HO

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
PBGT micro-micro (2): Cause 12

HO_Margin

High value is usually used to avoid ping-pong HO in urban environment where

signal strength varies rapidly due to fading

Default value : 10 dB for dense microcellular network

To be optimised : can be reduced to 5dB and even 0 dB while applying anti pingpong mechanism and/or limitation level of power budget handover
(RXLEV_LIMIT_PBGT_HO)

A_PBGT_HO

To find a compromise with HO_margin

Default value : 6 (instead of 12 for macrocells)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
PBGT micro-micro (3): Cause 12

HO_Margin optimisation

High value of HO_Margin will late the HO, thus

it may create interference problems in case of

BTS2

fn+1

adjacent frequencies between 2 neighboor

microcells

Building

If HO_Margin is reduced (5dB or 0 dB), it allows

adjacent frequencies between neighboor
microcells, BUT ... average window should be

Useful
l

BTS1

fn

increased to reduce ping-pong HO risks or anti

ping-pong mechanism should be applied.
Area of potential interferences :
(C/I)adj < -9dB

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Interfere

Microcellular Handover
Emergency Handover in microcell

A problem is detected on the radiolink between MS and

BTS, this problem is reported with an alarm cause

cause UL or DL quality (cause 2 and 4)

cause UL or DL for Microcell- High threshold (cause 17 and 18)

Cause UL or DL Level- Low threshold (cause 3 and 5)

cause CONSECUTIVE BAD SACCH FRAMES (cause 7)

By default, emergency HOs are directed to umbrella cells.

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
High threshold (1)

High threshold (U_RXLEV_XX_MCHO)

the HO is trigger when the signal passes under the threshold

the MS may not transmit at full power

the corresponding HO causes consist in comparing , at 2 successive SACCH periods,

the DL and UL levels in serving microcell with an high threshold

AV_RXLEV_XX_MCHO

AV_RXLEV_XX_MCHO

no HO alarm

HO alarm

Beginning a call under the threshold does not trigger a HO

High
High
Threshold
Threshold

t
i-1

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

t
i-1

Microcellular Handover
High threshold (2): Causes 17, 18

AV_RXLEV_UL_MCHO(i) U_RXLEV_UL_MCHO
and

AV_RXLEV_UL_MCHO(i-1) U_RXLEV_UL_MCHO

and

EN_MCHO_H_UL = TRUE

AV_RXLEV_DL_MCHO(i) U_rxlev_dl_mcho
and

AV_RXLEV_DL_MCHO(i-1) U_rxlev_dl_mcho

and

EN_MCHO_H_DL = TRUE

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
High threshold (3)

High threshold (U_RXLEV_XX_MCHO)

With high value, mobiles will be sent too early to the macro layer

With low value, mobiles turning at roadcorner will be maintained in the

microcell layer during a longer period

In theory, there is risk of drop call

In practice ,with appropriate parameters,

PBGT HO should be triggered before (speed < 40 km/h)
Low Threshold for safety

Problems of indoor mobiles with signal strength level closed to the high
threshold that should be kept as long as possible on the microlayer

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
High threshold (4)

A_LEV_MCHO

The averaging window size shouldnt be too small in order to :

avoid triggering to easily a HO on fading and overloading needlessly the macrocell

favour as much as possible micro-micro PBGT HO

Typical value : between 6 and 10

The high threshold is used to modelise a slow decrease of the signal level at microcell
border

Really urgent handovers will be triggered using the Low Threshold (cause 3 & 5) with
short averaging window size

A_LEV_HO

Default value : 4 (instead of 8 for macrocells)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Quality HO (1): Causes 2, 4, 15, 16

4 causes identical to handover on quality for macro cells :

Causes 2 and 4 : UL and DL quality too low

Causes 15 and 16 : interferences (intracell HO)

For HO on quality, MS power should be at MS_TXPWR_MAX

L_RXQUAL_XX_H

RXLEV_XX_IH

Default value : 4.0

Default value : - 65 dBm

A_QUAL_HO

Default value : 4 (instead of 8 for macrocells)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Quality HO (2): Cause 7

Cause 7 : Rescue HO (consecutive bad SACCH frames received in a micro)

Last N_BAD_SACCH consecutive SACCH frames are not correctly

received

N_BAD_SACCH
and
EN_RESCUE_MCHO = TRUE

Default value : 4 SACCH

Caution :
N_BAD_SACCH > RADIOLINK_TIMEOUT_BS - N_BSPWR_MAX
so that mobile and BTS are at maximum power before triggering this HO

RADIOLINK_TIMEOUT_BS = 16 SACCH, N_BSPWR_MAX =13 SACCH

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Averaging windows in microcells

Averaging windows for emergency handovers

to be optimised in order to :

trigger emergency HO quickly

red flags :
Not to trigger too much HO (ping-pong between macrocell and microcell)
Not to favour emergency HO with respect to power budget HO between micromicro

Averaging windows for power budget handovers

Not to trigger HO to a bad target cell

for example,
the perpendicular cell
at a crossroads
PBGT HO between micros 1, 2

Micro 2

Micro 1

Micro 3

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Macrocell to Microcell HO

Aim :

better trafic distribution between umbrella cells and microcells

speed dependant HO to prevent fast mobiles to camp on microcells

Cause 14 : High Level Microcell

if the received level from the microcell is above an absolute threshold for a sufficient time,
a HO is triggered to the microcell

two conditions :

level condition : L_RXLEV_CPT_HO(n)

time condition : MIN_DWELL_TIME

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Access to microcell: cause 14 (1)

Cause 14 (high level in neighbour microcell)

AV_RXLEV_NCELL(n) > L_RXLEV_CPT_HO(0,n)

and

EN_MCHO_NCELL = TRUE

and

MS_SPEED = slow

Averaging : A_PBGT_HO

C_DWELL(n) : counter to estimate the time a mobile dwells in each neighbour microcell

if RXLEV_NCELL(n) > L_RXLEV_CPT_HO(n) then C_DWELL(n) = C_DWELL(n)+1

if RXLEV_NCELL(n) <=L_RXLEV_CPT_HO(n), then C_DWELL(n) = C_DWELL(n)-1

if C_DWELL(n) > 2 x MIN_DWELL_TIME, MS_SPEED = slow

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Access to microcell: cause 14 (2)

L_RXLEV_CPT_HO(0,n)

the lower this threshold , the more the mobiles captured by the microcell layer
good distribution of traffic
but risks of ping-pong HO between macro and micro layers when the threshold value
is closed to the value of emergency thresholds

if the coverage of microcellular layer is not good enough

example : microcellular zone border or case of many deep indoor calls
Increase the threshold value to minimise ping-pong HO

if the coverage of microcellular layer is very good

example : centre of microcellular zone

Decrease the threshold value to allow more mobiles be captured by microcells

Default value : -85 to -92 dBm

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Specific case of microcell access (1)

Very dense microcellular network can lead to specific threshold tuning (case of Abu-Dhabi network) :

Capture threshold : L_RXLEV_CPT_HO (0,n)

-67 dBm

U_RXLEV_DL_MCHO

A_LEV_MCHO = 6

-72 dbm

L_RXLEV_DL_HO

A_LEV_HO = 4

-85 dbm

And OUTDOOR_UMB_LEV(0,n) = -95 dBm

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Specific case of microcell access (2)

320 m

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Access to microcell: cause 14 (3)

MIN_DWELL_TIME = L_MIN_DWELL_TIME (no load regulation and

EN_SPEED_DISC = disable)

Increasing its value will allow only slow mobiles to be managed by microcellular
layer

If traffic on microcellular layer is not very high, the value may be decreased up
to 5 seconds

risk of successive HO in microcell layer

Default value : 8-10 seconds

A_PBGT_HO in the umbrella cells

Default value : 12

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
T_MS_CELL_REJ and T7

Repetition of handover attempts towards the same

candidate cells is regulated through :

T_MS_CELL_REJ in case of Handover Failure coming from the

mobile. Default value = 4 seconds

T7 in case of congestion, O&M settings, default value = 7 seconds

It can be interesting to optimise these values in

microcellular environment (although they are changeable
on BSC basis) :

Decrease T7 to go more easily from macrocell to congested microcell

Decrease T_MS_CELL_REJ to repeat faster handover attempts when

emergency situations occur in microcells.

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Getting out of a microcellular area (1)

Getting out of a microcellular area

only on emergency HO causes

Possible parameters setting

use of level threshold

use of timing advance

not sufficient for long streets where mobiles are in line of sight

not accurate enough (timing advance value of 1 corresponds to an estimated

MS-BTS distance included in the range 277m and 830m)

use of Power Budget filtering to simulate zone exit on power budget

Triggering of an early emergency cause filtered on a per target cell basis.

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Handover
Getting out of a microcellular area (2)

Use of the power budget filtering process :

PBGT(n) > HO_MARGIN_LEV(0,n)
Macro 900

HO_MARGIN_LEV(0,n) = 0 dB

HO_MARGIN_
LEV(0,n) = 10 dB

HO_MARGIN_LEV(0,n) = 20 dB

Micro 900
Exit of the microcell area

HO_MARGIN_LEV(0,n) = 5 dB

Use of a high
U_RXLEV_DL_MCHO
or a high L_RXLEV_DL_H

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

2.2 Directed retry

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Directed Retry
Presentation

Directed retry is a SDCCH to TCH intercell handover during call

setup procedure. It is triggered when given radio conditions are
met and the serving cell is congested.

A Forced Directed Retry is triggered when the serving cell is

congested and a neighbour cell has free resources and it is
received with a sufficient level.

The forced directed retry allows the sharing of resources from one
cell with another, especially when they have the same service
area. In microcellular network, it can lead to 10 % additional traffic.

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Directed Retry and Forced Directed Retry

DR on usual HO alarms does not create any radio problems as

mobiles remain within the service area of the new serving cell

Forced DR can introduce interferences problems because mobiles are

not within the service area of the normal serving cell

Forced directed retry between one

micro and its umbrella macro

OK : same service area

Forced directed retry between 2

micros ou between 2 macros

according to frequency plan

Cell1

Cell2

BTS
Mobile Station

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Cell3

Directed Retry
Behaviour

The directed retry preparation is supported as :

directed retry on usual handover alarms : same as TCH HO

by a specific condition in the alarm detection process (cause 20) and a

specific candidate cell list evaluation process for Forced directed retry

Remarks :

EN_DR enables the directed retry procedure

EN_FORCED_DR enables/disables the forced directed retry preparation
Only intercell handover alarms are considered i.e. all HO causes except
causes 10, 11, 13, 15, 16
Serving and target cells can belong to different BSC External DR

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Forced directed retry (1)

Cause 20 (high level in neighbour cell for forced DR)

AV_RXLEV_NCELL_DR(n) > L_RXLEV_NCELL_DR(n)
and EN_FORCED_DR = TRUE

Filtering of candidate cells :

AV_RXLEV_NCELL_DR(n) > RXLEVmin(n) + Max(0,(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)- P))

t(n) > Freelevel_DR(n)

Remaining cells are sorted according to PBGT_DR

Averaging : A_PBGT_DR

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Forced directed retry (2)

Filtering of candidate cells :

AV_RXLEV_NCELL_DR(n) > RXLEVmin(n) + max(0,[MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)-P])

t(n) > FREElevel_DR(n)

with :

t(n) = absolute number of free TCHs in the neighbour cell n.

FREElevel_DR(n) = minimum threshold of free TCHs in the neighbour cell n for forced directed
retry.

Ordering of the remaining cells according to PBGT_DR(n) :

PBGT_DR(n)= AV_RXLEV_NCELL_DR(n) - AV_RXLEV_PBGT_DR

- (BS_TXPWR_MAX - BS_TXPWR)
- (MS_TXPWR_MAX(n) - MS_TXPWR_MAX)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Forced directed retry (3)

Specific parameters for forced DR

L_RXLEV_NCELL_DR(n) : level required in the neighbouring cell n

Default value = -85 dBm (macro)

Default value = -47 dBm (micro)

Freelevel_DR(n) : number of free TCH channels required in the

neighbouring cell n
Default value = 4 TCH (macro)

Default value = 255 TCH (micro)

A_PBGT_DR : Average window

Default value = 4 (micro and macro)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

2.3. Intelligent Speed

Discrimination and load
sharing

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Intelligent Speed Discrimination

in hierarchical network (1)
Goals:

maximise capacity (maximum traffic in microcells)

while optimising quality (minimise the number of handovers)

Smart speed discrimination :

The higher the load in the umbrella cell, the higher the speed of MSs can be
before being directed to microcells
maximise capacity

maximise quality (avoid multiple handovers) when the load is low

Fast moving mobiles are directed to umbrella cells

a fast moving MS connected to a microcell is directed to unloaded umbrella cells

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Intelligent Speed Discrimination

in hierarchical network (2)

Mechanisms based on a dwell and connect time

In umbrella cells :

speed estimation based on the dwell time in the neighbour microcells

if this dwell time exceeds MIN_DWELL_TIME, the MS is slow and is sent to the
microcell

In microcells :

speed estimation based on the connect time in the cell

speed is estimated from the last handover from another microcell

if this connect time is below MIN_CONNECT_TIME, the MS is fast and is sent to an

unloaded umbrella cell.

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Intelligent Speed Discrimination

in hierarchical network (3)

Traffic regulation through the variation of

MIN_DWELL_TIME

L_MIN_DWELL_TIME, DWELL_TIME_STEP,
L o a d in
H_MIN_DWELL_TIME

th e
u m b r e lla C e ll

100 %

H_LOAD_OBJ, L_LOAD_OBJ

Default values
dependant on
the number of
TRXs

H _ LO A D _ O B J
R e g u l a ti o n o f
tr a f f i c p e a k
L_ LO A D _ O B J

e n d : l o w tr a f f i c
s ta r t: l o w tr a f f i c

Default values :

L _ M IN _ D W E L L _ T IM E
1 0 seco n d s

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

D W E L L _ T IM E _ S T E P
5 seco n d s

8 seconds

H _ M IN _ D W E L L _ T IM E
4 0 seco n d s

2 seconds

20 seconds

Intelligent Speed Discrimination

in hierarchical network (4)

Load of the umbrella cell (%)

H_LOAD_OBJ = 70 %

L_LOAD_OBJ = 50 %

time (s)
200

600

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

1000

1400

1800

2200

2600

3000

Intelligent Speed Discrimination

in hierarchical network (5)

Transfer of fast moving mobiles from the lower layer

to the upper layer
low load : < L_LOAD_OBJ

high load : L_LOAD_OBJ

HO

HO
MIN_CONNECT_TIME

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

HO

HO

HO

Smart Traffic trade-off

Umbrella / Microcell

Load Sharing between umbrella cells and microcells :

Established calls

When traffic is high in Umbrella cell, mobiles are sent sooner to Microcell layer
(MIN_DWELL_TIME is reduced)

For a fast MS in a microcell, if the load in the umbrella cell is low, this umbrella cell is the
preferred target

objectives : to have always some TCH available in the macrocells

Directed Retry (during call establishment procedure)

highly recommended in microcellular networks

redirect mobiles from saturated microcells to umbrella cells having enough free timeslots

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

2.4. Different types of microcells

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcell profiles (1)

Easy parameter tuning :

Each cell has a type (umbrella cell or microcell) and a specific profile

Specific algorithms are applied for each type of cell

automatic enabling/disabling of parameters

driven candidate cell selection in case of handover

Default parameters depending on the profile

Quick and easy roll-out of microcells & umbrella cells

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcell profiles (2)

For default parameters settings, we consider different

profiles :

Inner Microcell

Border Microcell

Indoor Microcell

Microcells
Microcells

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Umbrella
Umbrellacells
cells

Microcell profiles
Inner microcell

Definition

microcell surrounded by other microcells in

a dense environnement.

Rules

Fast HO macro to micro

Favour Better Cell Handovers

Specific urban area propagation conditions

taken into account for parameter settings
Inner
InnerMicrocell
Microcell

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcell profiles
Border microcell

Definition

microcell bordering the multilayer

area

Rules

Slow down HO macro to micro for

tangent mobiles crossing the border

Limit microcell coverage area to

ensure good QoS

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Border
BorderMicrocell
Microcell

Microcell profiles
Indoor microcell

Definition

microcell dedicated to a
strategic building

Rules

indoor mobiles must be served

by the indoor microcell

service area limited to the

building area
Indoor
IndoorMicrocell
Microcell

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

2.5. Minicells

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Minicells
Introduction

Two scenarios for multilayer roll-out

microcells below existing cells

super umbrella cell over existing cells

Super umbrella cell
R ~ 5 km
Existing cells
1 < R < 2 km
Existing cells
1 < R < 2 km

microcells
R < 300 m

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Minicells
Handover strategy

No risk of street corner

effect in lower layer cells :
No more causes 7, 17, 18.
Modification of Emergency
HO evaluation in lower layer
cell
the first priority cells
subsets are the minicells

RACH
U m b r e lla c e ll
e x te r n a l H O

PBG T and
td w e ll < M I N _ C O N N E C T _ T I M E
a n d u m b r e lla little lo a d e d

RACH
PBGT

M i n i c e ll

H O e m e rg en c y
e x te rn a l H O

EN_RESCUE_UM = Disable
i n c a s e o f n o n a v a il a b i l it y
o f th e p re f e rre d c e ll

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

E m e rg e n c y H O
+ PBGT

M i n i c e ll

H O e m e rg e n c y

PBG T and
( t d w e l l> M I N _ C O N N E C T _ T I M E
o r u m b r e lla c e ll v e r y lo a d e d )

2.6. Idle mode

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Idle mode
Cell selection

Cell selection, use of CELL_BAR_QUALIFY :

set on a per cell basis

only understood by phase 2 MS

broadcast on the BCCH

2 values :
0 = normal priority
1 = lower priority

interacts with CELL_BAR_ACCESS

a phase 2 MS selects the suitable ( C1 > 0 ) cell with the

highest C1 belonging to the list of highest priority

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Idle mode
Cell re-selection (1)

Re-selection, use of C2 :

criterion only used by phase 2 MS

two formulas according to the parameter PENALTY_TIME :

if PENALTY_TIME 31 :

C2 =

C1 + CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET - TEMPORARY_OFFSET*H(PENALTY_TIME - T)

with H(x) = 0 for the serving cell and if x <0 and H(x) = 1 otherwise

if PENALTY_TIME = 31 :

C2 =

C1 - CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET

T is a timer incremented from 0 when the neighbouring cell enters in the list of the 6 strongest
neighbouring cells. T is put back to 0 when the neighbouring cell does not belong to this list any
longer

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Idle mode
Cell re-selection (2)

CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET : 0 to 126 dB, 2 dB steps

TEMPORARY_OFFSET : 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, infinite dB

PENALTY_TIME : 20 to 620 s, 20 s steps

parameters broadcasted on the BCCH if

CELL_RESELECT_PARAM_IND = 1, otherwise C2 = C1

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Idle mode
Cell re-selection (3)

Default values for umbrella cell : PENALTY_TIME = 31

CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET = 0 dB
TEMPORARY_OFFSET = N/A

Default values for microcells :

PENALTY_TIME = 0 (20 seconds)

CELL_RESELECT_OFFSET =20 (40 dB)

TEMPORARY_OFFSET = 7 (infinite)
Before 20 seconds :

Umbrella cell : C2 = C1

Microcell : C2 = C1 + 40 - infinity

After 20 seconds :

Umbrella cell : C2 = C1
Microcell : C2 = C1 + 40

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

2.7. Parameter tuning and QoS

monitoring

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular handover :
Parameter tuning (1)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular handover :
Parameter tuning (2)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular handover :
Parameter tuning (3)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular handover :
Parameter tuning (4)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

QoS Monitoring (1)

QoS indicators give the distribution of handover

attempts specific to microcellular network :

In umbrella cells :

Rate of high level in neighbour microcell Handover attempts

Show the efficency of the transfer of mobiles to microcells

In microcells :

Rate of low downlink level - high threshold Handover attempts

Rate of low uplink level - high threshold Handover attempts
Rate of consecutive bad SACCH frames Handover attempts

Detect problems of tuning in the specific microcellular handover

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

QoS Monitoring (2)

QoS indicators give the traffic flow between umbrella cells and
microcells (Handover requests, attempts and successes)

For example :

Handover traffic flow between one umbrella cell and the microcells below it
Show the efficency of the transfer of mobiles to microcells
Handover traffic flow between one microcell and :
the neighbour microcells
the neighbour umbrella cells.

Show the efficency of micro to micro handover relationship

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

QoS Monitoring (3)

QoS indicators give the traffic handled by each microcells and the
microcellular layer

Rate of traffic handled by the microcells / the microcellular layer

Show

the pure benefit of microcells

QoS indicators give the efficiency and the benefit of forced directed
retry

Rate of attempted DR when request is queued

Rate of successful forced DR

Traffic handled by the hierarchical network when forced directed retry is applied.

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

2.8. Example on the field

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Network Description (1)

Microcellular Network is composed of :

Microcellular layer : 16 microcells (37 TRXs)

11 outdoor microcells with 2 TRXs

1 outdoor microcell with 3 TRXs

2 indoor microcells (pico cells) with 2 TRXs

2 indoor microcells (pico cells) with 4 TRXs

Umbrella layer : 12 macrocells

Macro-umbrella cells configuration : concentric cells

4 intra-BSC macro-umbrella cells

8 Inter-BSC & Inter-OMC macro-umbrella cells

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Network Description (2)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

RF Design
Initial Requirements

Coverage

Yellow : Street Level

Red : Strategic Buildings

Quality

On street : RxQual < 4 : 95%

Indoor : RxQual < 4 : 90% for strategic buildings and non strategic building
(10 meters)

Traffic absorption

90% slow moving MS taken by microcells

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Frequency plan

A band dedicated to microcells has been freed within

the macrolayer bandwidth
7 8

17 18

30

FU3-FU4
MICRO +
MACRO FU2
Concentric far macros

61

65 66

MICRO +
far macros

89
BCCH

The microlayer uses 17 frequencies within the bands

8-17, 61-66, 30, 71, 77, 84, 87

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Network Optimisation
Proceedings

Optimisation before commercial service opening

Frequency plan validation, interference problem detection and solution

Coverage, quality assessment and optimisation

Microcellular algorithms parameters settings and optimisation

Commercial
Service
Opening
Optimisation after
commercial service
opening

Parameters fine tuning to cope with real traffic situation

QoS follow up and Optimisation for QoS improvement

Performance and traffic assessment

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Network Performance
Assessment Methodology

The network performance has been evaluated by :

Coverage and Quality

Air interface walk and drive tests using defined test routes

Indoor tests : strategic and non strategic buildings

A-bis interface statistics for uplink and downlink quality

Quality of Service
Call setup success rate
Call drop rate

OMC-R data for QoS seen by network side

Walk and drive tests for QoS seen by subscribers

Traffic absorption and new traffic generation by microcells

Busy Hour traffic absorption by microcells
New traffic generation by microcells

Traffic distribution between micro and macro layers by walk and drive tests

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Coverage & Quality

Street Level

Drive & Walk Tests through defined test routes

RxQual < 4

More than 95% of the

street area with RxQual < 4

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%

RxLev Mean

10%
0%
Global Zone
Global Drive
East Drive
Macrolayer
Microcellular network

Meir Walk
Bazar Walk
Microcellular network carkit
Bazar Walk

Meir Walk

East Drive

Quality & Coverage

Improved

Global Drive

Global Zone
-80

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

-70
-60
Macrolayer

-50
-40
Microcellular network

-30
-20
-10
Microcellular network carkit

Coverage & Quality

Strategic Buildings
RxQual < 4

More than 90% of the

floor area with RxQual < 4

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%

Diamant BeursStairs

Diamant Beurs +8

Diamant Beurs +4

Diamant Beurs Hall

Empire shopping centre

Centraal Station Platforms

Grand Bazar +2

Grand Bazar 0

Grand Bazar -1

30%

Centraal Station Hall

40%

RxLev Mean

Diamant Beurs +8
Diamant Beurs Hall
Centraal Station Platforms
Grand Bazar +2
Grand Bazar -1
-70

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

Coverage & Quality

Indoor Results

RxQual < 4

More than 90% of the

test area with RxQual < 4

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%

RxLev Mean

50%
Hilton +5

40%

Hilton +4

Hilton +3

Hilton +2

Hilton 0

Hilton -1

Groendelstraat

30%

Meir Shops

Hilton +4
Hilton +3
Hilton +2
Hilton 0
Hilton -1
Groendelstraat
Meir Shops
-90

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

-80

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

Quality of Service
Seen by Network

Microcellular network: call setup success rate evolution

(Microcells com mercial service openning: 17/09/1997)

Call Setup
Sucess Rate

call setup success rate

100.0%
microcells
commercial opening

80.0%

Call setup success rate

60.0%

Mean value (before): 81.15%

Mean value (after) 96.37%

40.0%

09/30

09/28

09/26

09/24

09/22

09/20

09/18

09/16

09/14

09/12

09/10

09/08

09/06

09/04

09/02

20.0%

date

Microcellular network: call drop rate evolution

(Microcells com m ercial service openning: 17/09/1997)

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Call drop rate

2.0%

Mean value (before): 2.51 %

1.5%

Mean value (after) 1.69%

microcells
commercial opening

1.0%
0.5%

date

09/30

09/28

09/26

09/24

09/22

09/20

09/18

09/16

09/14

09/12

09/10

09/08

09/06

0.0%
09/04

Call Drop
Rate

3.0%
2.5%

09/02

call drop rate

3.5%

Quality of Service
Seen by Subscribers

Repeated calls by walk and drive tests performed

within the microcellular area using defined test
routes
214 calls : call mode : 60s
idle mode : 30s
98.6% call setup success
0.0% dropped calls

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Network
Busy Hour Traffic

140
117.9

120

116.1

112.5

78

45.9
17.9

29.1

42.9
19.2

31.4

36.4

71.1
60

54.7

60
40

115.1

72.3

76.8

72.5

71.6

71

80

41.7

124.5

98.4
70.5

94.3

68.6

100.7
95.9 95.1 98.4 94.6

70.6

100

114 116.9

121.6
121.6
118.5

20

Macrocells

30/9

29/9

28/9

27/9

26/9

25/9

24/9

23/9

22/9

21/9

20/9

19/9

18/9

17/9

16/9

15/9

14/9

13/9

12/9

11/9

10/9

9/9

8/9

0
Microcells

20% New Traffic Generation

70% of Macro Traffic absorbed by Microcells
MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Traffic absorption
From one macrocell

Traffic absorption by microcells: 03DIA0

(M icroce lls com m e r cial s e rvice ope ning: 17/09/1997)

B H t r a f f ic ( Er la n g )

25.0

23.8
20.0
15.0
10.0

7.6

0 9 /3 0

0 9 /2 8

0 9 /2 6

0 9 /2 4

0 9 /2 2

0 9 /2 0

date

0 9 /1 8

0 9 /1 6

0 9 /1 4

0 9 /1 2

0 9 /1 0

0 9 /0 8

0 9 /0 4

0.0

0 9 /0 2

5.0

about 16 Erl
absorbed by microcells
congestion problem
solved

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Microcellular Network
Traffic : Summary

Traffic absorption and generation by microcells

New traffic generation : 20% (19.5 Erlang)

Busy hour traffic increase : 10% in two weeks in microcell layer

(from 70.6 Erlang on 17/09 to 78 Erlang on 30/09)

Traffic distribution between micro and macro layer

On street and indoor tests show more than 90% of traffic is taken
by microcells

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

Alcatel Algorithms Efficiency

From macrocell to microcell
17.7

16.1
13.3

Until 17/09 : microcell

O3DKM 0: call drop rate e volution (M icrocell: since 17/09/1997)

microcells
commercial opening

Call drop rate

09/30

09/28

09/26

09/24

09/22

09/20

09/18

09/16

09/14

09/12

09/10

09/08

09/06

Mean 1.32% bef ore

09/04

3.0%
2.5%
2.0%
1.5%
1.0%
0.5%
0.0%

09/02

call drop rate

date

Up to 16/09 :
macrocell

09/30

09/28

09/26

09/24

09/22

09/20

09/18

09/16

09/14

09/12

09/10

09/08

09/06

09/04

09/02

Erlang (BH)

Microcell traffic evolution: 03DKM0 (m icrocell: since 17/09/1997)

18.0
16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0

Mean 0.8% af ter

Traffic
Increased

date

03DKM0: call setup success rate evolution (Microcells: since 17/09/1997)

call drop rate

100.0%
microcells
commercial opening

80.0%

Call setup success rate

Mean (before) 80.10%

60.0%

Mean (after) 96.96%

date

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,

09/30

09/28

09/26

09/24

09/22

09/20

09/18

09/16

09/14

09/12

09/10

09/08

09/06

09/04

09/02

40.0%

QoS
Improved

Conclusion

Coverage and quality improvement provided by microcells in downtown

Quality of service improved by microcells

Quality improved within the whole microcellular area

West area : important improvement of coverage and quality
Indoor coverage : strategic buildings and shops.

Improvement on Call setup success rate and dropped call rate

East area : increased capacity, congestion problem solved

Traffic generation and increase

Due to no more congested macrocells, 20% new traffic were generated by microcells
Traffic increase in microcell layer is about 10% in two weeks
The traffic increase is very high. Many cells have very high traffic. Network extension
is thus expected to prevent from congestion problems in the near future.

MND/BU RA/PCS/NOD,