Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 19–23, 2012 1575

A Method of PCI Planning in LTE Based on Genetic Algorithm

Hao Sun, Nan Li, Yanlei Chen, Jiangbo Dong, Na Liu, Yunbo Han, and Wei Liu
China Mobile Design Institute, Beijing, China

Abstract— Physical Cell ID (PCI) planning is one of the most important steps in whole Long
Term Evolution (LTE) network planning and construction. It is difficult to improve the QoS of
Network by some traditional methods, such as antenna adjustment in LTE system. Assigning
PCI reasonably is able to decrease interference and increase operation rate and performance of
the network. A PCI planning system is presented in this paper. This system would analyze the
interference of LTE system and build up an interference matrix. Then this system would use
genetic algorithm to adjust the distribution of PIC to minimize the interference. Finally a PCI
plan scheme would be given by this system.

1. INTRODUCTION
Physical Cell ID (PCI) is one of the most important cell’s identifier in the wireless network of LTE
system. Therefore, PCI planning is one of the most important steps in LTE network planning and
construction. To assign and use PCI reasonably could reduce interference and increase resource
utilization and QoS of the LTE system. PCI in LTE only has 168 groups, 504 in total [1], which is
not enough for needs of LTE commercial networks.
The main idea of genetic algorithms is that adaptable individuals in the group have more chance
to hybrid in order to inherit good characteristics. In this way, the group as a whole could adapt
to the environment. Genetic algorithm starts with a problem which could have potential results.
Then, based on the principle of survival of the fittest, the problem would get the best approximate
solution by the evolution of each generation. In each generation, the most adaptable individuals
are picked to produce new population presenting new by combination, crossover and mutation with
the genetic operators. This procedure would lead to evolution of the population to much more
adaptable as in the nature. The best individual though decoding in the latest population could
seem as the best approximate solution of the problem [2].
LTE network needs not only well Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP), but also high Signal
to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR). If PCI could not be planned well, it will cause high
interruption of Reference Signal (RS). Then this situation would cause black hole of signal coverage.
A method of PCI planning based on genetic algorithm is presented in this paper to assign PCI
reasonably for LTE networks. This method could improve the PCI plan result to increase the QoS
of LTE network.

2. PRINCIPLES
The theoretical basis of genetic algorithm is schema theorem and building block assumptions. The
basic follow of genetic algorithm is shown as Figure 1 [3].
Schema theorem has the character of low order, short length and average fitness of the mode
of degree higher than the population means fitness in the offspring. A schema could contain many
strings, and different strings could link to each other through schema. The string operator in the
genetic algorithm is essentially a mode of operation.
Statistics researches show that to obtain optimal feasible solution in random search should make
sure that the sample of better feasible solutions must grow exponentially.
2.1. Mathematical Modeling
There are two ways of string and binary encoding in genetic algorithm. Binary encoding method is
used in this paper. The result of this problem is presented by an n ∗ m two-dimensional matrix F .
Figure 2 shows that different antenna numbers in LTE system would get different matrix F . Every
element in this matrix is presented as fij , which the value is 1 or 0. When PCI j is assigned to cell
Pm
i, fij = 1, otherwise fij = 0. In order to satisfy the demand vector, we need to make fij = di ,
j=1
which di is cell i’s PCI demand, n is number of cell, m is the number of usable frequency [4].
1576 PIERS Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 19–23, 2012

generate the initial

population
(generate several
individuals randomly)

Evaluate fitness
functions

Meet
Yes optimization
criteria

No
Find the best
individual and
select
operateor
Genetic

finish

cross

mutation

Figure 1: Follow of genetic algorithm. Figure 2: Mapping of downlink reference signals.

2.2. Initial Population

There are two ways to initial population generally, one is random generation, which is used for the
situation of solution to the problem without any prior knowledge, and another one is to transfer
some prior knowledge to a group of essential requirements, then choose the population randomly
from the results which meet the requirement. In order to get the optimal solution faster, the second
way is used to initial population in this paper [5].
3. SYSTEM REALIZATIONS
Genetic algorithm is packaged in this paper to realize the function of automatic plan for each cell’s
PCI in LTE.
3.1. Theory of Automatic PCI Plan
There are several factors needed to consider during PCI code plan, such as PBCH, PDCCH and
so on. In this system, user could choose one or multiple channels as the considerations during PCI
plan. As known, the different channel has different parameter. For example, PBCH uses initial
parameter
Cell
CInit = NID , (1)
Cell is PCI of this cell. PDCCH uses initial parameter
which NID

CInit = bns /2c ∗ 29 + NID

Cell
, (2)

which ns is number of timeslot in frame, NIDCell is PCI of this cell. PCFICH uses initial parameter

³ ´
Cell
CInit = (bns /2c + 1) ∗ 2 ∗ NID + 1 ∗ 29 + NID
Cell
, (3)

Cell is PCI of this cell.

which ns is number of timeslot in frame, NID
1 P
N
Correlation of scrambling code in LTE is calculated by Rab = N ai · bi . Considering the delay
i=1
of LTE system, an improved method is used as follows:
N ½
1 X N, (i + m) mod N = 0
Rab = aM · bi , M= (4)
N (i + m) mod N, (i + m) mod N 6= 0
i=1
Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 19–23, 2012 1577

start

1. select cells

2 . generate PCI plan

requirement list
input

3. select usable PCI

PCI plan requirement
PCI plan
system

4. generate cell
interference matrix
Interference matrix
Database
5. initial populate
PCI plan (genetic
output
algorithm )
6. evaluation
solution
10. mutation
Is get the best
9.cross approximate Yes 11. adjustment
solution
No
8. selection 7. Save the best 12. output
individual, or
replace the worst
finish
individual

Figure 3: Construction of PCI plan system. Figure 4: Flow of PCI plan algorithm.

3.2. PCI Automatic Plan

PCI plan module is used for assisting LTE network plan and optimizes and gets best solution of
PCI plan. System would obtain cell information, such as frequency, and measurement report, etc.
before PCI planning. Then system would assign PCI for cells in order to reduce the interference of
the whole LTE network as far as possible. At last, the system would output the solution for users.
PCI plan module is shown in Figure 3, which, the flow of PCI plan algorithm is shown in Figure 4.

4. SIMULATION RESULT OF PCI PLAN

All the algorithm and method introduced above are coded with C# and used in LTE plan tool
ANPOP. This PCI plan system also needs Geographic Information System (GIS) as an addition
condition. In this section, we use RS and PBCH’s SINR to evaluate the effect of PCI plan method
based on genetic algorithm by compare with the simulation result of manual and automatic PCI
plan.
At the same time, Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is also launched in this paper. Assuming there
are 5 UEs every cell, service type is Full Buffer FTP. The result of MC shows as follows:

Manual PCI plan, average cell throughput is 16.3 Mbps, average cell edge throughput is
0.43 Mbps;
Automatic PCI plan using genetic algorithm, average cell throughput is 20.1 Mbps, average
cell edge throughput is 0.65 Mbps.

To compare the two results, we could know that, using the second method could increase cell
throughput 23.3%, and cell edge throughput 51.2%.
According to the results above, the algorithm mentioned in this paper could reduce same fre-
quency disturbance and improve SINR coverage of the network, and also could increase the through-
put of the LTE network.
1578 PIERS Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 19–23, 2012

RS simulation result by PCI plan manually RS simulation result by PCI plan of genetic algorithm

RS SINR Area (km 2) Persentage (%) RS SINR Area (km 2) Persentage (%)

−15.0 =< X < −10.0 0.025 0.1 −15.0 =< X < −10.0 0.000 0.0

−10.0 =< X < −3.0 4.988 13.6 −10.0 =< X < −3.0 0.025 0.1

−3.0 =< X < 5.0 4.187 11.4 −3.0 =< X < 5.0 4.988 13.6

5.0 =< X < 10.0 8.137 22.2 5.0 =< X < 10.0 4.187 11.4

10.0 =< X < 20.0 15.330 41.8 10.0 =< X < 20.0 8.137 22.2

20.0 =< X < 40.0 4.016 10.9 20.0 =< X < 40.0 15.330 41.8

40.0 =< X 0.000 0.0 40.0 =< X 4.016 10.9

Figure 5: Simulation results of RS’s SINR.

5. CONCLUSIONS
From the simulation result above, we could get the conclusion that assigning PCI reasonably is able
to effectively reduce the interference in LTE system, especially in the case of constructing network
using the same frequency, and to improve coverage and QoS of the network. As a result, PCI plan
algorithm presented in this paper is suitable for multi-antenna LTE system.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Especially thanks to my lovely wife; I cannot finish this paper without her support.
REFERENCES
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