HCS functionality test (LAYER structure)

Reza Parsaee Mar. 16, 2011

Preface
A test of HCS feature functionality is conducted in Astana and the results are presented in this slideshow. An area in the Northwest of Astana city (Koktal region) is selected for the test purpose. One street in which is coverage is divided between 900/1800MHz cells is driven 3 times back and forth. Scanning and long call MSs are used to record the dedicated mode behavior as well as received power on BCCH. Scanner is required because HCS uses the compensated RxLev (an estimate of BCCH Rxlev) in decision making process when the MS is in dedicated mode and power control is applied in downlink. Scanner helps to acquire the real BCCH RxLev.

Test scenario
Test area is served by:
4KOKTL6,7 (1800MHz) from North 4ASKOR1 and 4ASTUL3 (900MHz) from South

HCS parameters of serving cells are as follow:

BSC ASTA_B4 ASTA_B4 ASTA_B4 ASTA_B4 Cell Name 4KOKTL7 4KOKTL6 4ASTUL3 4ASKOR1 type INT INT INT INT layer 3 3 5 5 layerthr layerhyst psstemp 70 2 0 75 2 0 78 2 0 78 2 0 ptimtemp 0 0 0 0 fastmsreg OFF OFF OFF OFF

The aim of this test is to check whether Layer structure triggers the HO ontime, when the RxLev threshold is crossed. MS2 is used for long call and MS3 performed scanning. In the next slide we have depicted scanned RxLevs from the BCCH of the serving 1800MHz (ARFCN-549) in two colors: red when above the LAYERTHR (= -70dBm in this case) and blue when below it. For MS2, HOs from 900 to 1800 and vice versa are also depicted with different symbols.

Results

Results a close up
The dashed line roughly shows the point where scanned BCCH power crosses the LAYERTHR of 4KOKTL7 (above and below 70dBm). HOs from 4KOKTL7 to 4ASKOR1 occur nearly 60m after this point. Ont the way back, HOs from 4ASKOR1 to 4KOKTL7 also take place about 40m after this point. This indicates the healthy functionality of the hysteresis process (LAYERHYST=2). Difference in hysteresis distances is most likely due to different relative position of MS to the cell (objects such as the car, car window, drive-tester body and so on) and small difference between the levels seen by MS2/MS3 when driving back and forth.

40m

60m

Conclusion
Layer structure of HCS feature works perfectly as expected. As LAYERTHR, LAYER and other related parameters are all on cell level, Layer structure gives a high degree of freedom to the optimizer to adjust the priority area based on signal level, traffic, and interference in any certain area. Band structure offers only BSC-level adjustments for the same function. In other words, Layer structure is able to provide the exact same cell priorities area as Band structure does, but with much more flexibility. It is strongly recommended to keep the Layer structure active in Astana.