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`US008112094Bl
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Wellington
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`Feb.7,2012
`
`(54) RADIO ACCESS LAYER MANAGEMENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Daniel P. Wellington, Redmond, WA
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC, Atlanta, GA
`(US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1363 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/148,759
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun.9,2005
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04W 74100
`(2009.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................................................... 455/453
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............... 455/435.2,
`455/436,448,446,437,438,439,440,441-445,
`455/452.2, 453, 522, 69, 552; 370/331, 335,
`370/252, 329
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,933,782 A *
`8/1999 Nakano et al. ................ 455/522
`6,181,919 Bl*
`1/2001 Ozluturk ......................... 455/69
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`412002 Widegren et al.
`
`6,393,286 Bl
`6,490,452 Bl *
`6,693,952 Bl
`6,738,632 B2
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`6,853,648 Bl
`7,174,185 B2 *
`200210019231 Al *
`200210052206 Al*
`2003/0125039 Al*
`200410014436 Al*
`2004/0259565 Al*
`2006/0111041 Al*
`2006/0156157 Al*
`200610166677 Al *
`2006/0203923 Al *
`* cited by examiner
`
`............. 455/436
`
`512002 Svensson
`12/2002 Boscovic et al.
`212004 Chuah et al.
`512004 D'herbemont et al.
`7/2004 Hobbis
`8/2004 Jeschke et al.
`1112004 Peisa
`212005 Krstanovski et al.
`212007 Sato et al ...................... 455/522
`212002 Palenius et al. ............... 455/437
`512002 Longoni ....................... 455/453
`7/2003 Lachtar et al. ................ 455/453
`1/2004 Lipka et al. ................... 455/112
`12/2004 Lucidarme .................... 455/453
`.................... 455/13.4
`512006 Karabinis
`712006 Haselden et al.
`............. 714/746
`712006 Derakshan et al. ........... 455/453
`912006 Costa et al. ................... 375/260
`
`Primary Examiner - Melody Mehrpour
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Architecture that efficiently adds additional carrier(s) (e.g.,
`UMTS) to a wireless operator's network which allows the
`additional carrier( s) network to co-exist with other technolo(cid:173)
`gies by sharing the spectrum in geographically adjacent sites.
`When employing UMTS, the UMTS is CDMA-based such
`that all users utilize the same frequency 5 MHz band. With
`this innovation, additional carriers (e.g., a 2nd 5 MHz UMTS
`carrier) can be added when capacity is needed on a site-by(cid:173)
`site basis without clearing an additional 5 MHz of spectrum.
`
`40 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`rtOO
`
`102
`
`EXISTING
`CARRIER
`LOADING DAT A
`
`ANOTHER
`CARRIER
`C2, ... ,CN
`
`CARRIER COMPONENT
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 1of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
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`104
`
`CARRIER COMPONENT
`
`FIG.1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 2of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`START
`
`RECEIVE CELL FOR CARRIER
`SERVICES
`
`EMPLOY FIRST CARRIER IN
`CELL
`
`200
`
`202
`
`MONITOR CONGESTION LOAD
`OF OPERA TI ON AL CARRIER(S)
`
`204
`
`>-__..,.
`
`PROCESS LOAD USING
`EXISTING CARRIER(S)
`
`_
`
`......
`
`208
`
`EMPLOY ANOTHER CARRIER
`TO HANDLE EXCESS LOAD
`
`210
`
`y
`
`PROCESS LOAD USING
`EXISTING CARRIER(S)
`
`214
`
`STOP
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 3of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`START
`
`RECEIVE CELL FOR CARRIER
`SERVICES
`
`EMPLOY FIRST CARRIER IN
`CELL
`
`MONITOR CONGESTION LOAD
`OF OPERATIONAL CARRIER(S)
`
`300
`
`302
`
`304
`
`> - - -
`
`PROCESS LOAD USING
`EXISTING CARRIER(S)
`
`308
`
`EMPLOY ANOTHER CARRIER
`TO HANDLE EXCESS LOAD
`
`310
`
`PROCESS LOAD USING
`EXISTING CARRIER(S)
`
`314
`
`N
`
`DROP AN ADDED CARRIER
`
`318
`
`STOP
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 4of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`~400
`
`CONGESTION
`LOADING
`DATA
`
`TRAFFIC
`MANAGEMENT
`COMPONENT
`
`TRIGGER
`COMPONENT
`
`402
`
`404
`
`406
`
`CARRIER
`COMPONENT
`
`1----...
`
`ENABLE/DISABLE
`CARRIERS
`Cz, ... ,CN
`
`FIG. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 5of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`rsoo
`
`PRlMAR Y UMTS
`CARRlER
`
`2N°UMTS
`CARRlER
`
`FIG. 5
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 7, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 12
`
`US 8,112,094 B1
`
`PRIMARY UMTS
`CARRIER
`
`
`
`
`
`28° UMTS
`CARRIER
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Page 6
`
`CommScope Ex. 1007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 6of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`r6oo
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`G+U
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`
`FIG. 6
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 7, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 12
`
`US 8,112,094 B1
`
`‘G+U+G’
`
`608
`
`608
`
`G+U+G’
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 7
`
`CommScope Ex. 1007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 7of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`START
`
`710
`
`ASSIGN
`USER TOU'
`
`714
`
`ASSIGN
`USERTOU
`
`718
`
`ASSIGN
`USER TOE
`
`BLOCKING
`MODE
`
`720
`
`FIG. 7
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 7, 2012
`
`Sheet 7 of 12
`
`US 8,112,094 B1
`
`
`
`
`704
`702
`700
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`
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`
`Page 8
`
`CommScope Ex. 1007
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 8of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`START
`
`808
`
`ASSIGN
`USER TOU
`
`812
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`
`BLOCKING
`MODE
`
`816
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`
`818
`
`REMOVE NEW CARRIER
`WHEN CONGESTION
`REDUCED
`
`820
`
`FIG. 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 9of12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`START
`
`N
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`y
`
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`MODE
`
`916
`
`FIG. 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 10 of 12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`CONGESTION
`LOADING
`DATA
`
`rlOOO
`
`TRAFFIC
`MANAGEMENT
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7,2012
`
`Sheet 12 of 12
`
`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`PROCESSING
`UNIT
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`1204
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`

`

`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`1
`RADIO ACCESS LAYER MANAGEMENT
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`2
`In still another innovative aspect, when congestion of the
`existing carriers subsides or is reduced, the carrier component
`can automatically reduce the number of carriers in the cell
`such that only carriers that are needed to carry traffic, are
`deployed.
`In yet another aspect thereof, an artificial intelligence com(cid:173)
`ponent is provided that employs a probabilistic and/or statis(cid:173)
`tical-based analysis to prognose or infer an action that a user
`desires to be automatically performed.
`To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends,
`certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are
`described herein in connection with the following description
`and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, how-
`15 ever, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles
`disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include
`all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and
`novel features will become apparent from the following
`detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
`20 drawings.
`
`10
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Mobile data communications is evolving quickly because
`of global communications network such as the Internet, intra(cid:173)
`nets, laptops, PD As (personal digital assistants) and increased
`requirements of workforce mobility. Third generation mobile
`system (3G) technologies (e.g., UMTS-Universal Mobile
`Telecommunications System) are considered enhancements
`to GSM (Global System for Mobile telecommunications)
`cellular standards.
`New technologies are required to deliver high speed loca(cid:173)
`tion and mobile terminal specific content to users. The emer(cid:173)
`gence of new technologies thus provides an opportunity for a
`boom similar to what the computer industry had in 1980's,
`and that Internet and wireless voice had in 1990's.
`UMTS can be considered to be the commercial conver(cid:173)
`gence of fixed line telephony, mobile, Internet and computer
`technology. The UMTS transport network is preferred when
`handling high data traffic. Conventionally, a spectrum is
`cleared for various technologies on a marketwide basis. For
`GSM and TDMA (time division multiple access) technolo(cid:173)
`gies which require re-use plans, the channel bandwidth is 25
`relatively small, 200 and 30 KHz respectively, thus wasting
`200 or 30 KHz of spectrum is not problematic. However, the
`UMTS carrier is 5 MHz wide so clearing such a large amount
`of spectrum on a marketwide basis when many UMTS sites
`do not yet need additional carrier capacity wastes precious 30
`spectrum.
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a system that facilitates multi-carrier
`implementation in accordance with the subject innovation.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a methodology of managing cell conges(cid:173)
`tion by adding a carrier according to an innovative aspect.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a methodology of managing cell conges(cid:173)
`tion by dynamically adding and reducing the number of car(cid:173)
`riers according to an innovative aspect.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a system that facili(cid:173)
`tates carrier management in a communications cell in accor(cid:173)
`dance with another aspect of the innovation.
`FIG. 5 illustrates a partial cell that depicts carrier manage-
`35 ment in accordance with an aspect.
`FIG. 6 illustrates cell group of seven cells each of which
`employs carrier management in accordance with the dis(cid:173)
`closed innovation.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a methodology of assigning users of data
`40 when utilizing two carrier technologies in accordance with an
`innovative aspect.
`FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative methodology of assigning
`users of data when utilizing UMTS and GSM EDGE carrier
`technologies in accordance with an innovative aspect.
`FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative methodology of assigning
`users of voice data when utilizing UMTS and GSM carrier
`technologies in accordance with an innovative aspect.
`FIG.10 illustrates a system that employs an artificial intel(cid:173)
`ligence which facilitates automating one or more features in
`50 accordance with the subject innovation.
`FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary UMTS network that
`facilitates carrier management in accordance with the subject
`innovation.
`FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of a computer operable
`to execute the disclosed carrier management architecture.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The following presents a simplified summary in order to
`provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the dis(cid:173)
`closed innovation. This summary is not an extensive over(cid:173)
`view, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or
`to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present
`some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more
`detailed description that is presented later.
`The disclosed architecture is a software algorithm that
`efficiently adds additional UMTS carriers to a wireless opera(cid:173)
`tor's network which allows the UMTS network to co-exist
`with other technologies by sharing the spectrum in geo- 45
`graphically adjacent sites. The UMTS is CDMA-based such
`that all users utilize the same frequency 5 MHz band. With
`this innovation, additional carriers (e.g., a rd 5 MHz UMTS
`carrier) can be added when capacity is needed on a site-by(cid:173)
`site basis without clearing an additional 5 MHz of spectrum.
`This software can reside entirely in the radio access node
`and/or a RNC (radio network controller) product.
`As disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, the
`innovation includes a system that facilitates carrier manage(cid:173)
`ment in a cellular network. A cell is provided that employs a 55
`first carrier for cellular services. A carrier component
`dynamically enables a second carrier in the cell based in part
`on congestion loading of the first carrier.
`In another aspect thereof, a traffic management component
`is provided that monitors cell traffic on one or more of the 60
`operational carriers. When congestion in the one or more
`carriers reaches a predetermined level, another carrier can be
`automatically added to handle the overload.
`In yet another aspect thereof, a trigger component is pro(cid:173)
`vided that monitors one or more parameters that trigger 65
`enablement of an additional carrier in the cell over the exist-
`ing carriers that currently exist in operation.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The innovation is now described with reference to the
`drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to
`like elements throughout. In the following description, for
`purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set
`forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It
`may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced
`without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
`structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in
`order to facilitate a description thereof.
`
`

`

`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`3
`As used in this application, the terms "component" and
`"system" are intended to refer to a computer-related entity,
`either hardware, a combination of hardware and software,
`software, or software in execution. For example, a component
`can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a
`processor, a processor, a hard disk drive, multiple storage
`drives (of optical and/or magnetic storage medium), an
`object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or
`a computer. By way of illustration, both an application run(cid:173)
`ning on a server and the server can be a component. One or
`more components can reside within a process and/or thread of
`execution, and a component can be localized on one computer
`and/or distributed between two or more computers.
`As used herein, the term to "infer" or "inference" refer
`generally to the process of reasoning about or inferring states
`of the system, environment, and/or user from a set of obser(cid:173)
`vations as captured via events and/or data. Inference can be
`employed to identify a specific context or action, or can
`generate a probability distribution over states, for example.
`The inference can be probabilistic-that is, the computation
`of a probability distribution over states of interest based on a
`consideration of data and events. Inference can also refer to
`techniques employed for composing higher-level events from
`a set of events and/or data. Such inference results in the
`construction of new events or actions from a set of observed 25
`events and/or stored event data, whether or not the events are
`correlated in close temporal proximity, and whether the
`events and data come from one or several event and data
`sources.
`The disclosed architecture facilitates optimal UMTS (Uni(cid:173)
`versal Mobile Telecommunications System) radio layer man(cid:173)
`agement (URLM) that leads to spectral efficiencies on both
`GSM (Global System for mobile telecommunications) and
`UMTS networks. The subject innovation provides higher
`spectrum efficiency by increasing UMTS capacity on high
`capacity sites. On a site-by-site basis, the subject innovation
`provides a capacity increase of about 100% when adding a
`second UMTS carrier, and about 50% when adding a third
`UMTS carrier, etc. UMTS is CDMA-based such that all users
`can utilize the same 5 MHz frequency band. Near optimum
`use of a combined spectrum can be provided during transition
`years between carriers, for example, GSM (global system for
`mobile telecommunications) and UMTS. Concept is also
`applicable to the addition of the 3rd UMTS carrier.
`The innovation provides for enhanced enterprise experi(cid:173)
`ence. With enterprise users requiring higher data rates and
`capacity (e.g., 384 kb and HSDPA-High Speed Downlink
`Packet Access), second or even third 5 MHz blocks can be
`added in very specific areas without negatively impacting
`surrounding sites. Parameter settings can be uniformly set by
`market engineers with little need for continued drive testing
`or continued site by site analysis. For special events requiring
`heavy voice and data usage that may exceed a single carrier's
`capacity, this can be achieved much easier with a second
`UMTS carrier on the same sector rather than adding a second 55
`cell on wheels (COW), for example. Additionally, the inno(cid:173)
`vation allows flexibility in placing voice and traffic on which(cid:173)
`ever UMTS or GSM/EDGE (enhanced data for GSM evolu(cid:173)
`tion) layers that make sense.
`In one implementation, an additional UMTS carrier (de- 60
`noted U') can be assigned to the inner layer in order to simul(cid:173)
`taneously share the 5 MHz spectrum with surrounding GSM
`cell sites. Impacts to GSM are minimized because the addi(cid:173)
`tional UMTS carrier is a broadband interferer to GSM with
`about a 15 dB spreading factor, is lower power than the
`primary UMTS carrier, for example, and is further separated
`geographically in distance from its GSM neighbors. Impacts
`
`4
`to UMTS are minimized from GSM because GSM uses hop(cid:173)
`ping frequencies in this 5 MHz band, and they are further
`separated geographically due to small UMTS coverage area.
`A 5-6 dB reduction in the added UMTS layer results in
`about 50% of the maximum serving area of primary UMTS
`carrier U, which is still a large amount of traffic. In one
`implementation, it can be feasible in some areas to reduce
`coverage by 10 dB. It is to be appreciated that ifthe correla(cid:173)
`tion between peak GSM traffic levels and UMTS traffic levels
`10 in the same area is not 100% correlated, then the benefits of
`URLM are even more significant. In one implementation,
`algorithms can be developed that target low mobility users for
`the added carrier U' layer first, before the primary layer U.
`This minimizes the handovers between U' and U layers. In
`15 another implementation, a method of obtaining additional
`carrier U' coverage is to use soft (but not softer) handover as
`a trigger for ascension to the primary U layer.
`Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a
`system 100 that facilitates multi-carrier implementation in
`20 accordance with the subject innovation. There is provided a
`cell 102 in which at least one carrier (denoted C 1 ) is employed
`to provide cellular communications. The cell 102 allows for
`high traffic communications including data, streaming voice,
`streaming video, etc. Since a cell carrier can only handle so
`much data, it is possible for the cell carrier to become con(cid:173)
`gested or overloaded. In accordance with an innovative
`aspect, a carrier component 104 is provided that monitors
`carrier traffic in the cell 102. An input to the carrier compo(cid:173)
`nent 104 can be the existing carrier loading data that describes
`30 the amount of congestion on the carrier (C 1 ). When the carrier
`(C 1 ) becomes congested to where additional callers cannot be
`allowed to connect (are blocked), the carrier component 104
`facilitates the deployment of an additional carrier (e.g., C2 ) in
`the cell 102 that operates in the same spectrum as the first
`35 carrier (C 1 ). Similarly, if both the first and second carriers
`become congested, a third carrier can be deployed, and so on,
`to an Nth carrier, denoted CN.
`The carrier component 104 can operate dynamically such
`that deployment of additional carriers can occur dynamically
`40 based on traffic congestion at any given moment in time. For
`example, as described supra, when congestion of an existing
`carrier is high such that blocking can occur, the carrier com(cid:173)
`ponent 104 automatically deploys an additional carrier (e.g.,
`the rd carrier C2 ). When cell congestion decreases such that
`45 all traffic can be handled by the first carrier or the previous set
`of carriers, the carrier component 104 causes the last added
`carrier to be disabled or removed from operation. This carrier
`reduction can occur in combination with corresponding
`reductions in cell congestion until the cell 102 is operating
`50 only with the original carrier. Thus, carrier deployment and
`removal can occur quickly to handle dynamically changing
`characteristics in cell congestion.
`The cell 102 includes a cell site (denoted CELL SITE),
`which is the location where the wireless antenna and network
`communications equipment is placed. A cell site can consist
`of a transmitter/receiver, antenna tower, transmission radios
`and radio controllers, and is typically operated by a wireless
`service provider.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a methodology of managing cell conges(cid:173)
`tion by adding a carrier according to an innovative aspect.
`While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the one or
`more methodologies shown herein, e.g., in the form of a flow
`chart or flow diagram, are shown and described as a series of
`acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the subject
`innovation is not limited by the order of acts, as some acts
`may, in accordance therewith, occur in a different order and/
`or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described
`
`65
`
`

`

`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`5
`herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand
`and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be
`represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as
`in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be
`required to implement a methodology in accordance with the
`innovation.
`At 200, a cell is received for carrier services. At 202, a first
`carrier is deployed in the cell for normal cellular communi(cid:173)
`cations. At 204, cell congestion is monitored on the opera(cid:173)
`tional carrier(s). At 206, the system determines ifthe conges(cid:173)
`tion is high such that an additional carrier should be added to
`handle the overflow from the existing carrier or set of
`carrier(s ). If not, flow is to 208 to continue processing the load
`utilizing the existing carrier or set of carriers. Flow is then
`back to 204 to continue monitoring congestion in the cell.
`If, however, congestion is high, flow is from 206 to 210
`where another carrier is deployed to handle the excess load.
`At 212, the system monitors the cell to determine if the
`current carriers are handling the congestion. If not, flow is
`back to 210 to deploy another carrier. This process can con(cid:173)
`tinue until there are sufficient carriers deployed to handle the
`cell traffic. If the cell traffic is being handled by the addition
`of the last carrier, flow is from 212 to 214 to process the cell
`traffic with the existing carriers.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a methodology of managing cell conges(cid:173)
`tion by dynamically adding and reducing the number of car(cid:173)
`riers according to an innovative aspect. At 300, a cell is
`received for carrier services. At 302, a first carrier is deployed
`in the cell for normal cellular communications. At 304, cell
`congestion is monitored on the operational carrier( s ). At 306,
`the system determines if the congestion is high such that an
`additional carrier should be added to handle the overflow
`from the existing carrier or set of carrier(s). If not, flow is to
`308 to continue processing the load utilizing the existing
`carrier or set of carriers. Flow is then back to 304 to continue 35
`monitoring congestion in the cell.
`If, however, congestion is high, flow is from 306 to 310
`where another carrier is deployed to handle the excess load.
`At 312, the system monitors the cell to determine if the
`current carriers are handling the congestion. If not, flow is
`back to 310 to deploy another carrier. This process can con(cid:173)
`tinue until there are sufficient carriers deployed to handle the
`cell traffic. If the cell traffic is being handled by the addition
`of the last carrier, flow is from 312 to 314 to process the cell
`traffic with the existing carriers. At 316, the system deter- 45
`mines if the existing cell congestion is reduced such that an
`existing carrier can be removed. If not, flow is back to 314 to
`continue processing the existing cell traffic. If the load is
`reduced sufficiently that a previously added carrier is no
`longer required, flow is from 316 to 318 to drop or remove a
`carrier from operation. In one implementation, this occurs
`dynamically. In another implementation, this can occur
`manually, such that a message is sent to an administrator that
`indicates that one carrier can be removed due to reduced cell
`congestion.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a system 400 that
`facilitates carrier management in a communications cell in
`accordance with another aspect of the innovation. The system
`400 includes a traffic management component 402 that moni(cid:173)
`tors carrier congestion for all carriers deployed in the cell. The
`subject innovation also applies to a scenario whereby a sec(cid:173)
`ond carrier is manually added on a site-by-site basis. The
`RSCP (received signal code power) and CPI CH Ee/No can be
`utilized, but the automatic congestion control is not a strict
`requirement. A trigger component 404 monitors one or more 65
`triggers which indicate that congestion in the existing carrier
`or carriers is at a point that requires an additional carrier. The
`
`6
`triggers can be related to CPI CH Ee/No, for example, for the
`serving cell and neighboring cells, and RSCP values that
`allow for fine tuning. Ee/No is the ratio of desired received
`power per chip to receive power density in the power band.
`CPI CH is the Common Pilot Channel. This channel is used in
`UMTS to enable channel estimation. The CPICH uses a pre(cid:173)
`defined bit sequence, and has a fixed rate of 30 Kbps with a
`spreading factorof 25 6. This allows the UE (User Equipment)
`to equalize the channel in order to achieve a phase reference
`10 with the SCH (Synchronization Channel) and also allows
`estimations in terms of power control. The same channel code
`is always employed on the primary CPICH.
`A carrier component 406 (similar to carrier component
`104) then deploys (enables) additional carriers (denoted
`15 C2 , . . . , CN). As indicated supra, the carrier component can
`also remove (or disable) a carrier that had previously been
`added when the cell congestion is sufficiently low to warrant
`removal.
`FIG. 5 illustrates a partial cell 500 that depicts carrier
`20 management in accordance with an aspect. The cell 500 is
`initially made operational using a primary carrier 502 that this
`case, is UMTS. When congestion is detected on the primary
`carrier 502, an additional (or second) UMTS carrier 504 is
`deployed along with the primary UMTS carrier 502. Again,
`25 this can occur statically, such that the second carrier 504 stays
`operational. Alternatively, carrier management is such that
`the second UMTS carrier 504 is enabled dynamically to
`handle the excess congestion of the primary UMTS carrier
`502. Once the excess congestion recedes, the second carrier
`30 504 is disabled, and the only operational carrier is the primary
`UMTS carrier 502.
`In most voice and data wireless networks, traffic level
`comparisons across cell sites shows significant non-unifor(cid:173)
`mity. Sites with the highest traffic levels experience hard
`blocking many months and even years before neighboring
`sites. The congestion can be solved through the addition of
`capacity sites, lowering of quality metrics, and adding new
`spectrally efficient technologies such as UMTS. The subject
`invention ofUMTS radio layer management allows the intro-
`40 duction of the second (or additional) UMTS carriers (U') on a
`site-by-site basis, rather than clearing another 5 MHz of spec(cid:173)
`trum throughout the entire market. The second or additional
`carriers can be introduced by restricting coverage area closer
`to cell site of the cell, as indicated in FIG. 1.
`Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated cell group 600
`of seven cells each of which employs carrier management in
`accordance with the disclosed innovation. In this implemen(cid:173)
`tation, GSM (Global Systems for Mobile Telecommunica(cid:173)
`tions) band services (denoted G) and UMTS band services
`50 (denoted U) are totally separate bands that are being utilized.
`U is denoted the first UMTS carrier which is separate in
`frequency and band from the G carrier. What is desired is the
`sharing of one band between cell sites, for example, a cell 602
`and a cell 604. In other words, an additional GSM frequency
`55 (denoted G') and then a second UMTS carrier (denoted U') are
`of a single band that is shared between sites. Essentially, there
`are now three operational bands: G, U and U'. In the inner(cid:173)
`region of cell site 604, the second UMTS carrier 606 is
`deployed, and designated in the U' prime band. Within that
`60 cell site 604, G+ U bands serve traffic on the outer edge of the
`cell 604.
`At neighboring cells, for example, cells 608, bands G+U
`are again utilized. Also, band G' can be used, which is the
`GSM frequencies that are sharing the band with the second
`UMTS carrier. Additionally, frequencies can be used in a cell
`immediately adjacent to the cell 604 and a cell 610 in which
`the carrier management is employed. In this particular
`
`

`

`US 8,112,094 Bl
`
`7
`embodiment, five neighboring cells are configured to operate
`as normal, and can share that second UMTS carrier band U'.
`As an example, the cell 610 is shown adjacent to the center
`cell 604 and also includes the same configuration. All of these
`cells (602, 604, 608 and 610) can have the exact same con(cid:173)
`figuration. Alternatively, all cells but one could have the
`G+U+G' band configuration. The innovation is sufficiently
`flexible for deployment in many different scenarios.
`In operation, prior to adding the second UMTS carrier U',
`the two sites (604 and 610) are experiencing high blocking,
`and through the use of inter-RAT (radio access technology)
`algorithms have had traffic pushed back to GSM to ease
`congestion on the first (or primary) UMTS carrier. RAT indi(cid:173)
`cates the type of radio technology to access the CN (core
`network). Example technologies include UTRA (UMTS Ter(cid:173)
`restrial Radio Access), CDMA2