Method and apparatus for assigning cell identifier values and method and apparatus for managing assignment of cell identifier values in a communication network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016192204-A1
Application number	US-201314908532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 31, 2013
Priority date	Jul 31, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically assigning cell identifier values in a communication network and to a method and apparatus for managing the assignment of cell identifier values in a communication network. In particular, the present invention relates to the management and assignment of cell identifier values that are required to be unique between adjacent cells, in a border region within a communication network in which cells from two or more cell sets are present. The present invention provides a novel method and apparatus for assigning cell identifier values in a communication network and for managing the assignment of cell identifier values in a communication network. Embodiments of the invention enable the automatic assignment of cell identifiers in a communication network, such as the assignment of physical cell identities (PCI) and scrambling codes (SC) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. The need for manual administration in border areas between cell sets managed by different Operation Support Systems (OSSs) can therefore be reduced or eliminated.

First claim

1 . A method of assigning cell identifier values for cells of a cell set within a border area in a communication network, where the communication network has at least two managed cell sets and the border area contains cells from at least two cell sets, comprising the steps of:
for cell sets in the border area, receiving a set of cell identifier values that are available for cells within the border area and that do not conflict with other cells in the cell set; for each cell set, selecting as suitable cell identifier values, cell identifier values that are common to the respective sets of available cell identifier values for cell sets in the border area; and assigning a set of selected cell identifier values to the respective cell set by informing a respective cell identifier manager of the cell set of the selected cell identifier values.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing for each cell set a required number of cell identifier values needed for cells of that cell set in the border area.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein in the step of selecting, at least the required number of cell identifier values needed for cells of that cell set in the border area are selected as suitable cell identifier values.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in the step of selecting, cell identifier values that are common to the respective sets of available cell identifier values for the other cell sets in the border area are selected as suitable cell identifier values.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the step of selecting, cell identifier values that are the same as existing cell identifier values in the cell set are selected as suitable cell identifier values.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of sending to the respective cell identifier manager for each cell set in the border area a request for cell identifier values that are available for cells within the border area.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving, in respect of a cell set having newly assigned cell identifier values, an updated set of cell identifier values that are available for cells within the border area for use in the step of selecting cell identifier values for other cell sets in the border area.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of analysing a geographical model of the communication network to identify at least one border area between cell sets in the communication network.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising the step of creating a geographic model of the communication network by:
obtaining information from each cell set in the communication network relating to cell position and cell neighbour information; and creating a model of communication network by combining information about cell sets.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 8 further including the steps of:
updating a geographic model of the communication network;
analysing the updated geographic model to identify border areas in the updated model; and
assigning cell identifier values for cells of a cell set within at least one border area identified in the updated model.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein if a new cell is added to a cell set in the border area the method further comprises the step of:
determining whether one or more cell identifier values already evaluated as being suitable for cells in a cell set are available for use by the new cell of the cell set; and, in response to a positive determination, assigning the cell identifier value, or one of the cell identifier values, evaluated as being suitable to the new cell of the cell set.

12 . (canceled)

13 . An apparatus element, for assigning cell identifier values for cells of a cell set within a border area in a communication network, wherein the communication network has at least two managed cell sets and the border area contains cells from at least two cell sets, the apparatus element comprising:
a processor; and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus element is operative to: for cell sets in the border area, receive a set of cell identifier values that are available for cells within the border area and that do not conflict with other cells in the cell set; for each cell set, select as suitable cell identifier values, cell identifier values that are common to the respective sets of available cell identifier values for cell sets in the border area; and assign a set of selected cell identifier values to the respective cell set by informing a respective cell identifier manager of the cell set of the selected cell identifier values.

14 . The apparatus element as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said memory contains instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus element is operative to establish, for each cell, set a required number of cell identifier values needed for cells of that cell set in the border area.

15 . The apparatus element as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said memory contains instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus element is operative to create a geographic model of the communication network by:
obtaining information from each cell set in the communication network relating to cell position and cell neighbour information; and creating a model of communication network by combining information about cell sets.

16 . The apparatus element as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said memory contains instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus element is operative to update a geographic model of the communication network by;
analysing the updated geographic model to identify border areas in the updated model; and assigning cell identifier values for cells of a cell set within at least one border area identified in the updated model.

17 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . An apparatus element for managing cell identifier values for cells in a cell set within a border area of a communication network, where the communication network has at least two managed cell sets and the border area contains cells from at least two cell sets, the apparatus element comprising:
a processor; and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus element is operative to: identify cell identifier values that are available for cells within the border area and that do not conflict with other cells in the cell set; send, to a cell identifier assigner, a set of available cell identifier values that are available for cells within the border area and that do not conflict with other cells in the cell set; receive, from the cell identifier assigner, a set of cell identifier values assigned for cells of the cell set in the border area; and assign a cell identifier value from the set of assigned cell identifier values to a cell in the border area.

23 . The apparatus element as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said memory contains instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus element is operative to:
determine whether one or more cell identifier values already evaluated as being suitable for cells in a cell set are available for use by a new cell of the cell set; and, in response to a positive determination to assign a suitable call identifier value to a new cell of the cell set.

24 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Zadeh Bagher
• Mullally Cormac
• Quinlan David

Classifications

• H04W16/22 Primary

  Traffic simulation tools or models · CPC title

• H04W24/02 Primary

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04L41/0893

  Assignment of logical groups to network elements · CPC title

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title