KR102720210B1 - Method and apparatus for managing network capacity - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of operating a device in a communication system includes a step of selecting cells in a first region, the amount of traffic within the cells being greater than a predetermined threshold value, a step of configuring a second region based on the selected cells, a step of determining whether the amount of traffic can be calculated for each band in the second region, and a step of calculating frequency requirements in the first region based on the result of the determination. Accordingly, the performance of the communication system can be improved.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING NETWORK CAPACITY

The present invention relates to a method and device for managing network capacity, and more particularly, to a method and device for managing network capacity based on frequency requirements and capacity saturation rates in a communication system in which a plurality of bands are used.

Recently, the amount of wireless traffic has been increasing due to the introduction of smart phones. In this environment, an active frequency policy may be required. In order for an active frequency policy to be implemented, a process for accurately predicting frequency requirements may be required. Normally, frequency requirements can be calculated by calculating the amount of traffic and dividing it by the system efficiency. However, since the conventional method of calculating frequency requirements uses a method of calculating based on a single base station without considering the overall traffic distribution, it is not easy to calculate and predict frequency requirements considering the entire system.

Meanwhile, when a base station operates a multi-band system, the traffic saturation level should be measured for each band, and quality management such as installing additional base stations or expanding bandwidth for bands with high saturation level should be performed accordingly. However, the amount of traffic by band may be affected by the operator's operational aspects, such as inter-band traffic distribution, such as inter-band load balancing and carrier aggregation. In addition, the amount of traffic by band may be affected by factors such as the service start time and the number of base stations. Therefore, it may not be easy to predict the amount of traffic by band.

Meanwhile, conventional methods determine whether a network is saturated based on the amount of traffic or the radio resource usage rate (in the case of 4G/5G mobile communications, the usage rate of radio resource blocks (RBs)). However, when determining whether a network is saturated based on the amount of traffic, there is a problem in that the maximum traffic value (system capacity) that each base station (cell) in the communication network can provide cannot be accurately known, and thus the amount of spare traffic capacity cannot be known. In addition, when determining whether a network is saturated based on the radio resource ratio, although the spare radio resource ratio can be known, there is a problem in that it cannot be known how much wireless traffic can actually be used with the remaining radio resources.

The purpose of the present invention to solve the above problems is to provide a method and device that can accurately and quickly calculate frequency requirement and capacity saturation rate.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of operating a device in a communication system according to the present invention comprises the steps of selecting cells in a first region, the amount of traffic within the cells exceeding a predetermined threshold value, the step of configuring a second region based on the selected cells, the step of determining whether the amount of traffic can be calculated for each band in the second region, and the step of calculating the frequency requirement in the second region based on the result of the determination.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the device can derive the actual frequency requirement required for the entire system by considering the traffic distribution characteristics. In addition, the device can easily estimate the parameters required for calculating the frequency requirement. In addition, the device can calculate the frequency requirement by considering whether the amount of traffic can be measured for each band. That is, if the amount of traffic for the entire band can be calculated, the device can calculate the frequency requirement even if the amount of traffic for each band cannot be measured.

In addition, if the amount of traffic can be calculated for each band, the traffic saturation rate can be calculated for each band, and thus the traffic can be easily managed for each band. Through this, the quality of the communication network can be improved.

The accompanying drawings, which are included as a part of the detailed description to aid understanding of the present invention, provide embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, explain the technical idea of the present invention.
Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a communication network in a communication system.
Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a communication node in a communication system.
Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a method for calculating frequency requirements.
Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of a method for calculating frequency requirements.
Figure 5 is a flowchart specifically illustrating step S400 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one embodiment of a virtual sample area.
Figure 7 is a flowchart specifically illustrating step S500 of Figure 4.
Figure 8 is a flowchart specifically illustrating step S501 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a flowchart specifically illustrating step S600 of Figure 4.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method for calculating a bandwidth-specific capacity saturation rate when the amount of traffic can be calculated for each bandwidth.

The present invention can have various modifications and various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The term and/or includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any one of a plurality of related described items.

When it is said that a component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is said that a component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

The terminology used in this application is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, it should be understood that the terms "comprises" or "has" and the like are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries, such as those defined in common dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined in this application.

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail. In order to facilitate an overall understanding in describing the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings, and redundant descriptions of the same components are omitted.

Throughout the specification, the network may include, for example, a wireless Internet such as WiFi (wireless fidelity), a portable Internet such as WiBro (wireless broadband Internet) or WiMax (world interoperability for microwave access), a 2G mobile communication network such as GSM (global system for mobile communication) or CDMA (code division multiple access), a 3G mobile communication network such as WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) or CDMA2000, a 3.5G mobile communication network such as HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) or HSUPA (high speed uplink packet access), a 4G mobile communication network such as LTE (long term evolution) or LTE-Advanced, and a 5G mobile communication network.

Throughout the specification, a terminal may refer to a mobile station, a mobile terminal, a subscriber station, a portable subscriber station, a user equipment, an access terminal, etc., and may include all or part of the functions of a terminal, a mobile station, a mobile terminal, a subscriber station, a portable subscriber station, a user equipment, an access terminal, etc.

Here, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a wireless phone, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a smart watch, a smart glass, an e-book reader, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a portable game console, a navigation device, a digital camera, a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) player, a digital audio recorder, a digital audio player, a digital picture recorder, a digital picture player, a digital video recorder, a digital video player, etc. capable of communicating with the terminal can be used.

Throughout the specification, a base station may also refer to an access point, a radio access station, a node B, an evolved node B, a base transceiver station, a mobile multihop relay (MMR)-BS, etc., and may include all or part of the functions of a base station, an access point, a radio access station, a node B, an eNodeB, a base transceiver station, an MMR-BS, etc.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a communication network according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a communication network (100) may be composed of a plurality of communication nodes (110-1, 110-2, 110-3, 120-1, 120-2, 130-1, 130-2, 130-3, 130-4, 130-5, 130-6). Each of the plurality of communication nodes may support at least one communication protocol. For example, each of the plurality of communication nodes may support a communication protocol based on CDMA (code division multiple access), a communication protocol based on WCDMA (wideband CDMA), a communication protocol based on TDMA (time division multiple access), a communication protocol based on FDMA (frequency division multiple access), a communication protocol based on OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing), a communication protocol based on OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access), a communication protocol based on SC (single carrier)-FDMA, a communication protocol based on NOMA (non-orthogonal multiple access), a communication protocol based on SDMA (space division multiple access), etc. Each of the plurality of communication nodes may have the following structure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a communication node according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a communication node (200) may include at least one processor (210), a memory (220), and a transmission/reception device (230) that is connected to a network and performs communication. In addition, the communication node (200) may further include an input interface device (240), an output interface device (250), a storage device (260), etc. Each component included in the communication node (200) may be connected by a bus (270) and communicate with each other.

The processor (210) can execute a program command stored in at least one of the memory (220) and the storage device (260). The processor (210) may mean a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a dedicated processor in which methods according to embodiments of the present invention are performed. Each of the memory (220) and the storage device (260) may be configured with at least one of a volatile storage medium and a nonvolatile storage medium. For example, the memory (220) may be configured with at least one of a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM).

Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a method for calculating frequency requirements.

Referring to FIG. 3, a device (hereinafter, device) for calculating parameters related to network capacity (such as frequency requirement and bandwidth-specific capacity saturation rate) can determine whether a communication system includes multiple base stations (S300). The device can determine that the communication system is composed of a single base station, and in this case, can calculate the amount of traffic required per base station and the frequency efficiency (S301 and S302). Thereafter, the device can calculate the frequency requirement by dividing the amount of traffic by the frequency efficiency (S303).

Alternatively, the device may determine that the communication system includes multiple base stations, in which case the device may calculate the total traffic volume, total frequency efficiency, and total number of base stations of the communication system (S304, S305, S306). Thereafter, the device may calculate the frequency requirement by dividing the total traffic volume by the product of the frequency efficiency and the number of base stations (= total traffic volume/(frequency efficiency × number of base stations)) (S307).

However, when the network scale is large (e.g., nationwide network service), it may not be easy to obtain information such as the traffic volume of the entire communication system and the number of base stations. For example, when a base station in a communication system uses multiple bands with different bandwidths, it may not be easy to calculate the total frequency requirement. That is, the total frequency requirement can be calculated by calculating the frequency requirement for each band and adding them up, but if it is not easy to obtain information such as the traffic volume and the number of base stations for each band, it may be difficult to calculate the total frequency requirement.

On the other hand, since frequency is a resource that is not exchanged regionally, it may be desirable to calculate the overall frequency demand by considering the distribution of regionally occurring traffic rather than the demand due to the average traffic of the entire system. In other words, it may be desirable to calculate the frequency demand based on the amount of traffic in an area where traffic is concentrated.

Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of a method for calculating frequency requirements.

Referring to FIG. 4, the device can configure a virtual sample area (S400). In order to calculate the frequency requirement of a communication system using multiple bands, the device can configure a virtual sample area meaning a set of sample cells with dense traffic within the entire system. The virtual sample area can mean a virtual traffic-dense area where the actual frequency requirement of the entire communication system is determined.

Figure 5 is a flowchart specifically illustrating step S400 of Figure 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the device can select cells in which the amount of traffic within the cell is greater than a predetermined threshold value (S400-1). The device can also select cells based on a wireless resource utilization rate for bandwidth. The device can select cells in which the amount of traffic or the wireless resource utilization rate is higher than a predetermined threshold value within the entire communication network or an area of interest. For example, the device can select cells in which the wireless resource utilization rate is in the top 10% in the entire country or a specific area.

The device can configure a virtual sample area (S400-2). Specifically, the device can generate a set of cells selected in S401, and configure the set of cells as a virtual sample area. Fig. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment of a virtual sample area. Referring to Fig. 6, the device can select cells with high traffic density within the entire communication system or the region of interest for each band, and configure a virtual sample area (S1) based on the cells.

The device can collect information such as the amount of traffic per band, the number of base stations, frequency bandwidth, and frequency efficiency in the virtual sample area, and can predict future information based on the collected information. Thereafter, the device can calculate the frequency requirement. Here, the calculation may mean including the process of deriving a current value and the process of predicting a future value. Referring again to FIG. 4, the device can determine whether the amount of traffic per band can be calculated (S401). The device can determine whether the traffic can be calculated per band based on the information collected per band in the virtual sample area. If the amount of traffic per band cannot be calculated, the device can perform step S500.

Figure 7 is a flowchart specifically illustrating step S500 of Figure 4.

Referring to FIG. 7, the device can calculate the total traffic volume (bps) in the virtual sample area (S500). The device can estimate the total traffic volume of the virtual sample area through the predicted value of the traffic volume of the entire communication system. The total traffic volume of the virtual sample area can show a similar increase/decrease trend as the predicted value of the traffic volume of the entire system. The device can derive the predicted value of the total traffic of the virtual sample area by reflecting the current measurement value in the virtual sample area to the predicted curve of the total traffic. In this case, the device can use a method such as curve fitting.

The device can calculate the capacity (bps) of the system in the entire band (S501). FIG. 8 is a flowchart specifically illustrating step S501 of FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 8, the device can calculate the bandwidth (Hz/band) for each band (S501-1). In addition, the device can calculate the frequency efficiency (bps/Hz) for each band (S502-2). In addition, the device can calculate the number of base stations for each band (S501-3). The device can calculate the system capacity (bps/band) for each band by multiplying the bandwidth (Hz/band) for each band calculated in step S501-1, the frequency efficiency (bps/Hz) for each band calculated in step S502-2, and the number of base stations for each band (S501-4). Thereafter, the device can calculate the system capacity of the entire band by adding the system capacities (bps/band) calculated for each band (S501-5).

Referring again to FIG. 7, the device can calculate the overall capacity saturation rate (S502). The device can calculate the overall capacity saturation rate (usage rate) by dividing the capacity (bps) of the overall bandwidth system calculated in step S501 by the overall traffic amount (bps) calculated in step S500.

The device has a total frequency requirement ( ) can be calculated (S503). The device calculates the total traffic amount ( ) and the system capacity of the entire band calculated in step S501 ( )(i.e., total capacity saturation) based on the total frequency requirement ( ) can be calculated. The total frequency requirement ( ) can be calculated in the same manner as the following mathematical formula 1.

Here, is the bandwidth per band calculated in step S501-1, is the frequency efficiency by band calculated in step S501-2, may be the number of base stations per band calculated in step S501-3. Referring again to FIG. 4, if the amount of traffic per band can be calculated, the device may perform step S600.

Figure 9 is a flowchart specifically illustrating step S600 of Figure 4.

Referring to FIG. 9, the device can calculate the traffic amount (bps/band) by band (S600). And the device can calculate the frequency efficiency (bps/band) by band (S601). Also, the device can calculate the number of base stations by band (S602). The device calculates the frequency efficiency (bps/band) by band based on the traffic amount (bps/band) by band calculated in step S600, the frequency efficiency (bps/band) by band calculated in step S601, and the number of base stations by band calculated in step S602. ) can be calculated (S603). Specifically, the device can calculate the amount of traffic per band ( ) is the frequency efficiency by band ( ) and the number of base stations by band ( ) is divided by the product of the frequency efficiency per band ( ) can be produced.

The device has a total frequency requirement ( ) can be calculated (S604). Specifically, the device calculates the frequency requirement for each band ( ) are combined to obtain the total frequency requirement ( ) can be calculated. The total frequency requirement ( ) can be calculated in the same manner as the following mathematical formula 2.

Here, , , and may mean the amount of traffic for each band, the bandwidth for each band, the frequency efficiency for each band, and the frequency requirement for each band in each of the m bands within the virtual sample area, respectively. Meanwhile, if the amount of traffic for each band can be calculated, the device can calculate the capacity saturation rate for each band.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method for calculating a bandwidth-specific capacity saturation rate when the amount of traffic can be calculated for each bandwidth.

Referring to FIG. 10, the device can calculate the bandwidth (Hz/band) for each band (S800). And the device can calculate the frequency efficiency (bps/Hz) for each band (S801). Also, the device can calculate the number of base stations for each band (S802). The device can calculate the system capacity (bps/band) for each band by multiplying the bandwidth (Hz/band) for each band calculated in step S801, the frequency efficiency (bps/Hz) for each band calculated in step S802, and the number of base stations for each band (S803). Steps S800 to S803 of FIG. 10 may be similar to steps S501-1 to S501-4 of FIG. 8.

Afterwards, the device can calculate the amount of traffic per band (S804). Step S804 of Fig. 10 may be similar to step S600 of Fig. 9. The device can calculate the capacity saturation rate per band (S805). Specifically, the device can calculate the amount of traffic per band (S804) calculated in step S804. ) is the system capacity by band calculated at step S803. ) is divided into band-specific capacity saturation rate ( ) can be calculated. The capacity saturation rate by band ( ) can be calculated in the same manner as the following mathematical formula 3.

Here, is the bandwidth per band produced at the S800 stage, is the frequency efficiency by band calculated in S801 stage, may be the number of base stations per band produced in step S802.

The device can introduce a virtual sample area, produce small-scale network data that is easy to measure and manage, and based on this, easily produce the actual required frequency requirement of the entire communication network. In addition, in a communication system using multiple bands, the device can produce frequency requirement not only when traffic can be produced by band, but also when traffic cannot be produced by band. Therefore, management of communication network quality can be easily performed.

The methods according to the present invention may be implemented in the form of program commands that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program commands, data files, data structures, etc., either singly or in combination. The program commands recorded on the computer-readable medium may be those specially designed and configured for the present invention or may be those known to and available to those skilled in the art of computer software.

Examples of computer-readable media may include hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions may include not only machine language codes generated by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, and the like. The above-described hardware devices may be configured to operate with at least one software module to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below.

Claims (10)

As a method of operation of a device in a communication system,
A step of selecting cells in a first region in which the amount of traffic within the cells exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
A step of forming a second region based on the above-mentioned selected cells;
A step for determining whether the amount of traffic can be calculated for each band in the second region; and
Based on the above judgment result, a step of calculating frequency requirement in the second region is included.
Based on the above judgment result, the step of calculating the frequency requirement in the second region is:
As a result of the above judgment, if the amount of traffic can be calculated for each band in the second region, a step of calculating the amount of traffic for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating frequency efficiency for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating the number of base stations for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating the frequency requirement for each band by dividing the traffic volume for each band in the second region by the product of the frequency efficiency and the number of base stations; and
A method of operating a device, comprising the step of calculating frequency requirements in the second region by adding up the frequency requirements for each band. In claim 1,
Based on the above judgment result, the step of calculating the frequency requirement in the second region is:
As a result of the above judgment, if the amount of traffic for each band in the second region cannot be calculated, a step of calculating the amount of traffic for the entire band in the second region;
A step of calculating the system capacity of the entire band in the second region;
A step of calculating the capacity saturation rate of the entire band by dividing the amount of traffic of the entire band by the system capacity of the entire band; and
A method of operating a device, comprising the step of calculating frequency demand in the second region based on a capacity saturation rate of the entire band. In claim 2,
The step of calculating the amount of traffic of the entire band in the above second region is
Using the curve fitting method to the overall traffic prediction curve of the above first region, the amount of traffic of the entire band is calculated.
How the device operates. In claim 2,
The step of calculating the system capacity of the entire band in the above second region is:
A step of calculating bandwidth for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating frequency efficiency for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating the number of base stations for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating the system capacity for each band by multiplying the bandwidth, frequency efficiency, and number of base stations for each band; and
A step of calculating the system capacity of the entire band by adding the system capacity of each band,
How the device operates. delete In claim 1,
A step of calculating the amount of traffic for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating bandwidth for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating frequency efficiency for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating the number of base stations for each band in the second region;
A step of calculating the system capacity for each band by multiplying the bandwidth, frequency efficiency, and number of base stations for each band; and
Further comprising a step of dividing the traffic volume of each band by the system capacity to calculate the capacity saturation rate of each band.
How the device operates. As a device,
Contains a processor,
The above processor is the device,
In the first region, cells are selected where the amount of traffic within the cells exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
A second region is formed based on the above-mentioned selected cells;
Determine whether the amount of traffic can be calculated for each band in the above second region; and
Based on the above judgment result, it operates to cause the frequency requirement in the second region to be calculated,
Based on the above judgment result, when calculating the frequency requirement in the second region, the processor causes the device to:
As a result of the above judgment, if the amount of traffic can be calculated for each band in the second region, the amount of traffic for each band in the second region is calculated;
Calculate the frequency efficiency of each band in the above second region;
Calculate the number of base stations for each band in the above second region;
In the above second region, the traffic volume for each band is divided by the product of the frequency efficiency and the number of base stations to calculate the frequency requirement for each band; and
A device that operates to cause the frequency requirement in the second region to be calculated by adding up the frequency requirement for each band. In claim 7,
As a result of the above judgment, if the amount of traffic cannot be calculated for each band in the second region, and if the amount of traffic for the entire band in the second region is calculated, the processor causes the device to,
Calculate the system capacity of the entire band in the second region;
The amount of traffic of the entire band is divided by the system capacity of the entire band to calculate the capacity saturation rate of the entire band; and
A device operable to cause the frequency requirement in said second region to be calculated based on the capacity saturation rate of said entire band. In claim 8,
When calculating the system capacity of the entire band of the second region, the processor is configured to:
Calculate the bandwidth for each band in the above second region;
Calculate the frequency efficiency for each band in the above second region;
Calculate the number of base stations for each band in the above second region;
The system capacity for each band is calculated by multiplying the bandwidth, frequency efficiency, and number of base stations for each band; and
Operates to cause the system capacity of the entire band to be calculated by adding the system capacity of each band above,
Device. delete

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