Atoll 3.1.0 ACP

THE
AUTOMATIC CELL PLANNING

MODULE
Training Programme
1. Introduction
2. Parameters Used by ACP
3. Network Reconfiguration Process
4. Site Selection Process
5. Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE Optimisation
6. Other Topics
© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 2 of 75

1. Introduction
Automatic optimisation tool for GSM, UMTS, LTE and WIMAX networks
To improve existing network by tuning parameters that can be easily changed remotely
• Antenna electrical tilt
• Power (Subcell for GSM, Pilot for UMTS, Reference Signal for LTE, Preamble for WiMAX)
To optimise a network still in the planning phase by:

• Selecting antennas
• Changing the antenna azimuth
• Changing the mechanical downtilt of the antenna
• Changing the antenna height
• Selecting sites among a list of candidate sites
Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE optimisation can be performed (see §5)

1. Introduction
Principle
Optimisation of quality indicators
GSM LTE
UMTS WIMAX
• BCCH coverage • RSCP (Pilot) coverage • Reference Signal
• Preamble coverage
• Dominance of coverage
• Ec/Io • Preamble CINR
Best Server • Reference Signal CINR
By automatic adjustments of network parameters
• Power (BCCH for GSM, Pilot for UMTS, RS for LTE and Preamble for WiMAX)
• Antenna parameters:
• Type of antenna
• Azimuth
• Mechanical downtilt
• Electrical downtilt
• Height

1. Introduction
Principle
Optimisation process based on a cost function
The cost function depends on quality figures

• In GSM: the cost decreases when the BCCH coverage and the Best Server’s dominance increase
• In UMTS: the cost decreases when the Pilot coverage and Pilot quality increase
• In LTE: the cost decreases when the RS coverage and RS CINR increase
• In WIMAX: the cost decreases when the Preamble coverage and Preamble CINR increase
Iterative algorithm is used
• Each iteration corresponds to one network parameter change
• Then, changes are ranked from the change with the most benefit to the change with the least benefit

1. Introduction
Description of the Cost Function
Ctot x   A  fCOV _ INDICATORcovCOV _ INDICATORx  + B  fQUAL _ INDICATORcovQUAL _ INDICATORx 
X: the network configuration to be tested
covCOV_INDICATOR(X):
- the % of Coverage Level over a specified threshold for the given configuration X
- COV_INDICATOR = BCCH in GSM, Pilot in UMTS, RS in LTE, Preamble in WIMAX
covQUAL_INDICATOR(X):
- the % of Quality Level over a specified threshold for the given configuration X
- COV_INDICATOR = Server Dominance in GSM, Ec/Io in UMTS, RS CINR in LTE &
Preamble CINR in WiMAX
fCOV_INDICATOR , fQUAL_INDICATOR : functions expressing the cost for a coverage figure
A and B: weights
 
Note: fCOV _ INDICATOR covCOV _ INDICATOR x   0 When the % of target coverage is satisfied

Training Programme
1. Introduction
6. Other Topics

2. Parameters used by ACP
Requirement
Existing and valid path loss matrices
Recommendations
Creating a computation zone

• Used to define the area where the ACP calculates statistics on performance indicators
Creating a focus zone

• Used to restrict the cells to be optimised

Training Programme
1. Introduction
6. Other Topics

Creating an optimisation setup
Defining optimisation parameters and objectives
Running an optimisation process
Viewing optimisation results
Analysing optimisation results

Creating An Optimisation Setup
To run the optimisation

immediately
To save the defined optimisation

parameters and run optimisation later

Defining Optimisation Parameters (1/7)
Selection of layers / zones to be optimised

Layer(s) configuration
Several in case of “combined”
networks (GSM+UMTS+LTE)
Zones definition
Possibility to define
zones to be
specifically optimized
(using Clutter Classes
or Hot Spots zones
or importing shp file)

Choice between quality or financial cost based optimisation

No cost control: the optimisation is
only based on quality
 Useful when planning a new
network
Possibility to limit the financial cost of

the optimisation:
• Maximum financial cost allowed
• Compromise between the financial
cost and the quality
 Useful when improving an existing
network
Definition of the financial cost for:

• Each parameter change
• Each site visit
• etc...

Selection of transmitters/cells to be optimised
Definition of parameters that could be modified

Directives defined per parameter or per transmitter/cell
To define Cells’ Optimisation parameters

(Subcell power in GSM, Pilot power in UMTS, RS
power in LTE and Preamble power in WiMAX)

Definition of Antenna Groups

To give some directives when reconfiguring the antenna type or the electrical tilt
Multi band “Physical Antenna” Multi band “Physical Antenna”

Dual 900 1800 – 65deg17dBi Dual 900 1800 – 36deg20dBi
Antenna Element Antenna Element

65deg17dBi@900 65deg17dBi@1800

Step 1 : Create “Antenna Element” (using radiating patterns)
• An “Antenna Element” is
defined by one gain, one
beamwidth and one frequency
band.
• For a given frequency band,
a given beamwidth and a
given gain, the “Antenna
element” is a group of
antenna patterns obtained
with different electrical tilt
values
Antenna patterns table

Step 2 : Create “Physical Antennas” (using Antenna Elements)

To define multiband antennas
Multi band
“Physical
Antenna”
Mono Band
“Physical
Antenna Elements Antenna”

Step 3 : Create “Antenna Groups” (using Physical Antennas)

To define groups of one or several radomes that will be then assigned to transmitters in the
reconfiguration tab
Antenna groups to
be assigned to
transmitters in the
Reconfiguration tab
Created Physical Antennas

Defining GSM Objectives (1/4)
Definition of GSM objectives

1. Define the Target Zone
2. Define the Indicator (Coverage or Cell Dominance) to be optimized
Indicators to Define the

be optimized Target Zone

Definition of GSM Coverage Objectives: BCCH coverage
Define the Minimum BCCH

Signal Level
to get on each pixel of the
computation zone
Coverage to be
respected while
meeting the BCCH
Signal Level Condition

Definition of GSM Quality Objectives: Cell dominance
Define the Minimum and

Maximum
Number of servers
computation zone
Coverage to be
respected while
meeting the Cell
Dominance Condition

GSM Objectives Parameters
To define Signal Level

Parameters:
•Settings defined for a
particular coverage
prediction
• Manual configuration of
prediction parameters
To define the overlapping

criterion (margin)

Defining UMTS Objectives (1/4)
Definition of UMTS objectives

2. Define the Indicator (RSCP Coverage, Ec/Io, Soft HO or Pilot Pollution ) to be optimized


Definition of UMTS Coverage Objectives: RSCP coverage
Define the Minimum Pilot

Signal Level
computation zone
Coverage to be
respected while
meeting the RSCP
coverage Condition

Definition of UMTS Quality Objectives: Ec/Io
Define the Minimum Pilot

Quality (Ec/Io)
computation zone
Coverage to be
respected while
meeting the Pilot
Quality Condition

UMTS Objectives Parameters

To define Indicators Parameters:
•Settings defined for a particular
coverage prediction
• Manual configuration of prediction
parameters
To define the
overlapping
criterion (margin)

Defining LTE Objectives (1/4)
Definition of LTE objectives

2. Define the Indicator (RS Coverage or RS CINR) to be optimized


Definition of LTE Coverage Objectives: RS coverage
Define the Minimum

Reference Signal Level
computation zone
Coverage to be
respected while
meeting the RS Level
Condition

Definition of LTE Quality Objectives: RS CINR
Define the Minimum

Reference Signal Quality
(RS CINR)
computation zone
Coverage to be
respected while
meeting the RS CINR
Condition

LTE Objectives Parameters

coverage prediction
parameters
To define the
overlapping
criterion (margin)

Defining WiMAX Objectives (1/4)
Definition of WiMAX objectives

2. Define the Indicator (Preamble Coverage or Preamble CINR) to be optimized


Definition of WiMAX Coverage Objectives: Preamble coverage
Define the Minimum

Preamble Signal Level
computation zone
Coverage to be
respected while
meeting the Preamble
Level Condition

Definition of WiMAX Quality Objectives: Preamble CINR
Define the Minimum

Preamble Signal Quality
(Preamble CINR)
computation zone
Coverage to be
respected while
meeting the Preamble
CINR Condition

WiMAX Objectives Parameters

coverage prediction
parameters
To define the
overlapping
criterion (margin)

Weighting (1/2)
Objective & Zone Weighting

Sorting Objectives and Zones by importance
Give a priority to
each objective
Give priority to
specific Zones

Weighting (2/2)
Traffic weighting (per objective)

Default option: NONE
the traffic is assumed to
be uniform.
 The quality indicator
measured on each pixel
has the same weight.
Selection of traffic maps (non-uniform traffic) to weight map pixels

 The coverage figures measured on each pixel can be weighted by
using the traffic density on that pixel

Running An Optimisation Process (1/4)
Graphical display of the Optimisation Progress

Variation of performance objectives with iterations
The optimisation process can be

paused or stopped early


Type and number of changes


Coverage and Quality improvements (variations)


Improvement by objective
Select the
objective to
be analysed
(coverage
and quality
indicators)

Viewing Optimisation Results (1/4)
Optimisation results are stored in the optimisation folder

Results available in six tabs
The Statistics tab: synthesised view of optimisation results for each objective
Statistics provided for computation and focus zones
Global report
available in
Excel format
Statistics
for each
objective

Graph and Quality Tabs
Coverage and Quality maps Histogram displaying statistics within the

before and after optimisation computation zone or the focus zone

The Change Details Tab

Analysis of improvements according to the number of changes
Changes are ordered by ‘profitability’
• Most ‘profitable’ changes will be applied first
Slider to select a subset of all

changes and view the
corresponding performance
improvement on the graph (global
improvement and improvement of
each objective)
• List of changes ordered from the

change with the most effect to the
change with the least effect
• Selected changes are displayed in
green

The Commit Tab

List of selected changes that you can commit
• Transmitters/cells with
parameter changes are
displayed in green
• Initial and final cell
parameters
• Revert the network to its

state before the
optimisation was run
• Apply the set of selected
changes

Analysing Optimisation Results (1/5)
Process
Quick validation of optimisation results using the ACP maps
• First analysis available without having to commit ACP results
• Based on the entire set of proposed changes
Deeper analysis with coverage predictions available in the predictions folder

• After committing ACP results
ACP Maps Available

Quality analysis maps
• Display of Coverage and Quality maps
Coverage analysis
• Status of the coverage according to the defined objectives used in the optimisation
Change analysis
• Analysis of changes: antenna, tilt, azimuth
Best server analysis

• Absolute values of changed parameters

Analysis with ACP Maps
ACP maps are

automatically calculated
and inserted into the
folder containing the
optimisation results

Tooltip available for any ACP map

• The exact calculated value is displayed on each pixel
Display properties of ACP maps

• Automatic update of the ACP map after changing colours or range of values

Histogram available on ACP maps
Comparison tool
• Available to compare ACP maps from the same optimisation or from a different optimisation

Analysis with coverage predictions from the predictions folder
Requirement: Commit results of Optimisation
Calculating prediction studies before and after the optimisation
Generating reports on the predictions studies before and after the optimisation in order to
check if network quality figures have been improved
Possibility to “Roll back to Initial State”

Training Programme
1. Introduction
6. Other Topics

Overview
Defining Candidate Sites

Overview
Examples of Site Selection process

Scenario 1: using ACP to select a new site on a geographical area
• 3 candidate sites available
• Candidate sites are assigned to a group where the minimum and the maximum site occurrence is set to “1”
 Among the 3 candidates, the ACP is forced to select only one site
Scenario 2: using ACP to choose optimal sites on a geographical area

• About 40 candidate sites available
• Candidate sites are assigned to a group where the minimum site occurrence is set to “10” and the
maximum to “30”
 Among the 40 candidates, the ACP is forced to select between 10 and 30 sites to reach objectives
General process similar to the site reconfiguration process

Creating an optimisation setup
Defining Candidate Sites
Defining Objectives and Parameters to be Optimised
• Note: Reconfiguration mode is available (not mandatory) during the Site Selection process.
So, defining Parameters to be reconfigured is optional.
Running an optimisation process

Defining Candidate Sites (1/2)
Use Pre-defined Sites

Prerequisite: define all stations (existing & candidates) in the Atoll document
Note that only Active Transmitters are taken into account
Two status for sites:

• Existing: the site is an active site in the
current network. ACP can remove the site
or one or more sectors of the site to
improve the network quality.
• Candidate: the site is not on-air in the
initial network. ACP can add the site or only
one or more sectors of the site to improve
the network quality.
Allows you to apply the same

parameters to a set of sites:
• Locking options
• Reconfiguration directives
Definition of groups of candidate sites with a

minimum and maximum number of sites to
be selected per group

Defining Candidate Sites (2/2)
Import a list of Candidate Sites
To allocate a
station template
to each
candidate site
Option 1: import a text file (*.txt)

containing at least candidates’
name and coordinates
Option 2: import a list of candidate
sites (sites without Txs) from the
Atoll project
Viewing Site Selection Results (1/3)
Statistics Report
Statistics for each

objective
• Number of sites added and removed

• Number of sectors removed
• Number of transmitters reconfigured

Implementation Plan Analysis
• Sites/transmitters/cells added
or removed
• List of changes (antennas,
tilts, etc.) if reconfiguration
mode selected

Transmitters/Cells Modifications Analysis
• List of candidate
transmitters/cells to be
added
• List of transmitters/cells to
be removed
• List of changes (antennas,

tilts, etc.) if reconfiguration
mode selected

Training Programme
1. Introduction
6. Other Topics

Overview
Creating the optimisation setup
Defining optimisation parameters
Running the optimisation process

Overview
Requirement
One Multi-RAT Atoll document
OR
Several Atoll projects (GSM, UMTS and/or LTE atl files) that must be opened in the same
Atoll session
General process similar to a single technology optimisation

Creating the optimisation setup
Defining optimisation parameters
Running the optimisation process

Creating the Optimisation Setup
Procedure in case of several documents

Step1: Create the optimisation setup in the LTE document (could also be done from the
UMTS document or from the GSM one)
Step2: Import other(s) network(s)’ configuration by importing associated project(s)

Selection of layers to be optimised
Technology layers:
LTE/UMTS/GSM900/GSM1800
Definition of GSM, UMTS & LTE

objectives

By default, GSM-UMTS-LTE transmitters sharing the same antenna parameters are

linked
Auto Link function based on site coordinates, antenna height, azimuth and mechanical tilt

Running the Optimisation Setup
Graphical display of the optimisation progress

Variation of GSM, UMTS and LTE performance objectives with iterations
Quality maps improvement (BCCH coverage and cell dominance for GSM, RSCP (Ec)
coverage and Ec/Io coverage for UMTS, RS coverage and CINR for LTE)

Optimisation results are stored in the optimisation folder
List of GSM, UMTS and LTE changes ordered by ‘profitability’

List of selected changes that you can commit

User can commit modifications into both Atoll projects or keep the results as an optimisation
scenario in the .atl document

Training Programme
1. Introduction
6. Other Topics

6. Other Topics
Data loading and validity control
Configuring default settings
Viewing advanced parameters used by ACP
Saving settings to configuration files

Data Loading and Validity Control (1/2)
Data used when running an optimisation process
Loaded when creating an

optimisation setup
Radio data (antennas, sites, transmitters)

Traffic parameters (services, terminals, etc.)
Direct access when running the

optimisation process
Geographic maps (DTM, clutter class and clutter height maps)

Traffic maps
Path loss matrices

Data Loading and Validity Control (2/2)
Data validity control when running an optimisation process

Atoll checks the consistency between the optimisation setup, the actual state of the network
and path loss matrices
If inconsistencies => existing optimisation setups are locked and new optimisation process
cannot be run
Incoherence with existing setup when:

Data changes are performed after creating the setup (e.g. New transmitter, transmitter
deactivated, different transmitter settings, etc)
Optimisation results have been committed
Path loss matrices are missing or not valid

Saving Settings to Configuration Files
Save or load a given Setup Configuration
Import the configuration file

containing optimisation settings
Used to apply the same settings
when you create a new
optimisation setup
Optimisation settings saved in a

PRJ file (objective per clutter
class, list of cells to be
reconfigured, reconfiguration
settings, etc.)

Configuring User Preferences
Trade-off between speed and

quality

Setup Template Configuration
Define default values of the

Optimisation Setup

Configuring Path Loss Matrices storage
Define the folder to

store Path Loss
Matrices storage
(used in case of
Antenna Height
optimisation)

THANK YOU!

Atoll 3.1.0 ACP

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THE

AUTOMATIC CELL PLANNING

2. Parameters Used by ACP

3. Network Reconfiguration Process

4. Site Selection Process

5. Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE Optimisation

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 2 of 75

To optimise a network still in the planning phase by:

Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE optimisation can be performed (see §5)

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 3 of 75

Optimisation of quality indicators

By automatic adjustments of network parameters

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 4 of 75

Optimisation process based on a cost function

The cost function depends on quality figures

Iterative algorithm is used

• Each iteration corresponds to one network parameter change

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 5 of 75

Description of the Cost Function

Ctot x   A  fCOV _ INDICATORcovCOV _ INDICATORx  + B  fQUAL _ INDICATORcovQUAL _ INDICATORx 

X: the network configuration to be tested

fCOV_INDICATOR , fQUAL_INDICATOR : functions expressing the cost for a coverage figure

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 6 of 75

2. Parameters Used by ACP

3. Network Reconfiguration Process

4. Site Selection Process

5. Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE Optimisation

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 7 of 75

Existing and valid path loss matrices

Creating a computation zone

Creating a focus zone

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 8 of 75

2. Parameters Used by ACP

3. Network Reconfiguration Process

4. Site Selection Process

5. Combined GSM/UMTS/LTE Optimisation

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 9 of 75

Creating an optimisation setup

Defining optimisation parameters and objectives

Running an optimisation process

Viewing optimisation results

Analysing optimisation results

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 10 of 75

To run the optimisation

To save the defined optimisation

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 11 of 75

Selection of layers / zones to be optimised

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 12 of 75

Choice between quality or financial cost based optimisation

Possibility to limit the financial cost of

Definition of the financial cost for:

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 13 of 75

Selection of transmitters/cells to be optimised

Definition of parameters that could be modified

To define Cells’ Optimisation parameters

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 14 of 75

Definition of Antenna Groups

Multi band “Physical Antenna” Multi band “Physical Antenna”

Antenna Element Antenna Element

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 15 of 75

Step 1 : Create “Antenna Element” (using radiating patterns)

Antenna patterns table

© Forsk 2011 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 16 of 75