xAFP Training

December 2009

Training Course Objectives

Intended for RF planning and optimization engineers,
this course is an introduction to the Optimi xAFP tool and
the frequency planning process.
Students will be learning how to:

Collect relevant input data required to build AFP projects

Build AFP projects
Analyze and validate input data
Perform BCCH, TCH, BSIC, retunes
Create reports and export frequency plans.

Duration of this course is 3 Days

Agenda Day 1 - Morning

9:00am to 12:30pm, with 3x 10 min breaks

Tool Installation.....................Slide 9
License Request
9
Install full installation 9
Install upgrades
9

The xAFP environmentSlides 10-22

Map view 11
Layers manager
14
Message Log
15
Pivot table 17
Edit Sector / Edit Network
18
Task flow manager/Executor
20
Default Parameters Importation 22

xAFP Project Creation from RAW Data .........Slides 23-49

Organizing File and Folder Structure

24
xAFP Project Creation Overview and Summary
Physical Data Importation
29
Creating Groups
32
3

26

Agenda Day 1 - Afternoon

2:00pm to 5:30pm, with 3x 10 min breaks

xAFP Project Creation from RAW Data (Conted).....Slides 23-49

Network Data Importation

Traffic Data Importation
Importing RXQUAL / RXLEV
Traffic Spreading between layers
HO Data Importation
TCH demand Importation
Database Cross Validation & Consistency Checks
BSIC Audit and mobile measurements collection

33
36
38
39
40
41
42
45

Interference Matrix (IM). Slides 50-78

Sources for IM generation

Scan List Generator
MMR Importation
Managing Multiple IMs
IM validation

51
56
58
66
68

Agenda Day 2 - Morning

9:00am to 12:30pm, with 3x 10 min breaks

Interference Matrix (IM)(Conted).. Slides 50-78

IM validation Tests
69
Consistency Check Report
74
IM Validation via RxQual Comparison

QoS simulator..Slides 79-92

Simulator Overview 80
Curves Data
81
QoS Simulator Settings
82
Correlation Reports Analysis and Results 86

IM update...Slides 93-98
Blind Spots 95
Interferers insertion

77

97

Optimization.Slides 99-124
Setup Network parameters
100
AFP settings (explanation of constraints) 103

Agenda Day 2 - Afternoon

2:00pm to 5:30pm, with 3x 10 min breaks

Optimization (Conted).Slides 99-124

Optimizable parameters
Optimization Parameters
Optimization costs
Default Settings for Ad-Hoc Optimizer
Costs Per Sector/Freq Report
HSN/MAIO Planning
BCCH and TCH Plan Review
Global Frequency Plan Review
Simulation with the Optimized Freq Plan
Scoring and comparing frequency plans
xAFP exports

104
109
112
113
116
117
118
119
121
122
124

Agenda Day 3 - Morning

9:00am to 12:30pm, with 3x 10 min breaks

xAFP Additional FeaturesSlides 125-130

IM Override 127
Inserting Site/Sectors 128
Neighbor List Audit 129

xAFP Displays and Reports.Slides 131-151

TCH Retune Methodology Key Points & SummarySlides 152-161
Frequency Planning Strategies
153
BCCH retune methodology 154
TCH retune methodology
156
Retune Process Summary 159
Support Information.Slide 162

Agenda Day 3 - Afternoon

2:00pm to 5:30pm, with 3x 10 min breaks

Hands on Exercise Lab Session

Full xAFP exercise (Part 1)
Import all required data
Validate imported data (physical data, traffic, IM..)
Create groups (Optimization area, buffer area.)
Set appropriate parameters values (for Simulation and Optimization)
Run QOS (Validate Predicted vs. Measured QOS, RMSE, scattered
plot..)
Run Optimization (multiple scenarios, comparisons
Review results, spot retunes, worst offenders..

Tool Installation and License Info

Send e-mail to license@optimi.com, to request a license

Install xAFP
Full Installation
Upgrade to a new version if you already have xAFP installed

Copy license file, .lic, to the \Optimi\Optimi X\ folder

Run xAFP
Double click on AcpAfp.exe
Create a shortcut for AcpAfp.exe on the desktop

Send e-mail to Optimi License to get an activation code

Do not hit CANCEL on the activation window

Copy and paste (or type) the activation code

xAFP is running on your local machine
If license expires send an e-mail to Optimi License to request a new
license:
You will need to attach your license file, .lic
Optimi will send you a new .lic file to install

xAFP Environment

The xAFP Environment

Chapter 1
10

The xAFP Environment

Four Main Windows to view, edit, and

modify data.

Spatial view (map view)

Tools/View (layers manager)

Olap view (pivot table)

Edit sector, and network view

(forms)
Spatial view, layers, forms, and pivot
tables are synchronized
11

The xAFP Environment

Main Menu

& Toolbar

Spatial View

Runs on all Windows Platforms

Menu Driven Application
Tool Bar Available for major
operations

12

The xAFP Environment

Earth Tab

13

Layers Manager

Layer Manager

Network Manager

Configuration
Manager

Menu Items

Layer Manager -> Allows users to enabled/disable layers for display such as Polygons, Rasters, Maps,
and project specific Physical, Network, RF, QoS and Traffic data.
Network Manager -> It allows users to view and access Project Network Information in a tree like format
like that of Windows Explorer.
Configuration Manager -> Allows users to view information about different configurations
Menu items -> It allows uses access all Menu through tree like format
14

Message Log

Dockable Tools/Views

User Messages are presented

in different colors depending on
the importance of the message

Customizable toolbars
Colored and dockable message Log
15

Message Log
Records error and warning messages
Limited display length:
Open general.log in C:\Documents and
Settings\<user_name>\Application Data\Optimi\user

View Message Log (CTRL+M)

16

Pivot Table
View OLAP Table Network GSM BCCH distribution

OR

Menu Items Layer View OLAP Table Network GSM BCCH distribution

Export to CSV, Excel, XML and HTML

Graphical distribution
of parameter values

Olap View (Pivot Table)

17

Convenient way to select and filter

sectors based on parameter values

Allows user to analyze

Physical

Network

RF

Traffic

QoS

Edit Sector
Edit Sector or Menu Item Layer Edit Sector..

Groups

List of
sectors

Edit Sector View

Name
Query

18

Displays the hard and soft

parameters for every sector
in the network
Tab Driven Form
Editing of Multiple sectors
supported

Edit Network
Frequency Allocations
BCCH/TCH
Add/Remove Frequencies

Edit Network or

Menu Item Layer Edit Network

MA Lists
View/Edit Hopping Lists

System Parameters
Edit System Properties
Access Method
Channel Allocation

Spatial View Settings

Adjust Spatial View C/I

Pivot Table
Adjust/Edit Pivot table View
Settings

19

Task Flow Manager Executor

Designed to simplify the navigation of the tool menu and to assist in
the creation of reproducible engineering processes
Once a Task Flow is defined, it can be distributed to other engineers

2 modes of operation
(TFM) Manager
ability to define the
steps needed to
reproduce a process
(TFE) Executor
follow the steps
defined by the
manager

20

Task Flow Manager / Executor

Creating a process is
as simple as dragging
and dropping a menu
item from the right side
of the screen to the left
All menu items in the
application are
available in the TFM,
including Pivot Tables
and Spatial views
Each Task Flow that
you create as user is
stored in an xml file in
[inst_folder]\Optimi
X\system\tasktemplates

21

Default Parameters importation

xAFP presents a grand variety of parameters that
can be tuned to adapt xAFP to a great variety of
networks and situations.
Optimization and/or simulation parameters can be
imported (default.sim, default.gop)
Importation to current project and/or default
directory
Great advantage: company specific default
parameters can be distributed to its engineers

22

xAFP project creation from

RAW data

Chapter 2
23

File and Folder Structure

Program files
Default

Projects
Recommendation:
Keep well organized
Give meaningful names
One project can contain multiple configurations (different
frequency plans)

24

Copying & Organizing data into folders

25

xAFP Project Creation Overview

26

xAFP Project Creation Summary

Physical Data

Switch Files

BSC readout Files (one per BSC)

Mobile Measurements

All sites to be retuned (core) as well as all relevant outer tiers (buffer) must be included
and flagged as core or buffer

Mobile measurement reports from Nokia, Siemens, Ericsson, Motorola, Alcatel , Huawei
and ZTE are supported
Collected daily in defined periods

RxQual & RxLev Stat per Sector Basis

Traffic, Hand-off Statistics and RxQual/RxLev data collected at the same time MMR is
collected or at least during busy hours

27

xAFP Project Creation Summary

Frequency planning constraints

Combiner constraints, repeaters, local knowledge information.

Traffic
Use the last 4 weeks. Average the top 4 peak traffic ISBH values.
Interference is dependent on the ABSOLUTE traffic.
Plan integrity needs to be high during its busiest time

HO Stats
Use the most recent DAILY HO attempts. Last 4 weeks
Remove outliers/glitches, take daily average

28

Import Physical database

File Import Physical Generic Importer

29

Importing Physical Database

Generic Importer
Allows user to specify the
Physical database format
through the Data Format Tab
Allows to Mapped physical
database fields to Optimi
xAFP format through the
Field Mapping Tab.
It also allows to save a
template for future use.

30

Import Physical database

As a result of the importation the following Optimi files are created:

<project-name>.physical.sector.csv
<project-name>.physical.site.csv

The list of cells in the physical database will decide the set of cells
we will be working with.
How to create xAFP physical files

Using XLS
From Wizard
From Planet EV
Pegaplan

31

Creation of Groups

Objective/Comments
Classify sectors in various groups (Create .csv file, see sample file format)
You may use any groups you would like. Examples include:
TCH_Frequency_Group
BCCH_Frequency_Group
BSC
# TRXs
Cell Status (ON-AIR or New)

To Import groups
- File Import Groups
Ensure all sectors belong to a group
Use View Pivot Table Network GSM All
Ensure no group has the option Unassigned

Practice how to select sectors from various groups

For example, sectors with Status=On-Air

Create groups within the tool (Edit Group)

32

Import of Network Configuration (I)

Parameter Filter
Sectors Filters by Group
Input Data Filter

Main xAFP files

<project-name>.network.gsm.sector.csv
(BCCH,BSIC,MAL,UL/OL)
<project-name>.network.gsm.trx.csv (TCH TRX per cell,
MAIO, TCH channel, hopping type)
<project-name>.network.gsm.mal.csv (frequencies in each
MAL)
<project-name>.network.gsm.neighbor.csv (neighbor list)

33

Import of Network Configuration (II)

Import Options

Merge into Current Configuration Updates

network data for the sectors being imported

Overwrite clears out all existing network

information from the configuration and imports all
network data from scratch.

Preserve existing neighbor relationships,

preserves existing neighbor lists during the import
for all cells in the configuration.

Preserve unique MAL definitions, keeps the

existing MAL names within the configuration.

34

Import of Network Configuration (III)

Network Data (GSM) Contains:
Project Frequency Band
Sector BCCH Frequencies
Sector BSIC
Sector TRX Information
Sector MA List
Sector HSN #

Network Data (Neighbors) Contains:

Neighbor Relations
HO Counts
BCCH/BSIC pair of Neighbor
External Neighbor Info can also be viewed
35

Traffic data creation for AFP and QoS

Objective
Import busy hour (ISBH) traffic data to use for optimization
Import traffic for the Joint RXQUAL/RXLEV recording period for IM
validation
Create the Optimi X format
Multiple traffic values per cell
Tool average out traffic values and assigns it per cell

Main Optimi X files created

<project-name>. traffic.voice.gsm.csv
36

Generating Traffic from SACCH Reports

Objective/Comments

Create traffic data in Optimi X format from Joint RXLEV/RXQUAL

Compare estimated traffic from Joint RXLEV/RXQUAL with traffic from switch

How to calculate Erlangs from Joint RXLEV/RXQUAL report

Every measurement report has a duration of 480 msec (GSM SACCH period)
If we have 1,000,000 reports received by the cell site it means that the cell was utilized for
1,000,000*480 msec=480,000 secs = 8,000 minutes or 8,000 MoUs
If these reports were recorded during the entire day, i. 24 hrs then
Traffic in Erlangs = 8,000 MoUs/(24*60 minutes) = 5.55 erlangs
Converting # of SACCH Measurement Reports to Subscriber Erlangs
MoUs= (# of SACCH Reports)*(0.48/60) minutes
Traffic(E) =MoUs/(60*# of Hours of Recording)
Note that Traffic (E) represents Subscriber Erlangs, i.e. does not account for HR traffic

x-AFPSpecial utilities

Number of total hours

or MRR/RxQual
recordings
37

Measured RXQUAL and RXLEV Data

Objective/Comments

Import Measured RXQUAL data per cell

Import Measured RXLEV data per cell
Compare Measured RXQUAL with Predicted RXQUAL
The comparison will tell us how accurately we can predict RXQUAL

Main Optimi X files created

<project-name>.gsm.qos.measured.rx.csv

38

Traffic spreading on channel groups and UL/OL

Use xAFP Special Utilities
x-AFP Special Utilities Split Traffic Between Underlays/Overlays

Objective
Spread traffic on channel groups

39

HO attempts data creation

Objective
Convert a report of Daily # of HO attempts to an Optimi X format
Output is the average daily of # of HO attempts for each neighbor relationship
Optimi X file created
<project-name>. network.gsm.ho.csv
Importing HO stats in Optimi X
File Import Network GSM HO Counts Optimi
Spreading # of HO attempts in the UL/OL
x-AFP Special Utilities Split Handoff Statistics Between Underlay/Overlay

40

Import # of TCH TRUs per cell

Objective
Show a sample file that can be used to import the # of TCH TRUs in
xAFP
xAFP file modified
<project-name>. network.gsm.trx.csv
xAFP file to be imported
<any name>.network.gsm.tch_demand.csv
Importing TCH TRU demand
File Import Network GSM TCH Demand Optimi
Two Options Merge and Append
Note that if # of TCH TRUs is LESS than current configuration then
#TRX is NOT updated!!!!

41

Database Cross Validation

How to identify inconsistencies

Reconciliation files after importing data

Review sectors with no BCCH, no neighbors (Potential Missing Data)
Review the xAFP messages in Msg Log Window
Run Consistency Check Options tool

42

Consistency Check
Objectives
Identify database inconsistencies amongst:

ON-AIR cells
Traffic report
Switch file
Mobile measurement reports
RxQual/RxLev measurements

Typical database inconsistencies/flags

Physical Database cells not On-Air
On-Air cells not in Physical Database
On-Air cells in traffic report but have very low traffic
Co/Adj Channel Conflicts
On-Air cells in IM but with very few interferers
Wrong location
On-Air neighbor cells not declared in the active BA list
43

Consistency Check
Severity and suggestion to fix
each inconsistency are logged

44

BSIC Audit (Before running Recordings)

Objective
Identify a list of cells with close Co-BCCH-BSIC reuse (< 15
miles/24 Km)
Retune the BSIC for this set of cells
Use BSIC Report in xAFP to determine the cells with Co-BCCHBSIC reuse:
View Pivot Table Network GSM CO-BCCH/BSIC
Conflict Report
Distance is specified in Km ( Dist(miles) = Dist(Km)/1.6 )
Select to optimize the BSIC ONLY for cells with Co-BCCH-BSIC
reuse < 15 miles
Optimize BSIC for cells with Co-BCCH-BSIC reuse < 15 miles
x-AFP Optimization
Select BSIC to optimize

45

BSIC Audit (Sample BSIC Report)

46

BSIC Optimization Default Settings

Interference Matrix can be used as interference source (if IM is available)

If previous option is used while calculating the interference signal levels, the
optimizer will consider the C/I values from the project IM
47

BSIC Optimization Default Settings

Additional costs for second order relations:

Neighbor-Neighbor
Neighbor-Interferer
External neighbor-External Neighbor
48

BCCH & BSIC conflict resolution

BCCH & BSIC conflict report improved to perform consistency checks on
external neighbors and 2nd order neighbors:

"2nd Order Ext Nbrs" checks the conflicts if two sectors that are neighbor to same
external cell share the same BCCH-BSIC combination

"2nd Order Nbr-Interf" column checks if the "sector" is a neighbor of a common cell while
"sector2" is the interferer of that cell.

49

Interference Matrix
(IM)
Chapter 3

50

IM Sources of Generation
Drive test IM

Useful in performing what-if scenarios, i.e., RF changes can be

drive tested to generate new IM matrix
Time intensive to collect
Require several scanners running simultaneously

Switch based IM

Provides interference picture exactly where mobile calls are

placed
Takes some time to collect (Approx 2 Weeks)

Propagation model IM

Fastest way to generate IM

IM can be modified immediately based on RF changes
Heavily dependent on the accuracy of the propagation model
51

Drive Test IM
Pros:
Accurate RSSI measurements
Provides a very accurate C/I description at every measured location
Serving area of the victim cell
Independent of the frequency assignment
Based on the strongest RSSI and hysteresis value

Cons:
Very expensive and time consuming
RSSI measured on street level only
Does not take in-building measurements
Subscriber traffic distribution is uniform along roads

Actual traffic not represented

Older drive test equipment cannot always differentiate between
interferers
Incorrect BSIC or readings are likely to occur

52

Switched Based IM
Pros:
High accuracy (based on RSSI measurements on the phone)
Takes into account EXACT traffic distribution of subscribers
C/I calculated exactly where calls are placed
Accounts for subscribers in buildings

Less time and money

No need to define actual cell serving areas
Takes into account
HCS, Underlay / Overlay, Handovers, Neighbor relations

Cons:
No location information, i.e. coordinates
Interferer is identified by BCCH-BSIC
Blind Spots often occur

Interference form sectors with same BCCH

Error decoding BSIC if Victim-Interferer RSL is small
Accuracy of the IM is somewhat dependent on the BSIC plan
BCCH-BSIC reuse needs to be optimized
Serving areas dependent on frequency plan

A mapping of BCCH/BSIC to cell ID is required

Missing neighbors and interferers
Only the 6 strongest interferers are reported (neighbors are a priority)
Max # of interferers per victim cell is 64
53

Propagation Model IM
Pros:

If you dont model tune, can be fast and cheap.

Most complete IM (unlimited # of relationships)
Serving area of the victim cell is independent of the frequency plan
Based on the strongest server RSL [dBm] and hysteresis margin
Can be used to fill in missing data in other types of IM

Cons:
Model tuning can take time and money due to required drive
measurements
C/I calculated levels on the ground (does not account for subs in
buildings)
Subscriber traffic distribution is a best guess
Roads
Clutter database

Low accuracy (dependent on the accuracy of propagation model)

Standard deviation = 6 to 12 dB

Serving area boundaries are inaccurate

Relies on the accuracy of the site database, clutter file, terrain file
and propagation model
54

Switched Based IM

Steps required to get a valid IM:

1.

Generate scan lists within xAFP

2.

Generate and activate switch commands to collect

measurements

3.

Import MMR files into xAFP

4.

Generate IM within the tool

5.

Validate accuracy of IM

55

Generate Scan Lists

x-AFP Scan List Generator

xAFP predictions
Reliable 1st cut IM:
- propagation tool
- old measurement-based IM

56

Generate Scan Lists

Activate Rotating
BALs
Specify folder where commands will be generated

57

when number of
BCCH channels
is greater than 32

Import MMR files into xAFP

Objective
Match Mobile Measurements with switch files
Import Mobile Measurements File
Generate IM from MM file

xAFP file created

<project-name>.rf.mm.gsm.csv (MM file)
<project-name>.cid (xAFP IM)

Generating IM from Mobile Measurements

x-AFP Interference Matrix Tools Generate IM From Mobile
Measurements

58

Mobile Measurements Import

59

BCCH-BSIC Matching rules

Rule 1:
Maximum distance to
resolve BCCH/BSIC pairs

A
C

Rule 2:

If beyond distance in Rule

1, apply antenna
beamwidth to decide

R1

Rules can be extended to

discard unique matches.

R2

D
E
F

Does not account for power:

- Propagation recommended
60

Mobile Measurements Import Log

Check informational message after importation
Verify that relationships have been created and
interferers have been resolved

61

MMR Diagnostics (I)

This functionality allows the users to analyze automatically imported measurements

based on.:
The HO Percentage represented by the IM relations.
Number of collection days
The amount of traffic per sector
.
62

MMR Diagnostics (II)

Analyzing each of the point mentioned in previous slide, this functionality
estimates the number and the quality of MMR Measurements and scores
them as Poor, Good or Excellent

63

Mobile Measurement Files

Victim

Total
Measurements

BCCH/BSIC

Threshold 1

Threshold 2

DS100A

39000

233/23

1234

234

DS100A

23000

235/46

2341

1345

DS100B

10045

212/34

3908

2789

64

Switched Based IM using xAFP

Two thresholds are set, e.g. -3dB and 12dB

Assume Gaussian distribution of values

The user specifies the relative thresholds of signal strength between the serving and
measured BTS.
When a measurement reports includes a C/I < -3dB, counter 1 is incremented and if it
is also below 12dB, counter 2 increments together with counter 1.
With these two thresholds, it is easy to fit a Gaussian curve and calculate the Mean
and Standard Deviation C/I. Pr{X<-3dB} and Pr{X<12dB}
Gaussian Cumulative Distribution

Pr {X < C/I}

Prob. %

Gaussian Cumulative Distribution

120

120

100

100

80

80

60

60

40

40

20

20

0
-15 -12 -9

-6

-3

12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 75 78 81
C/I [dB]

C/I
65

Multiple IM management
Tool allows to store
/manage several IM files
in the same project.

Manage IM functionality
is available from:
1. xAFP Interference Matrix
Tools Manage IMs
2. GSM Simulation Parameters
dialog

3. GSM Optimization Parameters

dialog
3

66

View IM Relationships

From Edit Sector Dialog RF Tab OR Olap View OR Spatial view

The Source parameter represents the source of the interference and it can
have values such as:
ADDED (copied from others or added in edit sector),
MEASUREMENT (from MMR),
PREDICTION (insert interferers feature),
MEASUREMENT + AIC, PEGAPLAN, UNKNOWN
67

IM validation

Critical part of retuning process

Validation Tests
Additional Audits
How to improve IM
Generate a more complete IM

68

IM validation tests
Validation Tests
Cells with 0 IM relationships
View Pivot Table RF Interference Matrix IM
Statistics
Cells with very few IM relationships (< 5: rural cells, indoor,
pico cells are explained)
View Pivot Table RF Interference Matrix IM
Statistics
IM relationships with very few counts (< 500)
View Pivot Table RF Interference Matrix IM
Statistics
Identify cells with ISBH outside the recording period
Neighbors with missing IM relationships
View Pivot Table RF Interference Matrix IM
Neighbor (GSM)
Consistency Check Report
x-AFP Consistency Check or F6
69

Cells with 0 or few (<5) IM relationships

View OLAP Table RF Interference Matrix IM Statistics

Sort by # of Interferers

70

IM relationships with few IM counts (<500)

View OLAP Table RF Interference Matrix IM Detail
Sort by IM Count

71

Neighbors with missing IM relationships

View OLAP Table RF Interference Matrix IM Neighbor (GSM)
Sort by HO Count

72

Cells missing HO data

Identify cells with 0 # of OUTGOING HO attempts

View OLAP Table Network GSM Neighbors
Sort by HO counts

73

Consistency Check Report

Sectors Tests
Identify cell Not in Interference Matrix and Sectors with < 5 Interferers

x-AFP Consistency Check or F6

74

Consistency Check Report

Relationship Tests
Identify cells in Interference Matrix but with < 100 IM counts

x-AFP Consistency Check or F6

75

IM Validation
Additional Audits
IM validation via RXQUAL comparison
IM Normalization
Additional Interference Constraints Report

76

IM validation via RXQUAL comparison

Use spreadsheet PrVsMrCorrelationTemplate.xls
Comes with xAFP installation []\Optimi\Optimi X\support

Import Measured RXQUAL for the date you want to compare

Import network configuration for the same date in On-Air project
Use traffic data for the same recording period as the measured
RXQUAL
Run QoS simulation to obtain predicted RXQUAL.
x-Simulator GSM Simulation
See next slides for recommended settings

Overview of QoS Simulator (while simulation is running)

Export to the Predicted vs Measured RXQUAL to use in
PrVsMrCorrelationTemplate.xls
View Pivot Table QoS RXQUAL Predicted vs Measured

77

IM Validation
How to improve IM
Identify cells with BH outside the recording period
IM based on those recordings might not be significant out of the ISBH

Before the start of measurements collection process:

BSIC audit and BSIC optimization
Would reduce BCCH-NCC-BCC reuse and improve import MMR

Run additional recordings for 1-3 days

Extend to recording period and try to capture cell BH

Generate more complete IM

Import ALL recordings and perform IM validation again
Identify cells with no or few IM relationships
Use older IM data to fill in such holes

Blind spots
Use older IM data to fill in such holes

78

QoS Simulator

Chapter 4
79

QoS Simulator
Mobile distribution

Simulations
For every sector
For every mobile
# of Iterations
User defined
Other parameters
Adjacent Channel
Rejection
Call drop %FER target
DL PC gain UL and DL
DTX UL and DL
Minimum RSL threshold

Resource allocation
C/I predictions per
mobile
Mapping of C/I

Store temporary results

More iterations

Results

QoS Predictions

80

Hardware Fractional Loading

Erlang Fractional Loading
Offered Traffic
Carried Traffic
Dropped Calls
Blocked Calls

Curves Data
Mapping

C/I to BER
C/I to FER
Relation C/I to a QoS Metric
Assigned to sector
curve.gsm.sector file

Mapping function of :
Speech codec
Mobile speed
Radio channel

81

QoS Simulator Settings

Call Drop FER: This value

specifies the FER value at
which calls are considered
dropped
Power Control Gain
supplies the parameters
needed to account for
power control on TCH
channels
DTX Factor specifies the
time that a call is
transmitting
Manage IM allows
the user to specify
which IM will be
used when running
the simulator.

82

QoS Simulator Settings

Use RXLEV If
checked the
simulator will take
into account poor
quality due to low
signal strength

83

QoS Simulator Settings

Specifies which KPIs

will be calculated by
the simulator. If a
box is checked the
simulator will
compile stats for the
given KPI for all
sectors.

84

QoS Simulator Settings

The software will estimate
the number of Monte
Carlo runs needed to
meet the convergence
parameters specified in
the Edit Network
parameters. Typically this
corresponds to a
confidence level of 95%
that your simulation
results are within +/- 1%.

85

Correlation Report Analysis

RXQual Predicted Vs. Measured Correlation
Refine the Report to view Predicted, Measured, Pr- Mr, and |Pr-Mr|,
Total Erlang
Refine Report to view RxQual 5-7

86

Correlation Report Analysis

How to Evaluate Results:

Review RMSE Thresholds
Review Scatter Charts
Review Bar Charts

87

Correlation Report Analysis

88

Predicted vs Measured Plot

Use excel template OR

ViewPivot Table QoS RxQual Predicted vs. Measured Chart
89

What is a good range of results?

For Simulation using C/I Only (RXLEV NOT checked)

Er*RMSE ~ 6%
RMSE ~ 7%
Correlation ~ 0.3 0.4
70% of cells within 5% Error, 90% of cells within 10% Error
Yellow line Regression slope (underpredicting)

For Simulation using C/I and C/N (RXLEV checked)

Er*RMSE ~ 3% to 4%
RMSE ~ 3% to 5%
Correlation ~ 0.6 0.8
85% of cells within 5% Error, 95% of cells within 10% Error
Regression Slope close to 1.00 (0.9 to 1.1)

90

Correlation Report Analysis

What to do for Poor Correlation?
Measured RxQual
Review Sectors with no measured data
Load single day of Mobile Measurements and review qos.measured file
with the raw measured data file randomly for a few sectors
Load each day at a time an correlate
Aggregate good individual days into a composite IM
Traffic Data
Check Traffic is accurate for the period of the recording. This is critical and
accounts for many correlation problems.
Network Data
Check Network configuration after importing RAW data
Physical Data
Import at least 1 to 2 weeks of Mobile Measurements
Verify data was collected for the same periods. (i.e., 3PM to 7 PM)
Check, Check, and Check Again..

91

View QoS Predictions Results

Examine results using Spatial View
Spatial View (GUI)

Predicted RxQual
C/I
FER
TCH
BCCH
Combined

92

IM Update

Chapter 5
93

Update IM For Optimization

Update IM
Insert Blind Spots
Previous IM
Predictions

Insert relations for cells with missing or few IM

relationships
Previous IM

Insert Interferers for new cells

Predictions

94

Blind Spots

Site 600

Neighbor
Non Neighbor

C
B

212

Site 300

A
C

Site 400

223
B

B
209
Site 200
A
214
C
B
212
A
C
B
Site 100

95

Insert Blind Spots From Old IM

Insert Interferers or Menu Item Layer Insert Interferers

96

Insert interferers
Insert IM relationships for sectors with few IM relationships
from OLD IM
Insert Interferers or Menu Item Layer Insert Interferers

97

Insert Interferers
Creating IM for new sectors
Insert Interferers or Menu Item Layer Insert Interferers

98

Optimization

Chapter 6
99

Setup Network Parameters

Edit Network or
Menu Item Layer Edit Network

Configure BCCH/TCH
Channels
Configure MA Lists
Configure System
Settings

100

Setup Network Parameters

Edit Network or
Menu Item Layer Edit Network

Configure BCCH/TCH
Channels
Configure TCH Lists to be
used for optimization
Configure System Settings
Create a New TCH
list that contains all
the available
frequencies in TCH

101

Setup Network Parameters

Edit Network or
Menu Item Layer Edit Network

Configure BCCH/TCH
Channels
Configure MA Lists
Configure System
Settings

102

Edit Sector AFP settings

103

Optimizable Parameters
Edit Sector or Menu Item Layer Edit Sector

Optimizable
Parameters

104

Optimizable Parameters
Edit Sector or Menu Item Layer Edit Sector
TRX Override

Enables users to globally change the TCH TRX type between BB

Hopping, BB Hopping on BCCH, SY Hopping and Fixed
105

Optimizable Parameters (cont.)

User selects which variables

to optimize
106

Optimizable Parameters (cont.)

User selects which variable

to optimize
107

Import/export BCCH and TCH optimization channels

It allows the user to export/import the current configuration

channels to be used in the BCCH an TCH optimization
BCCH Channels
TCH Channels
File Import Network GSM Valid Optimizable channels

108

Optimization Parameters (I)

Optimization Parameters

x-AFP Optimization

Go to GSM Tab

109

Optimization Parameters (II)

Optimization Parameters

x-AFP Optimization

Go to Optimizer Tab

110

Optimization Parameters (III)

Optimization Parameters

x-AFP Optimization

Go to BCCH/TCH Tab

111

Optimization Costs

Sector Weight * [ Constraints + RF Costs + Handoff costs ]

Sector Weight = User setting in the AFP tab of Edit Sector

Constraints = User settings in the Optimizer Tab
RF Costs = 100 * Probability of Interference * Traffic (If Specified)
Hand Off Costs = [ Number of HO between Vict_Int pair / Avg # of HO between Vict_Int
pair in project ] * Specified Cost

112

Default Settings for Ad-Hoc Optimizer

Optimization Parameters
x-AFP Optimization
Constrains for Ad Hoc BCCH TCH optimizer
Go to Basic Settings
Press Basic/Advanced Settings Button

113

Default Settings for Ad-Hoc Optimizer

Optimization Parameters

x-AFP Optimization

Constrains for Ad Hoc BCCH TCH optimizer

114

Ad Hoc optimization cost function visualization

The initial, current and best costs for the Ad Hoc optimizer
are graphically presented during optimization process
115

Costs Per Sector/Freq Report

Pivot table reports that represents the Ad hoc Optimizer costs on sector basis:
View Pivot Table Network GSM
Ad Hoc Frequency Cost PT
Ad Hoc Detailed Cost PT
116

HSN/MAIO Planning
HSN planning
Maximize distance between Co-MAL Co-HSN
MAIO planning (Optimize Option)
Avoid Co-channel TCH between TCH TRXs
within the sector
Avoid Co-channel TCH between TCH TRXs
within sectors of same site
Avoid Adj-channel TCH between TCH TRXs
within the sector
Avoid Adj-channel TCH between TCH TRXs
within sectors of same site
If interference cannot be avoided, interference
is pushed on higher TRX numbers
Produces random MAIO assignments
MAIO planning (Plan Option)
Avoids co-channel and adjacent within TRXs
of same sector and same site
If not possible then makes no effort.
Assigns MAIOs using a pattern
Use this only if you are certain that co and
adjacent can be avoided.

117

BCCH and TCH Plan Review

Generate Channel reuse report

BCCH Plan Review

View Pivot Table Network GSM Channel Reuse OR

File Export Network GSM Detailed Channel Reuse
Use File Export for a large project when TCH plan present (much faster)
Identify worst CO-BCCH-BCCH reuse relationships
Sort by worst RXQUAL5-7
Ignore reuse with RXQUAL5-7 < 0.1%
Identify closest CO-BCCH-BCCH reuse relationships
Sort by closest distance
Pay attention to relationships with NO IM data (Mean = 777)
Perform visual spot checks of the CO-BCCH-BCCH reuse
View Spatial Layers Sector Network GSM BCCH Co
View Spatial Layers Sector RF Interference Matrix DL Interferers
Potential Co DL Co-Channel Interferer Mean
BCCH-BCCH-CO displays interferers that have CO-BCCH-BCCH reuse

TCH Plan Review

Identify worst CO-TCH-TCH reuse relationships

Sort by worst RXQUAL5-7
Ignore reuse with RXQUAL5-7 < 0.1%
Identify worst CO-TCH-TCH Neighbors
Sort by highest HO Severity (Collision Probability in %)
Perform visual spot checks of the CO-TCH-TCH reuse
View Spatial Layers Sector Network GSM MAL Reuse
View Spatial Layers Sector Network GSM C/I during HO (dB)
118

Network Frequency Retunes

Scoring Frequency Plans

File Export Network GSM Frequency Plan Global Metrics

Consult

sample IMPORTANT_FrequencyPlanGlobalMetrics.xls
119

Global Frequency Plan Review

This is way to quantify and quality distinct frequency plans

Optimi xAFP allows to compare two frequency plans using the Compare FPGM option

Select the configuration

with the actual
frequency plan

Tools Options
Tools Reports AFP Compare FPGM

120

Simulation with the Optimized Freq Plan

As the IM has been changed
after introducing interference
from Blindspots and for the
new cells

Export the pivot table QoS

> RxQual > Predicted
Filtered out by RxQual 5-7

121

Comparison Template
Simulations of up to 6 different freq plans can be
compared in the template MultiplanComparitiveScoring.xls
([]\Optimi\Optimi X\support)
Data to be pasted from
the pivot table QoS >
RxQual > Predicted

Each freq plan simulation

must be pasted in
PredQoS tabs

122

Comparison Template
Different tabs to score the frequency plans
Percentage of
cells

Percentage of samples with RxQual

5-7
123

xAFP Exports
Physical
ASSET3G, Atoll, Planet EV, Pegaplan and Wizard

Network
Optimi Channel Plan
Nokia Channel Plan
Ericsson CNA
Siemens Channel Plan
Mapinfo Table
Pegaplan Channel Plan
Detailed Channel Reuse
Next Best Channels
Frequency Plan Global Metrics
Neighbor Diagnostics
Optimizable Channels
RF
Interference Matrix
QoS
Predicted Quality
Predicted vs. Measured Quality
Default Parameters
For Simulation
For Optimization
124

xAFP Additional Features

Chapter 7
125

xAFP Additional Features

BCCH retunes
IM Overrides (Local Knowledge IM)
Edit Sector RF DL Overrides

Next Best BCCH Channel

View Pivot Table Network GSM Next Best BCCH

Adding new sectors and sites

Add one by one
Insert Sectors

Add multiple ones via single import

File Import Physical Optimi

Neighbor Audit Database Filtering

x-AFP Neighbor List Audit

126

IM Overrides

Use for Local

Market
Knowledge of
Interference

RF Tab under
Edit Sector

Maximum Value
= 100

127

Insert Site/Sectors

Insert Sectors
Click Add Sites to insert site level
data

128

Neighbor List Audit (I)

x-AFP Neighbor List Audit

Filter Based on:

Handoff Counts

Distance
IM Relationships
Channel Reuse
Add relationships:

Enforce Symmetry
Co-Sites
All Possible
Neighbors
Set Filtering
Options

129

Neighbor List Audit (II)

NOTE: Audit results will be overwritten if another audit is executed and the results
will be cleared if a new neighbor import is performed
130

xAFP Displays and Reports

xAFP most commonly used

displays and reports

Chapter 8
131

BCCH reuse

132

BCCH reuse (Numerical display)

133

Channel reuse (for BCCH and TCH)

134

MAL channel reuse (for TCH reuse)

135

Neighbor List

136

# of HO attempts from serving cell to neighbor

137

Optimizable parameters

138

IM displays

Probability of Interference

Prob{ C/I < Target C/I }

Assumes that both server and interferer have a co-channel
BCCH (full power)

5th percentile C/I in dB

5% of the time the C/I goes below the 5th percentile C/I
Think of it as the Lowest C/I victim experiences
User defined, i.e. you can use 2nd, 5th, 10th , etc. percentile

Target C/I and C/I Percentile Settings

Edit Network System

See GUI on the next slide

139

Target C/I and C/I Percentile Settings

140

Probability of Interference in %

141

5th Percentile C/I (dB)

142

BCCH distribution

View OLAP Table Network GSM BCCH Distribution

143

Consistency Check Sectors

xAFP > Consistency Check or F6

144

Consistency Check Relationships

xAFP > Consistency Check or F6

145

BSIC Report

View OLAP Table Network GSM CO-BCCH-BSIC and CO-BCCH-BCC

Conflict Reports

146

Optimizable Attributes

View OLAP Table Network GSM Optimizable Attributes

147

IM statistics

View OLAP Table RF Interference Matrix IM Statistics

148

IM Neighbor Analysis

View OLAP Table RF Interference Matrix IM Neighbor (GSM)

149

QoS (Predicted vs. Measured)

View OLAP Table QoS RXQUAL Predicted vs. Measured

150

QoS (Predicted RXQUAL)

View OLAP Table QoS RXQUAL Predicted

151

xAFP Displays and Reports

TCH Retune Methodology

Key Points & Summary

Chapter 9
152

Frequency Planning Strategies Pros & Cons

1x1 REUSE (BCCH, TCH separate)
No need to do TCH planning
Need to do MAIO planning to avoid MAIO collisions between co-sited sectors
All cells have same REUSE (cannot avoid bad REUSE)
1x3 REUSE (BCCH, TCH separate)
No need to do TCH planning (secA=MAL1, secB=MAL2, secC=MAL3)
No need to do MAIO planning. Typically, better performance than 1x1 REUSE
Mixed BCCH/TCH Ad-Hoc
Improves REUSE for the BCCH (more channels to plan the BCCH)
Better switch IM recordings (since co-BCCH reuse is loose)
TCH degrades since it has interference from BCCH
Requires planning of TCH layer. Need to use an AFP tool.
Need to check for interference from BCCH to TCH, TCH to BCCH in addition
Ad-Hoc TCH (BCCH, TCH separate)
Improves the reuse of TCH since no need to have the constraint of too few MALs
Allows assignment of low Pc between bad reuse and high Pc between good reuse
Easier to manage than Mixed BCCH/TCH. Needs AFP tool for planning.
Ad-Hoc TCH, 1x1 REUSE within Site (BCCH, TCH separate)
Same as above; allows looser reuse between sites in networks with small spectrum
Staggered BCCH
BCCH is interleaved in between TCH channels. Avoids Adj-BCCH/BCCH reuse.
In small spectrum improves BCCH performance but introduces Adj-BCCH/TCH reuse
TCH/BCCH/TCH
Increases frequency diversity since TCH frequencies are spaced farther apart.
Lower probability of RXLEV fading.
Introduces Adj-BCCH/TCH interference.

153

BCCH Retune Methodology Key Points

Optimization Objectives
No Co BCCH/BCCH 1st order nbrs allowed (Hard Constraint)
Minimize BCCH QoS (% of erlangs with BCCH RXQUAL5-7)
Avoid interferers with Prob{C/I<12 dB} > 10% (AFP setting)
Minimize 2nd order nbrs that
Have high # of HO attempts
Are close in distance
Have orientations that shoot into each other
Use metric % of HO affected by CO BCCH/BCCH 2nd order Nbr
reuse Optimizer
No penalty for Adj BCCH/BCCH nbrs (at C/I=-3 dB, HO occurs)
Set the Adj Rej Factor from 18 dB to 100 dB
Account for Adj BCCH/TCH since TCH powers down
Balance BCCH QoS and # of HO affected by 2nd order nbr reuse

154

BCCH Retune Methodology Key Points contd

Nbr list optimization before BCCH retune
Delete a nbr if
# of daily HOs <= 1 AND
Its 2-way nbr has # of daily HOs <= 1 AND
% of daily HO relative to victim cell <= 5% AND
NOT a Co-Sited nbr
~1% to 4% of the nbrs could be deleted

Use xAFP Neighbor List Audit Tool

x-AFP Neighbor List Audit

155

TCH Retune Methodology Key Points

1 MAL per sector

No adjacent channels in MAL to avoid same sector adjacent TCH/TCH interference

Min MAL size = 3

Increasing MAL size causes QoS to degrade exponentially
Increasing MAL size from 3 to 4 channels improves frequency diversity gain only
by 0.5 dB in interference and 0.5 dB in coverage

HSN Planning
Plan HSN per sector
Randomize adj TCH/TCH between sectors of the same site that reduces
interference
No need to plan MAIOs

MAIO Planning
Set MAIO to default

Other Options

MAL per site for sites with few TCH TRUs

Can do a combination of MAL/site and MAL/sector.
Sites with low # of TRUs use MAL/site otherwise use MAL/sector
HSN per site with MAIO planning if # of TCH TRXs<= MALSize/2

156

TCH Retune Methodology Key Points

Frequency Diversity
Min Chan Sep = 3 channels/600 kHz between TCH
channels whenever possible
Spectrum allocation: TCH-BCCH-TCH

Hard Constraints

No Co TCH/TCH on sectors of same site

No Adj BCCH/TCH on sectors of same site
No Adj BCCH/TCH on same sector
No penalty for Same Site Adj TCH/TCH

157

TCH Retune Methodology Key Points contd

Blind spots
No blind spots added from predictions
Adding predicted IM decreases QoS prediction
reliability
Assumption: If Co BCCH exists and is acceptable
then Co TCH can exist as well with acceptable
performance
Fill in Blind Spots from older IM data

158

Retune Process Summary/Big Picture (I)

PRE -RETUNE
CHECKLIST

POST RETUNE
CHECKS

INPUT
DATA

DELTA REPORT

MEASUREMENT/
DATA COLLECTION
.

NO

PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION

DATABASE CROSS
VALIDATION

DATAFILL PREP

CREATE BASELINE
PROJECT

MOP / LOGISTICS

IM & HO STATS
VALIDATION

OPTIMIZE BSIC

OPTIMIZE HSN
/
MAIO

IS IM VALID
?
YES
CREATE PLAN
PROJECT

Motorola REVIEW

PRE OPTIMIZATION

SCORE
BCCH /TCH

SCENARIOS
/
ANALYSIS

CHANNEL REUSE
RPT

CALIBRATE COSTS
SETTINGS

FREQUENCY PLAN
SELECTION

159

Retune Process Summary/Big Picture (II)

Develop a Project Plan
Identify all tasks that need to be done
Amount of time retune activities will take in order to understand deadlines
Data Integrity Tests
Database Cross Validation Tests (Identify correct list of On-Air cells)
BSIC Audit
Check for BCCH-BSIC reuse distance. Retune BSICs with close reuse (<15 miles)
Interferer CELLID matching with BCCH:BSIC depends highly on BSIC plan
Mobile Measurement Recordings and IM generation
Collect for 2 weeks (make sure to include the BH traffic)
Perform IM validation, run additional recordings, use older IM data to fill missing IM data
HO stats
Collect Daily HO attempts 2-4 weeks before retune
Ensure HO data is complete (HO data validation)
Ensure the data used is up to date. Plan performance is degraded with out of date data!!!
Traffic Data
Collect traffic data for the time period as measured RXQUAL (for RXQUAL prediction)
Collect ISBH traffic for the last 2-4 weeks (For Frequency Planning)
Traffic for AFP = Average of 4 Peak ISBH values for each cell
Measured RXQUAL Recordings
Collect measured RXQUAL recordings (preferable for BH traffic, busiest days)
Obtain TRU growth
Neighbor-List Optimization
Neighbor Deletions
Neighbor Additions
160

Retune Process Summary/Big Picture (III)

Create Projects for AFP
On-Air configuration with current frequency plan (BASELINE)
On-Air configuration to be used to optimize current plan (OPTIMIZED)
FORECAST configuration (On-Air plan + New sites) to plan for new sectors/sites (FORECAST)

Run Optimizer, obtain various frequency plan scenarios, decide on the final plan
Review plan
Generate reports and identify cells with potential problems (Channel Reuse Report)
Feedback from engineers, visual checks
Export final plan for implementation
Post retune activities
Monitor KPIs 5 days after and 5 days before
Compare Designed plan vs Implemented plan
Compare Nbr-List used in plan vs Implemented Nbr-List

161

Summary of Support Information

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CONTACT

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162