ZGO-05-02-008

Cell Structure
Feature Guide

Multi-layer

ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

Version

Date

Author

Reviewer
GU

V1.0

2012/03/25

Zhao Zhen

Notes

Commercial

System Supporting

Not open to the third party

Dept.

2013 ZTE Corporation. All rights reserved.

ZTE CONFIDENTIAL: This document contains proprietary information of ZTE and is not to be disclosed or used
without the prior written permission of ZTE.
Due to update and improvement of ZTE products and technologies, information in this document is subjected to
change without notice.

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ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Feature Attribute ............................................................................................... 4

2
2.1
2.2
2.3

Overview ............................................................................................................ 4
Feature Introduction ............................................................................................. 4
License Control .................................................................................................... 5
Correlation with Other Features ........................................................................... 5

Technical Description ....................................................................................... 6

4
4.1
4.2

Parameters and Configurations ....................................................................... 9

Parameter List ..................................................................................................... 9
Parameter Configuration ...................................................................................... 9

5
5.1
5.2

Related Counters and Alarms .......................................................................... 9

Related Counters ................................................................................................. 9
Related Alarms .................................................................................................. 11

6
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.3.1
6.4
6.5

Engineering Guide .......................................................................................... 11

Application Scenario .......................................................................................... 11
Configuration Description ................................................................................... 11
Feature Validation .............................................................................................. 11
Multi-layer Cell Structure .................................................................................... 11
Feature Turn off ................................................................................................. 13
Network Impact .................................................................................................. 13

Abbreviation .................................................................................................... 13

Reference Document....................................................................................... 13

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ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

FIGURES
Figure 2-1 Hierarchical cell structure diagram ..................................................................... 5

TABLES
Table 3-1 Typical cell parameters list .................................................................................. 7
Table 3-2 Timer of Micro-Micro function description ............................................................ 8
Table 5-1 Counters list .......................................................................................................... 9

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ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

Feature Attribute
BSC Version: [ZXG10-iBSC GSM (V6.30.102)]
BTS Version: [Not related with BTS hardware platform]
Property: [Basic]
Related Network Element:
NE Name

Related or Not

MS

BTS

BSC

MSC

MGW

SGSN

GGSN

HLR

Special Requirements

Dependent Function: [ZGB-02-02-001 Basic Handover;ZGO-02-02-001 Handover

between Macro- and Micro-cells,ZGO-02-02-006 Handover Based on Uplink Level

Fast Fading,ZGO-02-02-007 Traffic Based Handover]
Exclusive Function: [None]
Note: [None]

Overview

2.1

Feature Introduction
In network planning, cells are divided into 4 layers: umbrella cell, macro cell, micro cell
and pico cell, as shown in Figure 1. Cells in different layers can use the same or different
frequency bands. Hierarchical cell structure is used to solve the problem of heavy traffic

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ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

load in hot spots, provide better network performance and service quality and improve
frequency reuse, especially low-level (micro cell and pico cell) frequency reuse.

Figure 2-1

2.2

Hierarchical cell structure diagram

License Control
None license control for this feature in UR12 Release.

2.3

Correlation with Other Features

Correlation with ZGB-02-02-001 Basic Handover:
Correlation with Basic Handover: The handover algorithms in the basic handover are
related to the layers concept of hierarchical cell structure. In addition, the parameter
"standard PBGT handover applicable layer (PbgtHoLayer)" should be set for PBGT
handover.
Correlation with ZGO-02-02-001 Handover between Macro- and Micro-cells:

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Correlation with Handover between Macro- and Micro-cells: Handover between

Macro- and Micro-cells is related to the layers concept of hierarchical cell structure
and the parameter Neighbor Cell Layer (NCellLayer) should be set for Handover
between Macro- and Micro-cells.
Correlation with ZGO-02-02-006 Handover Based on Uplink Level Fast Fading:
Correlation with Handover Based on Uplink Level Fast Fading: Related cells set via
OMCR are selected as target cell by Handover Based on Uplink Level Fast Fading. If
related cells are not set, target cell is selected following the rule of upper layer to
same layer to lower layer.
Correlation with ZGO-02-02-006 Handover Based on Uplink Level Fast Fading:
Correlation with Traffic Based Handover: Target cell is selected according to the
hierarchical cell structure of same layer to upper layer to lower layer by Traffic Based
Handover.

Technical Description
Generally hierarchical cell structure consists of two or more cell layers. The lowest layer
among multi-layer cell structure is the smallest cell type. Pico cell provides service for
indoor coverage. Micro cell with antenna deployed lower than the building roof or indoor
is used to absorb the traffic in particular region or high-density region. Both pico cell and
micro cell may be overlapped above by macro cell. Macro cell with antenna mounted on
the roof of medium-height building is used to meet the requirement from outdoor users in
urban or rural area, provide continuous coverage and is the main support layer for
network capacity. Finally, the top layer umbrella cell may have satellite beam overlap in
the above-mentioned cell layers or some of their mixed cell layers with antenna set
higher to provide wide area coverage and serve fast-moving or the blind spot area of
low-layer.
The example of some typical cell parameters of these cell layers are shown in Table 1.

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ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

Table 3-1

Typical cell parameters list

Cell Type
Umbrella Cell

Cell Radius

100~500km
<35km

Macro Cell

Speed of

Installation

MS

Satellite
Top of
buildings/towers

<1km
Micro Cell

Pico Cell

Place of

Lampposts/Wall
of buildings

<50m

Inside buildings

>500km/h

Target User

Users in planes
User in

<500km/h

fast-moving
vehicles
Walkers or users

<100km/h

in slow-moving
vehicles

<10km/h

Indoor users

Different layers can provide different services, so the traffic of fast-moving terminals will
be absorbed by the upper layer and the traffic of slow-moving terminals will be absorbed
by the lower layer. Micro cell or pico cell can provide more spectrum reuse, greater
capacity and allows the use of mobile user device with lower power, as well as lighter
weight. They also provide coverage for the area where the macro cell cannot be
achieved as a result of natural or artificial obstacles. Macro cell is used to cover larger
area with less investment costs, as well as the area where it's difficult for micro cell or
pico cell to cover. When the traffic load is heavy for micro cell or pico cell, macro cell can
provide channel for the overflow traffic.
Handover between different layers is determined by the preset handover thresholds and
handover algorithm and different handover algorithms use different strategies to select
the layer of the target cell.
Layer selection strategy for different handover algorithm is described as follows:
The layer preference is different due to the handover caused by different reasons. The
target cell will be chosen from prior layer first. If there is the target cell that meets the
condition in the priority layer, then it's not needed to find target cell in other layers. If not,
the target cell will be chosen from second prior layer. If finally the target cell that meets
the condition is not founded, then the handover will not be committed.
The concept of layer in this feature is related to handover algorithms.

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For Uplink/downlink quality handover, Uplink/downlink level handover, MS-BS

ultra-long-haul handover and Directed Retry, the parameter Timer of Micro-Micro
handover delay, shown in Table 2, needs to be set. If the timer is running, select a cell in
the sequence of upper layersame layerlower layer; if it is out of time, select a cell in the
sequence of same layer-upper layer-lower layer.
For Handover Based on Uplink Level Fast Fading, when selecting target cells, first select
related cell which is configured on OMCR; if there is no related cell, then select in the
sequence of upper layer - same layer - lower layer.
For Handover between Macro-cells and Micro-cells, it's generally applied to handover
from macro cell to micro cell for slow-moving user in the multi-layer network composed of
macro cells and micro cells, so only the lower layer cells are feasible target cells and the
parameter Neighbor Cell Layer (NCellLayer) should be set.
For PBGT handover, there is switch to support inter-layer handover in post-platform
(parameter "standard PBGT handover appropriate layer PbgtHoLayer") and PBGT
handover is only allowed to handover to certain layers via switch setting.
For Traffic Based Handover, when the hierarchy (same layer, upper layer, lower layer),
the band and signal level of a call meet the set requirements of adjacent cell, try to
handover the call to adjacent cell. Hierarchical relation should be set by the parameter
"Traffic handover layer control value TrafficHoLayrCtl" .

Table 3-2

Timer of Micro-Micro function description

Handover Reason
No.

Before Tmicro

After

Timeout

TmicroTimeout

Signal Quality
(Uplink/Downlink)
Handover

Upper Layer-Same
Layer-Lower Layer

Same
Layer-Upper
Layer- Lower
Layer

Signal Level
(Uplink/Downlink)
Handover

Upper Layer-Same
Layer-Lower Layer

Same
Layer-Upper
Layer- Lower
Layer

MS-BS

Upper Layer-Same

Same

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4
4.1

Ultra-Distance
Handover

Layer-Lower Layer

Layer-Upper
Layer- Lower
Layer

PBGT Handover

Same layer and

lower layer not
chosen

Same layer and

lower layer not
chosen

Handover between
Macro- and
Micro-cells

Handover not
happened

Handover not
happened

Parameters and Configurations

Parameter List
There is no parameter list for this feature

4.2

Parameter Configuration
In order to meet the service requirement, the related function should be opened
according to the parameter configuration description. It should be noted that the bigger
PBGT start threshold is set in handover control, the more easily handover to initiate

Related Counters and Alarms

5.1

Related Counters
Table 5-1 Counters list
Counter ID

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Name

ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

C900060103

C900060104

C900060105

C900060106

C900060107

C900060108

C900060109

C900060110

C900060111

C900060112

C900060113

C900060114

C900060115

C900060116

10

Number of incoming handover from undefined layer(GSM900) to

current layer(GSM1800)
Number of incoming handover success from undefined
layer(GSM900) to current layer(GSM1800)
Number of incoming handover from undefined layer(GSM1800) to
current layer(GSM900)
Number of incoming handover success from undefined
layer(GSM1800) to current layer(GSM900)
Number of incoming handover from the same layer GSM900 to
GSM1800
Number of incoming handover success from the same layer GSM900
to GSM1800
Number of incoming handover from GSM900 to GSM1800 from the
upper layer
Number of incoming handover success from GSM900 to GSM1800 from
the upper layer
Number of incoming handover from GSM900 to GSM1800 from the
lower layer
Number of incoming handover success from GSM900 to GSM1800 from
the lower layer
Number of incoming handover from GSM1800 to GSM900 from the same
layer
Number of incoming handover success from GSM1800 to GSM900 from
the same layer
Number of incoming handover from GSM1800 to GSM900 from the
upper layer
Number of incoming handover success from GSM1800 to GSM900 from
the upper layer

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C900060117

C900060118

5.2

Number of incoming handover from GSM1800 to GSM900 from the

lower layer
Number of incoming handover success from GSM1800 to GSM900 from
the lower layer

Related Alarms
This feature has no related alarms.

6
6.1

Engineering Guide
Application Scenario
The feature is used in the handover scenario, especially in the traffic-dense areas

6.2

Configuration Description
In order to meet the service requirement, the related function should be opened
according to the parameter configuration description. It should be noted that the bigger
PBGT start threshold is set in handover control, the more easily handover to initiate.

6.3
6.3.1

Feature Validation
Multi-layer Cell Structure
Test Item

Multi-layer Cell Structure

Precondition

1.

check CN is healthy;

2.

check BSC is healthy;

3.

check SDR is healthy;

4.

check default cell configuration and parameters in

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ZGO-05-02-008 Multi-layer Cell Structure

BSC;

Test Steps

5.

Cell A,B,C,D,E are ready;

6.

Cell C is different frequency band with Cell A.

1.

Configure Cell B,C,D,E as adjacent cell of Cell A

as

below relation:
a)

Cell B as upper layer cell

b)

Cell C as same layer cell

c)

Cell D as lower layer cell

d)

Cell E as undefined layer cell

2.

Open BSSAP and RSLCS signaling trace;

3.

Set The threshold for starting PBGT handover in

Handover Control as 60 and set MIN threshold of
signal level for handover on PBGT in adjacent GSM
Cell Configuration for all four adjacent cells as 0.

4.

Set Handover to same layer other band neighbour cell

for PBGT permitted as 1, Handover to upper layer
neighbour cell for PBGT permitted, Handover to
under layer neighbor cell for PBGT
permitted, Handover to neighbour cell with no Layer
Relation for PBGT permitted As 0

5.

MS makes a CS call in cell A, hold on until handover;

6.

Set Handover to upper layer neighbour cell for PBGT

permitted as 1 and other three switch as 0

7.

MS makes a CS call in cell A, hold on until handover;

8.

Set Handover to under layer neighbour cell for PBGT

permitted as 1 and other three switch as 0

9.

MS makes a CS call in cell A, hold on until handover;

10. Set Handover to neighbour cell with no Layer

Relation for PBGT permitted as 1 and other three
switch as 0
11. MS makes a CS call in cell A;

Anticipative Result

12

1.

MS handover to cell C in step 5

2.

MS handover to cell B in step 7

3.

MS handover to cell D in step 9

4.

MS handover to cell E in step 11

Test Result

1.

Handover between multi-layer cells performed

successfully.

Parameters Setting

Default parameters

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6.4

Feature Turn off

This feature cannot be turn off.

6.5

Network Impact
This feature can make handover in regular, enhance the user perception, improve
the traffic quality, reduce the rate of drop calls, balance the traffic and solve the traffic
congestion for parts of the cells.

Abbreviation
Abbreviations

Full Characteristics
rd

3GPP

3 Generation Partnership Project

BCCH

Broadcast Control Channel

BSC

Base Station Controller

BTS

Base Transceiver Station

CS

Circuit Switch

HO

Handover

PBGT

Power Budget

FR

Full Rate

CN

Core Network

Reference Document
ZXG10 iBSC (V6.30.10) Base Station Controller Performance Counter Reference
ZXG10 iBSC (V6.30.10) Base Station Controller Radio Parameter Reference

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