E User Description, Neighbouring Cell Support

User Description, Neighbouring

Cell Support
© Ericsson Radio Systems AB

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User Description, Neighbouring Cell Support

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 User Description, Neighbouring Cell Support

Contents
1 Feature overview........................................................................................... 5
1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 5
1.2 Background.............................................................................................. 5
1.3 What can be achieved............................................................................. 5
2 Technical Description................................................................................... 7
2.1 General .................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Recording Configuration.......................................................................... 7

2.3 Recording Procedure............................................................................... 8

2.4 Recording Evaluation............................................................................... 9
3 Parameters.....................................................................................................13
3.1 Recording configuration parameters ....................................................... 13
3.2 Value ranges and default values.............................................................14
3.3 Recording Capacity ................................................................................. 15
4 References.....................................................................................................17

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User Description, Neighbouring Cell Support

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 Feature overview

1 Feature overview
1.1 Introduction
The purpose of the Neighbouring Cell Support feature is to help the
operator maintain well-working neighbouring cell lists in the network.
This is done by collecting data recorded from Measurement Reports and
handover statistics. The data can be presented in tables and charts for
an analysis of what neighbouring cell relations should be defined in the
network.
Neighbouring Cell Support is operated through the Operation and
Support System (OSS).

1.2 Background
Handover decisions are based on measurements on neighbouring cells,
performed by the Mobile Station (MS) in active mode. A list of
frequencies, the active mode BCCH Allocation (BA) list, is throughout a
call repeatedly sent to the MSs on the Slow Associated Control Channel
(SACCH). The MS measures signal strength and tries to decode the
Base Station Identity Code (BSIC) on each frequency in the list. The
six strongest of the frequencies for which the BSIC was decoded
successfully are reported back to the system in a Measurement Report.
Such a report is sent on the SACCH (uplink) once every 480 ms.
As an MS only measures on frequencies in the active mode BA list, the
list should include BCCH carriers of all defined neighbouring cells. The
BSIC enables the BSC to identify the cells in the Measurement Reports
unambiguously.
It is important to have the correct neighbouring cell relations in a
network. A handover can only be made from one cell to another if the
cells have a defined neighbouring cell relation. From this aspect, it is
beneficial to have many defined neighbours. On the other hand if too
many cells are defined as neighbours to a cell, the active mode BA list
may become too long. This will lead to reduced accuracy in the
Measurement Reports from MSs. Both ways, quality will deteriorate
and calls may be lost because a needed handover could not be made at
the right time or to the correct cell.
It is often difficult to find correct neighbouring cell relations. This is
especially true in complex environments and in dense networks where it
can be hard to predict what neighbours a cell should have. From
handover statistics one can find out if any neighbouring cell relations
can be removed, but not if any specific relation should be added. One
way to get such information would be to add BCCH frequencies of
potential neighbours to the active mode BA list of a cell, and observe
how frequently the potential neighbours occur in Measurement Reports.
The more frequently a neighbour is reported, the greater the reason to
have it as a defined neighbour.

1.3 What can be achieved

Neighbouring Cell Support can be used to optimize the neighbouring
cell lists in the network. The results presented by Neighbouring Cell

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Feature overview

Support can be analysed to find what neighbouring cell relations to add

or remove in the network.
With Neighbouring Cell Support, the user can schedule recordings that
will log information from Measurement Reports on both defined and
undefined neighbouring cells. During the recording, user specified test
frequencies are temporarily added to the active mode BA lists. This
gives a chance also for undefined neighbouring cells to occur in
Measurement Reports.
The recording results can be presented both on an overview level and
on a deeper level. On the overview level concise information for all
cells in a recording is presented. On the more detailed level information
for all reported neighbouring cells are shown for one cell. Together
with the recording data on the deeper level, handover statistics for
defined neighbouring cell relations can also be presented. The tables in
which data are presented can be sorted and/or filtered to further simplify
the analysis. In order to help with the evaluation of the results,
recording results as well as the defined neighbouring cell relations can
be shown by colour-marking the cells in the OSS map.
Neighbouring Cell Support also supports transfer of changes of the
neighbouring cell relations to the OSS application Cellular Network
Administration (CNA). From CNA, the modifications can be
implemented.

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 Technical Description

2 Technical Description
2.1 General
Neighbouring Cell Support is operated from OSS. OSS initiates the
Base Station Controller (BSC) function Active BA List Recording
according to the user’s settings. Handover statistics will be fetched
from the Performance Management database in OSS. This means that
the collection of handover statistics in the system has to be set up
outside of the Neighbouring Cell Support application.
The activities in Neighbouring Cell Support can be divided into three
parts:
1 the recording configuration, when the user schedules a recording,
2 the recording procedure, when the system carries out the activities
specified in the recording configuration,
3 the recording evaluation, when the user requests a presentation of
recording data.

2.2 Recording Configuration

In the recording configuration, the user specifies when, where and what
to record.
All parameters as well as the test frequencies in the recording
configuration are common for all cells. This means that in order to set
individual thresholds for different cells, several recordings have to be
initiated.
The recording configuration consists of:
• A cell set, defining where to record. A cell set may contain cells
from more than one BSC.
• A list of test frequencies, called a frequency set, specifying what
frequencies to add to the active mode BA lists.
• A time schedule that defines when recordings should be made.
• A relative signal strength threshold.
• An absolute signal strength threshold.
• The length of recording segments (see Section 2.3 on page 8 ).
• The maximum number of test frequencies that may be added to the
active mode BA lists at one time (see Section 2.3 on page 8 ).
If only one cell has been specified for a recording, the frequencies can
as an option be selected to be the BCCHs of second order neighbours,
i.e. the cell’s neighbours’ neighbours. Neighbouring Cell Support will
then automatically generate a list of test frequencies. This option is
useful for trouble-shooting, as this list is based on a clever guess of
which BCCH carriers that are of interest. A shorter list of test
frequencies will result in a more efficient recording.
The relative signal strength threshold is related to a counter that is
incremented every time equation (1) is fulfilled:

f;BS I C serv rel (1)

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Technical Description

In equation (1) SSf,BSIC is the reported signal strength for that frequency
and BSIC, SSserv is the reported signal strength for serving cell and θrel
is the relative signal strength threshold. For each cell, there is one
counter for every reported frequency/BSIC combination. The threshold
can preferably be set to the handover hysteresis in Locating (see ref. 1
on page 17), and the counter then indicates whether many handovers
would have been made to the cell with that frequency/BSIC. The
threshold can be set to both positive and negative values.
The absolute signal strength threshold is related to a counter that during
the recording is incremented every time equation (2) is fulfilled;

f;BS I C abs (2)

where θabs is the absolute signal strength threshold. For each cell, there
is one counter for every reported frequency/BSIC combination. The
threshold can preferably be set to the threshold used between layers in
the Hierarchical Cell Structures feature (see ref. 2 on page 17), and the
counter then indicates whether many handovers would have been made.
Note that this only applies to cells in different layers of the hierarchical
cell structure, from a cell in a higher layer to a cell in a lower layer.

2.3 Recording Procedure

Recordings are controlled by OSS, which will initiate the Active BA
List Recording function in one or more BSCs, according to the time
schedule specified by the user. The time schedule may contain intervals
when the recording is active, i.e. logging data. Such an interval is
called a recording period.
During a recording period, the test frequencies are added to the active
mode BA list according to the following procedure.
For each cell, the BA list is extended with as many as possible of the
test frequencies that are not already in the list. The maximum number
of frequencies that can be added at a time is specified as a parameter in
the recording configuration. However, the BA list can never contain
more than 32 frequencies.
When all test frequencies cannot be included at the same time, the
recording is divided in segments. This means that after the length of a
recording segment the logging of data is interrupted and the test
frequencies included in the first segment are exchanged for new ones,
and the recording begins again. This procedure is repeated until the end
of the recording period. When all test frequencies have been added to
the list once, the first ones are included over again.
During a recording, some general data is logged:
• total recording time
• total number of Measurement Reports received
• average signal strength of serving cell (downlink)
The following data is recorded for each combination of frequency and
BSIC:
• number of times the combination occurred in Measurement
Reports

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 Technical Description

• average signal strength of all occurrences

• number of times it was reported above the signal strength of
serving cell plus the relative signal strength threshold
• number of times it was reported above the absolute threshold
• number of times it was the only one in the Measurement Report
• number of times it was reported as the strongest, second strongest,
etc. up to sixth strongest frequency/BSIC
• average signal strength when reported as strongest, second
strongest, etc. up to sixth strongest frequency/BSIC
In addition, the following is recorded for each test frequency:
• total recording time with this frequency in the active mode BA
list (This may differ from total recording time, because of the
segmentation of the recording. )
• total number of Measurement Reports with this frequency in the
active mode BA list
At the end of a recording period, the active mode BA list in each cell is
restored to its original content.
Results are reported from the BSC(s) to OSS after each recording
period, which means that for recordings of more than one recording
period it is possible to look at intermediate results. The results are
accumulated and the intermediate results are overwritten when the next
recording period is finished and new results are ready.
If handover statistics are available in the Performance Management
database, handover data for each recording period in Neighbouring Cell
Support are fetched for each cell in the recording.
A recording can be stopped at any time. With the stop order, it can be
specified whether the results obtained so far shall be saved, or if they
shall be discarded.
The cells in a recording can be included in new Neighbouring Cell
Support recordings, as soon as the previous recording result is ready.

2.4 Recording Evaluation

2.4.1 General
The user can select to look at any stored recording result. The results
can be presented in reports, charts and graphically in the OSS map.
Within Neighbouring Cell Support there are three different reports:
1 An overview report presenting only concise BA list recording data
for all cells included in the recording.
2 A cell report presenting the most important categories of data
from the BA list recordings for one cell. Handover statistics for
defined neighbouring cells are also shown.
3 A detailed cell report presenting all data from the recording for
one cell.

2.4.2 Overview Report

In the overview report, the following is shown for each cell:

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Technical Description

• The highest percentage of Measurement Reports, for any

frequency/BSIC combination of undefined neighbours, where the
frequency/BSIC was reported as above the relative signal strength
threshold.
• The lowest percentage of Measurement Reports, for any
frequency/BSIC combination of defined neighbours, where the
frequency/BSIC was reported as above the relative signal strength
threshold.
From the overview report, the user can decide for which cells the
results are interesting to look at in more detail. This is useful as one
recording may be done for up to 1000 cells.

2.4.3 Cell Report

The cell report is divided into two parts, one for the defined
neighbouring cell relations and one for undefined neighbouring cell
relations (frequency and BSIC reports that do not correspond to a
defined neigbouring cell). The following is shown for each frequency
and BSIC that was reported during the recording:
• Cell name behind the frequency/BSIC combination. For undefined
neighbours, the cell name is the most likely one judging from
distance to surrounding cells of that frequency and BSIC.
• Number of reports above the relative threshold
• Number of reports as number 1 (i.e. strongest)
• Average signal strength when reported as number 1
For the part of the report with defined neighbours the following
handover statistics are shown: handover attempts, handover successful,
handover reversions.

2.4.4 Detailed Cell Report

In the detailed cell report all data from the recording is presented.
However, handover statistics are not shown.

2.4.5 Other Options

In both the cell report and the detailed cell report, it is possible to
choose if the counters for number of reports shall be shown in per cent
of all Measurement Reports, or in absolute numbers.
All tables in reports can be sorted in ascending or descending order on
any column, and they can also be filtered on any column. For example
in the cell report, the table can be filtered on the number of reports
ranked as number one, so that only frequency/BSIC combinations
reported as strongest neighbour in more than, say, 1.0 % of the
Measurement Reports are shown.
The data in the cell report can also be presented in a bar chart.
Numerical data in the overview report and the cell reports can also be
presented by colour marking cells on a map.
Looking at the data presented in reports, it may be found that
modifications of the neighbouring cell definitions should be made.
Orders of such changes can be prepared in Neighbouring Cell Support

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 Technical Description

and exported to the Cellular Network Administration application in

OSS, from where the actual implementation of the change can be made.

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 Parameters

3 Parameters
3.1 Recording configuration parameters
The following parameters must be specified for a recording
configuration.

Recording Name must be given to identify each recording.

Relative Signal Strength is a threshold related to a counter, that is

incremented every time a frequency/BSIC combination is reported at a
higher signal strength than serving cell plus the Relative Signal Strength
parameter. For every cell, there is one such counter for every
frequency/BSIC combination.

Absolute Signal Strength is a threshold related to a counter that is

incremented every time a frequency/BSIC combination is reported at a
signal strength higher than this threshold. For every cell, there is one
counter for every frequency/BSIC combination.

Number of test freq. to add specifies how many test frequencies that
may be added to the active mode BA list at one time during the
recording (see Section 2.3 on page 8 ). However, the BA list can never
contain more than 32 frequencies.

How often BA list shall change determines the length of the segments
that a recording is divided into, when all test frequencies cannot be
included in the BA list at the same time. After the specified time (in
minutes) the logging of data is interrupted, new test frequencies are
added to the active mode BA list and recording begins for a new
recording segment. This procedure is repeated until the end of the
recording period.

Start Date, and number of times to record (Record: __ Times) always

has to be specified. If the recording will run over several days, the time
mask (Hours:) will apply to all days when recordings should be made.
What days to record on is selected (Repeat:) from three options: ’Start
Date Only’, which means no repetition, ’Daily’, which means on
consecutive days, or ’Weekly’, in which case the days of the week
selected in the list (Days:) specify when recordings are made.

Cell Set specifies what area to record in. The cell sets are defined in a
separate window.

Frequencies can be selected either as ’All BCCH Frequencies’ which is

a predefined selection containing all the BCCH carriers used by the
operator, as ’Each Cell Using Its BA-list Freq.’ in which case the
recording is done without adding test frequencies, or as ’BA-list Freq.
+ Free Selection’ which means that a frequency set will be used as test
frequencies.. The frequency sets are defined in a separate window. If
only one cell is included in the Cell Set the option ’BA-List Freq. +
Neighbours’ Neighbours Freq.’ is available. In that case a list of the
corresponding BCCH carriers is automatically generated and used as
test frequencies.

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Parameters

3.2 Value ranges and default values

Table 1 Recording configuration parameters

Parameter name Default value Recommended Value range Unit

value
Relative Signal 3 - -63 to 63 dB
Strength
Absolute Signal -75 - -110 to -48 dBm
Strength
Number of test 5 - 1 to 32 -
freq. to add
How often BA list 10 - 10 to 1440 (24 h) minutes
shall change
Start Date - - - YYMMDD
Hours - - 00.00 - 23.59 hh.mm
(Maximum four
intervals)
Repeat Daily - Start Date Only / -
Daily / Weekly
Days All - Mon-Sun -
Cell Set - - May include cell -
names and/or BSC
names
Frequencies Operator’s - All BCCH -
Full Set Frequencies / Each
cell using its BA-list
freq. / BA-list freq. +
Neighbours
Neighbours freq. /
BA-list freq. + free
Selection

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 Parameters

3.3 Recording Capacity

Table 2 Recording Capacity

Resource Capacity Description

Number of simultaneous 30 -
recordings under one OSS
Number of simultaneous 64 -
recordings in one BSC
Number of cells in one cell set 2000 -
Number of frequencies in one No limit It is possible to include all ARFCNs in the
recording system
Number of frequencies in one 150 -
frequency set
Number of cell sets that can be 100 -
defined
Number of frequency sets that 100 -
can be defined
Number of stored results 100 -
Duration of one recording 31 days The time schedule in one recording
configuration may be 31 days long. The
recording in the BSC cannot be longer than
one day, which means that new BSC
recordings are started each day.

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Parameters

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 References

4 References
1 User Description, Locating, 3/1553–HSC 103 12 Uen
2 User Description, Hierarchical Cell Structures, 12/1553–HSC 103
12 Uen

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