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Lte Smart Scheduler WP 31072013 PDF
Lte Smart Scheduler WP 31072013 PDF
White Paper
Contents
1. Introduction 2
2. Smart Scheduler Features and Benefits 3
2.1 Frequency Selective Scheduling 5
3. Multi-Cell Smart Scheduler 7
3.1 Distributed RAN with X2+ and non-ideal backhaul 7
3.2 Distributed RAN with slow centralized scheduling and non-ideal backhaul 8
3.3 Centralized RAN with fast centralized scheduling and dark fiber connection 8
4. Further Evolution of LTE Scheduling 9
5. Summary 10
6. Abbreviations 11
1. Introduction
Long Term Evolution (LTE) has been benefits, implications to the network
successfully deployed by more than 190 architecture and further evolution are
operators and the subscribers can enjoy high discussed in this white paper.
LTE data rates. LTE radio is designed for a
so-called frequency reuse of one where all
the cells use the same frequency. Reuse one
provides the highest network efficiency and Frequency f1 Frequency f1
HetNet eICIC
Minimum cell edge rate required QoS differentation and nominal bit rate
Baseline scheduler
60%
40%
20%
0%
Cell edge Average
Figure 4. Smart Scheduler downlink data rate gains with non-ideal backhaul. FSS and QoS gains
are obtained from field measurements and the other gains from demo/trial setups
Carrier bandwith
Resource block
Frequency
Transmit on those resource blocks that are not faded
CQI 1 (low)
CQI 2 (high)
Frequency
CQI 3 (high)
CQI 4 (low)
CQI 5 (low)
CQI 6 (high)
CQI 7 (high)
CQI 8 (high)
FSS can also be applied to avoid inter-cell • Utilization of UE CQI reports for interference
interference. Figure 6 provides an example mitigation and without the need for
where the interfering cell is partially loaded. coordination signalling between the base
The UE is connected to the target cell but stations
receives strong interference from the adjacent
• Improved cell edge data rates as well as
interfering cell. The UE reports subband CQI
total cell capacity
values in the frequency domain to the target
cell. Low CQI values are reported on those As part of the Smart Scheduler concept, the
subbands where the interfering cell has on- underlying link adaptation function is very
going transmission, while high CQI values are critical for the success of features such as
reported in other subbands. FSS in the target FSS. The quality of the reporting from each
cell prioritizes an allocation of those downlink active terminal is constantly monitored and
physical resource blocks to the UE where evaluated in order to improve the quality of
the interference to this UE is lowest. Other the scheduler decisions, overruling the UE
resource blocks in the target cell can then be recommendations where needed. With such
allocated to other UEs that do not receive methods, Nokia Siemens Networks has in
interference from the adjacent cell. numerous field and lab trials demonstrated the
practical value of FSS. Figure 7 documents
Benefits of FSS include: the benefit of FSS for cell edge performance
and total cell capacity based on field
• Effective inter-cell interference coordination
measurement results from a system with
without the need for explicit inter-BTS
10 MHz bandwidth.
coordination
3.0 30
2.5 25
2.0 20
1.5 15
1.0 10
0.5 5
0.0 0
FSS off FSS on FSS off FSS on
3.2 Distributed RAN with slow also referred to as Centralized Radio Access
centralized scheduling and Network (C-RAN) and is comparable to a
non-ideal backhaul super-sized base station. C-RAN enables
the most advanced multi-cell coordination
Another architecture alternative is shown in because all the functionalities are in the same
Figure 8b adding a new centralized network location: link adaptation, power control, fast
element for coordinating the distributed FSS and multi-cell coordination. C-RAN
schedulers. A new interface between base architecture also enables Coordinated
stations and the centralized scheduler is Multipoint (CoMP) functionality as defined in
denoted as X3. Involving an additional 3GPP Release 11.
interface and information exchange to an
additional entity has a negative impact on C-RAN provides clear benefits but the
the responsiveness of this architecture. The practical implementation is challenging given
distributed base stations still run fast local the limited availability of wide dark fiber
scheduling, while the centralized element can connection to RF sites. The centralized
only set scheduling limitations to minimize architecture also implies that there is a single
the interference. The performance gain of point of failure and requirements for availability
the centralized element is similar to the are higher than in a distributed architecture.
coordination over X2+ interface. 3GPP
standardization is required for X3 to become The most typical architecture scenario
multivendor capable. globally is multi-cell coordination over X2+
interface. Studies show that other scheduling
3.3 Centralized RAN with fast features, like FSS, are more important than
centralized scheduling and multi-cell scheduling and FSS should be
dark fiber connection implemented first. Multi-cell scheduling also
increases deployment complexity given
The final multi-cell architecture shown in
the synchronization requirement and
Figure 8c is centralized scheduling using a
implementation should take into account the
baseband pool and assuming that ideal
3GPP Release 12 work to be completed during
backhaul is available. The baseband pool
2H/2014. Preferably, multi-cell scheduling
architecture requires low latency and direct
should be implemented through a software
dark fiber connection between the RF heads
upgrade without any new network element.
and the baseband pool. The baseband pool is
Figure 9. Work items in 3GPP Release 12 for improving cell edge data rates
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