OPEN INFORMATION

E USER DESCRIPTION 1(9)

Uppgjord — Prepared Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
KI/ERA/LVN/RA Benny Lennartson 850 73972 2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen
Godkänd — Approved Kontr — Checked Tillhör/referens — File/reference

ERA/LVN/RAC Lennart Blixt

User Description, Idle Channel Measurements

Copyright

© Ericsson Radio Systems AB 2000. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be
reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Disclaimer

Trademarks

Contents Page

1 Introduction 2

2 Glossary 2
2.1 Concepts 2
2.2 Abbreviations and Acronyms 2

3 Capabilities 3

4 Technical description 3
4.1 General 3
4.2 Algorithm 4
4.3 GPRS Selection of Packet Data Channels 6
4.4 Related Counters 6
4.5 Main changes in Ericsson GSM system R8/BSS R8.0 6

5 Engineering guidelines 7
5.1 General 7
5.2 Parameter settings 7

6 Parameters 8
6.1 Main controlling parameters 8
6.2 Value ranges and default values 9

7 References 9

SEIF v2.3,
 OPEN INFORMATION
E USER DESCRIPTION 2(9)
Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen

1 Introduction

The main purpose of the Idle Channel Measurements feature is to provide

the Channel Administration feature (see User Description, Channel
Administration) with information about the uplink interference on each idle
channel (Traffic Channel (TCH) or Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel
(SDCCH)). This information can then be used during channel allocation to
select the best suited channel for a connection.

Idle Channel Measurements also generates statistics on interference, giving a

general picture of the quality of the channels in a cell. The statistics can be
used for evaluating the frequency plan.

2 Glossary

2.1 Concepts

Basic Timeslot using one set of frequencies, occurring on every

Physical TDMA frame in the digital air interface between the BTS and
Channel the MS (with frequency hopping the frequency will change
between TDMA frames, without frequency hopping a single
frequency is used).

Dedicated Packet data channels allocated by operator command. They

PDCHs will be dedicated for GPRS traffic only.

On-demand Temporary allocated packet data channels. They are returned

PDCHs to the domain where circuit switched (CS) calls are handled
whenever CS needs them.

2.2 Abbreviations and Acronyms

BPC Basic Physical Channel

CP Central Processor

FR Full Rate

HR Half Rate

GPRS General Packet Radio Service

OL/UL Overlaid/Underlaid

PDCH Packet Data Channel

SACCH Slow Associated Control Channel

SDCCH Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel

 OPEN INFORMATION
E USER DESCRIPTION 3(9)
Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen

STS Statistic and Traffic Measurement Subsystem

TRX Transceiver

3 Capabilities
Through the use of Idle Channel Measurements the general quality of
radio connections in the network can be improved. For each channel
allocation, the Channel Administration feature (see User Description, Channel
Administration) can use the information from Idle Channel Measurements
to select the most suitable channel.

When selecting the most suitable channel from the circuit switched domain
to be configured as dedicated or on-demand PDCHs, information from Idle
Channel Measurements may be used, (see User Description, GPRS Channel
Administration).

Within Idle Channel Measurements there are five interference bands defined,
which together cover the signal strength measurement range. Idle Channel
Measurements ranks each idle channel to one of the five bands. The ranges
of these bands determine the resolution of the measurements.

The interference bands can be changed on a per cell basis from their default
ranges, so that the resolution can be adjusted for optimum performance
of the feature. For example, in micro cells the tolerable interference level
may be significantly higher than in rural areas, as the signal strength of the
carrier in general will be higher. Therefore, it can be beneficial to tighten the
interference bands so that a better resolution is achieved at the interference
levels that can be considered to be critical for each cell.

Idle Channel Measurements can be activated and deactivated on a per cell

basis. It is also possible, on a per cell basis, to have the measurements active
but not used for channel allocation. In this case Idle Channel Measurements is
only used for statistics. These statistics show, per cell, the number of channels
in each interference band.

As measurements are performed on a per channel basis, information about

the interference on a specific frequency is not retrievable when frequency
hopping is used.

4 Technical description

4.1 General
The quality of a channel depends on the ratio between the signal strength
of the carrier and that of interfering signals, C/I. The quality is reduced as
interference increases. If information can be retrieved on the interference level
that each channel would experience if taken in use, this information can be
used as valuable input when allocating channels.

The interference on a channel may vary both on a short and long term
perspective. The shorter variations are caused by channels that are seized
or released in co-channel cells. The longer variations may be caused by
 OPEN INFORMATION
E USER DESCRIPTION 4(9)
Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen

external interferers that do not belong to the cellular network. For the longer
variations, measurements when a channel is idle will yield a very good
picture of the interference on a specific channel. For the shorter variations,
the measurement values immediately before allocation will give the best
information available, and at least for the initial phase of a call give a good
estimate of the uplink interference.

As mentioned above, the interference level on a channel is one of the factors

determining the quality of a connection using that channel. Thus, one way to
evaluate the general quality of the channels in a cell is to monitor statistics for
the interference levels on the channels.

When the Idle Channel Measurements feature is activated in a cell, uplink

signal strength measurements are continuously performed in the Base
Transceiver Station (BTS) on all idle channels. The measurements are made
on TCHs and SDCCHs in the same way as the signal strength measurements
are performed on active channels. The channels are then ranked in order of
increasing interference. Depending on the measured signal strength each
channel is placed in one of the five corresponding interference bands.

At channel allocation, Channel Administration (User Description, Channel

Administration and User Description, GPRS Channel Administration) can use
the ranking of channels into interference bands as helpful information when
selecting a channel.

4.2 Algorithm

4.2.1 Basic algorithm

When a channel becomes idle, the BSC places it in an interference band
according to the procedures described in sections 4.2.3 and 4.2.4.

The BTS continuously performs uplink signal strength measurements as

long as the channel is idle. To determine a value for the interference on
a channel, the BTS takes the average of measurements over a number of
SACCH periods. This is done once every SACCH period, and the number of
SACCH periods to average over is determined by parameter INTAVE. The
BTS only reports to the BSC when the interference band for an idle channel
has changed. The channel is then moved to the appropriate interference
band in the BSC.

4.2.2 Interference bands

Five interference bands are defined for each cell. The interference bands are
disjunctive and together cover values in rxlev units from 0 (low interference)
up to 63 (high interference).

The interference bands can be changed through four parameters LIMIT1

to LIMIT4. These parameters define the upper limit of the four lowest
interference bands. The first interference band always starts from 0 and
ranges up to LIMIT1. The second interference band ranges from LIMIT1 +1
up to LIMIT2, etc. The fifth interference band ranges from LIMIT4 +1 up to
63. The parameter values must ascend as follows:

LIMIT1 < LIMIT2 < LIMIT3 < LIMIT4

 OPEN INFORMATION
E USER DESCRIPTION 5(9)
Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen

The relationship between interference bands, interference levels and the

measured rxlev is shown in figure 1.

interference measured
level rxlev

- 47 dBm rxlev = 63
interference band 5
LIMIT4
interference band 4
LIMIT3
interference band 3
LIMIT2
interference band 2
LIMIT1
interference band 1
- 110 dBm rxlev = 0

Figure 1 Definitions of interference bands

4.2.3 Channel release

At normal release, the channel is placed in the same interference band that
it was taken from at channel allocation. At abnormal release however, e.g.
a dropped call, the channel is placed in the interference band immediately
above the one from which it was taken, that is in a band representing a higher
interference. For example if a channel was allocated from interference band 2,
it will be placed back into interference band 2 at a normal release, and into
interference band 3 at an abnormal release.

After a channel release, the BTS reports the measured uplink interference for
that channel to the BSC within two SACCH periods. (A report is sent after one
SACCH period in case parameter INTAVE equals one.)

4.2.4 Deblocking of channel

When a channel is available for channel allocation (deblocked), the BSC puts
the channel in the interference band 1 (which represents the lowest measured
interference). The BTS sends a report on measured uplink interference within
two SACCH periods, just as it is done after channel release.

4.2.5 Dual rate channels

For TRXs capable of dual rate, the BTS measures the interference on the half
rate channels individually. When evaluating the interference level for a dual
 OPEN INFORMATION
E USER DESCRIPTION 6(9)
Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen

rate BPC, the BSC uses the average of the interference bands for the half
rate channels.

When a half rate channel is released and its related half rate channel is idle,
the channel that is released is placed in the same interference band as its
related channel. This is done regardless of whether the release was normal or
abnormal.

4.3 GPRS Selection of Packet Data Channels

If ICM is active, GPRS Channel Administration (see User Description, GPRS

Channel Administration) can use the ranking of channels into interference
bands as helpful information when selecting channels from the circuit switched
domain to be configured as dedicated or on-demand PDCHs.

When a PDCH is reconfigured to a TCH the channel is placed in the

interference band it was in before it was allocated as PDCH.

Idle Channel Measurements are not performed on PDCHs.

4.4 Related Counters

For idle channel measurement there are four object types for FR/HR and
OL/UL (e.g. IDLEUTCHF, TCH/F in underlaid subcell). In these object types
there are counters for the accumulated number of idle channels in each
interference band.

ITFUSIBi Accumulated number of idle TCH/F in the underlaid subcell in

interference band i.

ITHUSIBi Accumulated number of idle TCH/H in the underlaid subcell in

interference band i.

ITFOSIBi Accumulated number of idle TCH/F in the overlaid subcell in

interference band i.

ITHOSIBi Accumulated number of idle TCH/H in the overlaid subcell in

interference band i.

(i = 1,2,...,5).

4.5 Main changes in Ericsson GSM system R8/BSS R8.0

New recommended values for the parameters.

GRPS is introduced in the GSM system R8/BSS R8.0. The ICM feature can
be used when selecting dedicated and on-demand PDCHs, see 4.3.
 OPEN INFORMATION
E USER DESCRIPTION 7(9)
Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen

5 Engineering guidelines

5.1 General

The LIMITs (LIMIT1 to LIMIT4) should be adjusted according to the

interference situation in the network. If default values are used for the LIMITs,
and most (>~95 %) of the idle channels are in interference band 1, as indicated
by STS data, there is probably no problem with the uplink interference in
the network. The Idle Channel Measurements feature may enhance the
performance in the cases where there is severe temporary interference.

It is recommended to use the Idle Channel Measurements feature in a

frequency hopping as well as non-frequency hopping environment, since the
performance in the network will be enhanced without any risk of degradation.
In cells with highly interfered channels, Idle Channel Measurements might
prevent these highly interfered channels to be allocated, but, note that the
origin of this interference needs to be evaluated.

A slight displacement of the statistics of interference levels of the idle

channels in a cell occurs when switching this feature on for channel allocation
(compared with just using the feature for measurements). The reason is
that highly interfered channels are not used as much with Idle Channel
Measurements as without. Therefore there will be a larger amount of idle
channels in higher interference bands (2 to 5).

When Dynamic MS Power Control (see User Description, Dynamic MS Power

Control) is used, the mean interference level on the uplink will be decreased.
The distribution of the interference might also be compressed as compared
to the case without power control.

The Idle Channel Measurements feature has a slight impact on BSC CP load.
By changing the parameter INTAVE and the LIMITs the effect on the BSC CP
load may be controlled. This is described in section 5.2.

5.2 Parameter settings

LIMIT1 is the most important parameter. This parameter divides the idle
channels into two main parts, the idle channels in interference band 1, which
are used at channel allocation in the first place, and the idle channels
in interference bands 2 to 5. Of course, if there are no idle channels in
interference band 1, the idle channels in interference bands 2 and then
3 etc. are allocated.

The aim with this feature is to enhance the quality for individual calls, by
means of "sorting out" idle channels with high interference (idle channels in
interference bands 2 to 5), which is performed by the Channel Administration
feature (see User Description, Channel Administration). This is especially
important for connections with low signal strength. A rule of thumb is to set
LIMIT1 so that at least 5 to 10 % of the most interfered idle channels are
sorted out from interference band 1. In networks with high interference
level, it is benefical to distribute the idle channels more evenly between the
interference bands.

The default setting of LIMIT1 to LIMIT4 corresponds to the following

interference levels:
 OPEN INFORMATION
E USER DESCRIPTION 8(9)
Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen

Table 1

Interference band Interference level I Measured rxlev

1 I <= -108 dBm 0 to 2
2 -108 < I <= -104 dBm 3 to 6
3 -104 < I <= -98 dBm 7 to 12
4 -98 < I <= -88 dBm 13 to 22
5 -88 dBm < I 23 to 63

Example:

When MS power control is used, it is even more important to sort out as many
channels as possible with interference worse than -110 dBm.

Channels with interference less than -110 dBm are not possible to sort out
since all of them are assigned rxlev=0 (-110 dBm). With LIMIT1 set to its
default value, idle channels with an interference level equal or less than -108
dBm are allocated in the first place. Suppose the desired signal strength
SSDES is -88 dBm. The BTS will then measure a signal strength in the
vicinity of -88 dBm for MSs close to the cell border (see User Description,
Dynamic MS Power Control). These MSs will experience C/I of 20 dB or
better, once they are allocated:

C ≈ -88 dBm,

I ≤ -108 dBm ⇒ C/I ≥ 20 dB

For long term interference, the influence of the filter length is negligible. When
it comes to short term fluctuations in interference, such as individual calls in
co-channel cells, the filter length becomes more important. It is recommended
to use INTAVE = 6. With optimized LIMIT parameters the INTAVE value could
be increased without reduction of quality.

The setting of parameter INTAVE may change the BSC CP load. If INTAVE is
set to a low value, less measurements are used when calculating the average.
This may lead to more fluctuations in the interference measurement. These
fluctuations will lead to an increased number of changes of interference band
and hence a higher BSC CP load. Increasing INTAVE will lead to a more
stable interference measurement and therefor less changes of interference
band and will reduce the number of reports sent to the BSC. The setting of
interference bands with parameters LIMIT1 to LIMIT4 may also affect the BSC
CP load. By putting the LIMITs close to each other more band changes are
performed and the BSC CP load increases.

6 Parameters
6.1 Main controlling parameters
LIMIT1 to LIMIT4 specify the partition of the measurement range for Idle
Channel Measurements into interference bands. Each parameter defines the
 OPEN INFORMATION
E USER DESCRIPTION 9(9)
Datum — Date Rev Dokumentnr — Document no
2000-09-27 C 76/1553-HSC 103 12 Uen

highest value included in its corresponding interference band. The parameters

are defined per cell. The parameter values must ascend as follows:

LIMIT1 < LIMIT2 < LIMIT3 < LIMIT4

The recommended values for LIMIT1 to LIMIT4 are based on how the
Dynamic MS Power Control parameter SSDES is set (see User Description,
Dynamic MS Power Control).

INTAVE is the number of SACCH periods that the BTS will use measurements
from to calculate the average uplink interference value for a channel. The
parameter is defined per cell.

ICMSTATE is a state variable in the BSC that sets the idle channel
measurements to ACTIVE, PASSIVE or NOALLOC. NOALLOC means that
the idle channel measurements are used for statistics only, and not for channel
allocation.

6.2 Value ranges and default values

Table 2

Parameter Default Recommended Value range Unit

name value value
LIMIT1 2 SSDES+92 0 to 62 -
LIMIT2 6 SSDES+100 0 to 62 -
LIMIT3 12 SSDES+108 0 to 62 -
LIMIT4 22 SSDES+129 0 to 62 -
INTAVE 6 25 1 to 31 SACCH
Periods
ICMSTATE PASSIVE ACTIVE ACTIVE, -
PASSIVE,
NOALLOC

7 References

1 User Description, Channel Administration

2 User Description, Dynamic MS Power Control

3 User Description, GPRS Channel Administration