Handover algorithms Release B6

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01, page n 1 All rights reserved 2001, Alcatel, Paris.

 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Overview

HO_DETECTION RAW CELLS LIST

MEASUREMENT

Preprocessed measurement
QoS
PREPROCESSING For intercell emergency
Measurement result

cause 2 : uplink quality Indicator

cause 3 : uplink level HOs : All the neighbour
according to s
cause 4 : downlink quality cells
cause 5 : downlink level
A_LEV_HO
cause 6 : distance For better cell HOs :
A_QUAL_HO HO Request
cause 12 : power budget The neighbour cells which
A_PBGT_HO
cause 15 : uplink interference are better cells
A_RANGE_HO
cause 16 : downlink
interference For intracell emergency
Performed every SACCH HOs : the serving cell
multiframe
Performed every SACCH
multiframe

PBGT_FILTERING RADIO EVALUATION

PRE-RANKING
PROCESS
HO_MARGIN_XX(0, Order or Grade
PRIORITY (0,n)
n)
RXLEV_MIN(n)
Priority (0,n) = 0
cell 2 Priority (0,n) = 0 QoS
cell 2 Grade Order
cell 3
cell 4 Indicator
cell 4
Priority (0,n) = 0 Priority (0,n) = 0 s
Priority (0,n) = 1 cell 4 cell 2
Priority (0,n) = 1
----------------------- cell 2 cell 4
cell 1 HO alarm
Priority (0,n) = 2 Priority (0,n) = 1 Priority (0,n) = 1
Priority (0,n) = 2
Priority (0,n) = 3 Priority (0,n) = 2 Priority (0,n) = 2
Priority (0,n) = 3
cell 5 ----------------------
----------------------- Priority (0,n) = 3 Priority (0,n) = 3
cell 6
cell 8 cell 8 cell 8
cell 7
cell 8
HO CANDIDATE CELLS EVALUATION

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Measurement preprocessing (1)

Objective : average measurements to avoid to react to

transient degradation or problem
Principle : sliding window : level/quality/distance values are
averaged for N last samples
N = A_LEV_HO samples for uplink and downlink level

N = A_QUAL_HO samples for uplink and downlink quality

N = A_RANGE_HO samples for distance

N = A_PGBT_HO samples for level used in power budget equation

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Measurement preprocessing (2)

Exemple (A_LEV_HO=6, A_QUAL_HO=4, A_PBGT_HO=8)

Meas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
DL Level -90 -92 -93 -98 -100 -99 -98 -90 -80 -75 -72 -71 -110 -70 -69 -68 -78 -88 -95 -98 -100 -110 -110 -110
AV-RXLEV -95 -97 -96 -94 -90 -86 -81 -83 -80 -78 -77 -78 -81 -78 -83 -88 -95 -100 -104
AV-LEV-PGBT -95 -94 -92 -89 -86 -87 -83 -80 -77 -77 -78 -81 -85 -83 -88 -93 -99
DL Qual 2 3 3 4 7 7 7 5 2 1 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 6 7 7 7
AV-RXQUAL 3 4 5 6 7 5 4 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 0 1 2 3 5 6 7
Experiences

The number and the quality of HO are very sensitive to modification of these values
Quality handovers have more priority than level handovers : A_QUAL_HO

A_LEV_HO
Better cell handovers must be less reactive and more reliable than emergency

handovers :
A_PBGT_HO > A_LEV_HO A_PBGT_HO > A_QUAL_HO

More about the Parameters

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (1)

HO causes for standard networks :

Cause 2 : uplink quality too low
Cause 3 : uplink level too low
Cause 4 : downlink level too low
Cause 5 : downlink level too low
Cause 6 : distance MS<->BTS too long

Cause 12 : power budget evaluation

Cause 15 : high interference in uplink (intra-cell HO)

Cause 16 : high interference in downlink (intra-cell HO)

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (2)

Handover causes priorities

EMERGENCY HANDOVER

UPLINK QUALITY (cause 2)

DOWNLINK QUALITY (cause 4) More about HO causes

UPLINK LEVEL (cause 3)

Decreasing
DOWNLINK LEVEL (cause 5) Priority
More about Parameters
DISTANCE (cause 6)

UPLINK INTERFERENCE (cause 15)

More about QoS Indicators
DOWNLINK INTERFERENCE (cause 16)

BETTER CELL HANDOVER

POWER BUDGET (cause 12)

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (3)

CAUSE 2 : Uplink quality too low

AV_RXQUAL_UL_HO > L_RXQUAL_UL_H + OFFSET_HOPPING_HO
AV_RXLEV_UL_HO <= RXLEV_UL_IH
MS_TXPWR = min (P, MS_TXPWR_MAX)
EN_RXQUAL_UL = ENABLE

Size of window for averaging quality : A_QUAL_HO = 8

Size of window for averaging level : A_LEV_HO = 8
Important threshold : L_RXQUAL_UL_H = 4.0

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (4)

CAUSE 3 : Uplink level tow low

AV_RXQUAL_UL_HO <= L_RXQUAL_UL_H + OFFSET_HOPPING_HO
AV_RXLEV_UL_HO < L_RXLEV_UL_H
MS_TXPWR = min (P, MS_TXPWR_MAX)
EN_RXLEV_UL = ENABLE

Size of window for averaging quality : A_QUAL_HO = 8

Size of window for averaging level : A_LEV_HO = 8
Important threshold : L_RXLEV_UL_H = -100 dBm

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (5)

CAUSE 4 : Downlink quality too low

AV_RXQUAL_DL_HO > L_RXQUAL_DL_H + OFFSET_HOPPING_HO
AV_RXLEV_DL_HO <= RXLEV_DL_IH
BS_TXPWR = BS_TXPWR_MAX
EN_RXQUAL_DL = ENABLE

Size of window for averaging quality : A_QUAL_HO = 8

Size of window for averaging level : A_LEV_HO = 8
Important threshold : L_RXQUAL_DL_H = 4.0

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (6)

CAUSE 5 : Downlink level too low

AV_RXQUAL_DL_HO <= L_RXQUAL_DL_H + OFFSET_HOPPING_HO
AV_RXLEV_DL_HO < L_RXLEV_DL_H
BS_TXPWR = BS_TXPWR_MAX
EN_RXLEV_DL = ENABLE

Size of window for averaging quality : A_QUAL_HO = 8

Size of window for averaging level : A_LEV_HO = 8
Important threshold : L_RXLEV_DL_H = -95 dBm

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (7)

CAUSE 6 : Too long distance

AV_RANGE_HO > U_TIME_ADVANCE
EN_DIST_HO = ENABLE

Size of window for distance averaging : A_RANGE_HO = 8

Important threshold : U_TIME_ADVANCE = 63

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (8)

CAUSE 12 : Power budget (1)

Decision based mainly on comparison of serving and neighbor cells for

downlink level of serving and neighbour cells

maximum emitting level of MS

Aiming to :

place the mobile on the best radio link

prevent emergency situation

decrease UL & DL transmit power

Should be the normal handover type

no matter of emergency

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (9)

CAUSE 12 : Power budget (2)

PBGT(n) > HO_MARGIN(0,n)
EN_PBGT_HO = ENABLE
Size of window for level averaging : A_PBGT_HO = 12
Important threshold : HO_MARGIN(0,n) = 5 dB
PBGT(n) = AV_RXLEV_NCELL(n) - AV_RXLEV_PBGT_HO
- (BS_TXPWR_MAX - BS_TXPWR)
- (MS_TXPWR_MAX(n) - MS_TXPWR_MAX)
- PING_PONG_MARGIN (n,call_ref)

More about Power Budget Evaluation

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (10)

CAUSE 15 : High interference in uplink

Intra-cell HO
AV_RXQUAL_UL_HO > L_RXQUAL_UL_H + OFFSET_HOPPING_HO
AV_RXLEV_UL_HO > RXLEV_UL_IH
EN_INTRA_UL = ENABLE
Size of window for averaging quality : A_QUAL_HO = 8
Size of window for averaging level : A_LEV_HO = 8
Important threshold : RXLEV_UL_IH = -65 dBm
In case of failure, can be modified as UPLINK QUALITY
if EN_INTRA_CELL_REPEATED is disabled

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Detection (11)

CAUSE 16 : High interference in downlink

Intra-cell HO
AV_RXQUAL_DL_HO > L_RXQUAL_DL_H + OFFSET_HOPPING_HO
AV_RXLEV_DL_HO > RXLEV_DL_IH
EN_INTRA_DL = ENABLE
Size of window for averaging quality : A_QUAL_HO = 8
Size of window for averaging level : A_LEV_HO = 8
Important threshold : RXLEV_DL_IH = -65 dBm
In case of failure, can be modified as DOWNLINK QUALITY
if EN_INTRA_CELL_REPEATED is disabled

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Parameter tuning (1)

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Parameter tuning (2)

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Parameter tuning (3)

Tuning of the HO thresholds in classical environment :

L_RXQUAL_UL_H = 4.0 (Threshold with an accuracy of 0.1)
L_RXQUAL_DL_H = 4.0
L_RXLEV_UL_H and L_RXLEV_DL_H highly dependant on :

the network topology,

the overlap between cells

the quality of the frequency planning (level HO before quality HO)

L_RXLEV_UL_H and L_RXLEV_DL_H can be computed from :

the sensibility of the receptor (in UL, dependant on the BTS type)

the margin to stay at sufficient quality level

the level on which the cell is accessed by handover (RXLEV_min(n))

In general : L_RXLEV_UL_H < L_RXLEV_DL_H RXLEV_min(n)

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
QoS Indicators

QoS indicators give the distribution of handover requests :

Rate of downlink quality Handover requests

Rate of uplink quality Handover requests

Rate of downlink level Handover requests

Rate of uplink level Handover requests

Rate of power budget Handover requests

Rate of uplink interference Handover requests

Rate of downlink interference Handover requests

These indicators are quite hepful to detect :

Wrong average window sizes (too many emergency handovers)

Too high level thresholds (too many emergency handovers on level)

Too low level thresholds (too many emergency handover on quality)

unbalanced link budget (more requests on one path than the other)

BTS misbehaviour (too many emergency handover on quality)

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Pre-ranking

With PRIORITY(0,n) settings, operators can :

for each couple of cells
tag target cell with a defined priority (from 0 = max to 3 = min)
this definition has a higher priority than usual order/grade ranking
Simple way of forcing target cells which are not always the best ones

nethertheless, these cells can be skipped off by the filtering processes

Candidate
Especially useful for dual band/multi-layer network cell 1 : RxLev : - 70 dBm, PBGT : + 10 dBm
P1
low interest for standart network

Serving cell
P0
Candidate cell 2 : Rxlev : - 90 dBm,
PBGT : + 5dBm

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
PBGT Filtering

Optionnal filtering (enabled with the flag EN_PBGT_FILTERING)

filter candidate cells in case of emergency handovers
based on power budget

per couple of cells

PBGT(n) > HO_MARGIN_XX (0,n)

HO_MARGIN_XX = HO_MARGIN_QUAL (0,n) for cause 2, 4

HO_MARGIN_XX = HO_MARGIN_LEV (0,n) for cause 3, 5
HO_MARGIN_XX = HO_MARGIN_DIST (0,n) for cause 6

Default values give the following filtering :

For emergency handover on level or distance : PBGT(n) > 2 dB

For emergency handover on quality : PBGT > 1 dB

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
ORDER cell evaluation

Used for cell evaluation process (ranking and filtering) on the remaining candidate cells
according to radio and load criteria
Cell "n" is ranked among others according :

ORDER (n) = PBGT(n) + LINK_FACTOR(0,n) + FREEfactor(n) - FREEfactor(0) -

HO_MARGIN_XX(0,n)
Link_factor (0,n) is an operator parameter to give a bonus/penalty to a cell. Ex : avoid external
HO, decrease incoming flow of HO to a cell from another
FREEfactor are TCH traffic based bonus/penalty to rank cells

Cell "n" is kept if :

AV_RXLEV_NCELL (n) > RXLEVmin(n) + max [MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)-P]

Filtering based on received level and respective power of target cell and MS

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
GRADE cell evaluation

Used for cell evaluation process (ranking and filtering) on the remaining
candidate cells according to radio and load criteria
Cell "n" is ranked among other according :

GRADE (n) = PBGT(n) + LINK_FACTOR(0,n) + LOADfactor(n)

Link_factor (0,n) is an operator parameter to give a bonus/penalty to a cell

LOADfactor are TCH traffic based bonus/penalty to rank cells

Cell "n" is kept if :

AV_RXLEV_NCELL (n) > RXLEVmin(n) + max [MS_TXPWR_MAX(n)-P]

Filtering based on received level and respective power of target cell and MS

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Alarm

A handover alarm contains :

A handover cause
An ordered list of candidate cells

A handover alarm is sent each time the candidate cell list is

modified. The handover attempts towards the same cell are
regulated through two timers :
T_MS_CELL_REJ in case of Handover Failure from the mobile
T7 in case of congestion, O&M settings,

Default values : T_MS_CELL_REJ = 4 s , T7 = 7 s

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for standard network :
Handover Preparation - QoS indicators

QoS indicators give the efficiency of handover alarms :

Efficiency of intra BSC outgoing HO preparation

Rate of HO COMMAND compared to HO alarms for intercell intra BSC HOs

Efficiency of inter BSC outgoing HO preparation

Rate of HO COMMAND compared to HO alarms for intercell inter BSC HOs

These indicators are quite hepful to detect :

Too much congestion of candidate cells
Problems of BSS-NSS transmission in case of inter BSC HOs

+ QoS Indicators to check the efficiency of the handover execution

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
 HO algo B6 for dual-band/multi-layer
network : Overview

RAW CELLS LIST

HO_DETECTION
MEASUREMENT
PREPROCESSING For emergency HOs :
cause 2,3,4,5,6,15,16 : usual
All the neighbour cells
emergency HOs
according to (intercell)
cause 12 : power budget
the serving cell (intracell)
cause 10, 11, 13 : for concentric cells
A_LEV_HO
cause 7, 17, 18 : for microcells
A_QUAL_HO For better cell (zone) HOs :
cause 22 : for extended cells
A_PBGT_HO The neighbour cells which are
cause 14, 21, 24 : capture handovers
A_RANGE_HO better cells (intercell)
cause 23 : traffic handover
A_LEV_MCHO the serving cell (intracell)
cause 20 : forced directed retry
Performed every SACCH multiframe Definition of PREF_LAYER
Performed every SACCH multiframe

PRE-RANKING (for dual band CELLS EVALUATION PROCESS

and/or dual layer network) PBGT_FILTERING Order or Grade

CELL LAYER = PREF_LAYER HO_MARGIN_XX(0,n) RXLEV_MIN(n)

Priority (0,n) = 0
CELL BAND = SERVING CELL
BAND
cell 2 : umbrella cell 900 cell 2 : umbrella cell 900
cell 3 : umbrella cell 900
Grade Order
cell 3 : umbrella cell 900
CELL BAND <> SERVING CELL
BAND cell 3 : umbrella cell cell 2 : umbrella cell 900
cell 4 : umbrella cell 1800 cell 4 : umbrella cell
900 cell 3 : umbrella cell 900
1800
Priority (0,n) = 1
cell 2 : umbrella cell
CELL BAND = SERVING CELL 900 cell 4 : umbrella cell 1800
cell 6 : microcell 1800
BAND
cell 1 : umbrella cell 900 cell 4 : umbrella cell cell 6 : microcell 1800
CELL BAND <> SERVING CELL
BAND 1800

CELL LAYER <> PREF_LAYER cell 6 : microcell 1800

Priority (0,n) = 0

Priority (0,n) = 1
CELL BAND = SERVING CELL HO CANDIDATE CELLS EVALUATION
BAND

MCD/NS/PCS/NOD, 30/05/01,
cell 5 : microcell 900
CELL BAND <> SERVING CELL