Automated Planning and Optimization of Broadband Radio Access Networks

A Research Project Funded by CENIIT
(CENIIT Project 08.01)

Project Leader: Di Yuan
Communications and Transportation Systems, Department of Science and Technology
Linköping Institute of Technology, Sweden
(Last updated September 2011)

Background and Motivation

Wireless communications have experienced some of the fastest technological innovations in the last few decades. Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRANs), such as 3G/4G cellular, wireless local area networks (Wi-Fi), and wireless mesh networks (WMNs) are under rapid deployment to form broadband mobile Internet. Planning and Optimization (P&O) play a vital role in the deployment and operation of BRANs. P&O is an ongoing process during the lifetime of a BRAN. Without proper P&O, BRANs can neither be successfully deployed, nor be successfully expanded. In the initial phase, P&O deals with issues of network dimensioning and configuration, e.g., the number and locations of base stations (BSs) and their configuration parameters. While in operation, a BRAN has to undergo frequent re-optimization to respond to changing demands,  additional service requirements, as well as new business models and opportunities.

Proper P&O of BRANs is crucial to any operator, as a large portion of investments is spent on radio access. What’s more, a well-planned BRAN requires less infrastructure, e.g., fewer BS sites, the acquisition of which has been proven to be a severe constraint in provisioning 3G/4G networks. In addition to consideration on infrastructure cost, a well-planned BRAN makes more efficient use of radio resource, offering extra capacities under the same infrastructure. From a performance standpoint, BRAN is the most important part of network planning as user perceptions of service quality are typically due to radio access.

P&O of radio access is challenging , as there are many network elements, each with a large set of parameters to configure. It is unlikely that a manual tuning approach can deliver satisfactory results in a timely manner. Hence, automated BRAN P&O approaches and tools, outperforming manual approaches in cost, time, and the resulting network performance, are highly desirable.
Vision and Goals

CENIIT 08.01 is aimed at developing concepts, models, methods, and tools for automated BRAN P&O.

The objectives of the project are to develop novel approaches for automated P&O for HSDPA/HSUPA, LTE, and Wi-Fi mesh networks, and to implement these approaches to quantitatively demonstrate the benefits of automated P&O. In a long term perspective, the project is aimed at developing concepts, models, and methods for joint P&O of heterogeneous networks, and effective, time-efficient, and scalable BRAN planning modules/tools.

In addition to its scientific goals, CENIIT 08.01 aims at developing and strengthening competence. Automated P&O of BRANs is highly interdisciplinary, requiring state-of-the-art expertise in wireless communication technology, optimization, computer simulation, and computing. It is also intersectorial, as efforts are needed from both industry and academia. To this end, CENIIT 08.01 serves as a platform for intensifying industrial collaboration to form long-term strategic partnership, conduct joint research, and implement transfer of knowledge. A long-term objective of CENIIT 08.01 in knowledge development is to strengthen the interdisciplinary competence within the research group (Mobile Telecommunications), and reinforce the group’s competitiveness. 

The Research Environment

The project is carried out within the Mobile Telecommunications group, Division of Communication and Transport Systems, Department of Science and Technology, LiTH. The group consists of the following members in 2011.
 The group performs research and offers undergraduate and graduate courses in wireless networks, computer networks, modeling, simulation, and optimization. Current research within the group addresses resource management in 3G/4G networks, measurement-based capacity estimation of packet switched networks, and mobile communication solutions in road traffic systems (e.g., vehicle speed estimation). The group offers a broad range of undergraduate courses in telecommunications, TCP/IP networking, network simulation, and applied optimization, mainly for Communication and Transport Systems, a Master of Science in Engineering Program at LiU Norrköping. The group has a coordinating role in the international master program Wireless Networks and Electronics (WNE).

At present, Lei Chen, Qing He, Sara Modarres Razavi, and Di Yuan (project leader) are working within CENIIT 08.01.

 
Research Topics

The core of the project is currently formed by research in the following areas. If you are interesed in additional details of the research, please contact the project leader.

On-going:
 Past:

Collaborations and Research Networks

Industrial Collaboration
 Collaboration with Adacemia
Swedish Research Network

Since 2010, the CENIIT 08.01 team is part of ELLIIT, a network for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) research at Linköping, Lund, Halmstad, and Blekinge, funded by the Swedish govermental strategic research grant.

European Research Networks

People within CENIIT 08.01 are/ have been part of the following European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST) actions:

Publications

Project Publications (2008 -  )

Articles in International Journals
 
[1]   S. Modarres Razavi, D. Yuan. F. Gunnarsson, and J. Moe. Performence and cost trade-off in tracking area reconfiguration: a Pareto-optimization approach. Accepted by Computer Networks.

[2]  M. Pioro, M. Zotkiewicz, B. Staehle, D. Staehle, and D. Yuan. On max-min fair flow optimization in wireless mesh networks. Accepted by Ad Hoc Networks. doi:10.1016/j.adhoc.2011.05.003

[3]   L. Chen and D. Yuan. Coverage planning for optimizing HSDPA performance and controlling R99 soft handover. Accepted by Telecommunication Systems. DOI 10.1007/s11235-010-9414-z

[4]   V. Angelakis, L. Chen, and D. Yuan. Optimal and collaborative rate selection for interference cancellation in wireless networks. IEEE Communications Letters, 15:819-821, 2011.

[5]   A. Capone, S. Gualandi, L. Chen, and D. Yuan. A new computational approach for maximum link activation in wireless networks under the SINR model. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 10:1368-1372, 2011.

[6]   A. Capone, S. Gualandi, and D. Yuan. Joint routing and scheduling optimization in arbitrary ad hoc networks: comparison of cooperative and hop-by-hop forwaring. Ad Hoc Networks. 9:1256-1269, 2011.

[7]   J. Leblet, Z. Li, G. Simon, and D. Yuan. Optimal network locality in distributed virtualized data-centers. Computer Communications, 34:1968-1979, 2011.

[8]   E. Amaldi, S. Bosio, F. Malucelli, and D. Yuan. Solving nonlinear covering problems arising in WLAN design. Operations Research, 59:173-187, 2011.

[9]   L. Chen and D. Yuan. Solving a minimum-power covering problem with overlap constraint for cellular network design. European Journal of Operational Research, 203:714-723, 2010.

Book Chapters
 
[10]  D. Haugland and D. Yuan. Compact integer programming models for optimal tress in wireless networks. In: J. Kennington, E. Olinick, and D. Rajan, editors, Wireless Network Design: Optimization Models and Solution Procedures, Springer, pp. 219-246, 2011.

[11]   F. Gunnarsson, I. Siomina, and D. Yuan, Automated optimization in HSDPA radio network planning. In: B. Furht and S. Ahson, editors, Handbook of HSDPA/HSUPA Technology, CRC press, pp. 271-296. 2010.

[12]   S. Bosio, A. Eisenblätter, H.-F. Geerdes, I. Siomina, and D. Yuan. Mathematical optimization models for WLAN planning. In A.M.C.A. Koster and X. Munoz, editors, Graphs and Algorithms in Communication Networks, Springer, pp. 283-308, 2010. ISBN: 978-3-642-02249-4.

Peer-reviewed Conference Articles
 
[13] S. Modarres Razavi and D. Yuan. Mitigating mobility signaling congestion in LTE by overlapping tracking area lists. Proceedings of the 14th ACM International Conference on Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation of Wireless and Mobile Systems (MSWiM), 2011.

[14] V. Angelakis, L. Chen, and D. Yuan. A fully decentralized and load-adaptive fractional frequency reuse scheme. Annual Meeting of the IEEE International Symposium on Modeling, Analysis and Simulation of Computer and Telecommunication Systems (MASCOTS), 2011.

[15] F. Gunnarsson, J. Moe, S. Modarres Razavi, and D. Yuan. Dynamic tracking area list configuration and performance evaluation in LTE. Proceedings of IEEE GLOBECOM Workshop on Seamless Wireless Mobility 2010, 2010.

[16]  F. Gunnarsson, J. Moe, S. Modarres Razavi, and D. Yuan. Exploiting tracking area list for improving signaling overhead in LTE. Proceedings of IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC Spring 2010), 2010.

[17]  L. Chen and D. Yuan. Generalized frequency reuse schemes for OFDMA networks: optimization and comparison. Proceedings of IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC Spring 2010), 2010.

[18]  L. Chen and D. Yuan. Beyond conventional fractional frequency reuse for networks with irregular cell layout: an optimization approach and performance evaluation. Proceedings of the 5th Annual International Wireless Internet Conference (WICON), 2010.

[19]  L. Chen and D. Yuan. Soft Frequency reuse in large networks with irregular cell pattern: how much gain to expect? Proceedings of IEEE 20th Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC) Symposium, 2009.

[20]  F. Gunnarsson, J. Moe, S. Modarres Razavi, and D. Yuan. Optimizing the tradeoff between signaling and reconfiguration: A novel bi-criteria solution approach for revising tracking area design. Proceedings of IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC Spring 2009), 2009.

[21]  L. Chen and D. Yuan. Fast algorithm for large-scale UMTS coverage planning with soft handover consideration. Proceedings of the 5th ACM International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing Conference (IWCMC 2009), 2009.

[22]  S. Bosio and D. Yuan. Modeling ans solving AP location and frequency assignment for maximizing access efficiency in Wi-Fi networks. Proceedings of International Network Optimization Conference (INOC), 2009.

[23] L. Chen and D. Yuan. Achieving higher HSDPA performance and preserving R99 soft handover control by large scale optimization in CPICH coverage planning. Proceedings of IEEE Wireless Telecommunications Synposium (WTS 2009), 2009.

[24] L. Chen and D. Yuan. CPICH power planning for optimizing HSDPA and R99 SHO performance: Mathematical modelling and solution approach. Proceedings of IFIP Wireless Days, 2008.

[25] L. Chen and D. Yuan. Automated planning of CPICH power for enhancing HSDPA performance at cell edges with preserved control of R99 soft handover. Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), 2008.

[26] S. Modarres Razavi and D. Yuan. Performance improvement of LTE tracking area design: A re-optimization approach. Proceedings of the 6th ACM International Workshop on Mobility Management and Wireless Access (MobiWac), 2008.

[27] I. Siomina and D. Yuan. Enhancing HSDPA performance via automated and large-scale optimization of radio base station antenna configuration. Proceedings of IEEE 67th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC), 2008.

Theses

[28] L. Chen. Coverage planning and resource allocation in broadband cellular access - optimization models and algorithms. Linköping Studies in Science and Technology, Theses, No. 1454, 2011.

[29] S. Modarres Razavi. Tracking area planning in cellular networks: optimization and performance evaluation. Linköping Studies in Science and Technology, Theses, No. 1473, 2011.


Related Publications (2006 - 2007)

Articles in International Journals
 
[30]  I. Siomina and D. Yuan. Minimum pilot power for service coverage in WCDMA networks. Wireless Networks, vol. 14, pp. 393-402, 2007.

[31]  I. Siomina, P. Värbrand, and D. Yuan. Pilot power optimization and coverage control in WCDMA mobile networks. Omega, vol. 35, pp. 683-696, 2007.

[32]  I. Siomina, P. Värbrand, and D. Yuan. Automated optimization of service coverage and base station antenna configuration in UMTS networks. IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine, vol. 13. pp. 16-25, 2006.

Peer-reviewed Conference Articles
 
[33] I. Siomina and D. Yuan. Automated planning of CPICH power for enhancing HSDPA performance at cell edges. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Mobile Technology, Applications and Systems, 2007.

[34] I. Siomina and D. Yuan. Channel assignment and AP transmit power optimization for minimizing contention in wireless LANs. Proceedings of IEEE WiOpt ‘07: Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc and Wireless Networks, 2007.

[35] I. Siomina and D. Yuan. An effective optimization algorithm for antennas configuration in UMTS networks. Proceedings of IEEE 64th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC), 2006.