Periodic Report Summary 1 - IAPP@RANPLAN (IAPP for @utomatic Radio Access Network PLANning and optimisation (IAPP@RANPLAN))
A. Project objectives
The aim of this project is to establish lasting relationships between Ranplan (UK), Linköping University (Sweden) and University of Bedfordshire (UK) to research and develop automatic planning and optimisation (P&O) tools for emerging broadband radio access networks (RANs) such as High Speed Packet Access ( HSPA ), WiMAX (the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and the hybrids of such networks with Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Wi-Fi, i.e. Heterogeneous Radio Access Networks (HRANs).
The main objectives of the project are as follows:
1. Develop novel approaches to automate HSPA (HSDPA/HSUPA) planning and optimisation.
2. Develop novel approaches to automate WiMAX network planning and optimisation.
3. Develop novel approaches for automatic joint planning and optimization of hybrid Wi-Fi/UMTS/HSPA/WiMAX networks.
4. Investigate how to effectively reduce radio wave pollutions in RANs.
5. Develop efficient parallel and distributed simulation and planning methods that can improve the performance and accuracy of RAN and HRAN P&O.
6. Strengthen existing and/or create new strategic long-term collaborations between the participants and reduce the fragmentation in EU research in this area.
Achievement of these objectives will lead to commercial automatic RAN planning tools that can be used to plan and optimise HSPA, WiMAX, LTE and their hybrids with 3G and Wi-Fi networks (i.e. HRANs). It is expected that these tools will provide some 20-30% performance improvements for RAN/HRAN and can be used to plan environment friendly wireless infrastructure with less health concerns.
B. The work performed since the beginning of the project
The project has three workpackages (WPs), i.e. WP1 - Automatic HSPA Planning and Optimisation, WP2 - Automatic WiMAX Planning and Optimisation, WP3-Automatic HRAN Planning and Optimisation.
The work performed so far in WP1 includes HSPA P&O requirement analysis and reference scenarios, the development of an HSPA P&O framework, the research and development of solution-oriented models and optimisation algorithms for HSPA P&O, and the development of a simulation platform for HSPA P&O.
The work performed so far in WP2 includes WiMAX P&O requirement analysis, the development of coverage and capacity models for WiMAX P&O and the development of a static system level simulator for WiMAX P&O.
The work performed so far in WP3 includes the development of an HRAN P&O framework that covers various radio access technologies and both indoor and outdoor scenarios.
C. A description of the main results achieved so far
The main results of the project so far include the development of fast and accurate solution-oriented models and optimisation algorithms for HSPA P&O, the development of a comprehensive system level simulation platform for HSPA and WiMAX P&O, the development of coverage and capacity models for WiMAX P&O and an advanced indoor HRAN P&O tool.
D. The expected final results and their potential impact and use
At the end of this project, a software suite of advanced radio network P&O tools that cover HSPA, WiMAX and LTE will be produced. The tools will cover heterogeneous networks in both indoor and outdoor scenarios. The tools will be able to run in PCs and in parallel/distributed computing environments. The use of such tools will save network operators some 20-30% in CAPEX and OPEX, reduce radio wave pollutions and make the networks be greener and use less energy.
The aim of this project is to establish lasting relationships between Ranplan (UK), Linköping University (Sweden) and University of Bedfordshire (UK) to research and develop automatic planning and optimisation (P&O) tools for emerging broadband radio access networks (RANs) such as High Speed Packet Access ( HSPA ), WiMAX (the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and the hybrids of such networks with Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Wi-Fi, i.e. Heterogeneous Radio Access Networks (HRANs).
The main objectives of the project are as follows:
1. Develop novel approaches to automate HSPA (HSDPA/HSUPA) planning and optimisation.
2. Develop novel approaches to automate WiMAX network planning and optimisation.
3. Develop novel approaches for automatic joint planning and optimization of hybrid Wi-Fi/UMTS/HSPA/WiMAX networks.
4. Investigate how to effectively reduce radio wave pollutions in RANs.
5. Develop efficient parallel and distributed simulation and planning methods that can improve the performance and accuracy of RAN and HRAN P&O.
6. Strengthen existing and/or create new strategic long-term collaborations between the participants and reduce the fragmentation in EU research in this area.
Achievement of these objectives will lead to commercial automatic RAN planning tools that can be used to plan and optimise HSPA, WiMAX, LTE and their hybrids with 3G and Wi-Fi networks (i.e. HRANs). It is expected that these tools will provide some 20-30% performance improvements for RAN/HRAN and can be used to plan environment friendly wireless infrastructure with less health concerns.
B. The work performed since the beginning of the project
The project has three workpackages (WPs), i.e. WP1 - Automatic HSPA Planning and Optimisation, WP2 - Automatic WiMAX Planning and Optimisation, WP3-Automatic HRAN Planning and Optimisation.
The work performed so far in WP1 includes HSPA P&O requirement analysis and reference scenarios, the development of an HSPA P&O framework, the research and development of solution-oriented models and optimisation algorithms for HSPA P&O, and the development of a simulation platform for HSPA P&O.
The work performed so far in WP2 includes WiMAX P&O requirement analysis, the development of coverage and capacity models for WiMAX P&O and the development of a static system level simulator for WiMAX P&O.
The work performed so far in WP3 includes the development of an HRAN P&O framework that covers various radio access technologies and both indoor and outdoor scenarios.
C. A description of the main results achieved so far
The main results of the project so far include the development of fast and accurate solution-oriented models and optimisation algorithms for HSPA P&O, the development of a comprehensive system level simulation platform for HSPA and WiMAX P&O, the development of coverage and capacity models for WiMAX P&O and an advanced indoor HRAN P&O tool.
D. The expected final results and their potential impact and use
At the end of this project, a software suite of advanced radio network P&O tools that cover HSPA, WiMAX and LTE will be produced. The tools will cover heterogeneous networks in both indoor and outdoor scenarios. The tools will be able to run in PCs and in parallel/distributed computing environments. The use of such tools will save network operators some 20-30% in CAPEX and OPEX, reduce radio wave pollutions and make the networks be greener and use less energy.