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quantity, limited coverage, the allocation of PCIs is becoming more difficult. Research on PCI mainly involves the allocation and conflict detection/processing. In paper [5] [6], a PCI conflict/processing method is introduced through the UE measurement report. 3GPP has present UE-based solution and Network-based solution [7] for PCI conflict processing. In the UE-based solution, when the conflict happens, UE is expected to read the system information of the cell to acquire the CGI. The eNodeB can then use the CGI to distinguish the cell. But the long period for UE reading the system message may result in handover failure. In the Network-based solution, the network (eNodeB for LTE) takes care of resolving the PCI conflict. A number of techniques of Network-based were under-consideration in 3GPP RAN WG2. In addition to that, in order to better identify HeNB cell for UE, 3GPP defines the PCI reservation mechanism and the specific reservation range of PCI is decided by operators. In a word, the current research focused on PCI-conflict detection / processing, but the view in this paper concerns PCI allocation, we put forward system architecture of PCI allocation system and the allocation method for eNodeB and HeNB cells. Through this allocation method, we can guarantee the PCI of cell is valid. Thereby the frequent conflict detection, repair, re-allocation process is avoided. Besides, the allocation algorithm is policy-based, operators can flexibility adjust strategy according to the utilization of PCI and the network scale. The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. In section II, we put forward some knowledge about PCI, such as allocation principle, system architecture, etc. In section III, the allocation method is described. The simulation experiment is presented in section IV, followed by conclusions in section V. II. A. ALLOCATION PRINCIPLE AND FRAMEWORK
I.
INTRODUCTION
Currently, telecommunication networks are becoming more and more complicated, enormous and heterogeneous. The continuously increasing difficulty of operation and maintenance caused huge operational expenditure (OPEX) [1].The traditional manual configuration and maintenance has become a bottleneck for the development of telecommunication operators. However, as the core technology of self-management, e.g. self-configuration, self-optimizing and the self-healing can significantly help operators to reduce OPEX and increase the competitive power [2]. As the first step for network towards self-running, good self-configuration work can make network running well in the early stage and reduce the pressure in self-optimizing stage. The allocation of PCI is one of the key problems in LTE network self-configuration work. Through listening to the broadcast messages of cell in LTE network, UE can use the PCI information obtained from the broadcast messages to identify the cell. Currently, 3GPP totally defined 504 PCIs [3]. Compared with the unique cell global identifier (CGI) [4], the set of PCIs are limited and reusable. By now, allocation of PCI is done mostly by manual planning which can make operation and maintenance person spend a lot of energy. Considering the allocation of PCI is not only for eNodeB cells, but also for HeNB cells, because of the special feature of HeNB, e.g. largeSupported by 973 project of China (2007CB310703), Supported by 863 Project of China (2008AA01Z201), NSFC (60802035, 60973108), and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2009RC0504).
PCI allocation principle As the quantity of PCI is limited and can be reused, the allocation principles need to be defined to avoid the collision and confusion in allocation process. The principles for the allocation are as follows:
1. 2. 3.
Collision-Free: there does not existing the same PCI in neighbor lists of cells. Confusion-Free: a cell shall not have neighbor cells with identical PCI. Reservation: The reserved PCI for HeNB cells can not be allocated to eNodeB cells, operators can set up reservation policy according to network condition.
policy from Policy Base, PCI Allocation Function will analysis and allocate the PCI for eNodeB and HeNB cells.
Network Management System
Policy Managemet
The above three principles will serve as the bases for automation PCI allocation. The specific collision, confusion and reservation scenario is shown in Figure 1.
PCI Allocation
Policy Analysis
Policy Base
HeNB Cell HeNB Cell HeNB Cell eNB Cell eNB Cell
D.
Cell Information Base: Mainly contains related information of cell, e.g. cell state information, type information and neighbor list information. Cell state information take a special attention on HeNB cell because of its power on or off is arbitrary. If the state of HeNB is power on, system will allocate a PCI, on the contrary, the allocated PCI will be released. Cell Type information: The main purpose of this information is to differentiate the HeNB cell and eNodeB cell. Neighbor List information: This information contains neighbor cells of each cell and their PCI.
As shown in Figure 1, the confusion is that Cell A and Cell B is mutual neighbor, but their PCIs are the same. Collision is that cell C and D have the common neighbor cell B but they are using the same PCI value. In addition, we assume the reservation range for HeNB cells are from 1 to 10. In the figure above, as a macro cell, Cell F uses PCI 9, which is reserved for HeNB cells. B. Automation PCI Allocation System Framework In order to make the PCI allocation process automatically, in this section, the framework of (Automation PCI Allocation System) APCIAS is proposed. Through this system, PCI is allocated autonomously and flexibly according to the utilization of PCI and network status. The framework of system is designed as shown in Figure 2. APCIAS consists of 6 elements: data collecting/configuration interface [8], cell information base, PCI allocation, policy base, policy management, PCI resource base. A. Policy Base: Including the PCI allocation policy, e.g. HeNB cell reservation policy, PCI allocation policy (luxury or multiplex). Luxury and multiplex policy will be defined in the next section. The policy can be created, edited and modified by the operators or through the PCI allocation feedback information. Policy Management: Operators can create, edit and modify the policy through this module. PCI Allocation: According to the obtained information from Cell Information Base, PCI Resource Base and the