Unified self-optimizing network to increase cell edge performance

Abstract

The described technology is generally directed towards jointly optimizing coverage, capacity, and layer balance in a wireless communications network while maintaining cell edge use device performance constraints. Aspects comprise monitoring edge user devices for performance information, and modifying the network based on the performance information, including jointly optimizing by changing antenna parameter data, layer balancing, handover biasing per cell neighbor pair, modifying scheduling priorities, and optimizing sector face harmonic throughput. Balancing uplink and downlink coverages are considered in the joint optimization. Further, interference is detected, predicted (as needed) and mitigated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 monitoring, by network equipment comprising a processor, cell edge user devices operating in a cell of a communication network, to determine a cell edge performance of the cell; and   in response to determining that the cell edge performance does not satisfy a cell edge performance criterion, facilitating, by the network equipment, jointly modifying a coverage of the cell, a capacity of the cell, and a layer balance of layers of the cell based on a defined relationship between the coverage, the capacity, and the layer balance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the jointly modifying comprises facilitating modifying antenna parameter data of the cell. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein facilitating the modifying of the antenna parameter data comprises facilitating the modifying of at least one of an antenna elevation of an antenna of the cell, an antenna azimuth of the antenna of the cell, a digital tilt of the antenna of the cell, or a shape of an antenna beam of the antenna of the cell. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the jointly modifying comprises facilitating modifying a layer assignment of a cell edge user device of the cell edge user devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the jointly modifying comprises facilitating modifying a cell handover threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the jointly modifying comprises facilitating modifying an uplink transmission power of the cell. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the jointly modifying comprises facilitating modifying a downlink transmission power of the cell. 
     
     
         8 . Network equipment, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 determining a cell edge performance of a cell in a communication network; and 
 in response to determining that the cell edge performance does not satisfy a cell edge performance criterion, jointly optimizing, until the cell edge performance satisfies the cell edge performance criterion, a coverage of the cell, a capacity of the cell, and a layer balance of layers of the cell based on a defined relationship between the coverage, the capacity, and the layer balance. 
   
     
     
         9 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the jointly optimizing comprises adjusting at least one of an antenna elevation of an antenna of the cell, an antenna azimuth of the antenna of the cell, a digital tilt of the antenna of the cell, or a shape of an antenna beam of the antenna of the cell. 
     
     
         10 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the jointly optimizing comprises adjusting a priority of a cell edge user equipment operating in the cell. 
     
     
         11 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the jointly optimizing comprises adjusting a layer assignment of a cell edge user equipment operating in the cell. 
     
     
         12 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the jointly optimizing comprises adjusting a cell handover threshold applicable to handing over a user equipment from the cell to a different cell of the communication network. 
     
     
         13 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the jointly optimizing comprises adjusting an uplink transmission power of an antenna of the cell. 
     
     
         14 . The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the jointly optimizing comprises adjusting a downlink transmission power of an antenna of the cell. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of network equipment, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 determining a cell edge performance of a cell in a cellular network; and   in response to determining that the cell edge performance does not satisfy at least a defined cell edge threshold performance, jointly tuning, using machine learning, until the cell edge performance satisfies the defined cell edge threshold performance, a coverage of the cell, a capacity of the cell, and a layer balance of layers of the cell based on a defined relationship between the coverage, the capacity, and the layer balance.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the jointly tuning comprises altering at least one of an antenna elevation of an antenna of the cell, an antenna azimuth of the antenna of the cell, a digital tilt of the antenna of the cell, or a shape of an antenna beam of the antenna of the cell. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the jointly tuning comprises altering a priority of a cell edge user device in the cell. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the jointly tuning comprises altering a layer assignment of a cell edge user device in the cell. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the jointly tuning comprises altering a cell transfer threshold applicable to transferring a user device from the cell to a different cell of the cellular network. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the jointly tuning comprises altering at least one of an uplink transmission power of an antenna of the cell or a downlink transmission power of the antenna of the cell.