Method for congestion avoidance in 4G networks

US8483059B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Accelera Mobile Broadband, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Bojan Likar · Cupertino, US
• Robert Posel · Ljubljana, SI
• Andreas Kalagasidis · Ljubljana, SI
• Janez Bester
• Andrej Kos · Jesenice, SI
• Mojca Volk · Bled, SI
• Urban Sedlar · Bohinjska Bistrica, SI
• Luka Mali · Novo mesto, SI
• Janez Sterle · Ljubljana, SI

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 2010
• Grant date: Jul 9, 2013
• Expiry date: Jul 30, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L43/16
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

This invention aims to avoid and resolve congestions in wireless 4G networks. The method is based on a central self-organizing network (SON) server, which dynamically changes neighbor lists on congested base station and on all base stations in vicinity. The procedure is triggered by measuring relative committed traffic rate and air interface utilization of the base station. When base station enters into congested state, it notifies the SON server. The SON server creates new neighbor lists for all base stations in the vicinity and removes the congested base station from these lists. With new neighbor lists propagated to mobile stations, the latter won't scan and initiate handovers to the congested base station. The SON server additionally creates a new dense neighbor list and changes handover triggers settings of the congested base station. The mobile stations consequently find other handover opportunities and connect to different base stations. As the air interface resources are released, the base station leaves the congested state.