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EP-4740560-A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RESOLUTION OF A PHYSICAL CELL IDENTIFIER (PCI) CONFLICT BETWEEN BASE STATIONS

EP4740560A1EP 4740560 A1EP4740560 A1EP 4740560A1EP-4740560-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for resolution of a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) conflict between base stations, the method comprising: receiving a resolution request for resolving a conflict between a first and a second base station with an identical PCI; determining a distance between the first and the second base station; initiating a conflict resolution process between the first and the second base station when the determined distance is less than a pre-defined threshold; selecting a final base station from among the first and the second base station for changing the PCI based on an active device count and a cell data volume of the first and the second base station; selecting a new PCI number for the final base station from a pool of one or more available PCI numbers; and communicating the new PCI number to the final base station.

Inventors

  • BISHT, SANDEEP
  • OAK, VISHAL
  • BHATNAGAR, AAYUSH
  • Sanas, Nilesh
  • Seelamanthula, Sri Krishna Saichand
  • Raman, Pritesh
  • BUCH, YASHESH KAMLESH
  • GUPTA, KAPIL
  • Vundavilli, Srinivasa Rao
  • NARASIMHULU, Mv Chinna

Assignees

  • Jio Platforms Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240701

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A method for resolution of a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) conflict between base stations, the method comprising: receiving, by a transceiver unit [304a] of a self-optimizing network (SON) server [304], a resolution request for resolving a conflict between a first base station and a second base station, wherein each of the first base station and the second base station has an identical PCI; determining, by an analysis unit [304c] of the SON server [304], a distance between the first base station and the second base station; in an event the determined distance is less than a pre-defined threshold, initiating, a resolution unit [304b] of the SON server [304], a conflict resolution process between the first base station and the second base station; selecting, by a selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], a final base station from among the first base station and the second base station for changing the Physical Cell Identifier (PCI), wherein the selection is based on an active device count and a cell data volume of the first base station and an active device count and a cell data volume of the second base station, from a cell database [302]; selecting, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], a new PCI number for the final base station from a pool of one or more available PCI numbers; and communicating, by the transceiver unit [304a] of the SON server [304], the new PCI number to the final base station.
  2. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the first base station is a source base station to which a User Equipment (UE) is connected; and the second base station is a neighbour base station, the neighbour base station connected to the source base station.
  3. 3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the PCI conflict is a PCI collision conflict.
  4. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the first base station is a first neighbour base station, and the second base station is a second neighbour base station, wherein each of the first neighbour base station and the second neighbour base station are connected to a source base station to which a User Equipment (UE) is connected.
  5. 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the PCI conflict is a PCI confusion conflict.
  6. 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, in an event the determined distance is less than the predefined threshold, initiating the conflict resolution process between the first base station and the second base station comprises: transmitting the resolution request to the cell database; and during a pre-defined maintenance time window, receiving, from the cell database, the resolution request.
  7. 7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the steps of selecting one of the first base station and the second base station for changing the PCI number comprises: selecting the new PCI number for the final base station; and communicating the new PCI number to the final base station, are performed during a pre-defined maintenance time-window.
  8. 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selecting, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], the final base station, comprises: retrieving, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], the active device count and the cell data volume of the first base station and the active device count and the cell data volume of the second base station from the cell database [302]; and selecting, by the selection unit [04d] of the SON server [304], for changing the PCI number, the final base station, wherein the final base station is one of: o a base station, among the first base station and the second base station, with a lower active device count, in an event the active device count of the first base station and the active device count of the second base station is different; and o a base station, among the first base station and the second base station, with a lower cell data volume, in an event the active device count of the first base station and the active device count of the second base station is same.
  9. 9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selecting, by selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], the new PCI number for the final base station from the pool of one or more available PCI numbers, comprises: determining, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], a predefined number of top ranked neighbour base stations from a set of all neighbour base stations, using a neighbour relation table (NRT) of the final base station; checking, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], whether a candidate PCI number is same as the PCI number of any of the neighbour base stations in the set of all neighbour base stations; performing, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], one of: o a check procedure in an event the candidate PCI number is same as the PCI number of any of the neighbour base stations in the set of all neighbour base stations, and o selecting, by the SON server [304], the candidate PCI number as the new PCI number, in an event the candidate PCI number is different from the PCI number of each neighbour base station in the set of all neighbour base stations.
  10. 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the check procedure comprises: performing reiteratively, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], the following steps till each predefined condition in a set of predefined conditions, is satisfied: selecting randomly, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], a candidate PCI number from the pool of the one or more available PCI numbers; and checking, by the selection unit [304d] of the SON server [304], for each of the determined top ranked neighbours of the final base station, the pre-defined conditions.
  11. 11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pre-defined conditions comprise: the candidate PCI number is different as that of the top ranked neighbour of the current iteration; a first modulo operation value of the candidate PCI number is different as that of the top ranked neighbour of the current iteration; and a second modulo operation value of the candidate PCI number is different as that of the top ranked neighbour of the current iteration.
  12. 12. A system for resolution of a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) conflict between base stations, the system comprising a self-optimizing network (SON) server [304], the SON server [304] further comprising: a transceiver unit [304a] configured to receive a resolution request for resolving a conflict between a first base station and a second base station, wherein each of the first base station and the second base station has an identical PCI; an analysis unit [304c] connected to at least the transceiver unit [304a], the analysis unit [304c] configured to determine a distance between the first base station and the second base station; a resolution unit [304b] connected to at least the analysis unit [304c], the resolution unit [304b] configured to initiate a conflict resolution process between the first base station and the second base station in an event the determined distance is less than a pre-defined threshold; a selection unit [304d] connected to at least the resolution unit [304b], the selection unit [304d] configured to: o select, a final base station from among the first base station and the second base station for changing the Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) number, wherein the selection is based on an active device count and a cell data volume of the first base station and an active device count and a cell data volume of the second base station, from a cell database [302]; o select, a new PCI number for the final base station from a pool of one or more available PCI numbers; and the transceiver unit [304] is further configured to communicate, the new PCI number to the final base station.
  13. 13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the first base station is a source base station to which a User Equipment (UE) is connected; and the second base station is a neighbour base station, the neighbour base station connected to the source base station.
  14. 14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the PCI conflict is a PCI collision conflict.
  15. 15. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the first base station is a first neighbour base station, and the second base station is a second neighbour base station, wherein each of the first neighbour base station and the second neighbour base stations are connected to a source base station to which a User Equipment (UE) is connected.
  16. 16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the PCI conflict is a PCI confusion conflict.
  17. 17. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein to initiate the conflict resolution process between the first base station and the second base station, the resolution unit [304b] is further configured to: transmit the resolution request to the cell database; and during a pre-defined maintenance time window, receive, from the cell database, the resolution request.
  18. 18. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the selection of one of the first base station and the second base station for changing the PCI number; selection of the new PCI number for the final base station; and communication of the new PCI number to the final base station, occurs during a pre-defined maintenance time-window.
  19. 19. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein for the selection of the final base station, the selection unit [304d] is configured to: retrieve the active device count and the cell data volume of the first base station and the active device count and the cell data volume of the second base station from the cell database [302] select the final base station for changing the PCI number, wherein the final base station is one of: o a base station, among the first base station and the second base station, with a lower active device count, in an event the active device count of the first base station and the active device count of the second base station is different; and o a base station, among the first base station and the second base station, with a lower cell data volume, in an event the active device count of the first base station and the active device count of the second base station is same.
  20. 20. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein for the selection of the new PCI number for the final base station from the pool of one or more available PCI numbers, the selection unit [304d] is configured to: determine a predefined number of top ranked neighbour base stations from a set of all neighbour base stations, using a neighbour relation table (NRT) of the final base station; check whether a candidate PCI number is same as the PCI number of any of the neighbour base stations in the set of all neighbour base stations; and perform one of: o a check procedure in an event the candidate PCI number is same as the PCI number of any of the neighbour base stations in the set of all neighbour base stations, and o select the candidate PCI number as the new PCI number, in an event the candidate PCI number is different from the PCI number of each neighbour base station in the set of all neighbour base stations.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RESOLUTION OF A PHYSICAL CELL IDENTIFIER (PCI) CONFLICT BETWEEN BASE STATIONS TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to network performance management systems. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to method and system for resolution of a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) conflict between base stations. BACKGROUND [0002] The following description of the related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section is used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of the prior art. [0003] Wireless communication technology has rapidly evolved over the past few decades, with each generation bringing significant improvements and advancements. The first generation of wireless communication technology was based on analog technology and offered only voice services. However, with the advent of the second generation (2G) technology, digital communication and data services became possible, and text messaging was introduced. The third generation (3G) technology marked the introduction of high-speed internet access, mobile video calling, and location-based services. The fourth generation (4G) technology revolutionized wireless communication with faster data speeds, better network coverage, and improved security. Currently, the fifth generation (5G) technology is being deployed, promising even faster data speeds, low latency, and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously. With each generation, wireless communication technology has become more advanced, sophisticated, and capable of delivering more services to its users. [0004] In the existing 5G network, each gNodeB is assigned a physical cell identifier (PCI). Further, the gNodeB can be classified into two categories: source or neighbour from a user equipment (UE) point of view. Source is that gNodeB to which a given UE is connected. Other gNodeBs connected to the source gNodeB are called neighbour gNodeBs. For each gNodeB, there exists a neighbour relation table (NRT) capturing all the other gNodeBs connected to the said gNodeB. [0005] When a UE moves from one location to another, the UE may have to switch to a new gNodeB, this involves use of PCI numbers of source gNB as well as neighbours. It is emphasized that the 3GPP standards for 5G prescribe that PCI numbers should be between 0 and 1007 (both inclusive in the range). Therefore, in a large network, two PCIs may be assigned the same number. A scenario where PCI for the source gNB and PCI for the neighbour gNB is same is known as PCI collision. A scenario where any two neighbours of the source gNB have the same PCI number is known as PCI confusion. It is critical for optimized network performance and successful handover, that PCI collision or confusion do not happen in the neighbours of the source gNB. [0006] The 3 GPP Standards do not specify any algorithm as well as the implementation between the SON and the gNB to achieve PCI collision, confusion reporting & its resolution. Thus, there exists an imperative need in the art to resolve the PCI collision and the PCI confusion in the network, which the present disclosure aims to address. SUMMARY [0007] This section is provided to introduce certain aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0008] An aspect of the present disclosure may relate to a method for resolution of a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) conflict between base stations, the method comprising receiving, by a transceiver unit of a self-optimizing network (SON) server, a resolution request for resolving a conflict between a first base station and a second base station, wherein each of the first base station and the second base station has an identical PCI. The method further comprises determining, by an analysis unit of the SON server, a distance between the first base station and the second base station. The method comprises in an event the determined distance is less than a pre-defined threshold, initiating, a resolution unit of the SON server, a conflict resolution process between the first base station and the second base station. The method comprises selecting, by a selection unit of the SON server, a final base station from among the first base station and the second base station for changing the Physical Cell Identifier (PCI), wherein the selection is based on an active device count and a cell data volume of the first base station and an active device count and a cell data volume of the second base station, from a cell database. The method comprises se