Method and apparatus for planning a cellular radio network by creating a model on a digital map adding properties and optimizing parameters, based on statistical simulation results

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, further comprising: adding a traffic density model in connection with the model representing the cellular radio network and its radio environment, the traffic density model comprising a subscriber mobility model; and using at least one of immobile and mobile individual subscribers generated on the digital map in said simulation.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 including: storing said simulation events separately for each street, location, network element and/or cause.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 4, wherein: said generating means is arranged to generate active subscribers by means of a random process based on at least one of actual call statistics and subscriber penetration of said area.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 4, wherein: said generating means is arranged to generate active subscribers moving in a street network of the digital map by a random process based on actual street-specific traffic amount statistics.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 4, wherein: said generating means is arranged to assign to each generated subscriber an independent initial speed, direction and connection time on the basis of predetermined statistical random functions.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 4, further comprising: means for statistically processing event data stored in said storing means and for graphically presenting event statistics of a graphic user interface of said changing means.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 4, wherein: said changing means includes means for enabling an operator to select and process graphic statistical presentations of a graphic user interface.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 4, further comprising: an interface to a real operating cellular network for receiving information about the operation of said real network for use in said simulation.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 4, further comprising: an interface to a real operating cellular network for altering parameters of said network manually or automatically based on said simulation.

Claim 14

A control system for a cellular radio network comprising: means for obtaining statistical data of operation of an operating cellular network having a radio environment; means for altering control parameters of the cellular network on the basis of said obtained statistical data; said means for altering said control parameters comprising: means for storing a model of the cellular radio network and said radio environment on a digital map comprising terrain and topology information, the model comprising at least base station locations and antenna locations, antenna powers and antenna directions of the cellular network; a means for generating active subscribers at respective locations on the digital map and radio connections established by said active subscribers according to said statistical data obtained from the operating cellular network; a means for determining at least field strength and interference conditions at each location of each generated active subscriber during the respective radio link in said model of the radio environment created on the digital map; a means for simulating system functions associated with base station selection, base station handover, channel allocation and active connection control of the subscribers generated by the generating means on the basis of said determined field strength and interference conditions and in accordance with system control algorithms and parameters of the cellular radio network; a means for storing event data of functions performed by the simulating means; and means for changing the system control parameters on basis of results of said simulation.

Claim 15

A control system for a cellular radio network comprising: means for obtaining statistical data of operation of an operating cellular network having a radio environment; means for altering control parameters of the cellular network on the basis of said obtained statistical data; said means for altering said control parameters comprising: means for storing a model of the cellular radio network and said radio environment on a digital map comprising terrain and topology information, the model comprising at least base station locations and antenna locations, antenna powers and antenna directions of the cellular network; a means for generating active subscribers at respective locations on the digital map and radio connections established by said active subscribers according to said statistical data obtained from the operating cellular network; a means for determining at least field strength and interference conditions at each location of each generated active subscriber during the respective radio link in said model of the radio environment created on the digital map; a means for simulating system functions associated with base station selection, base station handover, channel allocation and active connection control of the subscribers generated by the generating means on the basis of said determined field strength and interference conditions and in accordance with system control algorithms and parameters of the cellular radio network; a means for storing event data of functions performed by the simulating means; and means for changing the system control parameters on basis of results of said simulation.