Network element stability aware method for verifying configuration changes in mobile communication networks

Abstract

Automatic Configuration Management (CM) parameter change assessment, the so-called Self-Organizing Network (SON) verification, is an important enabler for stable and high-quality modern SONs. However, it also presents a new set of challenges. While improving network stability and resolving unexpected conflicts caused by parallel configuration changes, the SON verification can also make the network optimization less dynamic. This flexibility can be desirable, especially when the network is in an unstable state. One such example is Network Element (NE) commissioning, after which it may be preferable for the SON functions to explore the configuration space more freely in order to find the optimal configuration. On the other hand, at some point in time, the NE has to converge to a stable configuration. To address these challenges, we introduce in this paper the concept of Network Element Virtual Temperature (NEVT), which indicates the state of stability of a NE, and propose how it can be utilized to optimize the verification process. This approach is evaluated in a simulated environment and compared to other verification mechanisms. The results show that the proposed method allows the network to better react to changes without sacrificing on its stability.