Automated Dynamic and Cooperative Base Station Range Setting in CDMA2000 Cellular Systems

Cell shrinking is a common phenomenon in code division multiple access systems in which the cell service area reduces with the loading of the cell. To minimize the service outages resulting from cell shrinking, an automated dynamic and cooperative base station range setting scheme for the CDMA2000 system is proposed. This range setting software resides in a dedicated computer coupled to the back administration module server at the base station controller, periodically checks the traffic reports generated and identifies the loading of cell sectors which in turn initiates the generation of a dynamic range setting script. Automatic execution of the script adjusts the ranges of the neighbouring cell sectors such that the subscribers with high probability of dropping from the loaded sectors due to cell shrinking are now smoothly transferred to their neighbours. This system overcomes most of the practical issues that arise in human controlled manual range changing systems which are currently deployed in Sri Lanka. ENGINEER, Vol. 47, No. 01, pp. 1-8, 2014