4.2 Load balancing optimization function

28.6283GPPInformation Service (IS)Release 17Self-Organizing Networks (SON) Policy Network Resource Model (NRM) Integration Reference Point (IRP)Telecommunication managementTS

4.2.1 Objective and targets

The objective of LB Optimization is to cope with undesired traffic load distribution and to minimize the number of handovers and redirections needed to achieve the load balancing. One of the following targets or the combination of the following targets shall be used. The specific target value or values shall be configured by operators. Operators should assign weights for targets being used.

Targets drawn from the following table can be configured for LBO:

Target Name

Definition

Legal Values

RRC connection establishments failure rate related to load

The number of Failed RRC connection establishments related to load/ The total number of Attempted RRC connection establishments.

The target is met if the actual rate is smaller than the target value.

Integer

[0..100] in unit percentage

E-RAB setup failure rate related to load

The number of E-RAB setup failure related to load/ The total number of attempted E-RAB setup

For E-RAB setup failure related to load, the causes “Reduce load in serving cell” and “Radio resources not available” defined in TS 36.413 [12] could be used.

The target is met if the actual rate is smaller than the target value.

Integer

[0..100] in unit percentage

RRC Connection Abnormal Release Rate Related to Load

The number of abnormal RRC connection release related to load/ The total number of RRC connection release.

The target is met if the actual rate is smaller than the target value.

Integer

[0..100] in unit percentage

E-RAB Abnormal Release Rate Related to Load

The number of E-RAB abnormal release related to load/ The total number of E-RAB release

For E-RAB setup failure related to load, the causes “Reduce load in serving cell” and “Radio resources not available” defined in TS 36.413 [12] could be used.

The target is met if the actual rate is smaller than the target value.

Integer

[0..100] in unit percentage

Rate of failures related to handover

(the number of failure events related to handover) / (the total number of handover events)

The target is met if the actual rate is smaller than the target value.

Integer

[0..100] in unit percentage

For the following targets out of the above table, the target values depend on the composite available capacity range in the cell and are defined separately for uplink and downlink. For these tuples can be configured, indicating the capacity ranges together with the target value valid in that range.

RRC connection establishments failure rate related to load,

E-RAB setup failure rate related to load,

RRC Connection Abnormal Release Rate Related to Load,

E-RAB Abnormal Release Rate Related to Load

For the following targets shall be identical with the corresponding targets defined in Handover Optimization.

Rate of failures related to handover

4.2.2 Parameters To Be Optimized

To reach load optimization target, LBO may optimize some mobility settings (HO and/or idle mobility configuration) defined in TS 36.331 [6].

4.2.3 Optimization method

4.2.3.1 Problem detection

The problem detection is out of scope of this specification.

4.2.3.2 Problem solution 

The problem solution is out of scope of this specification.

4.2.4 Architecture

4.2.4.1 Definition of logical functions

LB Monitor Function: This function is used for monitoring the load balance optimization (e.g. Monitoring related performance counters or alarms).

LB Policy control function: This function is used for configuring the load balance optimization policies.

4.2.4.2 Location of logical functions

NM (IRPManager)

DM

eNB

Itf-N

eNB

EM

LB Monitor Function

LB Policy Control Function

X2

eNB

LB Monitor Function

LB Policy Control Function

X2

EM

For Load Balancing, the SON LB decision algorithm is located in eNB. The detailed SON functionalities in eNB are out of scope of this specification.

4.2.5 PM

IRPManager may collect Load balancing related performance measurements. Performance Measurements related with Load balancing are captured in the table below:

Performance measurement name

Description

Related targets

The number of Failed RRC connection establishments related to load

Refer to 3GPP TS 32.425 [8]

Failed RRC connection establishments

RRC connection establishments failure rate related to load

The total number of Attempted RRC connection establishments

Refer to 3GPP TS 32.425 [8]

Attempted RRC connection establishments

RRC connection establishments failure rate related to load

The number of E-RAB setup failure related to load

Refer to 3GPP TS 32.425 [8]

Number of initial SAE Bearers failed to setup

E-RAB setup failure rate related to load

The total number of attempted E-RAB setup

Refer to 3GPP TS 32.425 [8]

Number of initial SAE Bearers attempted to setup

E-RAB setup failure rate related to load

The number of abnormal RRC connection release related to load

Number of UE CONTEXT Release Request initiated by eNodeB

RRC Connection Abnormal Release Rate Related to Load

The total number of RRC connection release

Number of Successful UE Context Release

RRC Connection Abnormal Release Rate Related to Load

The number of E-RAB abnormal release related to load

Refer to 3GPP TS 32.425 [8]

Number of SAE Bearers requested to release initiated by eNodeB per cause

E-RAB Abnormal Release Rate Related to Load

The total number of E-RAB release

Refer to 3GPP TS 32.425 [8]

Number of SAE Bearers successfully released

E-RAB Abnormal Release Rate Related to Load

the number of failure events related to handover

Refer to 4.3.5

Rate of failures related to handover

the total number of handover events

Refer to 4.3.5

Rate of failures related to handover

NOTE: The monitoring of performance measurements will make use of existing PM IRP.