9 SON functions

32.1033GPPIntegration Reference Point (IRP) overview and usage guideRelease 17Telecommunication managementTS

Tools: ARFCN - Frequency Conversion for 5G NR/LTE/UMTS/GSM

In order to reduce the operating expenses (OPEX) associated with the management of increasing number of nodes from more than one vendor the concept of the Self-Organizing Network (SON) was introduced. Automation of some network planning, configuration and optimisation processes via the use of SON functions can help the network operator to reduce OPEX by reducing manual involvement in such tasks.

SON functions are Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent. Generally, SON functions are applicable to E-UTRAN network, and can be applied to UTRAN network on a case by case basis. The following specifications have identified the use cases and requirements in context of SON for standardization:

– Self-establishment of an eNodeB: Related requirements are defined in TS 32.501 [36];

– Automatic Neighbour Relation Management: Related requirements are defined in TS 32.511 [28];

– Self-Optimisation Management: Related requirements are defined in TS 32.521 [29] or TS 28.627 [35];

– Self-Healing Management: Related requirements are defined in TS 32.541 [30];

– Energy Saving Management: Related requirements are defined in TS 32.551 [31];

– Minimization of Drive Tests: Related requirements are defined in TS 32.421 [37]and TS 32.441 [38].

Each SON use case can involve multiple IRPs when corresponding management scenarios are applied. As to IRP solution fulfilment, Self-Optimization Management, Self-Healing Management and Energy Saving Management share the common information model of SON policy NRM (TS 32.522 [119]), while each one also has RAT-dependent information model in E-UTRAN NRM (TS 32.761 [137], 32.762 [138], 32.766 [139] /28.657 [154], 28.658 [155], 28.659 [156]) or UTRAN NRM (TS 32.641 [131], 32.642 [132], 32.646 [133], 28.651 [148], 28.652 [149], 28.653 [150]). The IRP relationships of SON functions and measurement definitions are addressed case by case as follows,

Self-establishment of an eNodeB

Interface IRPs:

– SC IRP (32.500 [27], 32.501 [36], 32.502 [117], 32.506 [118])

– Software Management IRP (32.531 [121], 32.532 [122], 32.536 [123])

– Generic IRP (32.311 [71], 32.312 [72], 32.316 [73])

– Alarm IRP (32.111-1 [22], 32.111-2 [63], 32.111-6 [64])

– Test Management IRP (32.321 [74], 32.322 [75], 32.326 [76])

– Basic CM IRP (32.600 [32], 32.601 [7], 32.602 [8], 32.603 [9], 32.606 [124]) or Bulk CM IRP (32.611 [125], 32.612 [126], 32.616 [127])

– Kernel CM IRP (32.661 [134], 32.662 [135], 32.666 [136])

– Notification IRP (32.300 [25], 32.301 [68], 32.302 [69], 32.306 [70])

– File Transfer IRP (for ARCF data download) (32.341 [80], 32.342 [81], 32.346 [82])

NRM IRPs:

– Umbrella Information Model (28.620 [34])

– Generic NRM IRP (32.621 [128], 32.622 [129], 32.626 [130] or 28.621 [10], 28.622 [11], 28.623 [12])

– E-UTRAN NRM IRP (32.761 [137], 32.762 [138], 32.766 [139] or 28.657 [154], 28.658 [155], 28.659 [156])

Automatic Neighbour Relation Management

Interface IRP:

– Basic CM IRP (32.600 [32], 32.601 [7], 32.602 [8], 32.603 [9], 32.606 [124]) or Bulk CM IRP (32.611 [125], 32.612 [126], 32.616 [127])

– Alarm IRP (32.111-1 [22], 32.111-2 [63], 32.111-6 [64])

– Kernel CM IRP (32.661 [134], 32.662 [135], 32.666 [136])

– Notification IRP (32.300 [25], 32.301 [68], 32.302 [69], 32.306 [70])

NRM IRP:

– Generic NRM IRP (32.621 [128], 32.622 [129], 32.626 [130] or 28.620 [34], 28.621 [10], 28.622 [11], 28.623 [12])

– E-UTRAN NRM IRP (32.761 [137], 32.762 [138], 32.766 [139] or 28.657 [154], 28.656 [153], 28.659 [156])

– UTRAN NRM IRP (32.641 [131], 32.642 [132], 32.646 [133])

Self-Optimisation Management

Interface IRP:

– Basic CM IRP (32.600 [32], 32.601 [7], 32.602 [8], 32.603 [9], 32.606 [124]) or Bulk CM IRP (32.611 [125], 32.612 [126], 32.616 [127])

– Alarm IRP (32.111-1 [22], 32.111-2 [63], 32.111-6 [64])

– PM IRP (32.410 [100], 32.411 [101], 32.412 [102], 32.416 [103])

– File Transfer IRP (for PM data upload) (32.341 [80], 32.342 [81], 32.346 [82])

– Kernel CM IRP (32.661 [134], 32.662 [135], 32.666 [136])

– Notification IRP (32.300 [25], 32.301 [68], 32.302 [69], 32.306 [70])

NRM IRP:

– SON Policy NRM IRP (32.521 [29], 32.522 [119], 32.526 [120] or 28.627 [35], 28.628 [143], 28.629 [144])

– Generic NRM IRP (32.621 [128], 32.622 [129], 32.626 [130] or 28.620 [34], 28.621 [10], 28.622 [11], 28.623 [12])

– E-UTRAN NRM IRP (32.761 [137], 32.762 [138], 32.766 [139] or 28.657 [154], 28.656 [153], 28.659 [156])

Measurement Definitions:

– E-UTRAN Performance Measurements (32.425 [105])

Self-Healing Management

Interface IRP:

– Basic CM IRP (32.600 [32], 32.601 [7], 32.602 [8], 32.603 [9], 32.606 [124]) or Bulk CM IRP (32.611 [125], 32.612 [126], 32.616 [127])

– Alarm IRP (32.111-1 [22], 32.111-2 [63], 32.111-6 [64])

– Kernel CM IRP (32.661 [134], 32.662 [135], 32.666 [136])

– Notification IRP (32.300 [25], 32.301 [68], 32.302 [69], 32.306 [70])

NRM IRP:

– SON Policy NRM IRP (32.521 [29], 32.522 [119], 32.526 [120] or 28.627 [35], 28.628 [143], 28.629 [144])

– Generic NRM IRP (32.621 [128], 32.622 [129], 32.626 [130] or 28.620 [34], 28.621 [10], 28.622 [11], 28.623 [12])

– E-UTRAN NRM IRP (32.761 [137], 32.762 [138], 32.766 [139] or 28.657 [154], 28.656 [153], 28.659 [156])

Energy Saving Management

Interface IRP:

– Basic CM IRP (32.600 [32], 32.601 [7], 32.602 [8], 32.603 [9], 32.606 [124]) or Bulk CM IRP (32.611 [125], 32.612 [126], 32.616 [127])

– PM IRP (32.410 [100], 32.411 [101], 32.412 [102], 32.416 [103])

– File Transfer IRP (for PM data upload) (32.341 [80], 32.342 [81], 32.346 [82])

– Kernel CM IRP (32.661 [134], 32.662 [135], 32.666 [136])

– Notification IRP (32.300 [25], 32.301 [68], 32.302 [69], 32.306 [70])

NRM IRP:

– SON Policy NRM IRP (32.521 [29], 32.522 [119], 32.526 [120] or 28.627 [35], 28.628 [143], 28.629 [144])

– Generic NRM IRP (32.621 [128], 32.622 [129], 32.626 [130] or 28.620 [34], 28.621[10], 28.622 [11], 28.623 [12])

– E-UTRAN NRM IRP (32.761 [137], 32.762 [138], 32.766 [139] or 28.657 [154], 28.656 [153], 28.659 [156])

– UTRAN NRM IRP (32.641 [131], 32.642 [132], 32.646 [133])

Measurement Definitions:

– E-UTRAN Performance Measurements (32.425 [105])

– UTRAN Performance Measurements (32.405 [95])

Minimization of Drive Tests

Interface IRP:

– Trace Management IRP (32.441 [38], 32.442 [110], 32.446 [111])

– Trace Control and Configuration Management IRP (32.421 [37], 32.422 [57], 32.423 [104])

– Basic CM IRP (32.600 [32], 32.601 [7], 32.602 [8], 32.603 [9], 32.606 [124]) or Bulk CM IRP (32.611 [125], 32.612 [126], 32.616 [127])

– Kernel CM IRP (32.661 [134], 32.662 [135], 32.666 [136])

NRM IRP:

– Generic NRM IRP (32.621 [128], 32.622 [129], 32.626 [130] or 28.620 [34], 28.621 [10], 28.622 [11], 28.623 [12])

– UTRAN NRM IRP (32.641 [131], 32.642 [132], 32.646 [133] or 28.651 [148], 28.652 [149], 28.653 [150])

– E-UTRAN NRM IRP (32.761 [137], 32.762 [138], 32.766 [139] or 28.657 [154], 28.656 [153], 28.659 [156])