Cell performance assessment

Apparatus for assessing performance of a cell in a network wherein data is passed between layers in a protocol stack implemented by the cell, the apparatus comprising:

• means for calculating a data efficiency of data passing through a physical layer in the protocol stack via one or more higher layers in the protocol stack based on a comparison of a physical resource data unit allocated to that data at the physical layer with a data throughput of one or more of the layers of the protocol stack;
• means for calculating an average efficiency by averaging the data efficiency over a predetermined time;
• means for normalising the average efficiency with respect to a predetermined efficiency so as to generate a normalised average efficiency;
• means for comparing the normalised average efficiency with a target threshold;
• and
• means for adjusting the operation of the cell if the normalised average efficiency differs from the target threshold by greater than a threshold amount.

Apparatus for assessing performance of a cell in a network wherein data is passed between layers in a protocol stack implemented by the cell, the apparatus comprising logic operable to:

• calculate a data efficiency of data passing through a physical layer in the protocol stack via one or more higher layers in the protocol stack based on a comparison of a physical resource data unit allocated to that data at the physical layer with a data throughput of one or more of the layers of the protocol stack;
• calculate an average efficiency by averaging the data efficiency over a predetermined time;
• normalise the average efficiency with respect to a predetermined efficiency so as to generate a normalised average efficiency;
• compare the normalised average efficiency with a target threshold;
• and
• adjust the operation of the cell if the normalised average efficiency differs from the target threshold by greater than a threshold amount.

Apparatus for assessing performance of a cell in a network wherein data is passed between layers in a protocol stack implemented by the cell, the apparatus comprising:

• a data efficiency calculator operable to calculate a data efficiency of data passing through a physical layer in the protocol stack via one or more higher layers in the protocol stack based on a comparison of a physical resource data unit allocated to that data at the physical layer with a data throughput of one or more of the layers of the protocol stack;
• an average efficiency calculator operable to calculate an average efficiency by averaging the data efficiency over a predetermined time;
• an average efficiency normaliser operable to normalise the average efficiency with respect to a predetermined efficiency so as to generate a normalised average efficiency;
• a comparator operable to compare the normalised average efficiency with a target threshold;
• and
• a cell adjustment module operable to adjust the operation of the cell if the normalised average efficiency differs from the target threshold by greater than a threshold amount.

A method for assessing performance of a cell in a 3GPP long term evolution (LTE) network wherein data is passed between layers in a 3GPP LTE protocol stack implemented by the cell, the method comprising:

• calculating a data efficiency of data passing through a physical layer in the protocol stack via one or more higher layers in the protocol stack based on a comparison of a physical resource block allocated to that data at the physical layer with a data throughput of one or more of the layers of the protocol stack;
• calculating an average efficiency by averaging the data efficiency over a predetermined time;
• normalising the average efficiency with respect to a predetermined efficiency so as to generate a normalised average efficiency;
• comparing the normalised average efficiency with a target threshold;
• and
• adjusting the operation of the cell if the normalised average efficiency differs from the target threshold by greater than a threshold amount.

A method for assessing performance of a cell in a network wherein data is passed between layers in a protocol stack implemented by the cell, the method comprising:

• calculating a data efficiency of data passing through a physical layer in the protocol stack via one or more higher layers in the protocol stack based on a comparison of a physical resource data unit allocated to that data at the physical layer with a data throughput of one or more of the layers of the protocol stack;
• calculating an average efficiency by averaging the data efficiency over a predetermined time;
• normalising the average efficiency with respect to a predetermined efficiency so as to generate a normalised average efficiency;
• comparing the normalised average efficiency with a target threshold;
• detecting if a degree of utilisation of the cell is greater than a cell utilisation threshold if the normalised efficiency is greater than the target threshold by the efficiency threshold amount;
• triggering a procedure to augment the capacity of the cell if the degree of utilisation of the cell is greater than the cell utilisation threshold and the normalised average efficiency is greater than the target threshold by the efficiency threshold amount;
• and
• triggering a cell optimisation procedure if the normalised average efficiency is less than the target threshold by the efficiency threshold amount.

A method for assessing performance of a cell in a network wherein data is passed between layers in a protocol stack implemented by the cell, the method comprising:

• detecting a number of physical resource data units allocated to data passing through a physical layer in the protocol stack via one or more higher layers in the protocol stack;
• detecting a data throughput of the one or more of the layers of the protocol stack;
• calculating an average efficiency from the detected number of physical resource data units and the detected data throughput;
• normalising the average efficiency with respect to a predetermined efficiency so as to generate a normalised average efficiency;
• comparing the normalised average efficiency with a target threshold;
• and
• adjusting the operation of the cell if the normalised average efficiency differs from the target threshold by greater than a threshold amount.