Methods and apparatus for evaluating base station efficiency in a network

At least one processor configured to evaluate base station efficiency in a network:

• a first module for obtaining, from a plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the cell performance measurements include a transmitted carrier power value and a dedicated channel (DCH) power value for each of the plurality of base stations, wherein the first module for obtaining is configured to receive, from the plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the receiving includes at least one of:
• receiving cell performance measurements in real time, receiving averaged cell performance measurements from each of the plurality of base stations periodically, or receiving cell performance measurements upon a fulfillment of a triggering event;
• a second module for generating, by a network management system, a plurality of cell efficiency coefficients for each of the plurality of base stations by processing the obtained cell performance measurements;
• a third module for determining if at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station from at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients;
• and
• a fourth module for transmitting at least one network modification suggestion, wherein the at least one network modification suggestion is based on the at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients used in determining the at least one inefficient base station upon a determination that at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
• a first set of codes for causing a computer to obtain, from a plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the cell performance measurements include a transmitted carrier power value and a dedicated channel (DCH) power value for each of the plurality of base stations, wherein the first set of codes further comprises codes for causing a computer to receive, from the plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the codes include at least one of:
• codes for receiving cell performance measurements in real time, codes for receiving averaged cell performance measurements from each of the plurality of base stations periodically, or codes for receiving cell performance measurements upon a fulfillment of a triggering event;
• a second set of codes for causing the computer to generate, by a network management system, a plurality of cell efficiency coefficients for each of the plurality of base stations by processing the obtained cell performance measurements;
• a third set of codes for causing the computer to determine if at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station from at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients;
• and
• a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to transmit at least one network modification suggestion, wherein the at least one network modification suggestion is based on the at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients used in determining the at least one inefficient base station upon a determination that at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for obtaining, from a plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the cell performance measurements include a transmitted carrier power value and a dedicated channel (DCH) power value for each of the plurality of base stations, wherein the means for obtaining further comprises means for receiving, from the plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the means for receiving includes at least one of:
• means for receiving cell performance measurements in real time, means for receiving averaged cell performance measurements from each of the plurality of base stations periodically, or means for receiving cell performance measurements upon a fulfillment of a triggering event;
• means for generating, by a network management system, a plurality of cell efficiency coefficients for each of the plurality of base stations by processing the obtained cell performance measurements;
• means for determining if at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station from at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients;
• and
• means for transmitting at least one network modification suggestion, wherein the at least one network modification suggestion is based on the at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients used in determining the at least one inefficient base station upon a determination that at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a communications module for:
• obtaining, from a plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the cell performance measurements include a transmitted carrier power value and a dedicated channel (DCH) power value for each of the plurality of base stations, wherein the obtaining includes at least one of:
• receiving, from the plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements in real time;
• receiving averaged cell performance measurements from each of the plurality of base stations periodically, or receiving cell performance measurements upon a fulfillment of a triggering event;
• a network efficiency module for:
• generating, by a network management system, a plurality of cell efficiency coefficients for each of the plurality of base stations by processing the obtained cell performance measurements;
• and
• determining if at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station from at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients;
• and
• wherein the communication module is further operable for:
• transmitting at least one network modification suggestion, wherein the at least one network modification suggestion is based on the at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients used in determining the at least one inefficient base station upon a determination that at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station.

A method for evaluating base station efficiency in a network, the method comprising:

• obtaining, from a plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the cell performance measurements include a transmitted carrier power value and a dedicated channel (DCH) power value for each of the plurality of base stations;
• generating a plurality of cell efficiency coefficients for each of the plurality of base stations by processing the obtained cell performance measurements, wherein the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients further comprises three coefficients derived from processing the obtained transmitted carrier power value and the dedicated channel (DCH) power value for each of the plurality of base stations, and wherein the three coefficients are p, q, and r, and wherein the processing further comprises computing the three coefficients p, q, and r, that minimize the absolute value of the expression
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• wherein Ec represents the DCH power value and Ior represents the transmitted carrier power value;
• determining if at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station from at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients;
• and
• upon a determination that at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station, transmitting at least one network modification suggestion, wherein the at least one network modification suggestion is based on the at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients used in determining the at least one inefficient base station.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a communications module for:
• obtaining, from a plurality of base stations, cell performance measurements, wherein the cell performance measurements include a transmitted carrier power value and a dedicated channel (DCH) power value for each of the plurality of base stations;
• a network efficiency module for:
• generating a plurality of cell efficiency coefficients for each of the plurality of base stations by processing the obtained cell performance measurements, wherein the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients further comprises three coefficients derived from processing the obtained transmitted carrier power value and the dedicated channel (DCH) power value for each of the plurality of base stations, and wherein the three coefficients are p, q, and r, and wherein the processing further comprises computing the three coefficients p, q, and r, that minimize the absolute value of the expression
• E
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• or
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• p
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• r
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• wherein Ec represents the DCH power value and Ior represents the transmitted carrier power value;
• and
• determining if at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station from at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients;
• and
• wherein the communication module is further operable for:
• transmitting at least one network modification suggestion, wherein the at least one network modification suggestion is based on the at least one of the plurality of cell efficiency coefficients used in determining the at least one inefficient base station upon a determination that at least one of the plurality of base stations is an inefficient base station.