Self-organizing network

A computer program product embodied on a nontransitory computer accessible medium, which when executed on at least one computer processor, performs a method comprising:

• monitoring, by at least one electronic computer processor, performance measurement data indicative of performance of one or more cells in a group of cells in the network;
• monitoring, by the at least one electronic computer processor, trace data indicative of traffic statistics within the cells of the group;
• generating, by the at least one electronic computer processor, from the performance management data and the trace data, a plurality of key performance indicators each indicative of performance of an aspect of a cell in the group;
• processing, by the at least one electronic computer processor, the key performance indicators so as to generate a hotspot value indicative of general performance of the cell in the group;
• comparing, by the at least one electronic computer processor, the hotspot value with a threshold hotspot value, and if the hotspot value is greater than the threshold hotspot value, processing, by the at least one electronic computer processor, attribute data from the cells in the group so as to generate cause data indicative of a cause associated with the hotspot value exceeding the hotspot threshold value;
• generating, by the at least one electronic computer processor, from the cause data, recommendation data for modifying an attribute of the network;
• modifying the attribute of the network, by the at least one electronic computer processor, based on the recommendation data;
• and
• wherein said processing, by the at least one electronic computer processor, the key performance indicators so as to generate a hotspot value comprises:
• processing, by the at least one electronic computer processor, key performance indicators for each cell in the group so as to generate a respective hotspot value for each cell in the group;
• and
• wherein said generating, by the at least one electronic computer processor, the recommendation data comprises
• generating, by the at least one electronic computer processor, a recommendation package, which comprises
• recommendation data generated for each cell in the group of cells.

An apparatus for optimising a self organising network comprising a plurality of cells, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory;
• and
• at least one electronic computer processor coupled to said memory, said at least one electronic computer processor configured to:
• monitor performance management data indicative of performance of one or more cells in a group of cells in the network;
• monitor trace data indicative of traffic statistics within the cells of the group;
• generate, from the performance management data and the trace data, a plurality of key performance indicators each indicative of performance of an aspect of a cell in the group;
• process the key performance indicators so as to generate a hotspot value indicative of general performance of the cell in the group;
• compare the hotspot value with a threshold hotspot value, and if the hotspot value is greater than the threshold hotspot value, process attribute data from the cells in the group so as to generate cause data indicative of a cause associated with the hotspot value exceeding the hotspot threshold value;
• generate, from the cause data, recommendation data for modifying an attribute of the network;
• and
• modify the attribute of the network based on the recommendation data;
• and
• wherein said process the key performance indicators so as to generate a hotspot value comprises:
• the electronic computer processor configured to process key performance indicators for each cell in the group so as to generate a respective hotspot value for each cell in the group;
• and
• wherein said generate the recommendation data comprises
• the electronic computer processor configured to generate a recommendation package, which comprises
• the electronic computer processor configured so recommendation data is generated for each cell in the group of cells.

An apparatus for optimising a self organising network comprising a plurality of cells, the apparatus comprising:

• a performance management data monitoring unit comprising at least one electronic computer processor and at least one memory coupled to said at least one electronic computer processor, said at least one electronic computer processor configured to monitor performance management data indicative of performance of one or more cells in a group of cells in the network;
• a trace data monitor unit configured to enable said at least one electronic computer processor to monitor trace data indicative of traffic statistics within the cells of the group;
• a key performance indicator generation unit configured to enable said at least one electronic computer processor to generate, from the performance management data and the trace data, a plurality of key performance indicators each indicative of performance of an aspect of a cell in the group;
• a processor unit configured to enable said at least one electronic computer processor to process the key performance indicators so as to generate a hotspot value indicative of general performance of the cell in the group;
• a comparator configured to enable said at least one electronic computer processor to compare the hotspot value with a threshold hotspot value, and if the hotspot value is greater than the threshold hotspot value, process attribute data from the cells in the group configured to enable said at least one electronic computer processor to generate cause data indicative of a cause associated with the hotspot value exceeding the hotspot threshold value;
• a generator unit configured to enable said at least one electronic computer processor to generate, from the cause data, recommendation data for modifying an attribute of the network;
• and
• a modification unit configured to enable said at least one electronic computer processor to modify the attribute of the network based on the recommendation data;
• and
• wherein said processor unit is configured the key performance indicators so as to generate a hotspot value comprises:
• configured to process key performance indicators for each cell in the group so as to generate a respective hotspot value for each cell in the group;
• and
• wherein said generator unit comprises
• the generator unit configured to generate a recommendation package, which comprises
• the generator unit configured so recommendation data is generated for each cell in the group of cells.