Ecologically Inspired Load Balancing for LTE SON

Abstract

In an effort for reducing infrastructure configuration, operations and maintenance costs, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has standardized a set of functions called Self Organizing Networks (SON) from Releases 8 onwards. Mobility Load Balancing Optimization (MLBO) is one such SON feature that has recently attracted much interest. According to 3GPP, a successful MLBO algorithm must be capable of optimizing the radio and transport network loads. Unfortunately, the existing proposals have not been able to successfully address this requirement. Therefore, for the first time, this paper proposes an MLBO algorithm fully capable of optimizing both radio and transport network loads of an eNodeB. The underlying algorithm uses an ecologically inspired graphical theory for equitable resource/load distribution in a multi-resource, multi-class environment. Optimal load levels required for the stability of the eNodeB could be accurately estimated by the proposed eco-inspired graphical theory. Analytical proof and simulation results are provided for supporting the above argument.