Self-Organized Network (May 2016)
Abstract—In the form of a literature review, this outline is a brief outline of the intricate, yet fundamental elements of Self Organized Network (SON). The author takes an in-depth account of research studies and basic writings of this telecommunications platform and weighs in on the writings of subject matter experts. In doing so, findings indicate that the technological demands that are placed on telecommunication networks is directly related to the economic chain of supply and demand. Indirectly, there is are environmental concerns that are ignored in meeting such demands that address waste and emissions. While SON may fix some technological issues that affect the devices themselves, other issues are questionable and at risk of being less desired. This outline is a critical analysis and overall scope of the basic ideologies and intricacies of SON.
Index Terms—Self Organized Network (SON), capital expenditures (CAPEX), operational expenditures (OPEX), centralized SON, hybrid SON, distributed SON, fractional frequency reuse (FFR), soft frequency reuse (SFR), full frequency reuse (Full-FR), hard frequency reuse (HFR), internet of things (IoT), self configuration, self optimization, self-healing, node management and network management systems (NMSs),
INTRODUCTION
T
He telecommunications industry has evolved immensely in the last twenty years. From pagers to two-way pagers, from cellular phones to smart-phones, the marriage between society and the world of technology has placed demands on networks that the general populous could not fathom. Few could conceive a small television in their pocket or even the phenomenon of social media, giving any person with internet access a voice, a platform, no matter how inept or extreme their opinion is on any issue. Self-Organized Network (SON) is, potentially, the ultimate multimedia container platform on which millions of end-users who not only have the ability to access a plethora of information, but secondarily, able to communicate with each other. Thus far, network functionalities are commonly found in 3GP, a multimedia format that was developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Yet, in most recent years, the latest multimedia format of SON promises to meet the technological demands that corporations supply to businesses and every kind of end-user.
The products and services that telecommunications engineers have been forced to succumb to is an ever-increasing demand for more. The need for more access, faster service, clearer pictures, more captivating video seems to be infinite. Yet, it has pressured the engineering of these products and services into a zone that has demanded an increased performance level while accommodating variegated devices needs for a more streamlined network. Hence, mobile networks are required to function on a SON. SON is defined as what is essential for today’s complicated cellular networks to configure, organize, optimize performance, and then provide self-healing capabilities when faults occur.
This computer-scientific spatial that facilitates our virtual ability to connect, is not to be confused with the scientific, neurological concepts of a self-organized network. In fact, it is important to denote that such a term is commonly used in various industries, even in business and marketing. However, computer-based terms are often congruent to the biological, neurological, and anatomical terms that are used in science such as the word, virus, indicative of sick or dysfunctional in some capacity. According to referenced researchers used in this manuscript, they all agree that one of the multifarious elements of SON is that it has a property of healing. Therefore, taking notice of this property of healing, this too is a term that can be considered scientific, and to some, theological. Making this comparison of terms is a vital acknowledgement that has the potential to foster an understanding of SON in a way that may be considered more tangible and conceivable. More importantly, the functionality, the benefits, setbacks, economic demands, and environmental issues that computer-based commodities bring should be considered when technological demands are met. Well established infrastructures find themselves, once again, in a position of transitioning their networks onto the latest technology of multimedia devices. Understanding that making such adjustments provides for an improved audio/video packet that allows telecommunications resellers to capitalize on all of the computer-based capabilities that SON allows. As the fundamental and ideological characteristics of SON are pondered over in this, particular literature review, this paper will critically analyze referenced sources as a limited scope of a widely used tool.
Literature Review
Benefits of Self-Organizing Networks (SON) for Mobile Operators
The significance of Osterbo and Grandalen’s contribution to the matter of SON is how their research measures the benefits of this multimedia format. When considering the pros and cons of SON, they explore the involvement of capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX). In reference , researchers indicate that the implementation of SON onto the corporate infrastructure will potentially allow for a savings in expenses, allowing companies to remain competitive within their markets. Therefore, the scope of this reference focuses on the following benefits and functions of SON, particularly within cellular or mobile networks:
Reduced installation and costs.
Reduced OPEX due to reductions in manual efforts
Reduced CAPEX due to [optimization]
Improved user experience.
Improved network performance.
The aforementioned benefits that SON offers to various markets and corporations in order to enhance their technological offerings has more of an economic theme than an occupational breakthrough. Although it holds the integrity of providing the customer a superior product or service, some may question the priorities of society, as a whole, and how corporations perpetuate the a “state-of-the-art” existence for every gadget, service, and access to the latest inventions that money can afford. The telecommunications industry and any other computer-based market has joined many other industries in focusing on their bottom line.
Reference also makes note of the architectural options that are provided for SON, for which there are three. Based the figure below, those three options consist of the centralized, distributed, and the hybrid architectures. While there are three distinct choices in architecture, this article weighs in on the pros and cons of each while also suggesting the more than one option can function simultaneously within the same network. Making the choice of which framework to choose has to do with the how the algorithms function within a network. It also speaks to network management, the presence or absence of third-party communications, and other functional elements of SON architectural options. Moreover, SON architecture options always include the three main elements of network management system (NMS), element management system (EMS), and operational support system (OSS). Making the SON architecture decision means setting up parameters in the configuration of the SON network or even with the implementation of SON within an existing network. It is just a matter of what is most cost-effective to a corporation, making certain that the OPEX and CAPEX are limited and kept at a minimum. Please see the three different types of SON architectures in Figure 1 as it displays the configuration of each one, mapping out how the system communicates with each of its elements.
Figure 1 The three SON architecture options (NMS = network management system, EMS = element management system, OSS = operational support system).
Remembering that SON is a collection of procedures (or functions) for automatic configuration, optimization, diagnostication, and healing of cellular networks, it is important to denote the methodological solutions within SON functions. Therefore, the researchers of reference provide their own evaluation of SON, providing illustrations of frequencies and the reuse of soft frequencies. The two figures below are the diagrams that illustrate frequency measures and soft frequency reuse.
Figure 2 Illustration of Full-FR, HFR, and FFR for the simple case of base stations using omnidirectionall antennas.
Figure 3 Example of soft frequency reuse.
Without addressing all of the elements of SON and how they function according to reference , making note of frequency measures is an example of the complexities of such a network.
Cellular/Mobile Telecommunications: Self Organising Networks, SON
Computer-science researchers agree that SON is a network-solution that removes the many complexities that other protocols warrant. In reference , the overview of SON is discussed as an alternative to LTE and other technologies that have proven to be a much more complex alternative. Unlike these other network options, SON is a self-monitoring-performance network. In other words, SON does not require the manual requirements that other networks employ. And, much like reference , optimization of a network includes stand-out developments of CAPEX and OPEX.
Being a network that is specifically designed to accommodate mobile and cellular communications, SON is reviewed in their discussion, identifying the basics to include the background, the configuration, the optimization, and the healing. Similar to the previous reference, SON is defined as a set of use cases that govern a network including the planning, set up and maintenance activities. While this definition is similar, it does not include the glorious, self-monitoring factors in the way that other researchers define and describe SON. However, yet, each element is thoroughly acknowledged and discussed.
In their brief description of SON, self configuration, self optimization, and self-healing are the focus for SON areas. Self configuration means that once the network is installed, it becomes automated, needing little-to-none-at-all manual installation or intervention. Therefore, minimal human effort is required, therefore, OPEX is optimized for the corporation. Additionally, skill requirements for installers are lessened, also allowing for savings in CAPEX that often make investments in training and development for employees.
Moreover, reference briefly discusses how self optimisation is implemented to routinely render the best possible operating traits in the network as a whole. It also imparts the self-healing components of SON, where developments of dysfunction manifest over time. This trait is able to cover the errors of a system, giving it time to recover the proper functions to restore premier performance. It is similar to the desktop’s operating system to update itself without manual intervention.
The benefits of self-organizing backhaul networks
Reference provides an overview of SON as it relates to the alternatives in backhaul networks as opposed to the other references addressing the SON solution for cellular and mobile networks. Use of the term, backhaul, allows for a different aspect of network technology to be addressed in understanding the notion and extensive capabilities of SON in a similar way that it streamlines mobile networks. These researchers view SON as a much-less-complicated solution to node management and network management systems (NMSs). Yet, it is deemed as an effective, more cost-effective solution as well.
The use of SON for backhaul automation is met with the challenge of providing an increased performance level of network automation, addressing the need for a faster implementation. These researchers illustrate this challenge in the following figure, Figure 4.
Figure 4 The backhaul challenge
In order to really meet their challenge, they ascribe to rendering the key elements to backhaul. Those elements include build, assure, optimize and maintain. Each element is a concept that is inclusive of planning for SON implementation, execution of the plan to build this self-monitoring network in phases, establish its protocols for self-healing, then making sure that operators experience an optimum performance. This plan of action is illustrated in the following diagram. Providing an improved backhaul, researchers agree that SON technology is an automation plan that works for the mobile network and backhaul automation in a similar way.
Figure 5 Key operational areas for SON concepts
Modeling the Internet of Things, Self-Organizing and Other Complex Adaptive Communication Networks: A Cognitive Agent-Based Computing Approach
In this reference, , environmental issues are addressed as it pertains to computer devices emitting carbons that put people at risk. While it does not address SON specifically, it does address the demands of more complicated networks that require increased manual implementation and extended periods of powered-on networks.
Using modeling for the internet of things (IoT), this research study measures carbon emissions based on how often machines are shut-down and different scenarios of when they are not. Architectural allowances are made when measuring the effectiveness of modeling. See the following figure as an illustration of how emissions can be measured.
Figure 6 MASMINC Architecture
Conclusion
The implementation of SON to accommodate cellular networks and backhaul automation has been the theme of this literature review. Computer science researchers have found this new protocol to be cost-efficient and effective, benefitting the OPEX and the CAPEX. From understanding the basics of SON to the breakdown of its varied architectural configurations, researchers agree that it is the multimedia solution to replace the complexities of networks that accommodate 3GPP policies. Moreover, it also accommodates node management and the implementation of backhaul automation. Either way, it proves to be the number one solution in the latest technologies of its kind. In addition, it resolves the issues that computer-based technologies, which are hard to measure, of putting the environment at risk. Using the MASMINC architecture to measure the carbon emissions that come from the demand of complex networks is resolved when SON is implemented. Future possibilities surrounding SON remains to be seen and constant monitoring by subject-matter-experts is essential for its performance. With a proclamation of self-sufficiency and self-monitoring to provide optimum performance is something that should be closely monitored for years to come.
Acknowledgment
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Bibliography
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