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4.1 General presentation of the software

Atoll is a software tool multi-technologies of radio planning makes to support work of a mobile operator of radiocommunication during all the life cycle of the network. Among its characteristics:
Advanced Options of design of network: performance of calculation, support of networks in layers, automatic planning of codes/frequencies, support of various technologies of access and support of network multi-technologies (GSM/UMTS e.g.);

Flexible and open Architecture: support of the general formats of files and databases of other software; Atoll consists of a principal core and optional modules as module UMTS, the module of calibration of models of propagation, the automatic module of planning of the codes and the module of connections FH.

Principal window

Figure 4.1 principal Window of the software and topographic chart of Oran

1- Principal zone where the user can visualize the numerical chart as well as the established sites and the charts of calculations, or a basic table of data (e.g. of the sites or the antennas);

2- Zone of exploration to three miters: the first `Donnes' comprises the elements of the network and various calculations and predictions, the second `Go' indicates the components of the numerical chart and the data which it contains (model digital ground, basic infrastructures, heights, population, etc) and the last `modules' contains the various models of propagation including the standard model; 3- Observer of events to post calculations in the course of execution.

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4.2 Stages followed in a project of planning of a network UMTS

To create a new project and to choose UMTS/WCDMA like technology;

To import the geographical data; To create the network by using the models of stations. To define the parameters of the sites, the transmitters and the radio operator parameters specific to UMTS; To gauge the model of propagation used; To define a zone of calculation and parameters of calculation (resolution, models, properties of the receiver); To create and carry out the studies of cover (by transmitter, level of signal, zones of overlapping); To define the parameters of traffic multiservices (services, types of mobility, user profiles, environments); To create the charts of traffic by environment; To define the neighbors of each cell manually or automatically; To obtain instantaneous sights of the network by simulating the traffic; To proceed to the studies specific to UMTS based on the load of the network; To allocate the codes of confusion to the cells; To check and validate the results by data of mobiles of test.

4.3 Preparation of the data

Creation of a new project To start, the user must create a new project. The software gives the choice among technologies which it supports. For our case, technology to be chosen is `UMTS WCDMA' (fig. 4.2).

Figure 4.2 Creation of a new project UMTS WCDMA

Importation of the geographical data To be able to work on a real chart, the user must import the geographical data of the ground to be planned (height of the ground, type of the sursol, etc). The mobile telephone operators, whose Mobilis, use a digital chart of model of ground DTM obtained from the INCT (national institute of cartography and teledetection). Once the digital model of the charged ground, of the called useful extra informations vectors can be charged, like the roads, the streets, the highways, the airports, the rivers, the lakes, etc Geographical information makes it possible the software to carry out calculations of propagation and the user to better choose the site of the sites. An example of the topographic chart of Oran with some vectors is the subject of figure 4.1. Definition of a site At the time of the addition of a new site, several parameters are to be defined: its geographical position (longitude and latitude), its height and the type of equipment used. The radio properties are introduced into the definition of the
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transmitters since the sectors of a site do not have necessarily the same configuration.

Figure 4. 3 Dfinition des proprits d'un site

Definition of a transmitter A transmitter characterizes each sector of a site. One can define his name, the site to which it belongs, the distance which separates it from its site (in general null), its losses in emission and reception, its factor of noise, its height, the model of the antenna used (selected among the beforehand definite models), its azimuth, its downtilt (slope), the carrying one that it uses, maximum size of active the set, maximum power and powers of the channels CPICH, SCH and CCHs, its neighbors, her state of activity and the model of propagation used during calculations.

Figure 4.4 Definition of the properties of a transmitter

Definition of an antenna One can define for an antenna his profit, his diagram of radiation (vertical and horizontal) and his waveband of work. These data can be obtained starting from the datasheet of the antenna. In the definition of a transmitter, its antenna is selected among the antennas thus defined.

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Figure 4. 5 Dfinition des proprits d'une antenne

Calibration of a model of propagation The models of propagation must be gauged to correspond as well as possible to the real environment. It is necessary to put on the ground some sites whose sites represent all the mediums of the zone of planning (urban, suburban, urban dense, and rural) and the various conditions of propagation, and to proceed, thereafter, with the calibration of the model of propagation for each type of propagation medium by carrying out measurements on trajectories belonging to the coverage areas of the principal lobes of the antennas. Then the results of measurements are compared with the results of calculations of the model of propagation to gauge and the values of the various factors as those of weakenings for each type of sursol are fixed. In the software Atoll, a model of standard propagation based on the model Cost-Hastened proposes a general formula with several factors to be defined. The choice of the factors can be done manually but it is of a great complexity. The software tools for planning (including Atoll) include an automatic function of calibration: while entering a file of results of Figure 4. 6Facteurs de calibrage d'un modle de propagation measurement carried out on a way and by indicating the broadcasting transmitter used and the model to be gauged, the software calculates the coefficients of the general formula automatically.

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Automatic figure 47 7 Calibration of a model of propagation Figure 4.8 Weakenings per class of sursol

Considering nonthe availability of the measuring devices for a network UMTS we were restricted to use a model gauged on the Algerian territory for a frequency of 1800MHz. Distribution of the environments The principal factor which distinguishes the environments is the density out of buildings. The type of chart `class of sursol' is that which gives the most information on the urban density. Thus, on the chart of the types of sursol, the town of Oran is divided into three areas indicated on figure 4.9.

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Figure 4.9 Distribution of the environments dense Urbain, Urbain and Suburbain

Distribution of the sites While basing itself on calculations of the 3.1.1 which give the number of sites for each environment, and by applying a grid similar to that of figure 3.4, we obtain the distribution of the sites on the zone of planning. See fig. 4.10.

Figure 4.10 Distribution of the sites

Choice of a zone of calculation

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The zone of calculation is a polygon drawn on the chart defining the transmitters concerned with required calculation. This makes it possible to reduce the computing time and to obtain more precise results. The transmitters used for calculation will be those of which the ray of calculation (value to be defined) reached the zone of calculation. Note: for the captures of screen of various calculations and predictions which will follow, only the dense urban area will be represented for a better illustration of the results. The same stages quoted for this zone are repeated for the zones urban and suburban.

4.4 Studies of prediction

Predictions of the cover by level of field This prediction makes it possible to consider the power received by a mobile in each point of the zone of calculation. The objective of this study is to detect possible blind zones and to try to eliminate them while proceeding to modifications from the configuration from the sites and transmitters like a displacement from site, a change of the azimuth of a transmitter, an adjustment of power or a slope (tilt) of an antenna.

Figure 4.11 Prediction of the level of field

Prediction of the Ec/Io report/ratio of pilot channel CPICH The mobile uses the Ec/Io report/ratio of the CPICH to decide which cells which surround it offers a better quality of signal. To cure the possible defects met, of the changes similar to those quoted above are useful.

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Figure 4.12 Prediction of the Ec/Io report/ratio of pilot channel CPICH

Prediction of the state of Handover The knowledge of the states of Handover is very important since it facilitates the choice of the cells close to each cell for then defining them in the RNC. The neighbors of a given cell are the cells which can take a mobile in situation of Handover with it. Moreover, by using the results of this prediction one can support the handover in the places which did not benefit from it by decreasing the value from the threshold from handover or by leading other cells to cover them.

Figure 4.13 Prediction of the state of Handover

4.5 Specific analysis

The Atoll software gives the advantage of knowing the various radio operator parameters in a point of the chart. By choosing the type of study analyzes specific, in a project UMTS, one can use the miters: `Profile', `Reception' and `Results' to estimate the level of signal of the received CPICH
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while the miter `Analyze ACE' gives a prediction on the quality (Ec/Io) of the CPICH and the state of connection for the mobile. Reception and profile compared to a given transmitter This study makes it possible to draw the ellipsoid of Fresnel between the EU and the selected transmitter. The utility of this information appears if an obstacle hides the EU completely. The most obvious solution to this problem is to seek a site higher than that selected for this site. Another information is the level of signal coming from this transmitter with a calculation based on the model of propagation used.

Figure 4.14 Reception and profile in a point compared to a given transmitter

Better levels of reception With Atoll, the visualization of the level of signal of each active transmitter in the network is possible. By selecting only one carrying one can choose other cells candidates to belong to the ACE.

Figure 4.15 Better levels of reception in a point

Active set analyzes This miter posts the reception of the CPICH in terms of the elements of the ACE. Such a study checks the availability of a service (characterized by necessary Ec/Io) for a type of mobile (characterized by its power of emission and maximum size of the ACE). The cells represented by gray sticks are the members belonging to the ACE while the white sticks represent those which do not observe the conditions of the ACE.

Figure 4.16 specific Analysis of Active the Set

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4.6 Automatic allowance of the codes of confusion

Figure 4.17 automatic Allowance of the codes of confusion

To ensure a sufficient separation between the cells using the same code of confusion, a planning of the codes is necessary. The user can choose the parameters taken into account by the algorithm of allowance:
Cells close to a cell: if this parameter is chosen, these cells will have different codes two to two.

The neighbors of each cell can be manually or automatically defined. The handover can be done only between one cell and its neighbors; Second neighbors (close to the neighbors): one can impose to them, they also, of the different codes; Criteria on Ec/Io: all the cells having a Ec/Io report/ratio of their pilot in a margin (to be defined) compared to that of a certain cell cannot have the same code with it; Distance from re-use: it is the minimal distance which can separate two cells having the same code.

If the algorithm does not arrive to an allowance which fills all the criteria, it generates an error. The user must redefine the criteria with more tolerance.

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