Abstract: A method of energy saving is applied to a mobile communications network comprising at least two radio access technology systems (102; 104) having a plurality of base stations (108-118). The method comprises the steps of: assigning (136a; 136b) respective priorities to the radio access technology systems; and an energy saving server (136a; 136b) instructing, on the basis of the priorities, a selected radio access technology system to reduce the operational state cells in a group of cells. This reduction occurs if the selected radio access technology system and/or another radio access technology system is able to maintain service to served mobile terminals.

Abstract: There are provided measures for realizing multi-level self-organizing network coordination, including self-organizing network coordination procedures. Such measures exemplarily comprise communication of a notification for self-organizing network coordination, which notifies an action of at least one self-organizing network function at a lower management level, from the lower management level of a self-organizing network to a higher management level of the self-organizing network, either before the action is actually performed or after the action has actually been performed, and coordination of the notified action in terms of self-organizing network coordination at the higher management level.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for SON and/or non-SON function coordination control have been provided. Specifically, embodiments have provided solutions for a second-party (e.g., operator), via an OAM interface like Itf-N or human interface, to control and manage a first-party (e.g., vendor) SCF, to ensure that the SCF makes coordination decisions on interacting SON functions according to the operator's requirements, even if the internal logic of the SCF is still not visible to the operator.

Abstract: A method of carrying out a self-configuration process in respect of a network element in a cellular wireless network including the steps of: generating first configuration parameters at a domain manager level; determining required second configuration parameters which are not to be generated at the domain manager level; notifying a network manager level of the first configuration parameters and the second configuration parameters to cause this level to generate and provide the second configuration parameters and to provide them to the domain manager level; and using the first configuration parameters and the second configuration parameters at the domain manager level to configure the network element.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described by which carrier aggregation in a radio network is controlled on the basis of a group of cells which can be aggregated. For example, carrier aggregation group information regarding the group of cells which can be aggregated can be established, transmitted, read and the like, access control policy regarding the group of cells in the radio network which can be aggregated can be set. Moreover, a method and an apparatus is provided by which carrier aggregation in a radio network is controlled, wherein an access control policy regarding a part of the radio network is set.

Abstract: A network management function of a public land mobile network is provided with one or more notifications of the extent of progress of an operation, from another management function of the public land mobile network, in accordance with one or more input parameters. The operation is performed remotely from the network management function.

Abstract: Data mined in a radio access and transport network is used to create or adapt SON rules and SON parameters. More particularly, the analytics of “Big Data” mined in the network are used to generate new or modified SON rules and/or parameters, in realtime, in an automated way (i.e., substantially without human interaction in creating/updating the rules and/or parameters). A system and method for creating or adapting a rule in a SON network, is provided including a first network management layer (which can be, but does not have to be, the network management layer of a “Big Data” system), an element management system layer, and at least one network element. In this embodiment, the system is configured to: obtain data mined from the SON network and/or other sources; perform analytics on the mined data; and automatically create a new rule or adapt an existing rule, based on the results of the analytics performed.

Abstract: A method of managing the operation of a network element in a communications system, the method comprising: receiving performance indicators by an optimizing function; combining together the performance indicators to produce an achievement indicator comprising weighted components of the performance indicators; using the achievement indicator to determine an optimum setting of at least one parameter value related to operation of the network element; applying the parameter value to the network element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for SON and/or non-SON function coordination control have been provided. Specifically, embodiments have provided solutions for a second-party (e.g., operator), via an OAM interface like Itf-N or human interface, to control and manage a first-party (e.g., vendor) SCF, to ensure that the SCF makes coordination decisions on interacting SON functions according to the operator's requirements, even if the internal logic of the SCF is still not visible to the operator.

Abstract: An Agent Apparatus is described including a Detecting Device for detecting the execution of an automated function within a communication network. The Agent Apparatus further includes a Type Determining Device for determining the type of the automated function and a Writing Device for writing information representing the type of the automated function in a predefined storage area of a record carrier.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described by which carrier aggregation in a radio network is controlled on the basis of a group of cells which can be aggregated. For example, carrier aggregation group information regarding the group of cells which can be aggregated can be established, transmitted, read and the like, access control policy regarding the group of cells in the radio network which can be aggregated can be set. Moreover, a method and an apparatus is provided by which carrier aggregation in a radio network is controlled, wherein an access control policy regarding a part of the radio network is set.

Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism for power saving procedures to be conducted in transmission network nodes, such as base stations or the like, in a heterogeneous network environment. A transmission node is set to operate in a sensor mode for conducting traffic monitoring when an operation mode of the transmission node is an inactive state. Information necessary for the traffic monitoring by the transmission node based on detection of random access channel (RACH) signals of neighboring cells is provided. On the basis of results of the monitoring of RACHs of the neighboring cells, it is determined whether the inactive transmission node is to be reactivated.

Abstract: There are provided measures for realizing multi-level self-organizing network coordination, including self-organizing network coordination procedures. Such measures exemplarily comprise communication of a notification for self-organizing network coordination, which notifies an action of at least one self-organizing network function at a lower management level, from the lower management level of a self-organizing network to a higher management level of the self-organizing network, either before the action is actually performed or after the action has actually been performed, and coordination of the notified action in terms of self-organizing network coordination at the higher management level.

Abstract: A network management function of a public land mobile network is provided with one or more notifications of the extent of progress of an operation, from another management function of the public land mobile network, in accordance with one or more input parameters.

Abstract: A method of energy saving is applied to a mobile communications network comprising at least two radio access technology systems (102; 104) having a plurality of base stations (108-118). The method comprises the steps of: assigning (136a; 136b) respective priorities to the radio access technology systems; and an energy saving server (136a; 136b) instructing, on the basis of the priorities, a selected radio access technology system to reduce the operational state cells in a group of cells. This reduction occurs if the selected radio access technology system and/or another radio access technology system is able to maintain service to served mobile terminals.

Abstract: A method of optimizing data exchange in a communications network is provided. The method includes providing access to the network via a first radio access technology and a second radio access technology, and sending via the first radio access technology an indication to a subscriber station of an availability of the second radio access technology when the second radio access technology is switched off.

Abstract: A method of managing the operation of a network element in a communications system, the method comprising: receiving performance indicators by an optimising function; combining together the performance indicators to produce an achievement indicator comprising weighted components of the performance indicators; using the achievement indicator to determine an optimum setting of at least one parameter value related to operation of the network element; applying the parameter value to the network element.

Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism for power saving procedures to be conducted in transmission network nodes, such as base stations or the like, in a heterogeneous network environment. A transmission node is set to operate in a sensor mode for conducting traffic monitoring when an operation mode of the transmission node is an inactive state. Information necessary for the traffic monitoring by the transmission node based on detection of random access channel (RACH) signals of neighboring cells is provided. On the basis of results of the monitoring of RACHs of the neighboring cells, it is determined whether the inactive transmission node is to be reactivated.

Abstract: A communications system comprises a managing entity responsible for handling measurement reports and a network node, the managing entity being capable of sending condition-related parameters to the network node and the network node being capable of controlling measurement reporting in a communications system by: receiving a measurement report from a mobile terminal; determining from the measurement report whether it is a type of measurement report for which condition-related parameters need to be applies; wherein if the measurement report is of the type requiring the condition-related parameters to be applied, applying a load-related condition and a security related condition and if both are satisfied, providing the measurement report to the managing entity.

Abstract: A SON algorithm is described in which performance targets are defined and evaluated. The evaluation of a performance target includes using or setting an evaluation period defining a time period over which the performance target is evaluated and using or setting an evaluation frequency defining how often the performance target is evaluated. The performance targets are used for optimising a configuration of a mobile telecommunication system.