UMTS Call Drop Analysis

ZTE University

Content

Definition of Call Drop Reasons of Call Drop Analysis of Call Drop Parameters of Call Drop Case of Call Drop

Type of Call Drop Definition

Call termination not through the normal hang up process, that is dropped calls. Tow types of call drop definition:

Definition of drive test indicators Definition of network management indicators

Definition of Drive Test Indicators

The definition of drive test:

Call drop rate= Number of call drop times/Number of call setup success times Number of call setup success times+1:After the Alerting message is received

Definition of Drive Test Indicators

Number of call drop times+1:(Air interface signaling at the UE side)

The Connect ACK message is not received but the System Information message is received. After the Connect ACK message is received, RRC Release message received and the reasons is Not Normal. After the Connect ACK message is received, any of the CC Disconnect, CC Release, CC Release Complete message received and the reasons is Not Normal.

Definition of Drive Test Indicators

number of call setup success times+1

UE Voluntarily Initiated Signaling Release

Definitions of Network Management Indicators

The definition of the network management: CSRabrelTriggedByRNC*100% CS _ CDR CSRABSetupSuccess CSRabrelTriggedByRNC+1:(Iu interface signaling at the RNC side)

When the RNC send the Iu Release Request or RAB Release Request message to the CN.

Definitions of Network Management Indicators

RNC RAB RELEASE REQUEST CN

RNC

CN IU RELEASE REQUEST

Counters of Call Drop Reasons

Release Type Counter C301230315 C301230316 C301230317 Reason Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, Repeated Integrity Checking Failure Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, Release due to UE generated signalling connection release Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, Radio Connection With UE Lost Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, timer TRELOCoverall expiry Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, Failure in the Radio Interface Procedure Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, O&M Intervention Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, Release due to Overload Control Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, Unspecified Failure Iu connection release request by UTRAN for CS domain in cell, UTRAN Generated Reason

C301230318
Iu Release C301230319 C301230320 C301230321 C301230322

C301230323

Counters of Call Drop Reasons

Release Type

Counter

Reason

C301230361 C301230362 RAB release C301230363

RAB release number request by UTRAN in cell for CS domain,RAB pre-empted

RAB release number request by UTRAN in cell for CS domain,Release due to UTRAN in cell Generated Reason RAB release number request by UTRAN in cell for CS domain,Iu UP Failure RAB release number request by UTRAN in cell for CS domain,Release due to Overload Control RAB release number request by UTRAN in cell for CS domain,Unspecified Failure

C301230364
C301230365

Content

Definition of Call Drop Reasons of Call Drop Analysis of Call Drop Parameters of Call Drop Case of Call Drop

Call Drop Reasons

Poor Coverage Unconfigured Neighbor Cell Handover Interference PSC Confliction Engineering Error

Poor Coverage

Service Type

Requirement of RSCP (dBm)

Requirement of Ec/Io (dB)

AMR12.2K
CS64K PS384K HSDPA

-105
-100 -95 -90

-13
-11 -10 -8

RSCP and Ec/Io threshold for different services

Poor Coverage

The decision whether it is problem of uplink or downlink poor coverage is based on the power of dedicated channel before call drop. UL Poor Coverage:

TX power reaches the maximum UL BLER is poor NodeB report RL failure

TX power reaches the maximum DL BLER is poor If the RSCP and Ec/Io of the cell with the best coverage are poor, you can infer that the coverage is poor.

DL Poor Coverage:

Scanner:

Unconfigured Neighboring Cell

Missed neighbor cell. Removal of key neighbor cells caused by combination of macro diversity. Untimely update of the external cell information.

Unconfigured Neighboring Cell

Handover

The handover process is incomplete

Radio Environment becoming bad, UE can not receive the Active Set Update
UE Measurement Report (1A event) RNC

Active Set Update

Active Set Update Complete

Handover

Ping-pong Handover

In a short time, UE send different Report for delete or add cell A

UE Measurement Report (1B event, Delete cell A) Active Set Update (Delete cellA) Measurement Report (1A event, Add cell A) Active Set Update (Add cell A)

RNC

Interference

Reasons for Pilot Pollution:

Cross-cell coverage of high Node-B Node-B in ring layout Signal distortion caused by street effect or strong reflection

Interference

Judgment of DL interference:

CPICH RSCP of the active set is large than -85dBm Ec/Io is lower than -13dB

Reason of DL interference:

Pilot pollution Unconfigured neighboring cell

Interference

Judgment of UL interference:

The average RTWP of an idle cell exceeds -100dBm The max RTWP is around -90dBm

Reason of UL interference:

Intra-RAT interferences Inter-RAT interferences.

Case-Interference

UL interference = -93(dBm)

Case-Interference

PSC Confliction

When analyzing such call drop, check Cell ID in the call drop signaling besides PSCs because the neighbor relation is identified by Cell ID.

PSC Confliction

Cell A and Cell B are configured as neighbor cell for each other. Cell C and Cell B are not configured as neighbor cells for each other. Cell A and Cell C have the same PSC.

PSC Confliction

Cell A is the neighbor cell of Cell B. Cell D is the neighbor cell of Cell C. Cell A and Cell D have the same PSC.

PSC Confliction

Cell B and Cell D are not configured as neighbor cell for each other. Cell A is the neighbor cell of Cell B. Cell E is the neighbor cell of Cell D. Cell A and Cell E have the same PSC.

Engineering Error

Call drops caused by engineering error:

Reversely-connected antenna An excessive VSWR Multi-band antenna problem Leakage of signals from indoor distribution system Call drop caused by unsteady transmission

Case-Engineering Error

Content

Definition of Call Drop Reasons of Call Drop Analysis of Call Drop Parameters of Call Drop Case of Call Drop

Common Analysis Methods for Call Drop

Analyzing Call Drops by DT Analyzing Call Drops by Traffic Statistics

Analyzing Call Drops by DT

Call drop data Call drop spots Stability of the primary serving cell RSCP and Ec/Io of the primary serving cell Reproducing of problems with DT

Analyzing Call Drops by Traffic Statistics

The commonly used KPI analysis method is the TOP cell method, which means the top cells will be screened out according to certain index, then these top cells are optimized and then the top cells are selected again. After several repetitions, the related KPI can be speedily converged.

Multi-Dimension Analysis

Multi-dimension analysis is carried out from different perspectives. For the call drop problem, not only the call drop itself, but also related factors such as

access handover traffic statistics time RTWP

Multi-Dimension Analysis
Cell ID Cell Name CS Call Drop Rate [%] Number of Successful CS RAB establishment Total Abnormal Release Repeated Integrity Checking Failure Radio Connection With UE Lost Abnormal Iu Released TRELOCoverall expiry Number, by Cause Failure in the Radio Interface Procedure Unspecified Failure UTRAN Generated Reason Release due to UTRAN in cell Generated Reason Abnormal RAB Released Iu UP Failure Number, by Cause Unspecified Failure CS Traffic [Erl] PS Traffic [Kbyte] HSDPA RLC Throughput [Mbps] Max Cell Freq RTWP [dBm] Average Cell Freq RTWP [dBm] Max Cell Freq Tcp [dBm] Average Cell Freq Tcp [dBm] Max HSDPA users in cell Average HSDPA users in cell Max HSUPA users in cell Average HSUPA users in cell

Trend Analysis

Accident Analysis

Check the equipment alarm and system log of this period to find out hardware problems; Check the transmission of this period; Check whether the upgrade or cell blocking is performed during this period; Check whether there is an occasion with abrupt high traffic requirements such as a concert, game, or exhibition.

Ranking Analysis

Ranking analysis

Ranking analysis is carried out through classifying data into top N and bottom N data from a large amount of data.
Reason of failure for Handover Failure when getting the decision of handover from database Timeout for setup of service channel in handover Failure for decision of NodeB hard handover Failure when build the service channel Timeout for waiting for the handover of UE complete Other errors Basic channel switch, cannot find appointed frequency Basic channel switch, failed to allocate the resource Basic channel switch, failed to setup channel board Not enough resource for channel OVSF code is not engough Timeout for handover of UE The frequency is configured in the neighbouring cell list Overload for power allocation of the frequency for the service cell There is no idle channel in service cell There is not suitable frequency in service cell Different reason of failure for several service cells Can not find UE Abnormal release in CN Failure times 0 0 0 0 0 3104 0 0 0 0 0 29966 0 0 0 0 0 416 9 Percent(%) 0 0 0 0 0 9.24 0 0 0 0 0 89.16 0 0 0 0 0 1.24 0.09

Index 1 2 3 4 5 10 12 13 14 21 22 24 25 26 27 29 30 32 34

Cause-and-Effect Analysis

For a certain effect, the cause-and-effect analysis is performed to locate the causes that may result in the effect and to determine the influence of the causes. For example, the call congestion of a cell may be caused by insufficient capacity of the hardware, of the downlink, or of the uplink.

Content

Definition of Call Drop Reasons of Call Drop Analysis of Call Drop Parameters of Call Drop Case of Call Drop

Optimization Methods for Call Drop

Engineer optimization:

Directional angle, downtilt, position of Antenna, type of Antenna, Transmit power of BS, position of BS, new BS.

Radio parameter optimization:

Time to Trigger, CIO, threshold of enabling/disabling Compression Mode, Maximum transmit power of DL RL, Threshold of Interfrequency and Inter-system.

Time To Trigger
Abbreviated Name
Description

TrigTime[MAX_INTRA_MEAS_EVENT]
This parameter indicates the time difference between having detected the event generation and reporting the event. Only when the event generation is detected and still meets all requirements of event triggering after Time to trigger, the event can be triggered and reported. The larger the value is, the stricter the judgment is for the event to be triggered. The parameter should be set according to the actual requirements. Sometimes, if it is set too large, the quality of calls may decrease. (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 160, 200, 240,320, 640, 1280, 2560, 5000)ms UE Event Report Parameters for CPICH Ec/No: [200,640,320,320,200,200, 320]ms UE Event Report Parameters for CPICH RSCP: [200,200,200,200,200,200,200]ms Detected Set Measurement Parameters for CPICH Ec/No: [200]ms Detected Set Measurement Parameters for CPICH RSCP: [200]ms

Range and Step Default Value

Time To Trigger (TTT) refers to the interval between the detection and reporting of events (1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D). The setting of TTT has an impact on the promptness of handovers.

Cell Individual Offset

Abbreviated Name
Description

CellIndivOffset
An offset is allocated for each cell being monitored. The offset can be positive or negative. Before the UE judges whether an event occurs, adds the offset to the measurement result. If the PCPICH uses a positive offset, the UE sends the measurement report just like PCPICH is x dB better than the actual case. Or, if the PCPICH uses a negative offset, the PCPICH report is limited. When the cell individual offset is used, the corresponding cell is possibly (at least temporarily) the target cell of the handover or removed from the active set. OMCR: [-10, 10] dB, step 0.5 RNC: D=(P+10)*2, [0, 40] 0dB

Range and Step Default Value

A higher value of this parameter results in easier soft handovers, more UEs in the soft handover state, and more used resources. A lower value results in more difficult handovers. The CIO has an impact on the non-best cell. In detail, the CIO is effective for 1a events in neighboring cells and effective for 1b events in cells to be deleted.

Threshold of Enabling/Disabling Compression Mode

Abbreviated Name
Description

ThreshUsedFreq[MAX_INTER_MEAS_EVENT]
This parameter indicates the absolute threshold that is required to be configured for event 2b/2d/2f (used when judging the quality of the currently used frequency. CPICH RSCP: [-115, -25] dBm, step 1dBm CPICH Ec/No: [-24, 0] dB, step 1dB UE Inter-frequency Event Report Parameters for CPICH Ec/No: [-24,-13, -24,-13,-24,-8]dB UE Inter-frequency Event Report Parameters for CPICH RSCP: [-115,-95,-115,-95,-115,-80]dBm

Range and Step Default Value

The compression mode is used in inter-frequency and inter-system handovers. The compression mode is enabled before the handover. Currently, the compression mode is enabled by the 2D event and disabled by the 2F event. The measurement can be RSCP or Ec/Io. By default, the RSCP is currently used.

Maximum Downlink Transmit Power of Radio Link

Abbreviated Name
Description

MaxDlDpchPwr
This parameter indicates the maximum downlink DPCH transmission power. When performing the downlink inner loop power control, the new transmission power must be smaller than or equal to the configured DPCH Maximum DL Power. If the newly computed transmission power is larger than the configured DPCH Maximum DL Power, make it equal to the configured DPCH Maximum DL Power. [-35, 15] dB, step 0.1 dB

Range and Step

If call drop occurs frequently in a cell due to coverage problem, increase the maximum downlink transmit power of services. However, a user in the edge area may consume great transmit power, which affects other users and reduces the downlink capacity of the system. If users fail to access a cell due to heavy traffic, consider changing the value of this parameter to a smaller value.

Maximum Downlink Transmit Power of Radio Link

Conversational Conversational Conversational Conversational Conversational Conversational Conversational Conversational Streaming Streaming Streaming Streaming Streaming Streaming Streaming Streaming Interactive Interactive Interactive Interactive Interactive Background Background Background Background Background

DL 3.4kbps Signaling(AM): 0 dB DL 13.6kbps Signaling:0dB DL WAMR 6.60~23.85kbps: 0dB DL 64kbps (PS Conversational Video): 3dB DL NAMR 4.75~12.2kbps: 0dB DL CS 28.8kbps: -6dB DL CS 32kbps: -4dB DL CS 64kbps: 3dB DL CS 14.4kbps: -7dB DL CS 28.8kbps: -6dB DL CS 57.6kbps: -4dB DL CS 64kbps: 3dB DL PS 16kbps:-4dB DL PS64kbps: 1dB DL PS384kbps: 4dB DL PS128kbps: 2dB DL PS 8kbps:-8dB DL PS 16kbps:-4dB DL PS64kbps: 1dB DL PS384kbps: 4dB DL PS128kbps: 2dB DL PS 8kbps:-8dB DL PS 16kbps:-4dB DL PS64kbps: 1dB DL PS384kbps: 4dB DL PS128kbps: 2dB

Maximum Downlink Transmit Power of Radio Link

Streaming Interactive Interactive Interactive Interactive Interactive Background Background Background Background Background Streaming Streaming Streaming Streaming Streaming Interactive Interactive Background Background Streaming Streaming

DL CS64kbps: 3dB DL PS 1.2Mbps: 4dB DL PS 3.65Mbps: 4dB DL PS 7.2Mbps: 4dB DL PS 10.1Mbps: 4dB DL PS 14.0Mbps: 4dB DL PS 1.2Mbps: 4dB DL PS 3.65Mbps: 4dB DL PS 7.2Mbps: 4dB DL PS 10.1Mbps: 4dB DL PS 14.0Mbps: 4dB DL PS 1.2Mbps: 4dB DL PS 3.65Mbps: 4dB DL PS 7.2Mbps: 4dB DL PS 10.1Mbps: 4dB DL PS 14.0Mbps: 4dB DL PS 17.6Mbps: 4dB DL PS 21.096Mbps: 4dB DL PS 17.6Mbps: 4dB DL PS 21.096Mbps: 4dB DL PS 17.6Mbps: 4dB DL PS 21.096Mbps: 4dB

Threshold of Inter-system handover

Abbreviated Name
Description

Thresh[MAX_RAT_MEAS_EVENT]
This parameter indicates the absolute threshold of the UTRAN cell quality that UE uses to judge event 3a. The range and unit of the parameter relate to the measurement quantity of UTRAN system. CPICH RSCP: [-115, -25] dBm, step 1dBm CPICH Ec/No: [-24, 0] dB, step 1dB UE Event Report Parameters for Own System CPICH Ec/No: [-6,-24,-24,-24] UE Event Report Parameters for Own System CPICH RSCP: [-95,-115,-115,-115]

Range and Step Default Value

When the measured value of inter-system neighboring cell signal exceeds the specified threshold, handover is triggered. If you set this parameter to a small value, handover is triggered ahead of time. If you set this parameter to a great value, handover is delayed.

Timer and Counter Related to Call Drop

Name
T312 Connected N312 Connected T313 N313 T314 T315 N315 T309

Description
T312 of connection mode, that is, the time when the UE waits for L1 synchronization indicator when the special physical channel is set up N312 of connection mode, that is, the number of synchronization indicators that the UE should receive continuously from L1 before the special channel is set up successfully Waiting time after the DPCCH channel set up in CELL_DCH mode loses synchronization Maximum number of lost synchronization indicators that the UE receives continuously from the L1 Time of cell update, existing in T314-related radio bearer when wireless connection fails Time of cell update, existing in T315-related radio bearer when wireless connection fails Maximum number of synchronization indicators that the UE receives continuously from L1 in T313 activated state Waiting time after initiating requests to access other RATs, such as GSM

Value Range
(1..15)s (1, 2, 4, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000) (0..15)s (1, 2, 4, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200) (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20)s (0,10, 30, 60, 180, 600, 1200, 1800)s (1, 2, 4, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000) (1..8)s

Default Value 1s

3s 20 4s 30s 1 3s

Content

Definition of Call Drop Reasons of Call Drop Analysis of Call Drop Parameters of Call Drop Case of Call Drop

Neighboring Relation Adjustment

Reason

High call drop rate caused by improper neighbor list configuration The call drop rate of the TRI135W-1 cell corresponding to RNC1 in Libya is always around 3%, and no hardware alarm is generated. The cell coverage is mainly on the sea.

Description

Neighboring Relation Adjustment

Neighboring Relation Adjustment

After the neighbor relation is adjusted, the CS call drop rate of TRI135W-1 decreases from 3 to 1.3%.

Unconfigured Neighboring Cell

74

Unconfigured Neighboring Cell

Main parameters:

Cells in the system The cell with SC 9 is in the detection set and cannot be added to the active set when the quality of the serving cell with SC 74 is extremely poor. This is a typical unconfigured neighboring cell. Adjust the neighbor relation: Add the cell with SC 9 to the neighbor list of the cell with SC 74. In the same test, the cell with SC 9 is in the active set of the serving cell with SC 74. When the signal cell with SC 9 is strong enough, the UE hands over from the serving cell to the cell with SC 9.

Troubleshooting process:

Solution:

Result:

Unconfigured Neighboring Cell

9

74

74

Soft Handover Parameter Optimization

Reason:

Low handover success rate because of improper soft handover parameter configuration

Description:

The success rate of the handover from sector 1 (SC 436) of the Shuqian Lu site to sector 2 (SC 434) of the Meihuacun hotel is low. This area is within the Shuqian Lu section. Soft handover 1a/1b event handover threshold, trigger time

Main parameters:

Soft Handover Parameter Optimization

The signal quality of the Shuqian Lu section is poor and unstable because there are overpasses in this section, Because the comparative threshold decision algorithm is used, a cell with poor signal quality may be added to the active set if the 1a threshold is excessively high. If the RNC sends the ActiveSet Update Command message to instruct the UE to enter this cell, the soft handover may fail because the radio link cannot be set up due to poor and unstable signal quality of this cell.

Soft Handover Parameter Optimization

Adjust the 1a/1b event handover threshold and trigger time of cell 436. Lower the 1a event handover threshold and shorten the trigger time to ensure that the cells with good signal quality can firstly enter the active set. Raise the 1b event handover threshold and extend the trigger time so that the cells are not deleted too early due to drastic signal deterioration.

Soft Handover Parameter Optimization

Result

After the parameter optimization, cell 434 of the BS-1 (Meihuacun hotel site) can be added to the active set quickly and is not deleted too early. According to the drive test result from more than 100 times of handover tests, the success rate of the handover between the BS-2 (Shuqian Lu site) and the BS-1 (Meihuacun hotel site) increases greatly.

Data Configuration Optimization in 2G/3G Handover

Reason

Call drop because of incorrect data configuration When the 2G/3G handover tests are performed at the boundary of the 3G network, the handover from the 3G network to the 2G network succeeds in the west to east direction, but the handover fails in the east to west direction.

Description

Main parameters

BSC ID, LAC, NCC, and BCCH of the 2G neighboring cell

fail 2G

3G

Data Configuration Optimization in 2G/3G Handover

Troubleshooting process

Because the handover from 3G network to 2G network fails, you should firstly check whether 2G neighboring cells are configured. If all 2G neighboring cells are configured, go to the next step. Record whether the 2G Sagem UE starts the compression mode when the signal quality of a 3G UE is lower than the threshold for starting the compression mode, and record the CI of the 2G cell where the compression mode is started. You can find that the UE starts the compression mode after the preceding step is performed. The signaling is as follows:

Data Configuration Optimization in 2G/3G Handover

However, after the UE starts the compression mode, the repositioning fails. The signaling is as follows:

And the cause of the repositioning failure is as follows:

According to the preceding signaling analysis, you can infer that the UE does not recognize the BSC of the 2G cell during the 3G-to-2G handover. In this case, the failure may be caused by unconfigured BSC ID or LAC.

Data Configuration Optimization in 2G/3G Handover

Solution:

Check the BSC and LAC of the target 2G cell on the CN. You can find that the LAC is not configured. Then, reconfigure the LACs of all 2G neighboring cells on the CN. After the data is configured again, all 3G-to-2G handovers succeed. In the 3G-to-2G handover, the BSC ID, LAC, NCC, and BCCH of 2G neighboring cells must be configured in the 2G neighboring cell database of the OMCR and on the CN.

Result:

Suggestion for similar problems:

Call Drop Case-Handover

Call Drop Case-Handover

Delete Cell 51 and Cell 53

Call Drop Case-Handover

Report e1A to add cell 51 and Cell 53 into Active Set after 0.4 second

Call Drop Case-Handover

Report e1a to add cell 51,64,53,52 to Active Set

Call Drop Case-Handover

Call Drop Case-Handover

Continue report e1a to add stronger cells to Active Set But UE cannot receive the AcitiveUpdate message because the poor signal of the cells in ActiveSet.

Call Drop Case-Handover

Call Drop Case-Handover

Call Drop Happened