Automated testing of congestion within the UMTS cellular network

Masters Thesis Seminar Claes Kaarni Prof Riku Jntti 7.3.2007 Tietoliikennelaboratorion neuvotteluhuone SE208b

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CK

Agenda
Introduction

Current Situation
Network architecture Congestion Areas

What was done?

Conclusions Next Steps

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

Introduction
As the amount of 3G subscribers grow, grows the need for more accurate network dimensioning and more efficient congestion control in UMTS cellular networks

congested situations will be unavoidable in dense population areas

operators want to optimize their network dimensioning to minimize costs effective congestion control functions and mechanisms direct savings for the operators

Verification of congestion control functions and mechanisms is demanding Can implementation of this be tested with automation?

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

Current Situation
We have an automated system capable of many network scenarios Automated system capable of repetitive test case execution The automation tool has several interfaces with several elements acting in a testing environment
Interface with testing UE

Interface with the RNC

Interface with attenuator system Interface with a Load Generator

The focus of the thesis was to study what is needed for testing congestion control with this tool

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

Network architecture Release 99

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

Congestion Areas within the scope of the thesis

Code Tree congestion
Shortage of spreading codes in the Code Tree

BTS HW congestion
Shortage of BTS internal processing resources

Iub transmission capacity congestion

Shortage of transmission capacity between BTS and RNC

Air interface congestion

Shortage of interference capacity in the air interface

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

What was done?

1/2

In the thesis it was studied what is needed for testing congestion control with the automation tool in particular The work was carried out by studying two congestion control features
One for real-time traffic management One for non-real-time traffic management

The main principle of the congestion control features:

Downgrading or releasing NRT users Releasing lower priority RT users

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

What was done

2/2

The testing was concluded possible in a following manner:

The automation tool verifies test case wanted to be executed The automation tool might perform precondition changes into the test environment A specific load is created into a cell with the load generator The automation tool starts to penetrate defined connections into the congested network After execution logs are collected and analyzed

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

Conclusions
Testing of congestion control possible with the automation tool
Testing possible to some extent but not at same detail as in manual testing

Testing of congestion control of real-time traffic was possible on a high level of detail
Real-time services have stringent requirements Simple and clear procedures

Testing of congestion control of non-real-time traffic was possible but is considered as more demanding
Scheduling flexible

A big challenge to verify that correct connection is chosen as candidate for making room for the higher priority connection wanted to be established

2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

Next Steps
The work was focused on stationary mobile scenarios
Mobility issues a great area of interest
Soft and softer handovers Inter-RNC handovers, Inter-frequency handovers, Inter-system handover

The work relies on searching for errors from user-perspective and network internal signaling
Monitoring of network counters should be developed as a new dimension for testing

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2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CKa

Thank you !
References: Review of RNC Interfaces and Architecture, by Mikko Nieminen, training material, 2006 Internal document about automation system, 2006

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2007 Nokia

Masters Thesis Seminar.ppt / 2007-03-07 / CK