Uplink-Oriented Deployment Guidelines and Auto-Optimization Algorithms for Co-Channel Small Cells In W-CDMA Heterogeneous Networks

The operation of wireless cellular networks can be efficiently supported by secondary small cells that are on-demand deployed in traffic hotspots within the coverage area of the primary macro-cells. This study defines deployment guidelines and auto-configuration algorithms that enable the co-existence of both the primary and the secondary cell tiers under mutual interference. Focusing on the more complex uplink communication mode, all active user-to-base-station transmissions are assumed to share the same communication channel whereby a minimum predefined signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) is required for each transmission to be successful. To this end, solutions to the problems of base station placement, cell coverage optimization, and target SINR adaptation are discussed, as well as their compatibility with downlink-oriented deployment guidelines. The analytical framework is accompanied by realistic 3GPP-compliant simulations of a network deployed in Dublin, Ireland.