Automated wireless coverage optimization with controlled overlap

Optimizing wireless networks represents a complex task, directly affecting quality, cost, coverage and capacity. In this thesis, we propose a new automated method of simultaneously maximizing coverage while minimizing interference, for a desired level of coverage overlap. The proposed method represents a novel approach in that it focuses on those network parameters that can be represented by continuous variables, and applies classical optimization methods. A new figure of merit for coverage, the coverage coefficient, is also introduced. Results are presented for the case of base station transmit power optimization. A sample network of 36 sites showed an average coverage coefficient improvement of approximately 47%. By determining the desired network coverage with a controlled amount of overlap, this method automatically decreases interference and thus improves network performance parameters such as C/I, Eb/Io, SINR, and BER.