TD-SCDMA Network Automatic Monitoring System Solution

1 Introduction
TD-SCDMA is the first international communication standard proposed by China to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on June 29, 1999 and adopted. After 8-9 years of industrial development, large-scale test networks have been established in 10 cities including Beijing, and the large-scale verification and testing phase before commercial use has begun.

At the same time, we can also see that as a new industry chain, TD-SCDMA still has many weak links compared with the mature 2G industry chain. Among them, terminal instruments, especially the road test instruments that help optimize analysis, have always been a relatively weak link in the industry chain, which once restricted the development of the TD-SCDMA industry.

As one of the largest 2G wireless test solution providers in China, Zhuhai Century Dingli Communication Technology Co., Ltd. has been committed to the research and development of TD-SCDMA road test instruments since 2006 and has made great progress in network test instruments. Its traditional TD-SCDMA road test instruments have entered the centralized procurement list of China Mobile and have been widely used in various test networks, playing an important role in the development and construction of TD-SCDMA networks. In addition, in response to the continuous demand for network testing during the development of the TD-SCDMA industry, Zhuhai Dingli has developed the TD-SCDMA automatic monitoring system PilotFleet on the original mature 2G wireless test platform, providing a more powerful means for network optimization, maintenance and performance testing.

Automatic monitoring is a network testing method currently widely used by operators. It uses a data acquisition unit (RCU) to replace the traditional test method of test engineers + test computers + test terminals. By placing the data acquisition unit on taxis, high-speed buses, ships and other means of transportation, the control center sends test instructions to it, so that the data acquisition unit can automatically record the test data and upload it in real time through a wireless modem. The monitoring center can monitor and count the test situation in real time, and automatically generate network quality assessment and analysis reports, thereby realizing fully automated processing of test data, which well makes up for the shortcomings of traditional road testing in human resources, equipment calls, and data collection volume.

2 Introduction to PilotFleet Automatic Test System

PilotFleet is a PC/server-based fully automatic monitoring system independently developed by Zhuhai Dingli (see Figure 1), which mainly consists of the following three parts:

Figure 1 Pilot Fleet system result topology

(1) RCU: Remote acquisition unit, which realizes automatic acquisition, recording and uploading of test data. Its components are as follows:

●The test module supports TD-SCDMA/HSDPA testing and is widely used in various experimental networks.

●Embedded with the industry's mainstream GPS chip to record geographic information in real time.

● Built-in wireless modem based on GPRS/EDGE or CDMA1X to upload test data in real time and ensure that TD-SCDMA network resources are not occupied when uploading test data, so that the test can more truly reflect the current status of network quality.

●Built-in memory card to realize real-time data storage and backup.

● Built-in MOS evaluation module, using MOS test system based on PESQ algorithm, is more conducive to simulating users' real feelings about network quality.

●Support VideoPhone and VideoStreaming testing.

(2) Monitoring unit: Fully WEB-operated, simple to operate, easy to control, supports Google Earth map display, and realizes geographic (GIS) presentation of network quality. As long as you are connected to the Internet, you can monitor the test status of the RCU anytime and anywhere, and configure the test plan, control the test behavior, and collect test result statistics for the RCU.

(3) Service: The core part of the system is divided into three services: data, statistics, and voice evaluation. It can be integrated into one PC or installed independently on three PCs to achieve functions such as centralized storage of test data, real-time decoding statistics and uplink MOS value calculation, automatic report generation and delivery, and automatic alarm delivery.

PilotFleet system can support simultaneous monitoring of up to 256 3-module RCUs, provide all-weather large-scale testing and monitoring for TD-SCDMA wireless networks, and save relevant test data in a centralized manner. The test services supported by Fleet include basic voice, HSDPA testing, data service (Attach, PDP activation, Ping, FTP upload and download, HTTP, E-mail) testing, value-added service (SMS, MMS, WAP login refresh, ringtone download) testing, voice quality evaluation testing (PESQ), VideoPhone testing and protocol analysis (H.324 protocol), VideoStreaming testing and protocol analysis (RTSP and RTCP protocols), etc., covering all current mainstream test services, and its test KPI indicator definition fully complies with the requirements of the latest ETSI specifications.

3 Application and Features of PilotFleet

In view of the current TD-SCDMA network construction, the PilotFleet automatic monitoring system is mainly used in the following aspects:

(1) PilotFleet is suitable for loading and stress testing of TD-SCDMA networks

PilotFleet has a synchronous testing function, which can control multiple modules in multiple RCUs to initiate voice or data services at the same time, and can be used to verify the access performance of the network. At the same time, through the application of multi-module RCU and centralized operation, it can easily complete the stress test of network capacity, breaking through the shortcomings of the original method in personnel deployment, equipment deployment, and complex and time-consuming control operations.

(2) PilotFleet is suitable for centralized monitoring of TD-SCDMA network quality

At present, TD-SCDMA's experimental network is distributed in 10 different cities. The traditional testing method requires a large number of professional test engineers, drivers and test vehicles to go to various places for testing. The collected data is highly dispersed and difficult to manage centrally. PilotFleet can automatically collect data by deploying a large number of RCUs in 10 cities. Massive test data can be uploaded to the operator headquarters in a centralized manner. From the statistical distribution point of view, it can more truly reflect the actual quality of the network, so that the operator's relevant personnel can fully understand the network quality status of each TD-SCDMA test network without leaving home, so as to easily grasp the overall situation of TD-SCDMA network construction.

In addition, through the centralized analysis of the data uploaded on each experimental network, the network quality of each region can be compared horizontally, which is conducive to the mutual learning of network optimization experience in various regions, thereby improving the optimization level of the entire TD network and improving the network quality.

(3) PilotFleet is suitable for trend analysis of network quality

PilotFleet centrally manages test data and can provide operators with data storage and statistics on an annual basis. By comparing and analyzing historical data, it is helpful for operators to compare network quality development trends vertically, create conditions for proactive network optimization, and improve the overall network service level and quality.

(4) PilotFleet is suitable for multi-network benchmarking testing

In addition to TD-SCDMA testing, PilotFleet's original mature platform can also simultaneously collect network data of different standards such as GSM, GPRS, EGPRS, UMTS, HSDPA, CDMA, cdma20001X, EVDO, etc., to achieve QoS evaluation of different services of different operators, which is conducive to operators learning from the construction and optimization experience of mature networks and providing first-hand data and information for network investment and planning.

4 Conclusion

The emergence of PilotFleetTD-SCDMA automatic monitoring system has filled the gap in my country's TD-SCDMA automatic test instruments. Its fully automated data collection, statistics, reporting and management functions have saved a lot of manpower and material resources for network operators, allowing network optimization engineers to be freed from heavy testing work and concentrate on optimizing and analyzing network quality, greatly improving the TD-SCDMA network optimization process and thus enhancing the overall network quality of TD-SCDMA.

With the continuous development of TD-SCDMA network construction, the PilotFleet automatic monitoring system will gradually evolve, making full use of the advantages of the massive data it collects and continuously conducting data mining to achieve automated, expert intelligent optimization; using massive data to verify the results of network planning, iterating to continuously improve network quality, improve planning level, and increase system capacity; combining with the data of core switching network elements to more accurately and specifically discover problems and make optimizations; combining with the wireless network management system platform to provide integrated, unified, and convenient macro and micro management and control of wireless networks.