An experimental system for verifying topology changes in mobile communication networks

Automatic Configuration Management (CM) parameter change assessment, the so-called Self-Organizing Network (SON) verification, is an important enabler for stable and high-quality modern mobile communication networks. However, it also presents a new set of challenges. While improving network stability and resolving unexpected conflicts caused by parallel configuration changes, SON verification can have trouble coping with very dynamic networks that exhibit frequent topology changes. Such changes can be, for example, due to energy saving features which try to maximize the energy efficiency of a mobile network by adapting the topology to the network traffic. The experimental system presented in this paper demonstrates a new paradigm for handling such changes. It extends the currently available SON verification principles by providing a solution for the assessment of the impact of topology changes and for correcting them, in case the changes lead to degraded performance. The system includes a wide variety of visualization capabilities, including the various network states, user behavior, and performance statistics.