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Copyright 2007 AIRCOM International All rights reserved ADVANTAGE, ASSET, CONNECT, DATASAFE, ENTERPRISE, NEPTUNE, ARRAYWIZARD, OPTIMA, OSSEXPERT, and WEBWIZARD are recognised trademarks of AIRCOM International. Other product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Microsoft Excel , .NET, Microsoft Office, Outlook , Visual Basic Windows, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Word are trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. This documentation is protected by copyright and contains proprietary and confidential information. No part of the contents of this documentation may be disclosed, used or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without the prior written consent of AIRCOM International. Although AIRCOM International has collated this documentation to reflect the features and capabilities supported in the software products, the company makes no warranty or representation, either expressed or implied, about this documentation, its quality or fitness for particular customer purpose. Users are solely responsible for the proper use of ENTERPRISE software and the application of the results obtained. An electronic version of this document exists. This User Reference Guide finalised on 24 August 2007. Refer to the Online Help for more information. This User Reference Guide prepared by: AIRCOM International Ltd Cassini Court Randalls Research Park Randalls Way Leatherhead Surrey KT22 7TW Telephone: Support Hotline: Fax: Web: +44 (0) 1932 442000 +44 (0) 1932 442345 +44 (0) 1932 442005 www.aircominternational.com
Contents
Chapter 1 What's New in ENTERPRISE? 7
What's New in Version 6.0? ............................................................................... 8
What's New in ENTERPRISE 6.0? .............................................................................. 8 What's New in ADVANTAGE 6.0?............................................................................. 14 What's New in ARRAYWIZARD 6.0? ........................................................................ 17 What's New in ASSET 6.0? ....................................................................................... 18 What's New in CONNECT 6.0? ................................................................................. 28 What's New in DIRECT 6.0? ..................................................................................... 50 What's New in OPTIMA 6.0? ..................................................................................... 54 What's New in RANOPT 6.0? .................................................................................... 62 What's New in WEBWIZARD 6.0? ............................................................................ 66
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CHAPTER 1
In This Section
What's New in Version 6.0? What Was New in Version 5.2.1? What Was New in Version 5.2? 8 69 93
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The number of object types with which scripts can be used has also been increased.
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You can select to exclude: Neighbour-related features such as neighbour planning wizard, neighbour list, and so on One or more desired technology streams (for example, GSM / UMTS / TDMA / TETRA Elements relevant to microwave planning, such as links, radios, microwave antennas and so on The excluded elements will not be loaded from the database and will not be available to you for use or file export, unless the project is closed and re-opened. Apart from the elements that are completely excluded from loading, you can also choose not to load the antenna masks at startup, as they consume great amount of memory and not all of them are used in each project. ENTERPRISE will only load the antenna devices, and the mask for each one will only be loaded when and if you try to access it. This load 'on demand' of the antenna masks leads to a significant improvement of the project loading time, especially for big projects.
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As you select each view, different detail for the required type is displayed in the grid display pane. The Grid Display Pane When you open an XML file in the XML Data Editor, the data in the file is displayed in the grid display pane.The Data Editor has extensive filtering capability allowing for quick and easy view of specific data. This picture shows an example:
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For all other columns, data of any type can be added or the column can be left blank (subject to ASSET XML import restrictions).
Power Users
In ENTERPRISE Administrator an optional new user type can now be created by the Super User and Regional Super Users. Power Users can create new users and add them to existing groups but cannot create new groups or edit permissions. The Super User and Regional Super Users can assign other users to this group. If you are a Super User you can select the user permissions that members of the Power Users group can have. These permissions determine the options accessible to the Power User from the Utilities menu, and they are set in the Power User Permissions dialog box:
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Example of the Optimiser Workflow dialog box in ADVANTAGE The Optimiser Workflow comprises a number of main options in the left hand pane, and each of these enables you to access a range of specific options that are displayed in the right-hand pane.
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Example of Plans and Delta Plans listed in the Plan Manager In the Optimiser Workflow, there are three viewing options for plans:
These options are visual 'filters' that help you to distinguish which Plan(s) you (or others) are working with. There is also an option to hand over the 'usage' of a plan from one user to another, and also (if required) an option to share the plan amongst more than one user.
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You can specify which parameters can be changed (for the cells that can be planned) during optimisation. It can be done for any or all of the planning mechanisms (Antenna/Power/Grid). All the current values of the network contained in the Plan All the constraints All the possible network parameter changes that may be considered in an optimisation You can also perform many kinds of Excel-like viewing operations, such as: Show/hide columns Sort ascending, descending Show All (rows) or Filter (only rows containing a chosen value) Action-Constraints that are set in the Site Database are always auto-populated into the Actions-Constraints dialog box when you create a plan. You then have the freedom to modify those constraints at that stage, if required. When you run an optimisation, the Optimiser reads the constraints exclusively from the ActionsConstraints dialog box, regardless of the original 'source' of the constraints.
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The Action-Constraints Templates (similar to the former Optimisation Profiles, now superseded) provide you with a quick and easy way of setting up Actions-Constraints so that they can be reused across all or some of your Plans. This flexibility enables you to specify the actions-constraints for any or all of the planning approaches: Antenna Power Grid (site location/configuration)
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HSDPA Enhancements
You can now model the control HSDPA channel by setting the HS-SCCH power as a percentage of the HS-DSCH.
In addition, when you run a simulation that models HSDPA, you can now specify to use Dynamic power allocation. In this case, HSDPA users are served either with the HSDPA Link power value or (if it is lower) the available power on the cell (in the Non-Dynamic case, all HSDPA users are served with the cell's HSDPA Link power value).
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Define different scenarios by using a combination of different services, terminals and traffic arrays Perform neighbour planning Use the Simulator to perform detailed analysis and generate reports of network performance
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When you create arrays, you can choose to base them on the prediction settings specified in the Site Database, or you can specify to use override values. The system to load files from the database is faster and much more efficient. The process is also totally deterministic. The prediction radius can be specified as any value, rather than from a list of predetermined values. This is the case for both metric or imperial units. Predictions can now be created (and used for arrays) at any resolution, regardless of the resolutions of the underlying map data. Smoothing options are available. Prediction files disk space is now much easier to manage. The files are automatically managed within ENTERPRISE, using a new caching algorithm.
Site Reports
When you use the Site/Node Reporter, the selections you choose will be stored automatically, so that the next time you use this dialog box, the previously selected items will appear by default. You can also export and import these selections using the User Settings import/export functionality. In addition, Property data can now be included in the reports, independently of network elements.
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You can also make more detailed changes. For example, you might want to set up displays that: Show building vectors, with the building height attribute used as a label:
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Include textual annotations, verbally indicating for example, the suitability of locations for cell sites, or areas of high density of users:
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You can make detailed changes to the display properties of vector features on the appropriate tabs for the feature. For example, this picture shows the available tabs for the shape of a polygon. Here, the colour of the shape will vary according to the value of the Users attribute:
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In the Table Browser, you can: Edit attribute values, by double-clicking the required value Search for details of specific features within a vector, by setting search criteria Highlight specific features within a vector, and if required centre them in the Map View window Create a new vector, based on the search results You can also display vector attribute information on the Map View window, using the Map Info Gadget. You can select which attributes are selected by double-clicking them:
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You can also set certain display properties for these attributes: Highlight the feature containing the attribute whose information you are displaying Display the attribute name in the information Display the name of the vector associated with the attribute information This picture shows an example, where the Highlight Feature, Display attribute names and Display vector name options have been selected:
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The Vector Manager has been enhanced in a number of ways. This picture shows an example of the improved Vector Manager:
A new toolbar has been added for adding and editing the different types of vector features - polygons, points, lines and text. You can create a new vector directly from the Map View window:
You can also open the Vector Manager directly from the Map View window:
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Specify that a radio can be used as part of a multi-radio link on the Configuration tab for the radio equipment:
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Model the appropriate 'n+m' branching losses for the multi-radio link radio equipment on the Loss tab for the radio equipment:
Configure antennas to support dual polarisation on the Info tab for the microwave antenna:
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For multi-radio links, you can specify: The radio configuration: the number of traffic links that the link will support (N), and whether one is used for protection (M). You can do this on the Info sub-tab of the General tab for a link:
The radio type and operating mode used across the traffic links. This is done on the Linkend Settings tab Radio sub-tab:
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The new link types can also be included in link range definitions, link reports, filters, XML imports and exports and interference analyses.
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Hub Enhancements
In order to improve the functionality of the point to multi-point and hub configuration, you can now perform the following tasks: On the Configuration tab for radio equipment, you can choose how the capacity for radio equipment is stored - either as a 'y by x' value (for example 2xE1, 8xE1) or as a single value (for example, 500 Kbps):
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On the Type tab for a carrier, you can view more information for carriers, such as the carrier capacity and carrier load (for example, the number of point to multipoint (PmP) links, the total capacity of these links and the remaining capacity):
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On the General tab for a hub, you can define the layout of a sector in more detail, in terms of - for example - the main antenna horizontal beamwidth and the sector beamwidth:
This will also appear in the link report. Create PmP links that are automatically assigned to the correct sector on a hub, based on the sector's arc, range and capacity limits.
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On the Mask tab, you can define a number of patterns and view these patterns using a radial view:
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Range Enhancements
Range settings have now been divided into two categories, which enables different planners to use different ranges. The range categories are: System Ranges - These ranges are available to all users in a specific project, and are typically defined by the administrator or another user with the correct permissions. User Ranges - These ranges are only available to a specific user, and are a personal series of ranges that only that user wants to use. You can create ranges in the Range Settings dialog box:
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Usability Enhancements
A number of enhancements have been made which have improved the overall usability of CONNECT. Link Database Enhancements The Link Database has been enhanced in a number of ways, so that you can now: Change the Property location at each linkend for a link, rather than having to recreate the link. You can do this using the Change Linkend Property button Reverse the linkends for a link, so that Linkend A becomes Linkend B and vice versa. You can do this using the Reverse button: .
You can also do this in the Height Profile, using the Reverse Profile button
View the individual antenna gain values at each linkend, rather than just the total antenna gain for both:
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Receive a clear warning indication on the Performance sub-tab (and the Message log) when there is a mismatch of radios, antennas or frequency between the linkends of a link:
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Set different polarisations on each leg of a back-to-back antenna passive repeater link:
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High/Low Conflict Wizard Enhancements The High/Low Conflict Wizard has been enhanced in a number of ways, so that you can now: Highlight a link that has been identified as having a conflict, and automatically locate it in the Link Database:
Edit links that have a conflict in the Link Database, then use the Re-run button to re-run the High/Low Conflict Wizard from the results page, rather than from the start:
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Interference Wizard Enhancements The Interference Wizard has been enhanced in a number of ways, so that you can now: Choose separate links to be analysed for interference ('victim' links) and separate links to be analysed as causing interference ('interferer' links), which reduces the time taken to analyse interference. The links are chosen on two separate pages of the wizard: For the victim links:
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Select which channel(s) on a link you want to analyse for interference (when analysing individual links only). This is done in the dialog box, which can be accessed from the Interference Wizard:
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Site Visibility Display Enhancement When displaying site visibility, you can now choose which height to use as the height of the receiving antenna - either the ground height + antenna height + clutter height or the ground height + antenna height + building height. You can select this in the Site Visibility Settings dialog box:
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You can add new modulation types, specifying the default Kn value and the bits per symbol.
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Based on the modulation types that you have defined, you can assign a modulation type to a piece of radio equipment, on the Configuration tab:
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This information will then be used if you choose to use the Approximation method for selective multipath fading:
The Modulation Type (Method) on the Signature Tab for Radio Equipment
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The modulation type is also used when you are defining the victim and interferer radio settings in the enhanced T/I Objectives Editor:
You can either select the radio equipment that uses a particular modulation type, or you can leave the radio equipment as Unknown and select a modulation type from the available list. The Interference Wizard will search for and use the most appropriate T/I objectives based on the information you provide here.
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Add multiple instances of subracks (up to the defined maximum) to a multisubrack, including duplicates:
Set a maximum number of racks that can be added to a cabinet or cabinet template:
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Data Migration Simplification The process for migrating data into DIRECT has been simplified through a number of measures: Node data has been rationalised Detail edges have been removed from the import process, and instead the required port information is now included in the segment and segment group data Edge groups are now automatically created for imported edges that do not already have an edge group IP addresses now require only one row in the database Remove TRP Import DIRECT 6.0 does not support the import of *.trp files, which were used to store transmission network planning data in versions of DIRECT earlier than 4.2. User-Defined Reports Advanced methods of reporting have been introduced. For more information, see Advanced Methods of Reporting on page 52. Additional Edge IDs As well as the ID name, you can now specify 1st and 2nd names for edges, on the General tab for the required edge:
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In the Organise Reports dialog box, you can: Create folders in which to store reports Create new reports, specifying: The report name The type of report The formatting file that will be used to create the report (for example, an XML Transformation file or a Crystal Reports file) The file type that will be used to store the report (for example, text (.txt) or XML (.xml) The associated viewer for the file type, which will enable you to view the report as soon as it is generated - this can be different to the file type, for example, you could view an XML file report in Microsoft Excel The element types and fields that will be included in the report
All reports are fully customisable, enabling you to create your own combinations of file types and viewers, and specify precisely what data fields you want a report to show. Organise the reports into different folders
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Element Aggregation
Element Aggregation enables a module data query defined at one element level (e.g. the cell level) to be run at parent element levels (for example, the BSC and MSC level) to return aggregated data. For example, if a query defined at the cell level returns traffic data for individual cells, the same query when run at the BSC level can be configured to return average or total traffic data by BSC. For example, consider the element hierarchy shown below: Network MSC BSC Cell In this hierarchy, a data query defined at the Cell level can be run at the BSC, MSC, and Network level. A data query defined at the BSC level can be run at the MSC and Network level, and so on. When the query is run at a parent element level, OPTIMA generates an aggregation query by enclosing the original query in an outer query. The outer query has: A SELECT clause that contains the parent elements, all date-time fields, and the aggregated counters A GROUP BY clause that groups the data by the parent elements and the datetime fields For example, supposing that your CELL element level query is: SELECT ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS.BSC, ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS.CELL, ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS.SDATE, ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS.ERLANG FROM ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS When the query is run at the BSC level, the query is modified to produce the aggregation query below. The aggregation functions applied to each counter are specified when the query is defined. SELECT BSC, SDATE, AVG(ERLANG) FROM ( SELECT ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS.BSC, ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS.CELL, ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS.SDATE, ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS.ERLANG
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FROM ERICSSON2G.CELLSTATS ) GROUP BY BSC, SDATE When Element Aggregation is used, the aggregated data is displayed in both the data grid and in the graph.
Alarm Enhancements
In OPTIMA 6.0, the Alarms functionality has been enhanced in the following ways: Alarms Explorer The Alarms Explorer main menu has been enhanced with the following changes: The Filters menu has been replaced by a new Selection dialog box where you will input parameters that appear in Data Explorer, Reports, and Alarms. A new Config menu has been introduced and the Vendor, Technology, Element Type, and Problem text options have moved under it. This picture shows the new Config menu:
A new Maintenance option has been introduced under the Config menu. This will launch a new screen to configure parameters required for Alarm Maintenance. You can specify the time period to keep the alarms in the database before it gets deleted.
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You can now save incomplete alarm definitions and edit them later. However, you have to specify the Information, Data and Threshold details. Alarm Wizard An Alarm Wizard has been introduced and it has the following benefits: Simple automated creation of an alarm definition. Alarm Thresholds: You can now define alarm thresholds based on parameters, rather than adding the threshold conditions directly into an alarm SQL. You can also assign a severity level to the thresholds. In OPTIMA 6.0, all thresholds on a given alarm has the same severity.
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Problem Text: You can now use pre-defined problem text instead of having to write your own problem text.
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Alarm Editor The Alarm Editor has the following enhancements: Integration with Data Explorer/Query Builder: Now, if you edit an alarm definition through the Alarm Editor, the Data Explorer/Query Builder is launched rather than the Alarms SQL Editor. This helps in simpler SQL construction. Problem Text: A new dialog box has been added so that you can add new problem text. You can add, edit, or delete problem text using this new screen. This picture shows an example of the new Problem Text screen:
Alarms Run History In the Alarms Explorer Viewer Pane, on the Run History tab, you can view alarm processing messages for the alarms that you have selected in the Alarm Definitions pane. This picture shows an example of the Run History tab for the alarms:
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Inspector Enhancements
In OPTIMA 6.0, the Inspector functionality has been enhanced in the following ways: New Graph Layout A new graph layout has been introduced in OPTIMA 6.0 in which separate counter and element selection trees replace the current single tree that lists every element under every counter. The trees are now displayed as separate tabs and this layout makes counter/element selection easier. This picture shows an example of the new graph layout:
Node Series Options A new Node Series option is added to the tree and graph popup menus. This option lists the series (counters) for the element node currently highlighted in the tree and enables you to change the following: Series Colour Series Axis Add and Delete maths functions displayed for each series
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Encodix Decoder
The Encodix NAS Message Decoder has replaced the existing NEPTUNE NAS Decoder which did not provide support for all messages.
Loader Enhancements
The following enhancements have been made to the loaders: TEMS .log files are now loaded directly - you no longer need to export to txt/fmt file RANOPT now supports log files from Rohde & Schwarz, ATIO, and ASCOM QVoice
Report Synchronisation
The following enhancements have been made to report synchronisation: Replay updating reports Plotting any parameter Plotting ENTERPRISE layers Map view screen shot Replay set position based on sample instead of position For each report in the Report Registry, you can select Allow Set Replay Position to enable report synchronisation for the report. Note : Only if the global report synchronisation option is selected then Replay Position will be allowed for those reports that have been enabled. The update navigates the report to the current timestamp in replay (synchronises the report with replay). Note : Only the Voice Summary report and Handover report supports this functionality.
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Installation Wizard
The Database window of the Installation Wizard has been modified to include the database server name. The default tablespace field is split into two tablespace fields: Result Tablespace Filter Tablespace
If a header has not been added to the comment, only the icon will be shown. You can choose to display the comment icon independently or just display the comment header as a text field on the Map View. You can right click on the comment to save or delete the comment. Map View Text This added as a new 'module type' in RANOPT, enabling you to create or re-use an existing module in order to display text on the Map View. This feature is very flexible and provides advance techniques to 'manage' the text on the map as well as to plot text for parameters not already added to the map, in other words, display Ec measurements but display Ec and Rx-Level as text over the measurements.
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WEBWIZARD Lite You can now use WEBWIZARD Lite to embed just the GIS component of WEBWIZARD into any HTML page. The layer tree, the GIS toolbars and the WEBWIZARD Explorer are not displayed. The GIS is controlled using customised JavaScript that interacts with the WEBWIZARD Lite JavaScript API. This means that a GIS capability can be easily provided for any web page and customised using bespoke HTML and JavaScript to match any requirements precisely. This picture shows an example of a web page created using WEBWIZARD Lite:
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Report Configuration Wizard For a Crystal Report to be displayed correctly with its buttons and controls within WEBWIZARD, it needs to have an XML file associated with it which governs how the report parameters are treated. Previously this XML file had to be created and edited with an editing tool but a Configure Wizard has now been provided to guide you through the process step by step. This picture shows the Configure Wizard Summary page:
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For UMTS optimisations that use the new Simulator and also consider Pathloss and/or Ec and/or Ec/Io metrics, you must specify a reference terminal on the Profile Settings page when defining a Configuration Profile:
This terminal may be 'service capable' and fully configured, or a 'measurement' terminal type without a traffic array and without services/bearers (and potentially with zero antenna gain, body loss and noise figure). UMTS optimisations are now even faster, as a result of the enhanced consideration of parameter loading, pathloss predictions and pixel-specific array generation (if applicable, for example based on vectors or sampling) as well as the new Simulator (if applicable). In addition improvements have been made to the Site Selection optimisation process. For simulation-based UMTS optimisations and Configuration Profiles restricted to vectors (or specific pixels, for example, drive test routes), the considered traffic arrays are now only limited by the Configuration Profile rectangular region. The vector (or pixel-specific) restrictions still apply to the generated arrays.
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You can now specify whether or not to consider the clutter/vector fading standard deviation in the Static Pathloss and/or Signal Strength calculations for Monte Carlo-based UMTS optimisations, using an option in the Settings tab of the Optimisation Parameters dialog box:
The final page of the Optimisation Wizard (the Optimisation Manager) has been re-designed:
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It also enables you to review any Delta plan (using the Delta Plan Manager) or the setup details (using the Optimisation Setup menu) while the Optimiser is running.
You can now access familiar ENTERPRISE options, such as the Reports menu or the Site Database and Pathloss Predictor toolbar shortcuts, from within ADVANTAGE:
Various other small user interface modifications have been made, for example, the information provided in the message log while the Optimiser is running and also when it stops has been improved. The User Reference Guide and Online Help have been re-structured and partially re-written based on internal and external customer feedback, to further enhance the ADVANTAGE user experience.
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DVB-H Support and Standard Long-Range Model DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting - Handhelds), the handheld version of the DVB-T standard, is a Broadcast technology (Downlink only) primarily aimed at providing a Digital TV service for Mobile handheld terminals. ASSET enables you to plan a DVB-H network. You can: Set up a Standard Long-Range propagation model Use the UMTS functionality to represent a DVB-H Single Frequency Network Run the Static Analysis to generate a (single frequency network) C/I array
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EV-DO Revision A ASSET has been enhanced to support EV-DO Rev. A. The changes for EV-DO (alias HDR) have resulted in new parameters for the EV-DO bearers (Data Offset), downlink parameters (new bitrates) and EV-DO sectors in the Site Database (MAC Indexes), as well as a new output array.
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Polygon Rendering Enhancements A number of improvements have been made to the way that vectors/polygons are displayed. You can now: Fill polygons using a different colour for each unique string attribute value:
In this example, three parts of the polygon are coloured pink to correspond to the string value ABC, one is coloured green to correspond to the string value DEF and one is coloured orange to correspond to the string value JKL.
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Select to have a constant filled polygon, which will not use any attribute values:
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MapInfo Filter Export When using Mapinfo Export, data can now be exported as Symbol Points.
Selecting Symbol points as shown above exports display filters as scalable font symbols, optionally with any of the following associated attributes: Object ID Object type Easting and Northing co-ordinates Decimal latitude and longitude co-ordinates These are set for each filter and for each visualiser. Symbol points are only available on filters and visualisers and are not available on other MapInfo property pages.
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Specify a successful % of prepaid calls on the Prepay Parameters tab for a PP node:
Specify a % of prepaid calls received at a transit node on the Isw Voice Traffic Parameters tab for an interswitch node:
Define internal network connections to PP equipment on the Network Connections tab for a PP node:
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Generate specific pre-pay traffic when generating interswitch traffic This picture shows a typical prepay network configuration:
Interswitch Enhancements
Several key enhancements have been made to interswitch routing: If you have set load sharing, DIRECT will now automatically readjust the percentages if an insufficient number of routes is found - for example, if you have set the sharing to be between 3 routes (33%-33%-33%) and only two can be found, the percentages will be adjusted to 50%-50%, rather than 66%-33%. This is particularly beneficial, since it means that routes are not duplicated. Important : As a result of this enhancement, only end-to-end (shortest path first) routing will make use of the interswitch default routing strategies. To provide a more accurate model of actual network routing functionality, you can now define multiple hops (with individual traffic percentage values) for a routing table option, and make use of a new routing algorithm for table-based routing:
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In addition to this: When defining POIs (Points of Interconnection) for external networks, you can now specify more than one POI per network, and also assign different percentages of traffic to each POI, and, within each POI, different percentages of incoming and outgoing traffic:
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The view that is created shows all the connections between equipment in that Property, as well as external connections. This view can also be created from the Region View of the Network Browser:
In the Detail View, you can choose which ports you want to view:
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You can now limit the number of nodes that are displayed, by choosing to display only those connected to a specific node:
The Create Route View has been refined, so that it now only displays edges that are part of the route, rather than all of the edges connecting equipment in the route. In addition, you can now create a route view from any edge in the Network Browser:
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Using the Arrange, Align and Edge options of the new Layout menu, you can now arrange your network elements in a variety of different ways, enabling you to create network views that are clearer and more closely aligned with your planning needs:
Some of the new options include: Arranging equipment at right angles, in groups of circles or based on an arrangement in another module. Aligning equipment along a central line, vertical or horizontal. Arranging the waypoints of edges at right angles, or deleting the waypoints completely to make the edges straight lines. This picture shows an example:
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Graph Options On the Axis tab of the OPTIMA Graph Options dialog box, you can now: Change the position of the x-axis border Hide the x-axis border
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Map Offset Manager An Offset Manager has been added to the Filter Manager, so that you can now create a map correction offset. This is very useful when the drive test data plotted on the Map View does not correspond to the actual route taken during the drive test, which normally happens when the coordinate system that the scanner used during the drive test does not correspond to the coordinate system of the Map View. This problem can be fixed using the Offset Manager, by offsetting the data to the actual route. This picture shows an example of the Map Offset Manager:
Include/Exclude Polygons You can now specify whether an area (polygon) should be included or excluded in a filter of drive test data. This is particularly useful if you want to limit the display/analysis of drive test data to a particular area within a filtered subset of data. For example, you may want to exclude a known area that has bad coverage or you may want to only include the area with bad coverage to ascertain the cause of the bad coverage. Usability Enhancements In previous versions of RANOPT, you may have used an existing module or requested a new module to be written. The end result was a long list of available modules, trying to support all possible ways of looking at measurements and trying to satisfy all requests - with you working with one or two modules at most, at any given time.
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With the latest usability enhancements, RANOPT is now parameter-driven and you have control over which parameters should be displayed and how they should be displayed. In effect, this enables you to construct your own windows and have full control. Replaying Data Previously in the older version of RANOPT, a Time Domain window manager was used to replay drive test data. In this version, you can use the replay buttons on the ENTERPRISE toolbar or the select the replay options from the Replay Menu to replay the drive test data by stepping through it or playing it back at various speeds. Using the RANOPT buttons on the ENTERPRISE toolbar, you can configure replay data settings. You can click the Position Replay Cursor button to go to a specific date in the drive test data file. You can click the Speed button on the ENTERPRISE toolbar to open a drop down sliding bar to change the speed at which the loaded file is played. You can replay data forwards, backwards and at various speeds. During replay, drive test data is synchronised, the displayed data is continually updated in any open display window, such as Map View window or tabular list. Layer 3 Message Window Enhancement In the RANOPT Administrator, in the Layer 3 Message Window, you can now view the vendor equipment messages as well as the layer 3 messages. New Workspace Window The RANOPT workspace is a window that can contain a maximum of five filters within RANOPT. Filters can be added or removed from the workspace. The first filter that is added to the workspace will be Active by default. This picture shows an example of the Workspace window:
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Enhanced Filter Manager The Filter Manager window has been modified so that the form is split into two with the name/description for the filter moved out of the general tab and added global fields. The current tabs available will be added on the second half of the window as shown below:
By clicking the button, a further search will give access to the following tabs: General, Operator/Equipment, and Carrier/Frequencies. After the filter has been created, the users will be given the option to Apply Only, Apply + Work Space, or Return(No Apply).
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Updated Report Registry In older versions of RANOPT, the Report Registry was used to create Report Definitions which used parameters. The Report Registry is now used to create parameters that can be displayed on the Charts, Grids and on the Map View. The tabs in the RANOPT Report Registry are Parameters and Reports. This picture shows an example of the Report Registry:
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New Parameter Selector Tool The Parameter Selector is a tool that is used to add or remove parameters to charts, maps and grids. The Parameter Selector is available from each Chart, Map or Grid window. The Parameter Selector Window will open with the list of filters in the workspace displayed with the active filters on top and highlighted in Bold and the inactive filters also available, but displayed in regular font. This picture shows an example of the Parameter Selector window:
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Support for Crystal Vision Server In order to be able to create, publish and modify reports which enable more user interactivity, you can now choose to install Crystal Reports Server. This uses the Adobe shockwave format for report presentation which is supported by all major browsers via the Adobe Flash Player plug-in. Crystal Vision Server comes with a module called Xcelsius with which shockwave files can be designed.
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You can also view two different antenna patterns together, by selecting a second pattern and choosing to view both patterns at once (the 1st pattern is marked in red, the 2nd pattern is marked in blue):
Both of these features are extremely useful for comparing antenna patterns and seeing the precise path loss at a glance, meaning you can make value judgements on which pattern is the better one far quicker than in previous versions.
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Settings Import/Export Enhancements You can now export and import the display properties associated with most individual items on the Data Types tab of the Map Information & Control window. These display properties are held in settings (.stt) files. You can also copy the display properties of any item on the Data Types tab which has them. Neighbour List Viewing Enhancements When you are viewing the lists of neighbours for cells on the Neighbour tab in the Site Database (or in the Neighbour Analysis window) you can: Specify which columns to display Set the column widths Re-order the columns To do this: 1 On the Neighbour tab (or in the Neighbour Analysis window), in either of the neighbours panes, right-click on any column heading and select Choose Details from the context menu. In the dialog box that appears, select which columns you want to display. Set a column width for your selected items. Use the Move Up/Down buttons to re-order the selected columns. Click OK.
2 3 4 5
In the Site Database window (or in the Neighbour Analysis window) the columns will be displayed according to your requirements. Note : The settings are always complementary between Outward and Inward Neighbours. XML Repeater Format Enhancements It is now possible to export the pathloss from a parent cell when exporting a repeater to an XML file. This makes the XML export for repeaters more detailed. Oracle 10g Support ENTERPRISE can now be used in conjunction with an Oracle 10g database. Windows XP/2003 64-bit Compliance ENTERPRISE can now be run in a 64 bit Windows environment.
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Default Project Filter On the Filter tab of the Preferences dialog box, you can choose a specific filter to be shown by default every time you open most of the dialog boxes that require you to choose a filter:
This is extremely useful if you have a preferred filter that you use for the majority of your time, because it means you do not have to select it each time you open a dialog box that requires you to choose a filter. For more information on all these features, see the ENTERPRISE User Reference Guide. For more information on the features new to specific tools, see the following topics.
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You can configure the HSDPA Link Power action cost in the Global Design Targets and Action Costs dialog box:
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You can configure your optimisation profile to include HSDPA Link Power Planning actions and constraints in the Optimisation Profiles dialog box:
Including HSDPA Link Power planning actions and constraints in your optimisation profile
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OMX Enhancements If you generate OMX data (as XML) and choose to create a report as well, ADVANTAGE produces an Excel file, which contains the actions/constraints information for the planned objects (for example, antennas) that you would like to consider during the optimisation. If you click Edit OMX in the OMX Manager dialog box, you can now edit this Excel file and transfer your changes to the XML, which enables you to make more detailed changes to your OMX data more quickly and accurately than in previous versions.
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Setting Up The Cost Function Setting up the cost function factors has been consolidated in the Cost Function Setup dialog box, which enables you to do the following: On the Max/Units Actions tab, you can choose to reject plans based on max units/actions - that is, configure the optimisation mechanism so that it will not accept plans that violate set constraints in terms of the number of actions or number of units for given planning/unit type(s).
On the Cost Function Weights tab, you can set the weightings based on Budget, Manpower and Performance.
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On the Plan Rejection Options tab, you can choose to reject plans based on any individual metric degradation - that is, configure the optimisation mechanism so that it will not accept plans that violate the thresholds set in absolute or relative terms.
On the Cost Synthesis tab, you can define the cost conversion coefficients, which normalise the units used for the different cost categories so that the respective costs are considered in the optimisation on a common basis. You can also select the performance cost synthesis type, which determines how the performance cost components are considered in the optimisation.
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Compound Arrays You can now define, generate, and analyse your own compound arrays based upon the existing arrays available. The generation of compound arrays depends on mathematical expressions that you define. When you define these expressions, you specify which existing (input) arrays are to be used. Each expression can then be used to produce new (output) compound arrays.
Depending on permissions, these expressions can be user-only, or system-wide and therefore available to every user. The sources that can be used as inputs include Simulator arrays, Static Analysis arrays, Signal Coverage arrays, 2g Non-Sim arrays and Archived arrays. The resulting compound arrays can then be used to produce statistical analysis reports. Here are two examples to illustrate the purpose of producing compound arrays:
Generating a compound array that compares arrays from different network scenarios, by defining an expression to compare an archived array with a new array. Generating a compound array that considers customised threshold criteria (for example, signal strength), by defining an expression with a specific threshold.
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Pixel Analyser Enhancements - Vector Analysis Plots You can now use the Pixel Analyser to display analysis plots of any vector/polygon chosen from your Map View.
You can customise what the analysis plot shows in terms of the X and Y axes, and which cell levels to display. When you select a vector/polygon, it becomes highlighted, and as you move the cursor along the vector, you can see the analysis plots in the Pixel Analyser window.
For more information on all these features, see the ASSET User Reference Guide.
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Then you can define it on the linkends of your links, setting a power range for ATPC to operate within. You can then choose to use Static ATPC (whereby you specify either the minimum or maximum power, and CONNECT calculates the other value based on the power range) or Flexible ATPC (whereby you specify a nominal power value for regulatory purposes, but the power can go above/below that up to the specified maximum/minimum).
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You can also view link budget performance results based on a variety of powers maximum power, minimum power or nominal power - to give you a better idea of which powers you should be using.
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Radio Spectrum and Selectivity To enable you to calculate interference more accurately, CONNECT now supports the use of transmit spectrum density masks and receive selectivity masks. Many radio vendors now provide mask information rather than tables for interfering bands/bandwidths, so by supporting these, CONNECT makes the data migration process much more straightforward. The Tx spectrum and RX selectivity masks are defined on two new tabs in the Radio Equipment dialog box. This picture shows an example Tx Spectrum tab:
These values are then used in the interference calculations to calculate interference. For more information on these calculations, see the CONNECT User Reference Guide.
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Usability Improvements A number of general improvements in usability have been made in CONNECT 5.2. These are: User Defined Profiles are now treated independently from links. They appear as a separate item in the Wastebasket and can be restored from there. This independence is particularly useful, since you can now Apply UDP data without affecting the Apply state of the corresponding link. In the User Defined Profile dialog box, in the User Clutter column, the clutter categories are listed. This is beneficial because it enables you to pick a specific clutter category, rather than just define the height value. When you select a point in the User Defined Profile dialog box, the corresponding point on the Height Profile will be highlighted in red. This is a useful way to visualise the data at a specific point. When producing customised link reports, you can now choose to produce a report with both linkends of a link displayed on the same row of the report. This is useful because it enables you to view each link more clearly on a single row. Another useful visual improvement has been made on the Fade Margin subtab of the Performance tab in the Link Database. If the Interference Margin is negative, the value is displayed in red.
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Defining Reserved Channels in the PDH Module Default Parameters dialog box
This is particularly useful, since it means that you can directly reserve certain channels for signalling traffic, and ensure that they will not be used for other traffic. This will enable you to model your network more realistically, since a certain number of channels are required for signalling purposes.
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Equipment Type based Port Availability You can now view information on how connections and ports are used on a particular piece of equipment. On the Connection Usage tab of the equipment, you can view per connection - the number of circuits (and, in the case of physical connections, ports) available, as well as the percentages that are used and unused.
This information is particularly useful when routing, to show you whether the number of circuits connected to the equipment actually exceeds the defined limits or not.
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Reporter Enhancements A number of refinements have been made to the Reporter. In particular, you can now: Use the OPTIMA Data Explorer to create and edit report queries
Create parameters for report queries to filter report data at runtime Preview multiple reports at the same time
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Inspector Enhancements A number of refinements have been made to the Inspector, which are of benefit when setting up and viewing data. In particular, the following changes have been made: Modules can be dragged and dropped into combinations Default values can be set for parameters Summary types can be applied to multiple fields using the new Quick Aggregation dialog box for customising summaries
Graphs can be linked so they zoom and scroll in unison The y-axis fields of graphs can be ordered in ascending or descending order
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Report Scheduling Enhancements A number of refinements have been made to the Schedule Editor. In particular, you can now: Set up report schedules to export reports to multiple formats (printer, file, and/or email) Use the Address Book when creating report schedules. This is particularly useful, because it enables you to select multiple user and/or group contacts rather than typing individual email addresses
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Panning Interactivity Improvements The panning function of the Map View has been enhanced and is now much smoother. To facilitate location, an overview window has been added as illustrated below:
You can double click on the overview window to get the overview window cursor (hand) to jump to where youve clicked on the main view. Multiple Administrators and User Authentication WEBWIZARD now allows access by more than one Administrator at a time. Sharing Centralised Published Folders Publish folders can now be relative to an additionally specified network path that is separate to the virtual directory root.
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Changing Colours and Themes The appearance of WEBWIZARD can now be extensively customised using an external stylesheet as shown below:
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