Enhanced worst case cell elimination in zone paging within a cellular

Abstract

A method for reducing the paging load in a cellular communication system is described. The cell C with the largest paging load L is first identified. Since this cell is usually included in more than one paging zone, the paging zones including cell C are identified. Thereafter, cell C is removed tentatively from each identified zone and a ratio R calculated which represents the decrease in loading on cell C due to being removed from zone z divided by the maximum increase in loading on any other cell in the network. The zone for which the ratio R is the largest is the best candidate for removing cell C therefrom. After doing so tentatively, the cell C' with the largest paging load L' thereon is identified. If the loading L is greater than L', cell G is removed permanently from the zone having the highest ratio R therefor and the process is repeated until L' is greater than L at which point the process is stopped without removing cell C from the zone with the highest ratio R. In another operation, cell C, a largest paging load L, and a most favorable zone P from which to remove cell C are first identified. Cell C is then tentatively removed from zone P and the identities of Cell C and zone P stored. Should the removal reduce overall paging load, cell C is removed from zone P. If not, operation continues by identifying new cell C and zone P, performing a tentative removal of cell C from zone P and storing such tentative removal. Such operations continue until the overall paging load decreases, at which point all stored cells C are removed from stored zones P. Should paging load cease to improve until a terminating condition is satisfied, none of the stored cells C are removed and operation ends.