- Propagation models and their optimization in cellular networks
- Fundamental modeling assumptions and limitations
- Free space model: Why it works, or it doesn’t
- Plane earth model: Simple, good, but not perfect!
- Special propagation effects, e.g., water bodies, urban canyons, weather peculiarities, etc. and associated optimization issues
- Diffraction issues and counter measures: “Does it matter where the antenna is placed? How about its orientation?”
- Empirical propagation models, and their optimization/calibration, correct/optimal use and limitations
- Fading models and their correct use
- Fundamental modeling assumptions and limitations
- Long-term fading: How “long” is “long”?
- Short-term fading: How “short” is “short”?
- Long term versus short term fading as it impacts measurements and model optimization
- Fading in the time domain
- Fading in the frequency domain
- Fading countermeasures: In principle and in the actual iDEN system; what one can do in practice to combat fading
- Different mitigation techniques for different problems: Diagnosis before cure
- Link budget and associated pitfalls or why are the signal/coverage and/or interference patterns not as good as we expected?
- Link budget principles: Same as any other “budget”
- Receiver sensitivity
- Path balancing
- Antennas/cable mismatches and VSWR issues
- Fading margin calculations and its optimization tradeoffs
- Interference issues and mitigation
- Cochannel interference
- Adjacent channel interference
- Inter-modulation issues
- Putting iDEN™ in perspective
- iDEN: A historical and regulatory perspective
- Communication protocol stack
- Physical layer in iDEN: Its strengths and weaknesses or how to capitalize on its strengths and deal with its weaknesses
- Layer 2 and Layer 3 message structures: How messages are created, transmitted, and received. Impact on optimization issues
- Speech coding
- Speech coding concepts
- Speech coding schemes used in iDEN and impact on optimization/blocking probability
- Optimization issues related to traffic engineering and resource availability
- Traffic engineering principles
- Erlang B, Erlang C and Poisson models vis-à-vis interconnect and dispatch traffic as used in iDEN
- Error control coding
- Error control coding concepts
- Error control coding for iDEN
- Optimization capabilities and limitations resulting from error control coding schemes used in the system
- Relationships between “Actual” Error rates, “Measured” Error rates, SQE, RSSSI, etc.
- Digital modulation techniques: General concepts and limitations/impact on optimization issues
- Modulation and channel structure in iDEN™
- Spectrum allocations and channelization
- iDEN RF carrier and modulation structure
- TDMA framing structure
- Logical channels and their relationship to the RF carrier(s)
- Camping algorithm and call processing and associated optimization issues
- Measurements, measurement reporting, and corresponding handover considerations and associated optimization issues
- Performance/optimization issues
- Specific to the Random Access Channel and its parameters
- Specific to the Paging Channel and its parameters
- Specific to unique propagation characteristics, such as large water bodies, water and mountain combination, dense urban areas, etc.
- Conclusion: Summary and Q&A session
