Abstract
The role of transmission network design is diverse. Basically, it includes the preparation of transmission solutions for access and core (backbone) transmission networks. In the design of a transmission network, the engineer must have knowledge about existing transmission products and also operator budget analysis. For this reason, the transmission engineer might also act in early discussions with an operator and, in that case, support the marketing unit with technical competence within the area of transmission. In GSM/GPRS networks the user traffic is circuit switched through the GSM network and the signaling messages (including SMS) are transported on dedicated circuits, while the packet traffic is packet switched through the GPRS infrastructure. One of the most important parameters to consider is the design of GSM/PRS networks is the access radio topology. The network topology selection is an evaluation process, which incorporates business strategy, investment costs, technology roadmap, network redundancy and robustness, network evolution path, and the migration strategy from the current network to the planned target network. The topology selection produces a preferred network topology plan for the target network. The topology provides information about the network such as node/site location, geographical information, existing network infrastructure, and capacity, new node/site to be added, and new network configuration, such as new hub sites. The information contained in the topology plan allows the radio transmission network planner to formulate an expansion strategy to meet future cellular network growth (Figure 1). Cell plan is a graphical representation of the network which simply looks like a cell pattern on a map. However, there is a lot of work behind it, regarding the correct geographical position of the site, the antenna parameters and types, the dimensioning analysis regarding the offered and designed capacity and interference predictions. Such planning needs computer-aided analysis tools for radio propagation studies, for example, planning tools like TEMS CellPlanner Universal or NetHawk analyzer.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Interactivity: Occurs when a student works within a multimedia exercise in which the student and the program interchange information in order to complete the exercise.
Technology-Mediated Instruction: Learning that is aided or entirely accomplished through the use of computer-based technology.
Distance Learning: Learning in which the instructor and students are separated by time, distance, or both.
Repurposeable Learning Objects: Learning objects that are designed as templates that can be reconstructed to serve new learning objectives.
Learning Style: Generally accepted to be a student’s existing learning strengths or preferred manner of learning.
Mind Map: A mind map is simply a guided tour through the correct solution to a problem posed in a learning object.
Learning Objects: Interactive computer-based exercises in which a student utilizes critical thinking skills, achieves learning benchmarks, and displays mastery of content.
Flash: A multimedia authoring tool in which interactive learning objects may be created.