Examensarbete

Workflow for Configuration of Radio Base Stations

Abstract

To configure radio base stations is a complex and time demanding task. Therefore, Ericsson Radio Systems AB (ERA) in Linköping wanted to investigate if workflow technology could be used in their Operations and Support System (OSS) to facilitate the configuration work. The following objectives were stated for the investigation:

• Develop a prototype that handles cell creation, a common process in the configuration work.
• Suggest a methodology for workflow introduction.
• Describe how the OSS is affected by the introduction of workflow and what changes are necessary.
• Suggest other processes than cell creation that are suitable for workflow.
• Investigate if the workflow tool can be used to create a common GUI for the OSS applications.
• Investigate if there exists any alternative solutions to workflow.
• Give directions for Ericssons future work on workflow.

During the work, a number of limitations were discovered in TeamWARE Flows supplied Viewer client. Due to this, we decided to develop a new client using the provided API. Three design suggestions were considered and the one choosen was based on CORBA. Although TeamWARE Flow doesnt fully support WfMCs workflow standards we managed to develop solutions for data transfer and invocation of applications.

Our main conclusion is that workflow can be applied to the configuration process, but it will be much easier when future, standard conforming workflow tools arrive. In the meantime, we recommend Ericsson to adapt the OSS to support workflow standards according to our given proposals.