Cellular communication system which enables improved interference monitoring and method of monitoring interference

• US 20020082004A1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sakai, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

A cellular communication system that enables an improved monitoring of interference is provided. The cellular communication system includes a cell station and a maintenance terminal. The cell station provides a communication service for a personal station, and also executes continuous monitoring of an interfering wave during a period to produce an interference monitor data representative of a property of the interfering wave. The maintenance terminal produces an interference profile based on the property.

Claims

1. A cellular communication system comprising

a cell station which provides a communication service for a personal station, said cell station executing continuous monitoring of an interfering wave during a period and producing interference monitor data representative of a property of said interfering wave;

and

a maintenance terminal which produces an interference profile based on said property.

2. The cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein said cell station includes an antenna, and both of said communication service and said continuous monitoring are achieved through said antenna.

3. The cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein said cell station includes a monitoring unit which continuously monitors an electric field intensity of said interfering wave during said period, and

said property includes said electric field intensity.

4. The cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein said maintenance terminal sends first and second requests, and

said cell station provides said communication service in response to said first request, and monitors said interfering wave in response to said second request.

5. The cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein said maintenance terminal displays said interference profile.

6. The cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein said communication service is executed based on a TDMA system protocol, and

said period includes a slot determined by said TDMA system protocol.

7. The cellular communication system according to claim 6, wherein said cell station checks whether said slot is used for providing said communication service, and continuously monitors said interfering wave during said slot when said slot is not used for providing said communication service.

8. A cellular communication system comprising:

a plurality of cell stations which provide a communication service for a personal station, each of said cell stations continuously monitoring an interfering wave during a period to produce interference monitor data representative of an electric field intensity of said interfering wave; and

a maintenance terminal which receives said interference monitor data from each of said cell stations and determines an incoming direction of said interfering wave based on said interference monitor data.

9. A method of operating a cellular communication system comprising:

providing a communication service for a personal station by a cell station;

continuously monitoring of an interfering wave during a period by said cell station;

producing an interference monitor data representative of a property of said interfering wave; and

producing an interference profile based on said property.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein both of providing said communication service and said continuous monitoring are achieved through the same antenna included in said cell station.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said monitoring includes continuously monitoring an electric field intensity of said interfering wave during said period, and said property includes said electric field intensity.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving a request by a user interface, wherein said providing said communication service and said continuously monitoring said interfering wave are exclusively executed in response to said request.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said communication service is executed based on a TDMA system protocol, and said period includes a slot determined by said TDMA system protocol.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising checking whether said slot is used for providing said communication service, wherein said continuously monitoring is executed during said slot when said slot is not used for providing said communication service.

15. A method of operating a cellular communication system comprising:

providing a communication service for a personal station by a plurality of cell stations;

continuously monitoring of an interfering wave during a period by said plurality of cell stations cell stations;

producing interference monitor data representative of electric field intensities of said interfering wave by each of said plurality of cell stations cell stations; and

determining an incoming direction of said interfering wave based on said interference monitor data.