Systems and methods for determining the delay offsets of communication systems

• US 20040228368A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Jeff, Jecmen, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/519
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods for determining delay offsets of communication systems arc provided. One such method comprises: determining components of a propagation path of a base station of a communication network; determining a propagation delay associated with each of the components; and determining a delay of the propagation path using the delays of the components. Systems also are provided.

Claims

1. A method for determining a delay offset of a communication system comprising:

determining components of a propagation path of a base station of a communication network;

determining a propagation delay associated with each of the components; and

determining a delay of the propagation path using the delays of the components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the delay of each of the components comprises:

providing a database including information corresponding to base station components and associated propagation delays; and

accessing the database to determine a delay associated with at least one of the components of the base station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the delay of each of the components comprises:

measuring the delay of at least one of the components of the base station.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying the delay of the propagation path by measuring the delay of the propagation path.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying multiple base stations containing corresponding components; and

using a determined delay of one of the base stations as a predicted delay of at least one of the other base stations identified.

6. A system for determining information corresponding to a delay offset of a communication system comprising:

a delay offset link budget system operative to determine components of a propagation path of a base station of a communication network, to determine a propagation delay associated with each of the components, and to determine information corresponding to the delay of the propagation path using the delays of the components.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a database including information corresponding to base station components and associated propagation delays; and

wherein said delay offset link budget system is operative to access the database to determine a delay offset of at least one of the components.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the delay offset link budget system includes a memory;

and

wherein the database is stored in the memory of the delay offset link budget system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the database is located remotely from the delay offset link budget system;

and

wherein the delay offset link budget system is operative to communicate with a communication network for accessing the database.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

measuring equipment operative to measure a propagation delay of a signal transmitted from a base station of a communication system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the measuring equipment comprises a Global Positioning System receiver.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the measuring equipment further comprises a laser range-finder.

13. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

means for measuring a propagation delay of a signal transmitted from a base station of a communication system.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the delay offset link budget system is operative to provide a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface being operative to display information corresponding to components of the propagation path of the base station to a user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the graphical user interface is operative to enable a user to actuate a field of the graphical user interface and to modify information associated with the field.

16. A computer-readable medium having a computer program for determining a delay offset of a communication system, said computer program comprising:

logic configured to determine components of a propagation path of a base station of a communication network;

logic configured to determine a propagation delay associated with each of the components; and

logic configured to determine a delay of the propagation path using the delays of the components.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the logic configured to determine the delay of each of the components comprises:

logic configured to access a database, the database including information corresponding to base station components and associated propagation delays.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the logic configured to determine the delay of each of the components comprises:

logic configured to measure the delay of at least one of the components of the base station.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:

logic configured to verify the delay of the propagation path by measuring the delay of the propagation path of the base station.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:

logic configured to identify multiple base stations containing corresponding components; and

logic configured to use a determined delay of one of the base stations as a predicted delay of at least one of the other base stations identified.