Method and system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over wide geographic areas

• US 20050136931A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Castle International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Castle International Corporation
• Inventors: Kelly, John Patrick, Weir, Michael John, Ramke, Michael Glen, Bigler, Glenn Patrick, O'Toole, David Paul, Parsons, David Colin, Fawaz, Jed Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A method and system for management of radio frequency coverage over a wide geographic area. A database is created specifying a geographic location for each of a large number of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area. Selected physical parameters are then associated with each communication location including: addresses; site plans; structural drawings; and, actual measured signal strength for multiple entities authorized to transmit at selected frequencies within that geographic area. Thereafter, communication locations may be automatically accessed by specifying either a physical location or by accessing those locations where measured signal strengths fall below a selected level. Once accessed, all stored physical parameters associated with a selected communication location may be displayed, including: photographs of the location, site plans, structural drawings and readiness data.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

creating a database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area;

listing each entity authorized to transmit within said wide geographic area by specified communication frequency;

measuring signal strength at each specified communication frequency in a predetermined radius around each possible communication location within said database; and

thereafter, selectively accessing said database and listing each possible communication location within said database having a signal strength below a specified level for a specific entity authorized to transmit within said wide geographic area.

2. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of listing each entity authorized to transmit within said wide geographic area by specified communication frequency comprises the step of listing each entity licensed to transmit within said wide geographic area by government authorities.

3. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of listing each possible communication location having a signal strength below a specified level comprises the step of displaying a list of all possible communication locations having a signal strength below a specified level and a listing of physical parameters associated with each communication location.

4. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 1 further including the step of permitting access to said database across a wide area network.

5. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 4 further including the step of requiring a user to enter a selected password prior to permitting access to said database across said wide area network.

6. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of creating a database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area comprises the step of creating a database specifying a longitude and latitude for each of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area.

7. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of creating a database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area comprises the step of creating a database specifying a geographical location and a plurality of physical parameters for each of said plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area.

8. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 7 further including the step of periodically verifying said plurality of physical parameters for selected ones of said plurality of possible communication locations and thereafter validating said plurality physical parameters within said database.

9. A computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

creating a database having a plurality of entries, each entry specifying a geographic location for one of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area;

specifying within each database entry selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location;

entering said database with a particular geographic location within said wide geographic area; and

displaying one or more possible communication locations within a selected radius of said particular geographic location wherein a communication location may be selected.

10. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 9 further including the step of permitting access to said database across a wide area network.

11. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 9 wherein said step of specifying within each database entry selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises the step of specifying within each database entry a physical description of a possible communication location.

12. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 9 wherein said step of specifying within each database entry selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises the step of specifying within each database entry an address of a possible communication location.

13. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 9 wherein said step of specifying within each database entry selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises the step of specifying within each database entry a utility availability for a possible communication location.

14. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 9 wherein said step of specifying within each database entry selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises the step of specifying within each database entry a site plan for a possible communication location.

15. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 9 wherein said step of specifying within each database entry selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises the step of specifying within each database entry a license status for a possible communication location.

16. A computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area, said system comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a computer;

a database within said computer specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area;

a listing within said database of each entity authorized to transmit within said wide geographic area by specified communication frequency;

a listing of measured signal strength at each specified communication frequency in a predetermined radius around each possible communication location within said database; and

means for selectively accessing said database and listing each possible communication location within said database having a signal strength below a specified level for a specific entity authorized to transmit within said wide geographic area.

17. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 16 wherein said listing of each entity authorized to transmit within said wide geographic area by communication frequency comprises a listing of each entity licensed to transmit within said wide geographic area by government authorities.

18. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 16 wherein said listing of each possible communication location having a signal strength below a specified level comprises a list of all possible communication locations having a signal strength below a specified level and a listing of physical parameters associated with each communication location.

19. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 16 further including means for permitting access to said database across a wide area network.

20. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 19 further including means for requiring a user to enter a selected password prior to permitting access to said database across said wide area network.

21. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 16 wherein said database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of a possible communication locations within a wide geographic area comprises a database specifying a longitude and latitude for each of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area.

22. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 16 wherein said database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of a possible communication locations within a wide geographic area comprises a database specifying a geographic location and a plurality of physical parameters for each of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area.

23. A computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area, said system comprising:

a computer;

a database within said computer having a plurality of entries, each entry specifying a geographic location for one of a plurality of possible communication locations within a wide geographic area;

an entry within said database specifying selected physical parameters associated with each possible communication location;

means for entering a particular geographic location within said wide geographic area; and

display means for displaying one or more possible communication locations within a selected radius of said particular geographic location within said computer wherein a communication location may be selected.

24. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 23, further including means for permitting access to said database across a wide area network.

25. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 23, wherein each entry within said database specifying selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises an entry within said database specifying a physical description of a possible communication location.

26. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 23 wherein each entry within said database specifying selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises an entry specifying within said database an address of a possible communication location.

27. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 23 wherein each entry within said database specifying selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises an entry specifying within said database a utility availability for a possible communication location.

28. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 23 wherein each entry within said database specifying selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises an entry specifying within said database a site plan for a possible communication location.

29. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area according to claim 23 wherein each entry within said database specifying selected physical parameters associated with a possible communication location comprises an entry specifying within said database a license status for a possible communication location.