DETERMINATION OF CELL RF PARAMETERS BASED ON MEASUREMENTS BY USER EQUIPMENTS

• US 20080096566A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Vargas Bautista, Jose, Riley, Wyatt, Skirsky, Raymond, Dills, Jay, Biacs, Zoltan, Brunner, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,045,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/18 Antipsychotics, i.e. neuroleptics; Drugs for mania or schizophrenia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/10 Antimycotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/18 for HIV
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 491/04 Ortho-condensed systems

Abstract

Techniques for using measurements made by UEs to improve network performance are described. In one aspect, RF parameters of cells may be determined by taking into account mobility of the UEs. Mobility information for the UEs may be determined based on measurement report messages (MRMs) sent by these UEs for handover. RF parameters such as antenna down-tilt, antenna orientation, antenna pattern, and/or pilot power of the cells may be determined based on the mobility information for the UEs. In another aspect, the RF parameters of cells may be dynamically adjusted based on loading conditions of cells. In yet another aspect, the location of a UE may be determined based on an MRM sent by the UE for handover. The MRM may include timing measurements for multiple cells. The location of the UE may be determined based on the timing measurements.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to obtain a measurement report message (MRM) comprising timing measurements for multiple cells in a wireless communication network, the MRM being sent by a user equipment (UE) for handover or when triggered, and to determine location of the UE, when the MRM is generated, based on the timing measurements in the MRM; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor determines observed delay differences for the multiple cells based on the timing measurements, and determines the location of the UE based on the observed delay differences and known locations of the multiple cells.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor determines relative time differences (RTDs) for the multiple cells, and determines the location of the UE further based on the RTDs.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the MRM further comprises radio frequency (RF) measurements for the multiple cells, and wherein the at least one processor determines initial values for the RTDs based on the RF measurements.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor determines initial values for the RTDs based on known location of one of the multiple cells.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the timing measurements comprise system frame number-connection frame number (SFN-CFN) observed time difference measurements.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the timing measurements comprise system frame number-system frame number (SFN-SFN) observed time difference measurements.

8. A method comprising:

obtaining a measurement report message (MRM) comprising timing measurements for multiple cells in a wireless communication network, the MRM being sent by a user equipment (UE) for handover or when triggered; and

determining location of the UE, when the MRM is generated, based on the timing measurements in the MRM.

9. The method of claim 8, the determining the location of the UE further comprising:

determining observed delay differences for the multiple cells based on the timing measurements, and

determining the location of the UE based on the observed delay differences and known locations of the multiple cells.

10. The method of claim 9, the determining the location of the UE further comprising:

determining relative time differences (RTDs) for the multiple cells, and

determining the location of the UE further based on the RTDs.

11. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a measurement report message (MRM) comprising timing measurements for multiple cells in a wireless communication network, the MRM being sent by a user equipment (UE) for handover or when triggered; and

means for determining location of the UE, when the MRM is generated, based on the timing measurements in the MRM.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the means for determining the location of the UE further comprising:

means for determining observed delay differences for the multiple cells based on the timing measurements, and

means for determining the location of the UE based on the observed delay differences and known locations of the multiple cells.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the means for determining the location of the UE further comprising:

means for determining relative time differences (RTDs) for the multiple cells, and

means for determining the location of the UE further based on the RTDs.

14. A computer program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to obtain a measurement report message (MRM) comprising timing measurements for multiple cells in a wireless communication network, the MRM being sent by a user equipment (UE) for handover or when triggered; and

code for causing the computer to determine location of the UE, when the MRM is generated, based on the timing measurements in the MRM.

15. The computer-readable product of claim 14, the computer-readable medium further comprising:

code for causing the computer to determine observed delay differences for the multiple cells based on the timing measurements, and

code for causing the computer to determine the location of the UE based on the observed delay differences and known locations of the multiple cells.

16. The computer-readable product of claim 15, the computer-readable medium further comprising:

code for causing the computer to determine relative time differences (RTDs) for the multiple cells, and

code for causing the computer to determine the location of the UE further based on the RTDs.

17. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to obtain mobility information for user equipments (UEs) in a wireless communication network, and to determine at least one radio frequency (RF) parameter of at least one cell in the wireless network based on the mobility information; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the mobility information indicates locations of the UEs during handover, and wherein the at least one processor determines the at least one RF parameter to reduce the number of handovers by the UEs.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor obtains measurement report messages (MRMs) from the UEs and determines the mobility information based on the MRMs.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor determines locations of the UEs based on the MRMs and determines the mobility information based on the locations of the UEs.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor determines RF information for the UEs based on the MRMs and determines the at least one RF parameter further based on the RF information for the UEs.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the RF information comprises at least one of pilot strength measurements and pilot quality measurements.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor determines the at least one RF parameter further based on at least one of traffic information and RF propagation information.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one RF parameter comprises at least one of antenna down-tilt, antenna orientation, antenna pattern, and pilot power.

25. A method comprising:

obtaining mobility information for user equipments (UEs) in a wireless communication network; and

determining at least one radio frequency (RF) parameter of at least one cell in the wireless network based on the mobility information.

26. The method of claim 25, the mobility information indicating locations of the UEs during handover, and the determining the at least one RF parameter comprising determining the at least one RF parameter to reduce the number of handovers by the UEs.

27. The method of claim 25, the obtaining mobility information for the UEs comprising:

obtaining measurement report messages (MRMs) from the UEs,

determining locations of the UEs based on the MRMs, and

determining the mobility information based on the locations of the UEs.

28. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining mobility information for user equipments (UEs) in a wireless communication network; and

means for determining at least one radio frequency (RF) parameter of at least one cell in the wireless network based on the mobility information.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, the mobility information indicating locations of the UEs during handover, and the means for determining the at least one RF parameter comprising means for determining the at least one RF parameter to reduce the number of handovers by the UEs.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, the means for obtaining mobility information for the UEs comprising:

means for obtaining measurement report messages (MRMs) from the UEs,

means for determining locations of the UEs based on the MRMs, and

means for determining the mobility information based on the locations of the UEs.

31. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to determine loading conditions of at least one cell in a wireless communication network, and to adjust at least one radio frequency (RF) parameter of the at least one cell based on the loading conditions; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor adjusts at least one of antenna down-tilt, antenna orientation, antenna pattern, and pilot power of the at least one cell based on the loading conditions.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor obtains measurement report messages (MRMs) from user equipments (UEs), and determines the loading conditions of the at least one cell based on the MRMs.

34. A method comprising:

determining loading conditions of at least one cell in a wireless communication network; and

adjusting at least one radio frequency (RF) parameter of the at least one cell based on the loading conditions.

35. The method of claim 34, the determining the loading conditions of the at least one cell comprising:

obtaining measurement report messages (MRMs) from user equipments (UEs), and

determining the loading conditions of the at least one cell based on the MRMs.

36. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to obtain measurement report messages (MRMs) from user equipments (UEs) in a wireless communication network, and to determine at least one threshold setting for at least one cell in the wireless network based on the MRMs, the at least one threshold setting being used for handover of the UEs; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one threshold setting is used to add the at least one cell to active sets of the UEs.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one threshold setting comprises at least one cell individual offset (CIO) used to add the at least one cell to active sets of the UEs.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one threshold setting comprises at least one inter-system handover threshold setting used to select the at least one cell for inter-system handover.

40. A method comprising:

obtaining measurement report messages (MRMs) from user equipments (UEs) in a wireless communication network; and

determining at least one threshold setting for at least one cell in the wireless network based on the MRMs, the at least one threshold setting being used for handover of the UEs.

41. The method of claim 40, the determining the at least one threshold setting comprising determining at least one cell individual offset (CIO) used to add the at least one cell to active sets of the UEs.

42. The method of claim 40, the determining the at least one threshold setting comprising determining at least one inter-system handover threshold setting used to select the at least one cell for inter-system handover.

43. An apparatus coupled to a Node B aggregation point, comprising:

at least one processor to collect measurement report messages (MRMs) sent by user equipments (UEs) to multiple Node Bs in a wireless communication network and forwarded by the Node Bs to the Node B aggregation point, and to provide the collected MRMs to a server for processing; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the MRMs are sent by the UEs for handover and used to adjust at least one radio frequency (RF) parameter of at least one cell served by the multiple Node Bs.

45. A method comprising:

collecting measurement report messages (MRMs) sent by user equipments (UEs) to multiple Node Bs in a wireless communication network and forwarded by the Node Bs to the Node B aggregation point; and

providing the collected MRMs to a server for processing.