Method and System for Evaluating Deployment of Femtocells as Part of a Cellular Network

• US 20100255848A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, Kent, Mark, Chen, Xuemin, Diab, Wael William, Erceg, Vinko, Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Hou, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 9,344,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for evaluating deployment of femtocells as part of a cellular network are provided. In this regard, a communication device may be operable to communicate information to a femtocell management entity that may be utilized to determine whether a specified location is suitable for installation of a femtocell. The communication device may be operable to receive from the femtocell management entity, data that indicates whether the specified location is suitable for the installation of the femtocell. The femtocell management entity may utilize the communicated information and/or additional information associated with one or installed femtocells, and/or one or more other communication devices that are within a vicinity of the specified location to determine whether the specified location is suitable for installation of the femtocell.

Claims

1. A method for network management, the method comprising:

communicating from a communication device, information which is utilized by a femtocell management entity to determine whether a specified location is suitable for installation of a femtocell; and

receiving from said femtocell management entity by said communication device, data that indicates whether said specified location is suitable for said installation of said femtocell.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a wired and/or wireless communication device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said femtocell management entity utilizes said communicated information and/or additional information associated with one or more installed femtocells, and/or one or more other communication devices that are within a vicinity of said specified location.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said communicated information and/or said additional information associated with said one or installed femtocells, and/or said one or more other communication devices comprises one or more parameters.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said one or more parameters comprises one or more of:

potential interference, power levels, and/or directionality of antennas of said one or more installed femtocells.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said femtocell management entity dynamically updates a registry based on said communicated information and/or said additional information associated with said one or installed femtocells, and/or said one or more other communication devices.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said dynamically updated registry comprises one or more of:

global navigation system satellite (GNSS) coordinates, an identification number and/or a list of said one or more parameters of each of said one or more installed femtocells.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining said specified location from a GNSS receiver communicatively coupled to said communication device, when said communication device is at said specified location.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating said information from said communication device via a cellular link.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said cellular link communicates said received data wirelessly utilizing one or more standards comprising IS-95, CDMA, GSM, TDMA, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA and/or HSDPA cellular standards.

11. A system for network management, the system comprising:

one or more processors for use in a communication device, wherein said one or more processors is operable to communicate information to a femtocell management entity, wherein said communicated information is utilized by said femtocell management entity to determine whether a specified location is suitable for installation of a femtocell; and

said one or more processors is operable to receive from said femtocell management entity, data that indicates whether said specified location is suitable for said installation of said femtocell.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said communication device comprises a wired and/or wireless communication device.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said femtocell management entity utilizes said communicated information and/or additional information associated with one or installed femtocells, and/or one or more other communication devices that are within a vicinity of said specified location.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said communicated information and/or said additional information associated with said one or installed femtocells, and/or said one or more other communication devices comprises one or more parameters.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more parameters comprises one or more of:

potential interference, power levels, and/or directionality of antennas of said one or more installed femtocells.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said femtocell management entity dynamically updates a registry based on said communicated information and/or said additional information associated with said one or installed femtocells, and/or said one or more other communication devices.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said dynamically updated registry comprises one or more of:

global navigation system satellite (GNSS) coordinates, an identification number and/or a list of said one or more parameters of each of said one or more installed femtocells.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors is operable to determine said specified location from a global navigation system satellite (GNSS) receiver communicatively coupled to said communication device, when said communication device is at said specified location.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors is operable to communicate said information from said communication device via a cellular link.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said cellular link communicates said received data wirelessly utilizing one or more standards comprising IS-95, CDMA, GSM, TDMA, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA and/or HSDPA cellular standards.