INDOOR COMPETITIVE SURVEY OF WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20130189977A1
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brisebois, Arthur Richard, Klein, Robert Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,761,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 35/00 Magnetostrictive devices integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N39/00

Abstract

Network operation data within a confined indoor wireless environment can be determined and utilized for generation of competitive intelligence and strategic network planning. Scanner component(s) survey and compare signals transported in a set of electromagnetic frequency bands, and in accordance with a set of radio technologies associated with competing networks. Collected data can be aggregated and delivered to femto gateway node(s), which can supply the data to an analysis component that generates network operations NetOp intelligence. A report component can manage received and aggregated network operation data and convey a portion thereof to planning tool(s) that can produce competitive intelligence and develop strategic network planning. Planning tool(s) can request specific network operation data or NetOp intelligence. Aggregated network operation data can be employed to identify service provider indoor coverage strengths or weaknesses relative to competitors to focus sales activities related to network services, and network improvement efforts.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of the instructions to perform operations, comprising;

facilitating a scan of a wireless environment of a femto access point device in accordance with scan configuration data received from a network device of a first macro network operated by a first service provider; and

based on the facilitating, determining macro network operation data that comprises first network operation data related to the first macro network and a second network operation data related to a second macro network operated by a second service provider; and

directing, to the network device, the macro network operation data to facilitate network planning of network devices of the first macro network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the scan of a set of signals transported in an electromagnetic frequency band specified by the scan configuration data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the scan for a system broadcast message linked to a technology specified by the scan configuration data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the scan in response to determining that traffic served on the femto access point device satisfies a defined criterion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the scan during a time period specified by the scan configuration data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the macro network operation data further comprises timestamp data indicative of a time period associated with the scan of the wireless environment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the network planning comprises determining frequency reuse data associated with the first macro network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network planning comprises determining cell site deployment data associated with the first macro network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the network planning comprises determining promotional sales data associated with the first macro network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the network planning comprises determining location-based service development data associated with the first macro network.

11. A method, comprising:

instructing, by a system comprising a processor, a set of femto access point devices deployed within a first communication network operated by a first service provider to scan respective wireless environments to facilitate a determination of macro network operation data;

receiving, by the system, the macro network operation data from the set of femto access point devices, wherein the macro network operation data comprises first network operation data related to the first communication network and a second network operation data related to a second communication network operated by a second service provider; and

based on the macro network operation data, facilitating, by the system, network planning of network devices of the first macro network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving comprises receiving timing data indicative of timestamps associated with a scan of the respective wireless environments.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the facilitating comprises determining, based on the macro network operation data, coverage density data that is indicative of an average signal strength per service provider within a specified area.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the facilitating comprises determining, based on the macro network operation data, frequency reuse data associated with the first macro network.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the facilitating comprises determining, based on the macro network operation data, cell site deployment data associated with the first macro network.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the facilitating comprises determining, based on the macro network operation data, promotional sales data associated with the first macro network.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the facilitating comprises determining, based on the macro network operation data, location-based service development data associated with the first macro network.

18. A tangible computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a femto access point device comprising a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving scan configuration data from a network device of a first macro network operated by a first service provider;

based on scanning a wireless environment of the femto access point device in accordance with the scan configuration data, determining macro network operation data that comprises first network operation data related to the first macro network and a second network operation data related to a second macro network operated by a second service provider; and

facilitating a transmission of the macro network operation data to the network device to facilitate network planning of network devices of the first macro network

19. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the macro network operation data further comprises timing data indicative of timestamp associated with the scanning.

20. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein operations further comprise:

determining the timing data based on information received from a global positioning system device that is coupled to the femto access point device.