MOBILE CELLULAR NETWORKS

• US 20140057626A1
• Filed: 08/21/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oceus Networks Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oceus Networks Inc.
• Inventors: Uelk, Joseph L., Hill, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Multiple mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems can be networked together to form a network of MCN communication systems (NOM). Each MCN communication system within the NOM can operate as an independent cellular network to provide communications between user equipment within a covered area. The MCN can be managed by a network management control center (NMCC). The NMCC can be configured generate coverage maps of the NOM and NMC system coverage areas.

Claims

1. A management system for a plurality of mobile cellular networks comprising:

a network management control center (NMCC) configured to manage one or more mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems, the NMCC comprising;

a mapping module configured to generate coverage maps for the one more MCN management devices;

an alarm module configured to receive and manage alarm data for the one more MCN management devices;

a user interface module configured to provide a user interface to a remote user, the user interface configured to display coverage maps generated by the mapping module and configured to display alarm data provided by the alarm module;

a first mobile cellular network (MCN) communication system having a first agent configured to communicate information from the first MCN management device to the NMCC, the MCN communication system located within a first covered area and configured to generate a first MCN for the first covered area;

a second MCN management device having a second agent configured to communicate information from the second MCN communication system to the NMCC, the MCN communication system located within a second covered area and configured to generate a second MCN for the second covered area;

wherein the mapping module generates a first coverage map showing the first covered area and the second covered area based on information received from the first agent and the second agent, and

wherein the alarm module aggregates alarm data from the first MCN communication system and the second MCN communication system and displays the aggregated alarm data on the user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information communicated by the agent can be alarm data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information communicated by the agent can be positional information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first MCN communication system and the second MCN communication system can form a network of MCN communication systems.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of user equipment configured to communicate wirelessly with the first and second MCN communication systems.

6. A method for generating and updating a coverage map for one or more mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems, the method comprising:

receiving data from a first MCN communication system, the data is received by a network management control center (NMCC), wherein the first MCN communication system is located at a first position within a first covered area and is configured to generate an MCN for the first covered area;

receiving data from a second MCN communication system, the data is received the NMCC, wherein the second MCN communication system is located within a second covered area and is configured to generate an MCN for the second covered area;

receiving geographic data from a mapping service, the geographic data includes geographic data for the first covered area and the second covered area;

generating a network coverage map showing the a first aggregate coverage overlaid on a map, the first aggregated coverage area includes the first covered area and the second covered area;

determining whether coverage area in the first coverage map has changed based on updated data received from first MCN communication systems and the second MCN communication system; and

generating an updated network coverage map based on the updated data showing a second aggregate coverage map overlaid on a map.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the data from the first MCN communication system and the second MCN communication system can include network data and positional data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the NMCC determines that the coverage area has changed based on updated network data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the updated network data is from one of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the NMCC determines that the coverage area has changed based on updated positional data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the updated positional data is from one of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the first covered area can overlap with the second covered area.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the updated coverage map updates the position of the first coverage area and the position of the second coverage area.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the updated coverage map updates one of the position of the first coverage area or the position of the second coverage area.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the NMCC determines that the coverage has changed based on a threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the threshold can be time-based.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the threshold can be based on a magnitude of changes to positional data.

18. A method for managing one or more mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems, the method comprising:

receiving data from one or more MCN communication systems, the data received by a network management control center (NMCC), the data including alarm data and log file data;

aggregating the alarm data and log file data for each of the MCN communication systems;

synchronizing the log file data with the alarm; and

displaying the synchronized log file data with the alarm data related to the alarm to a user.