Reconfiguration in a cellular communications network
First Claim
1. A method of performing reconfiguration of a cellular network comprising a plurality of mobile switching centers, the method comprising:
- copying existing cell parameters of selected mobile switching centers in the network to a database, and storing the copied parameters;
preparing a set of proposed changes to the stored parameters;
verifying, via a computer program, the consistency of the prepared set of proposed changes and making any necessary alterations of the set of proposed changes responsive to the verification;
copying, via a data link, the verified set of proposed changes to the selected mobile switching centers; and
introducing the verified set of proposed changes into the plurality of mobile switching centers in the network to reconfigure the cellular network according to the verified set of proposed changes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing reconfiguration of a cellular network is provided. Cell parameters of affected mobile switching centers in the network are copied to a database, and the copied parameters are stored. A set of proposed changes to the stored parameters are prepared and the consistency of the prepared set of proposed changes is verified. Any necessary alterations to the set of proposed changes responsive to the verification are made and the verified set of proposed changes are copied to the affected mobile switching centers. The verified set of proposed changes are then introduced into the network. Additionally, at all times, an up-to-date image of all the cell parameters in all the mobile switching centers in the network is maintained in a system parameter database.
71 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of performing reconfiguration of a cellular network comprising a plurality of mobile switching centers, the method comprising:
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copying existing cell parameters of selected mobile switching centers in the network to a database, and storing the copied parameters; preparing a set of proposed changes to the stored parameters; verifying, via a computer program, the consistency of the prepared set of proposed changes and making any necessary alterations of the set of proposed changes responsive to the verification; copying, via a data link, the verified set of proposed changes to the selected mobile switching centers; and introducing the verified set of proposed changes into the plurality of mobile switching centers in the network to reconfigure the cellular network according to the verified set of proposed changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of modifying at least a part of a cellular network, the network comprising an administrative database, at least one switch, and a plurality of cells, the method comprising the steps of:
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copying, via a datalink from associated ones of the switches to the administrative database, cell parameters of at least one cell as the parameters are stored before a proposed modification is implemented; determining at least one change to the cell parameters of the at least one cell affected by the proposed modification; entering the at least one change into the administrative database; verifying, via a computer program, the consistency of the entered change; making any necessary corrections to the at least one change responsive to the verification; copying the verified/corrected cell parameters to the associated ones of the switches from the administrative database via the data link; and activating the verified/corrected cell parameters in the associated ones of the switches to introduce the modification into the network. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of maintaining a system parameter database in a cellular network, comprising:
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obtaining, via a data link, current parameter data from at least one mobile switching center in the network; storing the obtained current parameter data in a data buffer; generating, via a computer program, a difference list by comparing the stored current parameters with existing data in the system parameter database and storing, in the difference list data which is in the stored current parameter data but not in the existing data, data which is in the existing data but not in the stored current parameter data, and data which has different values in the stored current parameter data as compared with the existing data; and updating the system parameter database from the difference list. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for providing temporary communication service to a predetermined area in a cellular radio system in response to a communication need at a predetermined time, comprising:
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a base station located near the predetermined area in need of communication service; and means connected to the system for copying a plurality of system changes, which are required to connect the base station to the system and which affect at least one mobile switching center, from a memory to the affected mobile switching centers in the network and for introducing the plurality of system changes into the system to provide service to the predetermined area at the predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An apparatus for performing reconfiguration of a cellular network, said network including at least one cell connected to at least one mobile switching center, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one mobile switching center database for storing a plurality of cell parameters; a system parameter database connected to the at least one mobile switching center database for storing an up-to-date image of cell parameters in the network; buffer memory means connected to the at least one mobile switching center database and the system parameter database for storing at least one cell parameter change to be used to update the system parameter database; and a temporary database connected to the system parameter database for temporarily storing proposed cell parameter changes to be introduced into the network to reconfigure the cellular network. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of performing maintenance of parameters within a cellular network, the network comprising at least one switch, and a plurality of cells, the method comprising:
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copying data from at least one switch affected by the maintenance into a buffer memory; updating data in a system parameter database from the data in the buffer memory, the step of updating comprising maintaining an up-to-date image of the network in the system parameter database. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification