Transceiver site selection a cellular communications system

• US 5,613,217 A
• Filed: 05/03/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hagstrom, Ulf E., Isaksson, Magnus B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANKS HAROLD, MARSHA DENISE
• Application Number:
  US08/433,097
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/56.1, 455/67.1, 455/67.3, 455/67.4, 455/89, 455/95, 455/226.2, 455/226.1, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/22, 379/27, 379/29, 379/34
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

In a cellular communications system having a plurality of cells, each cell being served by at least one of a plurality of existing base stations, a method of determining a location for a new micro base station antenna involves first providing a test antenna at a test location in one of the cells. Then, for a predetermined time period, a monitoring procedure is performed to assess how many mobile stations are close enough to the test location that they would be served by a micro cell having a base transceiver antenna at the test location. The monitoring procedure involves, in the test antenna, receiving an uplink access attempt signal that is transmitted from a mobile station to an intended one of the existing base stations. Then, signal strength of the received uplink access attempt signal is measured and compared to a predetermined threshold level. If the measured signal strength is greater than the predetermined threshold level, then a count value is incremented. After performing the monitoring procedure, the count value is compared to a predetermined count value. If the count value is higher than the predetermined count value, then the new micro base station is established at the test location. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the monitoring procedure is performed at several test locations. The new micro base station is then established at that one of the test locations that has the highest count value.

Claims

1. In a cellular communications system having a plurality of cells, each cell being served by at least one of a plurality of existing base stations, a method of determining a location for a new micro base station antenna comprising the steps of:

providing a test antenna at a test location in one of the cells;

for a predetermined time period, performing a monitoring procedure comprising the steps of;

in the test antenna, receiving an uplink access attempt signal that is transmitted from a mobile station to an intended one of the existing base stations;

measuring signal strength of the received uplink access attempt signal;

comparing the measured signal strength to a predetermined threshold level; and

if the measured signal strength is greater than the predetermined threshold level, then incrementing a count value; and

after performing the monitoring procedure, comparing the count value to a predetermined count value and if the count value is higher than the predetermined count value, then establishing the new micro base station at the test location.

2. In a cellular communications system having a plurality of cells, each cell being served by at least one of a plurality of existing base stations, a method of determining a location for a new micro base station antenna comprising the steps of:

determining a plurality of test locations, each test location located in at least one of the cells;

at each one of the test locations;

providing a test antenna;

for a predetermined time period, performing a monitoring procedure comprising the steps of;

in the test antenna, receiving an uplink access attempt signal that is transmitted from a mobile station to an intended one of the existing base stations;

measuring signal strength of the received uplink access attempt signal;

comparing the measured signal strength to a predetermined threshold level; and

if the measured signal strength is greater than the predetermined threshold level, then incrementing a count value; and

after performing the monitoring procedure at each of the test locations, comparing the respective count values to one another, determining which of the test locations has the highest count value, and establishing the new micro base station at that test location having the highest count value.

3. In a cellular communications system having a plurality of cells, each cell being served by at least one of a plurality of existing base stations, a method of determining a location for a new micro base station antenna comprising the steps of:

providing a test antenna at a test location in one of the cells;

for a predetermined time period, performing a monitoring procedure comprising the steps of;

in the test antenna, receiving an uplink access attempt signal that is transmitted from a mobile station to an intended one of the existing base stations;

measuring signal strength of the received uplink access attempt signal; and

storing a record of the uplink access attempt and the measured signal strength in a memory;

after performing the monitoring procedure, analyzing the records stored in the memory by, for each of the records, comparing the measured signal strength to a predetermined threshold level, and if the measured signal strength is greater than the predetermined threshold level, then incrementing a count value; and

after analyzing the records stored in the memory, if the count value is higher than a predetermined count value, then establishing the new micro base station at the test location.

4. In a cellular communications system having a plurality of cells, each cell being served by at least one of a plurality of existing base stations, a method of determining a location for a new micro base station antenna comprising the steps of:

determining a plurality of test locations, each test location located in at least one of the cells;

at each one of the test locations;

providing a test antenna;

for a predetermined time period, performing a monitoring procedure comprising the steps of;

in the test antenna, receiving an uplink access attempt signal that is transmitted from a mobile station to an intended one of the existing base stations;

measuring signal strength of the received uplink access attempt signal; and

storing a record of the uplink access attempt and the measured signal strength in a memory;

after performing the monitoring procedure at each of the test locations, analyzing the records stored in the memory for each of the test locations by, for each of the records, comparing the measured signal strength to a predetermined threshold level, and if the measured signal strength is greater than the predetermined threshold level, then incrementing a count value associated with the test location; and

;

after analyzing the records stored in the memory for each of the test locations, comparing the respective count values to one another, determining which of the test locations has the highest count value, and then establishing the new micro base station at that test location having the highest count value.