System and method of measuring electric field strength

• US 6,006,089 A
• Filed: 03/05/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leader Electronics Corp.
• Original Assignee: Leader Electronics Corp.
• Inventors: Nagai, Masaaki, Sasaki, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/812,955
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/427, 455/456, 455/457, 455/67.1, 342/126, 342/357, 342/453, 342/457
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A system for measuring electric field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell station and arriving at an arbitrary measuring location is provided that includes a tuner unit, cell station ID (CS-ID) demodulator unit, signal level (or electric field strength) detector (RSSI detector), memory unit, display unit, and controller (CPU). CS-ID codes included in radio waves from cell stations and transmitted to an arbitrary measuring location are detected by the demodulator unit, and electric field strength (RSSI) data of the received radio waves are detected by the RSSI detector. All sets of the CS-ID and RSSI data are stored at addresses in the memory unit corresponding to each of the measuring locations, and the stored sets of the CS-ID data and RSSI data are read from the memory unit and displayed on the display unit in association with information indicative of the measuring location.

Claims

1. A system for measuring electric field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell station and arriving at an arbitrary measuring location, comprising:

identification code detecting means for detecting cell station identification (CS-ID) codes included in respective radio waves received at a measuring location, each CS-ID code representing a cell station that transmitted the radio waves associated with the CS-ID code, respectively;

electric field strength detecting means for detecting electric field strength (RSSI) of radio waves associated with the CS-ID codes;

storage means for storing CS-ID codes and associated RSSI data detected by the identification code detecting means and the electric field strength detecting means, together with information identifying the measuring location;

display means for displaying CS-ID codes and RSSI data from the storage means on a display screen in association with information indicative of the measuring location; and

control means for controlling operations of the identification code detecting means, the electric field strength detecting means, the storage means, and the display means,

wherein;

the storage means has previously stored image data representing a map including the measuring location, the map being displayed on the display means;

the system is further adapted to execute a measuring point plot mode such that when a measuring point is designated on the map displayed on the display means, the control means specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the designated measuring point on the map to store all sets of CS-ID data and RSSI data at the specified addresses and places a measuring point mark at the designated measuring point on the map; and

the system is further adapted to execute a plot deletion mode such that when a measuring point is designated on the map displayed on the display means, the control means specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the designated measuring point on the map to erase the stored CS-ID data and RSSI data therefrom and deletes the measuring point mark on the map.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is further adapted to execute a plot confirmation mode such that when a measuring point is designated on the map displayed on the display means, the control means specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the designated measuring point on the map to read all the sets of CS-ID data and RSSI data from the designated addresses and controls to display the sets of the read CS-ID data and RSSI data on the display means.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein a measuring point or a position of a cell station on the map displayed on the display means is designated by clicking on the map.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the display means comprises a liquid crystal display.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cell stations are those of a personal handy phone system.

6. A system for measuring electric field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell stations and received at an arbitrary measuring location, comprising:

identification code detecting means for detecting cell station identification (CS-ID) codes included in respective radio waves received at a measuring location, each CS-ID code representing a cell station that transmitted the radio waves associated with the CS-ID code, respectively;

electric field strength detecting means for detecting electric field strength (RSSI) of radio waves associated with the CS-ID codes;

storage means for storing CS-ID codes and associated RSSI data detected by the identification code detecting means and the electric field strength detecting means, together with information identifying the measuring location;

display means for displaying CS-ID codes and RSSI data from the storage means on a display screen in association with information indicative of the measuring location; and

control means for controlling operations of the identification code detecting means, the electric field strength detecting means, the storage means, and the display means,

wherein;

the storage means has previously stored image data representing a map including the measuring location, the map being displayed on the display means;

the system is further adapted to execute a measuring point plot mode such that when a measuring point is designated on the map displayed on the display means, the control means specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the designated measuring point on the map to store all sets of CS-ID data and RSSI data at the specified addresses and places a measuring point mark at the designated measuring point on the map; and

the system is further adapted to execute a cell station plot mode such that when a cell station is designated on the map displayed on the display means, the control means specifies an address in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the position of the designated cell station on the map to store CS-ID code indicative of the cell station in the specified address and places a cell station mark at the position of the cell station on the map.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the system is further adapted to execute a particular cell station color display mode such that when the position of a cell station is designated on the map displayed on the display means, the control means specifies an address in the storage means corresponding to the coordinates of the position of the designated cell station on coordinates of the position of the designated cell station on the map to read the CS-ID data indicative of the designated cell station therefrom, specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to the coordinates of all the measuring points on the map on the display means to read the RSSI data therefrom, and extracts only the RSSI data paired with the read CS-ID data to mark the associated measuring points on the map in colors corresponding to the value of the RSSI data, so as to display the electric field strength of receivable radio waves transmitted from the designated cell station in the colors.

8. A system for measuring electric field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell stations and received at an arbitrary measuring location, comprising:

identification code detecting means for detecting cell station identification (CS-ID) codes included in respective radio waves received at a measuring location, each CS-ID code representing a cell station that transmitted the radio waves associated with the CS-ID code, respectively;

electric field strength detecting means for detecting electric field strength (RSSI) of radio waves associated with the CS-ID codes;

storage means for storing CS-ID codes and associated RSSI data detected by the identification code detecting means and the electric field strength detecting means, together with information identifying the measuring location;

display means for displaying CS-ID codes and RSSI data from the storage means on a display screen in association with information indicative of the measuring location; and

control means for controlling operations of the identification code detecting means, the electric field strength detecting means, the storage means, and the display means,

wherein;

the storage means has previously stored image data representing a map including the measuring location, the map being displayed on the display means;

the system is further adapted to execute a measuring point plot mode such that when a measuring point is designated on the map displayed on the display means, the control means specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the designated measuring point on the map to store all sets of CS-ID data and RSSI data at the specified addresses and places a measuring point mark at the designated measuring point on the map; and

the system is further adapted to execute a communicable cell station number color display mode such that the control means specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of all the measuring points on the map on the display means to read the CS-ID data stored therein, counts the number of the read CS-ID data for each measuring point, and marks the measuring points on the maps in colors corresponding to counted values, respectively, so as to display the numbers of communicable cell stations at the measuring points in the colors.

9. A system for measuring electric field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell stations and received at an arbitrary measuring location, comprising:

identification code detecting means for detecting cell station identification (CS-ID) codes included in respective radio waves received at a measuring location, each CS-ID code representing a cell station that transmitted the radio waves associated with the CS-ID code, respectively;

electric field strength detecting means for detecting electric field strength (RSSI) of radio waves associated with the CS-ID codes;

storage means for storing CS-ID codes and associated RSSI data detected by the identification code detecting means and the electric field strength detecting means, together with information identifying the measuring location;

display means for displaying CS-ID codes and RSSI data from the storage means on a display screen in association with information indicative of the measuring location; and

control means for controlling operations of the identification code detecting means, the electric field strength detecting means, the storage means, and the display means,

wherein;

the storage means has previously stored image data representing a map including the measuring location, the map being displayed on the display means;

the system is further adapted to execute a measuring point plot mode such that when a measuring point is designated on the map displayed on the display means, the control means specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the designated measuring point on the map to store all sets of CS-ID data and RSSI data at the specified addresses and places a measuring point mark at the designated measuring point on the map; and

the system is further adapted to execute a maximum electric field strength color display mode such that the control means specifies addresses in the storage means corresponding to the coordinates of all the measuring points on the map on the display means to read the RSSI data stored therein, and detects a maximum value of the read RSSI data for each measuring point, and marks the associated measuring points on the map in colors corresponding to the detected maximum values, so as to display the maximum electric field strength at the measuring points in the colors.

10. A method of measuring electrical field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell stations and received at an arbitrary measuring location, comprising the steps of:

detecting cell station identification (CS-ID) codes included in respective radio waves received at a measuring location, the CS-ID codes representing cell stations which transmit the radio waves, respectively;

detecting electric field strength (RSSI) of the received respective radio waves;

storing all sets of the CS-ID data and associated RSSI data detected at each of measuring locations, in addresses corresponding to the measuring location of storage means having previously stored image data representing a map including the measuring location;

displaying all sets of the CS-ID data and RSSI data read from the storage means on a display means in association with information indicative of the measuring location;

reading the image data from the storage means and displaying the map on the display means;

plotting a measuring point by;

setting a measuring point plot mode,

designating a measuring point on the map displayed on the display means, and

placing a measuring point mark at the designated measuring point on the map,

wherein the steps of storing the CS-ID data and the RSSI data and displaying them are executed when the measuring point is designated on the map; and

deleting a measuring point by;

setting a plot deletion mode;

designating a measuring point on the map displayed on the display means;

specifying addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the designated measuring point on the map to erase the stored CS-ID data and RSSI data therefrom; and

deleting the measuring point mark on the map.

11. A method according to claim 10, further including confirming a plot by:

setting a plot confirmation mode;

designating a measuring point on the map displayed on the display means;

specifying addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the designated measuring point on the map to read all the sets of CS-ID data and RSSI data from the designated addresses; and

displaying the sets of the read CS-ID data and RSSI data on the display means.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein a measuring point or a position of a cell station on the map displayed on the display means is designated by clicking on the map.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the display means comprises a liquid crystal display.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the cell stations are those of a personal handy phone system.

15. A method of measuring electrical field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell stations and arriving at an arbitrary measuring location, comprising the steps of:

detecting cell station identification codes (CS-ID) included in respective radio waves received at a measuring location, the CS-ID codes representing cell stations which transmit the radio waves, respectively;

detecting electric field strength (RSSI) of the received respective radio waves;

storing all sets of the CS-ID data and associated RSSI data detected at each of measuring locations, in addresses corresponding to the measuring location of storage means having previously stored image data representing a map including the measuring location; and

displaying all sets of the CS-ID data and RSSI data read from the storage means on a display means in association with information indicative of the measuring location;

reading the image data from the storage means and displaying the map on the display means;

plotting a measuring point by;

setting a measuring point plot mode,

designating a measuring point on the map displayed on the display means, and

placing a measuring point mark at the designated measuring point on the map,

plotting a cell station by;

setting a cell station plot mode;

designating a cell station on the map displayed on the display means;

specifying an address in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of the position of the designated cell station on the map to store CS-ID code indicative of the cell station in the specified address; and

placing a cell station mark at the position of the cell station on the map.

16. A method according to claim 15, further including the steps of:

setting a particular cell station color display mode;

designating a cell station on the map displayed on the display means;

specifying an address in the storage means corresponding to the coordinates of the position of the designated cell station on the map to read the CS-ID data indicative of the designated cell station therefrom;

specifying addresses in the storage means corresponding to the coordinates of all the measuring points on the map on the display means to read the RSSI data therefrom;

extracting only the RSSI data paired with the read CS-ID data; and

marking the associated measuring points on the map in colors corresponding to the value of the extracted RSSI data, so as to display the electric field strength of receivable radio waves transmitted from the designated cell station in the colors.

17. A method of measuring electrical field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell stations and arriving at an arbitrary measuring location, comprising the steps of:

detecting cell station identification codes (CS-ID) included in respective radio waves received at a measuring location, the CS-ID codes representing cell stations which transmit the radio waves, respectively;

detecting electric field strength (RSSI) of the received respective radio waves;

storing all sets of the CS-ID data and associated RSSI data detected at each of measuring locations, in addresses corresponding to the measuring location of storage means having previously stored image data representing a map including the measuring location; and

displaying all sets of the CS-ID data and RSSI data read from the storage means on a display means in association with information indicative of the measuring location;

reading the image data from the storage means and displaying the map on the display means;

plotting a measuring point by;

setting a measuring point plot mode,

designating a measuring point on the map displayed on the display means, and

placing a measuring point mark at the designated measuring point on the map,

displaying numbers of communicable cell stations by;

setting a communicable cell station number color display mode;

specifying addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of all the measuring points on the map on the display means to read the CS-ID data stored therein;

counting the number of the read CS-ID data for each measuring point; and

marking the measuring point on the maps in colors corresponding to counted values, respectively, so as to display the numbers of communicable cell stations at the measuring points in the colors.

18. A method of measuring electrical field strength of radio waves transmitted from cell stations and arriving at an arbitrary measuring location, comprising the steps of:

detecting cell station identification codes (CS-ID) included in respective radio waves received at a measuring location, the CS-ID codes representing cell stations which transmit the radio waves, respectively;

detecting electric field strength (RSSI) of the received respective radio waves;

storing all sets of the CS-ID data and associated RSSI data detected at each of measuring locations, in addresses corresponding to the measuring location of storage means having previously stored image data representing a map including the measuring location; and

displaying all sets of the CS-ID data and RSSI data read from the storage means on a display means in association with information indicative of the measuring location;

reading the image data from the storage means and displaying the map on the display means;

plotting a measuring point by;

setting a measuring point plot mode,

designating a measuring point on the map displayed on the display means, and

placing a measuring point mark at the designated measuring point on the map,

plotting maximum electric field strength by;

setting a maximum electric field strength color display mode;

specifying addresses in the storage means corresponding to coordinates of all the measuring points on the map on the display means to read the RSSI data stored therein;

detecting a maximum value of the read RSSI data for each measuring point; and

marking the associated measuring points on the map in colors corresponding to the detected maximum values, so as to display the maximum electric field strength at the measuring points in the colors.