Method and system for designing a cellular communication system

• US 6,181,917 B1
• Filed: 12/19/1995
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Mansour, Nagi Azzouz, Cox, Louis Anthony Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US08/574,873
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63, 455/69, 455/67.1, 455/33.1, 455/56.1, 455/67.3, 455/226.1, 455/228.2, 455/423, 455/424, 455/422, 455/446, 370/333, 370/335, 370/332, 370/372
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A method and system for designing a cell for a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication system and the like. The method includes measuring error rate as a function of signal level at a selected radio frequency, and determining a signal level corresponding to a selected error rate based on the measurements of error rate as a function of signal level. The method also includes determining a coverage area based on the signal level determined and a voice quality factor. The system includes input and output devices, a processor, memory and software for performing the method.

Claims

1. A method for designing a cellular code division multiple access communication system and the like, the method comprising:

measuring error rate as a function of signal level at a selected radio frequency;

determining a signal level corresponding to a selected error rate based on the measurements of error rate as a function of signal level;

determining a coverage area of a new cell for use in the communication system based on the signal level determined;

determining a voice quality level corresponding to the selected error rate;

modifying the signal level determined if the voice quality level determined is less than a selected threshold; and

determining a modified coverage area for the cell based on the modified signal level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a signal level corresponding to a selected error rate includes fitting a cubic spline to the measurements of error rate as a function of signal level.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the error rate is Frame Error Rate (FER).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the error rate is Bit Error Rate.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a coverage area is further based on a terrain factor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a coverage area is further based on a surface cover factor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a coverage area is further based on a traffic loading factor.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the selected FER is approximately 1%.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected radio frequency is approximately 800 MHz.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected radio frequency is approximately 1800 MHz.

11. A system for designing a cellular code division multiple access communication system and the like, the system comprising:

means for measuring error rate as a function of signal level at a selected radio frequency;

means for determining a signal level corresponding to a selected error rate based on the measurements of error rate as a function of signal level;

means for determining a coverage area of a new cell for use in the communication system based on the signal level determined;

means for determining a voice quality level corresponding to the selected error rate;

means for modifying the signal level determined if the voice quality level determined is less than a selected threshold; and

means for determining a modified coverage area for the cell based on the modified signal level.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for determining a signal level corresponding to a selected error rate includes means for fitting a cubic spline to the measurements of error rate as a function of signal level.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the error rate is Frame Error Rate (FER).

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the error rate is Bit Error Rate.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for determining a coverage area does so further based on a terrain factor.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for determining a coverage area does so further based on a surface cover factor.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for determining a coverage area does so further based on a traffic loading factor.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the selected FER is approximately 1%.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the selected radio frequency is approximately 800 MHz.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the selected radio frequency is approximately 1800 MHz.