Method and apparatus for optimizing parameters of a communication system

• US 6,442,389 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marcum, Rodney Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US09/337,080
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 370/332, 370/331, 370/333, 455/437, 455/438, 455/440, 455/442, 455/446, 455/436
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/304 due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality

Abstract

A communication system via the aid of a mobile station (195) and a computing device (150) determines value of an offset factor. Mobile station (195) measures a pilot signal strength transmitted from one of the base stations (160, 170, 180), changes value of the measured pilot signal strength according to the value of the offset factor, and reports the changed pilot signal strength in substitute of the pilot signal strength to one of the base station responsible for transmission of the pilot signal. Upon satisfactory performance, offset factor, at the base station, modifies the values of a common set of parameters that includes a threshold add and threshold comp to be used subsequently for all mobile stations.

Claims

1. A communication system that includes at least a base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein said plurality of mobile stations use a common set of parameters in said communication system to operate in said communication system, a method in said communication system comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a pilot signal strength;

(b) determining value of an offset factor by subtracting value of an threshold-add parameter from value of an optimized threshold-add to determine value of said offset factor, wherein said threshold-add parameter is included in said common set of parameters;

(c) changing value of said measured pilot signal strength according to value of said offset factor; and

(d) reporting said changed pilot signal strength in substitute of said pilot signal strength.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said measuring at step (a), said changing at step (c) and reporting at step (d) are performed by a first mobile station of said plurality of mobile stations.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a recipient of said reported said changed pilot signal strength is said base station responsible for transmission of said pilot signal.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(e) comparing value of said reported pilot strength to value of said threshold-add parameter;

(f) measuring performance of said communication system after said step (e);

(g) substituting, when performance of said communication system measured in the step (f) pass a predefined criteria, said optimized threshold-add value for said threshold-add value in said common set of parameters in said communication system such that all mobile stations in said communication system are using said optimized threshold-add value in operation with said communication system.

5. A communication system that includes at least a base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein said plurality of mobile stations use a common set of parameters in said communication system to operate in said communication system, a method in said communication system comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a pilot signal strength;

(b) determining value of an offset factor by subtracting value of a threshold-comp parameter from value of an optimized threshold-comp to determine value of said offset factor, wherein said threshold-comp parameter is included in said common set of parameters;

(c) changing value of said measured pilot signal strength according to value of said offset factor; and

(d) reporting said changed pilot signal strength in substitute of said pilot signal strength.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

(e) comparing value of said reported pilot strength to value of said threshold-comp parameter;

(f) measuring performance of said communication system after said step (e); and

(g) substituting, when performance of said communication system measured in the step (f) pass a predefined criteria, said optimized threshold-comp value for said threshold comp value in said common set of parameters in said communication system such that all mobile stations in said communication system are using said optimized threshold-comp value in operation with said communication system.

7. A communication system that includes at least a base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein said plurality of mobile stations use a common set of parameters in said communication system to operate in said communication system, an apparatus in said communication system comprising:

a) means for measuring a pilot signal strength;

(b) means for determining value of an offset factor by subtracting value of an threshold-add parameter from value of an optimized threshold-add to determine value of said offset factor, wherein said threshold-add parameter is included in said common set of parameters;

(c) means for changing value of said measured pilot signal strength according to value of said offset factor; and

(d) means for reporting said changed pilot signal strength in substitute of said pilot signal strength.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said means (a), said means (c) and said means (d) are incorporated in a first mobile station of said plurality of mobile stations.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein a recipient of said reported said changed pilot signal strength is said base station responsible for transmission of said pilot signal.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising:

(e) means for comparing value of said reported pilot strength to value of said threshold-add parameter;

(f) means for measuring performance of said communication system after said step (e);

(g) means for substituting, when performance of said communication system measured by means (f) pass a predefined criteria, said optimized threshold-add value for said threshold-add value in said common set of parameters in said communication system such that all mobile stations in said communication system are using said optimized threshold-add value in operation with said communication system.

11. A communication system that includes at least a base station and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein said plurality of mobile stations use a common set of parameters in said communication system to operate in said communication system, an apparatus in said communication system comprising:

(a) means for measuring a pilot signal strength;

(b) means for determining value of an offset factor by subtracting value of a threshold-comp parameter from value of an optimized threshold-comp to determine value of said offset factor, wherein said threshold-comp parameter is included in said common set of parameters;

(c) means for changing value of said measured pilot signal strength according to value of said offset factor; and

(d) means for reporting said changed pilot signal strength in substitute of said pilot signal strength.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

(e) means for comparing value of said reported pilot strength to value of said threshold-comp parameter;

(f) means for measuring performance of said communication system in series with said means (e); and

(g) means for substituting, when performance of said communication system measured by means (f) pass a predefined criteria, said optimized threshold-comp value for said comp-threshold value in said common set of parameters in said communication system such that all mobile stations in said communication system are using said optimized threshold-comp value in operation with said communication system.