Method for designing wireless communications cell sites using uplink parameters

• US 6,477,376 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1997
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carter, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US08/996,764
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.6, 455/69, 455/446, 455/449, 455/522, 455/423, 455/67.1, 455/59, 455/70
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A method for optimizing and simplifying the process of designing cell sites for mobile communications systems using uplink parameters. The method integrates a wide variety of propagation models and other utilities to provide solutions to a the most important cell design criteria. The method renders complex calculations in a usable manner.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating the coverage of a geographic area serviced by a communication system using a device that accepts and manipulates cell site data and generates a parametric value comprising:

receiving an initial set of cell site design parameters wherein the initial set of cell site design parameters includes uplink parameters comprising a power level for a mobile phone;

calculating a maximum allowable loss of a signal between the mobile phone and a cell site using the initial set of cell site design parameters wherein the power level of the mobile phone is constant;

choosing at least one of a plurality of propagation models;

calculating a predicted loss of the signal by refining the initial set of cell site design parameters; and

using the predicted loss to evaluate the coverage of the geographic area serviced by the communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting said cell site design parameters to obtain acceptable loss.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein at least two of the plurality of propagation models are used to determine the predicted loss.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the propagation models are stored in a database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed with a computer and wherein said step of calculating a predicted loss is performed in a software program housed in the computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said uplink parameters include antenna height and antenna gain.

7. A method of selecting a set of operating parameters in the design of a cell site in a wireless telecommunications system comprising:

collecting the set of operating parameters including a set of uplink parameters and a set of downlink parameters associated with the cell site, the set of uplink parameters comprising a power level for a mobile unit;

determining a maximum allowable loss to close the link between the cell site and the mobile unit in a cell based on the set of uplink parameters wherein the power level of the mobile unit is constant;

selecting at least one propagation model based on a comparison of predicted penetration loss and the set of operating parameters to determine a predicted loss;

calculating the predicted loss by refining the set of operating parameters; and

using the predicted loss in designing the cell site.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

a) varying the uplink design parameters to obtain an acceptable loss.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the uplink parameters include the height of an antenna at the cell site.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the uplink parameters include the antenna gain.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is performed with a computer and wherein the maximum allowable loss is determined using a software program housed in the computer.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one includes a plurality of propagation models are used to determine the predicted loss.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one propagation model includes LOS, NLOS, and long range empirical models.

14. A method of selecting a set of operating parameters in the design of a cell site in a wireless telecommunications system comprising:

identifying a proposed location for the cell site;

collecting the set of operating parameters including a set of uplink parameters and a set of downlink parameters associated with the cell site, the set of uplink parameters comprising a power level for a mobile unit;

determining a maximum allowable loss to close the link between the cell site and a mobile unit in a cell based on the set of uplink parameters using a spreadsheet wherein the power level of the mobile unit is constant;

selecting a propagation model based on a comparison of a predicted penetration loss and the set of operating parameters to determine a predicted loss;

calculating the predicted loss by refining the set of operating parameters; and

using the predicted loss in designing the cell site.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is performed with a computer and wherein the spreadsheet is a software program housed in the computer.

16. A method of selecting a set of operating parameters in the design of a cell site in a wireless telecommunications system comprising:

identifying a proposed location for the cell site;

collecting the set of operating parameters including a set of uplink parameters and a set of downlink parameters associated with the cell site, the set of uplink parameters comprising a power level for a mobile unit;

determining a maximum allowable loss to close the link between the cell site and a mobile unit in a cell based on the set of uplink parameters wherein the power level of the mobile unit is constant;

selecting a propagation model based on a comparison of a predicted penetration loss and the set of operating parameters to determine a predicted loss;

calculating the predicted loss by refining the set of operating parameters;

varying the parameters to obtain an acceptable loss; and

using the acceptable loss in designing the cell site;

wherein the set of uplink parameters include the height of an antenna at the cell site and wherein the set of uplink parameters include the gain of an antenna at the cell site.

17. A method of selecting a set of operating parameters in the design of a cell site in a wireless telecommunications system comprising:

identifying a proposed location for the cell site;

collecting the set of operating parameters including a set of uplink parameters and a set of downlink parameters associated with the cell site, the set of uplink parameters comprising a power level for a mobile unit;

calculating a minimum required power at the mobile unit;

calculating a minimum required power at a base station receiver;

determining a maximum allowable loss to close the link between the cell site and the mobile unit in a cell based on the set of uplink parameters wherein the power level of the mobile unit is constant;

calculating a balanced downlink effective radiated power;

selecting a propagation model based on a comparison of a predicted penetration loss and the set of operating parameters to determine a predicted loss;

calculating the predicted loss by refining the set of operating parameters; and

using the predicted loss in designing the cell site.