Method for selecting markets in which to deploy fixed wireless communication systems

• US 6,512,916 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: America Connect, Inc.
• Inventors: Forbes, Joseph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/635,941
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/67.1, 455/67.6, 455/422, 455/424, 455/517, 455/446, 455/3.01, 455/554, 455/555
• US Class Current: 455/67.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A method for selecting geographic areas or markets in which to deploy fixed wireless communication systems (100) is preferably accomplished by selecting only markets in which the populations rank between approximately the twentieth and the eightieth percentiles of a country'"'"'s regional populations ranked in increasing order to produce a first set of selected markets. Markets in the first set are further refined by selecting only those markets in the first set that have population centers within a predetermined distance of population centers of regions. The markets in the second set are further limited by selecting only those markets of the second set in which the most populated city in the market is within a predetermined distance of an existing microwave transceiver site. The third set of markets is further restricted by selecting only those markets in which the per capita personal income is greater than a threshold to produce the desired markets in which to deploy the systems.

Claims

1. A method for selecting geographic areas in which to deploy fixed wireless communication systems, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a first set of geographic areas, wherein the first set geographic areas have populations that rank approximately between the twentieth and the eightieth percentile of regional populations ranked in increasing order;

selecting a second set of geographic areas from the first set of geographic areas, wherein the second set of geographic areas have population centers within respective predetermined distances of population centers of geographic areas that have populations greater than the eightieth percentile of regional populations ranked in increasing order;

selecting a third set of geographic areas from the second set of geographic areas, wherein a most-populated municipality of each geographic area of the third set of geographic areas is respectively located within a predetermined distance of at least one of an existing microwave transceiver site and an existing point of presence; and

selecting a fourth set of geographic areas from the third set of geographic areas, wherein each geographic area of the fourth set of geographic areas has a per capita personal income greater than a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of geographic areas comprise geographic areas with populations less than or equal to approximately 165,000 persons.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective predetermined distances of population centers of geographic areas that have populations greater than the eightieth percentile of regional populations ranked in increasing order comprise distances of less than or equal to approximately one hundred twenty kilometers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance of at least one of an existing microwave transceiver site and an existing point of presence comprises a distance of less than or equal to approximately forty kilometers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold for per capita personal income is twenty thousand dollars.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a quantity of geographic areas in the fourth set is a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period; and

in the event that the quantity of geographic areas in the fourth set is not a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period, selecting a fifth set of geographic areas from the fourth set of geographic areas, wherein each geographic area of the fifth set of geographic areas has a household density that is greater than a density threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the density threshold comprises one hundred fifty households per square kilometer.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a quantity of geographic areas in the fifth set is a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within the predetermined time period; and

in the event that the quantity of geographic areas in the fifth set is not a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within the predetermined time period, selecting a sixth set of geographic areas from the fifth set of geographic areas, wherein each geographic area of the sixth set of geographic areas has at least a threshold number of at least one of state roadways and federal highways passing through at least a portion of such geographic area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the threshold number of at least one of state roadways and federal highways is three.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a quantity of geographic areas in the sixth set is a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within the predetermined time period; and

in the event that the quantity of geographic areas in the sixth set is not a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within the predetermined time period, selecting at least a seventh set of geographic areas from the sixth set of geographic areas based on at least one of wireless frequency availability and a presence of existing broadband competition in the geographic areas of the sixth set.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a quantity of geographic areas in the fourth set is a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period; and

in the event that the quantity of geographic areas in the fourth set is not a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period, selecting a fifth set of geographic areas from the fourth set of geographic areas, wherein each geographic area of the fifth set of geographic areas has at least a threshold number of at least one of state roadways and federal highways passing through at least a portion of such geographic area.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold number is three.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a quantity of geographic areas in the fourth set is a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period; and

in the event that the quantity of geographic areas in the fourth set is not a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period, selecting at least a fifth set of geographic areas from the fourth set of geographic areas based on at least one of wireless frequency availability and a presence of existing broadband competition in the geographic areas of the fourth set.

14. A method for selecting geographic areas in which to deploy fixed wireless communication systems, the method comprising the steps of:

entering a first search criteria into a database which at least has access to census information, per capita personal income information, and information related to locations of microwave transceiver stations and points of presence, the first search criteria limiting a search in the database to geographic areas having populations that rank approximately between the twentieth and the eightieth percentiles of regional populations ranked in increasing order;

entering a second search criteria into the database, the second search criteria limiting the search in the database to geographic areas having population centers within respective predetermined distances of population centers of geographic areas that have populations greater than the eightieth percentile of regional populations ranked in increasing order;

entering a third search criteria into the database, the third search criteria limiting the search in the database to geographic areas having a respective most-populated municipality located within a predetermined distance of at least one of a microwave transceiver site and a point of presence;

entering a fourth search criteria into the database, the fourth search criteria limiting the search in the database to geographic areas having a per capita personal income greater than a threshold; and

executing the search in the database based on the first search criteria, the second search criteria, the third search criteria, and the fourth search criteria to select a set of geographic areas in which to deploy the fixed wireless communication systems.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the geographic areas having populations that rank approximately between the twentieth and the eightieth percentiles of regional populations ranked in increasing order comprise geographic areas with populations less than or equal to approximately 165,000 persons.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the respective predetermined distances of population centers of geographic areas that have populations greater than the eightieth percentile of regional populations ranked in increasing order comprise distances of less than or equal to approximately one hundred twenty kilometers.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined distance of at least one of a microwave transceiver site and a point of presence comprises a distance of less than or equal to approximately forty kilometers.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the threshold for per capita personal income is twenty thousand dollars.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a quantity of geographic areas in the set of geographic areas resulting from executing the search is a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period;

in the event that the quantity of geographic areas is not a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period,

entering a fifth search criteria into the database, the fifth search criteria limiting a new search in the database to geographic areas having a household density that is greater than a density threshold; and

executing the new search in the database based on the first search criteria, the second search criteria, the third search criteria, the fourth search criteria, and the fifth search criteria to select a new set of geographic areas in which to deploy the fixed wireless communication systems.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the density threshold comprises one hundred fifty households per square kilometer.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a quantity of geographic areas in the set of geographic areas resulting from executing the search is a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period;

in the event that the quantity of geographic areas is not a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period,

entering a fifth search criteria into the database, the fifth search criteria limiting a new search in the database to geographic areas having at least a threshold number of at least one of state roadways and federal highways passing through at least a portion of such geographic areas; and

executing the new search in the database based on the first search criteria, the second search criteria, the third search criteria, the fourth search criteria, and the fifth search criteria to select a new set of geographic areas in which to deploy the fixed wireless communication systems.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the threshold number of at least one of state roadways and federal highways is three.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a quantity of geographic areas in the set of geographic areas resulting from executing the search is a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period;

in the event that the quantity of geographic areas is not a reasonable quantity for deploying the fixed wireless communication systems within a predetermined time period,

entering a fifth search criteria into the database, the fifth search criteria limiting a new search in the database based on at least one of wireless frequency availability and a presence of existing broadband competition in geographic areas of the set of geographic areas; and

executing the new search in the database based on the first search criteria, the second search criteria, the third search criteria, the fourth search criteria, and the fifth search criteria to select a new set of geographic areas in which to deploy the fixed wireless communication systems.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the search comprises a simple query language search.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the database comprises a geographic information systems mapping software package.