Methods and systems for adjusting sectors across coverage cells

• US 6,708,036 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telcordia Technologies Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Proctor, Paul, Zablocky, Paul G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks-Harold, Marsha D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ GUTIERREZ, RAFAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/884,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 455/446, 455/67.11, 455/423, 455/517, 455/424, 455/422, 455/524, 455/63.1, 455/63.2, 455/453, 370/241, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting sectors across coverage cells using base stations interconnected by a packet network. A plurality of wireless devices monitor the pilot channel signal strength of their respective serving cell. The serving cells then collect measurements from the wireless devices and calculate the boundaries of their respective coverage areas. The serving cells then transmit their calculations to their neighboringing cells. Upon receipt, the neighboring cells use the calculations to adjust the coverage of their sectors.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting coverage in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of cells, including a first serving cell and a second serving cell;

providing a first plurality of wireless devices and a second plurality of wireless devices, wherein the first plurality of wireless devices monitor a signal strength of the first serving cell and the second plurality of wireless devices monitor a signal strength of the second serving cell;

collecting signal strength information from the first plurality of wireless devices at the first serving cell;

collecting signal strength information from the second plurality of wireless devices at the second serving cell;

determining coverage area of the first and second serving cells based on the respective collected signal strength information;

exchanging coverage area information between the first serving cell and the second serving cell; and

adjusting the coverage area of the first or the second serving cell based on the determined coverage area information of the first and second serving cells.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coverage area information exchanged between the first cell and the second cell is communicated through a packet network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of claim 1 are repeated periodically.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of claim 1 are repeated periodically.

4. A method for mapping one or more coverage areas in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing a first cell that serves a plurality of wireless devices;

monitoring a power of the first cell;

collecting, at the first cell, information about the plurality of wireless devices; and

mapping a first coverage area based on the collected information, said mapping step comprising the step of determining a radius of the first coverage area by performing a linear regression based on the collected information by applying a model;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of collecting information is responsive to a measurement request from the first cell.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the steps of claim 4 are repeated periodically.

7. A method for mapping one or more coverage areas in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing a first cell that serves a plurality of wireless devices;

monitoring a power of the first cell;

collecting, at the first cell, information about the plurality of wireless devices;

mapping a first coverage area based on the collected information;

transmitting, from the first cell, mapping information about the first coverage area to a second cell having a second coverage area;

receiving, at the second cell, the mapping information;

determining whether the second coverage area should be adjusted based on the mapping information; and

adjusting the second coverage area based on the mapping information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mapping information is communicated between the first cell and the second cell through a packet network.

9. A method for adjusting coverage in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

receiving measurement information from at least one wireless device at a first cell having a first coverage area;

determining the first coverage area based on the received measurement information;

transmitting, from the first cell, information about the first coverage area to a second cell having a second coverage area;

receiving, at the second cell, the first coverage area information; and

adjusting the second coverage area based on the first coverage area information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of transmitting a pilot channel signal to the at least one wireless device, wherein the measurement information includes a strength measurement of the pilot channel signal received by the at least one wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of adjusting the coverage area of the second cell comprises the steps of:

changing a power of a pilot channel signal transmitted by the second cell; and

changing an antenna angle for the signal transmitted by the second cell.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the measurement information further includes a location of the least one wireless device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of determining whether the second coverage area should be adjusted based on the first coverage area information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second coverage areas are both adjusted.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the coverage area information exchanged between the first cell and the second cell is communicated through a packet network.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of receiving measurement information is responsive to a measurement request from the first cell.