Method and processor for determining loading of a telecommunications system and applications of the system-loading determination

• US 6,768,905 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle Technology, LLC (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: M/A-Com Private Radio Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Goodjohn, Paul, Peterson, III, Eugene H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Duy K
• Application Number:
  US09/682,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20030027580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 455/453, 455/423, 455/425, 455/510
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

Method and processor for determining loading of a communications system shared by a plurality of user-terminals are provided. The method allows a respective terminal for monitoring a control channel including logical messages therein. The monitoring of the messages in the control channel is performed regardless of whether or not the logical messages therein are specifically addressed to that terminal. The method further allows for estimating a parameter indicative of system loading based on information in the monitored logical messages.

Claims

1. A method for determining loading of a communications system shared by a plurality of user-terminals, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a respective terminal, of a control channel including logical messages therein, the monitoring of the messages in the control channel being performed regardless of whether or not the logical messages therein are specifically addressed to that terminal, wherein the logical messages are selected from the group consisting of activity and broadcast messages; and

estimating a parameter indicative of system loading based on information in the monitored logical messages, wherein the estimating of the parameter indicative of system loading comprises computing an average over a predefined window, wherein the computing of the average over the predefined window is based on the following equation;

$\mathrm{SystemLoadingestimate}=\frac{\mathrm{ACTIVITY}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{messages}}{\mathrm{ACTIVITY}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{messages}+\mathrm{BROADCAST}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{messages}}.$

2. The method of claim 1 where the estimated system loading is processed to dynamically adjust the repetition rate of lower priority communication transactions.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the event an initial access request by the terminal is unsuccessful, the estimated system loading is processed to adjust the time for retrying a system access.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a system-load threshold.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising comparing the system-load estimate relative to the system-load threshold so that in the event the threshold is exceeded, executing a block of system access by the terminal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the event the system being presently used needs a backup system, the estimated system loading is used for influencing the selection of a backup communication system.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring a respective working channel including each queued-call assignment therein regardless of originator and/or destination to generate an estimation of working-channel loading.

8. A method for determining loading of a communications system shared by a plurality of user-terminals, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a respective terminal, of a control channel including logical messages therein, the monitoring of the messages in the control channel being performed regardless of whether or not the logical messages therein are specifically addressed to that terminal; and

estimating a parameter indicative of system loading based on information in the monitored logical messages, wherein the estimating of the parameter indicative of system loading comprises computing a sliding average, wherein the computing of the sliding average is based on the following equation;

9. The method of claim 8 where the estimated system loading is processed to dynamically adjust the repetition rate of lower priority communication transactions.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein, in the event an initial access request by the terminal is unsuccessful, the estimated system loading is processed to adjust the time for retrying a system access.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a system-load threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising comparing the system-load estimate relative to the system-load threshold so that in the event the threshold is exceeded, executing a block of system access by the terminal.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein, in the event the system being presently used needs a backup system, the estimated system loading is used for influencing the selection of a backup communication system.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising monitoring a respective working channel including each queued-call assignment therein regardless of originator and/or destination to generate an estimation of working-channel loading.

15. A processor for determining loading of a communications system shared by a plurality of user-terminals, the processor comprising:

a radio channel monitor configured to monitor in a respective terminal a control channel, the control channel including logical messages therein, the monitor further configured to monitor the logical messages in the control channel regardless of whether or not the logical messages therein are specifically addressed to that terminal, wherein the logical messages are selected from the group consisting of activity and broadcast messages; and

an estimator configured to estimate a parameter indicative of system loading based on information supplied by the monitor, wherein the estimating of the parameter indicative of system loading comprises computing an average over a predefined window, wherein the computing of the average over the predefined window is based on the following equation;

$\mathrm{SystemLoadingestimate}=\frac{\mathrm{ACTIVITY}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{messages}}{\mathrm{ACTIVITY}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{messages}+\mathrm{BROADCAST}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{messages}}.$

16. The processor of claim 15 where the estimated system loading is processed to dynamically adjust the repetition rate of lower priority communication transactions.

17. The processor of claim 15 wherein, in the event an initial access request by the terminal is unsuccessful, the estimated system loading is processed to adjust the time for retrying a system access.

18. The processor of claim 15 further comprising memory for storing a system-load threshold.

19. The processor of claim 18 further comprising a comparator configured to compare the system-load estimate relative to the system-load threshold so that in the event the threshold is exceeded, executing a block of system access by the terminal.

20. The processor of claim 15 wherein, in the event the system being presently used needs a backup system, the estimated system loading is processed for influencing the selection of the backup communication system.

21. The processor of claim 15 wherein the radio channel monitor is further configured to monitor a respective working channel including each queued-call assignment therein regardless of originator and/or destination to generate an estimation of working-channel loading.

22. A processor for determining loading of a communications system shared by a plurality of user-terminals, the processor comprising:

a radio channel monitor configured to monitor in a respective terminal a control channel, the control channel including logical messages therein, the monitor further configured to monitor the logical messages in the control channel regardless of whether or not the logical messages therein are specifically addressed to that terminal; and

an estimator configured to estimate a parameter indicative of system loading based on information supplied by the monitor, wherein the estimating of the parameter indicative of system loading comprises computing a sliding average, wherein the computing of the sliding average is based on the following equation;

23. The processor of claim 22 where the estimated system loading is processed to dynamically adjust the repetition rate of lower priority communication transactions.

24. The processor of claim 22 wherein, in the event an initial access request by the terminal is unsuccessful, the estimated system loading is processed to adjust the time for retrying a system access.

25. The processor of claim 22 further comprising memory for storing a system-load threshold.

26. The processor of claim 25 further comprising a comparator configured to compare the system-load estimate relative to the system-load threshold so that in the event the threshold is exceeded, executing a block of system access by the terminal.

27. The processor of claim 22 wherein, in the event the system being presently used needs a backup system, the estimated system loading is processed for influencing the selection of the backup communication system.

28. The processor of claim 22 wherein the radio channel monitor is further configured to monitor a respective working channel including each queued-call assignment therein regardless of originator and/or destination to generate an estimation of working-channel loading.