Wireless telephone network optimization

• US 6,940,838 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Altamira Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invertix
• Inventors: Stead, Graham D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jagannathan, Melanie
• Application Number:
  US09/642,201
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/335, 370/337, 370/342, 370/350, 370/310, 455/449, 455/561, 455/434
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time

Abstract

A wireless network can be easily optimized utilizing processes according to the present invention. A simulation environment allows a network engineer to vary parameters (e.g., antenna height, tilt, and power) of a virtual model of the wireless network and observe how the changes affect coverage. Algorithms also enable hand off timing parameters for sectors in a wireless network to be optimized. One algorithm analyzes measured data regarding network coverage and regional terrain to arrive at a report containing recommended values for window size parameters (code division systems) or timing advance parameters (time division systems). Another algorithm analyzes measured data regarding network coverage to arrive at a report, containing recommended neighbor lists for each sector in the network.

Claims

1. A process of selecting a value of window size for a sector-of-interest in a code division multiple access wireless network, the process comprising:

select the earliest arriving multipath signal of all sectors that meet the threshold criteria E_c/I_o>

T_ADD, wherein T_ADD is a predetermined threshold signal level;

select a pair of sectors, ToSector and FromSector, that meet the threshold criteria E_c/I_o>

T_ADD;

set a window size of FromSector=chip delay of ToSector−

chip delay of the earliest arriving multipath sector;

evaluate whether the window size of FromSector>

maximum FromSector window size; and

in the event that the window size of FromSector is greater than the maximum window size, then set maximum FromSector window size=the window size of FromSector.

2. A computer program product for enabling a computer to select a value of window size for a sector-of-interest in a code division multiple access wireless network, the computer program product comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations, and

a computer readable medium embodying the software instructions;

the predetermined operations comprising;

select the earliest arriving multipath signal of all sectors that meet the threshold criteria E_c/I_o>

T_ADD, wherein T_ADD is a predetermined threshold signal level;

select a pair of sectors, ToSector and FromSector, that meet the threshold criteria E_c/I_o>

T_ADD;

set a window size of FromSector=chip delay of ToSector−

chip delay of the earliest arriving multipath sector;

evaluate whether the window size of FromSector>

maximum FromSector window size; and

in the event that the window size of FromSector is greater than the maximum window size, then set maximum FromSector window size=the window size of FromSector.

3. A computer system adapted to select a value of window size for a sector-of-interest in a code division multiple access wireless network, comprising:

a processor, and

a memory including software instructions adapted to enable the computer system to perform operations comprising;

select the earliest arriving multipath signal of all sectors that meet the threshold criteria E_c/I_o>

T_ADD, wherein T_ADD is a predetermined threshold signal level;

select a pair of sectors, ToSector and FromSector, that meet the threshold criteria E_c/I_o>

T_ADD;

set a window size of FromSector=chip delay of ToSector−

chip delay of the earliest arriving multipath sector;

evaluate whether the window size of FromSector>

maximum FromSector window size; and

in the event that the window size of FromSector is greater than the maximum window size, then set maximum FromSector window size=the window size of FromSector.