Method of tuning handoff neighbor lists
First Claim
1. In a wireless telecommunications network having a plurality of wireless coverage areas, a record of handoff statistics, and a neighbor list associated with at least a given one of said plurality of wireless coverage areas, wherein said wireless telecommunications system makes handoffs from said given wireless coverage area based on signal strength measurements involving wireless coverage areas identified in said neighbor list, a method for tuning said neighbor list for said given wireless coverage area, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting m relevant coverage areas from said plurality of wireless coverage areas, exclusive of said given coverage area;
for each one of said m relevant coverage areas, calculating, based at least in part on said handoff statistics, a corresponding ranking number related to a frequency of handoffs involving said given coverage area and said one of said m relevant coverage areas, thereby providing m ranking numbers;
ranking said m relevant coverage areas based on their corresponding ranking numbers;
identifying a first set consisting of a first number of highest-ranked coverage areas from among said m relevant coverage areas; and
revising said neighbor list to identify each of said first number of coverage areas in said first set.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless telecommunications network includes a mobile switching center (MSC) that controls a plurality of base stations. Each base station defines one or more wireless coverage areas, which may be termed “cells” or “sectors.” Associated with each of these wireless coverage areas is a “neighbor list” that lists a number of other wireless coverage areas to which handoffs are preferably made. The MSC has access to a database of handoff statistics and to a database of neighbor lists for the wireless coverage areas that it controls. The handoff statistics provide an indication of the frequencies at which handoffs have occurred between the various wireless coverage areas. To tune a neighbor list for a given wireless coverage area, the other wireless coverage areas are ranked based on the frequency of handoffs involving that wireless coverage area and the given wireless coverage area, as reflected in the handoff statistics. The wireless coverage areas with the highest handoff frequencies are added to the neighbor list for the given wireless coverage area. In preferred embodiments, the wireless coverage areas in a neighbor list may be further categorized into a first priority set, a second priority set, and a third priority set, based on their handoff frequencies.
83 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a wireless telecommunications network having a plurality of wireless coverage areas, a record of handoff statistics, and a neighbor list associated with at least a given one of said plurality of wireless coverage areas, wherein said wireless telecommunications system makes handoffs from said given wireless coverage area based on signal strength measurements involving wireless coverage areas identified in said neighbor list, a method for tuning said neighbor list for said given wireless coverage area, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting m relevant coverage areas from said plurality of wireless coverage areas, exclusive of said given coverage area;
for each one of said m relevant coverage areas, calculating, based at least in part on said handoff statistics, a corresponding ranking number related to a frequency of handoffs involving said given coverage area and said one of said m relevant coverage areas, thereby providing m ranking numbers;
ranking said m relevant coverage areas based on their corresponding ranking numbers;
identifying a first set consisting of a first number of highest-ranked coverage areas from among said m relevant coverage areas; and
revising said neighbor list to identify each of said first number of coverage areas in said first set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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6. The method of 5, wherein said third set defines a third priority set in said neighbor list.
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13. In a wireless telecommunications network having a plurality of wireless coverage areas, a database of handoff statistics, and a neighbor list associated with at least a given one of said plurality of wireless coverage areas, wherein said wireless telecommunications system makes handoffs from said given wireless coverage area based on signal strength measurements involving wireless coverage areas identified in said neighbor list, said neighbor list including a first priority set, a second priority set, and a third priority set, a method for tuning said neighbor list, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting m relevant coverage areas from said plurality of wireless coverage areas, exclusive of said given coverage area;
for each of one of said m relevant coverage areas calculating, based at least in part on said handoff statistics, a corresponding ranking number related to a frequency of handoffs involving said given coverage area and said one of said m relevant coverage areas, thereby providing m ranking numbers;
ranking said m relevant coverage areas based on their corresponding ranking numbers;
finding a largest integer, p, that satisfies at least a first predetermined criterion;
finding a largest integer, q, that satisfies at least a second predetermined criterion;
finding a largest integer, r, that satisfies at least a third predetermined criterion;
identifying a first priority set consisting of p highest-ranked coverage areas from among said m relevant coverage areas;
identifying a second priority set consisting of q highest-ranked coverage areas from among said m relevant coverage areas not in said first priority set;
identifying a third priority set consisting of r highest-ranked coverage areas from among said m relevant coverage areas not in said first or second priority sets; and
revising said neighbor list to identify each of said p coverage areas in said first priority set, each of said q coverage areas in said second priority set, and each of r coverage areas in said third priority set. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification