Method and system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over wide geographic areas

• US 7,116,980 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Castle International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Castle International Corporation
• Inventors: Kelly, John Patrick, Weir, Michael John, Ramke, Michael Glen, Bigler, Glenn Patrick, O'Toole, David Paul, Parsons, David Colin, Fawaz, Jed Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Balaoing, Ariel
• Application Number:
  US10/739,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20050136931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 455/446, 370/254
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A method and system for management of radio frequency coverage over a wide geographic area. A database is created specifying a geographic location for each of a large number of existing communication locations within a wide geographic area. Selected physical parameters are then associated with each communication location including: addresses; site plans; structural drawings; and, actual measured signal strength for multiple entities authorized to transmit at selected frequencies within that geographic area. Thereafter, communication locations may be automatically accessed by specifying either a physical location or by accessing those locations where measured signal strengths fall below a selected level. Once accessed, all stored physical parameters associated with a selected communication location may be displayed, including: photographs of the location, site plans, structural drawings and readiness data.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

creating a database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of existing communication locations within a wide geographic area and a listing of physical parameters associated with each communication location, including space availability for additional communications equipment;

periodically verifying said plurality of physical parameters for selected ones of said plurality of existing communication locations and thereafter validating said plurality of physical parameters within said database;

storing measured signal strength at each specified communication frequency in a predetermined radius around each existing communication location within said database;

selecting an entity authorized to transmit by government authorities within said wide geographic area utilizing a specified communication frequency; and

thereafter, selectively accessing said database and listing each existing communication location within said database in a geographic location having a signal strength below a specified level for said selected entity authorized to transmit by government authorities within said wide geographic area by displaying a list of all existing communication locations within said database in a geographic location having a signal strength below a specified level and a listing of physical parameters associated wit each communication location, including space availability for additional communications equipment.

2. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 1 further including the step of permitting access to said database across a wide area network.

3. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 2 further including the step of requiring a user to enter a selected password prior to permitting access to said database across said wide area network.

4. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of creating a database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of existing communication locations within a wide geographic area comprises the step of creating a database specifying a longitude and latitude for each of a plurality of existing communication locations within a wide geographic area.

5. The computer implemented method for management of radio frequency communication coverage in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of creating a database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of existing communication locations within a wide geographic area comprises the step of creating a database specifying a geographical location and a plurality of physical parameters for each of said plurality of existing communication locations within a wide geographic area.

6. A computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage over a wide geographic area, said system comprising:

a computer;

a database within said computer specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of existing communication, locations within a wide geographic area and a listing of physical parameters associated with each communication location, including space availability for additional communications equipment;

a listing within said database showing a periodic verification of said plurality of physical parameters for selected ones of said plurality of existing communication locations;

a listing within said database of each entity authorized to transmit by government authorities within said wide geographic area utilizing a specified communication frequency;

a listing of measured signal strength at each specified communication frequency in a predetermined radius around each existing communication location within said database; and

means for selectively accessing said database and listing each existing communication location within said database in a geographic location having a signal strength below a specified level for a specific entity authorized to transmit by government authorities within said wide geographic area by displaying a list of all existing communication locations within said database in a geographic location having a signal strength below a specified level and a listing of physical parameters associated with each communication location, including space availability for additional communications equipment.

7. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 6 further including means for permitting access to said database across a wide area network.

8. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 7 further including means for requiring a user to enter a selected password prior to permitting access to said database across said wide area network.

9. The computer implemented system for management of radio frequency communication coverage according to claim 6 wherein said database specifying a geographic location for each of a plurality of existing communication locations within a wide geographic area comprises a database specifying a longitude and latitude for each of a plurality of existing communication locations within a wide geographic area.