Method of deploying a fixed wireless access communications network such that a specified level of link performance is maintained
First Claim
1. A method of deploying a fixed wireless access communications network such that a specified level of link performance is maintained, said network comprising a plurality of fixed base stations and a plurality of fixed subscriber stations, each subscriber station being arranged to communicate with one of the base stations via a communications link and each of the communications links being associated with one of a plurality of communications channels, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) receiving a request including a proposed change comprising the addition of an additional subscriber station to the communications network after the fixed wireless access communications network has been deployed;
(ii) selecting a chosen base station with which the additional subscriber station is to communicate if the proposed change is effected;
(iii) selecting a channel for communication between the additional subscriber station and the chosen base station on the basis of a fixed frequency plan;
(iv) determining a level of link performance provided by each of the communications links taking into account the proposed change; and
(v) effecting the proposed change if each of said determined levels of link performance are greater than the specified level of link performance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Current deployment methods for fixed wireless access communications networks typically give rise to a trade off between link performance and capacity. It is difficult to maintain specified levels of link performance while maximizing capacity. When a request to change a fixed wireless access network is received, for example, by adding a subscriber, moving a subscriber or adding a sector to a base station, the link performance at each communications link is determined. For example, by measuring the link performance at each link or by predicting or estimating these link performance levels. If the proposed change to the network does not compromise link performance, that is, the predicted or actual link performance levels are greater than a specified level, proposed change is implemented. Otherwise the now subscriber is placed on hold, pending change to the network such as addition of a new base station or sector. Estimates of the link budgets for each communications link are calculated for “worst case” scenario situations. This may be done using known deployment tools. The method is used in conjunction with fixed frequency planning or without fixed frequency planning. In the absence of fixed frequency planning, deployment of the communications network is eased.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of deploying a fixed wireless access communications network such that a specified level of link performance is maintained, said network comprising a plurality of fixed base stations and a plurality of fixed subscriber stations, each subscriber station being arranged to communicate with one of the base stations via a communications link and each of the communications links being associated with one of a plurality of communications channels, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) receiving a request including a proposed change comprising the addition of an additional subscriber station to the communications network after the fixed wireless access communications network has been deployed; (ii) selecting a chosen base station with which the additional subscriber station is to communicate if the proposed change is effected; (iii) selecting a channel for communication between the additional subscriber station and the chosen base station on the basis of a fixed frequency plan; (iv) determining a level of link performance provided by each of the communications links taking into account the proposed change; and (v) effecting the proposed change if each of said determined levels of link performance are greater than the specified level of link performance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system for deploying a fixed wireless access communications network such that a specified level of link performance is maintained, said network comprising a plurality of fixed base stations and a plurality of fixed subscriber stations, each subscriber station being arranged to communicate with one of the base stations via a communications link and each of the communications links being associated with one of a plurality of communications channels, said computer system comprising:
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(i) an input arranged to receive a request including a proposed change comprising the addition of an additional subscriber station to the communications network after the fixed wireless access communications network has been deployed; (ii) a processor arranged to determine a chosen base station with which the additional subscriber station is to communicate if the proposed change is effected;
selecting a channel for communication between the additional subscriber station and the chosen base station on the basis of a fixed frequency plan;
determine a level of link performance provided by each of the communications links, taking into account the proposed changed to the communications network; and
wherein said processor is further arranged to allow the proposed change to be effected if each of said determined levels of link performance are greater than the specified level of link performance.
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15. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium and arranged to control a computer system such that a fixed wireless access communications network may be deployed whilst a specified level of link performance is maintained, said network comprising a plurality of fixed base stations and a plurality of fixed subscriber stations, each subscriber station being arranged to communicate with one of the base stations via a communications link and each of the communications links being associated with one of a plurality of communications channels, said computer program being arranged to control said computer system such that:
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(i) a request is received including a proposed change comprising the addition of an additional subscriber station to the communications network after the fixed wireless access communications network has been deployed; (ii) a level of link performance provided by each of the communications links is determined, taking into account the proposed change; (iii) a chosen base station is selected with which the additional subscriber station is to communicate if the proposed change is effected; (iv) a channel for communication between the additional subscriber station and the chosen base station is selected on the basis of a fixed frequency plan; and (v) said change is effected if each of said determined levels of link performance are greater than the specified level of link performance.
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16. A fixed wireless access communications network comprising:
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(i) a plurality of fixed base stations and a plurality of fixed subscriber stations; (ii) a communications link associated with one of a plurality of communications channels between each subscriber station and one of the base stations;
wherein each said communications link provides a specified level of link performance;and wherein locations of the base stations are selected according to a fixed frequency plan, and the frequencies of each communications links is selected according to the fixed frequency plan.
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17. A method of deploying a fixed wireless access communications network such that a specified level of link performance is maintained, said network comprising a plurality of fixed base stations and a plurality of fixed subscriber stations, each subscriber station being arranged to communicate with one of the base stations via a communications link and each of the communications links being associated with one of a plurality of communications channels, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) receiving a request including a proposed change comprising the addition of an additional subscriber station to the communications network after the fixed wireless access communications network has been deployed; (ii) selecting a chosen base station with which the additional subscriber station is to communicate if the proposed change is effected; (iii) selecting a channel for communication between the additional subscriber station and the chosen base station on the basis of a fixed frequency plan; (iv) determining a level of link performance provided by each of the communications links taking into account the proposed change; (v) carrying out one of the group comprising;
effecting the proposed change if each of said determined levels of link performance are greater than the specified level of link performance and keeping said additional subscriber station on hold and not effecting the proposed change if at least one of said determined levels of link performance is not greater than said specified level; and(vi) calculating a ratio of a number of additional subscriber stations placed on hold to a total number of requests including a proposed change to the communications network comprising the proposed additional of an additional subscriber station.
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Specification