Real-time network analysis and performance management

• US 7,333,794 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zappala, Charles S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, HUY Q
• Application Number:
  US10/090,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20020127993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,178 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/404.1, 455/456.5, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.6, 455/414.1, 455/422.1, 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455/567
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include a method for analyzing the performance of a wireless communications network and adjusting parameters in the wireless communications network. In one embodiment, the specific location of a mobile unit is linked with performance data obtained from the mobile unit. In another embodiment, specific mobile units are queried, by, e.g. a network switch, to provide specific performance data. The mobile units respond by sending the performance data and location data to the switch. The performance data and location data are linked. The linked performance data and location data are processed and analyzed to give an accurate representation of network performance from the subscriber'"'"'s point of view. In one embodiment, E911 technology is used to provide location data.

Claims

1. A subscriber handheld mobile telephone unit for use in a wireless communications network, the handheld mobile telephone unit comprising:

an operating system, including hardware and software that performs communications functions;

a performance measurement system to determine at least one call performance characteristic; and

a global positioning system (GPS) location system, comprising hardware and software that determine a location of the handheld mobile unit in compliance with enhanced 911 (“

E911”

) location resolution requirements, wherein the location system is within the handheld mobile telephone unit carried by the subscriber, and wherein the handheld mobile telephone unit;

receives a query originating from a mobile switch center which communicates with a base station, wherein the query includes a request for a selected call performance characteristic and location data, the call performance characteristic specified in the query, wherein the location data describes the location of the subscriber handheld mobile telephone unit when the call performance characteristic was collected and comprises a location of the subscriber handheld mobile telephone unit in compliance with the E911 location resolution requirements, the location resolution provided by an enhanced 911 function and the global positioning system location system; and

transmits the location data and the call performance characteristic to the mobile switch center in response to the request, wherein the location data and the call performance characteristic is used in analyzing performance of the wireless communication network in the absence of drive testing.

2. The mobile unit of claim 1, further comprising a performance monitoring system that monitors and stores multiple network performance characteristic measurements.

3. A method for analyzing a wireless communications network in real-time without drive testing, the method comprising:

receiving performance monitoring criteria;

using the performance monitoring criteria to specify a desired performance parameter, querying at least one subscriber handheld mobile telephone unit in the wireless communications network, the handheld mobile telephone unit comprising a global positioning system location system internal to the handheld mobile telephone unit;

receiving, by a mobile switch center, at least one response to the query, including call data and location data, the call data captured by a mobile switch function, the location data captured by an enhanced 911 technology function, the call data and location data received in the absence of traditional drive testing;

creating a link between the call data and the location data, link generated by the enhanced 911 technology function;

storing the call data, the location data, and the link in a server;

accessing the server to retrieve the call data, the location data, and the links;

using the call data, the location data and the links to create at least one performance report, including a graphical report that displays the call data as a function of location and time, wherein the location is a location of a subscriber handheld mobile unit hand-carried by a subscriber with a resolution required by enhanced 911 (“

E911”

) services, the location resolution provided by the enhanced 911 function and the global positioning system location system, and the time is a time at which the call data was created and at which the subscriber handheld mobile unit was in the location.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising automatically adjusting parameters of the wireless communications network based on the at least one performance report and predetermined performance guidelines.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the parameters include power settings of network components, and frequency assignments.

6. A wireless communications system, comprising:

a subscriber handheld mobile telephone unit, wherein the handheld mobile telephone unit includes;

a performance monitoring means that records multiple network performance characteristics; and

a global positioning system location means, integral to the handheld mobile telephone unit, that creates location data describing a location of the handheld mobile telephone unit with a resolution required by enhanced 911 (“

E911”

) services, the location resolution provided by an enhanced 911 function and the global positioning system location means; and

a communications switch comprising the enhanced 911 technology function and a mobile switch, wherein the mobile switch captures call data and the enhanced 911 technology function captures the location data, the enhanced 911 technology function creating record links between the call data and the location data; and

a data processing means in communication with the handheld mobile unit comprising means for using the network performance characteristics and the location data to create at least one performance report, including a graphical report that displays the call data as a function of location and time, wherein the location is the location of the handheld mobile telephone unit hand-carried by a subscriber at the time the network performance characteristics were recorded, and wherein the performance characteristics and location data are acquired in absence of traditional drive testing.

7. The wireless communications system of claim 6, wherein the data processing means further comprises:

means for receiving performance monitoring criteria;

means for using the performance monitoring criteria to query the handheld mobile telephone unit; and

means for receiving a response to the query, wherein the response includes the network performance characteristics and the location data.

8. The wireless communications system of claim 6, wherein the data processing means further comprises:

means for creating a link between the network performance characteristics and the location data;

means for storing the network performance characteristics, the location data, and the link in a server; and

means for retrieving the network performance characteristics and the location data in response to a request to create the at least one performance report.