Manually configuring low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) coverage using an associated mobile station

• US 7,974,653 B1
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Yenney, Christopher M., Barbee, Bryan T., Sill, Timothy W., Talley, Ryan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alam; Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US12/190,567
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455 69- 70, 370318-320
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/325 Power control of control or pilot channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for manually configuring low-cost Internet-base-station (LCIB) coverage using an associated mobile station. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives a user command of a first type, responsively enters a coverage-configuration mode, and then receives from a mobile station a series of user commands of a second type, each instructing the LCIB to engage in a power-calibration call with the mobile station. Responsively, the LCIB engages in a respective series of power-calibration calls with the mobile station, each call comprising the LCIB identifying a minimum transmission-power level at which a forward-link frame error rate (FFER) for the mobile station is less than a FFER threshold. The LCIB sets a transmission-power level for a pilot beacon (i.e. configures its coverage) based at least in part on the maximum transmission-power level among the minimum transmission-power levels identified while engaging in the series of power-calibration calls.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) receiving a user command of a first type, and responsively entering a coverage-configuration mode;

after entering the coverage-configuration mode, the LCIB receiving from a mobile station a series of user commands of a second type, each user command of the second type instructing the LCIB to engage in a power-calibration call with the mobile station;

in response to receiving the series of user commands of the second type, the LCIB engaging in a respective series of power-calibration calls with the mobile station, each power-calibration call comprising the LCIB identifying a minimum transmission-power level at which a forward-link frame error rate (FFER) for the mobile station is less than a FFER threshold;

the LCIB identifying a maximum transmission-power level among the minimum transmission-power levels identified while engaging in the series of power-calibration calls; and

the LCIB setting a transmission-power level for a pilot beacon based at least in part on the identified maximum transmission-power level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user command of the first type instructs the LCIB to enter the coverage-configuration mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user command of the first type comprises receiving a first star code from the mobile station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user command of the first type comprises receiving a button press from a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each user command of the second type comprises a second star code.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each user command of the second type further comprises an additional code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one additional code is only valid for a limited amount of time.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one additional code is only valid for a limited number of uses.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the minimum transmission-power level at which the FFER for the mobile station is less than the FFER threshold comprises decreasing a transmission-power level starting from an upper bound while monitoring the FFER for the mobile station.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the FFER for the mobile station comprises receiving reports of the FFER from the mobile station.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is located at a series of perimeter points of an intended coverage area of the LCIB when the LCIB receives from the mobile station the series of user commands of the second type and engages in the series of power-calibration calls with the mobile station.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the transmission-power level for the pilot beacon based at least in part on the identified maximum transmission-power level comprises setting the transmission-power level for the pilot beacon equal to the identified maximum transmission-power level.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the transmission-power level for the pilot beacon based at least in part on the identified maximum transmission-power level comprises setting the transmission-power level for the pilot beacon equal to the identified maximum transmission-power level plus a tolerance value.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the LCIB receiving from the mobile station an indication that a signal strength of a signal from the LCIB has dropped below a signal-strength threshold, and responsively increasing the transmission-power level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication comprises a third star code.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication further comprises a distance to a perimeter point, and wherein increasing the transmission-power level comprises increasing the transmission-power level by an amount based on the distance.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein increasing the transmission-power level comprises increasing the transmission-power level by a predetermined increment.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the LCIB emitting the pilot beacon at the identified maximum transmission-power level on at least one macro-network carrier.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein emitting the pilot beacon comprises emitting a frequency-hopping pilot beacon on a set of macro-network carriers.

20. A low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) comprising:

a communication interface;

a processor; and

data storage comprising instructions executable by the processor for causing the LCIB to carry out functions including;

receiving a user command of a first type, and responsively entering a coverage-configuration mode;

after entering the coverage-configuration mode, receiving from a mobile station a series of user commands of a second type, each user command of the second type instructing the LCIB to engage in a power-calibration call with the mobile station;

in response to receiving the series of user commands of the second type, engaging in a respective series of power-calibration calls with the mobile station, each power-calibration call comprising identifying a minimum transmission-power level at which a forward-link frame error rate (FFER) for the mobile station is less than a FFER threshold;

identifying a maximum transmission-power level among the minimum transmission-power levels identified while engaging in the series of power-calibration calls; and

setting a transmission-power level for a pilot beacon based at least in part on the identified maximum transmission-power level.