Method for locating coverage gaps in wireless communication services

• US 8,260,322 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, Thomas R., Tiwari, Anil
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/058,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20060183487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,758 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.13, 455/67.11, 455423-425, 4554561-457, 455/41.2, 342/457, 340/995.17, 379/32.01, 701/117
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A method for determining coverage gaps within a geographical area served by a wireless communication network includes: (a) receiving a location report from each of a plurality of mobile units; (b) storing all location reports received from the mobile units in a database; and (c) searching the database for a position within the geographical area at which an acceptable quality wireless signal has not been received. The location report may include a measured signal quality metric of the wireless link, which may be the signal strength of the wireless link, a bit error rate of the wireless link, or both. Location reports may be displayed on a map to show coverage quality and gaps. Statistical technique and quantitative techniques can be applied on the signal quality metrics reported.

Claims

1. A method for determining coverage gaps within a geographical area served by a wireless communication network, comprising:

at a mobile unit within said geographical area;

determining a location of said mobile unit via satellite positioning signals;

determining a quality metric of a wireless link corresponding to said location of said mobile unit, wherein said wireless link is a cellular wireless link; and

transmitting a location report to a service computer from said mobile unit via a non-cellular communications link from said mobile unit, wherein said location report comprises said quality metric of said wireless link and said location of said mobile unit corresponding to said quality metric; and

at said service computer;

receiving said location report along with a plurality of said location reports from each of a plurality of mobile units, wherein each of the received location reports comprises said quality metric of said wireless link as measured by the sending mobile unit and a location of said sending mobile unit corresponding to the quality metric;

compiling data from said location reports; and

identifying a position of weak signal quality within the geographical area based on said compiled data.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein each of the location reports includes an operational parameter record comprising an operational parameter collected by a sensor coupled with a vehicular bus.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the quality metric identifies a signal strength of the wireless link.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the quality metric comprises a bit error rate of the wireless link.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

applying a statistical technique to determine a signal quality of the wireless links on which the location reports were received.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein each of the location reports is produced by a mobile resource management system coupled with a vehicular bus.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the location reports identify location information associated with the mobile unit accumulated over a time period prior to when the wireless link is established.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the location reports identify a base station with which the mobile unit established the wireless link.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the compiling is limited to location reports transmitted over wireless links established with the base station.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the location reports identify a carrier that provides the wireless link.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the compiling is limited to location reports transmitted over wireless links provided by the carrier.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein positions associated with the location reports are displayed on a map, and wherein the compiling involves visually identifying locations from which location reports have not been received.

13. A method as in claim 1, wherein positions associated with the location reports are displayed on a map, and wherein the compiling involves visually identifying locations from which an acceptable quality wireless signal has not been received.

14. A method as in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network is coupled with the Internet.

15. A method as in claim 14, further comprising:

storing the location reports in a database located at a server on the Internet, and wherein the wireless communication network interfaces with the Internet through a wireless network gateway.

16. A method as in claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is an asset managed under a mobile resource management system.

17. A method as in claim 1, wherein the location reports are received over a wireless link.

36. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the location reports comprises a report of a failure to establish a wireless link.

18. A method for determining coverage gaps within a geographical area served by a wireless communication network, comprising:

at a mobile unit within said geographical area;

determining a location of said mobile unit via satellite positioning signals;

determining a quality metric of a wireless link corresponding to said location of said mobile unit, wherein said wireless link is a cellular wireless link; and

transmitting a location report to a service computer from said mobile unit via a non-cellular communications link from said mobile unit, wherein said location report comprises said quality metric of said wireless link and said location of said mobile unit corresponding to said quality metric; and

at said service computer;

receiving said location report along with a plurality of said location reports from each of a plurality of mobile units, wherein each of the received location reports comprises said quality metric of said wireless link as measured by the sending mobile unit and a location of said sending mobile unit corresponding to the quality metric;

storing the location reports in a database; and

generating a coverage map displaying information from the location reports.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the location reports comprise an operational parameter record containing an operational parameter collected by a sensor coupled with a vehicular bus.

20. A method as in claim 18, wherein the quality metric identifies a signal strength of the wireless link.

21. A method as in claim 18, wherein the quality metric comprises a bit error rate of the wireless link.

22. A method as in claim 18, wherein the generating the coverage map involves applying a statistical technique to determine a signal quality of the wireless link.

23. A method as in claim 18, wherein the location reports are produced by a mobile resource management system coupled with a vehicular bus.

24. A method as in claim 18, wherein the location reports identify location information associated with the mobile unit accumulated over a time period prior to when the wireless link is established.

25. A method as in claim 18, wherein the location reports identify a base station with which the mobile unit established the wireless link.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein the generating the coverage map is limited to location reports transmitted over wireless links established with the base station.

27. A method as in claim 18, wherein the location reports identify a carrier that provides the wireless link.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein the generating the coverage map is limited to location reports transmitted over wireless links provided by the carrier.

29. A method as in claim 18, wherein said generating the coverage map comprises displaying on the coverage map positions at which location reports are received and visually identifying locations from which location reports have not been received.

30. A method as in claim 18, wherein said generating the coverage map comprises displaying on the coverage map positions at which location reports are received and visually identifying locations from which an acceptable quality wireless signal has not been received.

31. A method as in claim 18, wherein the wireless communication network is coupled with the Internet.

32. A method as in claim 31, wherein the database is located at a server on the Internet and wherein the wireless communication network interfaces with the Internet through a wireless network gateway.

33. A method as in claim 18, wherein the mobile unit is an asset managed under a mobile resource management system.

34. A method as in claim 18, wherein said generating the coverage map comprises displaying coverage quality for a region on the coverage map.

35. A method as in claim 18, wherein the location reports are received over a wireless link.

37. A method as in claim 18, wherein at least one of the location reports comprises a report of a failure to establish a wireless link.