Methods and apparatus for determining and planning wireless network deployment sufficiency when utilizing vehicle-based relay nodes

• US 9,743,287 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Scheim, Kobi Jacob, Lavi, Nadav
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Minjung
• Application Number:
  US15/153,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20160262026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/22 Traffic simulation tools or models
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A method of planning communication network infrastructure includes calculating a potential capacity of a plurality of vehicular relay nodes in an area, wherein the plurality of vehicular relay nodes relay data between a plurality of portable devices and at least one base station. The method also includes calculating a potential data demand in the area for transferring data between the plurality of portable devices and the at least one base station. The method further includes determining whether a number of the at least one base station serving the area is sufficient by utilizing the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area and the potential data demand in the area.

Claims

1. A method of planning communication network infrastructure, comprising:

calculating a potential capacity of a plurality of vehicular relay nodes in an area including employing a quantity of vehicles in the area, the plurality of vehicular relay nodes relaying data between a plurality of portable devices and at least one base station, wherein calculating the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes comprises employing a penetration factor reflecting the proportion of vehicles that are equipped with one of the vehicular relay nodes;

calculating a potential data demand in the area for transferring data between the plurality of portable devices and the at least one base station; and

determining if a number of the at least one base station serving the area is sufficient by utilizing the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area and the potential data demand in the area.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein calculating the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes comprises employing a size of the area and a quantity of parking spaces in the area.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein calculating the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes further comprises employing a parking utilization factor that reflects a proportion of the parking spaces that are utilized.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising calculating an average capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein calculating the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes includes employing the average capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein calculating an average capacity includes employing distances of each of the vehicular relay nodes from the at least one base station.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein determining if the number of the at least one base station serving the area is sufficient comprises subtracting the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes from the potential data demand to obtain a residual demand.

8. An apparatus configured to assist in planning communication network infrastructure comprising:

a processor configured to;

calculate a potential capacity of a plurality of vehicular relay nodes in an area by employing a quantity of vehicles in the area, the plurality of vehicular relay nodes relaying data between a plurality of portable devices and at least one base station, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the potential capacity of relay nodes by employing a penetration factor reflecting the proportion of vehicles that are equipped with the vehicular relay node;

calculate a potential data demand in the area for transferring data between the plurality of portable devices and the at least one base station; and

determine if a number of the at least one base station serving the area is sufficient by utilizing the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area and the potential data demand in the area.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to calculate the potential capacity of relay nodes by employing a size of the area and a quantity of parking spaces in the area.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to calculate the potential capacity of relay nodes employing a parking utilization factor reflecting a proportion of the parking spaces that are utilized.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to calculate an average capacity of the plurality of mobile relay nodes in the area.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said processor is configured to calculate the potential capacity of relay nodes by employing the average capacity of the plurality of mobile relay nodes in the area.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said processor is configured to calculate an average capacity by employing distances of each of the vehicular relay nodes from the at least one base station.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processor is configured to determine if the number of the at least one base station serving the area is sufficient by subtracting the potential capacity from the potential demand to obtain a residual demand.

15. A method of planning communication network infrastructure, comprising:

calculating a potential capacity of a plurality of vehicular relay nodes in an area including employing an average capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes, wherein the plurality of vehicular relay nodes relay data between a plurality of portable devices and at least one base station, wherein the average capacity is calculated by employing distances of each of the vehicular relay nodes from the at least one base station;

calculating a potential data demand in the area for transferring data between the plurality of portable devices and the at least one base station; and

determining if a number of the at least one base station serving the area is sufficient by utilizing the average capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area and the potential data demand in the area.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein calculating the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes comprises employing a penetration factor reflecting the proportion of vehicles that are equipped with one of the vehicular relay nodes.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein calculating the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes comprises employing a size of the area and a quantity of parking spaces in the area.