Mobile cellular networks

• US 9,769,674 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oceus Networks Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oceus Networks Inc.
• Inventors: Uelk, Joseph L., Hill, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US15/263,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20170127290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 455446-449, 455423-425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Multiple mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems can be networked together to form a network of MCN communication systems (NOM). Each MCN communication system within the NOM can operate as an independent cellular network to provide communications between user equipment within a covered area. The MCN can be managed by a network management control center (NMCC). The NMCC can be configured generate coverage maps of the NOM and NMC system coverage areas.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a server computing system comprising at least one hardware processor and configured to manage one or more mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems, the server computing system configured with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the server computing system to;

generate a first coverage map corresponding to a first coverage area of a first MCN communication system of the one or more MCN communication systems based at least in part on data received from the first MCN communication system, wherein the first MCN communication system is configured to generate a cellular network for the first coverage area and independently provide communication links between one or more user equipment within the first coverage area without communication to another of the one or more MCN communication systems;

generate a second coverage map corresponding to a second coverage area of a second MCN communication system of the one or more MCN communication systems based at least in part on data received from the second MCN communication system, wherein the second MCN communication system is configured to generate a cellular network for the second coverage area and independently provide communication links between one or more user equipment within the second coverage area without communication to another of the one or more MCN communication systems;

calculate a predicted coverage area based, at least in part, on updated data received from at least one of the first MCN communication system, the second MCN communication system, or from user input, wherein the updated data is indicative of a predicted change in location of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system to at least one predicted location;

generate an updated coverage map corresponding to the predicted coverage area of at least one of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system; and

provide instructions to display at least the updated coverage map.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the predicted coverage area corresponds to a virtual position of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system and wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the server to calculate the predicted coverage area for the virtual position of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system based, at least in part, on at least one of network parameters of the MCN system or geographical data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein predicted coverage area is based, at least in part, on an anticipated travel path of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system, wherein the anticipated travel path corresponds to at least one of an expected flight path or a previous flight path.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predicted coverage area includes a core coverage area expected to always have coverage and one or more periphery coverage areas that have coverage depending on an exact position of the MCN communication system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the server to determine whether to generate the updated coverage map based, at least in part, on whether the updated data satisfies a threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the server to determine whether to generate the updated coverage map based, at least in part, on whether at least one of (i) the predicted change in location of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system satisfies a location threshold, (ii) a movement of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system satisfies a movement threshold, or (iii) one or more network parameters satisfies a parameter threshold.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of (i) the location threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of current positional information, virtual positioning information, or anticipated positioning information of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system, (ii) the movement threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of positional information, speed, velocity, acceleration, or altitude of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system;

or (iii) the parameter threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of frequency of the updates to the coverage area, geographic terrain information, or power of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system.

8. A method for generating and updating a coverage map for one or more mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems, the method comprising:

receiving, by a server, data from a first MCN communication system, wherein the first MCN communication system is located at a first location and is configured to generate a cellular network for a first coverage area and independently provide communication links between one or more user equipment within the first coverage area without communication to another of the one or more MCN communication systems;

generating a first coverage map corresponding to the first coverage area based, at least in part, on the data received from the first MCN communication system;

receiving, by a server, data from a second MCN communication system, wherein the second MCN communication system is located at a second location and is configured to generate a cellular network for a second coverage area and independently provide communication links between one or more user equipment within the second coverage area without communication to another of the one or more MCN communication systems;

generating a second coverage map corresponding to the second coverage area based, at least in part, on the data received from the second MCN communication system;

receiving updated data from at least one of the first MCN communication system, the second MCN communication system, or user input, wherein the updated data is indicative of a predicted change in location of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system to at least one predicted location;

calculating a predicted coverage area of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system based, at least in part, on the updated data, wherein the predicted coverage area is indicative of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system positioned at the at least one predicted location;

generating an updated coverage map corresponding to the predicted coverage area of at least one of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system; and

providing instructions to display at least the updated coverage map.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predicted coverage area corresponds to a virtual position of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system, and wherein the method further comprises calculating the predicted coverage area for the virtual position based, at least in part, on at least one of network parameters of the MCN system or geographical data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein predicted coverage area is based, at least in part, on an anticipated travel path of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system, wherein the anticipated travel path corresponds to at least one of an expected flight path or a previous flight path.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the predicted coverage area includes a core coverage area expected to always have coverage and one or more periphery coverage areas that have coverage depending on an exact position of the MCN communication system.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether to generate the updated coverage map based, at least in part, on whether the updated data satisfies a threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining whether to generate the updated coverage map based, at least in part, on whether at least one of (i) the predicted change in location of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system satisfies a location threshold, (ii) a movement of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system satisfies a movement threshold, or (iii) one or more network parameters satisfies a parameter threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of (i) the location threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of current positional information, virtual positioning information, or anticipated positioning information of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system, (ii) the movement threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of positional information, speed, velocity, acceleration, or altitude of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system;

or (iii) the parameter threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of frequency of the updates to the coverage area, geographic terrain information, or power of the first MCN communication system or the second MCN communication system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the predicted coverage area corresponds to a virtual position of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system and wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to calculate the predicted coverage area for the virtual position based, at least in part, on at least one of network parameters of the MCN system or geographical data.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein predicted coverage area is based, at least in part, on an anticipated travel path of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system, wherein the anticipated travel path corresponds to at least one of an expected flight path or a previous flight path.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the predicted coverage area includes a core coverage area expected to always have coverage and one or more periphery coverage areas that have coverage depending on an exact position of the MCN communication system.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to determine whether to generate the updated coverage map based, at least in part, on whether at least one of (i) the predicted change in location of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system satisfies a location threshold, (ii) a movement of the first MCN communication or second MCN communication system satisfies a movement threshold, or (iii) one or more network parameters satisfies a parameter threshold.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of (i) the location threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of current positional information, virtual positioning information, or anticipated positioning information of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system, (ii) the movement threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of positional information, speed, velocity, acceleration, or altitude of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system;

or (iii) the parameter threshold is based, at least in part, on at least one of frequency of the updates to the coverage area, geographic terrain information, or power of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to:

generate a first coverage map corresponding to a first coverage area of a first MCN communication system of the one or more MCN communication systems based at least in part on data received from the first MCN communication system, wherein the first MCN communication system is configured to generate a cellular network for the first coverage area and independently provide communication links between one or more user equipment within the first coverage area without communication to another of the one or more MCN communication systems;

generate a second coverage map corresponding to a second coverage area of a second MCN communication system of the one or more MCN communication systems based at least in part on data received from the second MCN communication system, wherein the second MCN communication system is configured to generate a cellular network for the second coverage area and independently provide communication links between one or more user equipment within the second coverage area without communication to another of the one or more MCN communication systems;

calculate a predicted coverage area based, at least in part, on updated data received from at least one of the first MCN communication system, second MCN communication system, or from user input, wherein the updated data is indicative of a predicted change in location of the first MCN communication system or second MCN communication system to at least one predicted location;

generate an updated coverage map corresponding to the predicted coverage area; and

provide instructions to display at least the updated coverage map.