Method and apparatus for assessing network coverage

• US 9,838,896 B1
• Filed: 12/09/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barnickel, Donald J., Henry, Paul Shala, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Willis, III, Thomas M., Bennett, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Phuoc H
• Application Number:
  US15/373,695
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 455423, 455436, 455449, 4554521, 370332, 370252, 370331
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/225 for indoor or short range network
• 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 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coverage assessment system operable to receive, via a network, coverage parameter data from a user device, where the coverage parameter data includes location data generated by the user device. The coverage assessment system is further operable to generate coverage assessment data based on the coverage parameter data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A coverage assessment system, comprising:

a processing system that includes a processor;

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of first operations comprising;

receiving, via a first network, first coverage parameter data from a first user device, wherein the first coverage parameter data includes first location data generated by the first user device and wherein the first coverage parameter data includes coverage measurements of a second network; and

generating first coverage assessment data based on the first coverage parameter data, wherein the first coverage assessment data includes coverage prediction data calculated based on the first coverage parameter data;

generating application data for transmission to the first user device;

wherein the application data, when executed by a processor of the first user device in conjunction with an application stored in a memory of the first user device, facilitates performance of second operations comprising;

prompting a user of the first user device to orient the first user device in a direction of a base station via a user interface displayed on a display of the first user device; and

prompting the user to tilt the first user device at an angle based on a peak of an obstruction between the first user device and the base station via the user interface displayed on the display of the first user device;

wherein the first coverage parameter data includes location data and accelerometer data of the first user device, and wherein the coverage prediction data is calculated based on the first location data, a location of the base station, a height of the base station, and a tilt angle indicated by the accelerometer data.

2. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, wherein the first coverage parameter data further includes a signal strength measured by the first user device based on a signal received from the base station.

3. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, wherein the first user device receives a link identifier in a signal received from the base station, and wherein the first coverage parameter data further includes the link identifier.

4. The coverage assessment system of claim 3, wherein the base station is mounted on a utility pole.

5. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, wherein the first network and the second network are different networks.

6. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a guided wave receiver that receives communications by electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of a transmission medium;

wherein the first network includes the transmission medium, wherein first coverage parameter data is transmitted as a wireless signal to the base station by the first user device, and wherein the first coverage parameter data is received from the base station via the guided wave receiver as a plurality of electromagnetic waves that is guided by the transmission medium and propagates without utilizing an electrical return.

7. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, wherein the first coverage assessment data is generated based on a distance between a first location indicated by the first location data and a base station location corresponding to the base station in proximity to the first user device.

8. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, wherein the first operations further comprise:

receiving, via the first network, second coverage parameter data from a second user device that includes second location data;

generating second coverage assessment data based on the second coverage parameter data;

determining that a second location indicated by the second location data is in proximity to a first location indicated by the first location data;

determining that the second coverage assessment data compares favorably to the first coverage assessment data;

generating a notification for display on the first user device that includes the second location data; and

transmitting the notification to the first user device via the first network.

9. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, wherein the first operations further comprise:

receiving coverage parameter data from a plurality of user devices including the first user device and the second user device, wherein the coverage parameter data includes location data generated by the plurality of user devices; and

generating aggregate coverage assessment data based on the coverage parameter data, wherein the aggregate coverage assessment data includes a coverage mapping based on the location data corresponding to the plurality of user devices.

10. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, wherein the first operations further comprise:

transmitting base station location data to the first user device, wherein the base station location data includes the location of the base station;

wherein the second operations further comprise;

determining a direction of the base station relative to the first user device based on current location data of the first user device and the location of the base station;

displaying, via the user interface displayed on the display of the first user device, relative orientation data based on the direction of the base station and current accelerometer data of the first user device; and

determining when an orientation of the first user device compares favorably to the direction of the base station based on the current accelerometer data of the first user device.

11. The coverage assessment system of claim 1, wherein the first user device receives a link identifier in a wireless transmission from the base station, and wherein the second operations further comprise:

determining the location of the base station based on a known location associated with the link identifier;

determining a direction of the base station relative to the first user device based on current location data of the first user device and the location of the base station;

displaying, via the user interface displayed on the first user device, relative orientation data based on the direction of the base station and current accelerometer data of the first user device; and

determining when an orientation of the first user device compares favorably to the direction of the base station based on the current accelerometer data of the first user device.

12. A method for execution by a coverage assessment system that includes a processor, the method comprising:

receiving, via a first network, coverage parameter data from a user device, wherein the coverage parameter data includes location data generated by the user device and indicates coverage of a second network;

generating coverage assessment data based on the coverage parameter data, wherein the coverage assessment data includes coverage prediction data calculated based on the coverage parameter data;

generating application data for transmission to the user device;

prompting a user of the user device to orient the user device in a direction of a base station via a user interface displayed on a display of the user device; and

prompting the user to tilt the user device at an angle based on a peak of an obstruction between the user device and the base station via the user interface displayed on the display of the user device;

wherein the coverage parameter data includes location data and accelerometer data of the user device, and wherein the coverage prediction data is calculated based on the location data, a location of the base station, a height of the base station, and a tilt angle indicated by the accelerometer data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the coverage parameter data further includes a signal strength measured by the user device based on a signal received from the base station.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the user device receives a link identifier in a signal received from the base station, and wherein the coverage parameter data further includes the link identifier.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the coverage assessment data includes coverage measurements of the second network, and wherein the first network and the second network are different networks.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the coverage assessment data is generated based on a distance between a location indicated by the location data and a base station location corresponding to the base station in proximity to the user device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of coverage parameter data is received from a plurality of user devices including the user device, wherein the plurality of coverage parameter data includes location data generated by the plurality of user devices, wherein aggregate coverage assessment data is generated based on the plurality of coverage parameter data, and the aggregate coverage assessment data includes a coverage mapping based on the location data corresponding to the plurality of user devices.

18. A coverage assessment system, comprising:

means for receiving coverage parameter data from a user device via a first network, wherein the coverage parameter data indicates coverage of a second network and includes location data generated by the user device;

means for generating coverage assessment data of the second network based on the coverage parameter data, wherein the coverage assessment data includes coverage prediction data calculated based on the coverage parameter data;

generating application data for transmission to the user device;

means for prompting a user of the user device to orient the user device in a direction of a base station via a user interface displayed on a display of the user device; and

means for prompting the user to tilt the user device at an angle based on a peak of an obstruction between the user device and the base station via the user interface displayed on the display of the user device;

wherein the coverage parameter data includes location data and accelerometer data of the user device, and wherein the coverage prediction data is calculated based on the location data, a location of the base station, a height of the base station, and a tilt angle indicated by the accelerometer data.

19. The coverage assessment system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for transmitting base station location data to the user device, wherein the base station location data includes the location of the base station;

means for determining a direction of the base station relative to the user device based on current location data of the user device and the location of the base station;

means for displaying, via the user interface displayed on the display of the user device, relative orientation data based on the direction of the base station and current accelerometer data of the user device; and

means for determining when an orientation of the user device compares favorably to the direction of the base station based on the current accelerometer data of the user device.

20. The coverage assessment system of claim 18, wherein the user device receives a link identifier in a wireless transmission from the base station, and wherein the coverage assessment system further comprises:

means for determining the location of the base station based on a known location associated with the link identifier;

means for determining a direction of the base station relative to the user device based on current location data of the user device and the location of the base station;

means for displaying, via the user interface displayed on the user device, relative orientation data based on the direction of the base station and current accelerometer data of the user device; and

means for determining when an orientation of the user device compares favorably to the direction of the base station based on the current accelerometer data of the user device.