Method and apparatus for moving network equipment within a communication system

• US 9,961,663 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Ofir, Gabi, Koren, Eitan, Shperling, Itzhak
• Primary Examiner(s): Towfighi, Afshawn M
• Application Number:
  US14/869,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20170094633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for moving network equipment is provided herein. During operation, an optimal base station configuration will be determined. Currently-employed network equipment will be moved based on a determination if adequate coverage will be provided to users of the system.

Claims

1. A method for moving a network equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving locations for a plurality of devices;

receiving guaranteed bit rates for applications running on the plurality of devices;

determining a plurality of areas by calculating for each device within the plurality of devices, an area surrounding each device where network equipment satisfies the guaranteed bit rate for the application(s) running on each device;

calculating an intersection of the plurality of areas, the plurality of areas comprising at least a first area surrounding a first device, and a second area surrounding a second device; and

transmitting the location of the intersection to the network equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the locations comprises the step of receiving the locations from the devices via an over-the-air transmission from the devices.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of receiving the guaranteed bit rate value for each application comprises the step of accessing storage to retrieve the guaranteed bit rate value for each application.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of transmitting the location comprises the step of transmitting the location over-the-air to the network equipment.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the network equipment comprises a base station or repeater.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

moving the base station to the location of the intersection.

7. An system comprising:

a receiver receiving device locations;

logic circuitry coupled to the receiver, the logic circuitry having the device locations as an input, the logic circuitry having a guaranteed bit rate of applications running on devices as an input, the logic circuitry determining a plurality of areas by calculating for each device within the plurality of devices, an area surrounding each device where network equipment satisfies the guaranteed bit rate for the application(s) running on each device, and the logic circuitry calculating an intersection of the plurality of areas, the plurality of areas comprising at least a first area surrounding a first device, and a second area surrounding a second device; and

a transmitter having the location of the intersection as an input and outputting the location of the intersection to network equipment, causing the network equipment to move to near the location of the intersection of the plurality of areas.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the receiver receives the device locations from the devices via an over-the-air transmission from the devices.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprises storage outputting the guaranteed bit rate of applications running on the devices to the logic circuitry.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the transmitter comprises an over-the-air transmitter.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the network equipment comprises a base station or repeater.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a cell on wheels (COW), a snowmobile, a drone, an aircraft, or a balloon moving the network equipment to the location of the intersection.