Method and apparatus for network managed radio frequency coverage and mobile distribution analysis using mobile location information

• US 20090181664A1
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wi-LAN Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wi-LAN Inc.
• Inventors: Kuruvilla, Eapen, Betrencourt, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/008,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20090181664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/22 Traffic simulation tools or models
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system and method for identifying geographical areas which distribute poor radio frequency coverage is provided. The method includes measuring a radio frequency signal of a mobile unit in response to a trigger. The method continues with mapping the location data of the radio frequency signal which represents the positioning of the mobile unit at a given time. The method continues with recording the location data of the mobile unit and storing the location data in a database. The trigger, which prompts the radio frequency measurement, may be a timer expiring, a dropped call, or a mobile power increase signaling a weak signal. In any form, a post processing module may be configured in order to record, store and organize the location data into a report, such as a coverage map. Embodiments of this disclosure will display geographic areas that have poor radio frequency and allow for an administrator to identify trouble spots by a geographical region.

Claims

1. A method for identifying areas within a cell that have poor radio frequency coverage comprising:

measuring a radio frequency signal of a mobile unit in response to a trigger;

mapping the precise location data of said radio frequency representing the positioning of said mobile unit at a given time, where said given time is related to said trigger;

recording said precise location data for said mobile unit; and

storing said precise location data in a database.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said trigger is a timer expiring.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said trigger is a mobile power increase.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said trigger is a weak signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said trigger is a dropped call.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising reestablishing a connection.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein mapping said precise location data is done via said mobile unit'"'"'s global positioning system.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein mapping said precise location data is done via a network based system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said precise location data includes a timestamp.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said precise location data includes a mobile identification number.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a map reflecting distribution of said precise location data.

12. A system that identifies areas within a cell that have insufficient radio frequency coverage which leads to poor quality of service comprising:

a data collection module adapted to collect data of a radio frequency representing the positioning of a mobile unit at a given time in response to trigger, where said data includes location information; and

a post processing module configured to record and store said data and organize said data into a report.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said associated mobile unit includes a global positioning system which is used to derive said location information.

14. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a location module which is configured to derive said location information from said associated mobile unit'"'"'s positioning at said given time.

15. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a map generation module.

16. A method that identifies areas within a cell that have poor radio frequency coverage using a trigger response system comprising:

setting up a mobile call;

measuring the radio frequency of the signal emitted from a signal source associated with said call;

recording said signal source location in response to an event; and

storing the time of event and said signal source location at the time of said event into a database.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising generating a map based on said signal location.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said event is a dropped call.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said event is an increase in power usage from said signal source.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein said event is the expiration of a timer.