Tools for wireless network planning

• US 6,336,035 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: McDonald, Paul D., Almeida, Gorete, Somoza, Vincent E., Hill, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Barry W.
• Application Number:
  US09/195,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/446, 455/67.7, 455/67.1, 455/566, 455/550, 455/456
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

Software tools for simulating the planning and operation of one or more cellsites within a wireless network utilize a database of cellsite information such as GPS, topographical, street map, architectural, RF propagation, and end user data. The tools retrieve and manipulate this data through a graphical user interface executed by a computing device. Using the graphical user interface, a user may simulate product information, drive tests, radio frequency propagation data, and user location profiles within a cell.

Claims

1. A network management software tool suite for planning, testing and operating a cellular network, comprising:

means for automatically generating product information corresponding to equipment required in a proposed cellular network plan;

means for determining an optimum drive test route through a cell of the cellular network to test RF propagation within the cell after the equipment is installed in the cellular network;

means for informing a driver of the optimum drive test route;

means for displaying RF propagation data gathered during a drive test by the driver to illustrate actual RF propagation within the cell; and

means for graphically representing the location of a user in the cell and the RF propagation simultaneously on a display.

2. The software tool suite of claim 1 wherein the informing means includes means for graphically representing at least one of topographical data, street map data, architectural data, user data, radio frequency coverage interference data, and radio frequency propagation data with drive test route data.

3. The software tool suite of claim 1 wherein the displaying means includes means for graphically representing at least one of topographical data, street map data, architectural data, user data, and radio frequency coverage interference data with the radio frequency propagation data.

4. The software tool suite of claim 1 wherein the graphically representing means includes means for graphically representing at least one of topographical data, street map data, architectural data, and RF coverage interference data with the user location data and the RF propagation data.

5. The software tool suite of claim 1 wherein the generating means includes means for scrolling through product information visually represented on a display.

6. The software tool suite of claim 1 wherein the generating means includes means for generating product information on a graphical user interface.

7. The software tool suite of claim 1 wherein the informing means includes means for generating drive test route information on a graphical user interface.

8. The software tool suite of claim 1 wherein the displaying means includes means for generating RF propagation data on a graphical user interface.

9. The software tool suite of claim 1 wherein the graphically representing means includes means for graphically representing the location of a user in the cell and the RF propagation data simultaneously on a graphical user interface.

10. A method for planning, testing and operating a cellular network, comprising:

automatically generating product information corresponding to equipment identified in a proposed cellular network plan;

determining a drive test route through a cell of the cellular network to test RF propagation within the cell after the equipment is installed in the cellular network;

informing a driver of the drive test route;

displaying RF propagation data gathered during a drive test by the user to illustrate actual RF propagation within the cell; and

graphically representing the location of a user device within the cell and actual RF propagation on a display.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein informing includes graphically representing at least one of topographical data, street map data, architectural data, user data, radio frequency coverage interference data, and radio frequency propagation data with drive test route data.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein displaying includes graphically representing at least one of topographical data, street map data, architectural data, user data, and radio frequency coverage interference data with the radio frequency propagation data.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein graphically representing includes graphically representing at least one of topographical data, street map data, architectural data, and RF coverage interference data with the user location data and the RF propagation data.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein automatically generating includes scrolling through product information visually represented on a display.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein generating means includes means for generating product information on a graphical user interface.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein informing includes generating drive test route information on a graphical user interface.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein displaying includes generating RF propagation data on a graphical user interface.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein graphically representing includes graphically representing the location of a user in the cell and the RF propagation data simultaneously on a graphical user interface.

19. A method for automatically generating product information corresponding to equipment identified in a proposed cellular network plan, comprising:

creating a database of product information for a cellular network;

graphically representing the product information stored in the database on a display;

customizing the product information graphically represented on the display to correspond to specified equipment requirements; and

permitting ordering of equipment in accordance with the customized product information.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein creating includes creating a database of product description information, product cost information, and product purchaser information.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein graphically representing includes implementing a hypertext markup language based graphical user interface configured to transfer product information via the Internet.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein graphically representing includes generating automated information update windows.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein graphically representing includes generating messaging windows.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein permitting ordering includes generating customized order forms.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising processing an order via the Internet.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein graphically representing includes visually representing a comparison of product information for a plurality of proposed cellular network plans.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein graphically representing includes visually representing a comparison of installation time information for the plurality of network plans.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein graphically representing includes visually representing a comparison of cost information for the plurality of network plans.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein graphically representing includes implementing a graphical user interface to visually represent a product.