Method and apparatus for controlling wireless networks

• US 6,729,929 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Sayers, Ian Leslie, Long, Paul Jan, Cripps, Peter Kendall
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Application Number:
  US09/271,596
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/436, 455/439, 455/440, 455/442, 455/443, 455/444, 455/446, 455/447, 455/450, 455/452, 455/448, 455/561
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/04 Traffic adaptive resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A communications system extending over a cellular region and formed of a plurality of wireless cells. The communications system extends over a cellular region formed of a plurality of wireless cells. Each cell covers an area which includes a portion of the cellular region. Each particular cell includes a base station having a transmitter for transmitting a particular cell signal having parameters including a transmitting frequency and a transmitting power. The particular cell signal is transmitted to cover a portion of the cell region. Each of the base stations includes a parameter detector for detecting the other parameters of the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region. A parameter controller controls the particular parameters for the particular cell. The parameters for the particular cell are based upon the other parameters for the other cell signals so that the particular cell signal does not interfere with the other cell signals in the cellular region.

Claims

1. A base station for use in a wireless communication system, the base station providing wireless signal coverage in a cell, where the cell is one of a plurality of cells in a cellular region serviced by the wireless communication system, the base station comprising:

a packet network interface, for connecting the base station to a packet network that links the base station to at least one other base station in the cellular region, wherein the other base station is used to provide wireless signal coverage in another cell in the cellular region;

a transmitter, for transmitting a measurement report corresponding to a transmitting frequency parameter and a transmitting power parameter of a particular cell signal, the measurement report being transmitted over the packet network;

a parameter detector, for detecting other parameters of a cell signal for at least the other cell in the cellular region, the other parameters detected from the other cell via the packet network interface as a measurement report corresponding to a transmitting frequency parameter and a transmitting power parameter of the other cell; and

a parameter controller, for controlling the particular parameters of the particular cell signal base upon the other parameters for the other cell, so that the particular cell signal does not interfere with other cell signals in the cellular region.

2. The base station of claim 1 wherein said parameter detector comprises:

a Radio Frequency (RF) scanner for scanning for the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region; and

a parameter processor for processing the other cell signals to determine the other parameters for the other cell signals.

3. The base station of claim 1 wherein said parameter controller includes a control algorithm for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters.

4. The base station of claim 3 wherein said control algorithm selects among operator control, local craft control and autonomous control modes of operation.

5. The base station of claim 1 wherein said parameter controller includes a control algorithm having an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters.

6. The base station of claim 5 wherein said autonomous control mode includes an installation phase for installing the base station with the particular parameters, an operational phase for changing the particular parameters, and a maintenance phase for measuring other parameters for the other cells.

7. The base station of claim 6 wherein said installation phase includes,

a signal strength detector, for measuring a received signal strength for each of n frequencies,

a selector, for selecting a particular frequency from the n frequencies based upon the measured received signal strength;

and

a power level controller, for setting the power of the particular frequency.

8. The base station of claim 6 wherein said operational phase further includes:

an other parameter calculator for calculating other frequency parameters and other power parameters for the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region;

a particular value calculator for calculating values of the particular frequency parameter and the particular power parameter for the particular cell signal; and

a particular parameter controller, for setting the particular frequency parameter and the particular power parameter with the calculated values.

9. The base station of claim 6 wherein said maintenance phase includes:

a signal strength detector, for measuring a received signal strength for each of n frequencies to determine a set of frequency parameters for the other cells;

a comparator, for determining if the set of frequency parameters has changed and for initiating transfer to the operational phase in response to such changes.

10. The base station of claim 1 wherein said parameter controller includes a control algorithm having an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters, said control algorithm operating to detect a radio hole created by a disappearance of one of said other cell signals and to adjust the particular parameters of said particular cell signal to compensate for said disappearance.

11. The base station of claim 1 wherein said parameter controller includes a control algorithm having an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters, said control algorithm operating to detect a new radio signal created by an appearance of a new one of said other cell signals and to adjust the particular parameters of said particular cell signal to compensate for said appearance.

12. The base station of claim 1 wherein said plurality of cells form a private wireless network operating with a wireless protocol for communications with wireless stations located in the cells and wherein said base station further includes:

an interface to a private wired network operating with a wired packet protocol, this interface thus serving as an interconnect between the private wireless network and the private wired network; and

an interface protocol, for interfacing the wireless protocol and the wired packet protocol whereby wireless stations operating with the wireless protocol may then communicate with the wired packet protocol.

13. The base station of claim 12 wherein said wireless protocol is TDMA or CDMA.

14. The base station of claim 12 wherein said wired packet protocol is Internet Protocol.

15. The base station of claim 12 wherein said private wired network includes one or more local area networks and said interface to a private wired network additionally connects the private wireless network to said local area networks.

16. The base station of claim 12 further including an interface to a public wired network and an interface to a public wireless network, and wherein

said interface to the public wireless network uses said wireless protocol so that said wireless stations may communicate in said public wireless network and said private wireless network,

said interface to said private wired network includes interfaces to one or more local area networks and whereby wireless stations operating in said private wireless network may thus communicate with said public wired network through said private wired network and whereby wireless stations operating in said public wireless network communicate through said private wired network.

17. The base station of claim 16 wherein said public networks include at least one of the Internet, PSTN and ISDN.

18. The base station of claim 12 wherein the interface to the private wired network includes one or more local area networks and said private wired network connects the private wireless network to said public wireless network.

19. The base station of claim 16 wherein said wireless stations have integrated voice and data operations.

20. The base station of claim 16 wherein the interface to the public wireless network supports a public wireless network using said wireless protocol whereby said wireless stations communicate in said public wireless network and said private wireless network.

21. The base station of claim 16 wherein said wireless stations communicate at data rates of the public wireless network when communicating over the public wireless network.

22. The base station of claim 16 wherein said wireless stations communicate at data rates of the private wireless network when communicating over the private wireless network.

23. The base station of claim 16 wherein said public wireless network interface includes an interface to connect to a public BSC, to a public MSC and to a public HLR, to enable wireless stations to make calls using said public wireless network.

24. The base station of claim 23 wherein said wireless stations do not require use of said public BSC, said public MSC, or said public HLR interface for calls using said private wireless network.

25. The base station of claim 12 wherein said wireless protocol is TDMA or CDMA and has a wireless call build/teardown sequence, and said wired packet protocol includes at least one of H.225, H.245 and H.323, and has wired packet call build/teardown sequence and wherein said interface to a private wired network integrates said wireless call build/teardown sequence and integrates said wireless call build/teardown sequence with said wired packet call build/teardown sequence.

26. The base station of claim 12 wherein said private wireless network includes one or more wireless cells and said private wireless network is connected to a cell service controller for controlling which ones of said cells service which one of the wireless stations.

27. The base station of claim 26 wherein said cell service controller includes a handover controller for controlling handover of wireless stations from one of said cells to other of said cells.

28. The base station of claim 12 wherein said private wireless network includes one or more private base transceiver stations, each private base transceiver station establishing wireless communication using said wireless protocol, with said wireless stations located in a cell within the private wireless network.

29. The base station of claim 12 wherein said private wireless network includes a plurality of private transceiver stations, each private base transceiver station establishing wireless communication, using said wireless protocol, with said wireless station located one or more cells within the private network, and wherein said interface to a private wired network includes a hub for connecting said plurality of private base transceiver stations together in a local area network.

30. The base station of claim 29 wherein said local area network includes a gatekeeper for providing control functions for operation of the wireless stations according to the private wired packet protocol.

31. The base station of claim 30 wherein said gatekeeper includes a gatekeeper database and an encoder/decoder for registration, administration and status messages.

32. The base station of claim 29 wherein said local area network includes a router for providing control functions for routing calls between the private network and the public networks.

33. The base station of claim 32 wherein said public networks include at least one of PSTN, ISDN and Internet networks.

34. The base station of claim 22 wherein said interface to a private wired network includes one or more gateways for providing control functions for the wireless stations for converting the wired packet protocol to a public network protocol for said PSTN and/or ISDN networks.

35. The base station of claim 34 wherein said public network protocol is a PSTN protocol.

36. The base station of claim 34 wherein said public network protocol is an ISDN protocol.

37. A method used by a particular wireless base station to provide coverage in a cell, the cell being one of a plurality of cells, where each cell covers a portion of a cellular region and where each cell has a corresponding base station, the method comprising:

transmitting a measurement report corresponding to a transmitting frequency parameter and a transmitting power parameter of a particular cell signal, where the particular cell signal covers a particular portion of the cellular region associated with particular the base station, the measurement report being transmitted on a packet network connection for connecting the base stations;

detecting other parameters of other cell signals for other cells in the cellular region, the step of detecting further comprising receiving a measurement report corresponding to the transmitting frequency parameter and the transmitting power parameter of the other cells, the other measurement reports being received on a packet network connection for connecting to the other base stations; and

controlling the particular parameters for the particular cell based upon the other parameters for the other cell signals so that the particular cell signal does not interfere with the other cell signals in the cellular region.

38. A method as in claim 37 wherein said step of detecting other parameters additionally comprises:

scanning for the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region; and

processing the other cell signals to determine the other parameters for the other cell signals.

39. A method as in claim 37 additionally comprising the step of:

assigning parameter values to the particular parameters.

40. A method as in claim 39 wherein said assigning step selects among operator control, local craft control and autonomous control modes of operation.

41. A method as in claim 37 wherein said controlling step comprises an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameter valves.

42. A method as in claim 41 wherein said autonomous control mode includes an installation phase for installing the base station with the particular parameters, an operational phase for changing the particular parameters and a maintenance phase for measuring other parameters for the other cells.

43. A method as in claim 42 wherein said installation phase includes the steps of:

measuring a received signal strength for each of n frequencies;

selecting a particular frequency from the n frequencies based upon the measured received signal strength;

setting the power of the particular frequency;

broadcasting the particular frequency and the particular power to other base stations for other cells; and

receiving the other parameters from the other cells.

44. A method as in claim 42 wherein said operational phase includes the steps of:

calculating other frequency parameters and other power parameters for the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region;

calculating values of the particular frequency parameter and the particular power parameter for the particular cell signal; and

setting the particular frequency parameter and the particular power parameter with the calculated values and transferring to the operational phase.

45. A method as in claim 42 wherein said maintenance phase includes the steps of:

measuring a received signal strength for each of the n frequencies to determine a set of frequency parameters for the other cells;

detecting if the set of frequency parameters has changed; and

transferring to the operational phase in response to such detected change.

46. A method as in claim 37 wherein controlling step has an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters, said control algorithm operating to detect a radio hole created by a disappearance of one of said other cell signals, and adjusting the particular parameters of said particular cell signal to compensate for said disappearance.

47. A method as in claim 37 wherein said controlling step has an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters, said control algorithm operating to detect a new radio signal created by an appearance of a new one of said other cell signals, and adjusting the particular parameters of said particular cell signal to compensate for said appearance.

48. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer instructions embodied on the computer readable medium, including instructions for use by a particular wireless base station to provide coverage in a cell being one of a plurality of cells, where each cell covers a portion of a cellular region and where each cell has a corresponding base station, comprising instructions for:

transmitting a measurement report corresponding to a transmitting frequency parameter and a transmitting power parameter of a particular cell signal, where the particular cell signal covers a particular portion of the cellular region associated with particular the base station, the measurement report being transmitted on a packet network connection for connecting the base stations;

detecting other parameters of other cell signals for other cells in the cellular region, the step of detecting further comprising receiving a measurement report corresponding to the transmitting frequency parameter and the transmitting power parameter of the other cells, the other measurement reports being received on a packet network connection for connecting to the other base stations; and

controlling the particular parameters for the particular cell based upon the other parameters for the other cell signals so that the particular cell signal does not interfere with the other cell signals in the cellular region.

49. A computer program product as in claim 48 wherein said instructions for detecting other parameters additionally comprise instructions for:

scanning for the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region; and

processing the other cell signals to determine the other parameters for the other cell signals.

50. A computer program product as in claim 48 additionally comprising instructions for assigning parameter values to the particular parameters.

51. A computer program product as in claim 50 wherein said instructions for said assigning step selects among operator control, local craft control and autonomous control modes of operation.

52. A computer program product as in claim 48 wherein said instructions for said controlling step comprise an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameter valves.

53. A computer program product as in claim 52 wherein said instructions for said autonomous control mode include an installation phase for installing the base station with the particular parameters, an operational phase for changing the particular parameters and a maintenance phase for measuring other parameters for the other cells.

54. A computer program product as in claim 53 wherein said instructions for said installation phase further comprise instructions for:

measuring a received signal strength for each of n frequencies;

selecting a particular frequency from the n frequencies based upon the measured received signal strength;

setting the power of the particular frequency;

broadcasting the particular frequency and the particular power to other base stations for other cells; and

receiving the other parameters from the other cells.

55. A computer program product as in claim 53 wherein said instructions for said operational phase further comprise instructions for:

calculating other frequency parameters and other power parameters for the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region;

calculating values of the particular frequency parameter and the particular power parameter for the particular cell signal; and

setting the particular frequency parameter and the particular power parameter with the calculated values and transferring to the operational phase.

56. A computer program product as in claim 53 wherein said instructions for said maintenance phase further comprise instructions for:

measuring a received signal strength for each of the n frequencies to determine a set of frequency parameters for the other cells.

57. A computer program product as in claim 56 wherein said instructions for said maintenance phase further comprise instructions for:

detecting if the set of frequency parameters has changed; and

transferring to the operational phase in response to such detected change.

58. A computer program product as in claim 48 wherein said instructions for said controlling additionally comprise an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters, said control algorithm operating to detect a radio hole created by a disappearance of one of said other cell signals, and adjusting the particular parameters of said particular cell signal to compensate for said disappearance.

59. A computer program product as in claim 48 wherein said instructions for said controlling step additionally comprise instructions for an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters, said control algorithm operating to detect a new radio signal created by an appearance of a new one of said other cell signals, and adjusting the particular parameters of said particular cell signal to compensate for said appearance.

60. A computer program product as in claim 48 wherein said packet network uses an Internet Protocol.

61. A base station for use in a wireless communication system, the base station providing wireless signal coverage in a cell, where the cell is one of a plurality of cells in a cellular region serviced by the wireless communication system, the base station comprising:

means for interfacing the base station to a packet network that links the base station to at least one other base station in the cellular region, wherein the other base station is used to provide wireless signal coverage in another cell in the cellular region;

means for transmitting a measurement report corresponding to a transmitting frequency parameter and a transmitting power parameter of a particular cell signal, the measurement report being transmitted over the packet network;

means for detecting other parameters of a cell signal for at least the other cell in the cellular region, the other parameters detected from the other cell via the network interface as a measurement report corresponding to a transmitting frequency parameter and a transmitting power parameter of the other cell; and

means for controlling the particular parameters of the particular cell signal base upon the other parameters for the other cell, so that the particular cell signal does not interfere with other cell signals in the cellular region.

62. The base station of claim 61 wherein said parameter detector comprises:

means for scanning a Radio Frequency (RF) of the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region; and

means for processing the other cell signals to determine the other parameters for the other cell signals.

63. The base station of claim 61 wherein said means for controlling the particular parameters include a control algorithm for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters.

64. The base station of claim 63 wherein said control algorithm selects among operator control, local craft control and autonomous control modes of operation.

65. The base station of claim 61 wherein said means for controlling the particular parameters includes a control algorithm having an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters.

66. The base station of claim 65 wherein said autonomous control mode includes an installation phase for installing the base station with the particular parameters, an operational phase for changing the particular parameters, and a maintenance phase for measuring other parameters for the other cells.

67. The base station of claim 66 wherein said installation phase includes

means for measuring a received signal strength for each of n frequencies;

means for selecting a particular frequency from the n frequencies based upon the moaned received signal strength; and

means for setting a power level at the particular frequency.

68. The base station of claim 66 wherein said operational phase further includes:

means for calculating other frequency parameters and other power parameters for the other cell signals from the other cells in the cellular region;

means for calculating values of the particular frequency parameter and the particular power parameter for the particular cell signal; and

means for setting the particular frequency parameter and the particular power parameter with the calculated values.

69. The base station of claim 66 wherein said maintenance phase includes:

means for measuring a received signal strength for each of n frequencies to determine a set of frequency parameters for the other cells;

means for determining if the set of frequency parameters has changed; and

means for initiating transfer to the operational phase in response to such changes.

70. The base station of claim 61 wherein said means for controlling the particular parameters includes a control algorithm having an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters, said control algorithm operating to detect a radio hole created by a disappearance of one of said other cell signals and to adjust the particular parameters of said particular cell signal to compensate for said disappearance.

71. The base station of claim 61 wherein said means for controlling the particular parameters includes a control algorithm having an autonomous control mode for automatic parameter assignment of the particular parameters, said control algorithm operating to detect a new radio signal created by an appearance of a new one of said other cell signals and to adjust the particular parameters of said particular cell signal to compensate for said appearance.

72. The base station of claim 61 wherein said plurality of cells form a private wireless network operating with a wireless protocol for communications with wireless stations located in the cells and wherein said base station further includes:

means for connecting a private wired network operating with a wired packet protocol, this interface means thus serving as an interconnect between the private wireless network and the private wired network; and

means for interfacing the wireless protocol and the wired packet protocol whereby wireless stations operating with the wireless protocol may then communicate with the wired packet protocol.

73. The base station of claim 72 wherein said wireless protocol is TDMA or CDMA.

74. The base station of claim 72 wherein said wired packet protocol is Internet Protocol.

75. The base station of claim 72 wherein said private wired network includes one or more local area networks and said interface means for a private wired network additionally connects the private wireless network to said local area networks.

76. The base station of claim 72 further including

means for connecting a public wired network and for interfacing to a public wireless network, and wherein said interface means to the public wireless network uses said wireless protocol so that said wireless stations may communicate in said public wireless network and said private wireless network;

and

means for connecting to a private wired network includes interfaces to one or more local area networks;

whereby wireless stations operating in said private wireless network may thus communicate with said public wired network through said private wired network; and

whereby wireless stations operating in said public wireless network communicate through said private wired network.

77. The base station of claim 76 wherein said public networks include at least one of the Internet, PSTN and ISDN.

78. The base station of claim 72 wherein said means for connecting to the private wired network includes one or more local area networks and said private wired network connects the private wireless network to said public wireless network.

79. The base station of claim 76 wherein said wireless stations have integrated voice and data operations.

80. The base station of claim 76 wherein said means for interfacing to a public wireless network supports a public wireless network using said wireless protocol whereby said wireless stations communicate in said public wireless network and said private wireless network.

81. The base station of claim 76 wherein said wireless stations communicate at data rates of the public wireless network when communicating over the public wireless network.

82. The base station of claim 76 wherein said wireless stations communicate at data rates of the private wireless network when communicating over the private wireless network.

83. The base station of claim 76 wherein said means for interfacing to a public wireless network includes an interface to connect to a public BSC, to a public MSC and to a public HLR, to enable wireless stations to make calls using said public wireless network.

84. The base station of claim 83 wherein said wireless stations do not require use of said public BSC, said public MSC, or said public HLR interface for calls using said private wireless network.

85. The base station of claim 72 wherein said wireless protocol is TDMA or CDMA and has a wireless call build/teardown sequence, and said wired packet protocol includes at least one of H.225, H.245 and H.323, and has wired packet call build/teardown sequence and wherein said interface means to a private wired network integrates said wireless call build/teardown sequence and integrates said wireless call build/teardown sequence with said wired packet call build/teardown sequence.

86. The base station of claim 72 wherein said private wireless network includes one or more wireless cells and said private wireless network is connected to a cell service controller for controlling which ones of said cells service which one of the wireless stations.

87. The base station of claim 86 wherein said cell service controller includes a handover controller for controlling handover of wireless stations from one of said cells to other of said cells.

88. The base station of claim 72 wherein said private wireless network includes one or more private base transceiver stations, each private base transceiver station establishing wireless communication using said wireless protocol, with said wireless stations located in a cell within the private wireless network.

89. The base station of claim 72 wherein said private wireless network includes a plurality of private base transceiver stations, each private base transceiver station establishing wireless communication, using said wireless protocol, with said wireless station located one or more cells within the private network, and wherein said interface means to a private wired network includes a hub for connecting said plurality of private base transceiver stations together in a local area network.

90. The base station of claim 89 wherein said local area network includes a gatekeeper for providing control functions for operation of the wireless stations according to the private wired packet protocol.

91. The base station of claim 90 wherein said gatekeeper includes a gatekeeper database and an encoder/decoder for registration, administration and status messages.

92. The base station of claim 89 wherein said local area network includes a router for providing control functions for routing calls between the private network and the public networks.

93. The base station of claim 92 wherein said public networks include at least one of PSTN, ISDN and Internet networks.

94. The base station of claim 92 wherein said means for interfacing to a private wired network includes one or more gateways for providing control functions for the wireless station for converting the wired packet protocol to a public network protocol for said PSTN and/or ISDN networks.

95. The base station of claim 94 wherein said public network protocol is a PSTN protocol.

96. The base station of claim 94 wherein said public network protocol is an ISDN protocol.