RU2353060C2 - Event-triggered data collection - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: information systems.

SUBSTANCE: there is disclosed method of data collection valuable for one or more network applications. For this purpose method is ensured in response to triggering event, disconnection type, location or even clock expiration time. The user location is enabled in response to the event. Then the record is formed connecting the user location and triggering event identifier and/or data measured or received in response to the event, level type of one or more control signals visible for the user location. The record is either stored locally, or transmitted to the remote location. According to one version implemented the record is transmitted to the remote location and stored in the database of the similar records concerning the other user locations.

EFFECT: first of all technical result includes assured approximation of in-place user location availability rate statistics, secondly, cost reduction of data collection by using the general service test equipment, and, thirdly, higher accuracy of the collected data to be used in network applications.

50 cl, 15 dwg

Description

Related Applications

This patent application claims the priority of provisional patent application US No. 60 / 444,246, registered January 30, 2003, and provisional patent application US No. 60 / 463,910, registered April 17, 2003

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of wireless communications, and more specifically, to collecting data useful for network applications.

State of the art

Modern approaches to collecting data useful for network applications are time-consuming, specially selected for this case and require the use of specialized equipment and operators. In Fig. 1, for example, an operational test procedure is activated to collect data, including a vehicle 118 equipped with specialized receiving and monitoring equipment. In a specific illustrated example, data is collected to optimize the location of the relay 110 and the extended coverage area provided by the combination of the (donor) base station 108 and the relay 110. The vehicle 118 is driven by a network technician along route 120 and measures the level of the pilot signal generated by the base station 108 and relayed by relay 110, at measurement locations 128a, 128b, 128c and 128d along route 120. The locations of the measurement locations are either a priori known, or receive on vehicle 118 using specialized GPS positioning equipment (Global Positioning System). Measurements are then used to optimize the placement of repeater 110.

This approach to data collection is problematic because routing 120, which is managed by a network technician, is usually specifically tailored to this case, and there is no guarantee of approximating the statistical characteristics of the intensity of the use of subscriber stations in place.

Another problem is that the equipment and operators used to perform field tests are usually specialized, which increases the cost of data collection.

The third problem is that the data collected using this procedure is often not accurate enough for use in network applications, because they are collected only from sampling from discrete measurement locations and, thus, provide only a rough approximation of the network coverage area. or network component. In FIG. 1, for example, pilot level measurements obtained at discrete measurement locations 128a, 128b, 128c and 128d provide an approximation of only the extended coverage area corresponding to the combination of base station 108 / repeater 110. In addition, this data represents only a single copy state of system characteristics at a given time.

Disclosure of invention

A method for obtaining data useful for one or more network applications is described herein. The method is triggered by the appearance of an event. The method includes obtaining a location estimate for a subscriber station. Then, a record is formed linking the location estimate with the identifier of the triggering event or with the data measured or obtained in response to the triggering event, or with both of them. After that, the recording is saved or transmitted. In one embodiment, the method is performed in whole or in part by each of one or more subscriber stations. In another embodiment, the method is performed in whole or in part by each of one or more other network entities such as a base station or a location object. In a third embodiment, the method is performed by each of a combination of one or more subscriber stations and one or more other network entities. In one configuration, when a triggering event occurs, a location determination for the subscriber station is triggered, and a record is generated based on the location estimate obtained from this determination. Alternatively, a record is generated based on a previously obtained location estimate for the subscriber station, which is still considered accurate. In one implementation, the record is saved locally. Alternatively, it is transmitted to a remote location. In one implementation example, a record is transmitted to a remote location and stored in a database storing records generated from similar data regarding other subscriber stations served by the network. Then the data in this database can be used for network planning, optimization, validation, or network operations.

A storage device embodying the foregoing method is described, as well as a system operating in accordance with the foregoing method. Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following drawings and detailed description. It is assumed that all such systems, methods, features and advantages included in this description are within the scope of this invention and are subject to protection by the attached claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, but instead focus on illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example operational test procedure for collecting data useful for network planning or optimization.

Figure 2 is a graphical diagram of a program implementing the method according to the invention for receiving data in response to the occurrence of an event.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary format for recording a database formed from data obtained using the method of FIG. 2.

4 illustrates an example of a hybrid positioning system overlapping with a wireless communication system.

5A illustrates an example of a handover failure scenario.

5B illustrates an example of a mapping identifying failed handover areas.

Fig. 5C is a flow diagram of a program for executing a method executed during network operations when a subscriber station moves to or is located in an unsuccessful handover area.

6 is a graph illustrating the effect of lowering one or more handoff thresholds applied to a subscriber station when the subscriber station moves to the failed handover area.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example scenario in which the method of FIG. 2 is executed when a selected subscriber station moves in, out of or through a service area.

8 illustrates an example of a display identifying gaps in a service area.

FIG. 9A illustrates an example scenario in which the method of FIG. 2 is executed in response to a user event.

Figv illustrates the message format of the measurement result of the control signal level (SIUKS) in systems that comply with the IS-95 standard.

Fig. 9C illustrates an example gradient display depicting a coverage area of a base station in a wireless communication system.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for implementing the method of FIG. 2.

11 is a block diagram of a subscriber station in a wireless communication system that implements or includes the system of FIG.

Implementation Description

Terms such as “about,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and “about,” as used herein, are intended to provide the ability to allow some drift in mathematical precision to take into account tolerances that are acceptable in the trade. Accordingly, any deviations up or down from a value that varies under the terms of “about”, “essentially”, “approximately” or “about” in the range of 1% to 20% or less should be considered as definitely falling within the scope of the claimed values.

The term "software" as used herein includes source code, assembly language code, binary code, firmware, macros, microcommands, or similar programs, or any combination of two or more of the above programs.

The term “memory device” refers to any processor-readable medium, including but not limited to RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), EPROM (programmable read-only memory), EPROM (programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable ROM), disk, floppy disk, hard disk, CD-ROM (non-rewritable compact disc), DVD (multi-purpose digital disc), or similar device, or any combination of two or more of the above devices on which the series can be saved to Mand software executed by the processor.

The terms “processor” or “CPU” (central processing unit) refer to any device capable of executing a series of instructions and include, without limitation, a general or special purpose microprocessor, state machine, controller, computer, digital signal processor (DSP), or similar device.

The term “logic” refers to an implementation in hardware, software, or any combination of hardware and software.

The expression “base station” (BS) includes omnidirectional base stations, sector base stations, and individual sectors within sector base stations.

The expression "GPS satellite" includes spacecraft (SC).

The terms “wireless communication system”, “system” or “network” mean any system in which communication service is provided for subscriber stations through a dispersing medium, and include, without limitation, a cellular, non-cellular, fixed wireless communication system, UMTS system (advanced mobile telephone service), ATP (personal communication system), mdcr (multiple access, code division), mdrv (multiple access, time division), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), communication systems and compatible with the IS-95, CMDA-2000 (CDMA-2000) standards and compatible with the SMDKR (Broadband TDMA). These expressions also include, without limitation, wireless communication systems comprising, integrating or overlapping with a positioning system.

The expression "positioning system" includes positioning systems overlapping with, integrated within, or included within a wireless communications system.

The term “record” means any relationship between two or more data elements. In one implementation, the term “record” is any relationship between two or more data elements processed in a set.

A graphical diagram of a program of an embodiment of a method for obtaining data useful for one or more network applications is illustrated in FIG. In this embodiment, the method is triggered by the occurrence of event 200. In one implementation, the method is performed in whole or in part by each of one or more subscriber stations. In another implementation, the method is performed in whole or in part by each of one or more other objects within a wireless communication system such as a base station or a location object. In the third implementation, the method is performed in whole or in part by each of a combination of one or more subscriber stations and one or more other network entities. The method comprises a step 202, obtaining a location estimate for a subscriber station. In one implementation, this step comprises initiating location determination for the subscriber station in response to the event and obtaining a resulting location estimate for the subscriber station. In another implementation, this step comprises obtaining a location estimate for the subscriber station as a result of a previous location determination that was valid or obtained close enough to the time of the triggering event 200 to appear so that the location estimate is still considered accurate. When executed, the location determination may be initiated by the subscriber station or, alternatively, may be initiated by another network entity using the time measurements provided for this by the subscriber station. Subsequently, some of the approaches that are possible for performing location determination of subscriber stations will be discussed. The location determination results in an estimate of the location of the subscriber station.

The method also includes an optional step 204 of performing or receiving one or more data measurements in response to an event. In one embodiment, one or more data measurements are performed or obtained by a subscriber station. In another embodiment, one or more data measurements are taken or obtained by another entity in a wireless communication system such as a base station or positioning entity. Although this step is shown in FIG. 2 as being performed after step 202, it should be understood that it can be performed in parallel with step 202.

The method also includes a step 206 of creating a record linking the location estimate obtained in step 202 with an identifier of a triggering event 200 or one or more measurements of data obtained in optional step 204, or both.

Step 208 follows step 206. At step 208, the record is either stored or transmitted. In one embodiment, a record is generated and stored locally at a subscriber station. In another embodiment, a record is generated at the subscriber station and transmitted to the remote station. In one implementation, it is generated at a subscriber station and transferred to another network object, where it is stored in a database storing records embodying similar data regarding other subscriber stations. In another implementation, it is formed in a network object and then stored in a database.

An exemplary format for such a record is illustrated in FIG. In this particular example, the record contains a field 300, an identifier for a triggering event, an optional field 302, one or more measurements of data captured or collected in response to a triggering event, and a field 304, a location estimate for a subscriber station that is received in response to the occurrence of a triggering event .

The method of FIG. 2 can be performed by or for each of a plurality of network entities operating in a wireless communication and / or location system. In one implementation, the method is performed by each of all or essentially all of the subscriber stations operating in the system, or for each of them. In another implementation, the method is performed for authorized or selected subscriber points associated with subscribers for which this test is taken into account in the form of concessions, discounts or similar conditions to ensure that their subscriber points can be used in the data collection process. Records for all these subscriber stations can be collected and stored in a centralized database. The data obtained from these records is well suited for planning, optimizing, validating the network, or application programs of operations, since each record associates an estimate of the location of the subscriber station at approximately the time of occurrence of the triggering event with an event identifier or with one or more data dimensions, received in response to a triggering event, or both. Compared to conventional data collection approaches, including field trials and the like, the method is less expensive because it is performed using equipment already on the network and does not require specialized equipment. It is also more accurate, since the data that is collected is not data specially selected for this case, but reflects the actual statistical characteristics of the intensity of use of subscriber stations on the spot, and they are not limited to discrete sampling points.

In one embodiment, the method of FIG. 2 is triggered by a network event. In this embodiment, many network events are possible, including those that were originally observed by the subscriber station and those that were originally observed by another entity in the network. Examples of triggering network events that are possible include the conditions of the actually lost connection or close to them, the entry of the subscriber station into the service area of a particular network or network object, the exit of the subscriber station from the service area of a particular network or network object, the timer expires periodically, while the subscriber station is outside the service area of the network or network object, the condition for the actual transfer of service, either hard or soft, or close to it, locating a subscriber station between service areas of two networks or network objects, passing a subscriber station between service areas of a donor base station and a repeater, detecting an unexpected control signal or base station at a subscriber station, or detecting at a subscriber station that there is no control signal or base station from the lists of neighboring stations or suitable applicants for a subscriber station. Other examples are possible, so nothing in the above should be construed as limiting.

In another embodiment, the method of FIG. 2 is triggered by a subscriber or user event, such as triggering a location, or an event that typically leads to triggering a location, such as a 911 call, or initiating a location-dependent search for services at a web-enabled subscriber station, such as searching for a restaurant or other facility within a range of the current location of the subscriber station. Other examples of user events are possible, so these specific examples should not be taken as limiting.

In a third embodiment, the event is simply the expiration of a timer or other synchronization element, such as a counter, counting up or down to a target or level, or a similar manifestation.

In one embodiment, the location of the subscriber station is determined through a positioning system overlapping with the wireless communication system in which the subscriber station operates. 4 illustrates an example of such a system. As shown, subscriber unit 412 receives signals transmitted by a plurality of reference sources 402, 404, 406 and 408 visible to a receiver at a subscriber unit. As illustrated, the reference sources may be base stations (BS), GPS satellites, or combinations of BS and GPS satellites.

Each of the reference sources transmits a signal modulated with an identification code that uniquely identifies the reference source. In one implementation, the identifying codes are PN codes that may vary in duration or frequency in accordance with the reference source involved. For CDMA systems complying with the IS-95 standard, the PN code is a sequence of 32.768 chips that are repeated every 26.67 ms. In modern GPS systems, the PN code is a sequence of 1,023 chips that are repeated every one millisecond.

Subscriber station 412 is equipped with a correlator that is configured to obtain a time measurement for each of the signals. In one example, time measurements are arrival time measurements. Alternatively, instead of the correlator receiving time measurements, the processor at the subscriber station receives time measurements from the correlation functions provided for it by the correlator. Correlation functions correlate the composite signal received at the subscriber station with the selected PN codes. If a system time reference is available, subscriber unit 412 uses this information to adjust the time measurements so that they are in units of system time. Alternatively, this task is performed by the location determination object (OOM) 400 in communication with the subscriber station 412.

Subscriber unit 412 transmits time measurements to OOM 400. Upon receiving this information, OOM 400 obtains (known) locations of reference sources 402, 404, 406 and 408 from one or more collections supported in memory 402. Then it determines the location of subscriber unit 412, using measurements of time and location of reference sources. In one implementation, known triangulation or trilateration procedures are used to obtain the location of subscriber unit 412. After determining the location of the subscriber station 412, the OOM 400 can be reported to the subscriber station 412 or some other network entity.

Alternatively, the subscriber station 412 determines its own location based on time measurements, as well as the locations of the reference sources 402, 404, 406 and 408 provided to it by the OOM 400, or based on other data sources.

In one implementation, the location estimate obtained in step 202 is obtained in response to triggering the location of Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (AFLT), i.e., it is determined from time measurements obtained from the forward link transmissions from the base stations. In the second implementation, a location estimate is obtained in response to the GPS location, that is, obtained from transmissions from the GPS satellites. In a third implementation, a location estimate is obtained in response to GPS positioning. GPS positioning is a two-step process. At the first stage, the approximate location of the subscriber station is estimated using direct-line transmissions from base stations. In the second stage, the location estimate from the first stage is precisely tuned to a higher level of accuracy based on transmissions of GPS satellites.

In one embodiment, the process of the invention proceeds in two stages. The first stage is the data collection stage. The second stage is the network application stage. During the first stage, data is collected using the method of FIG. 2 through each of a plurality of subscriber stations or for each of them and stored in a centralized database. During the second stage, data is used to support one or more network applications.

In one embodiment of this two-step process, during the first data collection step, the method of FIG. 2 is performed in whole or in part by each of one or more authorized subscriber stations on the network or for each of them. During the second stage of network applications, data obtained from data collected in the data collection stage is used to support network operations. The triggering event for the data collection stage in this embodiment is the lost connection condition, which is soon followed by a repeated request for communication services through the base station, which was or may not be in the active list available to the subscriber station during the lost connection. As you know, the active list is a list of base stations that are visible to the subscriber station and which transmit user information for handover in a system that complies with the IS-95 standard.

This triggering event indicates a situation in which the handoff for the pilot signal was prevented because the pilot signal for the target base station was initially too weak to be placed on the list of suitable candidates for the subscriber station, but then suddenly became so strong that it blocked communication with an existing base station before an existing base station could add the target base station to the active set of subscriber station. This often happens if the transition in the pilot signal of the target base station is faster than the speed at which the subscriber station searches through the pilot signals that are visible to it.

An example of this situation is illustrated in FIG. 5A. The subscriber station is located on the vehicle 500, which just turned around the corner 512 of building 510 along route 506. Immediately before the vehicle 500 turned around the corner 512, the subscriber station was busy talking through the base station 504. The base station 502 time was not in the active list for the subscriber station, since the base station 502 was then not visible to the subscriber station. After the vehicle 500 has turned around the corner 512, the call will be lost since the base station 504 suddenly becomes no longer visible to the subscriber station. Although the base station 502 is now visible to the subscriber station, a handover to this base station does not occur because the base station 502 is not in the active list at the time of the loss of the call. Then the subscriber station re-requests communication services through the base station 502.

When this triggering event occurs, the subscriber station has initiated or initiated a location determination. If an insufficient number of base stations is visible to a subscriber station to enable sufficiently accurate location determination based on AFLT, GPS or GPS positioning is initiated. Then, an entry is generated that associates the resulting location estimate with an identifier indicating the unsuccessful handoff condition and one or more identifiers (such as PN codes) identifying either or both of the active set elements immediately before the unsuccessful handover / lost connection condition or the active set elements directly after condition of unsuccessful handover / lost connection. In one implementation, the identifier of the target base station 502 through which a repeated request is also included. Then the record is stored in a centralized database, which stores similar records from other subscriber points in the system. This database is then used to generate a mapping of the type illustrated in FIG. 5B, which indicates failed handover areas 516a, 516b, 516c and 516d within the network service area 514. This database can also be used to generate association data that associates each of these areas of unsuccessful handoffs with any or both of the elements in the active set immediately before the condition of the unsuccessful handover / lost connection or the elements of the active set immediately after the condition of the unsuccessful handover / lost connection. In one implementation, this association data also indicates, for each failed handover area, the target base station, that is, the base station through which communication services were re-requested after the failed handover during the data collection step.

During the second stage of the method, this mapping and associated association data are made available to subscriber stations, in general, to support network operations. In one embodiment, each of these subscriber stations performs the method illustrated in FIG. 5C. At step 518 of this method, the subscriber station performs or performed positioning in response to one or more triggering events, including user events such as 911 calls or placement-dependent service requests. At step 520 of the request, he compares or compared the resulting location estimate with the locations of the failed handover areas on the display. If the subscriber station is located in one of the areas of unsuccessful handover indicated on the display or close to it, step 522 is performed. At step 522, the target base station associated with the failed handover area is entered into the list of suitable applicants for the subscriber station, and / or otherwise, system handover sensitivity is increased. This allows the network to initiate a handover to this base station, thereby avoiding a lost connection situation.

Alternatively, the method of FIG. 5C is performed by another entity within a network such as a base station serving a subscriber station while the subscriber station moves to an area of unsuccessful handover, or OOM. In this embodiment, when the subscriber station encounters an unsuccessful handover area, the network entity enters the target base station in the active list of the subscriber station. By doing so, the network entity actually introduces handoff initiation to the target base station.

In the second embodiment of the two-step method, the areas of failed handover are identified in the first stage of data collection, as described in the previous embodiment. However, in the second stage of network applications, when it is discovered that the subscriber station is moving to the area of unsuccessful transmission of services or operates within it, instead of entering the base station in the list of suitable applicants for the subscriber station or in the active list, one or more threshold values used by the subscriber station (or the base station serving the subscriber station) to maintain the handoffs are changed to a certain extent so that they reliably allow the subscriber station to initiate, and and initiated, the handover condition soon enough to prevent the state of the connection is lost.

In one implementation, the threshold value T_ADD applied to the subscriber station is lowered when this subscriber station moves to the failed handover area. As is known, in systems complying with the IS-95 standard, the threshold value T_ADD represents an absolute threshold for determining whether a base station is added to the list of suitable candidates for a subscriber station in the list of neighboring stations of a subscriber station. In this implementation, when the subscriber station enters the failed handover area, the threshold value T_ADD applied to that subscriber station is lowered. Then, assuming that the target base station associated with the failed handover area is already in the list of neighboring stations of the subscriber station, due to a sufficient decrease in the threshold value T_ADD, the pilot signal associated with the target base station is more likely to be moved to the list of suitable applicants of the subscriber station, thus allowing the network to initiate a handover to this base station sooner and more reliably before the situation of a lost connection.

Alternatively, or in addition to lowering the threshold value T_ADD, when the subscriber station enters the failed handover area, the target base station is entered into the list of neighboring stations of the subscriber station. This allows the network to initiate handoffs to this base station, even if this base station would not otherwise be in the list of neighboring stations of the subscriber station.

In another embodiment, in addition to or as an alternative to lowering the threshold value T_ADD and / or entering the target base station in the list of neighboring stations of the subscriber station, the active list or the list of suitable applicants, the threshold value T_COMP applied to the subscriber station when this subscriber station is lowered moves to the failed handover area. As you know, in systems complying with the IS-95 standard, the threshold value T_COMP is a relative threshold that determines when the base station moves from the list of neighboring stations of the subscriber station to the list of suitable applicants. By lowering the T_COMP threshold, the target base station is more likely to move to the list of eligible applicants applied to the subscriber station, thus allowing the network to initiate a handover to this base station more quickly and reliably before the loss of connection state.

In yet another embodiment, in addition to or as an alternative to lowering the threshold values T_ADD and / or T_COMP and / or entering the target base station in the lists of neighboring stations of the subscriber station or suitable applicants, when the subscriber station moves to the failed transmission area, the network simply enters the target base station to the active list of the subscriber station. As you know, in IS-95 systems, the active list is a list of base stations through which the subscriber station simultaneously establishes communication. The presence of multiple base stations in the active list indicates that the subscriber station is in a soft handoff condition. Entering the target base station in the active list of the subscriber station, the network initiates a soft handoff condition with the target base station.

In the third embodiment, the search time for searching through control signals in the lists of neighboring stations of the subscriber station and / or suitable applicants is reduced to enable earlier detection of one or more of these control signals to be reclassified. In one implementation, the search time is reduced by changing the filter time constant, which controls the time required to search through pilot signals in the lists of neighboring stations of the subscriber station and suitable applicants. Reducing this search time allows control signals that have exceeded the corresponding threshold values T_ADD and T_COMP to be quickly moved to the list of suitable applicants for the subscriber station. This, in turn, will allow the network to more likely initiate soft handoff conditions when the subscriber station moves to the failed handoff area. In one example, the search time is reduced from a maximum of 40 ms to a maximum of 10 ms.

The operation of an example of this implementation can be further explained with reference to Fig.6. It is believed that the subscriber station is in communication with a base station having a pilot signal P ₀ while the base station is moving into a failed handover area. Therefore, the control signal P ₀ is in the active list of the subscriber station. When the subscriber station enters the area of unsuccessful handover, it begins to perceive the target control signal P ₁ . After entering the failed handover area, the subscriber units lower the threshold values T_ADD and T_COMP applied to them from T_ADD to T_ADD 'and from T_COMP to T_COMP', respectively.

At time t _{0, the} level of pilot signal P ₁ exceeds T_ADD '. Accordingly, the subscriber station sends a control signal level measurement result (SIUX) message to the serving base station associated with the pilot signal P ₀ , reporting the pilot signal level P ₁ and instructing the serving base station to add the pilot signal P ₁ to the list of suitable subscribers of the subscriber station. Time t ₁ represents the time when the pilot signal P ₁ , being added to the list of suitable applicants of the subscriber station, had a threshold value T_ADD that remains in effect.

At time t _{2 the} level of the control signal P ₁ exceeds the level of the control signal P ₀ by the value of T_COMP '× 0.5 dB. In this particular example, it is assumed that the subscriber station moves the target base station from the lists of neighboring stations to the lists of suitable applicants when the level of the control signal of the station for the target base station exceeds that of the serving base station by T_COMP '× 0.5 dB. Accordingly, at time t _{2, the} subscriber station sends another SIUKS to the serving base station, reporting the pilot signal level P ₁ and instructing the serving base station to add the target base station to the list of suitable candidates for the subscriber station. After receiving this second SIUKS, the network decides to move the target base station to the active list and, thus, initiate a soft handoff condition with the target base station.

At time t _{3, the} control signal P _{0 is} no longer visible to the subscriber station and is removed from the active lists of the subscriber station (and lists of suitable applicants). However, any connection that continues while the subscriber station enters the failed handover area is not lost, since a soft handoff to the target base station was initiated before time t ₂ . Time t ₄ represents the time when soft handoff to the target base station could be initiated with the threshold value T_COMP remaining in reality. Since time takes place after t ₃ , having T_COMP remaining in reality, a situation of a lost connection will occur. Thus, when the threshold value T_COMP is lowered to the value T_COMP ', it can be seen that the initiation of soft handoff to the control signal P ₁ occurs sooner, thereby preventing the situation of a lost connection.

In the third embodiment of the two-stage method, in the first stage of data collection, data is collected by one or more authorized subscriber stations or for one of them or more and stored in a centralized location. In the second stage of network applications, this data is used to support one or more network planning or optimization applications.

The data collection step of this embodiment can be explained with reference to FIG. 7 illustrates a cellular wireless communication system comprising cells 700a, 700b, 700c, and 700d. Each of these cells is served by base stations 702a, 702b, 702c, and 702d, respectively. The service areas of these cells are indicated by reference numerals 704a, 704b, 704c and 704d, respectively. The gap or empty space in the combined service areas of these base stations is indicated by 700e. It is believed that the positioning system overlaps this wireless communication system. This positioning system may be an AFLT system, a GPS, or a GPS operating system.

Authorized subscriber stations operating in this wireless communication system are configured to perform either fully or partially the method of FIG. 2 and thus collect data to support network planning or optimization applications. 7, it is assumed that one such subscriber station is located on the vehicle 706. Another such subscriber station is indicated by reference numeral 710.

In one implementation of this embodiment, the triggering event to initiate the method of FIG. 2 is an event when authorized subscriber stations move to a gap 700e in the system coverage area. In another implementation, the triggering event is an event when an authorized subscriber station moves out of the gap in the service area. In the third implementation, the triggering event is an event when the subscriber station moves within the gap in the service area. In a fourth implementation, the triggering event is any combination of one or more of the above events. In one example, the movement of a subscriber station in the gap in the service area is detected when there is a situation of a lost or near-lost connection, or when no control signals are visible to the subscriber station, or both. Similarly, the movement of a subscriber station from a gap in a service area is detected when the subscriber station repeatedly requests communication services.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, when one of the authorized subscriber stations moves to the interval 700e in the service area, it either initiates, or triggered a location, or he calls, or turned to obtain a location estimate based on a previous location, performed enough close in time to a baseline event for which the location estimate is still considered accurate. Thus, the subscriber station on the vehicle 706 has initiated or initiated a location or, otherwise, has contacted or applied to obtain a location estimate at location 708a when the vehicle moves to a gap 700e in the service area. Similarly, the subscriber unit 710 initiated or initiated a location at location 712a or, otherwise, contacted or applied to obtain a location estimate when it moves to a gap 700e in the coverage area.

If positioning is performed, in one embodiment, GPS positioning is first undertaken. If it is unsuccessful, then the location is made using GPS. AFLT-based positioning in this embodiment is undertaken as a last resort. In another embodiment, a check is made to see if there are enough base stations visible to the subscriber station to enable AFLT based positioning. If at this time there is an insufficient number of base stations visible to the subscriber station, it enters the gap in the service area to enable AFLT-based positioning, positioning in this embodiment is made from GPS satellite transmissions, assuming that the positioning system GPS or via GPS is available. Other embodiments are also possible, so that nothing in the foregoing should be taken as limiting.

Alternatively or in addition, the subscriber station has initiated or initiated a location, or otherwise received or received a location estimate after re-requesting communication services when it leaves the gap in the service area. Positioning, if triggered, may be performed using AFLT transmissions, GPS transmissions, or a combination of both. Thus, in FIG. 7, a subscriber station on a vehicle 706 can initiate or initiated a location determination or, otherwise, obtains or received a location estimate at location 708b when it leaves the gap 700e in the coverage area. Similarly, the subscriber unit 712b can initiate or initiated a location determination or, otherwise, obtains or received a location estimate at location 712b when it leaves the gap in the service area.

A subscriber station can also initiate or initiated periodic positioning (using a timer or similar device), while it moves through the gap in the service area. These positioning will probably be done via GPS transmissions or via GPS, since AFLT transmissions are by definition difficult to access at the subscriber station while it is in the gap in the service area. Thus, in FIG. 7, a subscriber station on a vehicle 706 can initiate or initiated positioning at a location 708c while it moves through a gap in a service area. This location can be initiated after the expiration of the timer, which was initiated when the subscriber station moved in the gap in the service area. This timer may periodically be re-triggered until the subscriber station repeatedly requests communication service. In this way, the subscriber station can initiate or has initiated periodic positioning while it moves through the gap in the service area.

For each of the obtained location estimates, the subscriber station generates or generated a record linking the identifier of the triggering event, which can be either input or output, or moving through the gap in the service area, with the location estimate for the subscriber station. This record is then stored or transferred for storage in a database containing similar records regarding authorized subscriber stations. After some time, the data in this database is made available to support one or more network planning or optimization applications.

In one such application, a mapping of the type illustrated in FIG. 8 is obtained based on data in a database. This display indicates the coverage area 800 of the wireless communication system and the gaps 802a, 802b, 802c in the coverage area located in this coverage area. This mapping is then used to support one or more network planning or optimization applications in which the locations of existing base stations and / relays are optimized and / or base stations and / or relays are added to the system to eliminate or reduce gaps in the coverage area.

In a fourth embodiment of a two-step method, in a first step, data is collected for, either by, one or more authorized subscriber stations operating in a wireless communication system covered by a positioning system. After collection, data is stored in a centralized location. In a second step, data is used to support one or more network planning, optimization, or network validation applications.

The first stage of data collection can be explained with reference to figa. This drawing illustrates a cellular wireless communication system comprising cells 900a and 900b served by base stations 904a and 904b, respectively. Cell service areas are indicated by reference numerals 906a and 906b, respectively. It is believed that the positioning system overlaps with the wireless communication system.

One or more authorized subscribers operating in the system is configured to perform, either in whole or in part, the method of FIG. 2, where the triggering event is a location triggering event or any user event that typically triggers a location location triggering by a subscriber station. Examples are 911 calls or Web-based subscriber requests for a location-specific tool or service, such as a restaurant located within a certain distance from the subscriber station.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 9A, the subscriber station on the vehicle 920, which is on route 908, is believed to have initiated or initiated a location or, otherwise, received or received a location estimate at locations 910a, 910b, 910c. After obtaining a location estimate, the subscriber station measures or measures the level and / or phase of one or more control signals visible to the subscriber station, and prepares or prepared one or more records relating this one or more measurements to the location estimate for the subscriber station.

In one implementation, the subscriber station is preparing or prepared a modified SIUKS linking the usual SIUKS, which contains level measurements of one or more control signals visible to the subscriber station, with an estimate of the location for the subscriber station. FIG. 9B illustrates a conventional SIX with a portion 909 repeated for each of one or more pilot signals visible to a subscriber station that are presented in a message. The values of each of the fields in FIG. 9B are known, and further details are not required in this disclosure. This message is supplemented in this implementation with a field for estimating the location of a subscriber station.

Then, one or more records are stored or transmitted for storage in a database containing similar records regarding other subscriber stations. After some time, when a sufficient number of records have been created in the database, the second stage of the process is initiated. In this second step, one or more gradient mappings are obtained from the database. Each of these gradient mappings represents the gradient of the coverage area of a base station in a network.

Fig. 9C illustrates an example of a gradient display of the type that can be obtained based on data stored in a database. As shown, the display contains a plurality of ordered concentric loops 912a, 912b, 912c, where each loop is associated with a particular pilot signal level, and the loop order is such that the pilot signal level progressively decreases from internal to external loops. Thus, in the example of FIG. 9C, loop 912a can indicate a strong pilot signal, loop 912b can indicate an average pilot signal, and loop 912c can indicate a weak pilot signal at the outer borders of the base station coverage area. Once received, these gradient mappings can be used to support one or more network planning, optimization, or network validation applications. In one example, they are used to validate the RF (radio frequency) propagation model previously used to plan or optimize a system.

In a fourth embodiment of this two-step method, during a first data collection step, a triggering event for data collection is an event when an authorized subscriber station loses service while it is in an idle state. Such a loss during operation can occur, for example, when a subscriber station encounters a new pilot signal that is so strong that it prevents the subscriber station from decoding the paging channel for the current pilot signal or any of its neighboring stations. When such a triggering event occurs, the location of the subscriber station is determined and associated with the identifier of this event and / or the identifier of the new control signal and / or the level measurement of the new control signal. This data collection may be performed by each or for each of a plurality of authorized subscriber stations. During the second stage of network applications, the areas of the network where these control signals are encountered are displayed. In addition, these areas are examined to determine if they are only areas of weak signals or areas in which it is necessary to improve the management of the control signal list / neighboring stations.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a system for acquiring data useful for one or more network applications. As shown, the system comprises a processor 1000 and a storage device 1002.

The storage device 1002 materially embodies a series of software instructions for executing the method of FIG. 2 or any of its embodiments, implementations, options, or examples that have been described or proposed.

The processor is configured to access and execute software instructions embodied in memory 1002. By executing these instructions, the processor 1000 performs the method of FIG. 2.

The system of FIG. 10 may be implemented using or included in one or more authorized subscriber stations or other network entities operating within the location system of FIG. 4. Records generated by these objects are transmitted to OOM 400 and stored in the database 402. After some time, the data obtained from the data stored in this database can be used to support one or more applications of network planning, optimization, validation or network operations, as described. In the case in which the received data is used to support application programs for network operations, such as supporting handover, it may be necessary to make this received data available to all subscriber stations operating in the system.

An embodiment of a subscriber station embodying or including the system of FIG. 10 is shown in FIG. 11. Other examples are possible, so nothing in FIG. 11 should be taken as a limitation.

The radio transceiver 1106 is configured to modulate baseband information, such as speech or data, on an RF carrier and demodulate a modulated RF carrier to obtain baseband information.

The antenna 1110 is configured to transmit a modulated RF carrier over a wireless link and receive a modulated RF carrier over a wireless link.

The baseband processor 1108 is configured to provide baseband information from the CPU 1102 to the transceiver 1106 for transmission over a wireless communication line. The CPU 1102, in turn, receives baseband information from the input device in the user interface 1116. The baseband processor 1108 is also configured to transmit baseband information from the transceiver 1106 to the CPU 1102. The CPU 1102, in turn, transmits the basic information frequency bands to an output device in user interface 1116.

User interface 1116 comprises a plurality of devices for inputting or outputting user information, such as speech or data. Devices typically included in the user interface include a keyboard, a display screen, a microphone, and a speaker.

The GPS receiver 1112 is configured to receive and demodulate a composite signal generated from control signals from the GPS satellites visible to the subscriber station and transmit demodulated information to the correlator 1118. The composite signal is received through the antenna 1114.

The radio transceiver 1106 is configured to receive and demodulate a composite signal generated from control signals transmitted by base stations visible to a subscriber station and transmit demodulated information to a correlator 1118. The composite signal is received through an antenna 1110.

In this particular example, the GPS receiver 1112 and the radio transceiver 1106 share the same filter circuit, but it should be understood that examples are possible in which each is configured with a separate filter circuit.

To determine the location of the GPS or using the GPS, the correlator 1118 is configured to obtain the correlation functions of the GPS from the information provided to it by the GPS receiver 1112. To determine the location of the AFLT or using GPS, the correlator 1118 is configured to obtain the correlation functions of the base station from the information provided to it by the radio transceiver 1106.

The correlator 1118 is also configured to obtain the arrival time and / or time difference of arrival measurements from the peak values of the correlation functions that it receives. Alternatively, the CPU 1102 may obtain this information from the correlation functions provided to it by the correlator 1118.

This information can be used by a subscriber station to request wireless services and / or determine its location or obtain its location determined by the OOM or other object in the positioning system through AFLT-based approaches, GPS-based or GPS-based.

The channel decoder 1120 is configured to decode the channel symbols provided for it by the baseband processor 1108 to the base source bits. In one example, where the channel symbols are convolutional encoded symbols, the channel decoder is a Viterbi decoder. In the second example, where the channel symbols are serial or parallel joints of convolutional codes, the channel decoder 1120 is a turbo mode decoder.

The storage device 1104 is configured to store software instructions embodying the method of FIG. 2, or any of its embodiments, implementations, examples, or options that have been described or proposed.

The CPU 1102 is configured to access and execute these software instructions and thereby collect data useful for network planning, optimization, validation, or network operations applications.

Although various embodiments, implementations, and examples have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there may be significantly more embodiments, implementations, and examples that are within the scope of this invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited by anything other than the appended claims.

Claims (50)

1. A method of collecting data useful for one or more network applications, the method comprises the following steps
detect the occurrence of a network event, while the network event includes at least one of the following: the subscriber station enters the service area, the subscriber station exits the service area and the timer expires while the subscriber station is outside the coverage area of the wireless communication system ,
receiving a location estimate for a subscriber station operating in a wireless communication system in response to detecting a network event,
forming a record linking the location estimate for the subscriber station with at least one of the event identifier and data measured or received in response to receiving the location estimate, and
save or transmit the generated record to the database, responsive to the formation of the record. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the network event is observed by the subscriber station. 3. The method according to claim 1, in which a network event is observed by an object in a wireless communication system other than a subscriber station. 4. The method according to claim 1, in which the network event includes a situation of a virtually lost connection or close to it. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network event includes an unsuccessful handover condition. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network event includes a handover condition or a near handover. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the handover condition includes a hard or soft handoff condition. 8. The method according to claim 6, in which a condition close to the transfer of service includes a condition of hard or soft transfer of service. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network event includes a change in the condition of the frequency band. 10. The method according to claim 1, in which the network event includes the passage of the subscriber station between the service areas of two wireless communication systems or system objects. 11. The method according to claim 1, in which the network event includes the passage of the subscriber station between the service areas of the donor base station and the relay. 12. The method according to claim 1, in which the network event includes the detection at the subscriber station of an unexpected or unexpectedly strong control signal. 13. The method according to claim 1, in which the network event includes the detection at the subscriber station of an unexpected base station. 14. The method according to claim 1, in which the network event includes the detection at the subscriber station pilot signal, which is not in the list of neighboring stations of the subscriber station. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location estimate is determined by the subscriber station. 16. The method according to claim 1, in which the location estimate is determined by the object in the system, different from the subscriber station. 17. The method according to clause 16, in which the different object is a location object. 18. The method according to claim 1, in which the record is locally stored in the subscriber station. 19. The method according to claim 1, in which the recording is transmitted and stored at a remote location in a wireless communication system. 20. A method of collecting data useful for one or more network applications, the method comprises the following steps
detect timer expiration,
receiving a location estimate for a subscriber station operating in a wireless communication system in response to detecting a timer expiration,
forming a record linking the location estimate for the subscriber station with at least one of the event identifier and data measured or received in response to receiving the location estimate, wherein the record associates the location estimate with one or more measurements of the level or phase of the control signal, while the control the signals are connected to the information exchange channel existing between the subscriber station and the base station, and the information exchange channel is at least upstream anal information exchange and downlink traffic channel, and
save or transmit the generated record to the database, responsive to the formation of the record. 21. A method of collecting data useful for one or more network applications, the method comprises the following steps
detect user initiation of an emergency call,
receiving a location estimate for a subscriber station operating in a wireless communication system in response to detecting a user initiating an emergency call,
forming a record linking the location estimate for the subscriber station with at least one of the event identifier and data measured or received in response to receiving the location estimate, wherein the record associates the location estimate with one or more measurements of the level or phase of the control signal, while the control the signals are connected to the information exchange channel existing between the subscriber station and the base station, and the information exchange channel is at least upstream anal information exchange and downlink traffic channel, and
save or transmit the generated record to the database, responsive to the formation of the record. 22. A method of collecting data useful for one or more network applications, the method comprises the following steps
detect a request for location-dependent services in a subscriber station with Web support,
receiving a location estimate for a subscriber station operating in a wireless communication system in response to detecting a request for location-dependent services in a subscriber station with Web support,
forming a record linking the location estimate for the subscriber station with at least one of the event identifier and data measured or received in response to receiving the location estimate, wherein the record associates the location estimate with one or more measurements of the level or phase of the control signal, while the control the signals are connected to the information exchange channel existing between the subscriber station and the base station, and the information exchange channel is at least upstream anal information exchange and downlink traffic channel, and
save or transmit the generated record to the database, responsive to the formation of the record. 23. A method of collecting data useful for one or more network applications, the method comprises the following steps
detect the occurrence of a triggering event,
receiving a location estimate for a subscriber station operating in a wireless communication system in response to detecting the occurrence of a triggering event,
detect timer expiration,
receiving a location estimate for a subscriber station operating in a wireless communication system in response to detecting a timer expiration,
forming a record linking the location estimate for the subscriber station with at least one of the event identifier and data representing one or more measurements of the level or phase of the pilot signal, measured or received in response to receiving the location estimate, and
save or transmit the generated record to the database, responsive to the formation of the record. 24. The method according to item 23, in which at least one of the control signals is associated with an information exchange channel existing between the subscriber station and the base station. 25. The method according to paragraph 24, in which the information exchange channel is a direct communication channel of information exchange. 26. The method according to paragraph 24, in which the information exchange channel is a feedback information exchange channel. 27. The method according to p, in which the record associated with the position of the subscriber station is stored in a database storing records related to the position of the subscriber station received from other subscriber stations served by the wireless communication system. 28. The method according to item 27, in which the information of the collection of base stations associated with the database. 29. A computer-readable medium having a sequence of instructions stored in it, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to execute the method of claim 1. 30. A system for collecting data useful for use by one or more network applications, comprising a processor and a computer-readable medium according to clause 29, in which the processor is configured to access the computer-readable medium and execute instructions stored in the computer-readable medium, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor perform the method according to claim 1. 31. The system of claim 30, embodied by or included in a subscriber station, 32. A wireless communication system for collecting data useful for one or more network applications, comprising
one or more network objects, each of which is configured,
(1) in order to receive, or has already received, a location estimate for a subscriber station in response to detecting a network event, one or more network events contain an unsuccessful handover condition, also contains data stored in a storage device representing areas of failed handover received from databases and, for each area, association data linking the area to one or more base stations,
(2) to generate or already generated a record linking the location estimate for the subscriber station with at least one of the network event identifier and data measured or received in response to the location estimate, and
(3) to save or have a stored record in a database responsive to the formation of the record. 33. The system according to p. 32, containing one or more subscriber stations configured to access data received from the database, and after detecting movement in the area of unsuccessful service transfer using this data, entering or having entered one or more base stations connected with an area of unsuccessful handover, to one or more lists applied to the subscriber station to support handoffs. 34. The system according to p. 32, which also contains one or more subscriber stations configured to access the data received from the database, and after detecting movement in the area of unsuccessful transfer of service using this data by adjusting or adjusting one or more threshold values, applied to the subscriber station to maintain service transfers. 35. The system according to p. 32, which also contains one or more subscriber stations configured to access the data received from the database, and after detecting movement in the area of unsuccessful transfer of service using this data by adjusting or adjusting one or more search times, applied to the subscriber station to maintain service transfers. 36. The system according to p, in which one or more triggering events contain the movement of the subscriber station in the interval in the service area, from it or within it. 37. The system according to clause 36, which also contains a storage device storing data obtained from a database containing a display of the gaps in the service area. 38. The system according to clause 36, which also contains a storage device that stores data received from the database and representing one or more gradient displays. 39. A method of collecting data useful for one or more network applications, the method comprises performing the following steps by or for each of a plurality of subscriber stations operating in a wireless communication system:
detect the occurrence of a network event, while the network event includes at least one of the following: the subscriber station enters the service area, the subscriber station exits the service area and the timer expires while the subscriber station is outside the coverage area of the wireless communication system ,
receive a location estimate for the subscriber station in response to detecting the occurrence of network events,
forming a record linking the location estimate for the subscriber station with at least one of the identifier of the triggering event and the data measured or received in response to receiving the location estimate, and
save the record in a database responsive to the formation of the record. 40. The method according to § 39, in which one or more network events contain conditions for an unsuccessful handover. 41. The method according to clause 40, which also includes obtaining data from a database containing a display of areas of unsuccessful handoffs, and associations data associated with each area of one or more base stations. 42. The method according to paragraph 41, which also comprises, when the subscriber station enters the failed handover area, introducing or introducing the base station associated with the failed handover area into one or more lists applied to the subscriber station to support handoffs. 43. The method according to paragraph 41, which also comprises, upon transition of a subscriber station to the area of unsuccessful handoff, regulation or adjusted one or more threshold values applied to the subscriber station to maintain handoffs. 44. The method according to paragraph 41, which also comprises, upon transition of a subscriber station to the area of unsuccessful handoff, regulation or adjusted one or more search times applied to the subscriber station to maintain handoffs. 45. The method according to § 39, in which one or more triggering events contain movement at intervals in the service area, from or within them. 46. The method according to item 45, which also includes obtaining data from a database representing the display of gaps in the service area. 47. The method according to item 45, which also includes obtaining data from a database representing one or more gradient displays. 48. The method of claim 46, further comprising using data for a network planning or optimization application. 49. The method according to clause 47, which also contains the use of data for an application program for network planning or optimization, or to confirm the validity of the RF propagation model. 50. A method of collecting data useful for one or more network applications, comprising the steps of:
forming a record linking, for each of the plurality of subscriber stations, a location estimate for the subscriber station received in response to detecting a network event occurrence with at least one of a network event identifier and data measured or received in response to a location estimate, wherein the network event includes at least one of the following: the subscriber station’s entrance to the service area, the subscriber station’s exit from the service area and the expiration of the timer, while the subscriber’s point n is outside the coverage area of the wireless communication system,
storing the record in a database responsive to the generation of the record; and
execute one or more applications of network planning, optimization, validation, or network operations using data obtained from the database.

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