Patent US5706333A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5706333A
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Method and apparatus for analyzing cellular telephone network
Assignee: Tollgrade Communications Inc
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Filing: 1995-02-24
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Granted: 1998-01-06
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Expires: 2015-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A cellular telephone network with the capability to detect faulty cellular telephones in use in the network. The network includes measurement units at some or all of the cell sites. The measurement units monitor the radio links between each cell site and specific cellular telephones. Measurements taken at all the cell sites are accumulated at a test system controller. The test system controller stores and processes the measurements to detect faulty cellular telephones. When a faulty cellular telephone is detected, a trouble manager notifies the subscriber of the fault so that it might be repaired before the fault affects cellular telephone service. The same measurement techniques are also used to detect fraudulent telephone usage and network problems.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Grenning
- 👤 Robert L. Fawley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W24/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
In a cellular telephone network having a plurality of cell sites and at least one measurement unit capable of monitoring a predetermined number, which is at least two, of radio links between a cell site and a cellular telephone, a method of detecting faulty cellular telephones comprising the steps of: a) preparing a list of cellular telephones which use the network and a priority for each cellular telephone on the list; b) monitoring a control channel in the cellular telephone network to detect a call being initiated with a specific cellular telephone to determine the voice channel assigned for the call; c) when less than the predetermined number of radio links is being monitored, monitoring the voice channel assigned for the call and taking a plurality of measurements on the radio link; d) when the predetermined number of radio channels is being monitored, following a priority resolution procedure comprising the steps of: i) determining the priority of the lowest priority cellular telephone being monitored; ii) comparing the priority of the cellular telephone involved in the call being initiated to the priority of the lowest priority cellular telephone being monitored; iii) when the priority of the cellular telephone involved in the call being initiated is higher than the priority of the lowest priority cellular telephone being monitored, preempting monitoring of the lowest priority call and monitoring the call being initiated and taking a plurality of measurements on the radio link; and e) processing the measurements made on a plurality of calls to detect faults in cellular telephones.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a cellular telephone network having a plurality of cell sites and at least one measurement unit capable of monitoring a predetermined number, which is at least two, of radio links between a cell site and a cellular telephone, a method of detecting faulty cellular telephones comprising the steps of: a) preparing a list of cellular telephones which use the network and a priority for each cellular telephone on the list; b) monitoring a control channel in the cellular telephone network to detect a call being initiated with a specific cellular telephone to determine the voice channel assigned for the call; c) when less than the predetermined number of radio links is being monitored, monitoring the voice channel assigned for the call and taking a plurality of measurements on the radio link; d) when the predetermined number of radio channels is being monitored, following a priority resolution procedure comprising the steps of: i) determining the priority of the lowest priority cellular telephone being monitored; ii) comparing the priority of the cellular telephone involved in the call being initiated to the priority of the lowest priority cellular telephone being monitored; iii) when the priority of the cellular telephone involved in the call being initiated is higher than the priority of the lowest priority cellular telephone being monitored, preempting monitoring of the lowest priority call and monitoring the call being initiated and taking a plurality of measurements on the radio link; and e) processing the measurements made on a plurality of calls to detect faults in cellular telephones.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of detecting faulty cellular telephones of claim 1 wherein the step of preparing a priority for each cellular telephone comprises assigning a higher priority to cellular telephones used more than a predetermined amount than to those used less than the predetermined amount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of detecting faulty cellular telephones of claim 1 wherein the step of preparing a priority for each cellular telephone comprises assigning a higher priority to cellular telephones which are suspected of being faulty than to those which are not suspected of being faulty.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 wherein, before the step of assigning priorities, a plurality of cellular telephones are tested to determine which are suspected of being faulty.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
A cellular telephone network of the type having a plurality of cell sites from which radio signals are sent to and received from a plurality of cellular telephones, comprising: a) a plurality of measurement means, each measurement means associated with at least one cell site, for measuring parameters of radio signals sent by cellular telephones to the cell site; b) test system controller means for controlling the operation of each measurement means, and for detecting faulty cellular telephones from measured parameters provided by each measurement means; c) a plurality of communication links, each connecting one of the plurality of measurement means to the test system controller means; and d) a network controller means connected to the test system controller means, for controlling communication links between each cellular telephone and another telephone, and for detecting cellular telephone call failures, wherein the network controller means includes a database memory for storing names and addresses of users of each cellular telephone, for storing data related to how much time each cellular telephone is in use, and for storing data related to call failures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
180 words
A cellular telephone network of the type having a plurality of cell sites from which radio signals are sent to and received from a plurality of cellular telephones, comprising: a) a plurality of measurement means, each measurement means associated with at least one cell site, for measuring parameters of radio signals sent by cellular telephones to the cell site; b) test system controller means for controlling the operation of each measurement means, and for detecting faulty cellular telephones from measured parameters provided by each measurement means; c) a plurality of communication links, each connecting one of the plurality of measurement means to the test system controller means; and d) a network controller means connected to the test system controller means, for controlling communication links between each cellular telephone and another telephone, and for detecting cellular telephone call failures, wherein the network controller means includes a database memory for storing names and addresses of users of each cellular telephone, for storing data related to how much time each cellular telephone is in use, and for storing data related to call failures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
182 words
A cellular telephone network of the type having a plurality of cell sites from which radio signals are sent to and received from a plurality of cellular telephones, comprising: a) a plurality of measurement means, each measurement means associated with at least one cell site, for measuring parameters of radio signal sent by cellular telephones to the cell site; b) test system controller means for controlling the operation of each measurement means, and for detecting faulty cellular telephones from measured parameters provided by each measurement means; c) a plurality of communication links, each connecting one of the plurality of measurement means to the test system controller means; and d) a network controller means connected to the test system controller means, for controlling communication links between each cellular telephone and another telephone, and for detecting cellular telephone call failures, wherein the test system controller means includes a database memory for storing data derived from both the measured parameters and the detected call failures, and wherein the test system controller means uses the stored data to analyze faults detected in the cellular telephone network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
182 words
A cellular telephone network of the type having a plurality of cell sites from which radio signals are sent to and received from a plurality of cellular telephones, comprising: a) a plurality of measurement means, each measurement means associated with at least one cell site, for measuring parameters of radio signal sent by cellular telephones to the cell site; b) test system controller means for controlling the operation of each measurement means, and for detecting faulty cellular telephones from measured parameters provided by each measurement means; c) a plurality of communication links, each connecting one of the plurality of measurement means to the test system controller means; and d) a network controller means connected to the test system controller means, for controlling communication links between each cellular telephone and another telephone, and for detecting cellular telephone call failures, wherein the test system controller means includes a database memory for storing data derived from both the measured parameters and the detected call failures, and wherein the test system controller means uses the stored data to analyze faults detected in the cellular telephone network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-05 | 2001-07-07 | 2002-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-05 | 2005-07-07 | 2006-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-05 | 2009-07-07 | 2010-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |