US5920607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptive wireless cell coverage
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-29
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Granted: 1999-07-06
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Expires: 2015-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for controlling a wireless network such that degradation of service availability is reduced or eliminated. The present invention monitors a wireless network. In response to a network degradation, the present invention adjusts setup parameters of network equipment. The adjustment automatically adapts the network equipment in real-time or near real-time to reduce or eliminate the degradation. The present invention is preferably automated, thereby increasing the speed of network adaption.
Inventors
- 👤 Myron Berg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W24/00; H04B; H04B17/00; H04B17/10; H04B17/15; H04B17/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for performing automatic real-time adaptive wireless cell coverage in a wireless network to respond to a degradation of the wireless network, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the degradation of the wireless network by monitoring a plurality of performance inputs; (b) assessing an impact of the degradation of the wireless network; (c) identifying at least one potential corrective action from a plurality of potential corrective actions to reduce the impact of the degradation of the wireless network; (d) generating a model of the wireless network; (e) applying said at least one potential corrective action to said model prior to implementing said at least one potential corrective action in order to determine how said at least one potential action will affect the wireless network; and (f) implementing said at least one potential corrective action to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for performing automatic real-time adaptive wireless cell coverage in a wireless network to respond to a degradation of the wireless network, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the degradation of the wireless network by monitoring a plurality of performance inputs; (b) assessing an impact of the degradation of the wireless network; (c) identifying at least one potential corrective action from a plurality of potential corrective actions to reduce the impact of the degradation of the wireless network; (d) generating a model of the wireless network; (e) applying said at least one potential corrective action to said model prior to implementing said at least one potential corrective action in order to determine how said at least one potential action will affect the wireless network; and (f) implementing said at least one potential corrective action to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of repeating steps (a)-(f) until a predetermined performance level is achieved.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises the step of: detecting a wireless network fault.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises the step of: detecting an equipment fault in the wireless network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises the step of: detecting scheduled maintenance of the wireless network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises the step of: detecting changes in user traffic patterns in the wireless network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of: accepting at least one performance input including user inputs, equipment alarm indicators, traffic pattern indicators, and remote radio test equipment data; analyzing said at least one performance inputs to determine said impact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of potential corrective actions includes one or more of: adjusting cell site controls for adjusting a footprint of a cell; adjusting soft controls for adjusting a virtual footprint of a cell; and adjusting frequency controls for redistributing communication frequencies or adding communication frequencies within a cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of performance inputs includes at least one of: traffic performance indicators for determining the effect of user traffic patterns; equipment alarms for identifying malfunctioning equipment; remote radio test equipment for determining the effectiveness of cell coverage; and user inputs for indicating geographic locations experiencing service problems.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one potential corrective action includes at least one of modification of a cell footprint, modification of a cell-handover protocol to provide a "virtual" change to a cell footprint, and redistributing frequency allocation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) further comprises the steps of: selecting one of said at least one potential corrective actions identified in step (c) such that active traffic is not dropped and said one of said at least one potential corrective actions is completed in real-time.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
184 words
A system for performing automatic real-time adaptive wireless cell coverage in a wireless network to respond to a degradation of the wireless network, the degradation causing the performance of the wireless network to deviate from a predetermined performance level, comprising: a wireless network degradation detector for detecting the degradation of the wireless network by monitoring a plurality of performance inputs; an assessment module for assessing an impact of said degradation of the wireless network; an identification module for identifying at least one potential corrective action from a plurality of potential corrective actions to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network; a computer simulator that generates a model of the wireless network and is configured to receive as an input said at least one potential corrective action, wherein said computer simulator applies said at least one potential corrective action to said model in order to determine how said at least one potential action will affect the wireless network; and an implementation module for implementing said at least one potential corrective action to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
184 words
A system for performing automatic real-time adaptive wireless cell coverage in a wireless network to respond to a degradation of the wireless network, the degradation causing the performance of the wireless network to deviate from a predetermined performance level, comprising: a wireless network degradation detector for detecting the degradation of the wireless network by monitoring a plurality of performance inputs; an assessment module for assessing an impact of said degradation of the wireless network; an identification module for identifying at least one potential corrective action from a plurality of potential corrective actions to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network; a computer simulator that generates a model of the wireless network and is configured to receive as an input said at least one potential corrective action, wherein said computer simulator applies said at least one potential corrective action to said model in order to determine how said at least one potential action will affect the wireless network; and an implementation module for implementing said at least one potential corrective action to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said wireless network degradation detector detects one or more of a wireless network fault, a wireless network equipment fault, and changes in user traffic patterns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said assessment module further comprises at least one input node for inputting at least one performance input; and an analysis module for analyzing said at least one performance input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one performance input is one of a user feedback, an equipment alarm indication, a traffic pattern indication, and remote radio test data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said potential corrective actions include modification of a cell footprint, modification of a cell handoff protocol, thereby providing a "virtual" change to a cell footprint, and redistribution of frequency allocation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said implementation module selects one of said at least one potential corrective actions such that call traffic is not dropped and said one of said at least one potential corrective actions is completed in a timely manner.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) includes an evaluation of at least one of user complaints, equipment alarms, equipment performance, special event scheduling and environmental changes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of assessing the impact of implementing said at least one corrective action and repeating step (f) with another potential corrective action until a predetermined performance level is achieved.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) generates a numeric metric of how said at least one potential action will affect the wireless network, wherein step (e) further comprises comparing said numeric metric against a predetermined value, wherein if said numeric metric is less than said predetermined value said at least one potential corrective action is not implemented.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said assessment module assesses the impact of implementing said at least one corrective action and triggers said implementation module to apply another potential corrective action until the predetermined performance level is achieved.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said wireless network degradation detector evaluates at least one of user complaints, equipment alarms, equipment performance, special event scheduling and environmental changes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said computer simulator generates a numeric metric of how said at least one potential action will affect the wireless network and compares said numeric metric against a predetermined value, wherein if said numeric metric is less than said predetermined value said at least one potential corrective action is not implemented by said implementation module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of potential corrective actions includes one or more of: adjusting cell site controls for adjusting a footprint of a cell; adjusting soft controls for adjusting a virtual footprint of a cell; and adjusting frequency controls for redistributing communication frequencies or adding communication frequencies within a cell.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of performance inputs includes at least one of: traffic performance indicators for determining the effect of user traffic patterns; equipment alarms for identifying malfunctioning equipment; remote radio test equipment for determining the effectiveness of cell coverage; and user inputs for indicating geographic locations experiencing service problems.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
208 words
A system for performing automatic real-time adaptive wireless cell coverage in a wireless network to respond to a degradation of the wireless network, the degradation causing the performance of the wireless network to deviate from a predetermined performance level, comprising: a wireless communication network employing a communication technology of code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA) or frequency division multiple access; a wireless network degradation detector for detecting the degradation of the wireless network by monitoring a plurality of performance inputs; an assessment module for assessing an impact of said degradation of the wireless network; an identification module for identifying at least one potential corrective action from a plurality of potential corrective actions to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network; a computer simulator that generates a model of the wireless network and is configured to receive as an input said at least one potential corrective action, wherein said computer simulator applies said at least one potential corrective action to said model in order to determine how said at least one potential action will affect the wireless network; and an implementation module for implementing said at least one potential corrective action to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
208 words
A system for performing automatic real-time adaptive wireless cell coverage in a wireless network to respond to a degradation of the wireless network, the degradation causing the performance of the wireless network to deviate from a predetermined performance level, comprising: a wireless communication network employing a communication technology of code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA) or frequency division multiple access; a wireless network degradation detector for detecting the degradation of the wireless network by monitoring a plurality of performance inputs; an assessment module for assessing an impact of said degradation of the wireless network; an identification module for identifying at least one potential corrective action from a plurality of potential corrective actions to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network; a computer simulator that generates a model of the wireless network and is configured to receive as an input said at least one potential corrective action, wherein said computer simulator applies said at least one potential corrective action to said model in order to determine how said at least one potential action will affect the wireless network; and an implementation module for implementing said at least one potential corrective action to reduce the impact of said degradation of the wireless network.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 26, wherein said plurality of performance inputs includes at least one of: traffic performance indicators for determining the effect of user traffic patterns; equipment alarms for identifying malfunctioning equipment; remote radio test equipment for determining the effectiveness of cell coverage; and user inputs for indicating geographic locations experiencing service problems.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 26, wherein said plurality of potential corrective actions includes one or more of: adjusting cell site controls for adjusting a footprint of a cell; adjusting soft controls for adjusting a virtual footprint of a cell; adjusting frequency controls for redistributing communication frequencies or adding communication frequencies within a cell.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-05 | 2003-01-04 | 2003-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-05 | 2007-01-04 | 2007-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-05 | 2011-01-04 | 2011-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |