US6088587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network discovery method and apparatus for cellular mobile radio networks
Assignee: Keysight Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-10
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Granted: 2000-07-11
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Expires: 2017-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring a cellular mobile radio system and for identifying monitored radio elements within the network with respect to other network entities. The logical and physical topology of a cellular mobile radio system is determined by monitoring messages passed across a communications interface in the system. Embodiments of the invention associate common information occurring in different messages, and over time, establish the topology of a network, even though messages passed across the monitored interface do not comprise unique system-wide addressing information. In particular, the present method provides a mapping between radio elements (TRX) and other network entities (TEI, CI, and LAI) in a GSM type cellular system by monitoring messages across the Abis and A interfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniele Abbadessa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W24/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A network discovery method for determining information about a cellular mobile radio network comprising a fixed part having switching elements and radio elements providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells, each cell having at least one said radio element, and mobile stations for communicating with said fixed part via the radio elements, the method comprising: monitoring signalling messages passed between the radio elements and the switching elements, selecting at least one signalling message in accordance with occurrence of the signalling message within a predetermined time window and in accordance with a predetermined selection criteria, extracting data from said at least one signalling message, correlating said extracted data with previously extracted data and, repeating said selecting, extracting and correlating steps until each monitored radio element is identified with respect to other network entities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A network discovery method for determining information about a cellular mobile radio network comprising a fixed part having switching elements and radio elements providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells, each cell having at least one said radio element, and mobile stations for communicating with said fixed part via the radio elements, the method comprising: monitoring signalling messages passed between the radio elements and the switching elements, selecting at least one signalling message in accordance with occurrence of the signalling message within a predetermined time window and in accordance with a predetermined selection criteria, extracting data from said at least one signalling message, correlating said extracted data with previously extracted data and, repeating said selecting, extracting and correlating steps until each monitored radio element is identified with respect to other network entities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A network discovery method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a pair of related messages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A network discovery method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predetermined selection criteria for selecting a pair of messages are: i) each message is of a different message type, and ii) the messages contain at least one information element in common.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A network discovery method as claimed in claim 3, comprising a further matching step in which the common information element in each of the messages is compared and data from the pair of messages is only utilised in said correlating step if the common information element in each message is identical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A network discovery method as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least three messages are selected and wherein one message is matched to a plurality of messages of the same message type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A network discovery method as claimed in claim 2, wherein data from a pair of messages is only utilised in said correlating step if the messages are monitored within a predetermined time period of each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A network discovery method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cells are logically grouped into location areas and each radio element is uniquely identified by the cell within which it resides, and the location area within which the cell resides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A network discovery method as claimed in claim 1, wherein signalling messages passed between two switching elements are also monitored.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A network discovery method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cellular mobile radio network is of the GSM type and messages are monitored across the Abis interface between radio elements and switching elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for identifying the relationship between radio elements and other network entities within a cellular mobile radio network, the network comprising a fixed part having switching elements and radio elements providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells, each cell having at least one said radio element, and mobile stations for communicating with said fixed part via the radio elements, the apparatus comprising: probe means for monitoring signalling messages passed between an identified one of the radio elements and the switching elements, extracting means for extracting data from at least one predetermined signalling message selected in accordance with occurrence of the signalling message within a predetermined time window, and analysis means for determining from extracted data a relationship between the monitored radio element and other network entities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for identifying the relationship between radio elements and other network entities within a cellular mobile radio network, the network comprising a fixed part having switching elements and radio elements providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells, each cell having at least one said radio element, and mobile stations for communicating with said fixed part via the radio elements, the apparatus comprising: probe means for monitoring signalling messages passed between an identified one of the radio elements and the switching elements, extracting means for extracting data from at least one predetermined signalling message selected in accordance with occurrence of the signalling message within a predetermined time window, and analysis means for determining from extracted data a relationship between the monitored radio element and other network entities.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the extracting means extracts data from related pairs of signalling messages, and the analysis means compares at least a part of the extracted data and, if a match is found between such compared data, records a relationship between the monitored radio element and another network entity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the probe means attaches to each monitored message an indication of the time at which the message was monitored and the analysis means only utilise data from pairs of messages which are monitored within a predetermined time period of each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the predetermined time period is substantially equal to the expected interval between the particular pair of messages monitored.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the probe means attaches to each monitored message a physical identifier which identifies the physical channel on which the message has been monitored.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the analysis means builds a logical identifier, identifying a particular radio element, from data from monitored messages and relates this logical identifier to the physical identifier provided by the probe means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the relationship between monitored radio elements, cells and location areas comprising logically grouped cells, is determined.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the analysis means determines for each monitored radio element the two physical channels on which messages are passed to and from the radio element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the analysis means determines which radio elements are within the same cell and allocates cell related information determined for any one radio element within the cell to the other radio elements within the same 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) | 2003-07-11 | 2004-01-10 | 2004-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-11 | 2008-01-10 | 2008-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-11 | 2012-01-10 | 2012-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |