US6236856B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Determining information about cellular mobile radio networks
Assignee: Viavi Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1998-11-18
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2018-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining information about a cellular mobile radio network (such as a GSM network) comprising a fixed part providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells and mobile stations for communicating with the fixed part across a radio interface. Each cell uses a group of control channels which are configured in accordance with configuration messages which are passed in the network when the cell is to be configured or reconfigured. The method comprising the steps of: monitoring signalling messages of a cell which are passed in the network (for example across a GSM Abis interface) generally more frequently than the configuration messages; detecting (S48,S50) monitored messages of predetermined types (such as CHAN RQD, CHAN ACTIV, EST REQ, PAGING CMD, SMSBREQ or SMSBC); and extracting (S52-S62) information from the detected messages relating to the control channel group configuration of the cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniele Abbadessa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W24/00; H04W24/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of determining information about a cellular mobile radio network comprising a fixed part providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells and mobile stations for communicating with the fixed part across a radio interface, each cell having a control channel group configuration that has one or more groups of control channel combinations and that is configured in accordance with configuration messages which are passed in the network when the cell is to be configured or reconfigured, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring signalling messages of a cell which are passed in the network generally more frequently than the configuration messages; detecting one of the monitored messages which is of a first predetermined type; and extracting information from the detected message relating to the control channel group configuration of the monitored cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of determining information about a cellular mobile radio network comprising a fixed part providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells and mobile stations for communicating with the fixed part across a radio interface, each cell having a control channel group configuration that has one or more groups of control channel combinations and that is configured in accordance with configuration messages which are passed in the network when the cell is to be configured or reconfigured, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring signalling messages of a cell which are passed in the network generally more frequently than the configuration messages; detecting one of the monitored messages which is of a first predetermined type; and extracting information from the detected message relating to the control channel group configuration of the monitored cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first type of message contains information sufficient to determine some of the control channel group configuration information, but which is insufficient to determine the control channel group information for all of the control channel groups, and further including the steps of: detecting at least one other of the monitored messages which is of another predetermined type; and extracting further information from the other detected message relating to the control channel group configuration of the cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radio interface employs time division multiple access.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the detected message (or at least one of the detected messages) includes an indication of a timeslot number for a timeslot in which the message is to be sent, or was received, across the radio interface, and wherein the extracting step for the type of message (or at least one of the types of message) includes the steps of: extracting the timeslot number from the detected message; and testing its value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the network is a GSM network, and the last-mentioned type of message is a CHAN RQD, CHAN ACTIV, EST REQ, PAGING CMD, SMSBREQ or SMSBC message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the detected message (or at least one of the detected messages) includes an indication of a frame number of the message, and wherein the extracting step for the type of message (or at least one of the types of message) includes the steps of: extracting the frame number, or a component of it, from the detected message; and testing its value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the network is a GSM network, and the last-mentioned type of message is a CHAN RQD message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detected message (or at least one of the detected messages) includes an indication of a channel type on which the message is to be sent, or was received, across the radio interface, and wherein the extracting step for the type of message (or at least one of the types of message) includes the steps of: extracting the channel type from the detected message; and testing its value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the network is a GSM network, and the last-mentioned type of message is a CHAN ACTIV, EST REQ, SMSBREQ or SMSBC message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said groups of control channel combinations includes Group iv, Group v and Group vi, and further comprising the step of analyzing the extracted information to determine whether the control channel group configuration of said monitored cell has a Group iv, Group v or Group vi control channel combination.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detected message (or at least one of the detected messages) includes an indication of a paging group to which one of the mobile stations belongs, and wherein the extracting step for the type of message (or at least one of the types of message) includes the steps of: extracting the paging group from the detected message; and keeping track of the highest paging group so extracted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the network is a GSM network, and the last-mentioned type of message is a PAGING CMD message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the network is a GSM network, and the messages are monitored at the Abis interface of the network.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for determining information about a cellular mobile radio network comprising a fixed part providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells and mobile stations for communicating with the fixed part across a radio interface each cell using a group of control channels which are configured in accordance with configuration messages which are passed in the network when the cell is to be configured or reconfigured, the apparatus comprising: means for monitoring signalling messages of a cell which are passed in the network generally more frequently than the configuration messages; means for detecting one of the monitored messages which is of a first predetermined type; and means for extracting information from the detected message relating to the control channel group configuration of the cell.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for determining information about a cellular mobile radio network comprising a fixed part providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells and mobile stations for communicating with the fixed part across a radio interface each cell using a group of control channels which are configured in accordance with configuration messages which are passed in the network when the cell is to be configured or reconfigured, the apparatus comprising: means for monitoring signalling messages of a cell which are passed in the network generally more frequently than the configuration messages; means for detecting one of the monitored messages which is of a first predetermined type; and means for extracting information from the detected message relating to the control channel group configuration of the cell.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of determining information about a cellular mobile radio network comprising a fixed part providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells and mobile stations for communicating with the fixed part across a radio interface, each cell having a control channel group configuration that has one or more groups of control channel combinations and that is configured in accordance with configuration messages which are passed in the network when the cell is to be configured or reconfigured, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring signalling messages of a cell which are passed in the network generally more frequently than the configuration messages; detecting one of the monitored messages which is of a first predetermined type; extracting information from the detected message relating to the control channel group configuration of the monitored cell; and analyzing said extracted information to determine whether the control channel group configuration of the monitored cell has one or more of said groups of control channel combinations.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of determining information about a cellular mobile radio network comprising a fixed part providing radio coverage in a plurality of cells and mobile stations for communicating with the fixed part across a radio interface, each cell having a control channel group configuration that has one or more groups of control channel combinations and that is configured in accordance with configuration messages which are passed in the network when the cell is to be configured or reconfigured, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring signalling messages of a cell which are passed in the network generally more frequently than the configuration messages; detecting one of the monitored messages which is of a first predetermined type; extracting information from the detected message relating to the control channel group configuration of the monitored cell; and analyzing said extracted information to determine whether the control channel group configuration of the monitored cell has one or more of said groups of control channel combinations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein said groups of control channel combinations includes first, second and third groups, and wherein said analyzing step determines whether the control channel group configuration of the monitored cell has the first group, the second group or a combination of the first and third groups.
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) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |