US6829491B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic and self-optimizing smart network
Assignee: F Poszat HU LLC
•
Filing: 2001-08-15
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Granted: 2004-12-07
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Expires: 2021-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A communication network is dynamically optimized using network operation metrics, such as may be acquired from a network controller such as a mobile switching center, to achieve network performance goals. Operational parameter adjustments, associated with a particular network resource and corresponding network resources, are preferably determined as a function of the network operation metrics. Implementation of the parameter adjustments are modeled to determine if further or different operational parameter adjustments should be determined. Preferably, actual implementation of the parameter adjustments is effected in part through providing the adjusted parameters to the network controller. Additionally or alternatively, the adjusted parameters may be provided directly to one or more network resources for implementation.
Inventors
- 👤 Ji-Hae Yea
- 👤 Scot D. Gordon
- 👤 Martin J. Feuerstein
- 👤 Jun Liu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W24/00; H04W24/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 68
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for dynamically reconfiguring a communication network, said system comprising: a communication control system interface; a network modeling tool; at least one predetermined network optimization goal; and processor logic in communication with said communication control system interface and said network modeling tool, wherein said processor logic accepts network performance information from said communication control system interface and estimates a communication network parameter change as a function of the network performance information and using said network modeling tool determines if operation of said communication network reconfigured with said communication network parameter change approaches said predetermined network optimization goal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for dynamically reconfiguring a communication network, said system comprising: a communication control system interface; a network modeling tool; at least one predetermined network optimization goal; and processor logic in communication with said communication control system interface and said network modeling tool, wherein said processor logic accepts network performance information from said communication control system interface and estimates a communication network parameter change as a function of the network performance information and using said network modeling tool determines if operation of said communication network reconfigured with said communication network parameter change approaches said predetermined network optimization goal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said communication control system interface is adapted to interface with a network switching controller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein said network switching controller comprises a mobile switching center.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein said network performance information comprises switch metrics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 4 , wherein said switch metrics are provided to said processor logic in substantially real-time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 4 , wherein said switch metrics include information selected from the group consisting of: a number of calls made; a number of dropped calls on a given sector; an amount of traffic on a given sector; an average power requirement for individual calls; traffic channel confirmation failures; access failures; and overload information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said network modeling tool comprises path loss information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein said path loss information includes theoretical path losses associated with said communication network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein said path loss information includes empirical path loss information measured within said communication network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 9 , further comprising: a drive test unit operable to measure path loss information within said communication network and to provide said empirical path loss information to said network modeling tool.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein said path loss information comprises information selected from the group consisting of: terrain attributes; scattering zone information; multi-path information; and seasonal propagation conditions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said network modeling tool comprises network configuration information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said network configuration information comprises information selected from the group consisting of: sector horizontal beamwidth; sector vertical beamwidth; sector azimuth; sector downtilt; sector gain; information with respect to channels which may be utilized by communication devices of the communication network; and information with respect to transmission power levels which may be utilized.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said processor logic provides information with respect to said communication network parameter change to said communication control system interface for implementing said communication network parameter change in said communication network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said information with respect to said communication network parameter change comprises transmitter power setting information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said information with respect to said communication network parameter change comprises TT-drop setting information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said information with respect to said communication network parameter change comprises T-drop setting information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said information with respect to said communication network parameter change comprises T-add setting information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said information with respect to said communication network parameter change comprises neighbor list information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said information with respect to said communication network parameter change comprises overload control threshold information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a network element interface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said network element interface is adapted to interface with at least one base station of said communication network.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein said at least one base station includes a base station not enhanced with a smart antenna system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein said at least one base station includes a smart antenna enhanced base station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said processor logic provides information with respect to said communication network parameter change to said network element interface for implementing said communication network parameter change in said communication network.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein said information with respect to said communication network parameter change comprises information with respect to a sector orientation adjustment at said at least one base station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein said information with respect to said communication network parameter change comprises information with respect to a sector boundary adjustment at said at least one base station.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one predetermined network optimization goal includes a performance goal with respect to capacity.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one predetermined network optimization goal includes a performance goal with respect to network quality.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one predetermined network optimization goal includes a performance goal with respect to capacity and a performance goal with respect to signal quality.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said communication network comprises a cellular communication network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 31 , wherein said cellular communication network comprises a personal communication services network.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of dynamically reconfiguring a communication network, said method comprising: obtaining network performance information substantially in real-time from a communication control system; estimating network system parameter adjustments as a function of said network performance information; modeling network performance using said estimated network system parameter adjustments; determining if a desired network performance improvement would result from implementation of said estimated network system parameter adjustments from information provided by the network performance modeling; repeating the network system parameter adjustment estimating if said desired network performance improvement is not determined to result; providing information with respect to said estimated network system parameter adjustments to said communication control system if said desired network performance improvement is determined to result; and implementing said estimated network system parameter adjustments within said communication network.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of dynamically reconfiguring a communication network, said method comprising: obtaining network performance information substantially in real-time from a communication control system; estimating network system parameter adjustments as a function of said network performance information; modeling network performance using said estimated network system parameter adjustments; determining if a desired network performance improvement would result from implementation of said estimated network system parameter adjustments from information provided by the network performance modeling; repeating the network system parameter adjustment estimating if said desired network performance improvement is not determined to result; providing information with respect to said estimated network system parameter adjustments to said communication control system if said desired network performance improvement is determined to result; and implementing said estimated network system parameter adjustments within said communication network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said communication network comprises a cellular communication network, and wherein said communication control system comprises a mobile switching center of said cellular communication network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein said cellular communication network comprises a personal communication services (PCS) network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein implementing said estimated network system parameter adjustments comprises adjusting information in a switch translation database of said mobile switching center.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein implementing said estimated network system parameter adjustments further comprises said mobile switching center propagating said estimated network system parameter adjustments to cell site base stations of said cellular network.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 34 , further comprising: providing information with respect to said estimated network system parameter adjustments to individual base stations of said cellular network, wherein implementing said estimated network system parameter adjustments comprises adjusting operation of ones of said individual base stations.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein said individual base stations are smart antenna enhanced base stations.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein implementing said adjusting operation of said ones of said individual base stations comprises adjusting a sector width.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein implementing said adjusting operation of said ones of said individual base stations comprises adjusting a sector azimuth.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein said estimated network system parameter adjustments comprise a parameter adjustment associated with a cell of said cellular network for which said network performance information indicates optimization is desirable and further comprises a plurality of corresponding parameter adjustments associated with other cells of said cellular network for maintaining at least a minimum network performance threshold with respect to the other cells of said cellular network.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 42 , wherein said parameter adjustment associated with said cell comprises a parameter to adjust a service area boundary of said cell.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein said service area boundary comprises a sector boundary.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance information includes a number of communication sessions made using particular network resources.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance information includes a number of dropped communication sessions associated with particular network resources.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance information includes an amount of traffic on associated with particular network resources.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance information includes an average power requirement for individual communication sessions.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance information includes information with respect to access failures.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance information includes information with respect to traffic channel confirmation failures.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance information includes overload information.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said desired network performance improvement comprises a capacity improvement.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said desired network performance improvement comprises a network performance quality improvement.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance modeling further uses path loss information associated with said communication network.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 54 , further comprising: accumulating drive test data within said communication network; providing said accumulated drive test data to a network modeling tool for use in said network performance modeling.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance modeling further uses network configuration information.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said network performance modeling further uses subscriber feedback information.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 33 , further comprising: monitoring said communication network after implementing said estimated network system parameter adjustments.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 58 , further comprising: reestimating said network system parameter adjustments as a function of information from said monitoring said communication network after implementing said estimated network system parameter adjustments.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 59 , further comprising: adjusting a modeling database used in said modeling network performance as a function of information from said monitoring said communication network after implementing said estimated network system parameter adjustments.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of dynamically reconfiguring operation of a group of cells of a cellular network, said method comprising: obtaining network operating statistics from a mobile switching center coupled to said group of cells; identifying an operational characteristic of at least one cell of said group of cells which is not consistent with a predetermined performance goal associated with said cellular network; determining an operational parameter adjustment to bring said operational characteristic in consistency with said predetermined performance goal; determining a corresponding operational parameter adjustment to maintain an additional operational characteristic of at least another cell of said group of cells in consistency with said predetermined performance goal; modeling implementation within said cellular network of said operational parameter adjustment and said corresponding operational parameter adjustment; determining if implementation of said operational parameter adjustment and said corresponding operational parameter adjustment provide desired network performance characteristics; repeating said operational parameter adjustment determining, said corresponding operational parameter adjustment determining, and said implementation modeling if said implementation is determined not to provide desired network performance characteristics; and providing information with respect to at least one of said operational parameter adjustment and said corresponding operational parameter adjustment to said mobile switching center for implementation within said cellular network.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of dynamically reconfiguring operation of a group of cells of a cellular network, said method comprising: obtaining network operating statistics from a mobile switching center coupled to said group of cells; identifying an operational characteristic of at least one cell of said group of cells which is not consistent with a predetermined performance goal associated with said cellular network; determining an operational parameter adjustment to bring said operational characteristic in consistency with said predetermined performance goal; determining a corresponding operational parameter adjustment to maintain an additional operational characteristic of at least another cell of said group of cells in consistency with said predetermined performance goal; modeling implementation within said cellular network of said operational parameter adjustment and said corresponding operational parameter adjustment; determining if implementation of said operational parameter adjustment and said corresponding operational parameter adjustment provide desired network performance characteristics; repeating said operational parameter adjustment determining, said corresponding operational parameter adjustment determining, and said implementation modeling if said implementation is determined not to provide desired network performance characteristics; and providing information with respect to at least one of said operational parameter adjustment and said corresponding operational parameter adjustment to said mobile switching center for implementation within said cellular network.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 61 , further comprising: monitoring operation of said cellular network after providing said information to said mobile switching center; and determining if said implementation results desired network performance characteristics.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 62 , further comprising: adjusting a modeling database used in said implementation modeling if said implementation is determined not to result in desired network performance characteristics.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 62 , further comprising: determining an operational parameter adjustment as a function of said monitored operation of said cellular network if said implementation is determined not to result in desired network performance characteristics.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 61 , further comprising: providing information with respect to at least one of said operational parameter adjustment and said corresponding operational parameter adjustment to at least one base station associated with said group of cells.
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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) | 2007-12-07 | 2008-06-07 | 2008-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-12-07 | 2012-06-07 | 2012-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-12-07 | 2016-06-07 | 2016-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |