Patent US7817964B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7817964B2
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US
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Method and system for assessing wireless communication quality in a communications network
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 2007-06-26
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Granted: 2010-10-19
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Expires: 2027-06-26
Abstract
Abstract Methods and systems are presented for assessing wireless communication quality in a communications network, in which a network application broadcasts reporting criteria to base stations in the network that requests reporting of RF signal strength from powered RF devices, and the base stations send messages to RF devices to request the RF devices to RF quality information according to the reporting criteria. The base station sends reported RF quality information to the network application, which processes the reported information to provide an assessment of RF network quality for all or a subset of the RF coverage areas served by the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Yogesh C. Patel
- 👤 Omar S. Refaqat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W24/00; H04W24/10; H04W24/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for assessing wireless communication quality in a communications network having a plurality of networked switching systems and base stations for providing wireless communications services to wireless RF devices, the method comprising: broadcasting, by a network application to base stations in the network, reporting criteria requesting reporting of RF signal strength from powered RF devices in the communications network; sending, from at least one base station to powered RF devices in the network, a message requesting RF devices in an area served by the at least one base station to report RF quality information to the at least one base station according to the reporting criteria; receiving, at the at least one base station from at least one reporting RF device, RF quality information including RF signal strength measured by the at least one reporting RF device; receiving at the network application from the at least one base station, reported RF quality information from at least one reporting RF device; and processing the reported RF quality information for a plurality of locations served by the network to provide an assessment of RF network quality for at least a subset of the RF coverage areas served by the network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for assessing wireless communication quality in a communications network having a plurality of networked switching systems and base stations for providing wireless communications services to wireless RF devices, the method comprising: broadcasting, by a network application to base stations in the network, reporting criteria requesting reporting of RF signal strength from powered RF devices in the communications network; sending, from at least one base station to powered RF devices in the network, a message requesting RF devices in an area served by the at least one base station to report RF quality information to the at least one base station according to the reporting criteria; receiving, at the at least one base station from at least one reporting RF device, RF quality information including RF signal strength measured by the at least one reporting RF device; receiving at the network application from the at least one base station, reported RF quality information from at least one reporting RF device; and processing the reported RF quality information for a plurality of locations served by the network to provide an assessment of RF network quality for at least a subset of the RF coverage areas served by the network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the reported RF quality information includes the location of the at least one reporting RF device, and wherein the RF quality information received by the at least one base station includes the location of the at least one reporting RF device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the reported RF quality information includes the location of the at least one reporting RF device, and wherein the network performs triangulation to determine the location of the at least one reporting RF device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein broadcasting the reporting criteria includes specifying cells and sectors of the network for which reports are to be requested.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein broadcasting the reporting criteria includes specifying one or more mobile ID numbers for RF devices from which reports are to be requested.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein broadcasting the reporting criteria includes specifying one or more frequencies for which reports are to be requested.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein broadcasting the reporting criteria includes specifying at least one band class for which reports are to be requested.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein broadcasting the reporting criteria includes specifying a single report or periodic reports.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the assessment includes a plot showing RF network quality for a plurality of locations served by the network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the network application selectively adjusting the reporting criteria according to the assessment and broadcasting the adjusted reporting criteria to base stations in the network to request adjusted reporting of RF signal strength from powered RF devices in the communications network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising selectively adjusting system parameters impacting RF performance according to the assessment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the network application broadcasts the reporting criteria to the RF devices using at least one short message and wherein the at least one reporting RF device send the RF quality information using short messages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
187 words
A wireless communications network, comprising: a plurality of switching systems operatively associated with one or more base stations for providing communications services to wireless RF devices; a network application operatively coupled with the switching systems, the application broadcasting reporting criteria to base stations in the network via associated switching systems, the reporting criteria specifying immediate or periodic reporting of RF signal strength from powered RF devices; wherein at least one of the base stations sends a message to powered RF devices requesting RF devices in an area served by the at least one base station to report RF quality information to the at least one base station according to the reporting criteria, and receives RF quality information from at least one reporting RF device, wherein the at least one base station sends reported RF quality information to the network application via the associated switching system, and wherein the network application processes the reported RF quality information for a plurality of locations served by the network to provide an assessment of RF network quality for at least a subset of the RF coverage areas served by the network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
187 words
A wireless communications network, comprising: a plurality of switching systems operatively associated with one or more base stations for providing communications services to wireless RF devices; a network application operatively coupled with the switching systems, the application broadcasting reporting criteria to base stations in the network via associated switching systems, the reporting criteria specifying immediate or periodic reporting of RF signal strength from powered RF devices; wherein at least one of the base stations sends a message to powered RF devices requesting RF devices in an area served by the at least one base station to report RF quality information to the at least one base station according to the reporting criteria, and receives RF quality information from at least one reporting RF device, wherein the at least one base station sends reported RF quality information to the network application via the associated switching system, and wherein the network application processes the reported RF quality information for a plurality of locations served by the network to provide an assessment of RF network quality for at least a subset of the RF coverage areas served by the network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the network application selectively adjusts the reporting criteria according to the assessment and broadcasts the adjusted reporting criteria to base stations in the network to request adjusted reporting of RF signal strength from powered RF devices in the communications network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the reported RF quality information includes the location of the reporting RF devices, and wherein the network performs triangulation to determine the location of the at least one reporting RF device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the reporting criteria specifies cells and sectors of the network for which reports are to be requested.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the reporting criteria specifies one or more mobile ID numbers for RF devices from which reports are to be requested.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the reporting criteria specifies one or more frequencies for which reports are to be requested.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the reporting criteria specifies at least one band class for which reports are to be requested.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the reporting criteria specifies a single report or periodic reports.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the assessment includes a plot showing RF network quality for a plurality of locations served by the network.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the network application selectively adjusts system parameters impacting RF performance according to the assessment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein the network application broadcasts the reporting criteria to the RF devices using at least one short message and wherein the at least one reporting RF device send the RF quality information using short messages.
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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) | 2013-10-18 | 2014-04-19 | 2014-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2017-10-18 | 2018-04-19 | 2018-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2021-10-18 | 2022-04-19 | 2022-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |