Abstract:
A method for wireless communication system planning includes, in a first embodiment, determining an image tree (500), based on a transmitter location (401) and the reflective (415) and diffractive (425) surfaces within a coverage region, and limiting the image tree to exclude branching for higher order images requiring more than a predetermined number of reflections and/or diffractions, or potential child images corresponding to surfaces not within the scope of the parent image (530, 560). Based on the image tree and propagation path back-tracing (620) a received signal quality measure (e.g., power) is determined for each transmit location. By comparing the different received signal powers, an optimal receiver unit location is determined. Further, by back-tracing for further antenna locations/combinations, and comparing for diversity effects (864, 865), overall coverage qualities can be determined for each antenna combination and compared to yield optimal base diversity antenna locations (867).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the location of a communication unit in a CDMA system includes in a first embodiment, sending a location request via a spread spectrum signal to the subscriber (140), and receiving in return a subscriber signal including a response message showing a receive time of a particular symbol of the base's spreading sequence and a transmit time of a particular symbol of the subscriber's spreading sequence. The base (130), along with other receiving base(s) (140), also receives a predetermined symbol of the subscriber spreading sequence, and each determines a respective receive time of the predetermined symbol. The received information is then processed, along with known base location and delay information, to determine the subscriber location. If insufficient number of bases are capable of communicating with the subscriber, for example due to high loading/interference, auxiliary bases (121) are also provided for receiving from or transmitting to the subscriber.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for transferring location estimates from a first transceiver (122) of a plurality of wireless transceivers (122) to a second transceiver (132) is disclosed. The present invention makes use of a low pow er short-range auxiliary communication link incorporated within networked devic es to interact with nearby devices for obtaining location estimates of the current location of a device. Confidence estimates (504) are then assigned t o the information obtained from the interactions with the nearby devices, and a determination (508) of whether to update the location estimate is made.
Abstract:
In a model of a wireless communication system service area (160), a set of characteristics associated with the reception of a model signal (210) are calculated (308), preferably using ray-tracing techniques, wherein the model signal (172) is transmitted from a selected location (162) to a receiver location (166). Next, a set of characteristics that describe a received signal at a receiver location in the wireless communication system service area are measured (316), wherein the receiver location corresponds to the receiver location in the model (160). Thereafter, a relationship between the calculated set of characteristics and the measured set of characteristics is determined (318), and the location of the subscriber unit that transmitted the received signal is estimated (320) in response to the relationship between the calculated set of characteristics and the measured set of characteristics.
Abstract:
A wireless communication system (200) estimates (303) the location of a mobile station (215) when a degradation in the mobile station's communication occurs due to interference, and stores (305) the location estimate in a database. The database is used to determine the potential for the mobile station (215) within the wireless communication system to receive interference based on its estimated location or its proximity to the known interference location. When the mobile station (215) is within a predetermined distance of the known interference location, the likelihood for the mobile station (215) to experience a degradation in call quality, duration, etc. increases. To mitigate the degradation due to interference, an alternate carrier (104) is found and if available, the mobile station's communication is handed off to the alternate carrier (104). Attenuation can also be added in the front-end of the mobile station (215) to mitigate the degradation due to interference.
Abstract:
A method for wireless communication system planning includes, in a first embodiment, determining an image tree (500), based on a transmitter location (401) and the reflective (415) and diffractive (425) surfaces within a coverage region, and limiting the image tree to exclude branching for higher order images requiring more than a predetermined number of reflections and/or diffractions, or potential child images corresponding to surfaces not within the scope of the parent image (530, 560). Based on the image tree and propagation path back-tracing (620) a received signal quality measure (e.g., power) is determined for each transmit location. By comparing the different received signal powers an optimal receiver unit location is determined. Further, by back-tracing for further antenna locations/combinations, and comparing for diversity effects (864, 865), overall coverage qualities can be determined for each antenna combination and compared to yield optimal base diversity antenna locations (867).
Abstract:
A method for assigning subscribers between narrowbeam sectors includes, in a first embodiment, off-loading subscribers to alternate sectors when a current sector becomes loaded beyond a loading threshold. The subscriber(s) having the greatest signal quality measure (e.g., power setting) are preferably selected for off-loading, since such are typically in regions having the greatest overlap with other sectors (e.g., close to the antennas). The selected subscriber(s) are transferred to an alternate sector, preferably one having the best received signal quality with the subscriber and also having loading beneath the loading threshold.
Abstract:
A method for wireless communication system planning includes, in a first embodiment, determining an image tree (500), based on a transmitter location (401) and the reflective (415) and diffractive (425) surfaces within a coverage region, and limiting the image tree to exclude branching for higher order images requiring more than a predetermined number of reflections and/or diffractions, or potential child images corresponding to surfaces not within the scope of the parent image (530, 560). Based on the image tree and propagation path back-tracing (620) a received signal quality measure (e.g., power) is determined for each transmit location. By comparing the different received signal powers, an optimal receiver unit location is determined. Further, by back-tracing for further antenna locations/combinations, and comparing for diversity effects (864, 865), overall coverage qualities can be determined for each antenna combination and compared to yield optimal base diversity antenna locations (867).