Patent ID: 7817964
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. 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.