Method for controlling data of base station

A method for controlling data of base stations is disclosed. A base station management server generates and stores base station management data and mobile switching center access data. The base station management server receives requests of base station management data by a mobile terminal through a communication network. The base station management server transmits the base station management data to the mobile terminal in response to the request. It is more convenient when managers or operators manage and operate the base station management server because they do not need to physically move to view and/or modify the data of the base station.

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application of PCT International Application PCT/KR02/02242.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for controlling data of base stations, more particularly, the method for controlling data of at least one base station by a mobile terminal via a mobile communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, to manage call quality of a base station which is changed to various conditions at any times, a plurality of data based on each base station are analyzed. Predetermined items of the call quality are compiled as statistics based on the analyzed data. And a manager or an operator should monitor the statistics values at all times of the base station. Furthermore, the data analyzed, statistic, and monitor proceed only in the management server of the base station.

Thus, the manager or the operator need to move to the place where the base station is located to monitor the data that are complied as statistic and are analyzed. Therefore, it is very inconvenient to manage the base station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is provided to control the base station data by a mobile terminal, such as a call quality, an alarm, a block/unblock, a parameter, and data of a repeater.

In accordance with the invention, a method for controlling data of a base station comprises the steps of: (a) generating and storing a base station management (BSM) data and an MSC access data at a management server; (b) receiving a demand to transmit the predetermined BSM data from a mobile terminal which accesses the management server through a communication network; and (c) transmitting the predetermined BSM data in response to the demand to the mobile terminal. The BSM data is generated based on BSM statistic data or detailed call records. The MSC access data grants an MSC access authority to the mobile terminal, and restricts access of the mobile terminal to an MSC.

Preferably, the step (b) comprises (b-1) transmitting a wireless Internet service menu to the mobile terminal; (b-2) transmitting a wireless management system menu to the mobile terminal in response of a request of the wireless management system menu when the request is generated from the mobile terminal, wherein the wireless management system menu is included in the wireless Internet service menu, and the wireless management system menu includes a “zero call” and a “base station based finding”; (b-3) transmitting a BS list including at least one base station to the mobile terminal when the “base station based finding” is selected, the BS list corresponding to the “base station based finding”; (b-4) searching the MSC access data for an MSC access grade of the mobile terminal and transmitting a BSM menu corresponding to the MSC access grade, when one of the BS list is selected by the mobile terminal; and (b-5) receiving one of the BSM menu corresponding to the selection of the mobile terminal; and wherein the step (c) comprises the step of searching the BSM data in response to one of the BSM menu and providing the BSM data to the mobile terminal.

Thus, this invention is provided to prevent the unnecessary movement to the base station for monitoring and modifying the data of the base station, so as to enhance efficiency and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below.

FIG. 1is a simplified block diagram of a system for controlling data of a base station applied to the present invention.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a simplified block diagram of a base station data control system comprises a mobile terminal100, a mobile communication system110, a WAP server120, a communication network130, a proxy server140, a management server150, and a database160coupled to the management server150.

The mobile communication system110includes a base station (BS), a mobile switching center (MSC), a home location register (HLR), and a short message service center (SMSC). The base station comprises a base transceiver system (BTS) and a base station controller (BSC).

The mobile terminal100takes on a variety of forms, such as a PDA or a notebook computer, or the like. The mobile terminal100accesses to the WAP server120through the mobile communication system110that is connected to the WAP Server120. The mobile terminal100is also adapted to communicate with a WAP server120using a wide area protocol, such as a cellular protocol through the mobile communication system110.

The WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) server120is also connected to the mobile communication system110and the communication network130. The WAP server120of the present invention provides a gateway between two networks, where at least one of the network is a wireless network. The gateway function of the WAP server120makes the necessary translations in analog or digital packets being sent from one network to the other network.

The communication network130is connected to the proxy server140and the management server150as well.

The proxy server140intercedes in the message pathway and in the route message to the mobile terminal100. The proxy server140communicates with the mobile terminal100through the communication network130. The proxy server140and the management server150may be physically and separately located, and both are coupled to the communication network130as illustrated. Alternatively, the proxy server140and the management server150may be implemented in a single computer, and both are directly coupled.

The management server150creates a base station management (hereafter abbreviated as BSM) data of the base station and an MSC access data, and stores the BSM data and the MSC access data in the database160coupled to the management server150.

The management server150also generates a plurality of interactive web page (hereinafter web page) based on the BSM data and the MSC access data. In another application example, the generated page is a WAP page, although not limiting to the present invention.

The web pages are a means for communicating between the mobile terminal100and the management server150. The web pages are transmitted from the management server150to the mobile terminal100as the mobile terminal100sends the demand through the communication network130and the mobile communication system110. The mobile terminal100, which has received the web page, selects one of the list displayed on the web page, or writes a text including some letters and figures so as to send to the management server150.

The BSM data is generated based on at least one of a BSM statistic data and a call detail records (CDRs) in the management server150. The BSM statistic data is created by the management server150, and the CDRs are created by the MSC of the mobile communication system110for every call that the MSC handles.FIG. 23illustrates an example of the BSM statistic data according to this invention.FIG. 24illustrates an example of the CDR according to this invention. Referring toFIG. 24, the CDRs may contain detailed statistics about calls that have been made by a subscriber such as the time each call was placed, the duration of each call, and the destination of each call. One data line2400of the CDRs is generated after finishing the telephone call. The CRDs are separated as different types of CDRs, and are sorted by MSCs. The CDRs sorted by a MSC are also sorted by a BSC and a BTS. The CDRs sorted by the BTS are sorted by a call final code, CFC (see a field27ofFIG. 24).

The MSC access data grants differentially access authority to a mobile terminal for controlling the MSC based on authority and rank of the mobile terminal. And the mobile terminal is restricted within the authority to access the MSC according to the MSC access data.FIG. 25illustrates an example of the MSC access data according to this invention. Referring toFIG. 25, the mobile terminal of Kim, Kab-Dong (011-888-xxxx) has an authority which can monitor and modify the data of an MSC1and an MSC2as the first rank. The mobile terminal of Kim, Dong-Youl (011-888-0xxx) can only monitor the data of the MSC1and the MSC2as the second rank.

FIG. 2throughFIG. 6are a flow diagram illustrating the method for controlling data of base station in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. AndFIG. 7throughFIG. 22are display parts of a mobile terminal for illustrating the flow diagram ofFIG. 2throughFIG. 6.

Referring toFIG. 2, the management server150creates the BSM data and the MSC access data and stores the BSM data and the MSC access data in the database160coupled to the management server150at a step S200.

In a step S205, as the mobile terminal100accesses the management server150through the mobile communication system110, the WAP server120, and the communication network130, the management server150transmits to the mobile terminal a web page according to whether or not the MSC access data is present in the database160. For example,FIG. 7illustrates the web page displayed on the mobile terminal having the MSC access authority. In the case, a wireless Internet service menu displayed on the web page further adds a “1. BSM/Call Quality Manage”, managing the category.

In step S210, when the “1. BSM/Call Quality” of the wireless Internet service menu is selected by the mobile terminal100, the management server150recognizes that the mobile terminal100requests a wireless management system menu. Thus, the management server150transmits the wireless management system menu to the mobile terminal100. The wireless management system menu includes “base station based finding” and “Zero Call”. Also, the “base station based finding” includes “BS name based finding” and “MSC based finding”.

For example, as shown inFIG. 8, the list “BS name based finding”, “MSC based finding”, and “Zero Call” are displayed on the mobile terminal100. When the “BS name based finding” or the “MSC based finding” is selected by the user of the mobile terminal100, the mobile terminal100can receive the BS list from the management server.

In step S215, the management server150determines whether “Zero Call” is selected from the wireless management system menu by the mobile terminal100. When “Zero Call” is selected in the decision step S215, the management server150provides a time unit menu to the mobile terminal at a step S220. The time menu includes 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hours, etc.

When the mobile terminal's user selects one of the time menu, the WAP server120requests a zero call BS data per the selected time to the management server150connected to the communication network. The management server150searches and transmits the zero call BS data from the database160coupled to the management server150to the mobile terminal100at a step S225.

One example of the zero call BS data is shown inFIG. 9. The zero call BS data is generated by detecting that the call of reverse direction is absent in a sub cell, although no error is detected from the base station. And then the zero call BS data is stored with the time information in the database160. The call of reverse direction in a sub cell means the call transmitted from a mobile terminal to a base station. The sub cell means a sector of a base station where a predetermined frequency is allocated.

When the “Zero Call” is not selected by the mobile terminal in the decision step S215, the management server150determines whether “BS name based finding” is selected by the mobile terminal at a step S230. When the “BS name based finding” is not selected, the selected item may be “MSC based finding”. When the “MSC based finding” is not selected, the connection is completed between the mobile terminal100and the management server150(not shown).

At a step S250, when the mobile terminal100can access the MSC, the management server150transmits a web page including the MSC list which includes the MSC allowing access to the mobile terminal100based on the MSC access data stored in the database160. Referring toFIG. 25, when the number of the mobile terminal is 011-888-XXXX, the management server150transmits the MSC list including M1 and M2 to the mobile terminal100. One example of the web page including the MSC list is shown inFIG. 10.

In a step S255, the management server150transmits a BSC list corresponding to the M1 as M1 is selected by a key or a button of the mobile terminal100(Referred toFIG. 11).

In a step S260, when one of the BSC list, for example, “4. BSC3” is selected in the display part of the mobile terminal100as shown inFIG. 11, the list of the BTS controlled by the BSC3is displayed as shown inFIG. 12. After the step S260, the procedure routine proceeds to the step S315.

When “BS name based finding” is selected in the decision step S230, the management server150sends a web page on which part or full name of the BST is written to the mobile terminal100at a step S300.

In the web page, part or full name of the BST is inputted by the mobile terminal100at a step S305. When the web page is sent to the management server150, the management server150provides a BST list including a part or full name of the BTS to the mobile terminal100at a step S310. For example, when a part name of BST, i.e. a term “NAM” is written and is sent to the management server150, the management server150transmits a BST list including the term “NAM” to the mobile terminal100.

The mobile terminal100selects one BTS in the BTS list. In the exemplary display as shown inFIG. 12, the mobile terminal100selects “1. M1 05 NAMSAN” at a step S315.

The management server150queries an MSC access rank of the mobile terminal100based on the MSC access data as the mobile terminal150selects a BST at a step S317. Thus, in a step S320, the management server150transmits a BSM menu to the mobile terminal100. The BSM menu depends on the querying result of the step S317.FIG. 25illustrates an exemplary display of showing the MSC access data as explained above. The MSC access data includes the first rank which can monitor and change the BS data, and the second rank which only can monitor the BS data.FIG. 14illustrates an exemplary BSM menu transmitted to the mobile terminal100when the MSC access rank of the mobile terminal100is the first. The BSM menu includes “1. Call Quality”, “2. Alarm”, “3. Block/Unblock”, “4. Parameter”, and “5. Repeater data”. Additionally, when the MSC access of a mobile terminal is the second rank, the BSM menu transmitted to the mobile terminal includes only “Call Quality” and “Alarm”. However, menu terms for monitoring and modifying can be often changed by a manager.

At a step S325, the management server150discriminates whether or not “Call Quality” is selected by the mobile terminal100in the web page of the BSM menu provided from the step S320.

When the “Call Quality” is selected in the decision step S325, the management server150transmits a call quality statistic menu based on time unit to the mobile terminal100through the mobile communication system110at a step S330.

When the mobile terminal100selects a wanted time unit in the call quality statistic menu based on time, the management server150searches the call quality data according to the wanted time from the database160and transmits the call quality statistic data to the mobile terminal100at S330and S340. For example, when “2. Statistic for 1 hour” is selected in the web page displayed in the mobile terminal100as shown inFIG. 15, the management server150transmits the web page shown inFIG. 16to the mobile terminal100.FIG. 16shows an exemplary web page which illustrates a statistic data generated during 1 hour from 7 PM to 8 PM dated on November 30 at the NAMSAN BS. Referring toFIG. 16, the call quality statistic data based on time includes a total data161, a sector data163, and a FA (Frequency Allocation) data165for a predetermined period. The total data161, the sector data163, and the FA data165include each call traffic statistic, call cut statistic, and total number of call try, respectively.

When the “Call Quality” is not selected in the decision step S325, the management server150discriminates whether “Alarm” is selected by the mobile terminal100at a step S350.

When the “Alarm” is selected in the decision step S350, the management server150searches alarm information of the BS as shown inFIG. 17and transmits the alarm information to the mobile terminal100. The Alarm information is the data that displays errors of the base station.

Referring toFIG. 4, when “Alarm” is not selected by the mobile terminal100in the step S350, the management server150discriminates whether “Block/Unblock” is selected by the mobile terminal100at a step S400. If not, a step S600proceeds.

When the “Block/Unblock” is selected by the mobile terminal100in the decision step S400, the management server150sends a web page including a Block/Unblock list to the mobile terminal100at a step S405. The Block/Unblock list has a channel card block/unblock (1. BLK-CC/2. UNBLK-CC), a common interface process block/unblock (3. BLK-CIP/4. UNBLK-CIP), and a frequency allocation block/unblock (5. BLK-FA/4. UNBLK-FA) as shown inFIG. 18.

FIG. 26aandFIG. 26billustrate how something is blocked or unblocked. Referring toFIG. 26a, sectors α, β, and γ divide a coverage of a base station in 3 sectors. Additionally, the base station has an individual antenna for the 3 sectors. Each sectors are allocated 8 frequencies, but the number of the frequency can be changed. A Common Interface Process (CIP) defines a cross point of each sector and each numeral of frequency. The CIP includes a plurality of Channel Cards (CC).

The management server150discriminates whether a channel card block (1. BLK-CC) among the Block/Unblock list is selected at a step S410. When the channel card block (1. BLK-CC) is selected in the decision step S410, the management server150transmits a web page which can write an information corresponding to the channel card block, i.e., a CIP number and a CC number which a user of the mobile terminal wants to block at a step S415.

Th CIP number and the CC number are written by the mobile terminal100on the web page, as the management server150requests the CIP number and the CC number to the mobile terminal100at a step S420. The management server150blocks the parts corresponding to the CIP No. and the CC No., and transmits the process result to the mobile terminal100at a step S425.

Referring toFIG. 19, to block the channel card2, i.e. “CC2”, the mobile terminal100writes “2” for “1. CIP No.: ”, and also “2” for “2. CC No.:”. When the management server150receives the CIP No. and the CC No., the channel card2is blocked as shown inFIG. 26. In CIP2, the channel card0,2, and3are each blocked as shown inFIG. 26.

When the “BLK-CC” is not selected in the decision step S410, the management server150determines whether a “BLK-CIP” is selected by the mobile terminal100at a step S430.

When the “BLK-CIP” is selected in the step S430, the management server150transmits a web page to write the CIP No. which a user of the mobile terminal100wants to block at a step S435.

The mobile terminal100writes the CIP number for blocking the CIP in the web page and sends the web page to the management server150as a demand of the management server150at a step S440. The management server150blocks a part corresponding to the CIP number and sends the result of the blocking to the mobile terminal100at a step S445. Referring toFIG. 20, to block the channel card2, i.e. “CC2”, the mobile terminal100writes “2” for “1. CIP No.:”. When the management server150receives the CIP number, the part corresponding to the CIP number is blocked.

When the “BLK-CIP” is not selected in the step S430, the management server150discriminates whether a frequency allocation block (BLK-FA) is selected at a step S450. Moreover, when the “BLK-FA” is not selected in the step S450, a step S500ofFIG. 5proceeds.

As the “BLK-FA” is selected, however, the management server150sends a web page to demand the frequency allocation number to the mobile terminal100as shown FIG.21at a step S455. The mobile terminal100writes the FA No. to block and then sends the web page to the management server150at a step S460. The management server150which receives the FA No. blocks part corresponding to the FA No. and sends the result of the blocking to the mobile terminal100at a step S465. Referring toFIG. 26aagain, when the frequency allocation1, i.e. “FA1” is blocked, the CIP1, CIP3, and CIP5are all blocked.

Referring toFIG. 5, when the “BLK-FA” is not selected in the step450, the management server150discriminates whether a channel card unblock (UNBLK-CC) in “BLK/UNBLK” list is selected at a step S500. A method for unblocking the channel card, the common interface process, and the frequency allocation is described as follows.

When the channel card unblock (1. UNBLK-CC) is selected in the step S500, the management server150transmits a web page which can write an information corresponding to the channel card unblock, i.e., a CIP number and a CC number which a user of the mobile terminal wants to unblock at a step S510.

Th CIP number and the CC number are written by the mobile terminal100on the web page, as the management server150requests the CIP number and the CC number to the mobile terminal100at a step S515.

The management server150unblocks the parts corresponding to the CIP No. and the CC No., and transmits the unblocking result to the mobile terminal100at a step S520.

When the “UNBLK-CC” is not selected in the step S500, the management server150determines whether a “UNBLK-CIP” is selected by the mobile terminal100at a step S530.

When the “UNBLK-CIP” is selected in the step S530, the management server150transmits a web page to write the CIP No., the CIP of which a user of the mobile terminal100wants to unblock at a step S535. The mobile terminal100writes the CIP No. for unblocking the CIP on the web page and sends the web page to the management server150as a demand of the management server150at a step S540. The management server150unblocks a part corresponding to the CIP No. and sends the result of the unblocking to the mobile terminal100at a step S545.

When the “UNBLK-CIP” is not selected in the step S530, the management server150discriminates whether a frequency allocation unblock (UNBLK-FA) in the “BLK/UNBLK” list is selected at a step S550.

Moreover, when the “UNBLK-FA” is not selected in the step S550, the flow is completed. As the “UNBLK-FA” is selected, however, the management server150sends a web page to demand the frequency allocation number to the mobile terminal100at a step S555. The mobile terminal100writes the FA No. to unblock and then sends the web page to the management server150at a step S560.

The management server150which receives the FA No. unblocks the part corresponding to the FA No. and sends the result of the unblocking to the mobile terminal100at a step S565.

Referring toFIG. 4andFIG. 6, when the “BLK/UNBLK” is not selected in the step S400, the “PARAMETER” in the BSM menu of the step S320is selected by the mobile terminal100at a step S600.

When the “PARAMETER” is selected in the step S600, the management server150transmits the web page corresponding to the “PARAMETER” to the mobile terminal100at a step S605. The web page displays a sub-list of the “PARAMETER”. The sub-list includes an “OUTPUT” of the base station, and includes a neighboring BTS list.

When the “OUTPUT” in the sub-list is selected by the mobile terminal100, the management server150acknowledges to demand an output information of the BTS, and transmits the web page to display the output menu of the BTS at steps S610and S615. The output menu of the BTS includes a “MONITOR” and a “MODIFICATION”.

As the “MONITOR” is selected by the mobile terminal100, the management server150transmits the web page including the output information of the BTS as shown inFIG. 22at steps S620and S625. The output information of the BTS is displayed according to α, β, and γ sectors.

When the “MONITOR” is not selected in the step S620, the “MODIFICATION” is selected by the mobile terminal100at a step S630. But if “MODIFICATOIN” is not selected, the flow is completed (Not shown).

When the “MODIFICATOIN” is selected by the mobile terminal100, the management server150transmits a web page (not shown) to the mobile terminal100, and the web page regarding the output value of the base station may be changed.

When the “NEIGHBORING BTS LIST” in the parameter menu is selected by the mobile terminal100in the steps S610and S640, the management server150transmits the web page including the “MONITOR” and the “MODIFICATION” at a step S640. The web page is the same web page which was sent at the step S615.

When the “MONITOR” is selected by the mobile terminal100, the management server150transmits the web page with the “NEIGHBORING BTS LIST” at steps S645and S650. The “NEIGHBORING BTS LIST” is displayed on the display part of the mobile terminal100. However, when the “MODIFICATION” is selected by the mobile terminal100, the management server150transmits the web page on which the list of the neighboring BTS can be changed (Not shown) at steps S655and S660.

If the “PARAMETER” is not selected in the step S600, the “REPEATER DATA” is selected by the mobile terminal100in the BSM list at a step S665.

When the “REPEATER DATA” is selected by the mobile terminal100, the management server150transmits a web page including the repeater data to the mobile terminal100at a step S670. The repeater data includes a “MONITOR OF A REPEATER STATE” and a “REPEATER TEST”.

When the “MONITOR OF A REPEATER STATE” is selected by the mobile terminal100, the management server150transmits a web page having authority for monitoring to the mobile terminal100at steps S675and S680. However, if the “REPEATER TEST” is selected, the management server150transmits a web page for testing the repeater at steps S685and S690.

Therefore, this invention is provided to prevent the unnecessary movement to the base station or the management server which manages the MSC so as to improve efficiency and convenience for monitoring and modifying the data of the base station such as the call quality, the alarm, the block/unblock, the parameter, or the repeater data. Furthermore, this invention can maintain a special information to be requested to be secured from leaking by providing a different menu according to the user's access authority rank. Therefore, this invention is provided to enhance the security of the mobile communication system.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein description in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to include all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.