Abstract:
A conventional wireless device constantly measures the signal strength of its server base station and the strength of signals from surrounding base stations for handoff purposes. The wireless device transmits this information to its serving base station, which discards the information a short time afterward, following handoff. The present system and method store the formerly discarded information in one of several existing network elements or in a separate computer system. This information is used to generate a carrier to interference ratio, which indicates the level of interference between station pairs, and to also generate a carrier to interference matrix, including identifying potential interference for each station pair. The frequency of occurrences during predetermined desired periods of time and the volume of traffic affected by each level of interference may also be calculated. This provides comprehensive, continuous, real-time information for wireless frequency planning.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of frequency planning for wireless networks. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As wireless subscribers travel, they are switched between different transmitter, or cell, sites. Each site may be divided into sectors, with each sector served by one or more base stations located at the transmitter site. A base station, or base transceiver station, comprises an antenna and a radio transceiver at the cell site. In order to accommodate as many users as possible, the base station is not in constant contact with each wireless device operating in its range. Instead, when a wireless device enters the coverage area of a cell, it contacts the server base station through a control channel. This control channel carries information between the wireless device and the server base station necessary for the wireless device to operate properly with the server base station. When a user initiates a wireless operation, the wireless device instructs the server base station, through the control channel, that the device is attempting an operation. The server base station then switches the wireless device to a traffic channel to conduct the operation. 
         [0005]    As the wireless subscriber continues to travel, the wireless device must switch from one cell to another. This process is known as a handoff. To facilitate the handoff process, the wireless device constantly measures the control channel signal strength of the server base station, and the signal strength of the signals from base stations serving adjacent sectors or located at neighboring towers, to determine which one will provide the best service. The wireless device transmits these signal strength measurements back to the server base station, which stores the measurements to compute an average over a short period of time. In a GSM system, the data is transmitted once every 480 microseconds and in TDMA systems once per second. As these data are transmitted so frequently and the wireless subscriber may be moving rapidly, any data over ten seconds old is not useful for purposes of evaluating the need for a handoff and is constantly purged from the server base station shortly after receipt. 
         [0006]    When neighboring sites or sectors are transmitting the same frequency (i.e., are co-channels), they may interfere with each other. To mitigate this co-channel interference, cellular providers institute frequency planning. The carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio is a measure of the strength of the desired signal relative to that of interference signals. 
         [0007]    To track the level of interference, it is standard to construct a matrix of C/I values for neighboring base stations. The frequency planners are then able to use the data in this matrix to better adjust for interfering frequencies. Several prior art methods of developing this matrix are currently in use. 
         [0008]    One method for creating the C/I matrix is often termed the “Listening only Control Channel” (the “LICC” or “Ericsson”) method. This method entails measuring the control channel signal strength of the site in question. A LICC capability must be added for each site sector (using otherwise valuable bandwidth). This method involves measuring the signal strength of the uplink (the signal from the wireless device to the tower), and during the data collection period, the two traffic channels associated with the control channel must be blocked. When a user originates a call, a request is sent over the control channel to its server base station. It is the strength of this uplink signal that is measured. 
         [0009]    There are a number of drawbacks to this method: (1) the only measurement made is during the initial communication with the base station and because the data points collected are limited to those associated with originations, the geographical scope is limited; (2) the transceiver uses valuable bandwidth that thus cannot be used for normal communications; (3) cells for which most of the traffic involves handoffs do not provide enough data points for the C/I matrix; and (4) the only measurement taken is on the uplink and therefore this approach does not actually measure the signal strength on the downlink, so that, as indicated above, only a limited number of data points are collected as compared to the average call length. 
         [0010]    A second method for collecting interference data is the “Drive Test” method. In this method, a color code identifies each base station by frequency. A technician travels to various geographical locations and measures the signal strength at that location. The digital verification color code identifies the base station transmitting each signal. The technician measures all of the signals at each location and the strongest signal should indicate the server station. Therefore, the matrix must be manually generated by entering the data collected for each station by hand. 
         [0011]    The first drawback of the “Drive Test” is that this method is geographically limited. It will not be possible to take measurements from within many buildings or on side streets, so the areas sampled will be limited. Power control is in the downlink (tower to wireless device) direction, and the station will dynamically adjust power as necessary to ensure transmittal. Therefore, the measurement may be of an intentionally low power signal. This test is expensive to implement because someone must be paid for the time of driving between sites to take measurements and entering the data. Also, changes in the topography and signal propagation resulting from new buildings and other structures require taking new measurements. The color code system only functions if there is a moderate level of interference. If two signals measured are both strong, then it will be difficult to decode the color code, and the technician must manually turn the signals on and off at each base station to test them and to determine which is likely causing the interference. 
         [0012]    A third method is called the “Predictive Method” and uses propagation models. Because each signal degrades as it propagates through the air, computer models may be used to determine where the signals may interfere. However, this method also suffers from several drawbacks. First, there is a high degree of error because there are no actual measurements. Second, the models do not take into account differences in terrain or buildings. Third, any changes in the system require a new evaluation. Therefore, the model is inherently conservative in order to take into account the practical differences. 
         [0013]    Because each of the three methods has a high cost in labor, or equipment, or both, there is a need for a system to inexpensively collect and process the necessary data for a C/I matrix. 
         [0014]    Additionally, each of the prior methods accurately measures or predicts only that interference relating to the geographical features existing at the time the measurements are taken. It is desirable to have an automatic process that continuously collects new data as new buildings, roads and highways are constructed. To the extent that the prior art methods attempt to collect and measure actual data, these methods require the use of extra equipment or the dedication of valuable bandwidth to the measuring process, rather than keeping the bandwidth available to service customers. 
         [0015]    Further, none of the prior methods result in measurements that accurately reflect the interference within the system during operation because the data is collected during a very small amount of time as compared to the average length of a call, is limited in geographic scope because a technician is not able to access every possible location to take measurements, or has a high error rate because the method is based on computer models, not actual circumstances. 
         [0016]    Therefore, a system that uses current data and continuously monitors all calls from any geographic location and collects data during the full duration of these calls without using additional bandwidth would be very desirable and useful. Desirably, such a system would collect accurate and complete real-time, actual-use data to create a more accurate and useful C/I matrix and would thus enable the provider to better plan its frequency usage, thereby more effectively using available frequencies and better serving its customers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Among the advantages thereof, the present invention solves the current problems associated with constructing a Carrier to Interference (C/I) matrix by establishing a new system and method for collecting and processing data resulting from actual customer calls. Further, in a preferred embodiment thereof, the system and method also calculates values for the frequency of occurrence of interference in a given measurement period and the volume of traffic affected (traffic weight) by the given magnitude of the interference. 
         [0018]    The invention preferably uses existing network infrastructure and procedures to provide signal strength data necessary to construct the C/I matrix. In this regard, wireless devices conventionally measure and transmit to the base station, the signal strengths of the base station and of nearby stations for use in determining whether handoff is needed. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the signal strength measurements, which are normally discarded, are collected and used to provide the source data. 
         [0019]    According to one aspect thereof, the present invention uses the measurements provided by each wireless device with respect to the signal strength of its server base station and neighboring base stations. The wireless device measures the signal strength of the downlink signal (i.e., the signal from the call tower to the wireless device from each of these stations) and, in a preferred embodiment, transmits the measurements back to the server base station. According to this aspect of the invention, these measurements are collected and used to determine the magnitude of the C/I ratio (which is, as indicated above, a measure of the magnitude of the interference), the frequency of occurrence of interference of the given magnitude, and the traffic weight (and therefore, the approximate number of customers) affected by that interference. 
         [0020]    The system of the present invention is automated and is, therefore, substantially more efficient than some of the prior art systems discussed above. Better statistical data is provided because the wireless device constantly takes signal strength measurements during a call. Also, because wireless devices are used everywhere and the signal strength measurement is automatic, there are no geographic limitations on the measurements, as with other methods. Thus, an actual-use sampling of data is provided between wireless sites and sectors, something that other methods cannot provide. 
         [0021]    Further, the system and method of the present invention avoid the need to dedicate valuable bandwidth in obtaining the signal strength measurements and are capable of processing the data so obtained using automated systems that reduce the time and expense normally associated with processing such data and creating a C/I matrix. 
         [0022]    Further features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in, or apparent from, the detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof which follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Many aspects of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a prior art wireless network. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram depicting a plurality of prior art transmission sites that may broadcast interfering signals. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of a system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for constructing a C/I matrix. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary C/I matrix generated by an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary storage table containing values calculated by an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a histogram generated by an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    A system or method in accordance with the present invention may serve various multi-technology wireless devices providing voice, data, video, or any other content. Further, the technologies employed may employ any transmission method including digital, analog or a combination of digital and analog. Therefore, the term wireless device as understood herein includes all devices capable of the wireless electronic communication of any type of data. 
         [0031]    A system or method in accordance with the present invention may be implemented with hardware, firmware, software or a combination thereof. Both information storage and computations may be accomplished through an information processor and a memory device. These may be located within multiple network elements comprising a data processor, including but not limited to, a base station, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), a Base Station Controller (BSC), an Operations Center (OC) or a separate system. 
         [0032]    Referring now to the figures, wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary network of wireless transmitters, denoted  101 , which provide geographic coverage for wireless devices denoted  102 . The transmitters  102  are interconnected by, and communicate, either directly or indirectly, through, a Mobile Switching Center  103 . For purposes of illustration only, GSM base stations are linked through a Base Station Controller to the Mobile Switching Center  103 . TDMA base stations would be linked directly to the Mobile Switching Center  103 . The invention described herein is compatible with, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, a fully wireless system or a partially wireless system. 
         [0033]    As  FIG. 1  further illustrates, and as is well known, wireless devices  102  communicate with and through wireless transmitters  101 . The wireless devices  102  herein are equipped to communicate, with the proper network protocol, through the wireless transmitters  101  and, as explained below, to measure the signal strength of the transmissions from a number of wireless transmitters  101 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  illustrates a network of three wireless transmitter sites  201 . The transmitted signals from the sites are denoted  202 . The coverage area for each wireless transmitter  201  is denoted  203  and is illustrated as being, but is not limited to, a 360-degree region surrounding the corresponding wireless transmitter  201 . Each coverage area  203  may be divided into a number of sectors, or divisions within the coverage area, denoted  205 . When two or more wireless transmitters  201  operate on the same frequency or operate in sectors  205  on the same frequency, such operation is herein termed “co-channel operation.” 
         [0035]    Each wireless transmission site  201  may be associated with one or more base stations  206 . When a wireless device operates through a particular transmission site  201 , the device operates through a base station  206  at the site. 
         [0000]    The base station in such an operation is herein termed the server base station. A wireless device may also simultaneously receive a signal from another base station  206  in a different sector or located at a different neighboring transmission site  201 . Such a signal is considered to be from what is herein termed a potentially interfering base station. The number of base stations  206  at a wireless transmission site  201  defines the number of sectors  205  into which the coverage area  203  for that site is divided, since each base station  206  serves one sector  205 . By way of example, referring to  FIG. 2 , one base station  206  may serve the entire geographic area  203  covered by a wireless transmission site  201  as indicated by the site  201  shown at the right hand portion of  FIG. 2 , or serve one or more sectors  205  within area  203 , as illustrated by the sites  201  shown at the center and left hand portions of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary system or method according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system, which is generally denoted  300 , includes a data storage device  304  for storing measurements of the strength of signals  301  received by the wireless device  302  from a server base station and potentially interfering base stations. In the illustrated embodiment, the various signal strength measurements are transmitted to the base station  303 , and then to the data storage device  304 . 
         [0037]    Periodically, the stored measurements from storage device  304  are supplied or transmitted to a processor  305  which performs calculations based upon the signal strength measurements. These calculations are used to produce at least one interference indicia, such as the C/I ratio but may also produce other interference indicia. These calculations are also used to create a corresponding C/I matrix. The C/I matrix is transmitted to a C/I processor and data storage device  306  for storing the resulting matrices for further evaluation. 
         [0038]    The wireless device  302  continuously measures the strength of the signal  301  from the server base station through which the device  201  is operating as well as the strength of the signals  301  from the base stations of the neighboring sectors and transmission sites. The signal strength measurements in this exemplary embodiment are logarithmic values corresponding to the measured strength of the signals  301 . 
         [0039]    In a preferred embodiment, data storage device  304  provides for long-term storage of these signal strength measurements for signals  301  from the server base station  303 , and the signals  301  from each of the potentially interfering base stations, each pair (i.e., the server base station and the individual base station) being herein termed a base station pair. The data storage device  304  may be located at any place in the network system, including but not limited to, the base station, the base station controller, the mobile switching center, the operations center, a stand alone apparatus connected to the wireless network, and the like. 
         [0040]    As mentioned above and indicated by block  305   a , the processor  305  will calculate a C/I ratio for the given base station pair. This C/I ratio indicates the level of interference between the base station pair. The calculation is carried out by the processor  305  by dividing the value for strength of the signal  301  from server base station, herein termed the carrier signal strength “C,” by the value for the strength of the signal  301  from each potentially interfering base station, herein termed the interference signal strength “I,” 
         [0041]    Remembering that in this implementation each of the signal strength values C and I is logarithmic, the calculation of the ratio between each of the base station pairs involves subtracting the logarithmic value for the signal from the interfering base station from the logarithmic value for the signal from the server base station  303 . Thus, a C/I ratio indicating little interference will be a large number, a C/I ratio indicating substantial interference will be a low number approaching zero, and a C/I ratio indicating that the signal from the interfering station is stronger than the server station  303  will be a negative number. These data sets will be available for each instance a wireless device  302  measures the signal strengths for each base station pair. The data storage device  306  stores the data sets. 
         [0042]    In a preferred embodiment, the processor  305  also sorts the calculated C/I ratios according to magnitude ranges for the C/I ratio. For example, the number of calculated CM ratios having a magnitude greater than 20 are sorted separately in one range, as are those in other ranges, e.g., between 9 and 10, 8 and 9, etc., down to those between 1 and zero and those having a negative value. The data storage device  306  stores the number of instances that the calculated C/I ratios occur for each range of interest. 
         [0043]    As indicated by block  305   b , in a preferred embodiment, the processor  305  is also programmed to compute the value, as a percentage, of the frequency of occurrences of a specified C/I ratio or over a selected measurement period. The frequency of occurrence calculation for a given CA ratio is accomplished by dividing the number of occurrences of the specific C/I ratio by the total number of measurements taken in the given time period for the same base station pair, and then multiplying the result by one hundred. This value corresponds to the frequency with which the particular C/I ratio magnitude occurs. Preferably, this calculated value for frequency of occurrence is also stored in the data storage device  306 . 
         [0044]    As is also indicated by block  305   b , the processor  305  also may calculate the volume of traffic, herein termed traffic weight, affected by the particular CA ratio magnitude. The traffic weight will be calculated by dividing the number of occurrences of the particular C/I ratio magnitude by the traffic weight constant for the particular wireless network protocol. In the illustrative example, this constant is 1/3600 for TDMA, and 0.48/3600 for GSM. This calculation provides a measurement of affected traffic weight expressed in Erlangs, the units of measurement for traffic weight. Preferably, these calculated values for traffic weight are also stored in the data storage device  306 . The C/I matrix stored in the data storage device  306  may be accessed from a remote terminal  307 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an exemplary C/I matrix  400 . The calculated data processed by the processor  305  and transmitted to data processor and storage device  306  as depicted by the schematic of  FIG. 3  provides the information to generate matrix  400 . Generally described, the matrix  400  is a two-dimensional plot of a listing of neighboring, and possibly interfering, base stations along the x- and y-axes. One axis  401  contains a listing of the base stations (BS#X . . . BS#n) as used as server stations. The other axis  402  includes the same listing of base stations (BS#X, . . . BS#n) when interfering with the server base stations. Matrix  400  is of the type used in the wireless industry as a frequency planning tool and typically contains the C/I ratio magnitudes between multiple base station pairs. The C/I ratio magnitude for the base station pair represents the corresponding interference, and therefore, potential subscriber problems, created by the base station pair, and is typically used to determine which base station pairs should not be co-channels. The cells in the C/I matrix  400  according to this embodiment may contain specific calculated C/I values but the cells also may contain links either to tables that have been generated or specific values derived from the tables so generated. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a table  500  is provided, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention which lists three important parameters that are useful in frequency planning. These parameters as presented as a function of the desired ranges to be evaluated, indicated at  501 , as shown, comprise the number of instances of C/I ratio magnitudes in a certain range, indicated at  502 , the frequency of occurrences associated with each range of those C/I ratio magnitudes, indicated at  503 , and the traffic weight affected by each range of C/I ratio magnitudes, corresponding to each specific base station pair, indicated at  504 . As described above, in one embodiment, a table corresponding to table  500  occupies, referring to  FIG. 4 , one cell  403  of the C/I matrix  400  corresponding to the base station pair. 
         [0047]    The table  500  is created by a processor, such as processor  405  of  FIG. 2 , that sorts the information by the C/I ratio magnitude ranges  501 . Bins or cells  505 , each corresponding to a specified C/I ratio magnitude range  501 , are incremented by one for each instance that a C/I ratio magnitude is determined for the given range. Similarly, the table  500  also provides the frequency of occurrences indicated at  503 , for a given C/I ratio magnitude of the corresponding range, in one bin or cell of the bins or cells  506  corresponding to the different frequency ranges, as well as the traffic weight, indicated at  504 , affected by a given C/I ratio magnitude for the measurement period in a bin or cell of the bins of cells  507  corresponding to these different frequency ranges. 
         [0048]    Thus, for each base station pair, actual data for a current measurement period is collected and analyzed to determine the number of occurrences of a C/I ratio magnitude, the frequency of such occurrences, and the volume, or traffic weight, affected by the occurrences. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a further output is provided in the form of a histogram for each given base station pair. The ordinate or y-axis represents the number of occurrences of C/I ratios over a measurement period, as indicated at  601 . The abscissa or x-axis represents the C/I ratio magnitudes, as indicated at  602 . The result is a tabular representation of which ratio magnitudes occurred most. Also provided are a representation of the frequency of occurrence of a given C/I ratio magnitude range, as indicated at  604 , and of the traffic weight affected by the given magnitude, as indicated at  605 . 
         [0050]    In one preferred embodiment, a Radio Network Management Server (RNM) is employed in carrying out the method of the invention. The RNM is a standard sub-system in the wireless network that conventionally collects various data for active cells including downlink serving signal strength frequencies (these being generally considered as the channels assigned to the neighbor cell sections). In accordance with this embodiment, the RNM would be configured to collect channel quality messages from every active cell on the associated MSC. Preferably, some channels would be added to in the neighbor list of each cell sector which would allow the wireless devices (mobiles) to perform downlink measurements on these frequencies. The channels are selected so that they help determine the level of interference from specific cell sectors. 
         [0051]    Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.