Patent ID: 7400887

Claim:
A method of determining capacity in a wireless network in which plural signals are transmitted on a shared downlink channel to plural mobiles within a coverage area of the network, the method comprising: a) transmitting, from a first base station, a real signal on the downlink channel to a test mobile as it is moved on a test route within the network's coverage area; b) determining a mean and a variance of the real signal as it is being transmitted on the downlink channel while the test mobile moves on the test route; c) transmitting, from the first base station, an aggregate of a plurality of first test signals on the downlink channel, each of the plurality of first test signals corresponding to simulated transmission from the first base station to each of a first plurality of mobiles, each first test signal being a sample of a stochastic process that is calibrated to the determined mean and the determined variance of the real signal so that the plurality of first test signals is statistically equivalent to signals transmitted to live mobiles; d) transmitting, from at least one second base station, an aggregate of a plurality of second test signals on the downlink channel, each of the plurality of second test signals corresponding to simulated transmission from the second base station to each of a second plurality of mobiles, each second test signal being a sample of a stochastic process that is calibrated to the determined mean and the determined variance of the real signal so that the plurality of first test signals is statistically equivalent to signals transmitted to live mobiles; e) determining whether or not an acceptable performance is indicated by at least one predetermined measurable performance characteristic when the real signal and the first and second pluralities of test signals are being transmitted as the test mobile is being moved on the test route; and f) if acceptable performance is determined, determining that the downlink channel has the capacity of handling downlink traffic corresponding to at least the first and second pluralities of mobiles.