Verizon Laboratories Inc.

Gte Laboratories Incorporated

Gte Mobilnet Service Corporation

Pete Allen Boyer

Pablo A Vicharelli

David F Freeman

Philip G Rossoni

Rajamani Ganesh

Alan B Jennison

Muzaffer Kanaan

David R Freeman

A cellular network configuration tool is described that performs frequency assignments for use in a cellular network. The channels are assigned in accordance with input configuration data such as a channel separation matrix, geographic data, and requested channel assignments for each sector included in the cellular network being configured. The configuration is performed in accordance with predetermined constraints and criteria and quality of service input. The tool uses frequency assignment techniques to perform the channel assignments in accordance with varying constraints and criteria. A penalty function is used to determine a figure of merit for a particular set of frequency assignments.

Methods and techniques for penalty-based channel assignments in a cellular network

A system and method for wireless network planning utilizing raster data, stored and manipulated in raster data planes (-) and vector data () stored and manipulated in vector data planes (-). The invention increases the accuracy of network planning by simultaneously utilizing vector data planes (-) and raster data planes (-) to perform computations using vector features contained within map pixels (). The disclosed method makes it possible to perform accurate computations such as propagation loss to vector points () contained within map pixels (). Accuracy is further increased because other characteristics such as received power, elevation, and best server can be computed to the vector features rather than processing them with traditional raster resolutions.

Method and apparatus for network planning

A cellular network configuration tool is described that performs frequency assignments for use in a cellular network. The channels are assigned in accordance with input configuration data such as a channel separation matrix, geographic data, and requested channel assignments for each sector included in the cellular network being configured. The configuration is performed in accordance with predetermined constraints and criteria and quality of service input. The tool uses frequency assignment techniques to perform the channel assignments in accordance with varying constraints and criteria.

Methods and techniques in channel assignment in a cellular network

Method and techniques for penalty-based channel assignments in a cellular network

A system and method for wireless network planning utilizing raster data, stored and manipulated in raster data planes () and vector data () stored and manipulated in vector data planes (). The invention increases the accuracy of network planning by simultaneously utilizing vector data planes () and raster data planes () to perform computations using vector features contained within map pixels (). The disclosed method makes it possible to perform accurate computations such as propagation loss to vector points () contained within map pixels (). Accuracy is further increased because other characteristics such as received power, elevation, and best server can be computed to the vector features rather than processing them with traditional raster resolutions.

In a cellular communication network ( ) having a channel assignment plan ( ) that distinguishes frequency channels ( ) assigned to a plurality of cells ( ), a method ( ) and system ( ) adapt the channel assignment plan ( ) during network planning to include shared frequency channels ( ). Borrower cells ( ) are identified in response to a deficiency value ( ) indicating a shortage in a quantity of the frequency channels ( ) assigned to the borrower cells ( ). Donor cells ( ) are selected from the cells ( ) in response to a load factor ( ) for each of the cells ( ), the load factor ( ) indicating the number of frequency channels ( ) already being shared by the cell ( ). Candidate frequency channels ( ) that may be shared are evaluated against predetermined channel sharing constraints, such as frequency separation constraints ( ), co-channel carrier-to-interference C/I constraints ( , and adjacent channel C/I) constraints ( ).

Method and system for adapting a channel assignment plan to include shared frequency channels

A computing system ( ) provides a network designer with a mechanism for adaptively predicting the propagation of a radio wave ( ) along radials ( ) emanating from a base station ( ) in a wireless communication environment ( ). The computing system ( ) includes executable code in the form of a propagation prediction process ( ). The propagation prediction process ( ) selects segments ( ) of a selected one of the radials ( ) on a per segment basis and ascertains a propagation environment ( ) through which the selected segment ( ) traverses. The process ( ) chooses, in response to a switching parameter ( ), a propagation model ( ) from a collection of propagation models ( ) that is best suited for predicting the propagation of the radio wave ( ) at the selected segment ( ).

System and method for adaptively predicting radio wave propagation

In a cellular communication network ( ) employing a network planning tool ( ), a method ( ) and system ( ) associate servers ( ) with pixels ( ) that correspond to locations in an actual cellular environment. When the server ( ) resides in a proximity region ( ) surrounding a pixel ( ) at which a radiofrequency signal ( ) is detected, that server ( ) is associated with the pixel ( ). When no servers ( ) reside in the proximity region ( ), a server ( ) is selected in response to power levels ( ) of the detected radiofrequency signals ( ) at the pixel ( ). When a computed power difference between the power levels is below a power difference threshold, the server ( ) is selected for association with the pixel ( ) in response to a random selection procedure. Alternatively, when the computed power difference is greater than the power difference threshold, the server transmitting the one of the radiofrequency signals ( ) exhibiting the greater power level is selected for association with the pixel ( ).

Method and system for associating a server with a location in a cellular network

A system optimally assigns pseudo-noise (PN) offsets in a cellular network that includes several sectors. The system sets parameters for the cellular network, determines potential interference between each of the sectors and mobile units in the cellular network based on the set parameters, and identifies constraints for each of the sectors based on the determined potential interference. The system then approximates a highest co-offset protection value for successful PN offset assignments based on the determined potential interference and the identified constraints, and selectively adjusts a sector co-offset protection value using the approximated highest co-offset protection value as a starting point to obtain optimum PN offset assignments.

System and method for PN offset index planning in a digital CDMA cellular network

A method, executed on a simulation system ( ), characterizes propagation of a radiofrequency signal ( ) in a three-dimensional environment ( ). The method includes forming a database ( ) of propagation paths ( ) of the radiofrequency signal ( ) transmitted from a transmitter ( ) at a fixed location ( ) in the three-dimensional environment ( ). The propagation paths ( ) are represented by a plurality of line segments ( ) in the database ( ). Local line segments ( ) are selected from the plurality of line segments ( ) to establish a subset ( ) of the propagation paths ( ). The subset ( ) includes those propagation paths ( ) each having one of the local line segments ( ) proximate a location ( ) of a receiver ( ) in the environment ( ). Distinct multipath components ( ) representing distinct wavefronts of the radiofrequency signal ( ) are subsequently identified from the subset ( ) of the propagation paths ( ).

Method and system for characterizing propagation of radiofrequency signal

Channels are assigned ( ) to a subject cellular network ( ) after taking into account the locked/unlocked status of cells ( ). Channels are assigned to locked cells ( ) in accordance with a prearranged assignment plan ( ). After this assignment, one unlocked cell ( ) is selected ( ) at a time. An available channels list is built ( ) for the selected unlocked cell ( ), and a channel is selected ( ) from this list for assignment to the selected unlocked cell ( ). The available channels list is built ( ) by evaluating all channels in the network ( ) one at a time to determine if their assignment to the selected unlocked cell ( ) would cause undue interference in any other cell ( ) of the network ( ). If interference worse than a minimum system threshold is detected ( ) in another cell ( ), a channel is made unavailable for assignment unless it is a locked cell ( ). For a locked cell it is made unavailable ( ) if the channel assignment would worsen interference by more than an offset value.

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Pete Allen Boyer