Lucent Technologies Inc.

Alcatel-lucent USA Inc.

Avaya Technology LLC

Alcatel Lucent

At&t Bell Laboratories

Raymond Abbott Sackett

Charles M DeSantis

Thomas Brian Morawski

Luz Elena Pinzon

Steven Howard Richman

Mark I Abed

Ramesh Bollapragada

Doru Calin

Shabbir Amirali Khakoo

Gary N Weber

Kevin William Gould

Carlos Urrutia-Valdes

Mark E Millman

David J Helmkamp

Haiping Zhang

Thomas Ralph Smeraldi, Jr

The invention includes a method and apparatus for determining network growth information for a radio access network (RAN) and a wired network supporting communications of the RAN (denoted as a core network). The method includes obtaining RAN configuration information including RAN component configuration information and RAN component connectivity information, obtaining actual traffic information and forecast traffic information for the RAN, and determining RAN growth information by correlating the actual traffic information and the forecast traffic information with the RAN configuration information, the RAN growth information indicating whether at least one additional RAN component is necessary to support the actual and forecast traffic. The method may further include determining network growth information associated with the core network using core network configuration information and at least a portion of the RAN growth information.

Method and apparatus for network growth planning in wireless networks

A method and apparatus are disclosed for analyzing and designing various network configuration scenarios. A modular design allows market assessment and network planning functions to be performed more efficiently and accurately using a single integrated design tool. Wired and wireless access technologies can be modeled and evaluated. In an exemplary implementation for modeling and evaluating fixed wireless access networks, the network planning tool comprises a market scenario planner, a cluster analysis tool, a hub sector planner and a network architecture planner. Generally, the market scenario planner analyzes a listing of potential customers to generate a list of target customers. The cluster analysis tool allows the network planner to identify 'clusters' of demand for potential hub placement. The hub sector planner analyzes the hub assignments generated by the cluster analysis tool and allocates each building in a given hub to a particular sector. The network architecture planner processes the output of the hub sector planning tool to (i) generate a complete configuration of the network in terms of equipment requirements at each node (each building, hub and service node); and (ii) compare a set of scenarios using several financial measures.

Method and apparatus for designing various network configuration scenarios

User nodes are homed to network nodes in an IMS network or other communication system by determining a function hierarchy for functions provided by the network nodes. Starting with a function at an initial level of the function hierarchy, a predetermined criterion such as throughput-weighted distance is applied to assign a given user node to a particular network node providing that function. The homing process then proceeds through one or more additional levels of the function hierarchy to assign the given user node to at least one additional network node providing at least one other function identified in the additional level(s) of the function hierarchy. These operations are repeated for one or more additional user nodes until each of the user nodes is homed to one or more of the network nodes providing all of its required functions.

Homing of user nodes to network nodes in a communication system

Method and apparatus for analyzing and designing various network configuration scenarios

An ongoing communication with a mobile in a current cell of a wireless cellular system is handed over to another cell using information regarding a set of potential handover candidates. This information is transmitted from a base station in the current cell or from another fixed part transmitter in the system. The set of handover candidates for a given mobile in the current cell is determined based on stored adjacency information regarding the cells which are adjacent to the current cell. This adjacency information may be stored after an initial system configuration, based on the actual physical layout of the cells, and may be altered during system operation to reflect the success or failure of particular attempted handovers. The set of potential handover candidates may be in the form of a list of beacons associated with the cells adjacent to the current cell, and may include corresponding channel identifying information such as frequency and time slot. The potential handover candidate information may be transmitted upon receipt of a handover assistance request from the mobile, or may be periodically broadcast throughout the system.

Assisted handover in a wireless communication system

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transmitting a synchronization beacon from a wireless base station to a wireless terminal in a wireless communication network installed in a building. The wireless network comprises a private branch exchange (PBX) connected to a wireless fixed base station (WFB) having a plurality of cell antennae units (CAUs) connected thereto. In a first embodiment, the plurality of CAUs are located in a single cell of the wireless network and are configured to receive two synchronization beacons from the WFB. In a second embodiment, each CAU is located in a separate cell in the network and is configured to receive a single synchronization beacon from the WFB. The synchronization beacon(s) is/are managed by the WFB and WT to virtually eliminate loss of synchronization between the WFB and WT if the frequency-timeslot at which the beacon is transmitted is changed or if transmission of the beacon is temporarily discontinued. In addition, synchronization between the WFB and WT is also maintained when the WT is moved to another cell in the wireless network.

Method and apparatus for transmitting a synchronization beacon in a wireless communication network

Increased coverage and macro diversity from a single base station in a wireless communication system by having a base station coupled to N antennas is described. Increased coverage and macro diversity are achieved by transmitting from the base station N control messages each via one of the antennas, and transmitting a data message addressed to a mobile unit via a particular one of the antennas previously assigned to the mobile unit for an active call. The mobile unit receives the control messages and the data message and analyzes the control messages to identify from the antennas a best antenna. The mobile unit then transmits to the base station a new antenna request identifying the best antenna in an uplink control slot of a frame. The uplink control field is associated with the particular one of the antennas. The base station uses the best antenna to transmit subsequent data messages addressed to the mobile unit. A random access technique, to allow mobile units that are going from an inactive status to an active status, is provided by connecting all base station antennas together during non-call-affiliated slots in the uplink portion of the frame.

Wireless communication system using distributed switched antennas

A facsimile apparatus provides a user with paper vendor order information when a substantially out-of-paper condition is detected. The facsimile apparatus provides the user with various vendor paper ordering information, including a telephone number, via a display, a printer, or a speaker of the facsimile apparatus. The facsimile apparatus enables the user to manually call or autodial the paper vendor using preprogrammed numbers. The facsimile apparatus enables the user to send to the paper vendor a prestored data or facsimile message, or a fax of a paper order form outputted by the facsimile apparatus and filled-in by the user.

Fax machine having automated maintenance features

Growing community of inventors

Rumson, NJ, United States of America

Raymond Abbott Sackett