Method and apparatus for optimizing radio frequency (RF) coverage in a radio communication network
View Patent ↗A radio communication network includes a plurality of base station receivers coupled to a switch for communication with at least one mobile station. A network monitoring device queries the switch for data related to the radio coverage provided by the communication network and, in response, the switch sends the data to the monitoring device. A report is generated that is related to the data received by the switch. The report indicates areas of the communication network providing deficient or redundant radio coverage in the communication network.
1. A method for optimizing radio coverage in a radio communication network, the radio communication network including a plurality of base station receivers coupled to a switch for communication with at least one mobile station, the method comprising:
querying the switch for data related to the radio coverage provided by the communication network;
sending the data to a monitoring device; and
generating and displaying a report related to the data received by the switch, the report indicating areas of the communication network providing sufficient, deficient or redundant radio coverage in the communication network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the data to a monitoring device further comprises:
determining a total number of messages received for each of the base station receivers in the communication network for a specified period of time; and
sending the total number of messages received for said each of the base station receivers to the monitoring device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein sending the data to a monitoring device further comprises:
determining a total number of unique messages received for said each of the base station receivers for the specified period of time, each of the unique messages indicating a message received by only a respective one of the base station receivers; and
sending the total number of unique messages received for said each of the base station receivers to the monitoring device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sending the data to a monitoring device further comprises:
determining a total number of shared messages received for said each of the base station receivers for the specified period of time, the shared messages indicating those messages that were also received by another of the base station receivers; and
sending the total number of shared messages received for said each of the base station receivers to the monitoring device.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
calculating a percentage of shared messages between each one of the base station receivers and each of other ones of the base station receivers of the communication network, the percentage of shared messages being the total number of shared messages for said each of the base station receivers divided by the total number of messages received.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
calculating a percentage of unique messages for said each of the base station receivers of the communication network, the percentage of unique messages being the total number of unique messages for said each of the base station receivers divided by the total number of messages received for each respective one of the base station receivers.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the generating and displaying a report related to the data received by the switch further comprises:
generating a report conveying the calculated percentage of the shared messages between one of the base station receivers and each of the other ones of the base station receivers of the communication network.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the generating and displaying a report related to the data received by the switch further comprises:
generating a report conveying the percentage of unique messages calculated for said each of the base station receivers of the communication network.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
establishing a threshold value related to the percentage of unique messages for said each of the base station receivers of the communication network;
determining whether the established threshold value has been exceeded by the percentage of unique messages for each of the base station receivers; and
providing a visual indication providing that the established threshold value has been exceeded.
10. A system, comprising:
a plurality of base station receivers configured to communicate via radio with at least one mobile station;
a switch that is configured to couple the base station receivers; and
a monitoring device that is configured to query the switch for data related to radio coverage provided by the base station receivers and to generate and to display a report related to the data received by the switch, the report indicating areas of the system providing sufficient, deficient or redundant radio coverage by the base station receivers.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the switch is further configured to determine a total number of messages received for each of the base station receivers for a specified period of time and to send the total number of messages received for said each of the base station receivers to the monitoring device.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the switch is further configured to determine a total number of unique messages received for said each of the base station receivers for the specified period of time, the unique messages indicating a message received by only a respective one of the base station receivers, and to send the total number of unique messages received for said each of the base station receivers to the monitoring device.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the switch is further configured to determine a total number of shared messages received for said each of the base station receivers for the specified period of time, the shared messages indicating those messages that were also received by another one of the base station receivers, and is configured to send the total number of shared messages received for said each of the base station receivers to the monitoring device.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to calculate a percentage of shared messages between each respective one of the base station receivers and others of the base station receivers, the percentage of shared messages being the total number of shared messages for said each of the base station receivers divided by the total number of messages received.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to calculate a percentage of unique messages for said each of the base station receivers of the communication network, the percentage of unique messages being the total number of unique messages for said each of the base station receivers divided by the total number of messages received for said each of the base station receivers.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to generate a report conveying the calculated percentage of the shared messages between respective ones of the base station receivers and another of the base station receivers.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to generate a report conveying the percentage of unique messages calculated for said each of the base station receivers of the communication network.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to determine whether an established threshold value has been exceeded by the percentage of unique messages for said each of the base station receivers and to provide a visual indication providing that the established threshold value has been exceeded.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating and displaying comprises:
displaying the report in a symbolic form.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the generating and displaying further comprises:
displaying a representation of each of the base station receivers on a map.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the displaying the representation comprises:
displaying each of the representations on the map as one of a plurality of symbols, each of the symbols indicating an area of one of sufficient radio coverage in the communication network, deficient radio coverage in the communication network and redundant radio coverage in the communication network.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the displaying the representation comprises:
displaying each of the representations on the map using one of a plurality of colors, each of the colors indicating an area of one of sufficient radio coverage in the communication network, deficient radio coverage in the communication network and redundant radio coverage in the communication network.
23. The system of claim 10 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to generate and display the report in a symbolic form.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to generate and display the report including a representation of each of the base receivers on a map.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein each of the representations are to be displayed on the map as one of a plurality of symbols, each of the symbols indicating an area of one of sufficient radio coverage in the communication network, deficient radio coverage in the communication network and redundant radio coverage in the communication network.
26. The system of claim 24 , wherein each of the representations are to be displayed on the map using one of a plurality of colors, each of the colors indicating an area of one of sufficient radio coverage in the communication network, deficient radio coverage in the communication network and redundant radio coverage in the communication network.