Cellular Neighbor List Creation via PSMM Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating and optimizing neighbor lists in cellular networks are labor-intensive and pose liability and legal issues, as they rely on drive testing, which can be unsafe and inefficient, leading to potential communication disruptions during handoffs.
Innovation Solution
The system employs Pilot Strength Measurement Messages (PSMM) from mobile units to centrally collect and correlate signal strength data, modifying neighbor lists to include or exclude sectors based on actual signal strengths, using a Perl script to derive and process provisional and final listings, accounting for reciprocity and false positives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If drive testing is used to create neighbor lists, then neighbor list accuracy is improved, but labor intensity and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing mobile devices to automatically report signal strength measurements to the network operator. The devices themselves collect and transmit the data needed for neighbor list creation, eliminating the need for operator personnel to physically perform drive tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical drive testing process with an automated electronic data collection system. Instead of personnel driving vehicles and manually recording measurements, the system uses electronic messages (PSMM) transmitted by mobile devices to automatically gather signal strength data.
2Measurement precision
If drive testing is used to create neighbor lists, then neighbor list accuracy is improved, but safety risks and legal liabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing mobile devices to automatically report signal strength measurements to the network operator. The devices themselves collect and transmit the data needed for neighbor list creation, eliminating the need for operator personnel to physically perform drive tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful situation of personnel driving into a beneficial automated process. By transforming the drive test from a manual safety-risk activity into an automated electronic data collection system using regular mobile devices, the harmful aspects are eliminated while the measurement capability is preserved.
3Quantity of substance
If PSMM data is collected from multiple mobile units, then data completeness is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple mobile units into a single comprehensive dataset. By collecting PSMM messages from numerous devices and consolidating their measurements, the system achieves complete coverage of the service area while using standardized processing procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by filtering and selecting measurements based on signal strength thresholds and other criteria. This transforms the raw voluminous data into a refined dataset suitable for neighbor list creation, managing complexity through systematic parameter-based filtering.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of constructing a neighbor list for a plurality of sectors in a cellular communication environment sorts reference neighbor pairs in the network by number of occurrences based on data derived from one or more PSMM transmissions, analyzes pairs in the sorted list and determines for each pair whether a percentage of occurrence exceeds a first threshold and whether a measure of direct transition statistics exceeds a second threshold. If the percentage of occurrence exceeds a first threshold and the measure of direct transition statistics exceeds a second threshold, then if the reference's neighbor list and reciprocal neighbor list have fewer than a predetermined number of neighbors, the process adds neighbors to the reference's NL and reciprocal NL in order of occurrence percentage to create a final neighbor list.