METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING LOCAL TRAFFIC MEASUREMENTS IN A CELLULAR TELEPHONE NETWORK

摘要

A method and apparatus for measuring telephone traffic volume in a cellulartelephone system (100) is disclosed. In a first embodiment, a receiver (150)is located at the proposed micro-cell site (120) and measures the strength ofsignals transmitted by mobile stations (130) to determine the cellulartelephone traffic in the proposed micro-cell site (120). In a secondembodiment of the present invention, a test base station (500) is located atthe proposed micro-cell site (120). A processor (510), communicating with thebase station controller (300) serving the macro-cell (110) surrounding theproposed micro-cell site (120), extracts signal strength measurement reportstransmitted to the cellular telephone network (100) from mobile stations (130)in and around the proposed micro-cell site (120). The processor (510) uses thesignal strength measurements to calculate the cellular telephone trafficvolume in the proposed micro-cell site (120). In a third embodiment of thepresent invention, a test base station (700) is located at the proposed micro-cell site (120) and is assigned a location area identity different from thatof the macro-cells (110) surrounding the proposed micro-cell (120). Mobilestations (130) operating in and around the proposed micro-cell site (120) arerequired to register in the new location area and transmit a signal strengthreport which includes the signal strength of the test base station (700). Aprocessor (710) connected to the test base station (700) uses the receivedsignal strength reports to calculate cellular telephone traffic volume in theproposed micro-cell site (120).