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 cellular telephone system which, in a first embodiment, includes a receiver located at a proposed micro-cell site for measuring the traffic volume. In a second embodiment, a test base station transmits a signal and a processor communicates with a base station controller serving macro-cells surrounding the proposed micro-cell site to extract signal strength measurement reports transmitted to the cellular telephone network from mobile stations receiving the signal transmitted by the test base station. In a third embodiment, the test base station is located at the proposed micro-cell site and is assigned a location area identity different from that of the macro-cells surrounding the proposed micro-cell. Mobile stations operating in and around the proposed micro-cell site are required to register in the new location area and transmit a signal strength report which includes the signal strength of the test base station.