US 12,732,415 B2Granted

Methods and apparatus for detecting and automatically correcting radio parameter settings in cells of a communications network

AssigneeCharter Communications Operating, LLC

InventorsSaran Khalid, Syed M. Abid

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A Configuration Auditor and Configuration Enforcer (CACE) automatically runs audits of cells in a network and finds any discrepancies between the actual and preferred configuration. The CACE has access to lists of parameters and preferred settings for the network operator in which the cell being audited is located and thus knows the preferred settings for the given type of radio being audited and/or use of the radio in terms of the intended coverage area and/or traffic type being communicated. The list of parameters to which the actual radio settings is compared is sometimes referred to as a “golden parameter list”. The detection of radio parameter setting discrepancies, e.g., setting errors, and the correction of the parameter settings is performed automatically with parameter settings being automatically corrected on the fly, e.g., immediately, when possible without disrupting service or during a scheduled service interval if a radio reboot is required.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of controlling one or more radio configurations, the method comprising:

retrieving, at a configuration control device, first radio configuration information indicating radio configuration settings of a first radio used to provide communications services to other devices, said first radio being a radio of a first type, said first radio configuration information indicating a current radio configuration of the first radio;
accessing stored first type radio configuration information, said stored first type radio configuration information specifying radio configuration settings to be used for radios of the first type;
identifying radio settings in the retrieved first radio configuration information which differ from the accessed stored first type radio configuration information, said identified radio settings which differ from the accessed stored first type radio configuration information including a setting, which if changed while the first radio is being used to provide service to other devices, would have a disruptive impact on ongoing service;
and
taking action to automatically correct one or more identified radio settings in the retrieved first radio configuration information which differ from the accessed stored first type radio configuration information, said taking an action including:
identifying an upcoming maintenance window at the first radio which is long enough to reconfigure the first radio with a radio parameter setting update to change said setting, which if changed while the first radio is being used to provide service to other devices, would have a disruptive impact on ongoing service;
and
pushing, during the identified upcoming maintenance window, the radio parameter setting update to change said setting, which if changed while the first radio is being used to provide service to other devices, would have a disruptive impact on ongoing service.

5 more elements

A Configuration Auditor and Configuration Enforcer (CACE) device comprising:

memory;
and
a processor configured to operate the CACE device to:
retrieve, at a configuration control device, first radio configuration information indicating radio configuration settings of a first radio used to provide communications services to other devices, said first radio being of a first radio of a first type, said first radio configuration information indicating a current radio configuration of the first radio;
access stored first type radio configuration information, said stored first type radio configuration information specifying radio configuration settings to be used for radios of the first type;
identify radio settings in the retrieved first radio configuration information which differ from the accessed stored first type radio configuration information, said identified radio settings which differ from the accessed stored first type radio configuration information including a setting, which if changed while the first radio is being used to provide service to other devices, would have a disruptive impact on ongoing service;
and
take an action to automatically correct one or more identified first radio settings in the retrieved first radio configuration information which differ from the accessed stored first type radio configuration information, said action including:
identifying an upcoming maintenance window at the first radio which is long enough to reconfigure the first radio with a radio parameter setting update to change said setting, which if changed while the first radio is being used to provide service to other devices, would have a disruptive impact on ongoing service;
and
pushing, during the identified upcoming maintenance window the radio parameter setting update to change said setting, which if changed while the first radio is being used to provide service to other devices, would have a disruptive impact on ongoing service.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/019,339Filed 13 Jan 2025 · continuation
Priority: 11 Jul 2023
Published: US 2025/0023769 A18 May 2025
Granted: 8 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04L 41/0659
Using network fault recovery: by isolating or reconfiguring faulty entities
H04L 41/0668
Using network fault recovery: by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure
H04W 36/0079
Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link: in case of hand-off failure or rejection
H04L
Digital communication

Family

Application18/350,489Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Jul 2023
US 2025/0150331 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 May 2025
US 12,199,816 B1Parent of this continuation
US 2025/0023769 A1Published application
US 12,732,415 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.