Method and apparatus for performing local traffic measurements in a cellular telephone network

A method for measuring cellular telephone traffic volume in a proposed cell site of a cellular telephone network comprising the steps of:

• disabling mobile station power regulation within the proposed cell site;
• measuring signal strength and duration of mobile station transmissions on at least one radio frequency for each of a plurality of base stations currently servicing the proposed cell site;
• and
• extrapolating the cellular telephone traffic volume based on the signal strengths, the signal durations, and total number of radio frequencies collectively used by the plurality of base stations currently servicing the proposed cell site.

A method for measuring cellular telephone traffic volume in a proposed cell site of a hierarchical cellular telephone network comprising the steps of:

• establishing a test base station within the cellular telephone network;
• transmitting at least one assigned radio frequency from the test base station located at the proposed cell site;
• monitoring, over a period of time, the number of signal strength reports transmitted by mobile stations to the cellular telephone network containing a signal strength measurement of the test base station;
• and
• calculating the cellular telephone traffic volume based on the total number of signal strength reports containing a signal strength measurement of the test base station wherein the strength exceeds a desired threshold level, the monitored period of time, and a period of time representing each signal strength report.

An apparatus for measuring cellular telephone traffic volume in a proposed cell site of a hierarchical cellular telephone network comprising:

• a radio transmitter located at the proposed cell site for transmitting a broadcast control channel;
• at least one base station for receiving signal strength reports containing signal strength measurements of the radio transmitter from mobile stations;
• and
• a processor for monitoring the signal strength reports received by the base station, and further, for calculating the cellular telephone traffic volume based on the signal strength reports, signal durations and total number of radio frequencies used by the radio transmitter.

A method for measuring cellular telephone traffic volume in a proposed cell site of a cellular telephone network comprising the steps of:

• establishing a test base station within the cellular telephone network;
• transmitting at least one assigned radio frequency from the test base station located at the proposed cell site;
• monitoring, over a period of time, the number of signal strength reports transmitted by mobile stations to the cellular telephone network containing a signal strength measurement of the test base station;
• extracting the signal strength reports from at least one base station-controller in communication with at least on base station currently servicing the proposed cell site;
• and
• calculating the cellular telephone traffic volume based on the total number of signal strength reports wherein the signal strength measurement of the test base station exceeds the signal strength measurement of a base station currently serving the mobile station, the monitored period of time, and a period of time representing each signal strength report.

A method for measuring cellular telephone traffic volume in a proposed cell site of a cellular telephone network comprising the steps of:

• locating a test base station within the cellular telephone network;
• assigning the proposed cell site a new location area identity different from cell sites surrounding the proposed cell site thereby forcing idle mobile stations to register with the test base station;
• transmitting a broadcast control channel from the test base station;
• receiving location updating requests and a signal strength measurement reports transmitted by idle mobile stations;
• responding with a rejection to the location updating request, the response being delayed until a signal strength measurement report has been received by the test base station;
• and
• multiplying the number of signal strength reports transmitted to the test base station, wherein the strength of the test base station exceeds a desired threshold level, by a statistical ratio of the number of active to idle mobile stations to determine the cellular telephone traffic volume.

A method for measuring cellular telephone traffic volume in a proposed cell site of a cellular telephone network comprising the steps of:

• locating a test base station within the cellular telephone network;
• assigning the proposed cell site a new location area identity different from cell sites surrounding the proposed cell site thereby forcing idle mobile stations to register with the test base station;
• transmitting a broadcast control channel from the test base station;
• receiving location updating requests and a signal strength measurement reports transmitted by idle mobile stations;
• responding with a rejection to the location updating request, the response being delayed until a signal strength measurement report has been received by the test base station;
• and
• multiplying the number of signal strength reports transmitted to the test base station, wherein the signal strength of the test base station exceeds signal strengths of base stations surrounding the proposed cell site, by a statistical ratio of the number of active to idle mobile stations to determine the cellular telephone traffic volume.