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US 7,369,861 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for sharing cell coverage information
AssigneeNokia Corporation
InventorJani Väre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and methods are provided for sharing cell coverage information among devices in a cell network. Cell coverage information includes bitmap models of signal strength to enable intelligent handover decisions. Mobile terminals are able to receive cell coverage information over a broadband unidirectional broadcast network, such as a digital video broadcast network. They are also able to receive cell coverage information from other mobile terminals via ad hoc wireless signalling. Mobile terminals are also able to store and upload raw signal measurements to a cell coverage information center.
Claims31
A method comprising:
- storing in a first mobile terminal, and making available for sharing with other mobile terminals in response to a broadcast request, two types of cell coverage information, the cell coverage information including a first type containing point location and signal strength data for a location of the first mobile terminal, and a second type containing a coverage bitmap for a geographic region, said bitmap identifying signal strength ranges using a bit depth of at least two bits per point;
- transmitting a request for cell coverage information from a first mobile terminal to a plurality of other mobile terminals, wherein the request comprises an identification of one of said types of cell coverage information and one of a geographic location and a cell identifier;
- and
- receiving a first response to the request at said first mobile terminal, wherein the response comprises a cell coverage map matching said one of said types and identifying signal strengths at a plurality of positions in two dimensions within the identified geographic location or cell.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first mobile terminal memory configured to store cell coverage information comprising a bitmap representation of cell signal strength;
- a processor of said first mobile terminal, configured to perform the following:
- transmit a cell coverage information request via the transmitter from the first mobile terminal to a plurality of local mobile terminals;
- receive cell coverage information from said mobile terminals in response to said request;
- combine the received cell coverage information with the stored cell coverage information in the first mobile terminal memory
- use the combined cell coverage information for a handover based on the cell coverage information;
- receive a subsequent request for cell coverage information from a second mobile terminal;
- consult said first mobile terminal memory to determine whether said requested cell coverage information is stored therein;
- if the requested cell coverage information is stored therein, transmitting a reply from the first mobile terminal to the second mobile terminal, the reply including the requested cell coverage information;
- if the requested cell coverage information is not stored therein, transmitting a reply from the first mobile terminal to the second mobile terminal, the reply including network address and access information for an entity that offers the requested cell coverage information.
7 more elements
A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for performing, when executed, the following:
- storing in a first mobile terminal two types of cell coverage information, the cell coverage information including a first type containing point location and signal strength data for a location of the first mobile terminal, and a second type containing a coverage bitmap for a geographic region, said bitmap identifying signal strength ranges using a bit depth of at least two bits per point;
- transmitting a request for cell coverage information from a first mobile terminal to a plurality of other mobile terminals, wherein the request comprises an identification of one of said types of cell coverage information and one of a geographic location and a cell identifier;
- receiving a first response to the request at said first mobile terminal, wherein the response comprises a cell coverage map matching said one of said type and identifying signal strengths at a plurality of positions in two dimensions within the identified geographic location or cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.