Method and apparatus for mapping operating parameter in coverage area of wireless network

An apparatus for mapping an operating parameter in a coverage area of a wireless network, comprising:

• an input module configured to obtain parameter measurements for a select operating parameter associated with one or more mobile stations operating in at least a select portion of a network coverage area for a wireless network, the parameter measurements having been measured during a select calendar timeframe, the network coverage area formed by a plurality of base stations, each base station defining a cellular coverage area within the network coverage area, the select portion of the network coverage area formed by at least one base station, each at least one base station including multiple sector antennas, each sector antenna defining a sector coverage area within the cellular coverage area for the corresponding base station;
• and
• a location module in operative communication with the input module and configured to estimate an instant geographic location of the corresponding mobile station for each obtained parameter measurement in relation to the at least one base station serving the corresponding mobile station, each instant geographic location based at least in part on a round trip measurement and at least one signal strength measurement associated with the corresponding mobile station, the round trip and at least one signal strength measurements obtained via the input module, each round trip measurement associated with the at least one base station serving the corresponding mobile station, each round trip measurement and corresponding at least one signal strength measurement related in calendar time to the corresponding parameter measurement.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause a corresponding computer-controlled device to perform a method for mapping an operating parameter in a coverage area of a wireless network, the method comprising:

• obtaining parameter measurements for a select operating parameter associated with one or more mobile stations operating in at least a select portion of a network coverage area for a wireless network, the parameter measurements having been measured during a select calendar timeframe, the network coverage area formed by a plurality of base stations, each base station defining a cellular coverage area within the network coverage area, the select portion of the network coverage area formed by at least one base station, each at least one base station including multiple sector antennas, each sector antenna defining a sector coverage area within the cellular coverage area for the corresponding base station;
• and
• for each obtained parameter measurement, estimating an instant geographic location of the corresponding mobile station in relation to the at least one base station serving the corresponding mobile station, each instant geographic location based at least in part on a round trip measurement and at least one signal strength measurement associated with the corresponding mobile station, each round trip measurement associated with the at least one base station serving the corresponding mobile station, each round trip measurement and corresponding at least one signal strength measurement related in calendar time to the corresponding parameter measurement.