METHOD AND APPARATUS TO SEPARATE COVERAGE LIMITED AND CO-CHANNEL LIMITED INTERFERENCES

摘要

Coverage and usage-based limitations to a wireless communications network can be estimated by monitoring network performance during a periods in which the network is relatively busy and relatively non-busy. For example, differences in distributions of bit error rates for calls in such time periods can be used to assess whether network limitations are associated with reduced-coverage zones or are usage-based. Such estimates can be used to target specific network features that limit network performance.

主权项

1. A method for estimating a level of contribution of an interference to a performance metric in a wireless network, the method comprising:
establishing, by a processor, the performance metric, wherein the performance metric comprises a number of dropped communications; determining, by the processor, a value of the performance metric associated with a first time interval and a value of the performance metric associated with a second time interval, wherein the first time interval is associated with a time period during which network usage is low as compared to the second time interval, and the second time interval is associated with a time period during which network usage is high as compared to the first time interval; producing, by the processor, an estimate of the level of contribution of the interference to the performance metric in the second time interval, by subtracting the value of the performance metric associated with the first time interval from the value of the performance metric associated with the second time interval, wherein the interference comprises a co-channel interference; and reporting, by the processor, the estimate of the level of contribution of the interference to the performance metric in the second time interval.