METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE STATION MANAGEMENT AND SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION

摘要

A communication system (100) optimizes system performance by selectively managing which mobile stations (MSs) (e.g., MS 102) are to serve as test MSs. The test MSs report system operating parameters in order to detect flaws in system coverage or in order to determine an impact of a change in an access network configuration. The communication system further provides for end-to-end messaging between the test MSs and network servers (e.g., server 122) via an access network (110) and a core network (120), thereby permitting network elements that are best able to perform system optimization to control the monitoring, measuring, and reporting by the MSs. To minimize system and user inconvenience, reporting by a test MS further may be based on whether the MS is in an area of low mobility, has an acceptable power source output level, or is operating in a cell with an acceptable load level.