5G Drive Test Route Clustering for Large-Area Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drive testing for cellular networks is time- and resource-intensive, particularly in large geographical areas or complex routes, leading to inefficiencies and excessive greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing machine learning techniques for location clustering and routing, including recursive clustering, intermediate location insertion, and unroutable grid removal to optimize drive testing routes, reducing unnecessary travel and emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional drive testing methods are used to cover large geographical areas, then network coverage can be tested, but the time and resources required become prohibitively long and excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the geographical area into multiple clusters of test locations. Instead of testing all locations sequentially in a single route, the system divides the large area into smaller manageable clusters, allowing parallel testing or optimized routing within each cluster, thereby reducing overall testing time while maintaining comprehensive coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary clustering and routing optimization before actual drive testing begins. By pre-processing the test location data into optimized clusters and routes, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming on-the-fly routing decisions during testing, significantly reducing the overall testing duration
2Loss of information
If traditional drive testing methods are used for complex routes, then comprehensive network interaction data can be collected, but the process becomes excessively time-consuming and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments complex routes into multiple clusters of test locations that can be tested in optimized sequences. This segmentation allows the testing process to focus on localized areas with optimized routes, collecting comprehensive network interaction data within each cluster while avoiding the inefficiency of traversing entire complex routes sequentially
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of route organization from single complex routes to multiple optimized clusters. By transforming the testing approach from one long complex route to multiple shorter optimized routes within clusters, the system maintains data comprehensiveness while dramatically improving testing efficiency and reducing resource consumption
3Reliability
If drive testing covers large geographical areas, then extensive network coverage is assessed, but greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments large geographical areas into multiple clusters, allowing testing to be concentrated in specific localized areas rather than requiring continuous traversal of entire large regions. This segmentation enables comprehensive coverage assessment within each cluster while reducing the total distance traveled and associated emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of extensive travel across large areas into benefit by using clustering to identify and focus testing on essential locations within those areas. The clustering algorithm optimizes routes to minimize travel distance while maintaining coverage effectiveness, thereby converting what would be harmful excessive travel into beneficial efficient testing paths
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system obtains information describing a geographical area segmented into multiple first clusters serviced by a telecommunications network. Multiple test locations are identified within the first clusters. Each test location is located within a grid of the geographical area. Each first cluster is recursively segmented into multiple second clusters until a difference between a number of test locations within each second cluster and a target number of test locations is less than a threshold number of test locations. A route is generated connecting test locations within each second cluster, using a routing application programming interface for performing drive testing of the telecommunications network. The computer system sends the route to one or more computer devices for performing the drive testing at the test locations in a sequence corresponding to the route.