Anonymous Crowdsourcing Network Condition Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems lack efficient mechanisms for mobile devices to anonymously crowdsource network condition measurements and contextual information across various communication environments, limiting network optimization and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an operational framework, leveraging the Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) framework, enables mobile devices to gather and provide network and contextual information to service providers, facilitating network optimization and inter-system offloading through a crowdsourcing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mobile devices crowdsource network condition measurements and contextual information, then network optimization and coverage map accuracy are improved, but device complexity and information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a policy server and operational framework that mediates between mobile devices and network operators. This intermediary collects, processes, and anonymizes data from multiple devices, then delivers processed results back to the network. The intermediary absorbs the complexity of data aggregation and analysis, allowing individual devices to participate in crowdsourcing without bearing the full system complexity burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational framework implements a universal data collection mechanism that handles multiple types of measurements (network conditions, contextual information, location data) through a single standardized interface. The ANDSF framework provides multi-functional capabilities including policy delivery, data collection, processing, and distribution, eliminating the need for separate specialized systems for each measurement type.
2Loss of information
If detailed network and contextual information is collected from mobile devices, then network coverage maps and offloading policies are improved, but user privacy and data security concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates personally identifiable information (PII) from network measurement data through anonymization processes. The system removes device identifiers, user information, and location data that could compromise privacy, retaining only the essential network condition measurements and contextual information needed for optimization. This extraction isolates the harmful privacy-risk elements while preserving the useful measurement data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms data parameters by converting detailed device-specific identifiers into aggregated, anonymized categories. Network measurements are processed to change their representation from device-specific to network-wide statistics, and location data is transformed from precise coordinates to general geographic areas. This parameter transformation maintains data utility for network optimization while reducing privacy risks.
3Speed
If mobile devices continuously measure and report network conditions, then real-time network optimization is improved, but device energy consumption and battery usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic measurement and reporting cycles instead of continuous monitoring. Mobile devices perform network condition measurements at predetermined intervals and report data at scheduled times, rather than continuously transmitting information. This periodic approach maintains sufficient real-time optimization capability while dramatically reducing the energy consumption associated with constant measurement and communication activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs measurements at a frequency sufficient for network optimization purposes without exceeding what is actually needed. Rather than continuously monitoring all network parameters at maximum resolution, the system collects partial measurements at optimized intervals, delivering adequate real-time performance while minimizing unnecessary energy expenditure on excessive measurement and transmission activities.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device and method for crowdsourcing of information from one or more communication devices. The crowdsourced information can be defined by one or more parameters defined in an operational framework. The operational framework can be, for example, an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) framework. The operational framework can include, for example, positional and/or movement information of the communication device(s), a signal quality of a communication network, a visibility duration of a communication network, data rate information of a communication network, and/or quality of service (QoS) information of a communication network.