Cell Tower Scanning for Mobile Country Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining a mobile device's country location require GPS, internet connectivity, or registration with a base station, which consume battery power and may not function in areas without compatible networks.
Innovation Solution
The device scans base station cells with incompatible SIM profiles to obtain country-associated data like MCC or SID, using a country code map to determine location without internet connectivity or registration, allowing adjustments to services based on the detected country.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS is used to determine country location, then location accuracy is improved, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location determination process into multiple methods: GPS for high-precision location, cell tower scanning for country code detection, and IP address lookup for fallback determination. This allows the system to use the most energy-efficient method sufficient for the current needs rather than always using GPS.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of always performing full GPS location determination, the patent uses partial action by scanning only cell tower information when GPS is unavailable or to verify country location. This partial scanning approach consumes significantly less battery power while still achieving the goal of determining country location.
2Use of energy by moving object
If cell tower scanning is used to obtain country code, then battery power consumption is reduced, but the device must be registered with the base station
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by having the device scan for cell tower information without requiring registration or authentication with the base station. Normally, only registered devices can access base station information, but this patent detects that even unregistered devices can scan and obtain country codes from cell tower broadcasts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cell tower information as an intermediary to determine country location. Instead of requiring direct communication with the network infrastructure, the device extracts country codes from publicly broadcast cell tower data, which serves as an intermediary that provides location information without requiring network registration.
3Ease of operation
If IP address based location determination is used, then internet connectivity is required, but re-querying consumes additional battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by determining country location through cell tower scanning when the device first connects to a network or when GPS data is unavailable. This preliminary determination avoids the need for repeated IP address lookups, as the country code obtained from cell tower scanning can be used for subsequent location determinations without consuming additional battery power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring cell tower information and updating the country location determination based on current cell tower data. This feedback mechanism allows the device to detect changes in location by scanning cell tower country codes, reducing the need for repeated IP address queries and associated battery consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple location determination methods are supported, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a flexible location determination system that dynamically selects the most appropriate method based on current conditions. The system can switch between GPS, cell tower scanning, and IP address lookup depending on availability, battery status, and network conditions, making the system adaptable without requiring all methods to be simultaneously complex.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic mobile device that supports a subscriber identification module (SIM) profile scans a base station cell that is associated with a different SIM profile in response to an inability to connect with a wireless network associated with the electronic mobile device's SIM profile. The electronic mobile device obtains cell information from the base station cell associated with the different SIM profile in response to the scanning. The cell information may include country associated data such as Mobile Country Code (MCC) or a System Identification (SID) data. Based on the obtained cell information, the electronic mobile device determines a current geographic location. The electronic mobile device may then adjust operation of a service, such as an application, of the electronic mobile device based on the determined country. Corresponding methods are also described.