Femtocell Access Provisioning via Social Network Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional femtocell access management is cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring manual updates of access lists, which limits the number of users who can be granted access and fails to meet user requirements for indoor wireless coverage and network offloading.

Innovation Solution

A system that automatically and dynamically manages femtocell network access by collecting data from social networks, communication logs, calendars, and other sources to identify and prioritize 'close friends' for access, dynamically updating the access control list to grant or deny access based on presence and user preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual access list management is used, then access control can be implemented, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome for users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess managementVSAvoidtime for manual updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically manages access lists by collecting data from social networks, communication logs, and calendars to identify close friends and dynamically update the access control list without requiring manual user intervention. The femtocell access manager autonomously provisions access based on collected data and determined priorities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-collects access data from multiple sources including social networks, communication logs, and calendars to proactively identify close friends before they need access. This preliminary data collection and analysis enables automatic access provisioning when needed, eliminating the need for manual real-time updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If the access control list size is limited, then device constraints are satisfied, but the number of users who can be granted access is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of users with accessVSAvoidaccess control list management

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The access control list is dynamically updated based on collected data from social networks, communication logs, and calendars. The system automatically adjusts the list of close friends and their access priorities over time, allowing the limited list slots to be optimally utilized for users who actually need access, thereby increasing the effective number of users who can be granted access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of the access control list by automatically determining and updating the identities and priorities of close friends based on collected data. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to maximize the number of appropriate users on the limited list without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If frequent manual updates are performed, then access list accuracy is maintained, but user satisfaction decreases and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess list accuracyVSAvoiduser satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously collects feedback data from social networks, communication logs, and calendars to monitor changes in user relationships and access needs. This feedback loop enables automatic updates to the access control list, maintaining accuracy without requiring frequent manual interventions that reduce user satisfaction and increase operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If automatic data collection from multiple sources is implemented, then access provisioning is simplified, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess provisioningVSAvoiddata collection and processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The femtocell access manager performs multiple functions including collecting data from social networks, communication logs, and calendars; analyzing the data to identify close friends; determining access priorities; and dynamically updating the access control list. This multi-functional approach simplifies access provisioning by consolidating multiple tasks into a single automated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8887231B2Femtocell access provisioning based on social network, presence, and user preferences

Publication Date: 2014.11.11 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A system and methodology that facilitates user friendly, automatic and/or dynamic femtocell access provisioning based on social network, presence, and/or user preference information is provided. In particular, the system can includes femto access manager that can identify a list of ‘close friends’, to which the femtocell owner is likely to grant femtocell access, based on an analysis of access data (e.g., data from social networks, communication logs, calendars, address books, websites and/or blogs, transaction related data, and the like). Further, an access priority associated with each of the close friends can be determined based in part on location data, availability data, and/or predefined policies. Furthermore, the femto access control list, within the femto access point (FAP), can be populated, dynamically and/or automatically, with the highest priority friends from the close friends list.