Femtocell Location Mapping via User Device Intermediaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to determine the locations of deployed femtocells in wireless telecommunications networks, as they typically do not have the capability to determine and report location information, making it difficult for network operators to manage coverage, authorize usage, and provide targeted services such as emergency messages or billing adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system that aggregates location information, signal quality, and other data from user devices and femtocell gateways to generate a map of femtocell locations, allowing for three-dimensional mapping and granular representation of femtocell positions, which can be used to determine the location of femtocells and improve network management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If femtocells are deployed to enhance cellular coverage in areas with poor signal, then network coverage is improved, but the ability to determine and manage femtocell locations deteriorates because femtocells lack location determination capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces user devices as intermediaries to indirectly determine femtocell locations. Instead of requiring femtocells to have location determination capability, the system uses user devices that do connect to femtocells to provide location information, which then serves as a proxy for identifying femtocell positions. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining network coverage enhancement while avoiding the information loss problem through an intermediary approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where user devices report their location and connection information to network servers. This feedback loop allows the network to aggregate location data from multiple user devices and infer femtocell locations based on connection patterns and signal quality measurements, thereby resolving the location information loss while maintaining improved network coverage.
2Device complexity
If femtocells are deployed without location determination capability, then device complexity is reduced, but network management capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having user devices autonomously provide location and connection information without requiring femtocells to have specialized location determination capabilities. The user devices naturally report their status and location data as part of normal operation, which the network then aggregates to manage femtocell locations. This maintains simple femtocell design while enabling effective network management through self-provided information.
Solution Approach 2:
User devices serve as intermediaries that bridge the gap between simple femtocell design and effective network management. These intermediaries carry the necessary location and connection information that would otherwise be unavailable, allowing the network to manage femtocells effectively without increasing femtocell complexity.
3Measurement precision
If location information is aggregated from multiple user devices, then mapping precision is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing task by organizing location information aggregation at the network server level rather than requiring complex processing at individual femtocells or user devices. The system divides the mapping process into discrete steps: collecting location data from user devices, aggregating it at network servers, and then processing it to generate location maps. This segmentation maintains high mapping precision while managing data processing complexity through hierarchical organization.
Data Source
AI summary
Femtocells are often used to extend the coverage of wireless telecommunication networks, but do not typically incorporate mechanisms that allow their location to be easily ascertained. As described herein, a system may determine the locations of femtocells, based on the locations of user devices that attach to, detach from, handover between, and/or detect the femtocells. A map (such as a three-dimensional map) may be generated based on the determined locations of femtocells. The locations of femtocells may be used, for example, in emergency broadcast situations, in order to ensure that messages are distributed as completely as possible in a given region.