Geolocation Service Polygons for Precise Telecommunications Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining the availability of telecommunications services in a geographic area is challenging due to unreliable building addresses and varying network node types, which can lead to inaccuracies and inefficient network operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize geolocation coordinates to generate service polygons defining areas where network services are available, taking into account network equipment type, technical limitations, and land-based constraints, and display these polygons on a service map to accurately determine service availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If building addresses are used to determine service availability, then the process is simple and familiar, but the accuracy and reliability of service determination deteriorates due to address database delays and inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces geolocation coordinates (latitude/longitude) as an intermediary between the address and the service availability determination. Instead of directly using addresses to query service availability, the system first converts addresses to geolocation coordinates, then uses these coordinates to determine service availability. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by providing a more reliable and timely method than direct address-based determination while maintaining operational simplicity through automated coordinate conversion.
2Ease of manufacture
If service areas are defined by fixed address boundaries, then the system is easy to implement, but it cannot accurately reflect actual geographic coverage areas and physical constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used to define service areas from administrative address boundaries to geographic coordinate-based polygons. Service areas are represented as geometric shapes defined by coordinate vertices rather than address ranges. This parameter change allows service areas to accurately follow physical constraints (rivers, mountains, roads) and network coverage boundaries while remaining implementable through coordinate geometry calculations.
3Measurement precision
If address databases are updated in real-time, then service availability determination becomes more accurate, but the system complexity and data maintenance burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses geolocation coordinates as an intermediary that decouples the service availability determination from the address database update cycle. Since geocoding (address to coordinate conversion) is a stable, one-time process compared to the dynamic nature of address assignments, this intermediary provides a reliable basis for service determination without requiring real-time address database updates, thus avoiding increased system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for correlating one or more service areas of a network with one or more geolocation coordinates to determine available services for customers to the network. A service polygon may be generated that define an area in which a particular service offered by a communications network is available. The boundaries of the service polygons may be adjusted based on information corresponding to physical features of the initial area. The service polygons may aid a communications network in providing a list of available services to potential customers or devices connected to the network by determining one or more geolocation coordinate values of a potential connection site and comparing the values to the service polygons. A network management system may determine the available services, current or in the future, to offer such services to a customer to the network.