Indoor Outdoor Classification via Physical Channel Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in accurately determining whether wireless devices are indoors or outdoors, particularly due to the limitations of GPS signals and base station visibility, which affects geolocation accuracy and network planning.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that classify call data records as indoor or outdoor based on physical channel measurement threshold values derived from vehicular call data, using characteristics such as rate of change of location and physical channel measurements like RSCP values, to differentiate between indoor and outdoor subscriber call data records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS geolocation is used to determine device location, then location accuracy is improved, but battery consumption increases and GPS signals cannot penetrate building walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses base station signals as an intermediary to determine indoor/outdoor status. Instead of relying on GPS (which consumes battery and cannot penetrate walls), the system uses readily available base station measurement data (RSCP, Ec/No) as a mediator to infer location status without additional power consumption or signal penetration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS mechanical/system-based location determination with a signal-based approach. By substituting GPS hardware dependency with analysis of base station signal characteristics, the system achieves indoor/outdoor classification without the battery drain and signal penetration limitations of GPS.
2Measurement precision
If drive testing is performed to collect physical channel measurement data, then accuracy of indoor/outdoor classification is improved, but cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the network to self-characterize by automatically collecting and analyzing existing measurement data from subscriber devices. Instead of requiring external drive testing, the system uses routine measurements already being taken by user equipment during normal network operation to build classification models.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual drive test data by analyzing patterns in existing subscriber measurement data. By copying and analyzing characteristics from actual subscriber calls (which naturally include diverse indoor/outdoor scenarios), the system reconstructs the classification information that would traditionally require expensive physical drive testing.
3Measurement precision
If physical channel measurement threshold values are derived from vehicular call data, then indoor/outdoor classification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification by identifying vehicular calls and deriving threshold values in advance. By pre-processing the data to establish baseline characteristics from vehicular (outdoor) calls before analyzing general subscriber data, the system simplifies the overall classification process and reduces real-time processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the classification process into distinct stages: first identifying vehicular calls through location change analysis, then deriving threshold values from this segmented subset, and finally applying these thresholds to classify all subscriber calls. This segmentation breaks down the complex task into manageable, sequential steps.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for deriving indoor/outdoor classification information for call data for a wireless communication network. The method comprises deriving a physical channel measurement threshold value based on physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records and classifying subscriber call data records for the wireless communication network as indoor subscriber call data records or outdoor subscriber call data records based at least partly on a comparison of physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records with the derived physical channel measurement threshold value.