Mobile Network Presence Estimation Across Sub-Cell Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating the presence of individuals on a territory using mobile communication network data are based on unrealistic assumptions of uniform or exponential distribution, leading to gross errors when precise local-level calculations are required, particularly in activities like emergency management, security services, marketing, and event monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates geographic position estimates from mobile communication terminals and assigns weights to network cells based on these estimates to distribute presence data accurately across subdivided geographic zones, reflecting actual individual positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If uniform or exponential distribution assumptions are used to estimate individual presence from mobile network data, then the computational complexity is reduced and data processing is simplified, but the measurement precision deteriorates significantly leading to gross errors at local level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by computing presence estimates at the granularity of individual geographic zones rather than uniformly across entire network cells. Each zone receives a presence estimate calculated from the proportion of mobile terminal positions falling within that zone, allowing local variations in population density to be captured accurately without requiring complex processing across the entire cell area.
2Loss of information
If network cell level data aggregation is used, then the loss of information is reduced compared to individual position data, but the measurement precision deteriorates when calculations are needed at scales smaller than network cell sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network cell coverage area into multiple smaller geographic zones. Instead of treating the entire network cell as a single aggregation unit, the method divides it into zones and calculates presence estimates for each zone individually based on the distribution of mobile terminal positions. This segmentation allows for more precise local measurements while still utilizing aggregated position data from multiple terminals.
Data Source
AI summary
A method including subdividing a geographic area of interest in geographic zones; subdividing the geographic area of interest in geographic area portions; causing mobile communication terminals situated in the geographic area of interest to calculate respective geographic position estimates; distributing an overall number of geographic position estimates; receiving indications of events of interaction between the mobile communication terminals and network cells; identifying, for each one of the stored indications of events of interaction, the network cell in which the event of interaction occurred; building an array of presences in which each geographic zone has assigned thereto a respective indication of a respective number of events of interaction occurred in the identified network cells which have, in the geographic zone, a cell weight greater than a predetermined cell weight value, and providing the array of presences in output for estimating presence of individuals on a territory.