Mobile Network O-D Matrix Mapping with Probabilistic Cell Weights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for calculating Origin-Destination (O-D) matrices using mobile communication network data are prone to gross errors due to inaccurate cell coverage assumptions and increase network traffic, leading to obsolete and inefficient traffic analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates O-D matrices by associating network cells with geographic zones based on position estimates from a selected set of mobile terminals, using interaction events to determine zone probabilities, reducing network load and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mobile communication network data is used to calculate O-D matrices, then data collection efficiency is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccurate cell coverage assumptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform cell coverage assumptions to location-specific probability distributions. Each geographic zone receives a customized probability distribution derived from actual mobile terminal position estimates, allowing the system to maintain high data collection efficiency while improving measurement precision through localized accuracy adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation from deterministic cell coverage areas to probabilistic location distributions. By representing mobile terminal locations as probability distributions across multiple geographic zones rather than fixed cell boundaries, the system resolves the contradiction between efficient data collection and accurate measurement.
2Measurement precision
If position estimates from all mobile terminals are collected, then O-D matrix accuracy is improved, but network traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (position estimates from a selected subset of mobile terminals) required to calculate O-D matrices, rather than collecting data from all terminals. This selective extraction maintains adequate measurement precision while significantly reducing network traffic and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using position estimates from a selected subset of mobile terminals rather than all terminals. This partial sampling approach provides sufficient data for accurate O-D matrix calculation without the excessive network traffic that would result from universal data collection.
3Device complexity
If cell coverage areas are assumed to be uniform, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces uniform cell coverage assumptions with location-specific probability distributions derived from actual mobile terminal position estimates. This local quality approach improves location accuracy by accounting for variations in mobile terminal locations across different geographic zones without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified probabilistic model that copies the essential characteristics of mobile terminal location patterns without requiring complex real-time tracking infrastructure. This model captures the statistical distribution of terminal locations while maintaining computational efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, implemented by a data processing system (100), for computing O-D matrices (400; 4001- 400M, 500) indicative of movements, in a geographic area of interest (300), of physical entities being users of mobile communication terminals adapted to interact with a mobile communication network (105) comprising a plurality of network cells (105b), each O-D matrix being related to a respective time slot of an observation time period and comprising a plurality of entries. The method comprises: subdividing the geographic area of interest (300) in a plurality of geographic zones (z1 – z9), each entry of an O-D matrix (400; 4001- 400M) to be computed containing an indication of a number of movements from one geographic zone (z1,…, z9) to another geographic zone (z1,…, z9) in the respective time slot; subdividing the geographic area of interest in a plurality of geographic area portions (605); causing (805, 900) mobile communication terminals served by the mobile communication network (105) and situated in the geographic area of interest (300) to calculate and provide respective geographic position estimates to the data processing system (100); distributing (810, 1000) an overall number of geographic position estimates (700), received from the mobile communication terminals, on the geographic area portions (605) by assigning to each geographic area portion (605) a respective number of geographic position estimates corresponding to geographic positions estimates falling within the geographic area portion; for each network cels (105b): determining, among said plurality of geographic area portions, covered geographic area portions falling within a coverage area of the network cell, and assigning (1115) to each one of the determined covered geographic area portions a respective weight which depends on said respective number of geographic position estimates compared to an overall number of geographic position estimates falling within all the determined covered geographic area portions; generating (820, 1200) a correspondence map establishing a correspondence between the network cells (105b) and the geographic zones (z1,…, z9), by calculating, for the considered network cell, (1210) a cell weight on each geographic zone (z1,…, z9) by determining the covered geographic area portions belonging to each zone and summing the respective weights of the covered geographic area portions identified as belonging to the zone; receiving from the network (105) and storing in a repository (115) indications of events of interaction between the mobile communication terminals and the network cells (105b), each indication of events of interaction including an indication of the cell in which the event of interaction occurred and a time indication of the occurred event of interaction; for each mobile communication terminal: extracting (1305) from the repository (115) and analysing the respective indications of events of interaction stored in the repository; for selected couples of indications of events of interactions consecutive in time: identifying the respective network cells (105b) in which the two events of interaction occurred, wherein the network cell (105b) in which the first in time event of interaction of the couple of indications of events of interactions occurred is considered as origin network cell of a movement and the network cell in which the second in time event of interaction of the couple of indications of events of interactions is considered as destination network cell of a movement, wherein said identifying the respective network cells is based on the indication of the network cell in which the event of interaction occurred included in the indication of events of interaction stored in the repository (115); identifying as origin geographic zones (z1,…, z9) those geographic zones in respect of which the cell weight of the network cell associated with the first in time event of interaction of said couple is greater than a predetermined minimum weight; identifying as destination geographic zones (z1,…, z9) those geographic zones in respect of which the cell weight of the network cell associated with the second in time event of interaction of the couple is greater than a predetermined minimum weight, assigning (1325) to each movement from one of the identified origin geographic zones to one of the identified destination geographic zones a respective movement weight calculated as a function of the weight of the origin network cell on the origin geographic zone and of the weight of the destination network cell on the destination geographic zone; assigning to the entry of the O-D matrix corresponding to the one of the origin geographic zones and the one of the destination geographic zones a value determined on the basis of said movement weight.