Location-Based Service Control in Mobile Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling service usage on mobile terminals in communication networks based on location are limited in customization and management, particularly in defining and managing preferred and residual areas for service access and charging.
Innovation Solution
The method involves storing preferred area information on the mobile terminal, using a combination of network-based and terminal-based localization technologies to determine the terminal's location, and activating or deactivating services based on this information, allowing for customizable service usage and charging across contiguous or non-contiguous preferred areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If service usage is controlled based on location with preferred and residual areas, then service customization and charging differentiation are improved, but device complexity and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coverage area is segmented into preferred areas and residual areas, allowing different service usage rights for different locations. This segmentation enables the network to control service access based on geographic zones without requiring complex per-user configurations, as the area divisions can be defined once and applied to multiple users.
Solution Approach 2:
The network pre-defines preferred areas and the services allowed in each area before users access the network. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for real-time complex decision-making during service access, as the rules are established in advance and can be efficiently enforced by network elements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If location-based service control is implemented, then charging differentiation and service availability are improved, but determination accuracy and system reliability challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
A location determination function acts as an intermediary between the mobile terminal and the service control system. This intermediary collects location information from multiple sources (network-based and terminal-based methods) and provides standardized location data to the service control function, isolating the complexity and potential failure points from the core service control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The location determination mechanism is designed to work universally across different network technologies and service types. By creating a standardized location awareness function that can utilize various positioning methods (network-based, terminal-based, hybrid), the system achieves reliable location-based service control without being tied to a single positioning technology.
3Measurement precision
If multiple localization technologies are combined, then location determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The location determination system dynamically selects and combines positioning methods based on availability, accuracy requirements, and current network conditions. Rather than permanently implementing all possible positioning technologies, the system activates appropriate methods as needed, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high accuracy when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The location determination architecture nests multiple positioning approaches within a unified framework. Terminal-based methods (like GPS) are nested within network-based location determination, allowing the system to use highly accurate terminal positioning when available, while falling back to network-based methods when terminal capabilities are limited, thereby achieving high accuracy without requiring all technologies to be fully implemented simultaneously.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for controlling the use of a mobile device (B) in a communication network (1, 1120, 1220, 1720) for communication connections depending on the location of the mobile device (B) in the communication network (1, 1120, 1220, 1720), wherein the communication network (1120, 1220, 1720) has at least one coverage area with a cellular network structure composed of radio cells (Z1, Z2), the coverage area for at least one mobile device (B) is divided into at least one priority area and a residual area, and when the mobile device is located in the at least one priority area for communication connections, the use of at least one service is enabled, which differs from the use of services enabled when the mobile device is located in the residual area for communication connections.In order to meet the ongoing need for a mobile device (B) in a communication network for service uses available depending on the location of the mobile device (B) in the communication network (1, 1120, 1220, 1720) and in particular to enable extensively customizable service uses as well as their setup and/or signaling, the preferred area and/or the service uses available in the preferred area for communication connections are stored in the mobile device (B), preferably by at least one database (1711) stored by the mobile device (B).Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device for controlling the use of services available for communication connections by a mobile device in a communication network, depending on the location of the mobile device in the communication network (1, 1120, 1220, 1720). The present invention also relates to a mobile device (B) which can be used in a communication network (1, 1120, 1220, 1720) according to the method.