Network Drive Test Simulation via Control User Plane Data Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive tests for wireless networks are labor-intensive and limited to specific routes, while geolocation methods offer insufficient accuracy for detailed network analysis, failing to provide high geographical accuracy for wireless network performance evaluation.
Innovation Solution
A method combining control plane data for radio performance and user plane data for location information, using a parser and merger to pair accurate location data with corresponding radio performance data, generating results similar to conventional drive tests but with reduced manpower and increased accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional drive test method is used, then high geographical accuracy is achieved, but huge amount of manpower is required and it is limited to certain routes or locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the drive test experience by extracting and merging control plane data (radio performance) with user plane location data. This virtual drive test results allows engineers to analyze network performance across entire networks without physically deploying teams to conduct traditional drive tests, thereby maintaining high geographical accuracy while dramatically reducing manpower requirements.
2Productivity
If geolocation method is used, then manpower consumption is reduced, but location accuracy falls into 100-200 meter error ranges which is insufficient for detailed analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two distinct data sources: control plane data containing radio performance information and user plane data containing location information. By parsing and merging these datasets based on matching identifiers (IMSI, TMSI, IMSI-RAD, etc.), the system achieves both reduced manpower consumption (automated remote analysis) and improved location accuracy (precise user plane location data paired with radio measurements) simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If geolocation method is used, then entire network can be monitored, but accuracy is insufficient for detailed network analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the comprehensive network coverage capability of geolocation methods with precise location data from user plane. By merging control plane radio performance data with accurate user plane location information, the system maintains the advantage of monitoring entire networks while achieving the precision needed for detailed network analysis, resolving the contradiction between coverage and accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for network based wireless network test which allows wireless network operators to reduce the manpower and resource used in traditional drive test task by utilizing existing data in the network and the trend that more and more mobile devices can provide precise location and mobile applications/services are requesting location related information near users or reporting user location information. By associating the right event logs data extracted from control plane with location information extracted from user plane, this method can generate drive test like results with highly accurate geographical information and correspondent wireless signal measurements. Furthermore, this method is applicable to all generation of the wireless network as long as the necessary data are available.