Presence Server Time Zone Determination via Network Node Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current presence servers in cellular networks lack the ability to easily determine and provide time zone information for mobile user entities, especially when they are roaming, which can lead to inconvenient communication attempts across different time zones.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine the geographical position of the network control node serving a mobile user entity, identify the time zone, and transmit this information to the presence server, allowing for reliable deduction of local time and alerting watchers to contact the user at convenient times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If presence information is obtained from MSC server using CAMEL Ph3 functionality, then current location of subscriber is available, but network load increases significantly and implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential time zone information from the complex CAMEL Ph3 location reporting mechanism. Instead of implementing the full CAMEL Ph3 functionality which provides detailed location data, the invention extracts just the time zone attribute which is sufficient for the presence service purpose, thereby reducing network load and implementation complexity while still obtaining the needed information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing a simplified version of location tracking that provides only time zone information rather than complete location data. This partial information suffices for determining appropriate contact times, avoiding the need for full CAMEL Ph3 implementation and its associated network overhead.
2Ease of operation
If simple presence attribute with time zone information is provided, then ease of operation improves for travelers, but capability to provide detailed location information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of information granularity based on the specific need. For presence services, only time zone information is provided rather than complete location data. This localized information approach simplifies the presence attribute while maintaining sufficiency for determining appropriate contact times, improving ease of operation for travelers without unnecessarily providing detailed location information.
3Reliability
If time zone information is always transmitted to presence server, then reliability of local time determination improves, but network traffic and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by transmitting time zone information selectively rather than continuously. The presence server receives time zone updates only when the user enters a new time zone area, not for every location change. This approach maintains reliable local time determination while minimizing unnecessary network traffic and processing load.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for providing a time zone information of a mobile user entity to a presence server of a cellular network, wherein a network control node by which the mobile user entity is served, is determined. Based on the geographical position of said network control node, a time zone information is determined and transmitted to the presence server.