RAN Cell Selection for Precise Location-Based Alert Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular service providers face challenges in accurately delivering location-based alerts to specific geographic areas without sending unnecessary alerts to subscribers outside the affected region, leading to potential penalties for failure to reach a predefined percentage of subscribers.
Innovation Solution
Adaptive radio access network coverage techniques are employed to select a group of cells and cell sectors for sending alerts, ensuring a target level of cellular coverage within the geographic area while minimizing coverage gaps and unwanted alerts outside the area, using machine learning and UE measurement data to optimize network node selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional alert distribution methods are used to ensure coverage, then alert delivery reliability is improved, but unnecessary alerts are sent to subscribers outside the affected area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively activating only those network nodes (cells and sectors) that have geographic overlap with the affected area. The broadcast message center determines which network nodes should be activated based on their geographic location and coverage area, ensuring that alert transmission is localized to relevant regions only, thereby avoiding unnecessary alerts to subscribers outside the affected area while maintaining reliable delivery to those who need it.
2Reliability
If network nodes are selected to maximize coverage, then alert delivery to subscribers is improved, but coverage gaps remain in certain geographic areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the network into individual cells and sectors that can be independently selected and activated. The broadcast message center evaluates each network node's geographic coverage and selects only those that intersect with the affected area, creating a segmented approach to coverage that eliminates gaps by carefully choosing which segments to activate based on precise geographic data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the broadcast message center receives information about network node locations and coverage areas, processes this geographic data, and adjusts the selection of activated nodes accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that coverage gaps are identified and addressed by selecting additional network nodes that fill those gaps while maintaining accuracy in the affected area.
3Reliability
If all network nodes are activated for alert distribution, then delivery to all subscribers is ensured, but network resources are wasted on unnecessary transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing unnecessary network nodes from the alert distribution process. Instead of activating all network nodes, the broadcast message center extracts and selects only those nodes that have geographic overlap with the affected area, thereby eliminating wasted network resources on transmissions to subscribers who are not in the affected area while maintaining complete delivery to those who need the alert.
Data Source
AI summary
The described technology is generally directed towards an adapting radio access network coverage for location-based alerts. A group of cells and/or cell sectors can be selected for sending an alert, according to selection techniques described herein. The selection techniques can provide a target level of cellular coverage for a geographic area, while avoiding over-inclusion of cells and consequent dissemination of alerts to subscribers outside the geographic area. The target level of coverage can comprise a desired amount of service overlap, to achieve a corresponding level of confidence that subscribers within the geographic area will receive an alert. The selection techniques can furthermore close identified coverage gaps within the geographic area.