Roaming Analyzer Adjusts Scanning Frequency for Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern telecommunication systems face challenges in providing consistent and high-quality wireless communication due to the use of older generation cellular wireless access technologies during roaming, leading to lower service quality and increased business expenses for service providers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a roaming analyzer in user equipment to capture and analyze call data, allowing network devices to determine a coverage index for specific areas, which enables optimization of network coverage by adjusting scanning frequencies and resource allocation, thereby improving service quality and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If service providers contract with roaming networks to provide coverage beyond their own network, then wireless communication coverage is extended, but service quality deteriorates due to older generation cellular technologies
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts scanning frequencies and network selection based on real-time conditions. User equipment scans for available networks at different frequencies depending on location and service quality requirements, allowing the system to adapt between using roaming networks for coverage extension and home networks for quality assurance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of network selection criteria by introducing service quality metrics and generation-based filtering. The system modifies scanning behavior and network attachment decisions based on detected network generation types (2G, 3G, 4G), prioritizing newer generations when available while still utilizing older or roaming networks when necessary for coverage
2Area of stationary object
If service providers use roaming networks with older generation technologies, then coverage is maintained, but business expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where user equipment reports detected network conditions, service quality metrics, and roaming status to the service provider's network management system. This feedback enables providers to analyze roaming necessity, optimize roaming agreements, and make data-driven decisions about network infrastructure investment versus roaming dependency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scanning and evaluation of available networks before establishing connections. User equipment proactively identifies and caches information about available home and roaming networks, their generations, and service qualities in advance, allowing for optimized routing decisions that minimize expensive roaming usage while maintaining coverage
3Reliability
If user equipment continuously scans for preferred networks, then service quality improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic scanning at variable intervals rather than continuous scanning. User equipment adjusts scanning frequency based on current network conditions, location stability, and battery status, performing more frequent scans when service quality degrades or location changes, and reducing scan frequency when stable on a preferred network
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial scanning by focusing on specific frequency bands or network types based on current needs. Instead of scanning all possible networks continuously, user equipment selectively scans for preferred networks or specific generations (e.g., prioritizing 4G scans when available) based on current service quality requirements and battery status
Data Source
AI summary
User equipment (UE) can include a roaming analyzer to capture call data to monitor conditions of roaming coverage and networks. The UE can aggregate data and report such data to a network device to further aggregate the data and to generate reports. The network device can use the aggregated data to evaluate roaming coverage and to determine a coverage index for each location area code. Network components can be deployed or optimized based at least in part on the coverage index. In some instances, when the UE is connected to a roaming cell, the coverage index can be used to adjust a search frequency for a provider cell.