Roaming Location Detection Using Call Detail Records
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile network operators face challenges in systematically and efficiently detecting roaming locations, particularly in indoor areas and during busy hours, due to limitations in existing drive test methods which are time-consuming, costly, and fail to detect indoor or busy-hour issues effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize roaming call detail records (CDRs) to identify roaming locations by analyzing the registered addresses of subscribers, spatial clusters, and call patterns, allowing for precise detection without the need for extensive drive testing, including the use of GIS and mobile measurement reports to determine cell coverage and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If drive test is used to detect roaming locations, then RF signal quality can be directly detected, but huge amount of testing equipments, time and manpower are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses CDR data as a copy or proxy for actual roaming behavior, analyzing call detail records to identify roaming locations without requiring physical drive tests. This virtual copying of roaming patterns through data analysis eliminates the need for extensive physical testing while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces CDR data as an intermediary between the detection system and actual roaming locations. Instead of directly measuring RF signal quality through drive tests, the system uses CDR records as a mediator to infer roaming locations, thereby avoiding the resource-intensive direct measurement approach
2Ease of operation
If drive test is performed in non-busy hours to avoid traffic congestion, then testing can be conducted, but roaming locations existing at busy hours cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of CDR data that spans multiple time periods, including both busy and non-busy hours. By pre-processing and analyzing historical CDR records, the system identifies roaming locations that occur during busy hours without needing to conduct actual drive tests during those congested periods
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of conducting drive tests during busy hours when operations are difficult, the patent inverts the approach by analyzing CDR data that captures busy-hour roaming patterns. The system detects roaming locations indirectly through data analysis rather than direct observation during problematic time periods
3Ease of operation
If drive test is mainly performed in outdoor environment, then access is easier, but roaming locations at indoor buildings cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses CDR data as a virtual copy of indoor roaming behavior, allowing detection of indoor roaming locations without physical access to buildings. The CDR records capture roaming patterns at indoor locations, enabling indirect detection that overcomes the accessibility limitations of drive tests
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for detecting a roaming location of a mobile network is provided to detect the roaming location in a systematic and efficient way. The method first collects roaming call detail records (CDRs) of a subscriber of the mobile network which are generated when the subscriber roams to a roaming network and makes or receives corresponding roaming calls, and then finds at least one roaming CDR whose corresponding roaming call is occurred in a cell of the roaming network covering a registered address of the subscriber. Last, the method determines whether the registered address is the roaming location according to the found roaming CDR(s).