Telecom Zone Clustering via Weighted Adjacency Graphs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for network build-out and marketing planning in telecommunication networks lack efficiency in aggregating distribution areas into construction and marketing zones, as they rely on manual processes and do not effectively utilize geographic and demographic data to optimize zone formation.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that generate construction and marketing zones using link-weighted adjacency graphs, where vertices represent distribution areas and links are weighted based on factors like aerial infrastructure, multi-unit buildings, and route adjacency, employing community detection algorithms like spectral clustering to create coherent sub-graphs that meet specific unit and boundary constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual processes are used for aggregating distribution areas into construction zones, then flexibility in planning is maintained, but productivity and efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezone aggregation efficiencyVSAvoidmanual process dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically aggregating distribution areas into construction zones using community detection algorithms on link-weighted adjacency graphs, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining optimal zone formation based on multiple factors including aerial infrastructure, multi-unit buildings, and route adjacency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical processes for zone aggregation are replaced with computational algorithms that process geographic and demographic data, using spectral clustering and community detection methods to automatically generate optimized construction zones without human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional aggregation methods are used, then simplicity of the process is maintained, but manufacturing precision and zone coherence are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezone formation accuracyVSAvoidgraph processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aggregation process is segmented into distinct computational stages: constructing the adjacency graph from distribution areas, calculating link weights based on multiple factors (aerial infrastructure, multi-unit buildings, route adjacency), performing community detection through spectral clustering, and generating final construction zones. This segmentation enables high precision zone formation while managing complexity through structured processing steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The problem is transformed from traditional spatial aggregation to a graph-theoretic dimension, where distribution areas become vertices and adjacencies become weighted edges. This dimensional transformation enables the application of community detection algorithms that consider multiple factors simultaneously, achieving superior zone coherence and precision that traditional methods cannot attain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If geographic and demographic data are not utilized, then data processing complexity is reduced, but adaptability and optimization of zone formation are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezone optimization capabilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates multiple parameters including percentages of aerial infrastructure, percentages of multi-unit buildings, and route adjacency to calculate link weights in the adjacency graph. These parameter changes enable adaptive zone formation that optimizes for construction efficiency and demographic coherence, with each parameter contributing to the overall similarity measure that guides community detection and zone aggregation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10970724B2Generating telecommunication network construction zones via clustering on weighted adjacency graphs of distribution areas

Publication Date: 2021.04.06 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

In one example, a processor may generate a graph of vertices representing distribution areas of a telecommunication network and links between vertices of adjacent distribution areas, calculate similarity measures for the links based on distance scores between vertices joined by the links relating to: percentages of aerial infrastructure and percentages of multi-unit buildings in distribution areas represented by the two vertices, and whether or not the distribution areas represented by the two vertices are on a same route from a central office of the telecommunication network. The processor may label the links with the similarity measures to create a link-weighted adjacency graph, perform community detection on the link-weighted adjacency graph to generate sub-graphs, each sub-graph including at least one of the vertices, and provide a map of construction zones based upon geographic areas covered by distribution areas associated with vertices in the sub-graphs.