Time-Dependent Location Parameters for Wireless Cell-Sectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for estimating a mobile station's location and uncertainty based on the cell or cell-sector serving it can lead to inaccurate results due to network utilization, as the serving cell-sector may change due to heavy load, causing the station to be served by a neighboring sector, and not accurately reflecting its location and uncertainty.
Innovation Solution
The approach involves determining time-dependent location parameters for a serving area, such as a cell-sector, by characterizing its geographic extent during different time periods, using location fixes obtained through GPS or AFLT, and associating these parameters with specific time periods, allowing for more accurate location and uncertainty reporting based on current date and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional cell-sector based location estimation is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the location accuracy deteriorates due to network utilization changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the location parameters (centroid coordinates and uncertainty values) time-dependent. Instead of using static cell-sector boundaries, the system dynamically updates these parameters based on historical location data collected at different times. This allows the location estimation to adapt to changing network utilization patterns while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for location estimation from fixed geometric boundaries to time-varying statistical parameters (centroids and uncertainty values derived from historical GPS/AFLT data). By collecting location fixes at multiple time points and calculating time-dependent parameters, the system improves measurement precision without significantly increasing operational complexity.
2Measurement precision
If time-dependent location parameters are implemented, then location accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-collecting location fixes and pre-calculating time-dependent parameters during off-peak periods. The system gathers GPS and AFLT location data, then processes this information to determine centroids and uncertainty values for different time periods before they are needed for actual location estimation. This preprocessing approach improves accuracy while minimizing the computational burden during real-time operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by automatically collecting location fixes from mobile stations and autonomously processing this data to generate time-dependent parameters. The network infrastructure itself performs the data collection and analysis without requiring external intervention, thereby improving location accuracy while keeping the system architecture relatively simple.
3Device complexity
If static cell-sector boundaries are used for location estimation, then data processing is simple, but the representation of actual geographic extent deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/geometric approach of using fixed cell-sector boundaries with a statistical approach based on historical location data. Instead of relying on the physical layout of cell sectors, the system uses empirically derived centroids and uncertainty values from actual mobile station locations. This substitution captures the true geographic extent more accurately while keeping data processing relatively simple through statistical aggregation.
Data Source
AI summary
A set of location fixes is obtained for a plurality of mobile stations, wherein each mobile station is served by a serving area of a wireless network at a respective date and time of day. The set of location fixes is used to determine different geographic parameters that apply to the serving area for different time periods (e.g., different days of the week and/or times of day). A location server may receive a request to locate a mobile station that is being served by the serving area at a current date/time. The location server may select a representative location and at least one uncertainty parameter based on the geographic parameters that apply to the serving area for the time period corresponding to the current date/time, and report the representative location and at least one uncertainty parameter in response to the request.