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United States Patent 9,955,451
Fix ,   et al. April 24, 2018
Event tagging for mobile networks

Abstract

Improved network event tagging for mobile communications is described herein. By way of example, a mobile network can be configured to take periodic geographic positions of a mobile terminal operating within the mobile network. Network events occurring between the periodic geographic positions, otherwise partially unknown in position, can be estimated by referencing topographical information and estimating a route of travel of the mobile device. Estimated speed of the mobile device can be utilized to place the mobile device on a road network, cycling route, pedestrian walkway, or the like, and refine the estimated position of the mobile device at the time of the network event. Such estimates can be refined from traffic information or other real-time travel data. An estimated position of the mobile device can be output as an approximation of the network event to facilitate event modeling for the mobile network.

Inventors: Fix; Jeremy (Acworth, GA), Martinez; Francisco (Cumming, GA), Meredith; Sheldon Kent (Marietta, GA)
Applicant:
Name City State Country Type

AT&T Mobility II LLC
Atlanta
GA
US
Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC (Atlanta, GA)
Family ID: 49715709
Appl. No.: 15/422,147
Filed: February 1, 2017
Prior Publication Data
Document IdentifierPublication Date
US 20170150476 A1May 25, 2017
Related U.S. Patent Documents
Application NumberFiling DatePatent NumberIssue Date
14743076Jun 18, 20159596671
13494959Jul 28, 20159094929

Current U.S. Class: 1/1
Current CPC Class: H04W 4/185 (20130101); G01S 5/0205 (20130101); H04W 64/006 (20130101); H04W 4/029 (20180201); G01C 21/20 (20130101); G01S 5/0284 (20130101); G01C 21/30 (20130101); H04W 4/027 (20130101); H04W 64/00 (20130101); H04W 4/90 (20180201); H04W 4/80 (20180201)
Current International Class: H04M 11/04 (20060101); H04W 64/00 (20090101); H04W 4/02 (20180101)

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Primary Examiner: Patel; Ajit
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Amin, Turocy & Watson, LLP
Parent Case Text


RELATED APPLICATION

The subject application is a continuation of, and claims priority to each of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/743,076, filed Jun. 18, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,596,671 issued on Mar. 14, 2017) and entitled "EVENT TAGGING FOR MOBILE NETWORKS", which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/494,959, filed Jun. 12, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,094,929 issued on Jul. 28, 2015), and entitled "EVENT TAGGING FOR MOBILE NETWORKS". The entireties of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Claims


What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising: a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: obtaining location data representing a group of known geographic locations for a mobile device; obtaining time data representing a group of times that respectively correspond to the known geographic locations of the group of known geographic locations; obtaining speed data representing a speed of the mobile device at a time of occurrence of a network event associated with the mobile device, wherein the time of occurrence of the network event is not a member of the group of times; determining a location of the mobile device at the time of occurrence of the network event based on the location data, the time data and the speed data; and outputting the location of the mobile device as an estimated position of the network event for the time of occurrence.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the mobile device comprises, in response to the time of occurrence of the network event being determined to occur between a first time of the group of times and a second time of the group of times, interpolating the location of the mobile device utilizing the speed of the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the mobile device comprises, in response to the time of occurrence of the network event being determined to occur later in time than the group of times, extrapolating the location of the mobile device utilizing the speed of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the mobile device is a first location, and wherein a second location of the network event associated with the mobile device is exclusive of the group of known geographic locations.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the obtaining the location data comprises receiving a group of the location data from a network device that generates information pertaining to mobile location positioning, and wherein the network device enables services comprising an e911 location service for the mobile device, a location based service for the mobile device, and a timed fingerprint location service for the mobile device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the group of the location data is a first group of the location data, wherein the network device is a first network device, wherein the information is first information pertaining to the mobile location positioning, wherein the obtaining the location data comprises receiving a second group of the location data from a second network device that generates second information pertaining to the mobile location positioning, and wherein the network device stores global positioning system data received from the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining the first group of the location data from the first network device, obtaining the second group of the location data from the second network device, and combining the first group of the location data with the second group of the location data to obtain the location data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining the location of the mobile device at the time of occurrence comprises referencing topographical information representative of a group of routes of travel, inferring, concurrent with the time of occurrence of the network event, a route of travel of the group of routes of travel on which the mobile device is estimated to have been located, and restricting the second location based on a boundary of the route of travel inferred from the group of routes of travel.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving traffic speed data pertinent to the route of travel inferred from the group of routes of travel from a traffic server device, and modifying the speed of the mobile device at the time of occurrence of the network event as a function of the traffic speed data.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the group of routes of travel are defined by respective modes of travel associated with respective ranges of speed, wherein the inferring the route of travel comprises: determining a range of speed of the respective ranges of speed that matches the speed of the mobile device at the time of occurrence of the network event, and determining a mode of travel of the respective modes of travel that corresponds to the range of speed, and wherein the mode of travel facilitates defining the route of travel inferred from the group of routes of travel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the respective modes of travel comprise a vehicle mode of travel, a bicycle mode of travel and a pedestrian mode of travel, and wherein the respective modes of travel define the group of routes of travel respectively comprising road paths for vehicle traffic, cycling paths for bicycle traffic, and pedestrian walkway paths for pedestrian traffic.

12. A method, comprising: employing, by a system comprising a processor, known geographic locations for a mobile device, respective times associated with the known geographic locations, and a speed of the mobile device at a time of a network event linked to the mobile device, to determine a supplemental location of the mobile device at the time of the network event, wherein the respective times exclude the time of the network event linked to the mobile device; and outputting, by the system, the supplemental location of the mobile device at the time of the network event as an estimate of a geographic position of the network event.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: comparing, by the system, the speed of the mobile device at the time of the network event to speed ranges associated with defined modes of travel; and inferring, by the system, a mode of travel of the defined modes of travel for the mobile device at the time of the network event, resulting in an inferred mode of travel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining, by the system, the inferred mode of travel is a vehicular mode of travel, a cycling mode of travel, or a pedestrian mode of travel.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising referencing, by the system, topographical data indicative of a route of travel for the mobile device in a vicinity of the supplemental location of the mobile device, and determining, by the system, the route of travel based on the inferred mode of travel.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising refining, by the system, the supplemental location of the mobile device at the time of the network event according to a defined boundary of the route of travel.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising referencing, by the system, speed data indicative of a speed of traffic flow on the route of travel at the time of the network event.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising updating, by the system, the speed of the mobile device based on the speed data indicative of the speed of traffic flow on the route of travel.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: employing known geographic locations for a mobile device at respective times and a speed of the mobile device at a time of occurrence of a network event associated with the mobile device, to determine an additional location of the mobile device at the time of occurrence of the network event, wherein the respective times of the known geographic locations for the mobile device exclude the time of occurrence of the network event; and outputting the additional location of the mobile device as an estimated geographic position of the network event.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise: comparing the speed of the mobile device to defined ranges of speed associated with modes of travel; determining a mode of travel of the modes of travel based on a result of the comparing the speed of the mobile device to the defined ranges of speed, resulting in a determined mode of travel; identifying routes of travel for the mobile device within a defined vicinity of the known geographic locations that satisfy a first function with respect to the determined mode of travel; assigning the known geographic locations to the routes of travel; determining a selected route of travel for the mobile device from the determined mode of travel and based on the assigning of the known geographic locations to the routes of travel; acquiring traffic speed information relevant to the selected route of travel at the time of the occurrence of the network event; refining the speed of the mobile device with the traffic speed information relevant to the selected route of travel at the time coinciding with the network event, resulting in a refined speed of the mobile device; and modifying the additional location of the mobile device with the refined speed of the mobile device or with the selected route of travel at the time of the occurrence of the network event resulting in a modified additional location, wherein the outputting the additional location of the mobile device comprises outputting the modified additional location of the mobile device.
Description


TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject application relates in general to managing activity within a wireless network and more particularly to providing event tagging for mobile networks.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communication networks provide a diverse set of voice and data communication services for subscribers via mobile handsets and related mobile communication devices. A terrestrial radio access network is employed to transmit and receive information wirelessly to the mobile handsets, enabling subscribers to move with their mobile handsets while maintaining communication with the wireless communication network. If an event occurs that disrupts the transmission or reception of information between the mobile handset and the radio access network, quality of communication can be negatively affected and, in severe cases, the communication can be interrupted entirely. Common causes of such events can include natural or electromechanical interference, signal attenuation from intervening objects or the like, signal scattering phenomenon, and so on. These and similar events are common causes of disruptions in wireless communication. They also present a dynamic challenge for network operators attempting to achieve high quality of service for subscribers.

In order to qualify the problem of network communication problems for analysis and correction, network operators often record call disturbances after they occur. For instance, if a particular call or data session is terminated without proper communication protocol, the termination can be tagged as a call drop. Certain information about the call drop can be recorded to study the event. Suitable information can include time of the call drop, and the base station(s) serving the particular call or data session. Since the location of network base stations are known, recording the base station(s) serving the particular call or data session gives an estimate of location of the call drop. The time of the call drop and the base station(s) and its location(s) can be recorded as an event by a mobile network.

Call drop events can be aggregated and analyzed over time as a reflection of network regions with increased likelihood of communication problems. Network operators can address these problems by bolstering radio access network infrastructure in a problem region, adding specialized equipment such as micro or mini base stations, setting up repeater base stations to avoid or mitigate interference, and so on. General knowledge of call drop events can provide a first degree of approximation of underlying problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example system that provides network event modeling in mobile communications in aspects of the subject disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a sample estimation engine for estimating position of a mobile device at a time of a network event, in other aspects.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of an example area map for estimating a position of a mobile device from a known set of positions of the mobile device.

FIG. 4 depicts a diagram of a sample topographical map utilized in conjunction with estimating a position of a mobile device along a route of travel.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an example network environment for aggregating network and topographical data for estimating mobile device position.

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an example method for providing network event modeling according to one or more aspects.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a flowchart of an example method for improving network event modeling with topographical data in mobile position locations.

FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram of an example computer-readable medium for providing network event modeling according to particular aspects.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a sample mobile handset that can be configured for operation in conjunction with one or more disclosed aspects.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example radio access network device that can be operable for facilitating various disclosed aspects.

FIG. 12 depicts a block diagram of an example wireless communication network that can be operable for facilitating additional aspects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the disclosed subject matter can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate describing the disclosed subject matter.

Where used in this application, the terms "component," "system," module", "interface," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity or an entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. As an example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, a circuit, a logic gate, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, computer-executable instructions, a program, or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a server/client and the server/client can be a component. One or more components can reside within a process or thread of execution and a component can be localized on one computer or distributed between two or more computers. Also, components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate via local or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more symbols, data packets, etc. (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry, which can be operated by a software or firmware application executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be internal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts, the electronic components can include a processor, a state machine, an integrated circuit, etc., therein to execute software or firmware that confers at least in part the functionality of the electronic components.

In addition, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or." That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A, X employs B, or X employs both A and B, then "X employs A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles "a" and "an" as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should be construed to mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms like "user equipment (UE)," "mobile station," "mobile," subscriber station," "subscriber equipment," "access terminal," "terminal," "handset," and similar terminology, refer to a wireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wireless communication service to receive or convey data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming, or other suitable data-stream or signaling-stream. The foregoing terms are utilized interchangeably in the subject specification and related drawings. Likewise, the terms "access point (AP)," "base station," "Node B," "evolved Node B (eNode B)," "home Node B (HNB)," "home access point (HAP)," and the like, refer to a wireless network component or appliance that serves and receives data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming, or other suitable data-stream or signaling-stream from a set of subscriber stations, except where context or definition warrants distinctions among the term(s). Data and signaling streams can be packetized or frame-based flows.

Furthermore, the terms "user," "subscriber," "customer," "consumer," "prosumer," "agent," and the like are employed interchangeably throughout the subject specification, unless context warrants particular distinction(s) among the terms. It should be appreciated that such terms can refer to human entities or automated components supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., a capacity to make inference based on complex mathematical formalisms) which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth.

Increase in consumer use of wireless communication and near ubiquitous penetration of mobile electronic communication devices within the consumer public has put great demand on mobile communication service providers. This demand can vary, depending on content consumed by sectors of the public. In addition, demand for different services can vary widely as a function of service, and as a function of geography. For instance, streaming media and web browsing patronized extensively by younger subscribers can be in much higher demand near high school or college campuses, as compared with average demand patterns throughout the network. In addition, messaging services and particular enterprise messaging can be in higher demand near office buildings. Voice traffic, on the other hand can be in high demand where population densities are higher in general. Because communication quality is often service dependent, temporal or systemic network communication problems can have significant impact on all services, but affect high quality services in particular.

To identify network problems, network operators can track and locate location-based network events. A location-based network event can be defined as a wireless communication action in which a wireless network has at least some information related to a location of a mobile device associated with such an action. Location-based network events can comprise a call start, a call termination, a report of substandard service, a call drop (for voice or data calls), or a similar event, or a suitable combination thereof. A problem event can comprise location-based events related to poor or substandard service, such as the report of substandard service and the call drop. By tracking problem events in time and location, anomalies can be identified within a network that observe more frequent call drop or substandard service events. These regions can be addressed with greater priority to fix the problem.

Overall, network operators track, record and analyze location-based network events as a mechanism for proper maintenance and optimization of a wireless network. Traditional methods of network diagnostics, including extensive drive testing, can be both time consuming and expensive. Moreover, results of extensive drive tests lose relevance after they are post processed and analyzed. To model dynamic conditions of wireless networks, however, network operators require information about network events in near real time. Otherwise, timely response to those events is very difficult. In this regard, as more information about a problem is discovered, the problem can be modeled with greater degrees of accuracy, leading to more effective solutions. Thus, network event modeling is one aspect of network maintenance that merits significant improvement, not only to further define modeling of problems, but to facilitate more cost effective solutions closely tailored to solve a particular problem with minimum required resources.

With new technologies, greater accuracy of network events and mobile position locations are possible. Examples of such technology include mobile location determinations from radio access network signaling, existing technologies that make use of e911 platforms for locating mobile devices, global positioning systems (GPS), assisted GPS or A-GPS, and so on. These technologies can make mobile location determinations very precise. However, network events and mobile location determinations can be uncoordinated in time, as occurrences of network events can have various causes and are often unpredictable.

Because network events themselves are often not known with much accuracy, a simple approach to estimate location of a network event is peg the network event to the cell serving a mobile device related to the network event (e.g., a mobile handset experiencing a call drop). This rough positioning can yield little practical information for location a source of interference, however. This can be especially true, for instance, in the case of a small transmitter that interferes in a non-continuous, and especially a non-periodic manner. Without more accurate estimates of network event location, quickly and accurately identifying a source of a problem event can be exhaustive, expensive, and sometimes impossible.

To address problems associated with network event modeling, the subject disclosure provides for marrying location-based network event data with mobile device location data. A best estimate of mobile device position at a time of a network event is generated and associated with a position of the network event, instead of simply associating the network event with a cell location or cell site. This enables network operators to more accurately model network related issues. Accurate modeling of issues further enables network engineers to optimize network coverage models and implement network configuration and coverage objectives, improving network performance and perception by the subscriber base.

In some aspects of the subject disclosure, provided is an improved mechanism for network event modeling. The disclosed network event modeling can extrapolate known mobile device locations to estimate a position of a mobile device for a mobile device position that is at least in part unknown. Extrapolation and interpolation algorithms can be employed to extend mobile positioning beyond a known position data set, in various aspects, providing greater resolution in time and space of mobile device position, thereby providing much greater accuracy and significance to network event modeling overall.

In further aspects of the subject disclosure, periodic mobile device position data can be utilized in conjunction with network event data to estimate mobile device position in-between periodic position signaling. In at least one aspect, position of a mobile device during a network event can be estimated by extrapolating between two or more known positions of the mobile device based on relative analysis of respective times of those position determinations and of the network event. Further, an estimated position of the mobile device can be enhanced by accessing additional information in a known locality of the mobile device.

In at least one aspect, topographical information can be leveraged to refine a position estimate of a mobile device. For instance, if the mobile device is determined to be traveling at a time of the network event, a set of topographical maps representing known routes of travel for a set of modes of travel can be referenced to locate the mobile device on a particular route of travel. By locating the device on a known travel route, accuracy of a position estimate can be significantly enhanced, thereby further enhancing the location of the network event.

In other aspects, an estimate of speed of travel of the mobile device can be derived from known location and timing information. The speed of travel can be matched to one or more modes of travel to identify a particular mode of travel employed by a subscriber. By identifying the particular mode of travel, a more accurate estimate of travel route can be obtained as well. For instance, if the speed estimate matches speeds expected from motor vehicle travel, the position estimate can be confined to roads or highways to refine the estimated position. As another example, if the speed estimate matches speeds expected from cycling, the position estimate can be confined to cycling routes. As yet another example, if the speed estimate matches speeds expected from pedestrian traffic, the position estimate can be confined to pedestrian routes, and so on. Upon identifying a particular mode of travel, a topographical map of the mode of travel within a vicinity of the known location points of the mobile device can be utilized to identify a route of travel employed by the subscriber, and a position along the route of travel at which the network event occurred.

In one or more additional aspects, traffic data can be utilized to further refine position estimates of a mobile device. For instance, dynamic traffic information can give a more accurate estimate of motor vehicle speeds than static traffic information, such as a speed limit. Thus, where dynamic traffic information exists indicating that traffic on a particular road or highway is greater than or less than known static traffic information, a speed estimate of the mobile device can be further refined based on the dynamic traffic information. This can be useful in refining a position of the mobile device on a particular road or highway.

In further aspects of the subject disclosure, a position estimate of a mobile device at a time of a network event can be attributed to the network event. This position estimate can therefore be output for network event modeling. In at least one aspect, network event models based on such position estimates can be updated by later acquired information, such as subscriber-initiated position signaling following a dropped call, or automated device position signaling in response to the dropped call, or the like. Location information originated at a mobile device can often be available much later than network-identified call drop event data, as well as periodic mobile position information generated by network components. However, this later acquired information can be utilized to update or refine network event modeling once acquired at the network, in at least some disclosed aspects.

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed subject matter. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and the disclosed subject matter is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other aspects and features of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

In some aspects of the subject disclosure, interpolation or extrapolation techniques can be employed to best estimate a mobile device location from a set of known device locations, at a time of a network event. This estimation can be repeated for each network event, yielding a set of position information for each network event. In a particular aspect, topographical travel routes can be employed to best weight segments of a user's travel route and arrive at a best estimate of mobile device location from extrapolation or interpolation of known mobile locations (e.g., derived from e911 processes, mobile-originated location signaling, GPS-related position determination, periodic radio access network position determinations, . . . ) and associated times of such known mobile locations. In other aspects, multiple position estimates can be employed, in an aggregate, to reduce mobile device location error attributed to respective network events. In further aspects, speed estimates can be utilized to identify a particular mode of travel employed by a subscriber, such as motor vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, etc. Utilizing the mode of travel, a mobile device position estimate can be located within the boundaries of a road, bicycle lane, sidewalk, building, and so on. Speed estimates can be further enhanced by use of concurrent traffic information, where available, to improve speed estimates over static traffic speed information such as a speed limit. Speed estimates can be utilized to best estimate a position along an identified route of travel at a point in time matching the network event.

In a particular aspect of the subject disclosure, network events can be captured from IuB interfaces via probe networks installed by a network operator. The IuB probes can be configured to monitor user traffic and provide specific network events of concern (e.g., problem events) to network operators. IuB based locating systems, and other location based system (LBS) platforms can be leveraged to generate position information for respective network events.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example system 100 for providing network event tagging for wireless communications, according to various aspects of the subject disclosure. System 100 can comprise an event location system 102 communicatively connected with one or more mobile network components 104 over one or more network interfaces. Mobile network components 104 can comprise a set of entities configured for acquiring information pertaining to mobile location positioning. Mobile network components 104 can include entities that acquire periodic mobile positions, and entities that acquire mobile positions non-periodically, randomly, or the like. In addition, mobile network components 104 can comprise position data generated by network entities, or mobile originated position data. Examples of mobile network components 104 that generate network originated position data can include an e911 location server, an LBS platform that derives mobile device position from a network multi-lateration process, an IuB based locating system, a timed fingerprint location process (e.g., as provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/724,424 entitled Timed Fingerprint Location in Wireless Networks and filed Feb. 25, 2010, incorporated by reference herein), or another suitable network-facilitated mobile positioning mechanism. Examples of mobile network components 104 that employ mobile originated position data can include a database that receives and stores mobile-originated GPS data, or the like.

Location information for one or more mobile devices along with timing of respective location determinations can be forwarded by mobile network component(s) 104 to an event location system 102 in a mobile data file 105 over the network interface(s). Event location system 102 can comprise a communication interface 106 for sending and receiving data over the network interface(s). Thus, mobile data file 105 can be received at communication interface 106 and made available to other components of event location system 102. Mobile data file 105 can be saved, for instance, in memory 108 and accessed and utilized by a processor 110. Memory 108 can be further configured to store computer-executable instructions of event location system 102 and respective components thereof. Processor 110 can be configured to facilitate execution of the computer-executable instructions to implement functionality of event location system 102, as described in more detail below.

Event location system 102 can further comprise an estimation engine 112 configured to estimate position location information for mobile devices operating within a mobile network, for periods in which mobile device positioning is at least in part unknown. Particularly, position locations of a mobile device can be estimated from a set of known position data for the mobile device. For instance, periodic mobile device position location information can comprise location information taken at periodic times, random times, non-periodic times such as subscriber origination position reporting, e911 calls, or the like, or a suitable combination thereof. This information comprises a set of known position locations for the mobile device. Utilizing the set of known position locations and respective associated points in time, estimation engine 112 can extrapolate position locations of the mobile device at other times. As an example, a data input indicative of a geographic location of a mobile device at a first time and a second data input indicative of a second geographic location of the mobile device at a second time, can be utilized to extrapolate a third geographic location of the mobile device at a third time subsequent the first time and the second time. As another example, the data input and the second data input can be utilized to interpolate a fourth geographic location of the mobile device at a fourth time between the first time and the second time.

Estimation engine 112 can acquire position location information and respective associated times of one or more mobile devices from communication interface 106, or from memory 108. A data compilation component 114 can parse and categorize the position locations as a function of mobile device, and as a function of respective times of respective position locations. A calculation component 116 can be configured to interpolate or extrapolate position information for one or more of the mobile devices at other times, for which position location information of the respective mobile devices is not available.

In at least one aspect of the subject disclosure, calculation component 116 can reference a topography database 118 to acquire topographical information for improving estimates of mobile device locations. For instance, if a network event associated with a particular mobile device occurs at a particular point in time, calculation component 116 can look up position location information from the known set of position location information of the particular mobile device compiled by data compilation component 114, at times near the particular point in time. Additionally, topographical information can be acquired for a particular geographic region in a vicinity of position locations of the mobile device at the times near the particular point in time (e.g., see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, infra). This topographical information can be utilized to identify suitable routes of travel within the particular geographic region to locate the mobile device along a route of travel matching the position locations at the times near the particular point in time. By locating the mobile device along a particular route of travel, accuracy of a location estimate for the mobile device can be improved over extrapolation or interpolation estimates alone.

According to further aspects of the subject disclosure, calculation component 116 can estimate a speed of the mobile device at a time proximate a network event (e.g., a dropped call). The estimated speed can be matched to predetermined speeds associated with one or more modes of travel. Example modes of travel can include vehicular travel, bicycle travel, pedestrian travel, or the like, which have fairly reliable respective ranges of speed associated therewith. Thus, for instance, a motorized mode of travel can be associated with speeds 25 miles per hour and greater, a cycling mode of travel can be associated with speeds between about 7 and about 20 miles per hour, whereas a pedestrian mode of travel can be associated with speeds between about 0 and 5 miles per hour. Other speed ranges can be associated with these modes of travel or other suitable modes of travel; the foregoing example is not exclusive. In some aspects the ranges of speeds can at least in part overlap, whereas in other aspects the ranges of speeds can be exclusive as in the example above.

According to these further aspects, upon estimating the speed of the mobile device near the time of the network event, calculation component 116 can compare the estimated speed to a set of predetermined ranges of speed associated with a set of modes of travel. A subset of the set of modes of travel can be selected from the set of modes of travel, in response to the estimated speed matching one (or more) of the ranges of speed. In the example given above, for instance, if the estimated speed of the mobile device is 40 miles per hour, then the motorized mode of travel can be selected, whereas if the estimated speed is 5 miles per hour, then the pedestrian or cycling modes of travel can be selected.

Upon selecting a mode of travel, calculation component 116 can reference topography database 118 and obtain topography information for a geographic region in which the mobile device is known to be located (from mobile location data obtained from mobile network component(s) 104) near the time of the network event. The topography information can include suitable routes of travel (e.g., roads, bicycle lanes or paths, pedestrian routes such as sidewalks, buildings, malls, etc.) for the selected subset of modes of travel. An inference can then be made that the mobile device is located along a suitable route of travel that best matches known locations of the mobile device. Because routes of travel can be relatively small in at least one geographic dimension (e.g., a bicycle lane or road having a width only one or a few meters), estimates of the location of the mobile device can be improved during times when mobile location is not accurately known. For instance, if a mobile device is inferred to be on a city street at a time of the network event, potential locations of the mobile device can be narrowed to the geographic limits of the road, at a location between known locations on the road (e.g., see FIG. 4, infra). A position estimate of the mobile device at a time of a network event can then be attributed to a position of a cause of a network event. This can significantly improve resolution of network event location estimates over estimates that place a network event in an entire cell of a wireless network. This improved resolution of network event locations can significantly improve network event time and location modeling, further enhancing effectiveness of network maintenance and optimization efforts, thereby improving overall efficacy of wireless communication services.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an estimation engine 200 according to particular aspects of the subject disclosure. Estimation engine 200 can be substantially similar to estimation engine 112 of FIG. 1, supra, in some aspects of the subject disclosure. In alternative or additional aspects, estimation engine 200 can have a subset of features of estimation engine 112 or additional features described below, in other aspects.

Estimation engine 200 can comprise a data compilation component 202 that acquires time and location event data pertinent to a wireless network. The time and location event data can include time and location positions of mobile devices operating within the wireless network, as well as time or location information of network events pertinent to the mobile devices, or a suitable combination thereof. Data compilation component 202 can parse the time and location information, and compile a multi-dimensional matrix that categorizes time and location information as a function of mobile device, network events, or other suitable categories.

A calculation component 204 can acquire the compiled matrix of time and location information and estimate positions of one or more mobile devices at times in which mobile device position is not accurately known. Particularly, calculation component 204 can estimate a position of a mobile device at a time of a network event pertaining to the mobile device. As a specific example, calculation component 204 can estimate a position of a mobile device at a time in which the mobile device experiences a call drop, utilizing a time of the call drop, and location information of the mobile device at times near the call drop.

Calculation component 204 can comprise a set of rate of travel algorithms 206 for estimating a speed of the mobile device. Rate of travel algorithms 206 can employ time and location data near a time of a network event, and output a speed estimate of the mobile device for a period of time that includes or is proximate to the time of the network event. As one example, if the time and location data indicate the mobile device covers a quarter of a mile (from two or more location points) in 30 seconds (from two or more times associated with respective location points), rate of travel algorithms 206 can output an average speed of 30 miles per hour as the speed estimate, or another suitable speed calculation (e.g., a median speed, . . . ) depending on a particular calculation(s) employed by the rate of travel algorithms 206.

The estimated speed generated by calculation component 204 can be provided to a topography selection component 208. Topography selection component 208 can compare the speed estimate to a set of correlations that link ranges of speeds with a set of modes of travel. By matching the speed estimate to the ranges of speeds, a subset of the modes of travel can be selected. A map selection(s) can be provided to a topography database 210 that stores mode of travel maps 212. Example mode of travel maps can include road network map data 214, cycling route data 216, pedestrian route data 218, and map data for other suitable modes of travel. Topography database 210 can reply with selected map data, which can be forwarded by topography selection component 208 to calculation component 204.

Upon receiving a selected map(s) of travel routes, calculation component 204 can focus on a region of the selected map(s) proximate the location information of the mobile device near the time of the network event. Further, a particular route(s) of travel can be identified that best matches known locations of the mobile device. Where the network event occurs before or after a set of known locations of the mobile device, a set of extrapolation algorithms 220 can be employed to extrapolate a position of the mobile device near or at a time of the network event. Where the network event occurs between a set of known locations of the mobile device, a set of interpolation algorithms 222 can be employed to interpolate a position of the mobile device near or at the time of the network event. In some aspects, a combination of extrapolation or interpolation can be employed, depending on time-based relatedness of known locations of the mobile device and the network event.

To estimate a position of the mobile device at a time of the network event, calculation component 204 can best match known locations of the mobile device with one or more possible routes of travel (e.g., roads, bicycle paths, pedestrian routes, . . . ). From knowledge of the time of the network event and when this time occurs relative to times of known locations of the mobile device, a position estimate for the mobile device can be inferred along a possible route(s) of travel. Where multiple possible routes of travel are identified for the mobile device, a best fit algorithm can be employed to best match position locations and estimated speed of the mobile device to a best fit route of travel to arrive at a best fit position location for the mobile device. This best fit position location can be utilized as a position location estimate.

In at least one aspect of the subject disclosure, calculation component 204 can acquire traffic speed information for a particular route of travel to refine a position location estimate of the mobile device. For instance, if the best fit route of travel is a highway, calculation component 204 can query a network (e.g., the Internet, a server of a traffic information service, municipal, country or state traffic information, . . . ) for concurrent traffic information pertaining to the best fit route of travel, or stored traffic information for prior times coinciding with the network event. Utilizing traffic speed information, a speed of the mobile device along the best fit route of travel can be refined. The refined speed can then be employed to refine a position of the mobile device along the best fit route of travel at or near the network event. This refined position can be output as the position location estimate of the mobile device.

Once the position location estimate of the mobile device at or near the network event is acquired, the position location estimate can be provided to an output component 224. Output component 224 can transmit the position location estimate to other components of a wireless network. This position location estimate can be updated to network event modeling functions, to improve the accuracy and resolution of such functions (e.g., see FIG. 5, infra).

FIG. 3 depicts a diagram of an example geographic region 300 in which a position location of a mobile device operating within a wireless network can be inferred for geographic region 300. In some aspects, the position location can be extrapolated from location information of the mobile device generated prior to or subsequent to a time of interest (e.g., a time at which a network event occurs). In other aspects, the position location can be interpolated from location information of the mobile device that is generated prior to and subsequent to the time of interest.

Geographic region 300 is marked with several points of interest. The points of interest are correlated at least with a time stamp, and some or all of the points of interest can be correlated with location information of a mobile device associated with the points of interest. At 302, a periodic location of the mobile device is generated at a position indicated by a location event symbol comprising an X embedded in a square. The periodic location can be generated by a component of the mobile device (e.g., periodic GPS transmission, . . . ) or can be generated by a network component (e.g., base station multi-lateration process, timed fingerprint location process, . . . ). At 304, a call is initiated or terminated by the mobile device. An actual location of the mobile device is indicated on geographic region 300 by a call symbol of a check mark embedded in a square, at reference number 304. The call initiation/termination can be associated at least with a time stamp for the call, and in some networks location information of the mobile device can also be generated for the call initiation/termination identifying the actual location of the mobile device at the time of the call. At 306, a problem event occurs, and a time stamp for the problem event is generated by a wireless network serving the mobile device. A position of the mobile device is marked by a network event symbol of a circle with a crossing line embedded in a square at reference number 306. At 308, a second periodic location of the mobile device is generated at the location event symbol next to reference number 308.

Utilizing the location information generated at reference numbers 302 and 308, a first approximation of a route of travel of the mobile device can be generated. This first approximation is depicted by the double-ended arrow between reference numbers 302 and 308. An interpolated position 310 of the mobile device can be estimated along the first approximation of the route of travel at the time of network event 306. Interpolated position 310 can be generated from an average speed along the first approximation of the route of travel, and a difference in time of occurrence of network event 306 and periodic locations 302 and 308.

At 312, a second call initiation/termination 312 occurs at a known time. A position of the mobile device is marked by the call symbol next to reference number 312. A second approximation of the route of travel of the mobile device is depicted by the longer double-ended arrow extending from reference number 302 to a third periodic position location 314. Additionally, a revised interpolated position 316 of the mobile device can be generated at the time of the network event along the second approximation of the route of travel. In this instance, the revised interpolated position 316 is closer to the actual location of the mobile device at a time of problem event 306, thereby improving the position estimate. In other cases, however, a revised interpolated position 316 may not be closer to the actual position of the mobile device at problem event 306. In such cases, having knowledge of topographical information of geographic region 300, including routes of travel and modes of travel of the geographic region 300, can potentially improve the estimate significantly (e.g., see FIG. 4, infra).

At 318, a second problem event occurs at a location identified by the network event symbol next to reference number 318. An extrapolated position estimate 320 for the mobile device can be generated at the time of network event 318. The extrapolated position can be generated by extending the first approximation of the route of travel or the second approximation of the route of travel beyond reference number 314. A time of network event 318 can be utilized at least in conjunction with a time of third periodic position location 314 (and potentially utilizing time and positions--where available--of call 312, second periodic position location 308, interpolated position 310, revised interpolated position 316, call 304, or first periodic position location 302) to generate a speed estimate of the mobile device along the extended approximation of the route of travel. The speed estimate can be utilized to locate the mobile device along the extended route of travel at the time of network event 318 to arrive at extrapolated position 320.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of an example topographical map 400 for a geographic region, which can be utilized for estimating mobile position locations according to still other aspects of the subject disclosure. Wireless communication services can be provided to the geographic region by a radio access network of a mobile network (not depicted). Several network events as well as a travel route of a mobile device within topographical map 400 are depicted. A legend correlates graphical symbols with respective types of network events. An X embedded in a square is a location event symbol that represents a position of the mobile device at a periodic location determination for the mobile device, a check mark embedded in a square is a call symbol that indicates a position of the mobile device at a call initiation or termination event, and a circle with a diagonal line embedded in a square is a problem event symbol that indicates a position of the mobile device at the time of a problem event associated with the mobile device. In addition, the gold line represents a travel route of the mobile device throughout topographical map 400.

Topographical map 400 can be selected based at least in part on a speed of the mobile device, as described herein. Particularly, where the speed of the mobile device corresponds with a rate of travel that best fits a particular mode of travel, a topographical map representing the particular mode of travel can be selected, as described herein. Thus, topographical map 400 illustrating a network of city roads could be employed in response to determining a motorized vehicle mode of travel best fits the speed of the mobile device.

Several network events associated with the mobile device are depicted on topographical map 400. The network events are numbered in chronological order according to time of occurrence. The chronological order begins with the mobile device in the lower right corner of topographical map 400, with a call initiated at call symbol 402, followed shortly thereafter with a periodic position location determination 404 for the mobile device. A second periodic position location determination 406 occurs at the point indicated, and a call drop occurs for the mobile device at a problem event 408. Thereafter, a call is initiated at call symbol 410, and a third periodic position location determination 412 occurs shortly thereafter.

Utilizing location and time information at least of periodic position location determination events 404, 406 and 412, a best fit route of travel can be identified for the mobile device by determining a mode of travel and identifying within topographical map 400 suitable routes for the mode of travel. As an example, if a motorized vehicle mode of travel is determined, suitable routes can be limited to roads, highways, etc., within topographical map 400. By limiting the mobile device to suitable routes, a large portion of topographical map 400 can be eliminated, significantly increasing accuracy of position estimates of the mobile device. For instance, as compared with simple extrapolation or interpolation techniques utilized for geographic region 300 of FIG. 3, a much more accurate estimation of mobile device position can be made as compared with linear extrapolation or interpolation between two or more points.

Upon identifying a best fit route of travel for mobile device, an estimate of mobile device position at a time of problem event 408 can be made that is confined to the best fit route of travel. A position along the best fit route of travel at a time of problem event 408 can be determined by extrapolating a ratio of the time of problem event 408 and duration between position location determinations 406 and 412, to a ratio of estimated position and length along the best fit route of travel between locations of position location determinations 406 and 412, and solving for the estimated position.

In at least one aspect of the subject disclosure, the position estimate can be refined according to traffic information pertaining to traffic speeds on the best fit route of travel, or respective traffic speeds on segments of the best fit route of travel, where available. For instance, where traffic information indicates traffic speed on North Ave NE (coinciding with position location determination 406) is 25 miles per hour, speed on W Peachtree St NW is 35 miles per hour, and speed on Ponce de Leon Ave NE is 40 miles per hour, the position estimate can be refined based on suitable relationships of these speeds and calculated durations for which the mobile device is estimated to be on these respective roads. Accordingly, employing topographical map 400 and suitable routes of travel therein can significantly improve position location estimates of the mobile device, where precise location information is not known (e.g., in between periodic position determinations). Moreover, the position location estimates can be refined along a best fit route of travel based on traffic speed information for the best fit route of travel.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an example system 500 that can be configured to acquire network information for estimating mobile position locations associated with network events, according to further aspects of the subject disclosure. System 500 can comprise an event location system 502 configured to generate the position locations of the mobile device at points in time coinciding with network events associated with the mobile device. A communication interface 504 can be employed for transmitting and receiving data over a network interface with network components. Data received can be provided to an estimation engine 506 configured to employ time and location data acquired by communication interface 504 for estimating the position of the mobile device at the times coinciding with network events.

As depicted, a real-time location server 508 can be configured to acquire and store mobile device location data and associated respective times thereof. The mobile device location data can comprise network-generated data, or mobile-device generated data. Moreover, the location data can be periodic, non-periodic, random or pseudo-random, or subscriber originated. At least a subset of mobile device location data also includes respective time stamp data pertaining to a particular location determination for the mobile device.

Additionally, a network event server 510 can acquire information pertaining to network events, including time of the network event, mobile device(s) affected by the network events, cell sites associated with the network events, or the like, or a suitable combination thereof. Upon occurrence of a network event, network event server 510 can transmit acquired information pertaining to the network event to event location system 502. Event location system 502 can determine a time of the network event from the acquired information and an identifier for a mobile device affected by or reporting the network event. Event location system 502 can then receive position location information for the mobile device from real-time location server 508 at times near the time of the network event. The position location information can be requested by event location system 502, or can be automatically sent by real-time location server 508 in response to a notification of the network event originating from network event server 510.

Event location system can also query or otherwise obtain traffic speed data from a traffic server 512. The traffic speed data can be employed in conjunction with determining a speed of the mobile device for one or more times, or refining a speed estimate. In some aspects, traffic speed data can be utilized in conjunction with fitting position location data to a route of travel for the mobile device near a time of the network event. In other aspects, traffic speed data can be utilized to refine a position of the mobile device along a route of travel that has been selected for the mobile device.

Upon arriving at a position estimate or refined position estimate for the mobile device at a time of the network event, event location system 502 can output the refined position estimate to a network event modeling entity 514. The position estimate can be sent alone, or in conjunction with the network event data received from network event server 510. The position estimate can be utilized by network event modeling entity to improve estimates of a location of the network event itself. When utilized for multiple network events over time, network event modeling in general can be greatly improved. Particularly, event modeling can be performed with greater spatial resolution, providing more accurate information about the location of network events, thereby improving capability of network technicians of discovering a source of such events and potentially reducing the cost of such discovery. Accordingly, system 500 can provide significant benefits for wireless network operators in maintaining and optimizing wireless networks.

The aforementioned systems have been described with respect to interaction between several systems, components or communication interfaces. It should be appreciated that such systems and components can include those components or sub-components specified therein, some of the specified components or sub-components, or additional components. For example, a system could include event location system 102 comprising mobile estimation engine 200, real-time location server 508, network event server 510 and traffic server 512, or a different combination of these or other entities. Sub-components could also be implemented as modules communicatively coupled to other modules rather than included within parent modules. Additionally, it should be noted that one or more components could be combined into a single component providing aggregate functionality. For instance, calculation component 112 can include topography selection component 124, or vice versa, to facilitate estimating mobile device position and selecting topographical data in conjunction with the estimating, by way of a single component. The components can also interact with one or more other components not specifically described herein but known by those of skill in the art.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate various methods in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments disclosed herein. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methods are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the various embodiments are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may occur in different orders or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a method could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement a method in accordance with the various embodiments. Additionally, it should be further appreciated that the methods disclosed hereinafter and throughout this specification are capable of being stored on an article of manufacture to facilitate transporting and transferring such methods to computers. The term article of manufacture, as used herein, is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 600 of operating a system that includes at least one processor to provide improved mobile device positioning according to aspects of the subject disclosure. At 602, method 600 can comprise receiving, by the system, a first data input indicative of a first geographic location of a mobile device. The method can also comprise receiving, by the system, information indicative of a first time at which the geographic location of the mobile device is determined. At 604, method 600 can comprise receiving, by the system, a second data input indicative of a second geographic location of the mobile device. Moreover, the second data input can include information indicative of a second time at which the second geographic location of the mobile device is determined. At 606, method 600 can comprise receiving, by the system, indication of a network event pertaining to the mobile device. The indication of the network event can include information indicative of a third time at which the network event occurs. At 608, method 600 can comprise deriving, by the system, a position of the mobile device at the third point in time based at least on the first data input and the second data input, and associating the derived position of the mobile device with the network event. Method 600 can also comprise outputting, by the system, the derived position to a component of a wireless network related to storing network event information. Such a component can also be configured for compiling time and location information of network events.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 700 according to still other aspects of the subject disclosure. At 702, method 700 can comprise receiving a first mobile data location indicative of a first geographic location of a mobile device, and a first time stamp corresponding with the first mobile data location. At 704, method 700 can comprise receiving a second mobile data location indicative of a second geographic location of the mobile device, and a second time stamp corresponding with the second mobile data location. At 706, method 700 can comprise receiving data indicative of a network event pertaining to the mobile device. At 708, method 700 can comprise receiving call origination/termination data near a time of the network event. The call origination/termination data can include respective time stamps for respective call origination events or call termination events pertaining to the mobile device. Additionally, the call origination/termination data can include respective location determinations for a subset of the call origination events or call termination events.

At 710, method 700 can comprise estimating a speed of the mobile device near the time of the network event. Speed can be estimated utilizing time and location information of the mobile device acquired from the first mobile data location, second mobile data location, as well as one or more other mobile data locations, and call origination/termination data near the time of the network event, or a subset thereof. In at least one aspect, the estimated speed can be refined utilizing traffic speeds within a vicinity of the mobile device near the time of the network event. The traffic speeds can be particular to a mode of travel identified for the mobile device. For instance, upon acquiring an initial speed estimate, a route of travel can be identified and traffic information for that route of travel obtained. Utilizing the traffic information, accuracy of the identified mode of travel and route of travel can be re-analyzed and re-configured at least in part from the traffic speed data for the route of travel. Where speed estimates of the mobile device do not match the traffic speed data, re-analysis can comprise updating speed estimates, analyzing other potential modes of travel or routes of travel, or the like, to improve a best fit for the mode of travel or the route of travel, or a suitable combination thereof. In other words, the traffic speeds can be utilized as a feedback input to verify or constrain initial data inputs for estimated speed calculations, mode of travel selections, or route of travel selections.

At 712, method 700 can comprise referencing topographical information nearing a pre-defined vicinity of the first geographic location, the second geographic location or the network event. At 714, method 700 can comprise determining a mode of travel for the mobile device. Suitable modes of travel can comprise motorized modes of travel, cycling modes of travel, or pedestrian modes of travel, or the like. The mode of travel can be determined at least in part from comparing an estimate of speed of the mobile device to predetermined ranges of speed associated with respective modes of travel.

At 716, method 700 can comprise accessing topography information from the topography map pertinent to the determined mode of travel. At 718, method 700 can comprise accessing contemporary speeds of travel pertinent to the mode of travel. The speeds of travel can be concurrent speeds (e.g., real-time) or post-processed information at a previous time coinciding with the time of the network event. At 720, method 700 can comprise identifying a route of travel of the mobile device from the time and location information of the mobile device, the estimated speed information, or a combination thereof. At 722, method 700 can comprise referencing the route of travel with the mobile location and time information to position the mobile device along the route of travel according to the time information.

Referring now to FIG. 8, method 700 continues at 724 and performs a determination as to whether a suitable match exists between geographic location of route of travel and the mobile location and time information. If so, method 700 proceeds to 726. Otherwise, method 700 proceeds to 728.

At 726, method 700 can comprise determining mobile device position along the route of travel on the topographical map at the time of the network event 726. The position can be refined by interpolating or extrapolating mobile device time and location information with traffic speed data for the route of travel or respective traffic speeds for respective subsets of the route of travel. From 726, method 700 can proceed to 730.

At 728, method 700 can comprise extrapolating or interpolating a position of the mobile device directly from time and location data, in response to failing to identify a route of travel for the mobile device. The position of the mobile device can be refined utilized general traffic speeds for the vicinity of the network event to attempt to improve the position. From 728, method 700 can proceed to 730.

At 730, method 700 can comprise outputting an estimated position of the mobile device in response to receiving the data indicative of the network event. At 732, method 700 can comprise updating network event modeling with the estimated position. At 734, method 700 can comprise acquiring user or device submitted mobile location data near a time of the network event. The user or device submitted mobile location data can be acquired, for instance, from a third-party network server that provides user-submitted locations services, and makes acquired data available for network modeling functionality. At 736, method 700 can comprise refining the estimated position with the user or device submitted data. For instance, where user or device submitted data is available at a later time than network-generated information, the user or device submitted data (e.g., GPS data, . . . ) can be used to further refine estimated mobile device positions, as well as test accuracy of mobile position estimations utilizing techniques disclosed herein. At 738, method 700 can comprise uploading refined position estimates for refining, updating or appending network event modeling.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example apparatus 900 for implementing network event modeling for wireless networking according to further aspects of the subject disclosure. For instance, apparatus 900 can reside at least partially within a wireless communication network and/or within a wireless receiver such as a node, base station, access point, user terminal, personal computer coupled with a mobile interface card, or the like. It is to be appreciated that apparatus 900 is represented as including functional blocks, which can be functional blocks that represent functions implemented by a hardware, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware). In some aspects, the functional blocks can represent non-transitory computer-readable media. In other aspects, the functional blocks can represent transitory computer-readable media.

Apparatus 900 can comprise a computer-readable medium 902 comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that can be accessed over a data communication interface 904. Data communication interface 904 can include a communication bus, a media reader (e.g., disc reader, disk reader, drive reader, . . . ), a data ribbon, a wired data interface, a wireless data interface, a network communication interface, a network signaling interface, or a suitable combination thereof. Additionally, the computer-executable instructions can be stored in an operating memory 908 or executed by a processor 906 to facilitate functionality of apparatus 900.

As depicted, computer-readable medium 902 can comprise a first computer-executable instruction 910 for acquiring mobile position and corresponding time data and network event data. Particularly, the position data can be for times near a time of occurrence of a network event. Additionally, computer-readable medium 902 can comprise a second computer-executable instruction 912 for acquiring topography and concurrent travel rate data for a geographic location related to the position data. Computer-readable medium 902 can also comprise a third computer-executable instruction 914 can be configured for employing a set of known geographic locations for the mobile device at respective predetermined times for extrapolating or interpolating an additional position of the mobile device at a time coinciding with the network event involving the mobile device. In some aspects, the extrapolating or interpolating can employ the topographical data related to the position data. In a particular aspect, the extrapolating or interpolating can employ a route of travel pertaining to the topographical data. In at least one alternative or additional aspect, the extrapolating or interpolating can employ the concurrent travel rate data pertinent to the route of travel. In addition to the foregoing, computer-readable medium 902 can comprise a fourth executable instruction 916 that can be configured for outputting the extrapolated additional position of the mobile device as an estimated position of the network event. This output can be employed for improving accuracy of network event modeling.

Referring now to FIG. 10, illustrated is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative mobile device 1000 capable of maintaining concurrent wireless communication with a radio access network and an access point base station, in accordance with some embodiments described herein. Although a mobile handset 1000 is illustrated herein, it will be understood that other devices can be a mobile device, and that the mobile handset 1000 is merely illustrated to provide context for the embodiments described herein. The following discussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of an example of a suitable environment 1000 in which some of the various disclosed embodiments can be facilitated or implemented. While the description includes a general context of computer-executable instructions embodied on a computer readable storage medium, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects also can be implemented in combination with other program modules or as a combination of hardware, software or firmware.

Applications (e.g., program modules) can include routines, programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the methods described herein can be practiced with other system configurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can be operatively coupled to one or more associated devices. Further, illustrated aspects of the subject disclosure can be practiced in distributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network (e.g., mobile handset 1000 communicating through a mobile communication network). In a distributed computing environment, systems and system components, as well as program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

A computing device such as mobile handset 1000 can include a variety of media, which can include computer-readable storage media or communication media, which two terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.

Computer readable storage media can be any available storage media that can be accessed by a computer (e.g., mobile handset 1000) and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implemented in connection with any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or unstructured data. Computer-readable storage media can include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or other tangible or non-transitory media which can be used to store desired information. Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local or remote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the information stored by the medium.

Communication media embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructured data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any suitable information delivery or transport media. The term "modulated data signal" or signals means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

Mobile handset 1000 includes a processor 1002 for controlling and processing onboard operations and functions. A memory 1004 interfaces to the processor 1002 for storage of data and one or more applications 1006 (e.g., user-generated service feedback, network event feedback, user-originated mobile location transmission, etc.). Other applications can include voice recognition of predetermined voice commands that facilitate receipt of user input. The applications 1006 can be stored in the memory 1004 and/or in a firmware 1008, and executed by the processor 1002 from either or both the memory 1004 or the firmware 1008. The firmware 1008 can also store startup code for execution in initializing mobile handset 1000. A communications component 1010 interfaces to the processor 1002 to facilitate wired/wireless communication with external systems, e.g., cellular networks, VoIP networks, Wi-Fi networks, and so on. Here, the communications component 1010 can also include a suitable cellular transceiver 1011A (e.g., a global system for mobile communication (GSM) transceiver, a code division multiple access (CDMA) transceiver, . . . ) or an unlicensed transceiver 1011B (e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMAX) for corresponding signal communications. Mobile handset 1000 can be a device such as a cellular telephone, a PDA with mobile communications capabilities, and messaging-centric devices, and so on. The communications component 1010 can also facilitate communications reception from terrestrial radio networks (e.g., broadcast), digital satellite radio networks, and Internet-based radio services networks.

Mobile handset 1000 includes a display 1012 for displaying text, images, video, telephony functions (e.g., a Caller ID function), setup functions, and for user input. For example, the display 1012 can also be referred to as a "screen" that can accommodate the presentation of multimedia content (e.g., music metadata, messages, wallpaper, graphics, video, etc.). The display 1012 can also display videos and can facilitate the generation, editing and sharing of graphical or video applications. A serial I/O interface 1014 is provided in communication with the processor 1002 to facilitate wired and/or wireless serial communications (e.g., USB, and/or IEEE 1094) through a hardwire connection, and other serial input devices (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, and mouse). This supports updating and troubleshooting mobile handset 1000, for example. Audio capabilities are provided with an audio I/O component 1016, which can include a speaker for the output of audio signals related to, for example, indication that the user pressed the proper key or key combination to initiate the user feedback signal. The audio I/O component 1016 also facilitates the input of audio signals through a microphone to record data and/or telephony voice data, and for inputting voice signals for telephone conversations.

Mobile handset 1000 can include a slot interface 1018 for accommodating a SIC (Subscriber Identity Component) in the form factor of a card Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or universal SIM 1020, and interfacing the SIM card 1020 with the processor 1002. However, it is to be appreciated that the SIM card 1020 can be manufactured into the handset 1000, and updated by downloading data and software.

The handset 1000 can process IP data traffic through the communication component 1010 to accommodate IP traffic from an IP network such as, for example, the Internet, a corporate intranet, a home network, a personal area network, etc., through an ISP or broadband cable provider. Thus, VoIP traffic can be utilized by the handset 1000 and IP-based multimedia content can be received in either an encoded or decoded format.

A graphics processing component 1022 (e.g., a camera) can be provided for decoding encoded multimedia content. The graphics processing component 1022 can aid in facilitating the generation, playback, editing and sharing of graphical media. Mobile handset 1000 also includes a power source 1024 in the form of batteries and/or an AC power subsystem, which power source 1024 can interface to an external power system or charging equipment (not shown) by a power I/O component 1026.

Mobile handset 1000 can also include a video component 1030 for processing video content received and, for recording and transmitting video content. For example, the video component 1030 can facilitate the generation, editing and sharing of video media. A location tracking component 1032 facilitates geographically locating mobile handset 1000. A user input component 1034 facilitates the user inputting information, responses or selections into mobile handset 1000. The user input component 1034 can include such input device technologies such as a keypad, keyboard, mouse, stylus pen, or touch screen, for example.

Referring again to the applications 1006, a location component 1036 facilitates user-originated transmission of position location data for mobile handset 100 to a network serving mobile handset 1000. A feedback component 1038 can be provided that facilitates user-originated problem event reporting, for instance when a call drops or when service is deemed to be poor by the subscriber. The applications 1006 can also include a client 1042 that provides at least the capability of discovery, play and store of multimedia content, for example, music.

Mobile handset 1000, as indicated above relates to the communications component 1010, includes an indoor network radio transceiver 1011B (e.g., Wi-Fi transceiver). This function supports the indoor radio link, such as IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, . . . ), and other 802.xx protocols (e.g., BlueTooth, Zigbee, . . . ) in the event mobile handset 1000 comprises a dual-mode handset. Mobile handset 1000 can accommodate at least satellite radio services through a handset that can combine wireless voice and digital radio chipsets into a single handheld device.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example embodiment of an access point (AP 1105) to implement and exploit one or more features or aspects of the disclosed subject matter. For instance, AP 1105 can facilitate network-generated position determinations for mobile device, whether periodic, non-periodic, and so on. Moreover, AP 1105 can include one or more network-based systems or components disclosed herein, including event location system 102 of FIG. 1, estimation engine 200 of FIG. 2, event location system 502 of FIG. 5, etc.

In embodiment 1100, AP 1105 can receive and transmit signal(s) (e.g., attachment signaling) from and to wireless devices like access terminals, wireless ports and routers, wireless handsets, Femto cell terminals, or the like, through a set of antennas 1120.sub.1-1020.sub.N (N is a positive integer). It should be appreciated that antennas 1120.sub.1-1020.sub.N can comprise electronic components and associated circuitry that provides for processing and manipulation of received signal(s) and signal(s) to be transmitted. In an aspect, communication platform 1115 includes a receiver/transmitter 1116 that can convert wireless signals from analog to digital upon reception, and from digital to analog upon transmission. In addition, receiver/transmitter 1116 can divide a single data stream into multiple, parallel data streams, or perform a reciprocal operation. Coupled to receiver/transmitter 1116 is a multiplexer/demultiplexer 1117 that facilitates manipulation of signal in time and frequency space. Electronic component 1117 can multiplex information (data/traffic and control/signaling) according to various multiplexing schemes such as time division multiplexing (TDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), space division multiplexing (SDM), . . . . In addition, multiplexer/demultiplexer component 1117 can scramble and spread information (e.g., codes) according to substantially any code known in the art; e.g., Hadamard-Walsh codes, Baker codes, Kasami codes, polyphase codes, and so on. A modulator/demodulator 1118 is also a part of communication platform 1115, and can modulate information according to multiple modulation techniques, such as frequency modulation, amplitude modulation (e.g., M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), with M a positive integer), phase-shift keying (PSK), and the like. Communication platform 1115 can also include a coder/decoder (codec) component 1119 that facilitates decoding received signal(s), and coding signal(s) to convey.

Access point 1105 also includes a processor 1135 configured to confer functionality, at least in part, to substantially any electronic component in AP 1105. In particular, processor 1135 can facilitate determination of propagation delay information of RF signal, or microwave signal, among communication platform 1115 and antennas 1120.sub.1-1020.sub.N, whether alone or in conjunction with one or more other AP(s) (not depicted), to facilitate generation of network-originated position information of a mobile device in accordance with various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein. Power supply 1125 can attach to a power grid and include one or more transformers to achieve power level that can operate AP 1105 components and circuitry. Additionally, power supply 1125 can include a rechargeable power component to ensure operation when AP 1105 is disconnected from the power grid, or in instances, the power grid is not operating.

Processor 1135 can also be functionally connected to communication platform 1115 and can facilitate operations on data (e.g., symbols, bits, or chips) for multiplexing/demultiplexing, such as effecting direct and inverse fast Fourier transforms, selection of modulation rates, selection of data packet formats, inter-packet times, etc. Moreover, processor 1135 can be functionally connected, via a data or system bus, to calibration platform 1112 and other components (not shown) to confer, at least in part functionality to each of such components.

In AP 1105, memory 1145 can store data structures, code instructions and program modules, system or device information, code sequences for scrambling, spreading and pilot transmission, location intelligence storage, determined delay offset(s), over-the-air propagation models, and so on. Processor 1135 is coupled to the memory 1145 in order to store and retrieve information necessary to operate and/or confer functionality to communication platform 1115, calibration platform 1112, and other components (not shown) of access point 1105.

FIG. 12 presents an example embodiment 1200 of a mobile network platform 1210 that can implement and exploit one or more aspects of the disclosed subject matter described herein. For instance, mobile network platform 1210 can be utilized by, or at least in part subsumed within, network 402 of FIG. 4. In another aspect, mobile network(s) 104 or 502 can include, in whole or in part, mobile network platform 1210. In yet other aspects, mobile network platform 1210 can control or provide network functionality for Wi-Fi AP 204, 608A, 608B or 608C, or for macro base station 206, 304, 604A, 604B or 604C, or a suitable combination thereof.

Mobile network platform 1210 can include components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation for networked wireless telecommunication. Mobile network platform 1210 includes CS gateway node(s) 1212 which can interface CS traffic received from legacy networks like telephony network(s) 1240 (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN)) or a signaling system #7 (SS7) network 1260. Circuit switched gateway node(s) 1212 can authorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from such networks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 1212 can access mobility, or roaming, data generated through SS7 network 1260; for instance, mobility data stored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside in memory 1230. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 1212 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and PS gateway node(s) 1218. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gateway node(s) 1212 can be realized at least in part in gateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated that functionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 1212, PS gateway node(s) 1218, and serving node(s) 1216, is provided and dictated by radio technology(ies) utilized by mobile network platform 1210 for telecommunication.

In the disclosed subject matter, in addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic and signaling, PS gateway node(s) 1218 can authorize and authenticate PS-based data sessions with served mobile devices. Data sessions can include traffic, or content(s), exchanged with networks external to the mobile network platform 1210, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 1250, enterprise network(s) 1270, and service network(s) 1280, which can be embodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfaced with mobile network platform 1210 through PS gateway node(s) 1218. It is to be noted that WANs 1250 and enterprise network(s) 1260 can embody, at least in part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). Based on radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) 1217, packet-switched gateway node(s) 1218 can generate packet data protocol contexts when a data session is established; other data structures that facilitate routing of packetized data also can be generated. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 1218 can include a tunnel interface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in 3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetized communication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Fi networks. In at least one aspect, the networks external to the mobile network platform can comprise a network for generating, storing, acquiring or outputting traffic speed information for one or more geographic regions, which can include traffic server 512 of FIG. 5, supra.

In embodiment 1200, mobile network platform 1210 also includes serving node(s) 1216 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) within technology resource(s) 1217, convey the various packetized flows of data streams received through PS gateway node(s) 1218. It is to be noted that for technology resource(s) 1217 that rely primarily on CS communication, server node(s) can deliver traffic without reliance on PS gateway node(s) 1218; for example, server node(s) can embody at least in part a mobile switching center. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, serving node(s) 1216 can be embodied in serving GPRS support node(s) (SGSN).

For radio technologies that exploit packetized communication, server(s) 1214 in mobile network platform 1210 can execute numerous applications (e.g., location services, wireless device management, identifying nearby Wi-Fi access points, estimating position data for suitable mobile devices outside periodic location determinations, . . . ) that can generate multiple disparate packetized data streams or flows, and manage (e.g., schedule, queue, format, duplicate, direct, . . . ) such flows. Such application(s) can include add-on features to standard services (for example, provisioning, billing, customer support . . . ) provided by mobile network platform 1210. Data streams (e.g., content(s) that are part of a voice call or data session) can be conveyed to PS gateway node(s) 1218 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a data session, and to serving node(s) 1216 for communication thereafter. In addition to the application server, server(s) 1214 can include operator systems for acquiring network event or mobile position location information, such as real-time location server 508 or network event server 510 of FIG. 5, supra. Moreover, server(s) 1214 can include utility server(s), a utility server can include a provisioning server, an operations and maintenance server, a security server that can implement at least in part a certificate authority and firewalls as well as other security mechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s) secure communication served through mobile network platform 1210 to ensure network's operation and data integrity in addition to authorization and authentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 1212 and PS gateway node(s) 1218 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s) can provision services from external network(s) like networks operated by a disparate service provider; for instance, WAN 1250 or Global Positioning System (GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s) can also provision coverage through networks associated to mobile network platform 1210 (e.g., deployed and operated by the same service provider), such as Femto cell network(s) or Wi-Fi network(s) (not shown) that enhance wireless service coverage within indoor or confined spaces and offload or share RAN resources in order to enhance subscriber service experience within a home or business environment.

It is to be noted that server(s) 1214 can include one or more processors configured to confer at least in part the functionality of macro network platform 1210. To that end, the one or more processors can execute code instructions stored in memory 1230, for example.

In example embodiment 1200, memory 1230 can store information related to operation of mobile network platform 1210. In particular, memory 1230 can include contents of topography database 210 in example estimation engine 200. Other operational information can include provisioning information of mobile devices served through wireless platform network 1210, subscriber databases; application intelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotional rates, flat-rate programs, subscription services which can include an IP session persistence service; technical specification(s) consistent with telecommunication protocols for operation of disparate radio, or wireless, technology layers; and so forth. Memory 1230 can also store information from at least one of telephony network(s) 1240, WAN 1250, SS7 network 1260, enterprise network(s) 1270 or service network(s) 1280.

It is to be noted that aspects, and features of the disclosed subject matter described in the subject specification can be exploited in substantially any wireless communication technology. For instance, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Enhanced GPRS, 3GPP LTE, 3GPP2 UMB, 3GPP UMTS, HSPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, GERAN, UTRAN, LTE Advanced. Additionally, substantially all aspects of the disclosed subject matter as disclosed in the subject specification can be exploited in legacy telecommunication technologies; e.g., GSM. In addition, mobile as well non-mobile networks (e.g., internet, data service network such as internet protocol television (IPTV)) can exploit aspects or features described herein.

Various aspects or features described herein can be implemented as a method, apparatus or system, or article of manufacture using standard programming or engineering techniques. In addition, various aspects or features disclosed in the subject specification also can be effected through program modules that implement at least one or more of the methods disclosed herein, the program modules being stored in a memory and executed by at least a processor. Other combinations of hardware and software or hardware and firmware can enable or implement aspects described herein, including disclosed method(s). The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer readable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips . . . ), optical discs (e.g., compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), blu-ray disc (BD) . . . ), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive . . . ).

As it employed in the subject specification, the term "processor" can refer to substantially any computing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as "store," "storage," "data store," data storage," "database," and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to "memory components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory.

By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory.

What has been described above includes examples of systems and methods that provide aspects of the disclosed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the disclosed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the subject matter are possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "includes," "has," "possesses," and the like are used in the detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

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