Techniques for improved allocation of network resources using geolocation and handover management

• US 10,206,158 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions UK Limted (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions UK Limted (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Adam, Cooper, Nick, Kenington, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Nathan A
• Application Number:
  US15/442,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20170171793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/165 for reducing network power consumption H04W36/18 - H04W36/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation

Abstract

Techniques for improved allocation of network resources using geolocation and handover management are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for optimizing a mobile communications network. The system may comprise one or more processors communicatively coupled to a mobile communications network. The one or more processors may be configured identify a neighbors table comprising a handover priority list of target base stations prioritized based on relative signal strength or quality of service of the target base stations apparent to mobile devices in a footprint of a source base station. The one or more processors may also be configured to determine a non-obvious handover plan based on at least one of geolocation data of a mobile device, user information associated with the mobile device, and network resources data. The one or more processors may further be configured to update the handover priority list in the neighbors table based on the non-obvious handover plan to provide improved allocation of network resources and improved signal strength or quality of service to a plurality of mobile devices within the mobile communications network over a sustained period of time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by one or more devices, multiple mobile devices that are accessing a network;

determining, by the one or more devices, first information regarding a first mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, of a first subscriber,

the first mobile device accessing a first layer of the network;

determining, by the one or more devices, second information regarding a second mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, of a second subscriber,

the second mobile device accessing a second layer of the network, and

the second layer of the network being different from the first layer of the network;

determining, by the one or more devices, combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices by combining the first information regarding the first mobile device with the second information regarding the second mobile device;

determining, by the one or more devices, a handover plan based on the combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices; and

managing, by the one or more devices, a handover based on the handover plan.

2. The method of claim 1, where determining the handover plan comprises:

determining the handover plan based on geolocation data of the first mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, where the geolocation data of the first mobile device comprises information regarding at least one of:

speed,

direction of movement,

historic location,

current location, or

travel path prediction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a neighbors table comprising a handover priority list associated with target base stations prioritized based on at least one of relative signal strength or quality of service of the target base stations,

where managing the handover comprises;

managing the handover of the first mobile device from a source base station to one of the target base stations based on the handover priority list.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that a speed of the first mobile device satisfies a speed threshold,

where determining the handover plan comprises;

determining the handover plan that at least one of removes or deprioritizes small cell handover from the handover priority list based on determining that the speed of the first mobile device satisfies the speed threshold.

6. The method of claim 4, where information in the handover priority list is prioritized based on a predicted next position of the first mobile device.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that a type of service of the first mobile device is a voice service,

where determining the handover plan comprises;

determining the handover plan that prioritizes voice-capable base stations associated with the handover priority list based on determining that the type of service of the first mobile device is the voice service.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

identify multiple mobile devices that are accessing a network;

determine first information regarding a first mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, of a first subscriber,

the first mobile device accessing a first layer of the network;

determine second information regarding a second mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, of a second subscriber,

the second mobile device accessing a second layer of the network, and

the second layer of the network being different from the first layer of the network;

determine combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices by combining the first information regarding the first mobile device with the second information regarding the second mobile device;

determine a handover plan based on the combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices; and

manage a handover based on the handover plan.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, where the one or more instructions, that cause the at least one processor to determine the handover plan, cause the at least one processor to:

determine the handover plan based on geolocation data of the first mobile device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, where the geolocation data of the first mobile device comprises information regarding at least one of:

speed,

direction of movement,

historic location,

current location, or

travel path prediction.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8,

where the one or more instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

identify a neighbors table comprising a handover priority list associated with target base stations prioritized based on at least one of relative signal strength or quality of service of the target base stations, and

where the one or more instructions, that cause the at least one processor to manage the handover, cause the at least one processor to;

manage the handover of the first mobile device from a source base station to one of the target base stations based on the handover priority list.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11,

where the one or more instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

determine that a speed of the first mobile device satisfies a speed threshold, and

where the one or more instructions, that cause the at least one processor to determine the handover plan, cause the at least one processor to;

determine the handover plan that at least one of removes or deprioritizes small cell handover from the handover priority list based on determining that the speed of the first mobile device satisfies the speed threshold.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, where information in the handover priority list is prioritized based on a predicted next position of the first mobile device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11,

where the one or more instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

determine that a type of service of the first mobile device is a voice service, and

where the one or more instructions, that cause the at least one processor to determine the handover plan, cause the at least one processor to;

determine the handover plan that prioritizes voice-capable base stations associated with the handover priority list based on determining that the type of service of the first mobile device is the voice service.

15. A device comprising:

one or more processors to;

identify multiple mobile devices that are accessing a network;

determine first information regarding a first mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, of a first subscriber,

the first mobile device accessing a first layer of the network;

determine second information regarding a second mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, of a second subscriber,

the second mobile device accessing a second layer of the network, and

the second layer of the network being different from the first layer of the network;

determine combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices by combining the first information regarding the first mobile device with the second information regarding the second mobile device;

determine a handover plan based on the combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices; and

manage a handover based on the handover plan.

16. The device of claim 15, where the one or more processors, when determining the handover plan, are to:

determine the handover plan based on geolocation data of the first mobile device.

17. The device of claim 16, where the geolocation data of the first mobile device comprises information regarding at least one of:

speed,

direction of movement,

historic location,

current location, or

travel path prediction.

18. The device of claim 15,

where the one or more processors are further to:

identify a neighbors table comprising a handover priority list associated with target base stations prioritized based on at least one of relative signal strength or quality of service of the target base stations, and

where the one or more processors, when managing the handover, are to;

manage the handover of the first mobile device from a source base station to one of the target base stations based on the handover priority list.

19. The device of claim 18,

where the one or more processors are further to:

determine that a speed of the first mobile device satisfies a speed threshold, and

where the one or more processors, when determining the handover plan, are to;

determine the handover plan that at least one of removes or deprioritizes small cell handover from the handover priority list based on determining that the speed of the first mobile device satisfies the speed threshold.

20. The device of claim 18, where information in the handover priority list is prioritized based on a predicted next position of the first mobile device.