CLOSEST USER TERMINAL SEARCH METHOD FOR A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK AND SERVICE NODE APPLYING SUCH A METHOD

• US 20120021765A1
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hendriks, Jozef Henricus Petrus, Reitsma, Erik Jan, Zwaal, Hugo
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

Service node for a telecommunication network and method for determining a group of n user terminals which are closest to a point of interest. First, a search range with an upper limit is set. Then in an iterative manner, a current search cell of the set of cells is determined and the search cell is queried for user data. The user terminals are added to a set of found user terminals, and if the set of found user terminals comprises n or more user terminals, the upper limit of the search range is adjusted to the n^th lowest distance. This is repeated until no further possible cell can be determined. The set of criteria can be set and matched with obtained user data to find a closest user terminal having a specific role.

Claims

1. In a telecommunication network, a method of reducing a total number of requests and messages associated with determining a group of user terminals, which are closest to a point of interest, the method comprising:

a) determining, from cells of the network, a set of cells to be searched, wherein each cell in the set of cells has an associated distance range to the point of interest, the distance range having a minimum and maximum value;

b) setting a search range with an upper and lower limit;

c) searching, in the set of cells, a current search cell having the lowest distance range minimum value, which is included within the upper and lower limits of the search range

d) querying the current search cell for user data and location data associated with user terminals in the current search cell;

e) updating a set of found user terminals with the user terminals in the current search cell;

f) repeating steps b) through c) for the remaining cells in the set of cells wherein every cell having a distance range minimum lower than the search range upper limit has been searched.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising;

setting a maximum search range,

selecting only cells having a distance range to the point of interest with a minimum value less then the maximum search range, and

setting the search range upper limit initially to the maximum search range.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising;

setting a maximum number for the number of user terminals present in the set of found user terminals,

subsequently setting the initial search range upper limit to a longest distance between the user terminals in the set of found terminals and the point of interest if the maximum number of user terminals in the set of found user terminals is exceeded and said longest distance being less than the current search range upper limit, and

limiting the set of found user terminals to the maximum number of user terminals, which terminals have the shortest distance to the point of interest.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining a set of cells from cells of the network, further comprises:

selecting only cells that serve at least one user terminal matching criteria for being a relevant user terminal;

detecting overlapping cells in the set of cells to be searched and

adjusting the distance range minimum value of the cell that has the higher distance range minimum value.

5. The method according to claim 1, in which the search range lower limit is initially set to the lowest distance range minimum value of the cells in the set of cells to be searched and subsequently set to the distance range minimum value of the current search cell.

6. The method according to claim 1, in which the search range upper limit is initially set to the highest distance range maximum value of the cells in the set of cells to be searched.

7. The method according to claim 1, in which fixed user terminals with a known location are added to cells of the set of cells to be searched if the known location is inside the coverage area of that cell.

8. The method according to claim 1, in which fixed user terminals with a known location are added initially to the set of found user terminals if their distance to the point of interest is less then the search range upper limit.

9. The method according to claim 1, in which determining a current search cell comprises combining two or more cells where each cell has the same distance range minimum value as one current search cell.

10. The method according to claim 1, in which updating a set of found user terminals comprises adding a user terminal served by the current search cell if it matches a set of criteria.

11. The method according to claim 1, in which updating a set of found user terminals comprises adding a user terminal served by the current search cell if its distance to a point of interest is less then the search range upper limit.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed using at least two different sets of criteria in parallel for a single point of interest, providing a set of found user terminals exclusive to each set of criteria.

13. An apparatus, in a telecommunications network comprising cells with a predetermined coverage area serving user terminals, the apparatus arranged for reducing a total number of requests and messages, associated with determining a group of user terminals that are closest to a point of interest in the predetermined coverage area, the apparatus comprising

a processor and associated memory for executing a computer program product stored in the associated memory, the computer program product including instructions for:

a) determining, from cells of the network, a set of cells to be searched, wherein each cell in the set of cells has an associated distance range to the point of interest, the distance range having a minimum and maximum value;

b) setting a search range with an upper and lower limit;

c) searching, in the set of cells, a current search cell having the lowest distance range minimum value, which is included within the upper and lower limits of the search range;

d) querying the current search cell for user data and location data associated with user terminals in the current search cell;

e) updating a set of found user terminals with the user terminals in the current search cell;

f) repeating steps b) through e) for the remaining cells the set of cells wherein every cell having a distance range minimum lower than the search range upper limit has been searched.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, the computer program product further comprising instructions for:

setting a maximum search range,

selecting only cells having a distance range to the point of interest with a minimum value less then the maximum search range, and

setting the search range upper limit initially to the maximum search range.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, the computer program product comprising instructions for:

setting a maximum number for the number of user terminals present in the set of found user terminals,

subsequently setting the initial search range upper limit to a longest distance between the user terminals in the set of found terminals and the point of interest if the maximum number of user terminals in the set of found user terminals is exceeded and said longest distance being less than the current search range upper limit, and

limiting the set of found user terminals to the maximum number of user terminals, which terminals have the shortest distance to the point of interest.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the computer program product farther comprises instructions for determining a set of cells from cells of the network, further comprise:

selecting only cells that serve at least one use terminal matching criteria for being a relevant user terminal;

detecting overlapping cells in the set of cells to be searched and

adjusting the distance range minimum value of the cell that has the higher distance range minimum value.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions for initially setting the search range lower limit to the lowest distance range minimum value of the cells in the set of cells to be searched and subsequently setting to the distance range minimum value of the current search cell.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions for initially setting the search range upper limit to the highest distance range maximum value of the cells in the set of cells to be searched.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions for adding fixed user terminals with a known location to cells of the set of cells to be searched if the known location is inside the coverage area of that cell.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions for initially adding fixed user terminals with a known location to the set of found user terminals if their distance to the point of interest is less then the search range upper limit.

21. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the instructions for determining a current search cell further comprises combining two or more cells where each cell has the same distance range minimum value as one current search cell.

22. The apparatus according to claim 13, in which the instructions for updating set of found user terminals further comprises adding a user terminal served by the current search cell if it matches a set of criteria.

23. The apparatus according to claim 13, in which the instructions for updating a set of found user terminals further comprises adding a user terminal served by the current search cell if its distance to a point of interest is less then the search range upper limit.

24. The apparatus according to claim 13, the computer program product further comprises instructions for utilizing at least two different sets of criteria in parallel for a single point of interest, providing a set of found user terminals exclusive to each set of criteria.