Computational syndrome detector

• US 8,254,909 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Steven, Shrum, Edgar Jr., Kreiner, Barret
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/969,131
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 455421-425, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/434, 455/441, 455/41.2, 455 6711- 677
• US Class Current: 455/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/336 Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide for analysis of wireless signal session data records in order to detect a selectively defined relationship. The relationship involves one or more wireless signal performance metrics and a geographical area. The relationships can be correlated with at least one syndrome of real-world circumstances. Detection of one or more relationships can be reported and leveraged to improve wireless signal service within an area or throughout a wireless system or infrastructure. Such detection and syndrome reporting can also be used to provide valuable and time-saving information to wireless system users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing, using a processor, a plurality of wireless signal session data records to detect a first relationship within the plurality of wireless signal session data records, the first relationship characterizing rates of movement of wireless devices between two different access points within a geographical area of a wireless system, the wireless devices being associated with the wireless signal session data records;

generating a report based on the first relationship;

deriving information from the report, the information including a syndrome, the syndrome indicating whether a rate of movement of at least one wireless signal session along a wireless service corridor during a period of time is less than expected; and

providing the information to a first wireless device by way of wireless signals.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a second relationship characterizing whether a number of failed wireless signal sessions exceeds a threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a third relationship characterizing whether a number of wireless devices repeatedly accessing a particular wireless system resource during a period of time exceeds a threshold.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the particular wireless system resource corresponds to a cellular communications tower located within wireless signal service range of a roadway.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the syndrome is correlated with the first relationship.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing the plurality of wireless signal session data records includes at least one of regression analysis or probabilistic analysis of at least some of the plurality of wireless signal session data records.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wireless signal session data records correspond to two or more different wireless service users.

18. The method of claim 5 wherein the syndrome indicates a rate at which at least one of the wireless devices passes through a coverage area.

8. At least one tangible computer-readable storage medium storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause one or more processors to at least:

detect a first pattern within a plurality of wireless signal session data records, the first pattern characterizing whether a number of wireless devices repeatedly accessing a first wireless system resource within a geographical area during a period of time exceeds a first threshold;

generate a report based on the first pattern;

derive information from the report, the information including a syndrome, the syndrome indicating whether a rate of movement of at least one wireless signal session along a wireless service corridor during a period of time is less than expected; and

provide the information to a first wireless device by way of wireless signals.

9. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the plurality of wireless signal session data records corresponds to two or more distinct wireless service users.

10. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform at least one of regression analysis or probabilistic analysis to analyze the plurality of wireless signal session data records.

11. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to detect a second pattern characterizing whether a number of failed wireless signal sessions exceeds a second threshold.

12. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the first wireless system resource is located within wireless signal service range of a transportation system.

13. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the first wireless system resource corresponds to a cellular communications tower located within wireless signal service range of a roadway.

14. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the report is accessible by a resource of a wireless system.

15. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to detect a second pattern characterizing a rate of propagation of a particular wireless device between distinct access points of a wireless system.

16. At least one tangible computer-readable storage medium storing machine readable instructions which, when executed cause one or more processors of a wireless system to at least:

detect a pattern within a plurality of wireless signal session data records corresponding to two or more wireless service users, the pattern involving at least one wireless signal performance metric within a geographical area;

generate a report based on the pattern, the report to be accessed by one or more resources of the wireless system, the report including a syndrome corresponding to the pattern, the syndrome indicating whether a rate of movement of wireless signal sessions along a wireless service corridor during a time period is less than expected; and

provide the information to a first wireless device by way of wireless signals.

17. At least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the pattern characterizes whether a number of wireless devices repeatedly accessing a particular wireless system resource during a period of time exceeds a threshold.