Method of validating cellular carrier records accuracy

• US 9,113,307 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Billy Minor
• Original Assignee: John Billy Minor
• Inventors: Minor, John Billy
• Primary Examiner(s): Prez-Gutirrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pannell, Mark G.
• Application Number:
  US14/169,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20140213307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 455423-425, 455/446, 4554561-457, 703 13- 22, 342356-35777, 342450-465
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method of validating cellular device location record accuracy is intended to validate and refine cellular carrier records accuracy for investigation and litigation purposes. Records provided by a cellular carrier and other information are analyzed to validate or refine a possible and/or estimated location of a specified cellular device during a specified time frame. More specifically, the location of a specified radio communications transceiver cell site is verified, a nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map is produced, and various pieces of information regarding potential service disruptions during the specified time frame are analyzed in order to produce a more accurate coverage map during the specified time frame for the purpose of quantitatively defining probable or potential locations for the specified cellular device.

Claims

1. A method of validating cellular device location record accuracy comprises the steps of:

providing background information, wherein the background information includes a cellular subscriber activity record, radio communications transceiver site location information, and a plurality of technical configuration characteristics for a specified radio communications transceiver site;

wherein the radio communications transceiver site location information includes geographical location records for the specified radio communications transceiver site and adjacent radio communications transceiver sites;

wherein the specified radio communications transceiver site and the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites are associated with a cellular carrier and provides cellular service to a specified geographical region;

wherein the cellular subscriber activity record corresponds to a specified cellular device;

wherein the specified cellular device is registered with the cellular carrier;

wherein the cellular subscriber activity record indicates the specified cellular device being registered to the specified radio communications transceiver site during a specified time period;

generating a radio communications transceiver site map from the radio communications transceiver site location information;

verifying the geographical location records for the specified radio communications transceiver site and the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites as correct;

producing a nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map for the specified radio communications transceiver site from the radio communications transceiver site map with a radio frequency propagation analysis tool,

wherein the nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map describes a cellular wireless signal coverage boundary around the specified radio communications transceiver site and the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites and cellular wireless signal coverage quality probability for a plurality of sub regions within the cellular coverage boundary;

wherein the radio frequency propagation analysis tool is used to determine reflection, refraction, absorption or other radio frequency modification factors affecting cellular service to the specified geographical region;

executing a plurality of coverage modification factor analysis processes on the background information in order to determine a plurality of potential cellular wireless signal coverage modification factors for the specified geographical region during the specified time period; and

generating a time-specific cellular wireless signal coverage map with a final analysis tool by modifying the nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map based on the potential cellular wireless signal coverage modification factors.

2. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

collecting observed geographical locations for the specified radio communications transceiver site and the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites;

comparing the observed geographical locations with the geographical location records with a geographical location analysis algorithm; and

designating the cellular subscriber activity record as inaccurate,

if the observed geographical locations cannot be collected;

or

if the observed geographical locations do not match the geographical location records.

3. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 2, wherein the observed geographical locations are collected using a global positioning system capable instrument, an internet search tool, or an aerial image viewing tool.

4. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

collecting on-site wireless cellular service test data for the specified geographical region; and

producing the nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map from the on-site wireless cellular service test data using an on-site wireless cellular service test mapping application, wherein the on-site wireless cellular service test mapping application is a desired radio frequency propagation analysis tool.

5. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the step of:

producing the nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map by analyzing the plurality of technical configuration characteristics with a predictive cellular coverage application.

6. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

collecting topographic data for the specified geographical region; and

producing the nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map by analyzing the topographic data using a topographic analysis tool, wherein the topographic analysis tool is a desired radio frequency propagation analysis tool.

7. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

providing subscriber aggregating event information and traffic congestion control policies for the radio communications transceiver site from the background information, wherein the subscriber aggregating event information indicates events causing a gathering of cellular subscribers near the specified radio communications transceiver site and/or one or more of the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites;

analyzing the technical configuration characteristics and traffic congestion policies to determine a traffic loading threshold for the specified radio communications transceiver site, wherein the traffic loading threshold indicates a maximum for cellular subscribers registered to the specified radio communications transceiver site and/or one or more of the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites at one time; and

producing a traffic loading service disruption probability factor with a traffic loading analysis algorithm using the traffic loading threshold and the subscriber aggregating event information, wherein the traffic loading disruption probability factor indicates a probability that a traffic loading event resulted in disrupting cellular service provided by one or more of the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites within the specified geographical region during the specified time period.

8. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

providing historical weather records from the background information; and

analyzing the historical weather records with a weather record analysis algorithm in order to produce a weather event service disruption probability factor, wherein the weather event service disruption probability factor indicates a probability that a weather event resulted in disrupting cellular service provided by the specified radio communications transceiver site and/or one or more of the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites within the specified geographical region during the specified time period.

9. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

providing operation and maintenance logs for the specified radio 30 communications transceiver site from the background information; and

analyzing the operation and maintenance logs with an operation and maintenance log analysis algorithm in order to produce an equipment disruption service disruption probability factor, wherein the equipment disruption service disruption probability factor indicates a probability that an equipment malfunction or a planned maintenance activity resulted in disrupting cellular service provided by one or more of the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites within the specified geographical region during the specified time period.

10. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

providing cellular carrier performance metrics for the specified geographical region from the background information; and

analyzing the cellular carrier performance metrics with a performance metric analysis algorithm in order to produce a substandard performance probability factor, wherein the substandard performance probability factor indicates a probability that substandard performance by specified radio communications transceiver site resulted in disrupting cellular service provided by the specified radio communications transceiver site and/or one of the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites within the specified geographical region during the specified time period.

11. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

providing cellular communications standards and standard adherence information from the background information; and

analyzing the cellular communications standards and standard adherence information with a standard adherence algorithm in order to produce a standard deviation probability factor, wherein the standard deviation probability factor indicates a probability that failure by the cellular carrier network operations to adhere to industry standards resulted in disrupting cellular service provided by the specified radio communications transceiver site and/or one of the adjacent radio communications transceiver sites within the specified geographical region during the specified time period.

12. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the step of:

modifying the nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map by changing the cellular wireless signal coverage boundary with the final analysis tool based on at least one of the potential cellular wireless signal coverage modification factors.

13. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the step of:

modifying the nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map by changing the cellular wireless signal coverage quality probability for at least one of the sub regions with the final analysis tool based on at least one of the potential cellular wireless signal coverage modification factors.

14. The method of validating cellular device location record accuracy as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the step of:

modifying the nominal cellular wireless signal coverage map by changing the cellular wireless signal coverage quality probability for at least one of the sub regions and changing the cellular wireless signal coverage boundary with the final analysis tool based on at least one of the potential wireless cellular signal coverage modification factors.