Hidden wireless user estimation based on wireless network usage data

• US 9,154,970 B1
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Gatmir-Motahari, Sara, Jintaseranee, Kosol, Zang, Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Shen, Qun
• Application Number:
  US13/680,428
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition

Abstract

A data processing system estimates hidden (off-net) wireless network users based on wireless communication network usage. The system processes wireless network usage data to estimate a first amount of frequent off-net users at a location in a time period based on past frequent on-net users who were at the location in past time periods at a rate above a frequent user threshold. The system processes the first amount and the wireless network usage data to estimate a second amount of infrequent off-net users at the location in the time period. The system process the first amount of the frequent off-net users and the second amount of the infrequent off-net users to estimate a total amount of off-net users at the location in the time period.

Claims

1. A method of operating a data processing system to estimate user population based on wireless communication network usage, the method comprising:

in a communication interface, receiving wireless network usage data;

in a processing system, processing the wireless network usage data to estimate an amount of on-net users at a location in a time period who were at the location in past time periods, wherein the amount of on-net users comprise an amount of frequent on-net users having wireless network usage above a threshold and an amount of infrequent on-net users having wireless network usage below the threshold;

in the processing system, processing the wireless network usage data and the amount of on-net users at the location in the time period who were at the location in the past time periods to estimate an amount of frequent off-net users at the location in a time period;

in the processing system, processing the amount of frequent off-net users and the wireless network usage data to estimate an amount of infrequent off-net users at the location in the time period; and

in the processing system, processing the amount of the frequent off-net users and the amount of the infrequent off-net users to estimate a total amount of off-net users at the location in the time period.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the wireless network usage data to estimate the amount of off-net users at the location in the time period who were at the location in past time periods comprises determining presence probabilities at the location in the time period for at least some of the past on-net users.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein processing the wireless network usage data to estimate the amount of off-net users at the location in the time period who were at the location in past time periods comprises aggregating the presence probabilities.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the amount of frequent off-net users and the wireless network usage data to estimate the amount of infrequent off-net users at the location in the time period comprises multiplying the amount of frequent off-net users by a ratio of the amount of infrequent on-net users to the amount of frequent on-net users.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the wireless network usage data to estimate the amount of frequent off-net users comprises determining the amount of frequent on-net users who were at the location in the past time periods with past wireless network usage data above the threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising aggregating the total amount of the off-net users at the location in the time period with an additional amount of on-net users at the location in the time period to indicate a total amount of network users at the location in the time period.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising scaling the total amount of network users at the location in the time period by a network penetration factor to determine a population at the location in the time period.

8. A computer apparatus to direct a data processing system to estimate user population based on wireless communication network usage, the computer apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

one or more non-transitory computer readable media coupled to the processor storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to;

to process wireless network usage data to estimate an amount of on-net users at a location in a time period who were at the location in past time periods, wherein the amount of on-net users comprise an amount of frequent on-net users having wireless network usage above a threshold and an amount of infrequent on-net users having wireless network usage below the threshold;

to process the wireless network usage data and the amount of on-net users at the location in the time period who were at the location in the past time periods to estimate an amount of frequent off-net users at the location in the time period;

to process the amount of frequent off-net users and the wireless network usage data to estimate an amount of infrequent off-net users at the location in the time period; and

to process the amount of the frequent off-net users and the amount of the infrequent off-net users to estimate a total amount of off-net users at the location in the time period.

9. The computer apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data processing software is configured to direct the data processing system to determine presence probabilities at the location in the time period for at least some of the past on-net users.

10. The computer apparatus of claim 9 wherein the data processing software is configured to direct the data processing system to aggregate the presence probabilities.

11. The computer apparatus of claim 10 wherein the data processing software is configured to direct the data processing system to determine if the past on-net users were on-net at the location in the past time periods or were on-net and off-location in the past time periods.

12. The computer apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data processing software is configured to direct the data processing system to multiply the amount of frequent off-net users by a ratio of the amount of infrequent on-net users to the amount of frequent on-net users.

13. The computer apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data processing software is configured to direct the data processing system to determine the past on-net users who were at the location in the past time periods with the past wireless network usage data above the threshold.

14. The computer apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data processing software is configured to direct the data processing system to aggregate the total amount of the off-net users at the location in the time period with an additional amount of on-net users at the location in the time period to indicate a total amount of network users at the location in the time period.

15. The computer apparatus of claim 14 wherein the data processing software is configured to direct the data processing system to scale the total amount of network users at the location in the time period by a network penetration factor to determine a population at the location in the time period.