Predicting user availability from aggregated signal strength data
First Claim
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1. A method for determining the availability of a user of a mobile communications device on a network, comprising:
- collecting, from a plurality of mobile communications devices associated with a coverage service and one or more carriers, a plurality of data sets;
determining at least one predefined service boundary in respect of each of the one or more carriers using the plurality of data sets, the predefined service boundary defining a locus of locations where a change in service is expected to occur;
after determining at least one predefined service boundary, generating service coverage data defining a geographic location of at least a segment of the at least one predefined service boundary for a predetermined geographic region;
providing service coverage data comprising at least a segment of a predefined service boundary between different areas of service provided by different service providers;
determining, using tracking data for the mobile communications device, when the mobile communications device is likely to exit the predetermined geographic region;
transmitting to the mobile communications device further service coverage data defining the geographic location of at least a segment of the predefined service boundary for an adjacent predetermined geographic region that the mobile communications device is expected to enter; and
issuing a notification of a change in service associated with crossing the predefined service boundary from one area serviced by one service provider to a different area serviced by another service provider.
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for determining the availability of a mobile communications device on a network based on a prediction that the device will cross a pre-defined service boundary between two different coverage areas serviced by two different service providers. Specifically, when the device is predicted to cross the service boundary, or has crossed the boundary, a notification of a change in service is issued to at least one of the user of the device, a presence service, or another network operator. The notification may include a change in the presence status of the mobile communications device.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for determining the availability of a user of a mobile communications device on a network, comprising:
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collecting, from a plurality of mobile communications devices associated with a coverage service and one or more carriers, a plurality of data sets; determining at least one predefined service boundary in respect of each of the one or more carriers using the plurality of data sets, the predefined service boundary defining a locus of locations where a change in service is expected to occur; after determining at least one predefined service boundary, generating service coverage data defining a geographic location of at least a segment of the at least one predefined service boundary for a predetermined geographic region; providing service coverage data comprising at least a segment of a predefined service boundary between different areas of service provided by different service providers; determining, using tracking data for the mobile communications device, when the mobile communications device is likely to exit the predetermined geographic region; transmitting to the mobile communications device further service coverage data defining the geographic location of at least a segment of the predefined service boundary for an adjacent predetermined geographic region that the mobile communications device is expected to enter; and issuing a notification of a change in service associated with crossing the predefined service boundary from one area serviced by one service provider to a different area serviced by another service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A coverage service system for determining availability of a mobile communications device in a network, comprising:
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a memory that stores; a plurality of data sets collected from a plurality of mobile communications devices associated with a coverage service and one or more carriers, at least one predefined service boundary determined in respect of each of the one or more carriers using the plurality of data sets, the at least one predefined service boundary defining a locus of locations where a change in service is expected to occur, service coverage data generated after determining the at least one predefined service boundary, the service coverage data defining a geographic location of at least a segment of the at least one predefined service boundary for a predetermined geographic region, and tracking data received from a mobile communications device; a processor that predicts, using the received tracking data, when the mobile communications device is likely to exit the predetermined geographic region and issues a notification of a change in service associated with crossing the predefined service boundary from one area serviced by one service provider to a different area serviced by another service provider; and a transmitter that transmits to the mobile communications device, further service coverage data defining the geographic location of at least a segment of the predefined service boundary for an adjacent predetermined geographic region that the mobile communications device is expected to enter. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification