Techniques for improved allocation of network resources using geolocation and handover management

• US 9,622,124 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions UK Limted (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions UK Limted (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Adam, Cooper, Nick, Kenington, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, NATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/328,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 455436-444
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/165 for reducing network power consumption H04W36/18 - H04W36/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation

Abstract

Techniques for improved allocation of network resources using geolocation and handover management are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for optimizing a mobile communications network. The system may comprise one or more processors communicatively coupled to a mobile communications network. The one or more processors may be configured identify a neighbors table comprising a handover priority list of target base stations prioritized based on relative signal strength or quality of service of the target base stations apparent to mobile devices in a footprint of a source base station. The one or more processors may also be configured to determine a non-obvious handover plan based on at least one of geolocation data of a mobile device, user information associated with the mobile device, and network resources data. The one or more processors may further be configured to update the handover priority list in the neighbors table based on the non-obvious handover plan to provide improved allocation of network resources and improved signal strength or quality of service to a plurality of mobile devices within the mobile communications network over a sustained period of time.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

identify a neighbors table comprising a handover priority list of target base stations prioritized based on relative signal strength or quality of service of the target base stations;

determine multiple mobile devices that are accessing multiple layers of a network;

determine particular information regarding a mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, based on historical habits of a user of the mobile device and one or more shortcomings associated with a limited frequency coverage of the mobile device;

determine combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices by combining the particular information with other information regarding one or more other mobile devices of the multiple mobile devices;

determine a handover plan based on the combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices;

update the handover priority list based on the handover plan; and

manage a handover of the mobile device from a source base station to one of the target base stations based on the updated handover priority list.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein, when determining the particular information, the one or more processors are configured to:

determine the particular information based on the historical habits of the user, the one or more shortcomings associated with the limited frequency coverage of the mobile device, and network resources data, and

wherein the network resources data comprises data associated with at least one of base station type, capacity, availability, location or nearness to the mobile device, coverage area, or anticipated usage.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein, when determining the particular information, the one or more processors are configured to:

determine the particular information based on the historical habits of the user, the one or more shortcomings associated with the limited frequency coverage of the mobile device, and a direction of movement of the mobile device, and

wherein the one or more other mobile devices are in similar locations and situations as the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, when determining the handover plan, the one or more processors are configured to:

determine that a speed of the mobile device satisfies a speed threshold, and

determine the handover plan that removes or deprioritizes small cell handover from the handover priority list based on determining that the speed of the mobile device satisfies the speed threshold.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein, when determining the particular information, the one or more processors are configured to:

determine the particular information based on the historical habits of the user, the one or more shortcomings associated with the limited frequency coverage of the mobile device, and user information, and

wherein the user information comprises at least one of a type of service of the mobile device, a device type of the mobile device, device capabilities of the mobile device, or a user status of the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the handover plan prioritizes available voice-capable base stations, of the target base stations, on the handover priority list when a type of service, of the mobile device, is a voice service.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the handover plan prioritizes available data-capable base stations, of the target base stations, on the handover priority list when a type of service, of the mobile device, is a data service.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the user status comprises a VIP status assigned to at least one of a high-spending customer, a loyal customer, a corporate executive, or a pay-for-upgrade customer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine that a user status of the user is VIP status; and

perform a VIP action, based on determining that the user status of the user is the VIP status, to free up network resources for the mobile device of the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the VIP action comprises at least one of the following:

migrating other mobile devices, of non-VIP users, to other network resources;

throttling data rate and services available to the other mobile devices of the non-VIP users;

or

preventing the other mobile devices, of the non-VIP users, from being moved to the source base station when the source base station is a heavily used cell to which the mobile device is communicatively coupled.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop or notebook computer, a tablet computer, a wireless phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a multimedia device, a video player, a watch or clock, a gaming device, a navigation device, a television, a printer, an automobile, a fitness device, or a medical device.

12. A method comprising:

identifying, by one or more devices, a neighbors table comprising a handover priority list of target base stations prioritized based on relative signal strength or quality of service of the target base stations;

determining, by the one or more devices, multiple mobile devices that are accessing a network;

determining, by the one or more devices, particular information regarding a mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, based on historical habits of a user of the mobile device and a current load of a source base station;

determining, by the one or more devices, combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices by combining the particular information with other information regarding one or more other mobile devices of the multiple mobile devices;

determining, by the one or more devices, a handover plan based on the combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices;

updating, by the one or more devices, the handover priority list based on the handover plan; and

managing, by the one or more devices, a handover of the mobile device from the source base station to one of the target base stations based on the updated handover priority list.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein determining the particular information comprises:

determining the particular information based on the historical habits of the user, the current load of the source base station, and network resources data, and

wherein the network resources data comprises data associated with at least one of base station type, capacity, availability, location or nearness to the mobile device, coverage area, or anticipated usage.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the particular information comprises:

determining the particular information based on the historical habits of the user, the current load of the source base station, and a direction of movement of the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the handover plan comprises:

determine that a speed of the mobile device satisfies a speed threshold; and

determine the handover plan that removes or deprioritizes small cell handover from the handover priority list based on determining the speed of the mobile device surpasses a predetermined speed threshold.

16. The method of claim 12,

wherein determining the particular information comprises:

determining the particular information based on the historical habits of the user, the current load of the source base station, and user information, and

wherein the user information comprises at least one of a type of service of the mobile device, a device type of the mobile device, device capabilities of the mobile device, or a user status of the user.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the handover plan prioritizes available voice-capable base stations, of the target base stations, on the handover priority list when a type of service, of the mobile device, is a voice service.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the handover plan prioritizes available data-capable base stations, of the target base stations, on the handover priority list when a type of service, of the mobile device, is a data service.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the user status comprises a VIP status assigned to at least one of a high-spending customer, a loyal customer, a corporate executive, or a pay-for-upgrade customer.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining that a user status of the user is VIP status; and

performing a VIP action, based on determining that the user status of the user is the VIP status, to free up network resources for the mobile device of the user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the VIP action comprises at least one of the following:

migrating other mobile devices, of non-VIP users, to other network resources;

throttling data rate and services available to the other mobile devices of the non-VIP users;

or

preventing the other mobile devices, of the non-VIP users, from being moved to the source base station when the source base station is heavily used cell to which the mobile device is communicatively coupled.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of:

a desktop computer, a laptop or notebook computer, a tablet computer, a wireless phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a multimedia device, a video player, a watch or clock, a gaming device, a navigation device, a television, a printer, an automobile, a fitness device, or a medical device.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by at least one computer processor, cause the at least one computer processor to;

identify a handover priority list of target base stations prioritized based on relative signal strength or quality of service of the target base stations in a footprint of a source base station;

determine multiple mobile devices that are accessing a network;

determine particular information regarding a mobile device, of the multiple mobile devices, based on historical habits of a user of flail the mobile device and one or more of;

one or more shortcomings associated with a limited frequency coverage of the mobile device, or

a current load of the source base station,

the historical habits including habitual behavior with regard to speed;

determine combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices by combining the particular information with other information regarding one or more other mobile devices of the multiple mobile devices;

determine a handover plan based on the combined information regarding the multiple mobile devices;

update the handover priority list based on the handover plan; and

manage, based on the updated handover priority list, a handover of the mobile device from the source base station to one of the target base stations.