Location intelligence management system for border security

• US 9,788,165 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2016
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Bolon, Brian R., Dodds, Larry V., Ward, Matthew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US15/175,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20160373898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/302 gathering intelligence information for situation awareness or reconnaissance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Collection and analysis of network transaction information which includes the mobile device'"'"'s usage, location, movements coupled with data from non-wireless network sources allow for the automation of analysis for the detection of smuggling or other criminal behaviors and tasking of high-accuracy location surveillance.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more databases configured to store data associated with a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the data comprises one or more network events indicative of one or more registrations of each of the plurality of mobile devices with a wireless communications network (WCN);

a computing device in communication with the one or more databases, wherein the computing device is configured to;

determine, based on the data, a plurality of geo-profiles for the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the plurality of geo-profiles corresponds to a respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the plurality of geo-profiles comprises comprising;

time information comprising a time of a registration, with the WCN, of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, and

location information comprising a location of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices at the time of the registration with the WCN;

determine, based on a correlation between a location of a registration in a first geo-profile of a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and a location of a registration in a second geo-profile of a second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, an association between the first mobile device and the second mobile device; and

determine, in response to a time offset between a time of the registration in the first geo-profile of the first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and a time of the registration in the second geo-profile of the second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, that the association is an indirect association.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises metadata related to a relationship between two or more of the plurality of mobile devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more registrations of each of the plurality of mobile devices with the WCN comprises a cluster of registrations occurring within a defined geographic area.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cluster of registrations is in an area of a portal of a tunnel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more registrations of each of the plurality of mobile devices with the WCN comprise a string of registrations along a flight path of an aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to be coupled to a link monitoring system (LMS), to store wireless network transaction information obtained by the LMS, and to store one or more of association data or sensor fusion data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor fusion data comprises at least one of:

image recognition data, photographic data, or videometric identity data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

determine, based on another location of a registration in the first geo-profile of the first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and another location of a registration in the second geo-profile of the second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, that the first mobile device and the second mobile device are co-located.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the relationship between the two or more of the plurality of mobile devices is represented by data indicative of a communication session between the two or more of the plurality of mobile devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

determine, based on the plurality of geo-profiles, a plurality of relationships between the plurality of mobile devices and a plurality of locations.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the plurality of mobile devices further comprises one or more mobile identifiers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more mobile identifiers comprise one or more of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MS-ISDN), or a Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) identifiers.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the plurality of mobile devices further comprises network control events.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the network control events comprise one or more of a location update, a handover, a power up IMSI attach, or a power down de-registration.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

determine, based on the plurality of geo-profiles, a subset of the plurality of mobile devices that have entered a secured area; and

determine, based on the subset of the plurality of mobile devices, a respective plurality of mobile users associated with the subset of the plurality of mobile devices.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine, based on an Area Presence Determination of the plurality of geo-profiles, whether a specific mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices was present in an area-of-interest (AOI) at a specific time.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine, based on a geo-profile of a specific mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, a user of the specific mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine, based on one or more of the plurality of geo-profiles comprising a location of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices at a time of a registration in an area near a border, one or more mobile devices of the plurality of mobile devices associated with an unlawful border crossing.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine, in response to a time correlation between the time of the registration in the first geo-profile of the first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and the time of the registration in the second geo-profile of the second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, that the association is direct.

20. A method comprising:

storing data associated with a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the data comprises one or more network events indicative of one or more registrations of each of the plurality of mobile devices with a wireless communications network (WCN);

determining, based on the data, a plurality of geo-profiles for the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the plurality of geo-profiles corresponds to a respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the plurality of geo-profiles comprises;

time information comprising a time of a registration, with the WCN, of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, and

location information comprising a location of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices at the time of the registration with the WCN;

determining, based on a correlation between a location of a registration in a first geo-profile of a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and a location of a registration in a second geo-profile of a second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, an association between the first mobile device and the second mobile device; and

determining, in response to a time offset between a time of the registration in the first geo-profile of the first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and a time of the registration in the second geo-profile of the second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, that the association is an indirect association.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining, based on one or more of the plurality of geo-profiles comprising a location of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices at a time of a registration in an area near a border, one or more mobile devices of the plurality of mobile devices associated with an unlawful border crossing.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining, in response to a correlation between the time of the registration in the first geo-profile of the first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and the time of the registration in the second geo-profile of the second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, that the association is direct.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining, based on another location of a registration in the first geo-profile of the first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and another location of a registration in the second geo-profile of the second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, that the first mobile device and the second mobile device are co-located.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining, based on a geo-profile of a specific mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, a user of the specific mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining, based on the plurality of geo-profiles, a plurality of relationships between the plurality of mobile devices and a plurality of locations.

26. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories storing data associated with a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the data comprises one or more network events indicative of one or more registrations of each of the plurality of mobile devices with a wireless communications network (WCN), and

wherein the one or more memories store processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

determine, based on the data, a plurality of geo-profiles for the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the plurality of geo-profiles corresponds to a respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the plurality of geo-profiles comprises;

time information comprising a time of a registration, with the WCN, of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, and

location information comprising a location of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices at the time of the registration with the WCN;

determine, based on a correlation between a location of a registration in a first geo-profile of a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and a location of a registration in a second geo-profile of a second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, an association between the first mobile device and the second mobile device; and

determine, in response to a time offset between a time of the registration in the first geo-profile of the first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and a time of the registration in the second geo-profile of the second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, that the association is an indirect association.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine, based on one or more of the plurality of geo-profiles comprising a location of each respective mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices at a time of a registration in an area near a border, one or more mobile devices of the plurality of mobile devices associated with an unlawful border crossing.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine, in response to a correlation between the time of the registration in the first geo-profile of the first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and the time of the registration in the second geo-profile of the second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, that the association is direct.