Wireless network optimization

• US 10,749,807 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Filley, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US15/251,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20180063002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/127 by using congestion prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/22 Traffic simulation tools or models
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for optimizing a wireless network. A description of a traffic incident is received. An impact area is generated from the description. A geographic polygon is generated based on the impact area. The network usage of the geographic polygon is determined. A message including the network usage for the geographic polygon may be transmitted to a mobile network operator.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a first description of a traffic incident;

predicting an estimated traffic flow pattern for a first time period as a result of the traffic incident based on the first description, current traffic flow, and historical traffic flow;

determining a first geographic area based on an effect of the estimated traffic flow pattern on the current traffic flow;

generating a first geographic polygon based on the first geographic area;

estimating a first future level of wireless network usage in the first geographic polygon as a result of the traffic incident; and

transmitting the first future level of wireless network usage to a mobile network operator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first geographic area comprises:

predicting an altered traffic pattern resulting from the traffic incident using current traffic and historical traffic information; and

determining the first geographic area where a current traffic pattern is affected by the altered traffic pattern.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the altered traffic pattern comprises increased vehicle congestion.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first geographic area comprises one or more road segments.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein predicting the altered traffic pattern further uses one or more current weather conditions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting map data to one or more devices predicted to enter the first geographic polygon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the first future level of wireless network usage comprises:

overlaying the first geographic polygon on a cellular map;

identifying one or more cells from an overlap of the first geographic polygon and the cellular map;

determining a change in a congestion of the one or more cells based on the estimated traffic flow pattern; and

determining a change in bandwidth for the congestion in the one or more cells.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second description of the traffic incident, wherein predicting the estimated traffic flow pattern is based on the first description and second description.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a second geographic polygon covering a second geographic area affected by the traffic incident for a second time period;

estimating a second future level of wireless network usage for the second geographic polygon; and

transmitting the second future level of wireless network usage to a mobile network operator;

wherein the second time period is later than the first time period; and

wherein the first geographic polygon is different than the second geographic polygon.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first geographic polygon corresponds to a first plurality of cells of a cellular network and the second geographic polygon corresponds to a second plurality of cells of the cellular network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the traffic incident is a traffic event on a road segment of a roadway network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first geographic polygon corresponds to a first plurality of road segments of the roadway network and the second geographic polygon corresponds to a second plurality of road segments of the roadway network.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first geographic area and second geographic area are areas that have increased traffic congestion as a result of the traffic incident.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the first future level of wireless network usage in the first geographic polygon as a result of the traffic incident comprises:

identifying a historical number of connected devices in the first geographic polygon; and

estimating a predicted number of connected devices for the first time period in the first geographic polygon based on the estimated traffic flow pattern.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed are operable to:

receive a description of a traffic incident;

predict an estimated traffic flow pattern for a time period as a result of the traffic incident based on the description, current traffic flow, and historical traffic flow;

determine a geographic area based on an effect of the estimated traffic flow pattern on current traffic flow;

generate a geographic polygon covering the geographic area;

predict a future level of estimated wireless network usage in the geographic polygon based on the estimated traffic flow pattern in the geographic polygon; and

transmit the future level of estimated wireless network usage to a mobile network operator.

16. A system for optimizing a wireless network, the system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a description of a traffic incident;

a processor configured to predict an estimated traffic flow pattern for a time period as a result of the traffic incident based on the description, current traffic flow data, and historical traffic flow data, determine a geographic area based on an effect of the estimated traffic flow pattern on current traffic flow, generate a geographic polygon based on the geographic area, and estimate based on the estimated traffic flow pattern in the geographic polygon, a future level of wireless network usage in the geographic polygon as a result of the traffic incident; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the future level of wireless network usage to a mobile network operator.