Abstract: The invention relates to an asynchronous wireless communication system, such as a UMTS system. The various base stations of an asynchronous wireless communication system do not typically have known timing offsets Tb(i), and these timing offsets vary with time. The invention allows the calculation of the difference dTb(i,j) between timing offsets Tb(i), Tb(j) for pairs of base stations B(i), B(j), using the timing of signals received by one or more wireless communication units. Having eliminated the timing offsets between the base stations as a variable, geo-location techniques from synchronous networks may then be used to locate wireless communication units in the asynchronous wireless communication system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an asynchronous wireless communication system, such as a UMTS system. The various base stations of an asynchronous wireless communication system do not typically have known timing offsets Tb(i), and these timing offsets vary with time. The invention allows the calculation of the difference dTb(i,j) between timing offsets Tb(i), Tb(j) for pairs of base stations B(i), B(j), using the timing of signals received by one or more wireless communication units. Having eliminated the timing offsets between the base stations as a variable, geo-location techniques from synchronous networks may then be used to locate wireless communication units in the asynchronous wireless communication system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an asynchronous wireless communication system, such as a UMTS system. The various base stations of an asynchronous wireless communication system do not typically have known timing offsets Tb(i), and these timing offsets vary with time. The invention allows the calculation of the difference dTb(i,j) between timing offsets Tb(i), Tb(j) for pairs of base stations B(i), B(j), using the timing of signals received by one or more wireless communication units. Having eliminated the timing offsets between the base stations as a variable, geo-location techniques from synchronous networks may then be used to locate wireless communication units in the asynchronous wireless communication system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating reference signatures for use in geolocation in a cellular wireless communication system is provided. A first signature for a mobile communication unit comprises location information, a timestamp, and radio frequency measurement information obtained by a mobile communication unit at a location, but does not contain identification information for the mobile communication unit. The first signature is compared to signatures in a database, to identify a second signature that has a timestamp and radio frequency measurement information that correspond to those of the first signature. A reference signature is created by combining at least a part of the first signature with at least a part of the second signature. Repetition of the comparison and combination steps creates a database of reference signatures, for use in geolocating other received call signatures.

Abstract: A method for geo-location of a wireless communication unit (410) is provided. The communication unit (410) communicates with a wireless communication network (430) of a wireless communication system (400). A probability density function is derived for the location of the wireless communication unit (410), from measured information and/or information about the wireless communication network (430). The probability density function is sampled to provide spatial and probability information about each of at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit (410). A wireless communication system (400) and a method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system (400) are also provided.

Abstract: Communication session data from a mobile radio communications network (100) is processed to extract substantially all communication session data relating to calls in at least two sectors of the network. This processing occurs as the communication session data becomes available, thereby providing a stream of communication session data (210). From the stream of communication session data (210), a high priority data stream (220) is created. The high priority data steam (220) comprises a minority of the communication session data for each call in the at least two sectors of the network (100). Geolocation data (230) is produced for each call. An immediately accessible copy of both the high priority data stream (220) and the geolocation data (230) is provided, for each call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving indoor/outdoor classification information for call data for a wireless communication network. The method comprises identifying a set of subscriber call data records relating to vehicular calls, deriving a physical channel measurement threshold value based at least partly on physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records identified as relating to vehicular calls, and classifying subscriber call data records for the wireless communication network as indoor subscriber call data records and outdoor subscriber call data records based at least partly on a comparison of physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records with the derived physical channel measurement threshold value.

Abstract: Techniques for dynamic network optimization using geolocation and network modeling are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for network optimization. The system may comprise a data collection system configured to collect geolocated subscriber records from a plurality of mobile devices. The system may also comprise a SON optimization system communicatively coupled to the data collection system via a network. The SON optimization system may comprise at least one pre-processor configured to receive and process geolocated subscriber records from the data collection system. The SON optimization system may further comprise a network simulator configured to perform network simulation analysis based on the processed geolocated subscriber records, and provide a new network configuration based on the network simulation analysis, wherein the new network configuration is estimated to improve network performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating reference signatures for use in geolocation in a cellular wireless communication system is provided. A first signature for a mobile communication unit comprises location information, a timestamp, and radio frequency measurement information obtained by a mobile communication unit at a location, but does not contain identification information for the mobile communication unit. The first signature is compared to signatures in a database, to identify a second signature that has a timestamp and radio frequency measurement information that correspond to those of the first signature. A reference signature is created by combining at least a part of the first signature with at least a part of the second signature. Repetition of the comparison and combination steps creates a database of reference signatures, for use in geolocating other received call signatures.

Abstract: Communication session data from a mobile radio communications network (100) is processed to extract substantially all communication session data relating to calls in at least two sectors of the network. This processing occurs as the communication session data becomes available, thereby providing a stream of communication session data (210), From the stream of communication session data (210), a high priority data stream (220) is created. The high priority data steam (220) comprises a minority of the communication session data for each call in the at least two sectors of the network (100). Geolocation data (230) is produced for each call. An immediately accessible copy of both the high priority data stream (220) and the geolocation data (230) is provided, for each call.

Abstract: A method for geo-location of a wireless communication unit (410) is provided. The communication unit (410) communicates with a wireless communication network (430) of a wireless communication system (400). A probability density function is derived for the location of the wireless communication unit (410), from measured information and/or information about the wireless communication network (430). The probability density function is sampled to provide spatial and probability information about each of at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit (410). A wireless communication system (400) and a method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system (400) are also provided.

Abstract: A cellular wireless communications system and method of generating reference signatures for use in geolocation are provided. The cellular wireless communications system identifies a sub-area within the coverage area of a cellular wireless communications system, the sub-area having a density of radio frequency measurements that is below a threshold value. A user of a subscriber mobile communication unit is influenced to enter the sub-area, the subscriber mobile communication unit being a subscriber to the cellular wireless communications system. The cellular wireless communications system obtains radio frequency measurements from the subscriber mobile communication unit in the sub-area, and generates reference signatures and/or location estimates from the radio frequency measurements. The reference signatures may be used to geolocate connections made by other mobile communication units within the sub-areas.

Abstract: A method of deriving cell characteristic values for cells within a wireless communication network. The method for determining a set of cells for which cell characteristic values are to be derived, and using a genetic algorithm to derive cell characteristic values for the set of cells based at least partly on measurement data obtained by wireless communication subscriber units within the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A method for geo-location of a wireless communication unit (410) is provided. The communication unit (410) communicates with a wireless communication network (430) of a wireless communication system (400). A probability density function is derived for the location of the wireless communication unit (410), from measured information and/or information about the wireless communication network (430). The probability density function is sampled to provide spatial and probability information about each of at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit (410). A wireless communication system (400) and a method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system (400) are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving indoor/outdoor classification information for call data for a wireless communication network. The method comprises identifying a set of subscriber call data records relating to vehicular calls, deriving a physical channel measurement threshold value based at least partly on physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records identified as relating to vehicular calls, and classifying subscriber call data records for the wireless communication network as indoor subscriber call data records and outdoor subscriber call data records based at least partly on a comparison of physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records with the derived physical channel measurement threshold value.

Abstract: Communication session data from a mobile radio communications network (100) is processed to extract substantially all communication session data relating to calls in at least two sectors of the network. This processing occurs as the communication session data becomes available, thereby providing a stream of communication session data (210). From the stream of communication session data (210), a high priority data stream (220) is created. The high priority data steam (220) comprises a minority of the communication session data for each call in the at least two sectors of the network (100). Geolocation data (230) is produced for each call. An immediately accessible copy of both the high priority data stream (220) and the geolocation data (230) is provided, for each call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving indoor/outdoor classification information for call data for a wireless communication network. The method comprises identifying a set of subscriber call data records relating to vehicular calls, deriving a physical channel measurement threshold value based at least partly on physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records identified as relating to vehicular calls, and classifying subscriber call data records for the wireless communication network as indoor subscriber call data records and outdoor subscriber call data records based at least partly on a comparison of physical channel measurement values for the subscriber call data records with the derived physical channel measurement threshold value.

Abstract: The invention relates to an asynchronous wireless communication system, such as a UMTS system. The various base stations of an asynchronous wireless communication system do not typically have known timing offsets Tb(i), and these timing offsets vary with time. The invention allows the calculation of the difference dTb(i,j) between timing offsets Tb(i), Tb(j) for pairs of base stations B(i), B(j), using the timing of signals received by one or more wireless communication units. Having eliminated the timing offsets between the base stations as a variable, geo-location techniques from synchronous networks may then be used to locate wireless communication units in the asynchronous wireless communication system.

Abstract: A femto cell is located within a macro cell of a wireless communication system. A method of identifying the femto cell comprises: determining at least one timing difference, the at least one timing difference being observed for communications between a wireless communication unit and each of a femto cell and at least one macro cell; and comparing the at least one observed timing difference to reference timing difference data. The identity of the femto cell may allow the location of the femto cell to be set as a geographical location for a wireless communication device that is within the footprint of the femto cell. The identity of the femto cell may allow hand in of an ongoing call, from the macro cell to the femto cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to an asynchronous wireless communication system, such as a UMTS system. The various base stations of an asynchronous wireless communication system do not typically have known timing offsets Tb(i), and these timing offsets vary with time. The invention allows the calculation of the difference dTb(i,j) between timing offsets Tb(i), Tb(j) for pairs of base stations B(i), B(j), using the timing of signals received by one or more wireless communication units. Having eliminated the timing offsets between the base stations as a variable, geo-location techniques from synchronous networks may then be used to locate wireless communication units in the asynchronous wireless communication system.