System and method for predicting future locations of mobile communication devices using connection-related data of a mobile access network

Abstract

A system and method for predicting future locations of mobile communication devices utilizes connection-related data from a mobile access network supporting the mobile communication devices to determine latest locations of the mobile communication devices, which are used to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices. In addition to the determined locations of the mobile communication devices, carrier-provided location predictive indicators and/or non-carrier location predictive indicators may be used to improve the accuracy of the predicted future locations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a communication interface;   at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and   at least one processor;   wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:   obtain connection-related data from a mobile access network using the communication interface, the connection-related data being primarily used by the mobile access network for purposes other than location determination, the connection-related data including cell identifiers for mobile communication devices associated with the mobile access network;   process the connection-related data to retrieve the cell identifiers to determine latest locations of the mobile communication devices with respect to cell areas supported by the mobile access network; and   use at least the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict future locations of the mobile communication devices.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection-related data includes billing records, and wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to process the billing records to retrieve the cell identifiers from the billing records. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the connection-related data includes call detail records, and wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to process the call detail records to retrieve the cell identifiers from the call detail records. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection-related data includes authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) information, and wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to process the AAA information to retrieve the cell identifiers from the AAA information. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection-related data includes mobility messages, and wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to process the mobility messages to retrieve the cell identifiers from the mobility messages. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is connected to one or more network probes on at least one signal path of the mobile access network to receive the connection-related data from the one or more network probes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to use noncarrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor cause the system to obtain the connection-related data by:
 transmit, using the communication interface, a request for the connection-related data to at least one of a home location register, visitor location register, base station controller and a mobile switching center; and   receive, using the communication interface, the connection-related data in response to the request.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor cause the system to:
 receive a request for predicted location data of at least one of the mobile communication devices from a second system;   responsive to receipt of the request, determine that the second system is permitted access to the predicted location data of the at least one of the mobile communication devices; and   responsive to the determining, transmit the predicted location data of the at least one of the mobile communication devices to the second system.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor cause the system to:
 receive a request for predicted location data of at least one of the mobile communication devices from a second system;   responsive to receipt of the request, determine that the second system is not permitted access to the predicted location data of the at least one of the mobile communication devices; and   responsive to the determining, denying access to the predicted location data of the at least one of the mobile communication devices to the second system.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 obtaining connection-related data from a mobile access network, the connection-related data being primarily used by the mobile access network for purposes other than location determination, the connection-related data including cell identifiers for mobile communication devices associated with the mobile access network;   processing the connection-related data to retrieve the cell identifiers to determine latest locations of the mobile communication devices with respect to cell areas supported by the mobile access network; and   using at least the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict future locations of the mobile communication devices.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connection-related data includes billing records, and wherein the processing includes processing the billing records to retrieve the cell identifiers from the billing records. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connection-related data includes call detail records, and wherein the processing includes processing the call detail records to retrieve the cell identifiers from the call detail records. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connection-related data includes AAA information, and wherein the processing includes processing the AAA information to retrieve the cell identifiers from the AAA information. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connection-related data includes mobility messages, and wherein the processing includes processing the mobility messages to retrieve the cell identifiers from the mobility messages. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the obtaining includes receiving the connection-related data from one or more network probes on at least one signal path of the mobile access network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using noncarrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transmitting a request for the connection-related data to at least one of a home location register, visitor location register, base station controller and a mobile switching center; and   receiving the connection-related data in response to the request.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for predicted location data of at least one of the mobile communication devices from a second system;   responsive to receipt of the request, determining that the second system is permitted access to the predicted location data of the at least one of the mobile communication devices; and   responsive to the determining, transmitting the predicted location data of the at least one of the mobile communication devices to the second system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for predicted location data of at least one of the mobile communication devices from a second system;   responsive to receipt of the request, determining that the second system is not permitted access to the predicted location data of the at least one of the mobile communication devices; and   responsive to the determining, denying access to the predicted location data of the at least one of the mobile communication devices to the second system.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, and whether the computer executable instructions, when executed by at least one processor of a system, cause the system to:
 obtain connection-related data from a mobile access network using a communication interface, the connection-related data being primarily used by the mobile access network for purposes other than location determination, the connection-related data including cell identifiers for mobile communication devices associated with the mobile access network;   process the connection-related data to retrieve the cell identifiers to determine latest locations of the mobile communication devices with respect to cell areas supported by the mobile access network; and   use at least the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict future locations of the mobile communication devices.