# US 2014/0155058 A1 · Network-Based Area Positioning for Capacity and Coverage Improvement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155058 A1 - Document ID: US20140155058A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/175,881 - Filed: 2014-02-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-28 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Jari Vikberg; Tomas Nylander - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155058A1 ## CPC - H04W 16/18: Network planning tools - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Localized areas within a cell of a cellular wireless communication network, wherein users experience high traffic loads or poor coverage, are automatically detected and positioned by a network-based monitoring and positioning method. The localized areas are detected by performing measurements (e.g., TAdv, AOA, and neighbor node measurements) on User Equipment (UE) indicating or recording a network capacity or coverage deficiency. The detected, localized area of deficient performance is then positioned (e.g., in latitude and longitude), such as by positioning one or more UE within the area. The deficient network capacity or coverage, the localized area in which it is concentrated, and the position of the localized area are then reported, with a recommendation to deploy a low-power serving node within the localized area (e.g., at or near the area reported position) to alleviate the capacity or coverage deficiency, while minimizing interference with communication services to other users within the cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network-based method of improving communications in a cellular wireless communication network wherein a first serving node provides communication services to users in a cell covering a geographic area, comprising, by an Application Server or Operation and Support System in the network: monitoring user activity to detect deficient capacity; monitoring user link quality to detect deficient coverage; determining a geographic position of at least one user experiencing deficient capacity or coverage; and in response to a pattern of capacity or coverage deficiency at a position in the cell, determining that a second serving node should be deployed near the determined position to alleviate the deficiency, wherein the second serving node transmits at lower power level than the first serving node. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring user activity to detect deficient capacity comprises receiving, by the Application Server, a report from the serving node, of user traffic loads exceeding a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring user link quality to detect deficient coverage comprises receiving a report from the serving node and neighboring serving nodes of user communication links having a quality metric below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring user link quality to detect deficient coverage comprises receiving a report of user triggered reactivation requests following a termination of service due to poor link quality. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether a capacity deficiency is localized in an area of the cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein determining whether the capacity deficiency is localized in an area of the cell comprises receiving from the serving node the result of Timing Advance measurements for one or more users. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein determining whether the capacity deficiency is localized in an area of the cell comprises receiving from the serving node the result of Angle of Arrival measurements for one or more users. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the deficiency is localized in an area of the cell comprises receiving from the serving node the result of signal strength and quality measurements for users reporting the same neighboring network nodes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining a geographic position of at least one user experiencing deficient capacity or coverage comprises receiving from the first serving node, the position of the user, obtained by the first serving node from a Mobility Management Entity (MME). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the first serving node requests the position of the user from the MME using a unique session identifier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the user to be positioned is selected due to the proximity of the user to one or more last known locations of users who have lost service. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining a geographic position of at least one user experiencing deficient capacity or coverage comprises: receiving, from the first serving node, a unique identifier of a user in the area; receiving, from the first serving node, an indication of a Mobility Management Entity (MME); sending to the MME a positioning request, identifying the user to be positioned by the unique identifier; and receiving a geographic position of the user. ### Claim 13 A network node operative to function as an Application Server or Operation and Support System in a cellular wireless communication network, comprising: a network interface operative to communicate with a first serving node providing communication services to users in a cell covering a geographic area; and a controller operatively connected to the transceiver and operative to: monitor the activity of users in the cell to detect deficient capacity; monitor the link quality of users in the cell to detect deficient coverage; determine a geographic position of at least one user experiencing deficient capacity or coverage; and in response to a pattern of capacity or coverage deficiency at a position in the cell, determine that a second serving node should be deployed near the determined position to alleviate the deficiency, wherein the second serving node transmits at lower power level than the first serving node. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The network node of claim 13 wherein the controller is further operative to determine whether a capacity deficiency is localized in an area of the cell based on measurements performed on user terminals within the cell and reported by the first serving node, the measurements selected from the group consisting of Timing Advance (TAdv), Angle of Arrival (AOA), and neighboring nodes signal strength.