System and method for determining a location area of a mobile user

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors for use in a computer system associated with a mobile radio network, the one or more processors are operable to:
• determine for a plurality of sub-areas of a geographical area covered by the mobile radio network, antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas located in the geographical area, wherein:
• the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of the plurality of sub-areas;
• and
• the antenna probabilities indicate for each particular antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that particular antenna when located in that sub-area;
• and
• determine a location area for a user using a particular mobile communication terminal in the geographical area, based on the antenna probabilities and determination of one or more antennas used by the particular mobile communication termination, and without requiring measuring signal properties at the particular mobile communication terminal, wherein determining the location area comprises:
• determining, based on the antenna probabilities, location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in the respective sub-area;
• determining a polygon enveloping one or more of the plurality of sub-areas, each having at least a defined minimum location probability;
• determining based on the polygon at least one ellipse defining the location area;
• wherein determining the at least one ellipse comprises:
• defining a single ellipse around the polygon;
• and
• assessing whether the single ellipse defines the location area based on one or more defining criteria, wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of the probable sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of the probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.