Method of enabling improved efficiency in a first communications network, network entity, network device, computer programs and computer program products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10638336-B2
Application number	US-201616305175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A method ( 20 ) of enabling improved efficiency in a first communications network ( 10 A) based on relation metrics on a relation between a first operator (A) of the first communications network ( 10 A) and a second operator (B) of a second communications network ( 10 A, 10 B). The method ( 20 ) is performed in a network entity ( 7 ) and comprises: obtaining ( 21 ) data relating to users having a subscription with the first operator (A) and data relating to users having a subscription with the second operator (B); determining ( 22 ), based on the obtained data relating to users, a first metric IAB giving number of users roaming to the first operator (A) from the second operator (B) and a second metric OAB giving number of users roaming from the first operator (A) to the second operator (B); and providing ( 23 ) the first and second metrics IAB, OAB as relation metrics to a network device ( 9 A) of the first communications network ( 10 A) for use in improving efficiency in the first communications network ( 10 A). A method ( 50 ) in a network device ( 9 A) is also provided, and a network entity, a network device, computer programs and computer program products.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of enabling improved efficiency in a first communications network based on relation metrics on a relation between a first operator (A) of the first communications network and a second operator (B) of a second communications network, the method comprising a network entity:
obtaining data relating to users having a subscription with the first operator and data relating to users having a subscription with the second operator;
determining, based on the obtained data relating to users:
a first metric (I AB ) giving number of users roaming to the first operator from the second operator; and
a second metric (O AB ) giving number of users roaming from the first operator to the second operator; and

providing the first and second metrics as relation metrics to a network device of the first communications network for use in improving efficiency in the first communications network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second metrics are determined by using equations:

I
AB

=

α
⁢

⁢

Rin
A

(

α
⁢

⁢

Rin
A

+

S
AB

)

⁢

(

R
AB

Rin
A

+

c
AB

)

O
ij

=

β
⁢

⁢

Rout
A

(

β
⁢

⁢

Rout
A

+

S
BA

)

⁢

(

R
BA

Rout
A

+

c
AB

)

wherein:
I AB is the number of users roaming to the first operator from the second operator;
O AB is the number of users roaming from the first operator to the second operator;
R in is the number of users roaming to the first operator from the second operator and using at least one service;
R out is the number of users roaming from the first operator to the second operator and using at least one service;
S A is the number of silent users roaming to the first operator from the second operator;
R AB is the number of users roaming to the first operator from the second operator;
α is a constant relating to cost of handling roaming users;
β is a constant relating to cost of handling users having subscription with the first operator; and
C AB is a constant relating to fees for the first operator of users roaming to the second operator.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the improving efficiency comprises improving: use of communication resources, quality of services for users, availability of services, and/or revenue for the first operator.

4. A network entity for enabling improved efficiency in a first communications network based on relation metrics on a relation between a first operator (A) of the first communications network and a second operator (B) of a second communications network, the network entity comprising:
processing circuitry;
memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the network entity is operative to:
obtain data relating to users having a subscription with the first operator and data relating to users having a subscription with the second operator;
determine, based on the obtained data:
a first metric (I AB ) giving number of users roaming to the first operator from the second operator; and
a second metric (O AB ) giving number of users roaming from the first operator to the second operator; and

provide the first and second metrics as relation metrics to a network device of the first communications network for use in improving efficiency in the first communications network.

5. The network entity of claim 4 , wherein the instructions are such that the network entity is operative to determine the first and second metrics by using equations:

I
AB

=

α
⁢

⁢

Rin
A

(

α
⁢

⁢

Rin
A

+

S
AB

)

⁢

(

R
AB

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Huang Vincent
• Vlachou-Konchylaki Martha

Classifications

• H04M15/53

  using mediation · CPC title

• H04L12/14

  Charging, metering or billing arrangements specially adapted for data communications, e.g. authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA] framework · CPC title

• H04W4/24

  Accounting or billing · CPC title

• H04M15/58

  based on statistics of usage or network monitoring · CPC title

• H04M15/8038

  Roaming or handoff · CPC title