Italian telecommunications company TIM has filed a patent for a method of estimating the presence of individuals in a geographic area. The method involves subdividing the area into zones and portions, calculating geographic position estimates using mobile communication terminals, and identifying events of interaction between the terminals and network cells. An array of presences is then built based on the number of interactions in each zone, which can be used to estimate the presence of individuals in the territory. GlobalData’s report on TIM gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
Access deeper industry intelligence
Experience unmatched clarity with a single platform that combines unique data, AI, and human expertise.
According to GlobalData’s company profile on TIM, Electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) was a key innovation area identified from patents. TIM's grant share as of September 2023 was 68%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Estimating presence of individuals on a territory
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230319508A1) describes a method for estimating the presence of individuals in a specific territory using data derived from a mobile communication network. The method involves subdividing the territory into geographic zones and area portions. Mobile communication terminals within the territory calculate their geographic position estimates and provide them to a data processing system. The system then distributes the received position estimates onto the area portions based on their geographic location.
For each network cell, the method determines the covered area portions falling within its coverage area and assigns a weight to each of these portions based on the number of position estimates received. A correspondence map is generated, establishing a relationship between network cells and geographic zones. The map calculates the cell weight of each network cell on each zone by summing the weights of the area portions belonging to that zone.
The data processing system also receives and stores indications of interactions between mobile communication terminals and network cells. Using the correspondence map, the system builds an array of presences, assigning each geographic zone a number of interaction events that occurred in network cells with a cell weight greater than a predetermined value. This array of presences can be used to estimate the presence of individuals in the territory.
The method considers various types of interaction events, including power-on/off, location area updates, re-entrance into covered areas, switching between network technologies, incoming/outgoing calls, SMS/MMS, and internet access. It also allows for the subdivision of observation time periods into time slots, creating a set of arrays of presences.
The method includes selecting a subset of mobile communication terminals based on criteria such as consent for geographic localization, participation in measurement campaigns, or residence/working location within the territory. The selected terminals can be configured with specific instructions regarding time intervals, periodicity, and timing of providing calculated position estimates to the data processing system.
The determination of covered area portions falling within a network cell's coverage area involves assessing the geographic coordinates or area overlap. Similarly, the determination of area portions belonging to each zone is based on geographic coordinates or area overlap.
In cases where a position estimate falls on the boundary between two area portions, the method either randomly selects one portion or assigns a fraction of the estimate to each portion.
The calculated position estimates are provided in tuples containing geographic position, time instant, and a unique identifier of the mobile communication terminal.
The patent also mentions a data processing system comprising modules configured to perform the described method.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on TIM, buy the report here.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
