WO2025196795A1 - Device for identifying a customer premises equipment based on geographic information and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system (100) and a method (400) for identifying a unique customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network The system (100) comprises a receiving unit (160) configured to receive trace raw data transmitted by at least one CPE (152). A processing unit (162) is configured to extract at least one unique equipment identifier and geographic information from the received trace raw data, select at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier, derive a center identifier (ID) of the at least one selected CPE based on the extracted geographic information from the received trace raw data, and generate a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the at least one selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived identification code.

Description

DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING A CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT BASED ON GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND METHOD THEREOF

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to intellectual property rights such as, but are not limited to, copyright, design, trademark, Integrated Circuit (IC) layout design, and/or trade dress protection, belonging to Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) or its affiliates (herein after referred as owner). The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. All rights to such intellectual property are fully reserved by the owner.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of telecommunications. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for identifying a customer premises equipment (CPE) based on geographic information.

DEFINITION

[0003] As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used to indicate otherwise.

[0004] The expression ‘customer premises equipment (CPE)’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a terminal device that receives direct signals issued from a base station and then transfers them into WiFi signals or wired signals. The customer premises equipment or customer provided equipment (CPE) is located at a subscriber's premises.

[0005] The expression ‘Outdoor Customer Premise Equipment (ODCPE’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a terminal device that receives direct signals issued from a base station and then transfers them into WiFi signals or wired signals. The outdoor customer premises equipment or the CPE is located at a subscriber's premises.

[0006] The expression ‘Indoor Customer Premise Equipment (IDCPE)’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a terminal device that receives direct signals from a service provider’s base station or an intermediary ODCPE and distributes the received signals to local devices either wirelessly or through wired connections.

[0007] The expression ‘subscriber’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a person who uses cellular services like voice calls, data service, email, streaming media, video calls, etc., with the help of a cell phone/tablet or any other device.

[0008] These definitions are in addition to those expressed in the art.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0009] The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0010] Mobile networks have gone through significant advancements from 1G to 5G, resulting in improved connectivity, data speeds, and capabilities, and enabling new applications and services. In a typical cellular radio system, user equipments (UEs) communicate with one or more core networks via a radio access network (RAN). However, in congested areas having high-rise buildings, radio signals become weaker, and users residing in residential premises, or business premises may experience limited service. To overcome this, signal boosting is required in residential or business premises so that the UE can receive a strong signal, resulting in no service outage.

[0011] Network operators have shifted to Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for providing high throughput and low latency communications in residential or business structures. In one example, the CPE can be an Outdoor Customer Premises Equipment (ODCPE) or IDCPE. The CPE is installed at the customer's premises, such as a home or office, and acts as a bridge between the 5G network and the local devices that need to access the Internet. The CPE receives 5G signals from the operator's base station and converts them into WiFi or wired signals, depending on the specific type of CPE, allowing local devices such as cell phones, tablets, computers, and other Internet of Things (loT) devices to connect to the Internet using the CPE as a gateway.

[0012] Analyzing the data associated with the CPE can help network operators to optimize network resources and resolve issues effectively. Currently, a team of technical operators uses sensitive equipment identifiers, such as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), Media Access Control (MAC) addresses, or serial numbers of the CPE to resolve the issues. However, direct sharing of sensitive equipment identifiers poses privacy and security risks. Sharing such sensitive information is restricted, making it challenging to analyze network performance and address issues efficiently.

[0013] Therefore, there is a need for a system and a method that overcomes the limitations of the prior art and accurately identifies the CPE using a masked equipment identifier, ensuring both privacy and efficiency in resolving network performance issues.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, a method for identifying a unique customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network is described. The method includes receiving trace raw data transmitted by a plurality of CPEs, extracting at least one unique equipment identifier and geographic information from the received trace raw data, selecting at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier, deriving a center identifier (ID) of the selected CPE based on the extracted geographic information, and generating a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived identification code.

[0015] In some embodiments, the at least one unique equipment identifier extracted from the trace raw data includes an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), a serial number, or a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

[0016] In some embodiments, the method includes storing the trace raw data in a cloud server, and retrieving the stored trace raw data by the processing unit.

[0017] In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a request by the processing unit to the CPE for sending the trace raw data.

[0018] In some embodiments, the generated masked equipment identifier includes a set of identification codes, and the set of identification codes indicates a unique identity of each selected CPE.

[0019] In some embodiments, the plurality of additional identifiers includes a technology identifier and an environmental identifier, and wherein the environmental identifier includes an identifier for indoor environment or outdoor environment.

[0020] In some embodiments, the method includes storing, by the processing unit, the generated masked equipment identifier along with corresponding CPE details in a database.

[0021] In another exemplary embodiment, a system for identifying a unique customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network is described. The system includes a receiving unit configured to receive the trace raw data transmitted by a plurality of CPEs, and a processing unit configured to extract at least one unique equipment identifier and geographical information from the received trace raw data, select at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier, derive a center identifier (ID) of the selected CPE based on the extracted geographic information, and generate a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived identification code.

[0022] In some embodiments, at least one unique equipment identifier extracted from the trace raw data includes an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), a serial number, or a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

[0023] In some embodiments, the trace raw data is stored in a cloud server, and the processing unit is configured to retrieve the stored trace raw data.

[0024] In some embodiments, the processing unit is configured to transmit a request to the CPE for sending the trace raw data.

[0025] In some embodiments, the generated masked equipment identifier includes a set of identification codes, and the set of identification codes indicates a unique identity of each selected CPE.

[0026] In some embodiments, wherein the plurality of additional identifiers includes a technology identifier and an environmental identifier, and wherein the environmental identifier includes an identifier for indoor environment or outdoor environment.

[0027] In some embodiments, wherein the generated masked equipment identifier along with corresponding CPE (152) details are stored in a database (164).

[0028] In another exemplary embodiment, a user equipment configured to identify a unique customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network is described. The user equipment includes a processor, and a computer-readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor. The programming includes instructions to receive trace raw data transmitted by a plurality of CPEs, extract at least one unique equipment identifier and geographical information from the received trace raw data, select, by the processing unit, at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier, derive a center identifier (ID) of the selected CPE based on the extracted geographic information of the selected CPE, and generate a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived identification code.

[0029] The foregoing general description of the illustrative embodiments and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure, and are not restrictive.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0030] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

[0031] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and a method that identifies a customer premises equipment (CPE) in a network based on geographic information.

[0032] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and a method that generates an updated equipment identifier, alternatively referred to as masked equipment identifier, by adding a plurality of identifiers including technology identifier and environmental identifier.

[0033] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and a method that distinguishes various CPEs based on unique identification codes present in the masked equipment identifier.

[0034] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING [0035] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed methods and systems in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Some drawings may indicate the components using block diagrams and may not represent the internal circuitry of each component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that disclosure of such drawings includes disclosure of electrical components, electronic components or circuitry commonly used to implement such components.

[0036] FIG. 1 A illustrates an exemplary architecture of a system for identifying a customer premises equipment (CPE) based on geographic information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. IB illustrates a block diagram of the system having an identification device for identifying the CPE based on geographic information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow chart illustrating a method of identifying the CPE based on the geographic information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates an example computer system in which or with which the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method for identifying the CPE based on geographic information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] The foregoing shall be more apparent from the following more detailed description of the disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 - Network Architecture 102 -System

104 -Network

106 - Centralized Server

108-1, 108-2...108-N - User Equipments

110-1, 110-2...110-N - Users

152a, 152b, 152c - Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)

158 - Identification Device

160 -Receiving Unit

162 -Processing Unit

164 - Database

310 - External Storage Device

320 - Bus

330 - Main Memory

340 - Read Only Memory

350 - Mass Storage Device

360 - Communication Port

370 - Processor

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or might address only some of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein. Example embodiments of the present disclosure are described below, as illustrated in various drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings.

[0043] The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth.

[0044] Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

[0045] Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed but could have additional steps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

[0046] The word “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive like the term “comprising” as an open transition word without precluding any additional or other elements.

[0047] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an instance” or “one instance” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0048] The terminology used herein is to describe particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It should be noted that the terms “mobile device”, “user equipment”, “user device”, “communication device”, “device” and similar terms are used interchangeably for the purpose of describing the invention. These terms are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or imply any specific functionality or limitations on the described embodiments. The use of these terms is solely for convenience and clarity of description. The invention is not limited to any particular type of device or equipment, and it should be understood that other equivalent terms or variations thereof may be used interchangeably without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

[0049] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

[0050] In densely populated areas characterized by tall structures (buildings), radio signals tend to weaken, leading to diminished service for users of residential or business premises. To overcome such issues, signal amplification becomes necessary within these locations, ensuring that user equipment (UE) receives a robust signal and preventing service disruptions.

[0051] A customer premises equipment (CPE) functions as a network terminal equipment with robust transmission capabilities and high-speed connectivity, thereby allowing provision of superior network services, enhancing users' access to high- quality mobile networks and ultimately improving their overall quality of life. The CPE is configured to provide information regarding the data consumption, number of user equipments connected with the CPE, an uplink data rate and a downlink data rate.

[0052] Network operators have transitioned to using CPE, in particular to an Outdoor Customer Premises Equipment (ODCPE) or an Indoor Customer Premises Equipment (IDCPE) for delivering high-speed and low-latency communications in residential and commercial premises. The CPE is installed at the customer's location, such as a home or office, and acts as a signal booster between the 5G network and local devices that require internet access. The CPE receives 5G signals direct from the operator's base station and converts them into Wi-Fi or wired signals, enabling local devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other loT devices to connect to the internet through the CPE as a gateway.

[0053] Analyzing the data associated with the CPE can assist network operators in analyzing and optimizing network resources. In the telecommunications sector, the CPE is identified using a unique device number. To evaluate network performance using various CPEs, it is necessary to identify the CPEs promptly. To maintain a network's optimal performance, it is critical to identify and resolve any underperforming CPEs in a timely manner. Once the underperforming CPEs are identified, optimization measures can be implemented to enhance the performance of the network and minimize customer complaints.

[0054] Currently, a team of technical operators is deployed in the field to manually identify CPEs based on a unique equipment identifier associated with each CPE. The present approach involves conducting various site surveys and requires a significant amount of experienced personnel.

[0055] Accordingly, there is a need for devices and methods for identifying customer premises equipment (CPE) in a network in a more accurate and efficient manner.

[0056] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] The various embodiments throughout the disclosure will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 1A- FIG. 4.

[0058] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary architecture (100) of a system (102) for identifying a customer premises equipment (CPE) in a network, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 1A, the system (102) is connected to a network (104), which is further connected to at least one user equipment (108-1, 108-2, ... 108-N) (collectively referred to as user equipment (108)) associated with one or more users (110-1, 110-2, ... 110-N) (collectively referred to as users (110)). The user equipment (108) may be personal computers, laptops, tablets, wristwatches, or any custom-built computing device integrated within a modern diagnostic machine that can connect to a network as an loT (Internet of Things) device. In an embodiment, the user equipment (108) may be referred to as User Equipment (UE) or user device. Accordingly, the terms “user equipment” and “User Equipment” may be used interchangeably throughout the disclosure. In an aspect, the users (110) are network operators or field engineers. Further, the network (104) can be configured with a centralized server (106) that stores compiled data.

[0060] In an embodiment, the system (102) may receive at least one input data from the users (110) via the at least one user equipment (108). In an aspect, the users (110) may be configured to initiate a test sequence for executing a plurality of performance tests on a cellular site, through an application interface of a mobile application installed in user equipment (108). The mobile application may be configured to communicate with the network analysis server. In some examples, the mobile application may be a software or a mobile application from an application distribution platform. Examples of application distribution platforms include the App Store for iOS provided by Apple, Inc., Play Store for Android OS provided by Google Inc., and such application distribution platforms. In an embodiment, the user equipment (108) may transmit the at least one captured data packet over a point-to-point or point- to-multipoint communication channel or network (104) to the system (102).

[0061] In an embodiment, the user equipment (108) may involve the collection, analysis, and sharing of data received from the system (102) via the network (104).

[0062] The network (104) may include, but not be limited to, at least a portion of one or more networks having one or more nodes that transmit, receive, forward, generate, buffer, store, route, switch, process, or a combination thereof, etc. one or more messages, packets, signals, waves, voltage or current levels, some combination thereof, or so forth. In an exemplary embodiment, the network (104) may include, but not be limited to, a wireless network, a wired network, an internet, an intranet, a public network, a private network, a packet-switched network, a circuit-switched network, an ad hoc network, an infrastructure network, a Public-Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cable network, a cellular network, a satellite network, a fiber optic network, or some combination thereof.

[0063] A layout of the system for identifying a unique customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network is described, as it may be implemented. The system can be configured to receive trace raw data, extract unique equipment identifiers, derive identification codes based on geographic information, generate masked equipment identifiers by adding additional identifiers, and store the generated masked equipment identifiers along with corresponding CPE details in a database. In one aspect, the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) is an indoor unit. The indoor unit is referred to as indoor customer premises equipment (IDCPE). In accordance with another aspect, the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) is an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit is referred to as an outdoor customer premises equipment (ODCPE).

[0064] In an embodiment, the system (102) is configured to receive trace raw data transmitted by at least one CPE (152a, 152b, 152c). In an example, the trace raw data may include information such as the number of received/sent data packages per second, resource utilization percentage, battery status of the CPE, a vendor name, a model number, networking protocol(s) compatible with the CPE, at least one unique equipment identifier, center ID, geographic information, version number, data consumed by the CPE, radio access (standalone, non-standalone), and radio type (4G, 5G), received signal strength indicator (RSRP).

[0065] In an embodiment, the system (102) is configured to extract at least one unique equipment identifier from the received trace raw data. The identification code is then derived from the extracted unique equipment identifier based on the geographic information of the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c). [0066] Upon deriving the identification code, the system (102) generates a masked equipment identifier by adding one or more additional identifiers, which includes a technology identifier and/or an environmental identifier. The generated masked equipment identifier is then stored along with corresponding CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) details in a database (164).

[0067] In some embodiments, the system (102) further stores the trace raw data in a cloud server. The processing unit (162) is configured to retrieve the stored trace raw data as needed, enabling efficient data management and retrieval.

[0068] In another embodiment, the system (102) is configured to transmit a request to the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) for sending the trace raw data. This allows the system (102) to proactively gather the necessary data for identification and verification purposes.

[0069] In an embodiment, the system (102) includes a technology identifier, which can identify whether the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) uses 4G or 5G technology, and an environmental identifier, which indicates whether the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) is located indoors or outdoors.

[0070] Although FIG. 1A shows exemplary components of the system for identifying a unique CPE ID in a network, in other embodiments, the system (102) may include fewer components, different components, differently arranged components, or additional functional components than depicted in FIG. 1A. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components of the system (102) may perform functions described as being performed by one or more other components of the system (102).

[0071] FIG. IB illustrates a block diagram of the system (102) having an identification device (158) for identifying the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) in a network based on geographic information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0072] In an example, the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) may be implemented with various configurations, including as an indoor unit or as an outdoor unit connected to multiple indoor units. Depending on the requirements and deployment, CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) can function independently as the indoor unit (also referred to as an indoor customer premises equipment (IDCPE)) or in combination with the outdoor unit (also referred to as an outdoor customer premises equipment (ODCPE)) to enhance network performance and coverage.

[0073] In a configuration where CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) is utilized as the indoor unit, the IDCPE is installed within an enclosed space, such as residential premises or office buildings. The IDCPE is designed to operate in controlled environmental conditions and provides connectivity for local devices such as smartphones, laptops, and Internet of Things (loT) devices. The IDCPE receives direct signals from a service provider’s base station or an intermediary ODCPE and distributes them to local devices either wirelessly or through wired connections.

[0074] Alternatively, in a configuration where the ODCPE is employed in conjunction with multiple IDCPEs, the ODCPE is deployed externally in open environments, such as rooftops or poles. The ODCPE is configured to operate in outdoor conditions and is equipped to withstand environmental factors such as weather, dust, and temperature fluctuations. The ODCPE serves as a primary interface with the network operator’s base station, receiving high-frequency signals and converting them into a format suitable for distribution to IDCPEs.

[0002] The ODCPE consolidates trace raw data from all connected IDCPEs and transmits the data in bulk to a centralized processing system. The trace raw data includes, but is not limited to, unique identifiers of the connected IDCPEs, such as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), Media Access Control (MAC) addresses, and serial numbers. Additionally, the data encompasses geographical information of the IDCPEs and session-specific details, including uplink and downlink speeds, network protocol compatibility, data usage statistics, and received signal strength. [0003] The bulk data transmission by the ODCPE renders centralized monitoring and diagnostics of all connected IDCPEs. By analyzing the consolidated data, network operators can identify device- specific issues, optimize bandwidth allocation, and ensure efficient utilization of network resources. Furthermore, this configuration enables network operators to address performance bottlenecks, improve service quality, and implement targeted network upgrades without requiring manual inspections or localized troubleshooting.

[0075] For example, in a multi-floor residential or commercial building, an ODCPE installed on the rooftop may connect to several IDCPEs located across various floors. The ODCPE aggregates data from all connected IDCPEs and transmits it to a central server. This setup ensures robust connectivity throughout the building while providing actionable insights into device performance, network usage patterns, and system optimization.

[0076] In an example, the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) may be identified based on information associated with the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c). In an example, the information may be a manufacturer name, a model number, networking protocol(s) compatible with the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c), version number, and any other unique manufacturer attribute. The network architecture (100) may include a plurality of CPE (152a, 152b, 152c), and the identification device (158). The identification device (158) is configured to identify CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) in a network based on geographic information. The identification device (158) is implemented within a network architecture (100) that includes a plurality of CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) communicating with the identification device (158) over the network (104).

[0077] In one aspect, each of the CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) may be configured to communicate with the identification device (158) over the network (104). In an example, the at least one CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) may be configured to establish at least one session with the identification device (158). For example, the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) may be configured to transmit at least one trace of raw data to the identification device (158) after a predetermined time interval. In an aspect, the identification device (158) may be configured to send a request to the CPE (152a, 152b, 152c) for sending the trace raw data. In another aspect, the CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) may be configured to store the trace raw data in a cloud server, from where the identification device (158) may retrieve the stored trace data. In an aspect, the identification device (158) may be configured to fetch details of all CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) from the cloud server based on the center ID.

[0078] In an embodiment, the network (104) includes, by way of example but not limitation, at least a portion of one or more networks having one or more nodes that transmit, receive, forward, generate, buffer, store, route, switch, process, or a combination thereof, etc. one or more messages, packets, signals, waves, voltage or current levels, some combination thereof, or so forth. The network (104) may also include, by way of example but not limitation, one or more of a wireless network, a wired network, an internet, an intranet, a public network, a private network, a packet- switched network, a circuit-switched network, an ad hoc network, an infrastructure network, a Public-Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cable network, a cellular network, a satellite network, a fiber optic network, or some combination thereof.

[0079] The CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) may be configured to receive a transmission from a base station. In an example, the CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) may be fixed to a specific location. In another example, the CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) may be moveable. The transmission between the base station and the CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) may be bi-directional. The CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) may further be configured to transmit trace raw data, corresponding to the CPE, over the network (104). In an aspect, the CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) may include an antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless signals. In some examples, at least one antenna is a near-field antenna, a WiFi antenna, and a radio frequency antenna. In an example, the trace raw data may include information such as the number of received/sent data packages per second, resource utilization percentage, battery status of the CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c), a vendor name, a model number, networking protocol(s) compatible with the CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c), at least one unique equipment identifier, center ID, geographic information, version number, data consumed by the plurality of CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c), radio access (standalone, non-standalone), and radio type (4G, 5G), received signal strength indicator (RSRP).

[0080] In a structural aspect, the identification device (158) may include a receiving unit (160), a processing unit (162), and a database (164).

[0081] The receiving unit (160) may be configured to receive at least one trace of raw data transmitted by the plurality of CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c). In an aspect, the receiving unit (160) may include at least one antenna for transmitting and receiving communications packets or records to/from the plurality of CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) via a wireless access node. In some examples, at least one antenna is a near-field antenna, a WiFi antenna, and a radio frequency antenna. The receiving unit (160) may include a wireless-frequency transceiver having a variable gain amplifier that generates radio-frequency signals for transmission. A wireless amplifier circuit may be used to amplify the radio-frequency signals at the output of the variable gain amplifier for transmission through a plurality of antennas.

[0082] The processing unit (162) may be configured to couple with the receiving unit (160) to receive the trace raw data from the receiving unit (160). The received trace raw data (raw data) may include multiple sessions for each CPE.

[0083] On receiving the trace raw data, the processing unit (162) may be configured to extract at least one unique equipment identifier from the received trace raw data. In an aspect, the processing unit ( 162) may be configured to extract at least one geographic information from the received trace raw data. For example, the at least one unique equipment identifier may be a predefined number of digits extracted from the raw data. In an example, the at least one unique equipment identifier may be an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), a serial number of the CPE provided by the manufacturer, a serial number of the CPE provided by the network operator, or a Media Access Control (MAC) address. [0084] In an aspect, the processing unit (162) may be configured to select at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs (152a, 152b, 152c) based on the at least one unique equipment identifier.

[0085] In an aspect, the processing unit (162) may be configured to derive a center identifier (ID) of the at least one CPE based on the extracted geographic information.

[0086] For example, the derived center ID may be “GJ-AMBD-JC01-0290”. Here, “GJ-AMBD” indicates a specific region of the selected CPE, and “JC01-0290” indicates a unique center ID of the selected CPE falling within the specific region “GJ- AMBD”.

[0087] In an aspect, the processing unit ( 162) may be configured to generate a masked equipment identifier (updated equipment identifier) corresponding to the at least one CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived center ID. For example, the plurality of additional identifiers may include a technology identifier (4G or 5G) and an environmental identifier (indoor CPE /outdoor CPE). In an aspect, the the generated masked equipment identifier includes a set of identification codes. In an example the identification code is a 6 digit code. In an example, the identification code may start with ‘000001’ and should be increased by 1 for each CPE. In an example, for each center ID, the identification code cannot be repeated. The identification code should be unique and should not repeat within a geographic area (region).

[0088] For example, the updated equipment identifier that is generated by adding the plurality of additional identifiers to the derived center ID is shown as: [0089] Updated equipment identifier CPE ID: I-GJ-AMBD-0290-5G-ODCPE- 000001. [0090] Here, ‘I’ stands for India (country of the selected CPE), ‘GJ-AMBD’ stands for Gujarat- Ahmedabad (region of the selected CPE), ‘5G’ stands for 5^th Generation (the identified technology of the selected CPE), ‘ODCPE’ stands for outdoor customer premises equipment (environment of the selected CPE), and ‘000001 ’ is the set of unique identification codes that indicates a unique identity of the selected CPE.

[0091] In an example, the database (164) may be configured to store the updated generated equipment identifier along with the CPE. The database (164) is configured to store program instructions. The database (164) is configured to store the trace raw data received by the receiving unit (160). The program instructions include a program that implements a method to identify the CPE in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure and may implement other embodiments described in this specification. The database (164) may include any computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), and/or nonvolatile memory, such as Read Only Memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes. For example, the database (164) may be configured to store a list of manufacturers of the CPEs.

[0092] The processing unit (162) may be configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in the database (164). The processing unit (162) may be configured to execute a sequence of instructions of the method to identify the type of the CPE, which may be embodied in a program or software. The instructions can be directed to the processing unit (162), which may subsequently program or otherwise be configured to implement the methods of the present disclosure. In some examples, the processing unit (162) is configured to control and/or communicate with large databases, perform high-volume transaction processing, and generate reports from large databases. The processing unit (162) may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions.

[0093] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow chart illustrating a method (200) of identifying a customer premises equipment (CPE) in a network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0094] At step 202, an identification device (158) may be configured to receive at least one trace of raw data transmitted by a plurality of the CPEs. Step 202 may include a step of establishing at least one session by each CPE with the identification device (158). Each CPE may be configured to transmit the trace raw data over the at least one established session. In an example, the trace raw data may include information such as the number of received/sent data packages per second, resource utilization percentage, battery status of the CPE, a vendor name, a model number, networking protocol(s) compatible with the CPE, at least one unique equipment identifier, center ID, geographic information, version number, data consumed by the CPE, radio access (standalone, non-standalone), and radio type (4G, 5G), received signal strength indicator (RSRP).

[0095] At step 204, a processing unit (162) may be configured to extract at least one unique equipment identifier from the received trace raw data. In other words, the processing unit (162) may be configured to identify at least one unique equipment identifier from the received trace raw data. In an example, at least one unique equipment identifier may be an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), a serial number of a CPE provided by the manufacturer, a serial number of a CPE provided by the network operator, or a Media Access Control (MAC) address. Further, at step 204, the processing unit (162) may be configured to select at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier. [0096] At step 206, the processing unit (162) may be configured to derive a center identifier (ID) based on the geographic information of the at least one CPE. In an aspect, the geographic information may be present in the trace data.

[0097] At step 208, the processing unit (162) may be configured to add an additional identifier in the identification code. In an aspect, the processing unit (162) may be configured to add the additional identifier in the identification code.

[0098] At step 210, the processing unit (162) may be configured to generate an updated equipment identifier (masked equipment identifier) corresponding to the at least one CPE by adding the additional identifier in the identification code.

[0099] FIG. 3 illustrates an example computer system (300) in which or with which the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 3, the computer system (300) may include an external storage device (310), a bus (320), a main memory (330), a read-only memory (340), a mass storage device (350), a communication port(s) (360), and a processor (370). A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the computer system (300) may include more than one processor and communication ports. The processor (370) may include various modules associated with embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication port(s) (360) may be any of an RS-232 port for use with a modembased dialup connection, a 10/100 Ethernet port, a Gigabit or 10 Gigabit port using copper or fiber, a serial port, a parallel port, or other existing or future ports. The communication ports(s) (360) may be chosen depending on a network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which the computer system (300) connects.

[0101] In an embodiment, the main memory (330) may be Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device commonly known in the art. The read-only memory (340) may be any static storage device(s) e.g., but not limited to, a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) chip for storing static information e.g., start-up or basic input/output system (BIOS) instructions for the processor (370). The mass storage device (350) may be any current or future mass storage solution, which can be used to store information and/or instructions. Exemplary mass storage solutions include, but are not limited to, Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard disk drives or solid-state drives (internal or external, e.g., having Universal Serial Bus (USB) and/or Firewire interfaces).

[0102] In an embodiment, the bus (320) may communicatively couple the processor(s) (370) with the other memory, storage, and communication blocks. The bus (320) may be, e.g. a Peripheral Component Interconnect PCI) / PCI Extended (PCI- X) bus, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), or the like, for connecting expansion cards, drives, and other subsystems as well as other buses, such a front side bus (FSB), which connects the processor (370) to the computer system (300).

[0103] In another embodiment, operator and administrative interfaces, e.g., a display, keyboard, and cursor control device, may also be coupled to the bus (320) to support direct operator interaction with the computer system (300). Other operator and administrative interfaces can be provided through network connections connected through the communication port(s) (360). The components described above are meant only to exemplify various possibilities. In no way should the aforementioned exemplary computer system (300) limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0104] FIG. 4 illustrates a method (400) for identifying an CPE based on geographic information in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method (400) involves several steps for processing and analyzing trace raw data received from the CPE.

[0105] The first step in the method (400) involves receiving trace raw data transmitted by a plurality of CPEs (152), at step (402). The trace raw data includes various unique equipment identifiers and geographical information associated with the plurality of CPEs. [0106] In the next step, a processing unit (162) extracts at least one unique equipment identifier and the geographical information from the received trace raw data, at step (404). This extraction process isolates specific identifiers that uniquely identifies each CPE.

[0107] At step (405), the method includes selecting at least one CPE (152) from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier.

[0108] The method (400) proceeds with deriving, by the processing unit (162), a center identifier (ID) of the at least one CPE (152) based on the extracted geographic information, at step (406).

[0109] The method (400) continues with generating, by the processing unit (162), a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the at least one selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived center ID, at step (408). The plurality of additional identifiers includes a technology identifier and an environmental identifier, which enhance the uniqueness and traceability of the CPE. In an aspect, the generated masked equipment identifier includes a set of identification codes, which indicates the unique identity of each selected CPE.

[0110] The method (400) involves storing, by the processing unit (162), the generated masked equipment identifier along with corresponding CPE (152) details in a database (164), at step (410). This storage step ensures that the masked equipment identifier and associated details are securely maintained for future reference and analysis.

[0111] The present disclosure introduces significant technical advancements that enhance the functionality and reliability of identifying a unique customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network. A key feature of the present disclosure is the ability to handle sensitive equipment identifiers, such as IMEI, MAC addresses, and serial numbers, securely. These sensitive equipment identifiers, while essential for network analysis and troubleshooting, cannot be directly shared due to privacy and security concerns. To address this, the present disclosure incorporates a mechanism to extract these unique equipment identifiers from trace raw data transmitted by CPEs and mask them with additional identifiers, such as technology and environmental attributes, to generate a masked unique equipment identifier. This masked identifier ensures data privacy while maintaining traceability and usability for network operations. Additionally, , the masked identifiers, along with the geographic and CPE details, are securely stored in a database for easy access and analysis .

[0112] This capability addresses the current lack of a mechanism to accurately identify CPEs from bulk raw trace data, while ensuring data privacy. By masking sensitive identifiers, the present disclosure enables network operators, field teams, and even third-party contractors to analyze and troubleshoot network performance without exposing critical device-level information. Furthermore, the present disclosure applies to various types of network environments, improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of network operations. Through the present mechanism, session-based data for each CPE device can be utilized to create a comprehensive master database and detailed analytics reports, offering valuable insights for network planning, optimization, and troubleshooting. This invention significantly improves the management and categorization of CPE devices, leading to enhanced network performance, reliability, and compliance with data privacy standards.

[0113] The method and system of the present disclosure may be implemented in a number of ways. For example, the methods and systems of the present disclosure may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination of software, hardware, and firmware. The above-described order for the steps of the method is for illustration only, and the steps of the method of the present disclosure are not limited to the order specifically described above unless specifically stated otherwise. Further, in some embodiments, the present disclosure may also be embodied as programs recorded in a recording medium, the programs including machine-readable instructions for implementing the methods according to the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure also covers a recording medium storing a program for executing the method according to the present disclosure.

[0114] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter to be implemented merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as limitation.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

[0115] The present disclosure identifies a customer premises equipment (CPE) in a network based on geographic information. The identification ensures accurate mapping of devices to their deployment locations, which is critical for network optimization and troubleshooting.

[0116] The present disclosure distinguishes various customer premises equipment (CPE) devices based on unique equipment identifiers. Unique equipment identifiers, such as IMEI, MAC addresses, and serial numbers, are crucial for devicespecific analysis but are categorized as Personal Identification Information (PII) and cannot be directly included in reports due to privacy and security concerns. To address this challenge, the present disclosure implements a secure mechanism to mask these sensitive identifiers while retaining their uniqueness for operational use. This mechanism enhances data privacy without compromising the ability to identify and analyze individual devices.

[0117] The present disclosure generates an updated equipment identifier (masked device identifier) by adding a plurality of additional identifiers (technology identifier and environmental identifier). The updated equipment identifier anonymizes sensitive PII, such as IMEI and MAC addresses, by combining them with additional context-specific identifiers like the device’s technology type (e.g., 5G, 4G) and its deployment environment (e.g., indoor CPE, outdoor CPE). This ensures that sensitive information is protected while enabling the device to remain uniquely identifiable across the network. [0118] The present disclosure is particularly beneficial in generating comprehensive reports for network analysis, where the inclusion of sensitive identifiers (like IMEI or MAC) is not permissible. By replacing sensitive data with masked identifiers, the present disclosure enables secure information sharing with field teams and third-party contractors while adhering to data privacy regulations. Additionally, this approach simplifies the identification of poorly performing ODCPE devices, ensuring quick resolution of customer complaints and enabling better resource allocation for network optimization.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A method (400) for identifying a unique customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network, the method comprising: receiving (402), by a receiving unit (160), trace raw data transmitted by a plurality of CPEs (152); extracting (404), by a processing unit (162), at least one unique equipment identifier and geographic information from the received trace raw data; selecting (405), by the processing unit (162), at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier; deriving (406), by the processing unit (162), a center identifier (ID) of the at least one selected CPE based on the extracted geographic information from the received trace raw data; and generating (408), by the processing unit (162), a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the at least one selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived center ID.

2. The method (400) of claim 1, wherein the at least one unique equipment identifier extracted from the trace raw data comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), a serial number, or a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

3. The method (400) of claim 1, further comprising storing the trace raw data in a cloud server, and retrieving the stored trace raw data by the processing unit (162).

4. The method (400) of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a request by the processing unit (162) to the CPE (152) for sending the trace raw data.

5. The method (400) of claim 1 , wherein the generated masked equipment identifier comprises a set of identification codes, and wherein the set of identification codes indicates a unique identity of each selected CPE.

6. The method (400) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of additional identifiers includes a technology identifier and an environmental identifier, and wherein the environmental identifier includes an identifier for indoor environment or outdoor environment.

7. The method (400) of claim 1, further comprises storing (410), by the processing unit (162), the generated masked equipment identifier along with corresponding CPE (152) details in a database (164).

8. A system (100) for identifying a unique customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network, the system (100) comprising: a receiving unit ( 160) configured to receive trace raw data transmitted by a plurality of CPEs (152); and a processing unit (162) configured to: extract at least one unique equipment identifier and geographic information from the received trace raw data, select at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier, derive a center identifier (ID) of the at least one selected CPE based on the extracted geographic information from the received trace raw data, and generate a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the at least one selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived center ID.

9. The system (100) of claim 8, wherein the at least one unique equipment identifier extracted from the trace raw data comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), a serial number, or a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

10. The system (100) of claim 8, wherein the trace raw data is stored in a cloud server, and the processing unit (162) is configured to retrieve the stored trace raw data.

11. The system (100) of claim 8, wherein the processing unit (162) is configured to transmit a request to the CPE (152) for sending the trace raw data.

12. The system (100) of claim 8, wherein the generated masked equipment identifier comprises a set of identification codes, and wherein the set of identification codes indicates a unique identity of each selected CPE.

13. The system (100) of claim 8, wherein the plurality of additional identifiers includes a technology identifier and an environmental identifier, and wherein the environmental identifier includes an identifier for indoor environment or outdoor environment.

14. The system (100) of claim 8, wherein the generated masked equipment identifier along with corresponding CPE (152) details are stored in a database (164).

15. A user equipment (108-1, 108-2...108-N) configured to identify a unique outdoor customer premises equipment (CPE) ID in a network, the user equipment comprising: a processor (370); and a computer-readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor (370), the programming including instructions to: receive, by a receiving unit (160), trace raw data transmitted by a plurality of CPEs (152); extract, by a processing unit (162), at least one unique equipment identifier and geographic information from the received trace raw data; select, by the processing unit (162), at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier; derive, by the processing unit (162), a center identifier (ID) of the at least one selected CPE based on the extracted geographic information from the received trace raw data; and generate, by the processing unit (162), a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the at least one selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived center ID.

16. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform: receiving (402), by a receiving unit (160), trace raw data transmitted by a plurality of CPEs (152); extracting (404), by a processing unit (162), at least one unique equipment identifier and geographic information from the received trace raw data; selecting (405), by the processing unit (162), at least one CPE from the plurality of CPEs based on the at least one unique equipment identifier; deriving (406), by the processing unit (162), a center identifier (ID) of the at least one selected CPE based on the extracted geographic information from the received trace raw data; and generating (408), by the processing unit (162), a masked equipment identifier corresponding to the at least one selected CPE by adding a plurality of additional identifiers to the derived center ID.