System and method for predicting future locations of mobile communication devices using connection-related data of a mobile access network

1. A system for predicting future locations of mobile communication devices, the system comprising:

a data extracting module operably connected to a mobile access network supporting the mobile communication devices, the data extracting module configured to extract connection-related data from the mobile access network, the connection-related data being primarily used by the mobile access network for purposes other than location determination, the connection-related data including cell identifiers for the mobile communication devices;

a location module operably connected to the data extracting module, the location module configured to process the connection-related data to retrieve the cell identifiers to determine latest locations of the mobile communication devices with respect to cell areas supported by the mobile access network; and

a predictive analytics module operably connected to the location module, the predictive analytics module configured to perform predictive analytics using at least the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices, the predictive analytics module being further configured to use carrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices,

wherein operations of the data extracting module, the location module and the predictive analytics module are executed using one or more processors.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connection-related data includes billing records, wherein the data extracting module is configured to extract the billing records from one or more components of the mobile access network, and wherein the location module is configured to process the billing records to retrieve the cell identifiers from the billing records.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the billing records are call detail records, wherein the data extracting module is configured to extract the call detail records from one or more components of the mobile access network, and wherein the location module is configured to process the call detail records to retrieve the cell identifiers from the call detail records.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connection-related data includes authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) information, wherein the data extracting module is configured to extract the authentication, authorization and accounting information from one or more components of the mobile access network, and wherein the location module is configured to process the authentication, authorization and accounting information to retrieve the cell identifiers from the authentication, authorization and accounting information.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connection-related data includes mobility messages, wherein the data extracting module is configured to extract the mobility messages from the mobile access network, and wherein the location module is configured to process the mobility messages to retrieve the cell identifiers from the mobility messages.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data extracting module is connected to one or more network probes on at least one signal path of the mobile access network to receive the connection-related data from the one or more network probes.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predictive analytics module is configured to use noncarrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices and the carrier-provided location predictive indicators to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predictive analytics module is configured to use noncarrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices.

9. A computer-implemented method for predicting future locations of mobile communication devices, the method comprising:

extracting connection-related data from a mobile access network, the connection-related data being primarily used by the mobile access network for purposes other than location determination, the connection-related data including cell identifiers for the mobile communication devices;

processing the connection-related data to retrieve the cell identifiers to determine latest locations of the mobile communication devices with respect to cell areas supported by the mobile access network; and

performing predictive analytics using at least the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices wherein the performing the predictive analytics includes using carrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the connection-related data includes billing records, wherein the extracting includes extracting the billing records from one or more components of the mobile access network, and wherein the processing includes processing the billing records to retrieve the cell identifiers from the billing records.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the billing records are call detail records, wherein the extracting includes extracting the call detail records from one or more components of the mobile access network, and wherein the processing includes processing the call detail records to retrieve the cell identifiers from the call detail records.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the connection-related data includes authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) information, wherein the extracting includes extracting the authentication, authorization and accounting information from one or more components of the mobile access network, and wherein the processing includes processing the authentication, authorization and accounting information to retrieve the cell identifiers from the authentication, authorization and accounting information.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the connection-related data includes mobility messages, wherein the extracting includes extracting the mobility messages from the mobile access network, and wherein the processing includes processing the mobility messages to retrieve the cell identifiers from the mobility messages.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the extracting includes receiving the connection-related data from one or more network probes on at least one signal path of the mobile access network.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the performing the predictive analytics includes using noncarrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices and the carrier-provided location predictive indicators.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the performing the predictive analytics includes using noncarrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices.

17. A computer-implemented method for predicting future locations of mobile communication devices, the method comprising:

extracting connection-related data from a mobile access network, the connection-related data being primarily used by the mobile access network for purposes other than location determination, the connection related data including cell identifiers for the mobile communication devices;

processing the connection-related data to retrieve the cell identifiers to determine latest locations of the mobile communication devices with respect to cell areas supported by the mobile access network; and

performing predictive analytics using at least the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices and location predictive indicators from the mobile access network to predict the future locations of the mobile communication devices wherein the performing the predictive analytics includes using carrier-provided location predictive indicators for the mobile communication devices in addition to the determined latest locations of the mobile communication devices.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the connection-related data includes authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) information or mobility messages.