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

1. A method, comprising:

determining antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by a mobile radio network, wherein:

the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and

the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area;

determining a location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal; and

determining the location area based on identifying one or more of the plurality of sub-areas that meet particular criteria;

determining when the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas define the location area, wherein the determining is based on one or more defining criteria;

and when the determining that the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas do not define the location area based on at least one of the one or more defining criteria:

determining one or more sub-areas to be considered; and

grouping the one or more sub-areas to be considered into one or more areas of connected sub-areas.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in a respective sub-area.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular criteria comprises each one or more of the plurality of sub-areas having at least a defined minimum probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in that sub-area.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining the sub-areas to be considered by selecting from the sub-areas with descending location probability those sub-areas which together make up at least a defined target probability.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising modifying a grouping defining the location area using the one or more sub-areas to be considered.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising enlarging the grouping the defining the location area using one or more sub-areas closest, separated by an intermediate area with at least a defined minimum mean location probability.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in a respective sub-area.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular criteria comprises each one or more of the plurality of sub-areas having at least a defined minimum probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in that sub-area.

10. A system, comprising:

one or more processors for use in a computer system associated with a mobile radio network, the one or more processors being operable to:

determine antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by the mobile radio network, wherein:

the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area;

the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area; and

determine a location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal;

determine the location area based on identifying one or more of the plurality of sub-areas that meet particular criteria;

determine when the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas define the location area, wherein the determining is based on one or more defining criteria; and

when the determining that the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas do not define the location area based on at least one of the one or more defining criteria:

determine one or more sub-areas to be considered;

and group the one or more sub-areas to be considered into one or more areas of connected sub-areas.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in a respective sub-area.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the particular criteria comprises each one or more of the plurality of sub-areas having at least a defined minimum probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in that sub-area.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine the sub-areas to be considered by selecting from the sub-areas with descending location probability those sub-areas which together make up at least a defined target probability.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to modify a grouping defining the location area using the one or more sub-areas to be considered.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine enlarge the grouping the defining the location area using one or more sub-areas closest, separated by an intermediate area with at least a defined minimum mean location probability.

17. A method, comprising:

determining antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by a mobile radio network, wherein:

the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and

the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area;

determining a location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal;

determining the location area based on identifying one or more of the plurality of sub-areas that meet particular criteria;

determining when the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas define the location area, wherein the determining is based on one or more defining criteria;

wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.

18. A system, comprising:

one or more processors for use in a computer system associated with a mobile radio network, the one or more processors being operable to:

determine antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by the mobile radio network, wherein:

the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and

the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area;

determine a location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal;

determine the location area based on identifying one or more of the plurality of sub-areas that meet particular criteria; and

determine when the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas define the location area, wherein the determining is based on one or more defining criteria;

wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in a respective sub-area.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the particular criteria comprises each one or more of the plurality of sub-areas having at least a defined minimum probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in that sub-area.