Systems and methods for identifying user density from network data
Systems and methods for identifying user density from network data are included herein. Embodiments include a communication tower that allocates communication bandwidth to devices in an area within range of the communication tower. The communication tower can calculate the user density in the area based on the allocation of bandwidth. Further, the types of data and messages exchanged with the devices can indicate the type of device, which can be used to group the devices based on type that are likely associated with a single user. For example, a single user may have a mobile phone, a tablet, and a smartwatch. Additionally, speed of devices can indicate which users are pedestrians. This information can be included in user density information and provided to devices or users to improve public safety, device response to high traffic areas, and so forth.
1. A system, comprising:
a communication server to communicate with a communication network that provides communication services to user devices, the communication server further to execute a communication application to:
allocate cells of communication bandwidth of the communication network to a plurality of the user devices located in a geographical area that is within range of the communication server;
determine numbers of users and locations of users located in the geographical area based on the allocated cells of communication bandwidth by:
calculating a number of cells that are allocated;
for each cell that is allocated, identifying respective device types for the plurality of the user devices using bandwidth in the cell;
clustering the plurality of the user devices by identifying or estimating sets of the user devices having different respective devices types and belonging to a same user; and
determining the numbers of users based on the number of cells that are allocated and the clustering, such that the numbers of users in the cells is smaller than a number of user devices determined to be using bandwidth in the cells;
calculate present user density information in the geographical area based on the numbers and locations of the users;
identify a pattern deviation in the present user density information according to historical user density information; and
transmit the present user density information to an application executing on a computer system, responsive to detecting the pattern deviation.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication application is to:
identify the pattern deviation in the present user density information for the geographical area based on at least one of time of day or day of week.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication application is to:
transmit the present user density information to the application executing on the computer system by transmitting a notification to the computer system that indicates the pattern deviation.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the communication application is to determine the numbers and locations of the users located in the geographical area based on the allocated cells of communication bandwidth further by:
calculating a number of cells that are allocated; and
for each cell that is allocated, identifying a number of pedestrians in the geographical area based on a length of time the cell has been allocated; and
the communication application is to calculate the present user density information by:
determining whether the number of pedestrians is above a threshold value; and
in response to determining the number of pedestrians is above the threshold value, including in the present user density information that a pedestrian density is high.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the application executing on the computer system is configured to control a traffic signal; and
the communication application is to transmit the present user density information to the application executing on the computer system, in response to the pattern deviation indicating the pedestrian density is high, so as to increase a length of a walk signal of the traffic signal.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the application executing on the computer system is configured to control a self-driving vehicle; and
the communication application is to transmit the present user density information to the application executing on the computer system so as to adjust a speed of the self-driving vehicle in accordance with the user density information.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user density information comprises an aggregated user density that obfuscates specific user information.
8. A non-transient computer readable memory device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
allocate cells of communication bandwidth to a plurality of devices located in a geographical area that is within range of a communication server;
determine numbers of users and locations of users located in the geographical area based on the allocated cells of communication bandwidth by:
calculating a number of cells that are allocated;
for each cell that is allocated, identifying respective device types for the plurality of the user devices using bandwidth in the cell;
clustering the plurality of the user devices by identifying or estimating sets of the user devices having different respective devices types and belonging to a same user; and
determining the numbers of users based on the number of cells that are allocated and the clustering, such that the numbers of users in the cells is smaller than a number of user devices determined to be using bandwidth in the cells;
calculate present user density information in the geographical area based on the numbers and locations of the users;
identify a pattern deviation in the present user density information according to historical user density information; and
transmit the present user density information to an application executing on a computer system, responsive to detecting the pattern deviation.
9. The non-transient computer readable memory device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
identify the pattern deviation based on at least one of time of day and day of week.
10. The non-transient computer readable memory device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
transmit the present user density information to include a notification to the computer system indicating the pattern deviation.
11. The non-transient computer readable memory device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
determine the numbers and locations of the users further by:
calculating a number of cells that are allocated; and
for each cell that is allocated, identifying a number of pedestrians in the geographical area based on a length of time the cell has been allocated; and
calculate the present user density information by:
determining whether the number of pedestrians is above a threshold value; and
in response to determining the number of pedestrians is above the threshold value, including in the present user density information that a pedestrian density is high.
12. The non-transient computer readable memory device of claim 11 , wherein:
the application executing on the computer system is configured to control a traffic signal; and
in response to the present user density information indicating the pedestrian density is high, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit the present user density information so as to increase a length of a walk signal of the traffic signal.
13. The non-transient computer readable memory device of claim 8 , wherein:
the application executing on the computer system is configured to control a self-driving vehicle; and
the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit the present user density information so as to adjust a speed of the self-driving vehicle in accordance with the user density information.
14. A method, comprising:
allocating cells of communication bandwidth to a plurality of devices located in a geographical area that is within range of a communication server;
determining numbers of users and locations of users located in the geographical area based on the allocated cells of communication bandwidth by:
calculating a number of cells that are allocated;
for each cell that is allocated, identifying respective device types for the plurality of the user devices using bandwidth in the cell;
clustering the plurality of the user devices by identifying or estimating sets of the user devices having different respective devices types and belonging to a same user; and
determining the numbers of users based on the number of cells that are allocated and the clustering, such that the numbers of users in the cells is smaller than a number of user devices determined to be using bandwidth in the cells;
calculating present user density information in the geographical area based on the numbers and locations of users;
identifying a pattern deviation in the present user density information according to historical user density information;
transmitting the present user density information to an application executing on a computer system, responsive to detecting the pattern deviation.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein transmitting the present user density information to the application executing on the computer system comprises transmitting a notification to the computer system indicating the pattern deviation.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein
determining the numbers and locations of the users further comprises:
calculating a number of cells that are allocated; and
for each cell that is allocated, identifying a number of pedestrians in the geographical area based on a length of time the cell has been allocated;
calculating the present user density information comprises:
determining whether the number of pedestrians is above a threshold value; and
in response to determining the number of pedestrians is above the threshold value, including in the user density information that a pedestrian density is high;
the application executing on the computer system is configured to control a traffic signal; and
the transmitting is, in response to the present user density information indicating the pedestrian density is high, so as to increase a length of a walk signal of the traffic signal.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the application executing on the computer system is configured to control a self-driving vehicle; and
the transmitting is so as to adjust a speed of the self-driving vehicle in accordance with the present user density information.