Radio repeater system for avoiding mobile device location interference
A radio repeater system is described that disables itself to avoid interfering with mobile network performed multilateration of mobile devices. The radio repeater provides additional network coverage for a localized area. The localized area can include enclosed spaces such as buildings or transportation terminals. The radio repeater system can monitor the signals received from cell towers, and if there are at least three signals of a predetermined signal strength, the radio repeater can disable itself to avoid interfering with mobile locating performed by the network. The radio repeater can remain disabled until the conditions that led to the disabling have passed.
1. A system, comprising:
a memory that stores executable instructions; and
a processor, coupled to the memory, to facilitate execution of the executable instructions to perform operations, comprising:
determining a number of base station devices from which signals are received that satisfy a first defined criterion associated with signal strength, wherein the first defined criterion is determined based on a signal attenuation characteristic of a coverage area associated with a repeater device;
determining whether the number of base station devices satisfy a second defined criterion, wherein the second defined criterion relates to a parameter associated with locating a mobile device; and
in response to the first defined criterion and the second defined criterion being determined to be satisfied, disabling the repeater device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the disabling comprises disabling the repeater device in response to determining that the signals satisfying the first defined criterion were received from at least three base station devices.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first defined criterion is based on a determination that a signal strength of each of the signals received from the base station devices is sufficient to be received by the mobile device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise disabling the repeater device for a duration of time during which the second defined criterion is determined to be satisfied.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the operations further comprise re-enabling the repeater device in response to the second defined criterion being determined not to be satisfied.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
analyzing metadata associated with the signals to determine a set of network devices associated with the signals; and
in response to the analyzing indicating that the set of network devices comprises a network device associated with the repeater device, determining whether the signals match the second defined criterion.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
analyzing signal strengths of other signals received from mobile devices in the coverage area of the repeater device to determine a change in signal strength loss.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise:
in response to determining a change in signal strength loss, adjusting the first defined criterion based on the change in signal strength loss.
9. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a device comprising a processor, signals from a set of base station devices;
determining, by the device, a number of base station devices that the set of base station devices comprises;
determining, by the device, whether the signals satisfy a criterion, wherein the criterion is associated with signal strength of the signals and is based on a signal attenuation characteristic of a coverage area associated with a repeater device; and
in response to the criterion being determined to be satisfied for the signals from at least three base station devices, disabling, by the device, the repeater device.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising re-enabling, by the device, the repeater device in response to the predetermined criterion being determined not to be satisfied for the signals from the at least three base station devices.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the criterion is based on the signal strength of the signals satisfying at least a defined value.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising disabling, by the device, the repeater device for a time period during which the criterion is determined to be satisfied.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising analyzing, by the device, metadata associated with the signals to determine a network identity associated with the signals.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining, by the device, whether the signals match the criterion in response to determining that the network identity matches another network identity associated with the repeater device.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising analyzing, by the device, signal strengths of other signals received from mobile devices in the coverage area of the repeater device to determine a change in data representing signal strength loss.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising adjusting, by the device, the criterion based on the change in the data representing the signal strength loss.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:
determining a number of base station devices from which signals are received that satisfy a first defined criterion associated with signal strength wherein the first defined criterion is determined based on a signal attenuation characteristic of a coverage area associated with a repeater device;
determining whether the number of base station devices satisfy a second defined criterion, wherein the second defined criterion relates to a parameter associated with locating a mobile device; and
in response to the first defined criterion and the second defined criterion being determined to be satisfied, disabling a repeater device.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 17 , wherein the disabling the repeater device comprises disabling the repeater device in response to determining that the signals were received from at least three base station devices.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise re-enabling the repeater device in response to the second defined criterion being determined not to be satisfied for the signals from at least three base station devices.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 17 , wherein operations further comprise:
analyzing signal strengths of other signals received from mobile devices in the coverage area of the repeater device to determine a change in signal strength loss; and
in response to determining a change in signal strength loss, adjusting the first defined criterion based on the change in signal strength loss.