Detection and remediation of island tracking area codes in a network

1. A method comprising:

selecting, by a device, a target cell and neighbor cells of a wireless network;

determining, by the device, one or multiple candidate tracking area codes based on tracking area codes of the neighbor cells;

calculating, by the device, first values of the neighbor cells based on distance values between the neighbor cells and the target cell;

calculating, by the device, one or multiple second values for the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes based on the first values and the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes;

selecting, by the device, one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes; and

determining, by the device, whether a tracking area code of the target cell is an island tracking area code based on the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the device, a remedial measure when it is determined that the tracking area code of the target cell is the island tracking area code.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distance values between the neighbor cells and the target cells are Euclidean distance values.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculating of the first values comprises:

calculating, by the device, a maximum distance value pertaining one of the neighbor cells that is farthest from the target cell;

calculating, by the device, a minimum distance value pertaining to another one of the neighbor cells that is closest to the target cell; and

calculating, by the device, the first values based on the maximum distance value and the minimum distance value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculating of the one or multiple second values comprises:

selecting, by the device, a first set of neighbor cells whose tracking area code matches the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes; and

aggregating, by the device, each first value of the first set of neighbor cells.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether further comprises:

comparing, by the device, the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes to the tracking area code of the target cell; and

determining, by the device, whether the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes matches the tracking area code of the target cell.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

calculating, by the device, one or multiple probability values based on the one or multiple second values;

comparing, by the device, one of the one or multiple probability values of the one of the one or multiple candidate values to a threshold probability value when the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes does not match the tracking area code of the target cell; and

determining, by the device, that the tracking area code of the target cell is the island tracking area code when the one of the one or multiple probability values of the one of the one or multiple candidate value satisfies the threshold probability value.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

replacing, by the device, the tracking area code of the target cell with the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes.

9. A device comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions to:

select a target cell and neighbor cells of a wireless network;

determine one or multiple candidate tracking area codes based on tracking area codes of the neighbor cells;

calculate first values of the neighbor cells based on distance values between the neighbor cells and the target cell;

calculate one or multiple second values for the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes based on the first values and the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes;

select one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes; and

determine whether a tracking area code of the target cell is an island tracking area code based on the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

provide a remedial measure when it is determined that the tracking area code of the target cell is the island tracking area code.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the distance values between the neighbor cells and the target cells are Euclidean distance values.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein, when calculating the first values, the processor further executes the instructions to:

calculate a maximum distance value pertaining one of the neighbor cells that is farthest from the target cell;

calculate a minimum distance value pertaining to another one of the neighbor cells that is closest to the target cell; and

calculate the first values based on the maximum distance value and the minimum distance value.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein, when calculating the one or multiple second values, the processor further executes the instructions to:

select a first set of neighbor cells whose tracking area code matches the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes; and

aggregate each first value of the first set of neighbor cells.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein, when determining whether, the processor further executes the instructions to:

compare the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes to the tracking area code of the target cell; and

determine whether the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes matches the tracking area code of the target cell.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

calculate one or multiple probability values based on the one or multiple second values;

compare one of the one or multiple probability values of the one of the one or multiple candidate values to a threshold probability value when the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes does not match the tracking area code of the target cell; and

determine that the tracking area code of the target cell is the island tracking area code when the one of the one or multiple probability values of the one of the one or multiple candidate value satisfies the threshold probability value.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

replace the tracking area code of the target cell with the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a device, which when executed cause the device to:

select a target cell and neighbor cells of a wireless network;

determine one or multiple candidate tracking area codes based on tracking area codes of the neighbor cells;

calculate first values of the neighbor cells based on distance values between the neighbor cells and the target cell;

calculate one or multiple second values for the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes based on the first values and the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes;

select one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes; and

determine whether a tracking area code of the target cell is an island tracking area code based on the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the device to:

provide a remedial measure when it is determined that the tracking area code of the target cell is the island tracking area code.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions to determine whether further comprise instructions, which when executed cause the device to:

compare the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes to the tracking area code of the target cell; and

determine whether the one of the one or multiple candidate tracking area codes matches the tracking area code of the target cell.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the distance values between the neighbor cells and the target cells are Euclidean distance values.