Patent ID: 9210591
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for optimization of steering of roaming users to preferred operators at a roaming network, the apparatus comprising: a first input for receiving aggregated data of past roaming usage, said data as received being aggregated over multiple users; a second input for receiving cost data of respective roaming network operators for future usage, said cost data comprising a relationship of cost to utilized volume of multiple users, said relationship being specific for each operator; a steering optimization unit connected to said first input and to said second input and configured to estimate future roaming usage from said past roaming usage and to assign said estimated future roaming usage of said multiple users between said respective roaming operators so as to generate respective quotas for said roaming operators, said quotas being selected on the basis of said aggregated data and respective operator agreements to minimize an overall usage cost for said estimated future roaming usage, said quotas forming a steering plan; and an output configured to provide said steering plan to a steering of roaming unit to enable said steering of roaming unit to use said steering plan to allocate identified roaming users among said respective roaming operators according to said plan and said quotas.