PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-12156092-B2
Application Number: US-202217592343-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Wireless communications systems with social distancing identification

Abstract:
A wireless network may include network equipment such as base stations that operate within cells and that communicate with user equipment (UE) devices. The network equipment may harvest anonymized data from the UE devices and may generate connection counts based on the anonymized data. The network equipment may estimate the total population of each cell based on the connection counts, may generate a maximum number of individuals allowed in the cells under a social distancing guideline, and may compare the estimated total population of the cells to the maximum number of individuals. Cells having an estimated total population that exceeds the maximum number of individuals may be labeled as cells having poor social distancing. Information may be provided to a UE device identifying these cells to allow a user to make informed decisions on where to travel without exposing private information to the network.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating a wireless network having a set of base stations, the method comprising:
 identifying a connection count indicative of a number of user equipment (UE) devices connected to a base station from the set of base stations; 
 estimating a population of a cell of the base station based at least on the connection count; 
 estimating an area required by an individual in the cell based on a social distancing guideline; 
 identifying, based on the estimated area, a maximum number of individuals allowed in the cell by the social distancing guideline; and 
 providing, when the estimated population exceeds the maximum number of individuals allowed in the cell, information to a UE device for display by the UE device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the connection count comprises:
 harvesting anonymized UE data from UE devices connected to the set of base stations; and 
 identifying the connection count based on the anonymized UE data. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the anonymized UE data comprises time stamp values and globally unique cell identifiers. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the anonymized UE data is devoid of information that identifies the UE devices. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information comprises a message indicative of the estimated population exceeding the maximum number of individuals. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the social distancing guideline comprises a distance between two persons. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at a user input device, an input that identifies the social distancing guideline. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the social distancing guideline is issued by a governing body associated with land that includes the cell. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating the population further comprises estimating the population based on a wireless communications schedule associated with the base station. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a query from the UE device, wherein the query identifies a geographic area that includes the cell of the base station, the UE device being at a location outside of the cell of the base station. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein estimating the population further comprises estimating the population based on a wireless communications schedule associated with the base station. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the wireless communications schedule comprises information identifying a data allocation between the UE devices connected to the base station. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the base station is associated with a first network carrier, the method further comprising:
 receiving application programming interface (API) information from a second network carrier different from the first network carrier, wherein the API information identifies additional UE devices of the second network carrier located within the cell; and 
 estimating the population based on the API information. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein estimating the population further comprises:
 estimating the population density based on a communications schedule of the first network carrier. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein estimating the population further comprises:
 increasing or decreasing the estimated population density based on a current date and time. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein providing the information to the UE device comprises providing, responsive to receipt of the query, the information to the UE device via an additional base station of the set of base stations, the additional base station having an additional cell that includes the location. 
     
     
       17. A wireless network comprising:
 a set of base stations; and 
 one or more processors configured to
 identify a connection count indicative of a number of user equipment (UE) devices connected to a base station from the set of base stations, the base station being associated with a first network carrier, 
 receive application programming interface (API) information from a second network carrier different than the first network carrier, wherein the API information identifies one or more additional UE devices of the second network carrier located in a cell of the base station, 
 estimate a population density of the cell based at least on the connection count and the API information, and 
 provide information indicative of the estimated population density to a UE device for display by the UE device. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The wireless network of  claim 17 , the one or more processors being further configured to provide the information to the UE device responsive to receipt of a query from the UE device, wherein the query identifies a geographic area that includes the cell of the base station and the UE device is at a location outside the cell of the base station. 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by at least one processor of a wireless network, the one or more programs including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 harvest anonymized user equipment (UE) data from UE devices connected to a set of base stations of the wireless network, the anonymized UE data being devoid of information that identifies the UE devices, 
 identify, based on the anonymized UE data, a connection count indicative of a number of the UE devices that are connected to a base station from the set of base stations, 
 estimate a population density of a cell of the base station based at least on the connection count, and 
 provide information indicative of the estimated population density to a UE device for display by the UE device. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the information is provided to the UE device responsive to receipt of a query from the UE device, the query identifies a geographic area that includes the cell of the base station, the UE device is at a location outside the cell of the base station.

Description:
FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to wireless communications and, more particularly, to wireless communications between electronic devices and wireless base stations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices are often provided with wireless capabilities for communicating with wireless base stations. The wireless base stations serve as a communications interface between the electronic devices and other portions of a wireless network. Users of electronic devices with wireless capabilities often use the electronic devices for navigational purposes or to obtain information about different geographic locations. 
     SUMMARY 
     A wireless network may include network equipment. The network equipment may include wireless base stations. The wireless base stations may operate within respective cells. The wireless base stations may communicate with user equipment (UE) devices. The network equipment may periodically harvest anonymized UE data from the UE devices to protect the personal information of users of the UE devices. The anonymized UE data may include time stamps and globally unique cell identifiers, for example. The network equipment may generate a connection count for each of the wireless base stations based on the time stamps and globally unique cell identifiers. The network equipment may also harvest radio-frequency sensor data from the UE devices. The radio-frequency sensor data may be indicative of other UE devices that are not connected to the wireless base stations. The network equipment may also receive an application programming interface from a network carrier associated with UE devices that use other operating systems. 
     The network equipment may estimate the total population of each cell based on the connection counts, the radio-frequency sensor data, the application programing interface, and/or time/date information. The network equipment may identify an area required by an individual person for each cell based on a social distancing guideline/protocol associated with the cells. The network equipment may generate a maximum number of individuals allowed in the cells under the social distancing guideline based on the area of the cells and the area required by an individual person. The network equipment may compare the estimated total population of each cell to the maximum number of individuals allowed in the cells. Cells having an estimated total population that exceeds the maximum number of individuals may be labeled as non-social distancing-friendly cells. Cells having an estimated total population less than the maximum number of individuals may be labeled as social distancing-friendly cells. The network equipment may provide information to one or more of the UE devices identifying the non-social distancing-friendly cells and/or the social distancing-friendly cells. The UE devices may display this information (e.g., using a map application). This may allow the users of the UE devices to make informed decisions on where to travel while remaining safe during a global pandemic, without exposing private information associated with the UE devices to the network. 
     An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of operating a wireless network having a set of base stations. The method can include identifying a connection count indicative of a number of user equipment (UE) devices connected to a base station from the set of base stations. The method can include estimating a population density of a cell of the base station based at least on the connection count. The method can include providing information indicative of the estimated population density to a UE device for display by the UE device. 
     An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of operating an electronic device having a display. The method can include receiving, from a wireless base station in a wireless network, information identifying a geographic area having an estimated population density that exceeds a maximum threshold population density as determined, by the wireless network, based on a social distancing protocol governing the geographic area and a user equipment (UE) connection count of a cell overlapping the geographic area. The method can include with an application running on the electronic device, using the display to display a map that includes a graphical element identifying the geographic area as having excessive population density. 
     An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of operating one or more processors in a wireless network that includes at least a first wireless base station in a first cell, a second wireless base station in a second cell, and a user equipment (UE) device in the first cell. The method can include harvesting time stamps and globally unique cell identifiers from UE devices in the second cell. The method can include generating a first connection count for the second wireless base station based on the time stamps and globally unique cell identifiers harvested from the UE devices in the second cell. The method can include estimating a total number of people in the second cell based at least on the first connection count. The method can include comparing the estimated total number of people in the second cell to a maximum number of people allowed in the second cell by a first social distancing protocol associated with the second cell. The method can include using the first wireless base station to inform the UE device in the first cell when the estimated total number of people in the second cell exceeds the maximum number of people allowed in the second cell by the first social distancing protocol. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a functional block diagram of an illustrative communications system including user equipment that performs wireless communications with external communications equipment in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of an illustrative communications system having a user equipment device and external communications equipment such as a set of wireless base stations in respective cells in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram showing how illustrative network equipment may have a population density estimator for identifying cells with satisfactory or unsatisfactory social distancing conditions in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    is a flow chart of illustrative operations that may be performed by network equipment to inform one or more user equipment devices about the social distancing conditions of one or more geographic areas while preserving user privacy in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    is a flow chart of illustrative operations that may be performed by a user equipment device to display information about the social distancing conditions of one or more geographic areas as identified by network equipment while preserving user privacy in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram of an illustrative graphical user interface that may be generated by user equipment to identify, to a user, the social distancing conditions of one or more geographic regions as identified by network equipment while preserving user privacy in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    is a flow chart of illustrative operations that may be performed by network equipment to inform a user equipment device of the social distancing conditions of geographic areas adjacent to the user equipment device while preserving user privacy in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram showing how cells adjacent to a user equipment device may have different social distancing conditions in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram of an illustrative graphical user interface that may be generated by user equipment to identify, to a user, the social distancing conditions of cells adjacent to the user equipment device in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    is a functional block diagram of an illustrative communications system  10  (sometimes referred to herein as communications network  10 ) for conveying wireless data between communications terminals. As shown in  FIG.  1   , communications system  10  may include network nodes (e.g., communications terminals) such as user equipment (UE)  12  and external communications equipment  46 . User equipment  12  and external communications equipment  46  may communicate with each other using a wireless communications link. If desired, user equipment  12  may wirelessly communicate with external communications equipment  46  without passing communications through any other intervening network nodes in communications system  10  (e.g., user equipment  12  may communicate directly with external communications equipment  46  over-the-air). 
     Communications system  10  may form a part of a larger communications network that includes network nodes coupled to external communications equipment  46  via wired and/or wireless links. The larger communications network may include one or more wired communications links (e.g., communications links formed using cabling such as ethernet cables, radio-frequency cables such as coaxial cables or other transmission lines, optical fibers or other optical cables, etc.), one or more wireless communications links (e.g., short range wireless communications links that operate over a range of inches, feet, or tens of feet, medium range wireless communications links that operate over a range of hundreds of feet, thousands of feet, miles, or tens of miles, and/or long range wireless communications links that operate over a range of hundreds or thousands of miles, etc.), communications gateways, wireless access points, wireless base stations (e.g., gNB&#39;s), switches, routers, servers, modems, repeaters, telephone lines, network cards, line cards, portals, user equipment (e.g., computing devices, mobile devices, etc.), etc. 
     The larger communications network may include communications (network) nodes or terminals coupled together using these components or other components (e.g., some or all of a mesh network, relay network, ring network, local area network, wireless local area network, personal area network, cloud network, star network, tree network, or networks of communications nodes having other network topologies), the Internet, combinations of these, etc. User equipment  12  may send data to and/or may receive data from other nodes or terminals in the larger communications network via external communications equipment  46  (e.g., external communications equipment  46  may serve as an interface between user equipment  12  and the rest of the larger communications network). The communications network may, if desired, be operated by a corresponding network operator or service provider. The portions of communications system  10  other than user equipment  12  may sometimes be referred to herein as network equipment of communications network  10 . The network equipment may include external communications equipment  46  (e.g., one or more wireless base stations) and/or one or more nodes, terminals, and/or controllers of communications system  10  (e.g., the portion of communications system  10  that does not include user equipment devices). The network equipment may include one or more processors (e.g., controllers) that perform the operations of the network equipment and/or external communications equipment  46  as described herein. 
     User equipment  12  may be a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone, a portable media player, a wearable electronic device (e.g., a wristwatch, a pendant, googles or other head-mounted devices, etc.), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a gaming controller, a remote control, an electronic navigation device, other larger electronic devices such as a desktop computer, television, set-top box, home entertainment system, server, or computer monitor, or may include electronic equipment integrated into a larger system such as a kiosk, building, or vehicle. User equipment  12  may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as user equipment (UE) device  12 . 
     External communications equipment  46  may also be a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone, a portable media player, a wearable electronic device (e.g., a wristwatch, a pendant, googles or other head-mounted devices, etc.), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a gaming controller, a remote control, an electronic navigation device, other larger electronic devices such as a desktop computer, television, set-top box, home entertainment system, server, or computer monitor, may include electronic equipment integrated into a larger system such as a kiosk, building, satellite, or vehicle, may be a wireless base station, access point, relay station, or gateway, may include two or more of these, etc. Implementations in which external communications equipment  46  is a wireless base station (e.g., for conveying cellular telephone signals in one or more cellular telephone bands according to a 4G LTE communications protocol, a 3GPP 5G communications protocol, etc.) are described herein as an example. Information conveyed between UE device  12  and external communications equipment  46  may include any desired information (e.g., message data, voice data, application data, image data, video data, email data, webpage data, authentication data such as two-factor authentication codes, real-time chat data, cloud services data, sensor data, etc.). 
     UE device  10  may be provided with an electronic device housing such as housing  14 . Housing  14 , which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, metal alloys, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, parts or all of housing  14  may be formed from dielectric or other low-conductivity material (e.g., glass, ceramic, plastic, sapphire, etc.). In other situations, housing  14  or at least some of the structures that make up housing  14  may be formed from metal elements. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , UE device  12  may include control circuitry  16 , input/output devices  22 , and wireless circuitry  26 . UE device  12  may include a communications bus and/or other data and control paths (not shown) that couple control circuitry  16  to input/output devices  22  and wireless circuitry  26 . Control circuitry  16  may include storage such as storage circuitry  20 . Storage circuitry  20  may include volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory), hard drive storage, etc. Storage circuitry  20  may be integrated within UE device  12  and/or may include removable storage media. Control circuitry  16  may also include processing circuitry  18 . Processing circuitry  18  may control the operation of UE device  12 . Processing circuitry  18  may include one or more application specific integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, baseband processor integrated circuits, graphics processing units, central processing units, digital signal processors, etc. 
     Control circuitry  16  may be used to run software on UE device  12  such as operating system functions, software applications, satellite navigation applications, internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external communications equipment  46 , control circuitry  16  may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using control circuitry  16  include internet protocols, wireless local area network (WLAN) protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocols (e.g., ultra-wideband protocols), cellular telephone protocols (e.g., 3G protocols, 4G (LTE) protocols, 3GPP Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) protocols, etc.), antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) protocols, global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) protocols, etc.), antenna-based spatial ranging protocols, or any other desired communications protocols. Each communications protocol may be associated with a corresponding radio access technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection methodology used in implementing the protocol. 
     Input/output devices  22  are used in providing input to and output from UE device  12  (e.g., to and/or from an end user of UE device  12 ). For example, input/output devices  22  may include one or more displays such as display  24 . Display  24  may be a touch sensitive display, a force sensitive display, a display that is both touch sensitive and force sensitive, or a display without touch or force sensor capabilities. Display  24  may be a liquid crystal display, light emitting diode display, organic light emitting diode display, etc. Input/output devices  22  may include other components such as sensors (e.g., light sensors, proximity sensors, range sensors, image sensors, audio sensors such as microphones, force sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, fingerprint sensors, pressure sensors, touch sensors, ultrasonic sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, etc.), status indicator lights, speakers, vibrators, keyboards, touch pads, buttons, joysticks, etc. 
     Wireless circuitry  26  may include one or more radio-frequency transceivers  28  and one or more antennas  30  for wirelessly communicating with external communications equipment  46 . Transceivers  28  may include one or more transmitters and/or one or more receivers. Antennas  30  may include any desired types of antennas such as patch antennas, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, inverted-F antennas, planar inverted-F antennas, slot antennas, helical antennas, waveguide radiators, combinations of these and/or other types of antennas. Antennas  30  may include one or more phased antenna arrays if desired (e.g., arrays of antenna elements that are sometimes referred to as phased array antennas, where the antenna elements have individually controlled phases and magnitudes that are selected to steer a corresponding signal beam in a particular direction via constructive and destructive interface across each of the antenna elements). 
     Transceivers  28  may be used to transmit and/or receive radio-frequency signals using antennas  30 . Transceivers  28  may each be formed from respective integrated circuits or may share one or more integrated circuits. Transceivers  28  may include mixer circuitry, analog-to-digital converter circuitry, digital-to-analog transceiver circuitry, amplifier circuitry, and/or any other desired components for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals. Wireless circuitry  26  may also include baseband processor circuitry, transmission line structures, filter circuitry, switching circuitry, and/or any other desired circuitry for transmitting and/or receiving wireless radio-frequency signals using antennas  30 . 
     If desired, each transceiver  28  may handle radio-frequency signals using different respective radio access technologies and/or communications band(s). For example, a first transceiver  28  may handle wireless local area network communications, a second transceiver  28  may handle cellular telephone communications, etc. In general, transceivers  28  may transmit and/or receive radio-frequency signals within corresponding frequency bands at radio frequencies (sometimes referred to herein as communications bands or simply as “bands”). The frequency bands handled by transceivers  28  may include wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands (e.g., Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11) or other WLAN communications bands) such as a 2.4 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 2400 to 2480 MHz), a 5 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 5180 to 5825 MHz), a Wi-Fi® 6E band (e.g., from 5925-7125 MHz), and/or other Wi-Fi® bands (e.g., from 1875-5160 MHz), wireless personal area network (WPAN) frequency bands such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® band or other WPAN communications bands, cellular telephone frequency bands (e.g., bands from about 600 MHz to about 5 GHz, 3G bands, 4G LTE bands, 5G New Radio Frequency Range 1 (FR1) bands below 10 GHz, 5G New Radio Frequency Range 2 (FR2) bands between 20 and 60 GHz, etc.), other centimeter or millimeter wave frequency bands between 10-300 GHz, near-field communications frequency bands (e.g., at 13.56 MHz), satellite navigation frequency bands (e.g., a GPS band from 1565 to 1610 MHz, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) band, a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) band, etc.), ultra-wideband (UWB) frequency bands that operate under the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and/or other ultra-wideband communications protocols, communications bands under the family of 3GPP wireless communications standards, communications bands under the IEEE 802.XX family of standards, and/or any other desired frequency bands of interest. 
     The term “convey radio-frequency signals” as used herein means the transmission and/or reception of the radio-frequency signals (e.g., for performing unidirectional and/or bidirectional wireless communications with external wireless communications equipment). Antennas  30  may transmit the radio-frequency signals by radiating the radio-frequency signals into free space (or to free space through intervening device structures such as a dielectric cover layer). Antennas  30  may additionally or alternatively receive the radio-frequency signals from free space (e.g., through intervening devices structures such as a dielectric cover layer). The transmission and reception of radio-frequency signals by antennas  30  each involve the excitation or resonance of antenna currents on an antenna resonating element in the antenna by the radio-frequency signals within the frequency band(s) of operation of the antenna. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , antennas  30  on UE device  10  may convey radio-frequency signals  40  with external communications equipment  46  (e.g., for one or more corresponding wireless communications links). The radio-frequency signals  40  that are transmitted from UE device  12  to external communications equipment  46  (e.g., in uplink direction  42 ) may sometimes be referred to as uplink signals. The radio-frequency signals  40  that are transmitted from external communications equipment  46  to UE device  12  (e.g., in downlink direction  44 ) may sometimes be referred to herein as downlink signals. Radio-frequency signals  40  may convey wireless data (e.g., data organized into datagrams, packets, symbols, messages, etc. according to one or more corresponding communications protocols). Wireless data conveyed by radio-frequency signals  40  in downlink direction  44  may sometimes be referred to as downlink data. Wireless data conveyed by radio-frequency signals  40  in uplink direction  42  may sometimes be referred to herein as uplink data. Radio-frequency signals  40  may be used to perform unidirectional communications (e.g., communications in which wireless data is only sent in uplink direction  42  or downlink direction  44 ) and/or bidirectional communications (e.g., communications in which wireless data is sent in both uplink direction  42  and downlink direction  44  between UE device  12  and external communications equipment  46 ). Wireless circuitry  26  may include measurement circuitry  32  that measures wireless performance metrics using transmitted and/or received radio-frequency signals. 
     External communications equipment  46  may include one or more transceivers  36  that transmit radio-frequency signals  40  in downlink direction  44  using one or more antennas  38  and/or that receive radio-frequency signals in uplink direction  42  using one or more antennas  38 . Antennas  38  may include any desired types of antennas such as patch antennas, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, inverted-F antennas, planar inverted-F antennas, slot antennas, helical antennas, waveguide radiators, combinations of these and/or other types of antennas, etc. Antennas  38  may include one or more phased antenna arrays if desired. Transceivers  36  may each be formed from respective integrated circuits or may share one or more integrated circuits. Transceivers  36  may include mixer circuitry, analog-to-digital converter circuitry, digital-to-analog transceiver circuitry, amplifier circuitry, and/or any other desired components for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals  40 . External communications equipment  46  may also include baseband processor circuitry, transmission line structures, filter circuitry, switching circuitry, and/or any other desired circuitry for transmitting and receiving wireless radio-frequency signals using antennas  38 . 
     External communications equipment  46  may include control circuitry such as controller  34 . Controller  34  may include processing circuitry and storage circuitry similar to as described above in connection with control circuitry  16  of UE device  12 . Controller  34  may also communicate with other portions of communications system  10  or other nodes or terminals (e.g., other user equipment, servers, the Internet, etc.) of the larger communications network that includes communications system  10  (e.g., using a wired and/or wireless network interface at external communications equipment  46  that is not shown in  FIG.  1    for the sake of clarity). The operations of the network equipment of communications system  10  as described herein may be performed by one or more processors in controller  34  and/or control circuitry on other portions of the network equipment. External communications equipment  46  may receive downlink data from other portions of the larger communications network for transmission to UE device  12  using radio-frequency signals  40  (e.g., in downlink direction  44 ). Similarly, external communications equipment  46  may forward uplink data received from UE device  12  to other portions of the larger communications network (e.g., to other user equipment, servers, etc.). In this way, external communications equipment  46  may serve as an interface between UE device  12  and the rest of the larger communications network that includes communications system  10 . 
     The example of  FIG.  1    is merely illustrative. While control circuitry  16  is shown separately from wireless circuitry  26  in the example of  FIG.  1    for the sake of clarity, wireless circuitry  26  may include processing circuitry (e.g., one or more processors) that forms a part of processing circuitry  18  and/or storage circuitry that forms a part of storage circuitry  20  of control circuitry  16  (e.g., portions of control circuitry  16  may be implemented on wireless circuitry  26 ). As an example, control circuitry  16  may include baseband circuitry (e.g., one or more baseband processors), digital control circuitry, analog control circuitry, and/or other control circuitry that forms part of transceivers  28 . The baseband circuitry may, for example, access a communication protocol stack on control circuitry  16  (e.g., storage circuitry  20 ) to: perform user plane functions at a PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, and/or PDU layer, and/or to perform control plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, RRC, layer, and/or non-access stratum layer. If desired, the PHY layer operations may additionally or alternatively be performed by radio-frequency (RF) interface circuitry in wireless circuitry  26 . 
       FIG.  2    is a diagram showing how UE device  12  may communicate with network equipment in communications system  10  while located within a geographic region  48 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , external communications equipment  46  of  FIG.  1    may include one or more wireless base stations  50  (e.g., a first wireless base station  50 - 1 , a second wireless base station  50 - 2 , a third wireless base station  50 - 3 , etc.). Each wireless base station may provide wireless coverage for UE devices located within a corresponding geographic area or region, also referred to as a cell. For example, wireless base station  50 - 1  may provide wireless coverage within cell  52 , wireless base station  50 - 2  may provide wireless coverage within cell  54 , and wireless base station  50 - 3  may provide wireless coverage within cell  56 . The cells need not be circular and may, in general, have any shape. 
     While UE device  12  is located within cell  52 , UE device  12  may communicate with wireless base station  50 - 1  (e.g., using radio-frequency signals  40  of  FIG.  1   ). During operation of UE device  12 , the user of UE device  12  may wish to travel to other locations within geographic region  48 . For example, the user may wish to travel to location  58  within cell  54  (as shown by arrow  68 ). The user may, if desired, enter an input to UE device  12  that serves to inform UE device  12  and the network equipment that the user is considering travel to location  58  (e.g., by searching for information about location  58  or directions to location  58  on a web browser or navigation/map application running on UE device  12 ). 
     There may arise situations in which the user of UE device  12  may not wish to travel to location  58  should location  58  be within a geographic area that is excessively crowded. One such situation may arise during a viral pandemic such as the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health emergencies. In these situations, traveling to location  58  can pose a risk to the user&#39;s health if the population density within cell  54  is excessively high, potentially exposing the user to viral pathogens. To help the user of UE device  12  make an informed decision about whether to travel to location  58 , the network equipment in communications system  10  may estimate the population density around base stations  50  based on the number of UE devices such as UE device  12  present within the cells of base stations  50 . To preserve the privacy of the users of the UE devices, the network equipment may estimate these population densities based at least on the number of UE devices connected to the wireless base stations within the cells (e.g., without exposing other personal/profile information about the users themselves or their UE devices to the network equipment). In general, the more UE devices that are connected to a given wireless base station, the greater the population density within the cell of the wireless base station. The network equipment may use the estimated population density and local social distancing guidelines/protocols (e.g., as set by local or national health agencies) to provide information for the user of UE device  12  about the potential risk of exposure should the user travel to location  58 . 
     For example, there may be a set  62  of UE devices present within cell  54  and connected to wireless base station  50 - 2  at a given point in time. The network equipment in communications system  10  may estimate the population density of cell  54  based on the number of UE devices connected to wireless base station  50 - 2  (e.g., the number of UE devices within set  62 ). If the number of UE devices in set  62  is excessively high (e.g., given the social distancing guidelines governing cell  54 ), base station  50 - 1  may transmit information to UE device  12  informing the user of UE device  12  that cell  54  is not a social distancing-friendly region and that the user may risk exposure to viral pathogens should the user travel to location  58 . The user may then use this information to decide not to travel to location  58 , or to instead travel to other locations such as location  60  within cell  56  (as shown by arrow  66 ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , there may be a set  64  of UE devices present within cell  56  and connected to wireless base station  50 - 3  at a given point in time. The network equipment may estimate the population density of cell  56  based on the number of UE devices connected to wireless base station  50 - 3  (e.g., the number of UE devices within set  64 ). UE devices may be referred to herein as being connected to a wireless base station when the UE devices and the wireless base station exchange data over a cellular telephone link or other wireless link (e.g., after registering with the wireless base station and being allocated scheduling resources for conveying wireless data with the wireless base station). Such UE devices may sometimes be referred to herein as connected UE devices. If the number of UE devices in set  64  is sufficiently low (e.g., given the social distancing guidelines governing cell  54 ), base station  50 - 1  may transmit information to UE device  12  informing the user of UE device  12  that cell  56  is social distancing-friendly and that the user can travel to location  60  (as shown by arrow  66 ) with an acceptably low risk of exposure to viral pathogens. 
     In the example of  FIG.  2   , there are fewer UE devices within cell  56  than within cell  54 . The network equipment may therefore provide information to UE device  12  that informs the user of UE device  12  that cell  56  is more social distancing-friendly than cell  54  or that otherwise informs the user of UE device  12  that it is relatively safe to travel to location  60  given local social distancing guidelines. The user may then use this information to make an informed decision to travel to location  60  rather than location  58 , minimizing their exposure to viral pathogens. Each cell in geographic region  48  may have the same social distancing guidelines or different cells may have different social distancing guidelines (e.g., as set by different local municipalities, cities, towns, etc.). 
     Consider one example in which a user of UE device  12  searches for local grocery stores (e.g., in a navigation application, web browser, or other software application running on UE device  12 ). UE device  12  may transmit wireless data to base station  50 - 1  to perform this search. The network equipment may identify a first grocery store at location  58  and a second grocery store at location  60 . The network equipment may identify that the cell containing location  58  (e.g., cell  54 ) has a first number of UE devices wirelessly connected to wireless base station  50 - 2  (e.g., UE devices within set  62 ). The network equipment may also identify that the cell containing location  60  (e.g., cell  56 ) has a second number of UE devices wirelessly connected to wireless base station  50 - 3  (e.g., UE devices within set  64 ). The network equipment may estimate the population density of cell  54  (e.g., how crowded it is at the grocery store at location  58 ) based at least on the size of set  62  and may estimate the population density of cell  56  (e.g., how crowded it is at the grocery store at location  60 ) based at least on the size of set  64 . 
     If the population density of cell  54  exceeds a threshold level that is given by the social distancing guidelines governing cell  54 , the network equipment may transmit information to UE device  12  identifying that location  58  is excessively crowded, has excessive population density, is unsafe to travel to, is not social distancing-friendly, etc. Additionally or alternatively, if the population density of cell  56  is less than a threshold level that is given by the social distancing guidelines governing cell  56 , the network equipment may transmit information to UE device  12  identifying that location  60  is not excessively crowded, has sufficiently low population density, is safe to travel to, is social distancing-friendly, etc. One or more software applications running on UE device  12  (e.g., a web browser, navigation application, or other application running on UE device  12 ) may provide a user output (e.g., via display  24  of  FIG.  1   , a speaker, and/or other user output device(s) on UE device  12 ) to inform the user of UE device  12  of these social distancing conditions. The user may then use this information to make an informed decision on whether to travel to the grocery store at location  58  or the grocery store at location  60  for their grocery shopping. 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram showing how network equipment in communications system  10  may process a set of inputs to estimate social distancing conditions (e.g., population density). As shown in  FIG.  3   , communication system  10  may include network equipment  73  (e.g., one or more base stations such as base stations  50  of  FIG.  2    and/or equipment implemented on one or more other network nodes or terminals). 
     Network equipment  73  may include a population density estimator  70 . Population density estimator may be implemented in hardware and/or software on network equipment  73  (e.g., using digital logic, analog circuitry, one or more processors, etc.). Population density estimator  70  may receive application programming interface (API)  74 , harvested data  72 , scheduling information  78 , and/or date/time information  80 . 
     Harvested data  72  may include anonymized data that is harvested (e.g., collected, retrieved, received, fetched, etc.) from UE devices  12  (e.g., UE device  12  and sets  62  and  60  as shown in  FIG.  2   ). Each of these UE devices may communicate with the same network carrier or operator that performs data harvesting from the UE devices (e.g., the network carrier that operates network equipment  73  and population density estimator  70 , which may be the network carrier associated with the operating system running on each of UE devices  12 ). The number of UE devices  12  connected to each wireless base station  50  may sometimes be referred to herein as the connection count of that wireless base station  50 . Harvested data  72  may include information identifying the number of UE devices  12  connected to each wireless base station  50  in communications system  10  (e.g., the connection count of wireless base station  50 - 2  of  FIG.  2   , which is indicative of the size of set  62 , and the connection count of wireless base station  50 - 3  of  FIG.  2   , which is indicative of the size of set  64 ). For example, harvested data  72  may include time stamp information (e.g., time stamps transmitted by each of the connected UE devices  12 ), globally unique cell identifiers (e.g., a cell global identity (CGI)) for each wireless base station (e.g., information identifying the wireless base stations  50  to which the UE devices  12  are connected), information identifying the bandwidth consumed by each UE device  12 , and/or sensor data such as sensor data  76 . 
     Sensor data  76  may include data gathered by one or more sensors on UE devices  12  (e.g., in measurement circuitry  32  of  FIG.  1   ). The sensor data may be indicative of the number of other UE devices  12  nearby to any given UE device  12  (e.g., each UE device  12  may periodically and autonomously gather data that identifies the number of other UE devices  12  within radio-frequency range of that UE device  12 ). The sensor data may, for example, be gathered using Bluetooth, NFC, and/or ultra-wideband signals transmitted and/or received by each UE device (e.g., the sensor data may be radio-frequency sensor data). Harvested data  72  does not include any information that specifically identifies the particular UE devices connected to the wireless base stations or the users of the UE devices. Network equipment  73  may process harvested data  72  to identify connection counts for each wireless base station. This information is completely devoid of identifying details associated with the UE devices themselves or the users of the UE devices, thereby protecting user privacy. 
     Network equipment  73  may, for example, use harvested data  72  to identify that wireless base station  50 - 2  ( FIG.  2   ) has a first connection count indicative of the number of UE devices  12  in cell  54  that are wirelessly connected to wireless base station  50 - 2  (e.g., the size of set  62 ), to identify that wireless base station  50 - 3  has a second connection count indicative of the number of UE devices  12  in cell  56  that are wirelessly connected to wireless base station  50 - 3  (e.g., the size of set  64 ), etc. This may be repeated for each of the wireless base stations (cells) in communications system  10  or for a subset of the wireless base stations (cells) in communications system  10 . 
     While connection count gives the number of UE devices  12  connected to each wireless base station, there may be other information indicative of the presence of people within the cells of the wireless base stations who are not otherwise included in the connection counts. For example, API  74  may include an API from one or more network carriers other than the network carrier operating population density estimator  70  (e.g., carriers other than the carrier that interfaces with UE devices  12  such as carriers that handle communications with user equipment devices running other operating systems than the operating system of UE devices  12 ). API  74  may include information identifying or estimating the number of these other user equipment devices which may be present in each of the cells of communications system  10 , as such user equipment devices will not be included in the connection counts. 
     Scheduling information  78  may be provided to population density estimator  70  from each of the wireless base stations  50  ( FIG.  2   ). Scheduling information  78  may include information about data allocation between the UE devices connected to the wireless base station, data congestion patterns, etc. Time/date information  80  may also be provided to population density estimator  70 . Time/date information  80  may include information identifying the current time, date, season, etc. 
     Population density estimator  70  may estimate the population density of each cell in communications system  10  based on harvested data  72 , API  74 , scheduling information  78 , and/or date/time information  80 . For example, population density estimator  70  may estimate the population density of cell  54  of  FIG.  2    based on the area of cell  54  and an estimate of the total number of people within cell  54  (e.g., where population density is given by the total number of people divided by area). Population density estimator  70  may estimate the total number of people within cell  54  based on the connection count of wireless base station  50 - 2  identified by harvested data  72 , sensor data  76 , API  74 , date/time information  80 , and scheduling information  78 . 
     For example, population density estimator  70  may estimate the total number of people as the sum of the connection count (indicative of the number of UE devices  12  in set  62  of  FIG.  2    connected to wireless base station  50 - 2 ), the number of other UE devices  12  that are nearby to the connected UE devices  12  in set  62  of  FIG.  2    but that are not otherwise connected to wireless base station  50 - 2 , and the number of user equipment devices operated by other network carriers as identified by API  74 . If desired, population density estimator  70  may further adjust, extrapolate, interpolate, or tweak the estimated total population using scheduling information  78  (e.g., by increasing the estimated total population when scheduling information  78  identifies that there is high data congestion within cell  54  when there is a relatively high amount of traffic in the cell) and/or date/time information  80  (e.g., by increasing the estimated total population when the date or time indicates that more people are likely to be present within cell  54 , such as when cell  54  is located within a park and the date/time indicates that it is daytime during a summer month). Population density estimator  70  may then divide the estimated total population of cell  54  by the area of cell  54  to estimate the population density of cell  54 . Population density estimator may repeat this process for each of the cells and wireless base stations in communications system  10  to produce (e.g., generate, estimate, output, compute, calculate, etc.) UE density estimate  82 . 
     Population density estimator  70  may provide UE density estimate  82  to reporting circuitry  84 . Reporting circuitry  84  may compare the estimated population density of each cell to a threshold. The threshold may be determined by the social distancing protocol governing each cell. Reporting circuitry  84  may report information identifying cells that are not social distancing-friendly and/or that are social distancing-friendly to one or more UE devices  12 . Reporting circuitry  84  may be implemented on one or more wireless base stations, for example. 
       FIG.  4    is a flow chart of illustrative operations that may be performed by network equipment  73  to inform one or more UE devices such as UE device  12  within cell  52  of  FIG.  2    about the social distancing conditions of one or more geographic areas (cells) such as cells  54  and  56  of  FIG.  2    (while preserving user privacy). Network equipment  73  may include population density estimator  70  of  FIG.  3    and one or more wireless base stations  50  of  FIG.  2   . 
     At optional operation  90 , wireless base station  50 - 1  ( FIG.  2   ) may receive a query from UE device  12 . UE device  12  may transmit the query when the user of UE device  12  is looking up a particular location in a web browser, navigation/mapping application, or other software application running on UE device  12 , as examples. The query may, for example, include location information identifying the location of UE device  12 . The location information may be fuzzed or obscured to shield the precise location of UE device  12  for privacy purposes. For example, UE device  12  may identify a geographic tile in which the UE device is located. The tile may be any size (e.g., 75 m-by-75 m). Operation  90  may be omitted if desired (e.g., network equipment  73  may push information identifying non-social distancing-friendly regions to UE device  12  autonomously and/or periodically). Operation  90  may be performed after or concurrently with any of the operations of  FIG.  4   . 
     At operation  92 , network equipment  73  ( FIG.  3   ) may gather (e.g., harvest, retrieve, fetch, or otherwise actively and/or passively receive) harvested data  72  ( FIG.  3   ) from the UE devices  12  within the cells of a set of wireless base stations  50  (e.g., periodically, according to a schedule, on demand, in the background while the UE devices are otherwise operating, etc.). If desired, population density estimator  70  may identify (e.g., produce, generate, estimate, compute, calculate, etc.) the connection count for each wireless base station  50  in the set of wireless base stations  50  based on harvested data  72 . The set of wireless base stations  50  may include all the wireless base stations in communications system  10  or a subset of all the wireless base stations in communications system  10 . In general, at least some of harvested data  72  is periodically gathered from any UE devices  12  that are wirelessly connected to a wireless base station  50  in the communications system (e.g., the operating system of UE devices  12  may instruct UE devices  12  to periodically transmit this information to network equipment  73 ). Alternatively, when network equipment  73  receives a query from UE device  12  (at operation  90 ) that identifies a particular location, the set of wireless base stations  50  may include wireless base station(s) having cells at and/or adjacent to the particular location. For example, if the query identifies that the user is searching for grocery stores, the set of wireless base stations may include those wireless base stations  50  having cells that overlap each of the grocery stores in the vicinity of the querying UE device  12 . As another example, if the query identifies that the user is searching for directions to a particular park, the set of wireless base stations may include the wireless base station  50  having a cell that overlaps that particular park and/or adjacent wireless base stations. As yet another example, the set of wireless base stations may include wireless base stations having cells adjacent to the geographic tile in which the querying UE device  12  is located. 
     Population density estimator  70  may use harvested data  72  of  FIG.  3    to identify the connection counts for each wireless base station in the set of wireless base stations. For example, the harvested data may include data produced by each connected UE device, where the data includes a time stamp for the communications performed by the UE device and a corresponding globally unique cell identifier identifying the wireless base station used to communicate with the UE device. Population density estimator  70  may use the time stamps and the globally unique cell identifiers to identify how many UE devices  12  are connected to each wireless base station (each globally unique cell identifier) in the set of wireless base stations at a given time, thereby giving the connection count for each wireless base station. As time stamps and globally unique cell identifiers do not reveal any information about the identity of particular UE devices  12  or the users of the UE devices, the connection counts allow network equipment  73  to estimate total population within the cells of the set of wireless base stations  50  while protecting user privacy. 
     The harvested data  72  collected by network equipment  73  may also include sensor data  76  ( FIG.  3   ). This sensor data may identify the presence of UE devices  12  that are nearby to the connected UE devices but that are not themselves connected to the wireless base station. This may allow network equipment  73  to better estimate total population within the cells of the set of wireless base stations by including users with UE devices  12  that are not wirelessly connected to the wireless base stations. This sensor data may also be devoid of information identifying the users of UE devices  12 . 
     At operation  94 , network equipment  73  may generate and maintain wireless scheduling information  78  ( FIG.  3   ). Wireless base stations  50  may generate wireless scheduling information  78  (e.g., as one or more wireless communications schedules) and may report the wireless scheduling information to population density estimator  70 . 
     At operation  96 , population density estimator  70  may receive API  74  ( FIG.  3   ) from one or more other network carriers. 
     At operation  98 , population density estimator  70  may estimate the total population within the cell of each wireless base station  50  in the set of wireless base stations based on harvested data  72 , sensor data  76 , scheduling information  78 , date/time information  80 , and/or API  74  ( FIG.  3   ). 
     Consider the example of  FIG.  2   , in which the set of wireless base stations includes at least wireless base station  50 - 2  having cell  54  and wireless base station  50 - 3  having cell  56 . In this example, population density estimator  70  may estimate (e.g., compute, calculate, generate, identify, etc.) the total population of cell  54  by adding the connection count of wireless base station  50 - 2  (e.g., as identified from harvested data  72  at operation  92 ), which is indicative of the number of connected UE devices  12  in cell  54  (e.g., the UE devices  12  in set  62  that are connected to wireless base station  50 - 2  via cellular links), to the number of UE devices  12  that are nearby to the connected UE devices  12  in cell  54  but that are not otherwise connected to wireless base station  50 - 2  (e.g., as identified by the sensor data  76  harvested from the UE devices  12  in cell  54  at operation  92 ), and to the number of user equipment devices of other carriers within cell  54  as identified by API  74 . Population density estimator  70  may adjust the estimated total population based on date/time information  80  and/or scheduling information  78  if desired. 
     Similarly, population density estimator  70  may estimate the total population of cell  56  by adding the connection count of wireless base station  50 - 3  (e.g., as identified from harvested data  72  at operation  92 ), which is indicative of the number of connected UE devices  12  in cell  56  (e.g., the UE devices  12  in set  64  that are connected to wireless base station  50 - 3  via cellular links), to the number of UE devices  12  that are nearby to the connected UE devices  12  in cell  56  but that are not otherwise connected to wireless base station  50 - 3  (e.g., as identified by the sensor data  76  harvested from the UE devices  12  in cell  56  at operation  92 ), and to the number of user equipment devices of other carriers within cell  56  as identified by API  74 . Population density estimator  70  may adjust the estimated total population based on date/time information  80  and/or scheduling information  78  if desired. 
     At operation  100 , population density estimator  70  may identify the social distancing conditions for the cells of each wireless base station in the set of wireless base stations based on the estimated total populations of the cells and local social distancing guidelines for each of the cells. For example, population density estimator  70  may identify cells having satisfactory social distancing conditions and/or cells having unsatisfactory social distancing conditions. 
     A public health agency such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or another governing body may issue local social distancing guidelines, rules, or laws governing the regions where cells  54  and  56  are located. The social distancing guideline may require that people of different households maintain a safe distance of d feet between each other. Distance d may be six feet, one-and-a-half meters, or other distances, for example. 
     Population density estimator  70  may identify the area required by an individual within each cell of the set of wireless base stations based on distance d (e.g., as given by the social distancing guidelines). Population density estimator  70  may identify (e.g., calculate, compute, generate, produce, output, etc.) the area required by an individual using the expression π*d 2 , where “*” is the multiplication operator. In an example where d=6 feet, the area required by an individual is 113.04 ft 2  (or 10.5 m 2 ). 
     Population density estimator  70  may identify (e.g., calculate, compute, generate, produce, output, etc.) the maximum number of individuals u allowed in each cell of the set of wireless base stations by dividing the total area of each cell by the area required by an individual within that cell under the social distancing guidelines (e.g., where the maximum number of individuals allowed in a given cell under the social distancing guidelines is given by u=A/(π*d 2 ), where A is the total area of that cell). 
     Population density estimator  70  may identify whether each cell has satisfactory social distancing conditions or unsatisfactory social distancing conditions by comparing the total population of that cell to the maximum number of individuals allowed in the cell under the social distancing guidelines. If the total population estimated for a given cell (e.g., as estimated at operation  98 ) is greater than or equal to the maximum number of individuals allowed in that cell under the social distancing guidelines (e.g., value u), then that cell may be labeled as a non-social distancing-friendly cell, a cell having excessive crowding, an unsafe cell, etc. If the total population estimated for a given cell (e.g., as estimated at operation  98 ) is less than the maximum number of individuals allowed in that cell under the social distancing guidelines (e.g., value u), then that cell may be labeled as a social distancing-friendly cell, a cell having acceptably low crowding, a safe cell, etc. 
     Each cell may have the same distance d or may have different distances d (e.g., when different local social distancing guidelines apply to different cells). Consider the example of  FIG.  2    described above, in which the set of wireless base stations includes at least wireless base station  50 - 2  having cell  54  and wireless base station  50 - 3  having cell  56 , and in which a first social distancing guideline governs cell  54  and dictates that individuals maintain a safe distance d 1  between each other whereas a second social distancing guideline governs cell  56  and dictates that individuals maintain a safe distance d 2  between each other. Cell  54  may have a first area A 1  whereas cell  56  has a second area A 2 . The area of each cell may vary depending on the frequency used for communications (e.g., lower frequencies may produce larger cell areas than higher frequencies). 
     In this example, population density estimator  70  may estimate that cell  54  has a first total population P 1  and that cell  56  has a second total population P 2  (e.g., while processing operation  98 ). Population density estimator  70  may compute the maximum number of individuals allowed within cell  54  under the first social distancing guideline u 1  using the formula u 1 =A 1 /(π*d 1   2 ). Population density estimator  70  may compute the maximum number of individuals allowed within cell  56  under the second social distancing guideline u 2  using the formula u 2 =A 2 /(π*d 2   2 ). If T 1  exceeds u 1  (e.g., if set  62  of  FIG.  2    is excessively large), cell  54  may be labeled as a non-social distancing-friendly region. If T 1  is less than u 2  (e.g., if set  62  of  FIG.  2    is sufficiently small), cell  54  may be labeled as a social distancing-friendly region or cell. Similarly, if T 2  exceeds u 2  (e.g., if set  64  of  FIG.  2    is excessively large), cell  56  may be labeled as a non-social distancing-friendly region. If T 2  is less than u 2  (e.g., if set  64  of  FIG.  2    is sufficiently small), cell  56  may be labeled as a social distancing-friendly region or cell. 
     At operation  102 , network equipment  73  may inform one or more UE devices  12  (e.g., the UE device that transmitted the query received at operation  90 ) about the social distancing conditions for the cells of the set of wireless base stations. For example, network equipment  74  may transmit information to the UE device  12  identifying which of the cells are non-social distancing-friendly and/or may transmit information to the UE device  12  identifying which of the cells are social distancing-friendly. UE device  12  may then use this information to inform its user of the social distancing conditions so the user can make an informed decision about their own movement or travel. 
     For example, if cell  54  of  FIG.  2    is non-social distancing-friendly (e.g., if T 1 ≥u 1 ), wireless base station  50 - 1  may provide downlink signals to UE device  12  in cell  52  informing UE device  12  that location  58  is non-social distancing-friendly. Additionally or alternatively, if cell  56  of  FIG.  2    is social distancing-friendly (e.g., if T 2 &lt;u 2 ), wireless base station  50 - 1  may provide downlink signals to UE device  12  in cell  52  informing UE device  12  that location  60  is social distancing-friendly. The user of UE device  12  may use this information to avoid location  58  and/or to travel to location  60  instead, thereby minimizing their exposure to potentially dangerous pathogens. 
       FIG.  5    is a flow chart of illustrative operations that may be performed UE device  12  in cell  52  of  FIG.  2    to display information about the social distancing conditions of one or more geographic areas as identified by network equipment  73  while preserving user privacy. 
     At operation  110 , UE device  12  may connect with wireless base station  50 - 1  while in cell  52  (e.g., over a cellular telephone link). 
     At operation  112 , UE device  12  may provide anonymized UE information to wireless base station  50 - 1  (e.g., as harvested by network equipment  73  while processing operation  92  of  FIG.  4   ). The information harvested by the network equipment may include a time stamp associated with the communication between UE device  12  and wireless base station  50 - 1  and a globally unique cell identifier that uniquely identifies wireless base station  50 - 1  and/or its cell  52 . If desired, UE device  12  may provide fuzzed location information to wireless base station  50 - 1 . For example, UE device  12  may provide information identifying a geographic tile within which UE device  12  is located. If desired, UE device  12  may generate sensor data that identifies the presence of other UE devices  12  in its vicinity (e.g., UE devices  12  that are not currently connected to UE device  50 - 1 ) and may transmit the sensor data to wireless base station  50 - 1  (e.g., network equipment  73  may harvest the sensor data as sensor data  76  of  FIG.  3   ). This information may not specifically identify UE device  12  or its user (e.g., the UE information is anonymized). 
     At optional operation  114 , UE device  12  may query network equipment  73  for social distancing information about one or more geographic regions. The geographic regions may include one or more locations that the user of UE device  12  wishes to travel to and/or one or more cells at, near, or adjacent to UE device  12 . For example, when the user of UE device  12  looks up locations  58  and  60  of  FIG.  2    in a mapping, web browser, or navigation application running on UE device  12 , this may query network equipment  73  to provide information about the social distancing conditions at locations  58  and  60  (e.g., the social distancing conditions of cells  54  and  56 ). Additionally or alternatively, UE device  12  may autonomously transmit the query. UE device  12  may transmit the query in uplink signals provided to wireless base station  50 - 1 , which may be received by network equipment  73  while processing operation  90  of  FIG.  4   . If desired, operation  114  may be omitted (e.g., network equipment  73  may provide social distancing information for one or more cells to UE device  12  periodically, when a cell adjacent to UE device  12  is non-social distancing-friendly, or in response to any desired trigger condition). 
     At operation  116 , UE device  12  may receive information from wireless base station  50 - 1  identifying the social distancing conditions of one or more locations (cells). For example, UE device  12  may receive information from wireless base station  50 - 1  identifying which of the queried geographic regions are non-social distancing-friendly and/or which of the queried geographic regions are social distancing-friendly. As another example, UE device  12  may receive information from wireless base station  50 - 1  identifying that one or more cells adjacent to UE device  12  is non-social distancing-friendly. This information may be transmitted by network equipment  73  (e.g., wireless base station  50 - 1 ) while processing operation  102  of  FIG.  4   . 
     At operation  118 , display  24  on UE device  12  may display information identifying the social distancing conditions received at operation  116 . For example, display  24  may display information identifying cells that are non-social distancing-friendly and/or cells that are social distancing-friendly. The information may be displayed as a push notification, a banner notification, on a map or navigation application running on UE device  12 , etc. 
       FIG.  6    shows an example of a graphical user interface that may be displayed on display  24  while processing operation  118  of  FIG.  5   . As shown in  FIG.  6   , a graphical user interface (GUI) such as graphical user interface  120  may be displayed on display  24  (e.g., by software such as a navigation or map application running on control circuitry  16 ). 
     In the example of  FIG.  6   , graphical user interface  120  displays a map of the geographic area in which locations  58  and  60  of  FIG.  2    are located. For example, a user of UE device  12  may have searched for nearby parks in a map application. The map application may display a first park  122  at location  58  ( FIG.  2   ) and a second park  124  at location  60  ( FIG.  2   ) using graphical user interface  120 . In this example, cell  54  is non-social distancing-friendly (e.g., the relatively high number of UE devices  12  in set  62  may cause the total population estimated for cell  54  of  FIG.  2    to exceed the maximum number of individuals allowed in cell  54  under local social distancing guidelines as processed at operation  100  of  FIG.  4   ), whereas cell  56  is social distancing-friendly (e.g., the relatively low number of UE devices  12  in set  64  may cause the total population estimated for cell  56  of  FIG.  2    to be less than the maximum number of individuals allowed in cell  56  under local social distancing guidelines as processed at operation  100  of  FIG.  4   ). 
     Graphical user interface  120  may display an alert, flag, warning, or other graphical element  126  (e.g., an icon, banner, shape, video, image, text, pin, circle, animation, and/or other visual indicators) to identify to the user of UE device  12  that park  122  is non-social distancing-friendly (e.g., that park  122  is excessively crowded). Additionally or alternatively, graphical user interface  120  may display a graphical element  128  (e.g., an icon, banner, shape, video, image, text, pin, circle, animation, and/or other visual indicators) to identify to the user of UE device  12  that park  124  is social distancing-friendly (e.g., that park  122  is not excessively crowded). This graphical information may help the user of UE device  12  to make an informed decision about which park to travel to while minimizing exposure to pathogens. The user may subsequently enter an input instructing the map application to generate directions from the current location of UE device  12  to park  124 , for example. The example of  FIG.  6    in which graphical indicators are used is merely illustrative. Acoustic/audio, haptic, and/or any other desired indicators may be used to inform the user of UE device  12  about social distancing conditions. 
     In some examples, network equipment  73  may use the location of UE device  12  to warn the user of UE device  12  when nearby areas are non-social distancing-friendly. This may, for example, allow the user of UE device  12  to preemptively avoid these areas.  FIG.  7    is a flow chart of illustrative operations that may be performed by network equipment  73  to inform UE device  12  when nearby areas are non-social distancing-friendly. 
     At operation  130 , network equipment  73  may receive fuzzed location information from UE device  12  (e.g., while processing operation  90  of  FIG.  4   ). The fuzzed location information may include a geographic tile within which UE device  12  is located, but that otherwise hides the precise location of UE device  12  from the network equipment to protect the user&#39;s privacy. UE device  12  may transmit this information while processing operation  112  of  FIG.  5   , for example. 
     At operation  132 , network equipment  73  may identify one or more cells around UE device  12  based on the fuzzed location information. For example, network equipment  73  may identify one or more cells overlapping, at, adjacent, and/or nearby to the geographic tile of UE device  12  for further processing. The wireless base stations  50  of the identified cells may, for example, form the set of wireless base stations processed in the operations of  FIG.  4   . 
     At operation  134  of  FIG.  7   , network equipment  73  may estimate (e.g., compute, calculate, output, generate, produce, etc.) the total populations of the identified cells (e.g., while processing operation  98  of  FIG.  4   , where the wireless base stations of the identified cells form the set of wireless base stations processed at operation  98  of  FIG.  4   ). 
     At operation  136  of  FIG.  7   , network equipment  73  may identify the social distancing conditions of the identified cells based on the total populations of the cells, the area of the cells, and the local social distancing guidelines governing the cells (e.g., while processing operation  100  of  FIG.  4   ). For example, network equipment  73  may identify which of the cells are social distancing-friendly and which of the cells are non-social distancing-friendly (e.g., while preserving user privacy and shielding the network from personal information identifying or about the users of the UE devices). 
     At operation  138 , network equipment  73  may transmit information to UE device  12  identifying which of the cells are non-social distancing-friendly (e.g., while processing operation  102  of  FIG.  4   ). Additionally or alternatively, network equipment  73  may transmit information identifying which of the cells are social distancing-friendly. UE device  12  may then display information identifying, for the user of UE device  12 , regions at, adjacent, or nearby to UE device  12  that are non-social distancing-friendly and/or regions that are social distancing-friendly (e.g., while processing operation  138  of  FIG.  7   ). 
       FIG.  8    is a diagram of geographic region  48  showing one example of how network equipment  73  may inform UE device  12  about the social distancing conditions of nearby areas. In the example of  FIG.  8   , UE device  12  may be located at location  145  in geographic region  48 . UE device  12  may transmit fuzzed location information to network equipment  73  (e.g., wireless base station  50 - 1 ). The fuzzed location information may identify that UE device  12  is located within geographic tile  144  without revealing the precise location  145  to the network equipment. Geographic tile  144  may have any desired shape and may be, as one example, a 75 m-by-75 m tile. 
     Network equipment  73  may receive information identifying geographic tile  144  from UE device  12  while processing operation  130  of  FIG.  7   . Network equipment  73  may identify at least a first cell  140  and a second cell  142  overlapping or adjacent to geographic tile  144  (e.g., while processing operation  132  of  FIG.  7   ). Cell  140  may be covered by wireless base station  50 - 4 . Cell  142  may be covered by wireless base station  50 - 5 . There may be a set of UE devices  144  in cell  140  and a set of UE devices  146  in cell  142 . 
     Network equipment  73  may estimate the total number of individuals (total population) in cell  140  (e.g., the number of UE devices in the set of UE devices  144 ) and may estimate the total number of individuals in cell  142  (e.g., the number of UE devices in the set of UE devices  146 ) while processing operation  134  of  FIG.  7   . 
     In the example of  FIG.  8   , cell  142  has a higher population than cell  140 . If the total population density of cell  142  exceeds a threshold level (e.g., if the total population estimated for cell  142  exceeds the maximum number of individuals allowed in cell  142  given its area and the local social distancing guidelines for cell  142 ), network equipment  73  may identify that cell  142  is non-social distancing-friendly (e.g., while processing operation  136  of  FIG.  7   ). If the total population density of cell  140  does not exceed the threshold level (e.g., if the total population estimated for cell  140  is less than the maximum number of individuals allowed in cell  140  given its area and the local social distancing guidelines for cell  140 ), network equipment  73  may identify that cell  140  is social distancing-friendly. Network equipment  73  (e.g., wireless base station  50 - 1 ) may inform UE device  12  of the social distancing conditions of cells  140  and  142  (e.g., while processing operation  138  of  FIG.  7   ). 
       FIG.  9    shows an example of a graphical user interface that may be displayed on display  24  in response to the information transmitted by network equipment  73  at operation  138  of  FIG.  7   . As shown in  FIG.  9   , a graphical user interface (GUI) such as graphical user interface  148  may be displayed on display  24  (e.g., by software such as a navigation or map application running on control circuitry  16  of  FIG.  1   ). 
     In the example of  FIG.  9   , graphical user interface  148  displays a map of the geographic area around UE device  12  (e.g., geographic area  48  of  FIG.  8   ). Graphical user interface  148  may display an icon or indicator  150  at the location of UE device  12  (e.g., at location  145  of  FIG.  8   ). Graphical user interface  148  may display a graphical indicator  152  overlapping some or all of cell  142  ( FIG.  8   ) that identifies to the user of UE device  12  that this geographic area is non-social distancing-friendly. Additionally or alternatively, graphical user interface  148  may display a graphical indicator  154  overlapping some or all of cell  140  ( FIG.  8   ) that identifies to the user of UE device  12  that this geographic area is social distancing-friendly. The user of UE device  12  may use this information to proactively avoid the area overlapping cell  142 , for example. Graphical indicators  152  and  154  may include alerts, flags, warnings, push notifications, icons, banners, shapes, videos, images, texts, pins, circles, animations, and/or any other desired visual indicators. Additionally or alternatively, UE device  12  may issue an audio or haptic alert when the user enters the geographic area of cell  142  to warn the user that the cell is non-social distancing-friendly. 
     If desired, a cell may be deemed social distancing-friendly under any of the embodiments described above if the connection count for the cell exceeds or is greater than or equal to a threshold value (e.g., a threshold value that is given by the maximum number of individuals u allowed for the cell) and a cell may be deemed non-social distancing-friendly under any of the embodiments described above if the connection count for the cell is less than the threshold value. In other words, network equipment  73  may identify the social distancing conditions of a given cell based at least on the connection count for the cell as a proxy or estimate for the total population of the cell and may, if desired, refine or adjust the estimated total population based on UE sensor data, API data from other network carriers, scheduling information, and/or time/date information (e.g., connection count on its own may serve as the estimate for total population of a cell if desired). If desired, the social distancing guideline as described herein may be set by the user of the UE device (e.g., instead of or in addition to by a regulatory body). The user may, for example, provide a user input to a software application via a user input device that sets the social distancing guideline or threshold distance d (e.g., according to the user&#39;s own comfort level), and the UE device or other equipment may inform the network of the user&#39;s selection/preference for use in informing the UE device when certain areas are or are not social distancing-friendly. 
     The methods and operations described above in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 9    may be performed by the components of UE device  12  and/or network equipment  73  using software, firmware, and/or hardware (e.g., dedicated circuitry or hardware). Software code for performing these operations may be stored on non-transitory computer readable storage media (e.g., tangible computer readable storage media) stored on one or more of the components of UE device  12  and/or network equipment  73 . The software code may sometimes be referred to as software, data, instructions, program instructions, or code. The non-transitory computer readable storage media may include drives, non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), removable flash drives or other removable media, other types of random-access memory, etc. Software stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media may be executed by processing circuitry on one or more of the components of UE device  12  and/or network equipment  73 . The processing circuitry may include microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuitry, or other processing circuitry. 
     As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of data available from various sources to improve the transmission of information to a user of a user equipment device at a given location and/or as the user equipment device moves through a geographic area. While a UE device  10  may gather and/or use personally identifiable information, the methods described herein limit or prevent exposure of this information to the network itself and to other users. It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20220203
Publication Date: 20241126
Grant Date: 20241126
Priority Date: 20220203
Inventors: GOINDANI, MAHAK
CILI, Gencer
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W4/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W12/02", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L67/75", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W24/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W12/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/023", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/021", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W24/08", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W4/023", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 85158458