FR3098674A1 - Terminal and method of collecting information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

Terminal and method for collecting information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network The terminal being able to send and / or receive calls, the method being implemented by the terminal and comprising the steps of: - receiving d at least one control signal transmitted by radio equipment of a cellular network; - Obtaining, from this at least one control signal, characteristics of a service offered by the network associated with the control signal; and - restitution of information obtained from the characteristics associated with at least one network whose identifier is not recorded in a subscriber identification module of the terminal. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Terminal and method for collecting information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network

The invention relates to the general field of telecommunications. It relates more particularly to the supervision of the services offered by the cellular networks.

We designate here by a “cellular” network, a mobile telephone network such as 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks.

In accordance with the state of the art, cellular network operators provide simulation platforms to visualize the network coverage and the services offered by these operators in different geographical areas. For example, the site “reseaux.orange.fr/cartes-de-couverture/mobile-3g-4g” discloses a map of the coverage of the cellular network of the operator Orange France (registered trademark). With this mapping, a user can check the services offered by the Orange France cellular network in a geographical area of interest, for example in the city of this user, or in a ski resort, etc. Thus, the user can determine if the geographical area of interest is covered by a 3G or 4G type network for example, and determine the quality of the network coverage in this area.

This information can be useful for the user to allow him to choose whether or not to subscribe to this operator, or to choose a technology terminal determined according to the service offered by the cellular network (for example to equip himself with a mobile phone supporting 4G technology to be able to benefit from the 4G network).

This information can also be useful for third-party operators, for example in order to negotiate roaming contracts between operators.

However, state-of-the-art maps are based on numerical simulations. The results of these simulations are not always sufficiently reliable because they do not take into account real data, nor interference between the channels of the different operators governing the same geographical area, nor obstacles present in the geographical area such as trees, mountains, and walls.

There is therefore a need for a solution making it possible to obtain information on the services provided by a cellular network in a determined geographical area, and which does not have the drawbacks of the known methods of the state of the art.

The invention relates to a method for collecting information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network, the method being implemented by a terminal capable of transmitting and/or receiving calls and comprising steps of:
- reception of at least one control signal emitted by radio equipment of a cellular network;
- Obtaining, from this at least one control signal, characteristics of a service offered by the network associated with the control signal; And
- restitution of information obtained from the characteristics associated with at least one network whose identifier is not recorded in a subscriber identification module of the terminal.

Correlatively, the invention relates to a terminal capable of sending and/or receiving calls and comprising:
- a reception module, configured to receive at least one control signal emitted by radio equipment of a cellular network;
- an obtaining module configured to obtain, from this at least one control signal, characteristics of a service offered by the network associated with the control signal; And
- A restitution module configured to restore information obtained from the characteristics associated with at least one network whose identifier is not recorded in a subscriber identification module of the terminal.

The terminal, in accordance with the invention, implements the method of collecting information in accordance with the invention.

The characteristics and advantages of the method for collecting information according to the invention presented below apply in the same way to a terminal according to the invention, and vice versa.

Within the meaning of the invention, a cellular network is a wireless communication network, mobile telephony. By way of example, networks of the 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G type are cellular networks. The invention can also be implemented in the context of future generation cellular networks (possibly 6G, 7G, etc.).

We recall that mobile telephone networks are also called "cellular" networks because they have a cellular structure. Each cell of a cellular network has a base station which manages the radio transmissions on the cell, this base station can be of the BTS type (for “Base Transceiver Station”), NodeB (for 3G networks) or eNodeB (for 4G networks) or gNodeB (for 5G networks). The cellular structure allows the same frequencies to be reused several times in different cells. It also allows mobile terminals to change cell without interrupting communications in progress (the intercellular transfer mechanism, “handover” in English).

In general, a cellular network uses a licensed spectrum band. An operator of this cellular network has a license to transmit radio signals within this frequency band in a specific geographical area. License management makes it possible to organize the sharing of frequencies between the different operators wishing to cover the same geographical area (the same country for example) and to avoid interference between the cellular networks governed by these different operators.

We note that WiFi and Bluetooth type networks do not constitute cellular networks within the meaning of the invention.

Within the meaning of the invention, the terminal can be a telephone, a tablet, a gateway, or another communicating device able to connect to a cellular network and to make and/or receive telephone calls via this cellular network. In particular, the terminal according to the invention can be a gateway of the 5G Livebox type from Orange (registered trademarks) integrating the cellular telephone service and accessible from telephones of the FXS type (for "Foreign eXchange Subscriber" in English) or DECT (for “Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications” in English).

The subscriber identification module of the terminal according to the invention may comprise a SIM card (for "Subscriber Identity Module" in English) or an eSIM card (for "Embedded SIM" in English).

The identifier of a network can be of the PLMN type (for "Public Land Mobile Network" in English) or of the MNC type (for "Mobile Network Code" in English) accompanied by information of the MCC type (for "Mobile Country Code” in English).

In a known manner, the identifiers recorded in the subscriber identification module comprise the identifier of the nominal network (that is to say the subscription network) and the identifiers of the networks with which the operator of the nominal network has entered into roaming contracts.

By way of example, for a terminal comprising a SIM card from the operator Orange France (registered trademark), the cellular network of this operator Orange France, which covers France, constitutes a nominal network in accordance with the invention. At least one identifier of this Orange France operator is registered in the subscriber identification module.

In addition, at least one network identifier of the operator Vodafone Germany (registered trademark) is stored in the subscriber identification module, because, for example, the operators Orange France and Vodafone Germany have entered into roaming.

We note that the terminal may include several subscriber identification modules, such as dual-SIM mobile phones, each module including at least one identifier of a nominal cellular network.

We also note that a subscriber identification module generally includes several cellular network identifiers to which the terminal can connect when roaming. Indeed, operators typically conclude two to three roaming contracts with other operators from other countries.

The invention makes it possible to restore information, even on networks whose identifiers are not recorded in the subscriber identification module. The invention therefore makes it possible to obtain in complete transparency information on the services offered by these non-nominal networks.

In accordance with the invention, this information is obtained from the characteristics of a service offered by a network associated with the control signal. This information reflects actual characteristics and not numerical simulations. The invention therefore makes it possible to obtain more reliable information than that provided by the solutions of the prior art, based on simulations and approximate hypotheses.

In one embodiment, the information obtained is rendered on a screen of the terminal. Alternatively, this information can be transmitted as a voice message through a terminal speaker.

This mode allows a user of the terminal to obtain information on the services provided by different networks in a particular place or context (at home, on the home-work journey, at work in particular places such as a secondary residence ,….). This possibility is particularly interesting for a user who wishes to compare the services offered by different networks to select and subscribe to one of these networks.

In particular, the information collection method according to the invention can be implemented by a terminal whose subscriber identification module is removed or not configured (for example, a terminal without a SIM card or a terminal whose eSIM card is not configured yet). We note that such a terminal can make emergency calls.

In one embodiment of the invention, the restitution step further comprises a restitution of information obtained from the characteristics associated with one or more networks whose identifiers are recorded in the subscriber identification module.

The invention thus makes it possible to compare the characteristics of different networks, without taking into account any identifiers stored in the subscriber identification module.

In particular, when the information is restored for the user of the terminal, this user can compare the services offered by his nominal network with those offered by the other networks, and decide according to this comparison, to maintain his subscription with his nominal network. or change provider.

In addition, the information returned for the user can be useful to him to select a given terminal to connect to a network offering a service that interests him. For example, when the user is informed that in the place of implementation of the method there is a service of a 5G cellular network, he can change his terminal for a terminal which supports a connection to this 5G network.

We note that according to the invention, the terminal in accordance with the invention does not necessarily support said service offered by the network associated with the control signal. Indeed, it is conceivable that a terminal which only supports a connection to a 3G type network restores information on services offered by a 4G or 5G type network. The only condition is to be able to interpret the control signal.

In one embodiment, the restitution step includes sending the information to equipment in a cellular network.

Preferably, the equipment which receives this information is equipment of the home network whose identifier is recorded in the subscriber identification module. This mode allows the operator of this nominal network to:
- draw a map of the coverage of its own network, based on the real characteristics of its control signals;
- find out about the services provided by the networks of other operators covering the same geographical area (and adapt its services to the competition); and or
- find out about the services provided by the networks to which the terminal is connected while roaming, to negotiate inter-operator contracts for example.

Alternatively, the equipment which receives this information may be equipment of a network whose identifier is not recorded in the subscriber identification module of the terminal, for example it may be equipment of a regulatory body (ARCEP in France).

The invention also relates to a method for processing information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network, this method comprising steps of:
- Implementation of the information collection process according to the invention;
- reception, by equipment of a first cellular network, of said information obtained from characteristics of a second cellular network; And
- Updating by said equipment of a database on the radio coverage of the second network from the information received.

Correlatively, the invention relates to a system for processing information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network comprising a terminal in accordance with the invention and equipment of a first cellular network, this equipment comprising:
- a communication module configured to receive from the terminal, said information obtained from characteristics of a second cellular network; And
- a module for updating, from the information received, a database on the radio coverage of the second network.

The characteristics and advantages of the information processing method according to the invention apply in the same way to the information processing system according to the invention and vice versa.

The characteristics and advantages of the information collection method (or of the terminal) according to the invention apply in the same way to the information processing method (or system) according to the invention and vice versa.

In one embodiment, the information sent by the terminal to the equipment includes information relating to the geographical position of the terminal or to the location of the cell corresponding to the control signal. In this mode, the database update step may include construction of a mapping of the radio coverage of the second network.

In accordance with the invention, the characteristics obtained from the control signal include an identifier of an operator associated with this control signal. Indeed, it is necessary for the user of the terminal or for the equipment which receives the restored information to know the operator to which this information corresponds.

In one embodiment, the characteristics further comprise an identifier of a radio cell associated with the control signal. This feature is particularly interesting for the network equipment according to the invention to be able to identify the radio equipment (BTS, NodeB, eNodeB, gNodeB) of this cell and manage the services offered in this cell.

In one embodiment, the characteristics further include cell location information, for example LAI (Location Area Identifier) type information. This characteristic is particularly interesting for the network equipment in accordance with the invention for constructing the map of the coverage of the network comprising this cell.

In one embodiment, the characteristics further include a power of the control signal. This characteristic is particularly interesting for the user of the terminal and/or the network equipment in accordance with the invention to know the quality of service offered by the network associated with this control signal, in the zone of reception of this signal.

In one embodiment, the characteristics further include a type of an access technology offered by a network associated with the control signal. As mentioned previously, this characteristic is particularly interesting for the user of the terminal to equip himself with a terminal that supports the access technology offered. This characteristic is also interesting to be able to draw a map on the coverage of the network according to this access technologist.

In one embodiment, the features further include a type of a neighboring cell access technology to the cell associated with the control signal. This provides information on a wider geographic area than that covered by the current cell.

In one embodiment, the characteristics further comprise a transmission rate on a data transmission radio channel, of the network associated with the control signal. This characteristic represents the quality of a service offered by this network.

The characteristics may correspond to other quality of service parameters offered on said data transmission radio channel, such as latency, error rate BER (“Bit Error Rate”), signal-to-noise ratio SNR (“ Signal to Noise Ratio”), etc.

In one embodiment, the features further include a frequency band covered by the network associated with the control signal. This characteristic is essential to determine which types of terminals can connect to this network.

In one embodiment, the features further include:
- a waveform of the control signal;
a multiple access mechanism to the network associated with the control signal, for example the OFDMA mechanism (for “Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access”);
a type of coding used in the network associated with the control signal, for example a coding of the LDPC type (for "Low Density Parity Check" in English), or of the "Turbo Codes" or "Polar Codes"type;
a modulation format used in the network associated with the control signal, such as the BPSK format (for “Binary Phase Shift Coding”) or the QPSK format (for “Quadrature Phase Shift Coding”);
- a multiplexing technique used in the network associated with the control signal, such as the MIMO technique (for “Multiple Input Multiple Output”), SISO (for “Single Input Single Output”), SU-MIMO (for “Single User Multiple Output”) Input Multiple Output"), MU-MIMO (for "Multiple User Multiple Input Multiple Output"), the massive MIMO technique, the "Breamforming" technique, FDD frequency multiplexing (for "Frequency Division Duplex"), TDD time division multiplexing ( for “Time Division Duplex”), bidirectional multiplexing (Full Duplex) or alternating (half-duplex).

When the information obtained from these technical characteristics is returned for equipment in a network, this information could be relevant for the operator managing this equipment.

According to the invention, the information obtained from the characteristics can be these characteristics per se. Alternatively, the information can be obtained from processing, filtering, coding or compression of said characteristics. The information represents the characteristics in a format easily interpretable by the user of the terminal and/or by the network equipment which receives the returned information.

In one embodiment of the invention, the restitution step can only be implemented on one of the conditions mentioned below.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following obtaining a request by the user of the terminal, for example by interacting with an application installed on the terminal, or by introducing a configuration parameter in a terminal configuration module.

In another mode, the method for collecting information in accordance with the invention, and in particular the restitution step, is implemented following start-up of the terminal, after it was stopped or on standby.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following deactivation of an airplane mode on the terminal. This mode makes it possible in particular, when the terminal is activated while roaming after a trip, to restore information corresponding to one or more networks of the country visited.

In this mode, the information can be displayed on the screen of the terminal just after the step for obtaining the characteristics of the services offered by the roaming network. Thus, the user of the terminal can be informed of the services offered by the networks of the operators of the country visited.

This information can be returned for equipment of the network to which the terminal is subscribed when it is in a home situation, i.e. the network to which the terminal is usually subscribed in its country of usual residence. However, the information may only be returned to this network equipment upon detection of a first attachment to this "home" network on the terminal's return to its country of origin. This makes it possible to reduce the information sent by the terminal to the network equipment, while being in a roaming situation.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following detection of a roaming situation.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following detection of a configuration of the subscriber identification module, for example by inserting a SIM card or by configuring an eSIM card integrated into the terminal.

In another mode, the restitution step is implemented following detection of absence of configuration of the subscriber identification module, for example following removal of the SIM card or deletion of a configuration of the eSIM card. This mode is used to obtain information on the services offered by networks, without subscribing to them.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following detection of a power of a control signal associated with a network, the power being less than or equal to a determined threshold. For example, when the network to which the terminal is connected offers a quality of service lower than a certain threshold (determined according to the power of the control signal), it could be interesting to know the qualities of service offered by the other networks that cover the same geographical area to connect, if possible, to another network.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following detection of a transmission rate below a determined threshold. This mode also makes it possible to obtain information on the services offered by the other networks, when the service offered by a given network is not satisfactory.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following detection of a level of battery consumption of the terminal above a determined threshold. Indeed, a high level of consumption can reflect a poor quality of service (due to numerous retransmissions of signals), of the network to which the terminal is connected.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following an occurrence in time, that is to say at determined instants. In particular, these instants can be programmed at a defined frequency.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following detection of an intercellular transfer (handover) situation, that is to say following detection of a change in the radio cell to which the terminal was connected. Indeed, following this change, the terminal receives a new control signal and thus obtains new characteristics.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following detection of a change in the GPS (Global Positioning System) location of the terminal.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following a start or an end of a communication, or after a certain time after the start or the end of this communication.

Alternatively, the restitution step can be implemented following transmission or reception of a communication of a given type, for example following reception of a radio message (of the paging type) or following the making an emergency call. This makes it possible to select, for example, the network that offers the best quality of service in the event of an emergency so that the quality of the communication is as reliable as possible.

In one embodiment, the restitution step is implemented following detection of a change in access technology, for example following a transition of the terminal from an area covered by a 3G network to an area covered through a 4G network.

In another mode, the restitution step is implemented following detection of an access network change request. This request can be initiated by the user of the terminal or the network operator. For example, the network operator can request the change of access network for a terminal that does not support voice service over LTE, VoLTE, to use voice service in circuit mode over 2G access network /3G.

Alternatively, the restitution step is implemented following detection of a change in connection state to the network, for example following a passage from an “Idle” mode to the “Connected” mode or to the “Connective” mode. Inactive” and vice versa.

In one embodiment, the terminal restores information corresponding to all the networks for which it has received control signals. In another mode, the terminal only restores information for a determined number of networks.

The invention also relates to a first computer program on a recording medium, this program being capable of being implemented in a computer or a terminal in accordance with the invention. This program includes instructions adapted to the implementation of an information collection process as described above.

The invention also relates to a second computer program on a recording medium, this program being capable of being implemented in a computer or network equipment in accordance with the invention. This program includes instructions adapted to the implementation of the stages of reception and construction of an information processing process as described above.

Each of these programs may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in partially compiled form, or in any what other desirable form.

The invention also relates to an information medium or a recording medium readable by a computer, and comprising instructions of the first or of the second computer program as mentioned above.

Information or recording media can be any entity or device capable of storing programs. For example, the media may comprise a storage medium, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or even a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disk or a disk. hard, or flash memory.

On the other hand, the information or recording media can be transmissible media such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be routed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio link, by wireless optical link or by other ways.

The programs according to the invention can in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

Alternatively, each information or recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which a program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the information method in accordance with the invention or of the method information processing according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings which illustrate an exemplary embodiment thereof which is devoid of any limiting character. In the figures:
FIG. 1 illustrates a network architecture in which the methods of the invention are implemented according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart representing the steps of an information collection method, in accordance with the invention, implemented according to one embodiment;
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of information rendered on a screen of a terminal according to the invention, according to embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart representing the steps of an information processing method, in accordance with the invention, implemented according to one embodiment;
FIG. 5 presents functional architectures of an information processing system, of a terminal and of network equipment, in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 6 presents a hardware architecture of a terminal according to one embodiment of the invention; And
FIG. 7 presents a hardware architecture of a network equipment according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an architecture of two networks NET1 and NET2 in which the methods of the invention are implemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

In this mode, the two networks NET1 and NET2 are managed by two distinct administrative entities, for example two operators. FIG. 1 only represents a radio cell of the network NET1 and a radio cell of the network NET2. These networks cover the same geographical area, called the overlap area, in which a terminal T is represented.

The radio cell of the network NET1 is managed by a base station BTS1. The radio cell of the NET2 network is managed by a base station BTS2. Here we assume that each of the networks NET1 and NET2 offers 3G service and 4G service in the cells shown in Figure 1, including their overlapping area.

The terminal T implements an information collection method in accordance with the invention.

The terminal T includes a subscriber identification mSIM module, for example an eSIM card. The T terminal can make and/or receive calls, even emergency calls when the eSIM card is not configured.

In this mode, we assume that the eSIM card is configured for the NET1 network.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart representing the steps of the method for collecting information, in accordance with the invention, implemented by the terminal T, according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1. In particular, the steps E100 , E200 and E300 described below are steps of the method for collecting information according to the invention.

During a step E001, the terminal T is switched on, after having been switched off. Alternatively, during this step E001, an airplane mode is deactivated on the terminal T.

During a step E010, the terminal analyzes (scans) a frequency spectrum. Information on the band of this spectrum can be recorded in a memory of the terminal. Alternatively, the terminal analyzes the entire frequency spectrum it can detect.

During a step E100, the terminal T receives two control signals SIG1 and SIG2. These control signals SIG1 and SIG2 are transmitted respectively by the base stations BTS1 and BTS2. In the mode described here, these signals are transmitted via BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel) type broadcast channels.

During a step E200, the terminal T obtains from the control signal SIG1 characteristics of the services offered by the network NET1 associated with this control signal SIG1. The terminal T also obtains, from the control signal SIG2, characteristics of the services offered by the network NET2.

The characteristics obtained (E200) from the control signals SIG1 and SIG2 comprise identifiers Id1 and Id2 of the networks NET1 and NET2 respectively. Each of these identifiers Id1 and Id2 comprises a pair of MCC and MNC type codes.

In the mode described here, the characteristics obtained (E200) from the control signal SIG1 also include a parameter P1-3G for the quality of the 3G service offered by the network NET1 and a parameter P1-4G for the quality of the 4G service offered by the NET1 network. The characteristics obtained (E200) from the control signal SIG2 further comprise a parameter P2-3G of quality of the 3G service offered by the network NET2 and a parameter P2-4G of quality of the 4G service offered by the network NET2.

In another mode, the characteristics obtained during step E200 from the control signal SIG1 or SIG2 include an identifier of the radio cell governed by the base station BTS1 or BTS2, LAI type information on the location of this cell, a power of the control signal SIG 1 or SIG2, a type of access technology offered by the network NET1 or NET2, a transmission rate on a data transmission radio channel of the network NET1 or NET2 available in the cell where the terminal T is located, a type of technology for access to a neighboring cell, a frequency band covered by the network NET1 or NET2, and/or another characteristic of a service offered by the network NET1 or NET2.

During a step E210, the terminal T compares each of the MCC codes obtained from the signals SIG1 and SIG2 with the MCC code recorded in the mSIM subscriber identification module.

In this example, the MCC code obtained from signal SIG1, the MCC code obtained from signal SIG2 and the MCC code stored in the mSIM module are identical. Indeed, as mentioned with reference to FIG. 1, the mSIM module includes an eSIM card for the network NET1, and the networks NET1 and NET2 cover the same geographical area. The terminal deduces that it is under coverage of its nominal network, in other words that it is not in a roaming situation.

The terminal then compares, during a step E220, each of the MNC codes obtained from the signals SIG1 and SIG2 with the MNC code recorded in the mSIM module. In this example, the MNC code obtained from the SIG1 signal is identical to that recorded in the mSIM module, these codes corresponding to the NET1 network. However, the MNC code obtained from the SIG2 signal is different. The terminal T deduces that the signal SIG1 corresponds to its nominal network NET1 and that the signal SIG2 corresponds to another network NET2 covering the same geographical area.

These comparison steps E210 and E220 are known from the state of the art. However, we describe here these steps E210 and E220 because the implementation of the restitution step, of the collection method according to the invention, may depend on the results of these comparisons.

During a step E300, the terminal T restores information info2U obtained from the characteristics P2-3G and P2-4G associated with the network NET2 whose identifier Id2 is not recorded in the subscriber identification module mSIM.

In the mode described here, the terminal T also restores, during step E300, information info1U obtained from the characteristics P1-3G and P1-4G associated with the network NET1. We remind you that the identifier Id1 is registered in the mSIM subscriber identification module.

When the terminal T is in a roaming situation, the result of the comparison of step E210 is negative. The terminal implements a step E230, similar to step E220, to compare the MNC codes. Following this comparison E230, the terminal T determines, for a given control signal SIGi, whether or not the operator of the network NETi associated with this signal SIGi has concluded a roaming agreement with the operator of the nominal network NET1.

The form of the return E300 and/or the nature of the information returned, associated with a given network, may depend on the fact whether or not an identifier of this network is registered in the mSIM module and/or on the fact that the terminal T is in homelessness or not.

In one embodiment, the restitution step E300 comprises a display of information on a screen of the terminal T.

FIGS. 3A and 3B represent examples of info1U and info2U information displayed on the screen of the terminal T according to one embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 3A, only the information corresponding to the best services of each of the networks NET1 and NET2 are restored. In this example, the network NET1 offers the best 4G+ service, and the network NET2 offers the best 4G service and the signal strength of the network NET1 is higher than the signal of the network NET2.

In FIG. 3B, the information corresponding to all the services offered by each of the networks NET1 and NET2 are restored.

Alternatively, the terminal T can restore (E300) only information corresponding to services compatible with the terminal T. For example, if the terminal does not support the 4G+ service, the information corresponding to this service is not restored.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart representing the steps of an information processing method, implemented by an information processing system SYS, according to one embodiment of the invention, the method and the system being in accordance with the invention.

The system SYS comprises the terminal T described previously with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and a network equipment EQ, of the network NET1. The EQ equipment can communicate with the terminal T via the base station BTS1.

The terminal T implements an information collection method in accordance with the invention, for example according to the mode described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

In the mode described here, the restitution step E300 includes sending information info1OP and info2OP to the network equipment EQ. The information info1OP and info2OP are obtained from the characteristics Id1, Id2, P1-3G, P1-4G, P2-3G, P2-4G obtained during step E200.

During a step E400, the network equipment EQ receives this information.

During a step E500, the equipment EQ constructs or updates, from the information info1OP and info2OP received, a database on the coverage of the networks NET1 and NET2. In particular, the network operator NET1 can use the information info1OP recorded in the database BD to draw a map of its network NET1. This operator can use info2OP information on the NET2 network to learn about the competition and manage its services based on this information.

The BD database can be included in the EQ equipment. Alternatively, the database BD can be remote from the equipment EQ and accessible by the latter via a communication network, for example the database BD can be included in the network NET.

FIG. 5 represents functional architectures, according to one embodiment of the invention, of the information processing system SYS, of the terminal T and of the equipment EQ, in accordance with the invention.

The SYS system consists of the T terminal and the EQ equipment.

Terminal T includes:
- a subscriber identification module, mSIM;
- a reception module, TRx, configured to receive the control signals SIG1 and SIG2 emitted by the radio equipment BTS1 and BTS2 respectively, from the cellular networks NET1 and NET2;
- an obtaining module, TObt, configured to obtain, from said control signals SIG1 and SIG2, characteristics Id1, Id2, P1-3G, P1-4G, P2-3G, P2-4G of the services offered by each of the networks associated with control signals; And
- a restitution module, TRest, configured to restore the information info2U, info2OP obtained from the characteristics associated at least with the network NET2 whose identifier Id2 is not recorded in the subscriber identification module mSIM.

The EQ equipment of the first network NET1 comprises:
- a communication module COM configured to receive from the terminal T, the information info2OP obtained from characteristics of the second cellular network NET2; And
- an mBD update module, based on information received info2OP, from the BD database on the radio coverage of the second network NET2.

In the embodiment described here, the terminal T has the hardware architecture of a computer, as illustrated in FIG .

The architecture of the terminal T notably comprises a processor 7, a random access memory 8, a read only memory 9, a non-volatile flash memory 10 in a particular embodiment of the invention, as well as communication means 11. Such means are known per se and are not described in more detail here.

The read only memory 9 of the terminal T according to the invention constitutes a recording medium in accordance with the invention, readable by the processor 7 and on which is recorded here a computer program ProgT in accordance with the invention.

The memory 10 of the terminal T makes it possible to record variables used for the execution of the steps of the information collection method according to the invention, such as the characteristics Id1, Id2, P1-3G, P1-4G, P2-3G , P2-4G, information info1U, info1OP, info2U, info2OP, and an address of the EQ equipment.

The computer program ProgT defines functional and software modules here, configured to collect information about the radio coverage of at least one cellular network, NET2 for example. These functional modules are based on and/or control the hardware elements 7-11 of the terminal T mentioned above.

In the embodiment described here, the network equipment, EQ, has the hardware architecture of a computer, as illustrated in Figure 7 .

The architecture of the EQ equipment includes in particular a processor 7, a random access memory 8, a read only memory 9, a non-volatile flash memory 10 in a particular embodiment of the invention, as well as communication means 11. such means are known per se and are not described in more detail here.

The read only memory 9 of the equipment EQ according to the invention constitutes a recording medium in accordance with the invention, readable by the processor 7 and on which is recorded here a part of a computer program ProgR in accordance with the invention. The ProgR program comprises the ProgT program described previously and a program executing the reception E400 and update E500 steps implemented by the equipment EQ.

The memory 10 of the equipment EQ makes it possible to record variables used for the execution of steps E400 and E500 of the information processing method according to the invention, such as the information info1OP, and info2OP, and an address of the comics database.

The ProgR computer program defines functional and software modules here, configured to process information about the radio coverage of at least one cellular network, NET2 for example. These functional modules rely on and/or control the hardware elements 7-11 of the EQ equipment mentioned above.

Claims (11)

Method for collecting information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network, said method being implemented by a terminal (T) able to send and/or receive calls and comprising steps of:
- reception (E100) of at least one control signal (SIG1, SIG2) transmitted by radio equipment (BTS1, BTS2) of a said cellular network (NET1, NET2); And
- obtaining (E200), from said at least one control signal, characteristics (Id1, Id2, P1-3G, P1-4G, P2-3G, P2-4G) of a service offered by the network associated with the signal control, said method being characterized in that it further comprises a step of:
- restitution (E300) of information (info2U, info2OP) obtained from said characteristics associated with at least one network (NET2) whose identifier is not recorded in a subscriber identification module (mSIM) of said terminal . Method according to Claim 1, in which the said restoring step (E300) further comprises restoring information (info1U, info1OP) obtained from said characteristics associated with at least one network (NET1) whose identifier is recorded in said Subscriber Identity Module (mSIM). Method according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, in which the said restitution step (E300) comprises a display of the said information on a screen of the said terminal. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said restitution step (E300) comprises sending (E400) the said information (info1OP, info2OP) to a device (EQ) of a said network. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the said characteristics comprise an identifier (Id1, Id2) of an operator associated with the said control signal and at least one characteristic among:
- an identifier of a radio cell associated with said control signal;
- cell location information;
- a power of said control signal;
- a type of access technology offered by said network associated with said control signal;
- A transmission rate on a data transmission radio channel, of the network associated with said control signal;
- A type of access technology to a neighboring cell to the cell associated with said control signal;
- a frequency band covered by the network associated with said control signal; And
- a quality of service parameter offered on said data transmission radio channel. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the said restoring step (E300) is implemented on at least one condition among:
- a start-up of said terminal (E001);
- deactivation of an airplane mode on said terminal;
- detection of configuration or absence of configuration of said subscriber identification module (mSIM);
- detection of a request from a user of said terminal;
- detection of a roaming situation; And
- detection, after having been in a roaming situation, of a first attachment to a network whose identifier is recorded in said subscriber identification module (mSIM). Method for processing information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network, said method comprising steps of:
- implementation of the information collection method according to one of claims 1 to 6;
- reception (E400), by equipment (EQ) of a first cellular network (NET1), of said information (info2OP) obtained from characteristics of a second cellular network (NET2); And
- updating (E500) by said equipment (EQ) of a database (BD) on the radio coverage of said second network from the information received. Computer program (ProgT, ProgR) comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of an information collection method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 or the steps of an information processing method according to claim 7. A computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program according to claim 8 is recorded. Terminal (T) able to send and/or receive calls and comprising:
- a subscriber identification module (mSIM);
- a reception module (TRx) of at least one control signal (SIG1, SIG2) emitted by a radio equipment (BTS) of a said cellular network (NET1, NET2); And
- a module for obtaining (TObt), from said at least one control signal, characteristics (Id1, Id2, P1-3G, P1-4G, P2-3G, P2-4G) of a service offered by the network associated with the control signal, said terminal being characterized in that it further comprises:
- a module for restoring (TRest) information (info2U, info2OP) obtained from said characteristics associated with at least one network (NET2) whose identifier is not recorded in said subscriber identification module ( mSIM). System (SYS) for processing information on radio coverage of at least one cellular communication network comprising a terminal (T) according to claim 10 and equipment (EQ) of a first cellular network (NET1), said equipment comprising:
- a communication module (COM) configured to receive from said terminal (T), said information (info2OP) obtained from characteristics of a second cellular network (NET2); And
- an update module (mBD), from the information received, of a database (BD) on the radio coverage of said second network.