Mobile User Hotspot Detection in LTE Networks by Moving Pseudo Pico Cells

Existing LTE macro cell networks tend to reach their limits of traffic capacity especially in dense urban areas, due to an increasing number of mobile users subscribing to LTE based services. The common remedy for such shortage is an increase in capacity by deployment of additional LTE small cells on the serving area of affected macro cells. The highest efficiency in offloading traffic from macro cell to small cells is achieved by placing these small cells in areas of high density of mobile users demanding for services of high throughput ("mobile user hotspots"). Therefore, the primary challenge for a small cell deployment becomes the detection of such hotspots in a considered LTE macro cell network. We present a novel method allowing for hotspot detection by a probing related procedure that is based on LTE standard compliant signaling and ensures mobile user privacy protection by design.