Apparatus and method for identifying a moving WiFi access point and managing connections therewith

• US 10,080,209 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Channel IP BV
• Original Assignee: Ipass Incorporated (Pareteum Corp.)
• Inventors: Waldorf, Keith, Magdanski, Tomasz, Konka, Raghu, Jain, Rahul
• Primary Examiner(s): CATTUNGAL, AJAY P
• Application Number:
  US15/273,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20180084520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A server has a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to collect scan lists from client devices. Each scan list specifies a WiFi access point identifier collected by a client device and geographic coordinates of the client device when the WiFi access point identifier was collected. A cluster of geographic coordinates is formed around a designated WiFi access point. A centroid within the cluster is identified. The location of the centroid is ascribed as the geographic position of the designated WiFi access point. A client device is advised when the designated WiFi access point is a known mobile WiFi access point to facilitate connection between the client device and the known mobile WiFi access point.

Claims

1. A server, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing instructions executed by the processor to;

collect scan lists from client devices, wherein each scan list specifies a WiFi access point identifier collected by a client device and geographic coordinates of the client device when the WiFi access point identifier was collected,

form a cluster of geographic coordinates around a designated WiFi access point,

identify a centroid within the cluster,

ascribe the location of the centroid as the geographic position of the designated WiFi access point,

advise a client device when designated WiFi access point is a known mobile WiFi access point,

apply mobility criteria when the designated WiFi access point is unknown or is believed to be a stationary WiFi access point,

categorize the designated WiFi access point as a mobile WiFi access point or a stationary WiFi access point to form a categorized WiFi access point, and

add the categorized WiFi access point to a WiFi access point list.

2. The server of claim 1 further comprising instructions executed by the processor to rank the scan lists.

3. The server of claim 2 wherein the instructions executed by the processor to rank the scan lists is based upon a mobile device value, a signal value and a measure of geographic accuracy.

4. The server of claim 3 wherein the mobile device value is a function of whether global positioning data is enabled on the mobile device.

5. The server of claim 3 wherein the signal value is a measure of signal strength from the designated WiFi access point.

6. The server of claim 3 wherein the measure of geographic accuracy is derived from geographic accuracy information from the mobile device and a measure of the age of the geographic information.

7. A client device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing instructions executed by the processor to;

determine that the client device is in an in-motion state or a stationary state;

test the stationary state against a threshold to establish a confirmed stationary state or an unconfirmed stationary state,

reapply the determine operation in response to an unconfirmed stationary state,

enable WiFi access point requests in response to a confirmed stationary state,

enable WiFi access point requests in response to the in-motion state and an available moving WiFi access point, and

disable WiFi access point requests in response to the in-motion state and no available moving WiFi access point.

8. The client device of claim 7 wherein the stationary state includes motion characteristic of an individual walking with the client device.

9. The client device of claim 7 further comprising instructions executed by the processor to send a scan list to a server, wherein the scan list specifies a WiFi access point identifier collected by the client device and geographic coordinates of the client device when the WiFi access point identifier was collected.

10. The client device of claim 7 wherein the instructions to determine that the client device is in an in-motion state or a stationary state include instructions to analyze client device accelerometer signals.