System and method for updating an access point model

• US 10,142,959 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Isaac Richard, Kadous, Mohammed Waleed
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US15/607,952
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 4554042, 4554121-4142, 455418-4221, 4554352, 455436, 455444, 455446, 455 411- 412, 4555521, 4554561, 455457
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to generating or updating an access point model. The model may be generated based in part on access point model data, e.g., collected scan information from devices that travel through an indoor space. The wireless access point model may include an indoor map of a location or building. At some point, it may be determined that the access point model data may not meet a predetermined quality threshold. For example, the data may be outdated or inaccurate. A request is generated and transmitted to a client device within a predetermined distance of the access point associated with the access point model. In response to the request, the device travels to the indoor space associated with the access point to collect scan information. The scan information is used to update or otherwise modify the access point model.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, that a wireless access point model does not meet a predetermined quality threshold for a set of stored wireless access point data;

in response to determining that the wireless access point model does not meet the predetermined quality threshold, identifying, by the one or more processors, a given wireless access point associated with the wireless access point model;

generating, by the one or more processors, a request for current scan information of the given wireless access point, the request for current scan information including an inducement for travel to a location within a wireless communication range of the given wireless access point;

transmitting the request to one or more mobile communication devices not currently within the wireless communication range, the request requesting each mobile communication device to travel within the wireless communication range of the given wireless access point to collect the current scan information;

verifying, by the one or more processors, that at least one of the one or more mobile communication devices has traveled within the wireless communication range of the given wireless access point to collect the current scan information in response to the transmitted request;

receiving, by the one or more processors, the current scan information from the verified at least one mobile communication device;

in response to receiving, by the one or more processors, the current scan information, providing, by the one or more processors, the inducement to the at least one of the one or more mobile communication devices for redemption; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the wireless access point model in accordance with the received current scan information by updating the set of stored wireless access point data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the access point model for a point of interest, the access point model comprising the stored wireless access point data of the given wireless access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the request includes providing directions to the location within the wireless communication range of the given wireless access point.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless access point model includes an indoor map.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying includes detecting a location of the at least one mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the verifying comprises detecting transmission of an infrared or other wireless signal by the at least one mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined quality threshold is an amount of time since data was last collected at the given wireless access point.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined quality threshold is an aggregate amount of data associated with the wireless access point model.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to transmitting the request, the method further comprises determining whether any of the one or more mobile communication devices are within a predetermined distance from the given wireless access point.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined distance is variable in accordance with an amount of foot traffic expected at the location.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined distance is variable in accordance with an observed wireless communication range of the given wireless access point.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined distance from the given wireless access point is a variable in accordance with an age of the request.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the request comprises a plurality of requests, and wherein the predetermined distance from the given wireless access point is a variable in accordance with a number of the plurality of requests.

14. A device comprising:

memory storing instructions;

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to;

determine that a wireless access point model does not meet a predetermined quality threshold for a set of stored wireless access point data;

in response to the determination that the wireless access point model does not meet the predetermined quality threshold, identify a given wireless access point associated with the wireless access point model;

generate a request for current scan information of the given wireless access point, the request for current scan information including an inducement for travel to a location within a wireless communication range of the given wireless access point;

transmit the request to one or more mobile communication devices not currently within the wireless communication range, the request requesting each mobile communication device to travel within the wireless communication range of the given wireless access point to collect the current scan information;

verify that at least one of the one or more mobile communication devices has traveled within the wireless communication range of the given wireless access point to collect the current scan information in response to the transmitted request;

receive the current scan information from the verified at least one mobile communication device;

in response to receiving the current scan information, provide the inducement to the at least one of the one or more mobile communication devices for redemption; and

modify the wireless access point model in accordance with the received current scan information by updating the set of stored wireless access point data.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate the access point model for a point of interest, the access point model comprising the stored wireless access point data of the given wireless access point.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to provide directions to the location within the wireless communication range of the given wireless access point as part of the request.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the verification includes detecting a location of the at least one mobile communication device.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the verification comprises detecting transmission of an infrared or other wireless signal by the at least one mobile communication device.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein, prior to transmitting the request, the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether any of the one or more mobile communication devices are within a predetermined distance from the given wireless access point.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the predetermined distance is a variable in accordance with:

whether the location is in an urban, suburban, or rural area; and

an amount of foot traffic expected at the location.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the predetermined distance is variable in accordance with an observed wireless communication range of the given wireless access point.