Detecting mobile access points

• US 10,349,374 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mayor, Robert, Huang, Ronald Keryuan, Grosman, Yefim
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Dung L
• Application Number:
  US15/225,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

In some implementations, a method includes receiving, from a server, location data identifying locations of access points and mobile access points. A mobile device may determine an identifier of an access point within a communication range. The identifier is compared with the location data to identify parameters for the access point. The access point is determined to be a mobile access point based on the identified parameters included in the location data. In response to identifying the mobile access point, operating parameters executed by the mobile device are updated.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device from a server, location data identifying access points;

in response to receiving the location data identifying access points, determining, by the mobile device, that an identifier of at least one of the access points is within a communication range of the mobile device;

in response to determining that an identifier is within the communication range, comparing, by the mobile device, the identifier of the at least one of the access points with the location data identifying access points;

in response to comparing the identifier with the location data, determining, by the mobile device, that the at least one of the access points is a mobile access point; and

in response to determining that the at least one of the access points is the mobile access point, updating operating parameters executed by the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the operating parameters of the mobile device comprises updating a frequency for time zone corrections.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data identifies a vehicle type of a vehicle carrying the mobile access point, the method further comprising updating an operating mode of the mobile device updating an operating mode of a satellite navigation component of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the vehicle type is an airplane, the method further comprising automatically updating the mobile device to an Airplane mode or generating a notification for a user to switch to Airplane mode.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein updating the operating mode of the satellite navigation component comprises at least one of disregarding land-based user dynamics, increasing a search range, or modifying GPS tracking algorithms for user dynamics.

6. A non-transitory medium storing a computer program product, the product comprising computer readable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device from a server, location data identifying access points;

in response to receiving the location data identifying access points, determining, by the mobile device, that an identifier of at least one of the access points is within a communication range of the mobile device;

in response to determining that an identifier is within the communication range, comparing, by the mobile device, the identifier of the at least one of the access points with the location data identifying access points;

in response to comparing the identifier with the location data, determining, by the mobile device, that the at least one of the access points is a mobile access point; and

in response to determining that the at least one of the access points is the mobile access point, updating operating parameters executed by the mobile device.

7. The non-transitory medium of claim 6, wherein updating operating parameters of the mobile device comprises updating a frequency for time zone corrections or an operating mode.

8. The non-transitory medium of claim 6, wherein the location data identifies a vehicle type of a vehicle carrying the mobile access point, the instructions further comprising updating an operating mode of the mobile device or updating an operating mode of a satellite navigation component of the mobile device.

9. The non-transitory medium of claim 8, wherein updating the operating mode of the satellite navigation component comprises at least one of disregarding land-based user dynamics, increasing a search range, or modifying GPS tracking algorithms for user dynamics.

10. The non-transitory medium of claim 8, wherein the vehicle type comprises is an airplane, the operations further comprising automatically updating the mobile device to an Airplane mode or generating a notification for a user to switch to Airplane mode.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory medium storing a computer program product, the product comprising computer readable instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, by a mobile device from a server, location data identifying access points;

in response to receiving the location data identifying access points, determining, by the mobile device, that an identifier of at least one of the access points is within a communication range of the mobile device;

in response to determining that an identifier is within the communication range, comparing, by the mobile device, the identifier of the at least one of the access points with the location data identifying access points;

in response to comparing the identifier with the location data, determining, by the mobile device, that the at least one of the access points is a mobile access point; and

in response to determining that the at least one of the access points is the mobile access point, updating operating parameters executed by the mobile device.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein updating the operating parameters of the mobile device comprises updating a frequency for time zone corrections or an operating mode.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the location data identifies a vehicle type of a vehicle carrying the mobile access point, the instructions further comprising updating an operating mode of the mobile device or updating an operating mode of a satellite navigation component of the mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein updating the operating mode of the satellite navigation component comprises at least one of disregarding land-based user dynamics, increasing a search range, or modifying GPS tracking algorithms for user dynamics.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the vehicle type comprises is an airplane, the operations further comprising automatically updating the mobile device to an Airplane mode or generating a notification for a user to switch to Airplane mode.