Systems and methods for a wireless network connection point locator

• US 20050113031A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated, Kensington Technology Group
• Inventors: Turner, John, Elgie, Richard James, Cavacuiti, John, Pike, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining the presence of a wireless network connection point based upon wireless network characteristics. Examples of such characteristics include, but are not limited to: message length, repetition rate and response timing. These types of characteristics are used to differentiate various types of wireless networks from other radio frequency signals within a given band. The output of the locator is compared against desired thresholds to indicate signal strengths roughly corresponding to current wireless networks cards.

Claims

2. A portable device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the network characteristic used for detection is the presence of a repeated signal.

2-1. A portable device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the network characteristic used for detection is the presence of a repeated beacon message used to indicate a wireless access point

9. A portable device for determining the presence of a wireless signal, the device comprising a radio frequency detector that detects the presence of a wireless signal if the signal is above a threshold.

10. A portable device in accordance with claim 9 wherein a floating threshold above ambient noise is used to detect the presence of a wireless signal.

11. A portable device in accordance with claim 10 wherein the floating threshold is a predetermined threshold.

12. A portable device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the predetermined threshold is approximately 3 dB above ambient noise.

13. A portable device in accordance with claim 9 wherein a predetermined threshold is used to detect the presence of a wireless signal.

14. A portable device in accordance with claim 9 further comprising means for indicating that no signal is detected if no signal is detected above a threshold.

15. A portable device in accordance with claim 9 further comprising means for indicating the strength of the detected signal.

16. A portable device in accordance with claim 15 wherein the signal strengths are determined by comparing the signal strength against discrete thresholds.

17. A portable device in accordance with claim 16 wherein there are at least two discrete thresholds.

18. A portable device for determining the usable presence of a wireless network connection point, the device comprising:

a radio frequency detector including a signal processor for evaluating a detected signal based upon wireless network envelope characteristics; and

an indicator that indicates at least the presence of a detected signal.

19. A portable device in accordance with claim 18 further comprising a signal strength indicator.

20. A portable device in accordance with claim 18 wherein the at least one indicator indicates that the device is searching for the useable presence of a wireless network connection point.

21. A portable device in accordance with claim 18 wherein the signal processor provides an analog output that corresponds linearly to the logarithmic strength of the detected signal.

22. A portable device for determining the usable presence of a wireless network connection point, the device comprising:

a radio frequency detector including a processor for determining a detected signal based upon wireless network envelope characteristics;

an indicator that indicates at least the presence of a detected signal and that the device is searching for the useable presence of a wireless network connection point; and

a signal strength indicator;

wherein the processor provides an analog output that linearly approximates the logarithmic strength of the detected signal.

23. A method of determining the usable presence of a wireless network connection point, the method comprising:

searching for a signal;

upon detecting a signal, evaluating the detected signal based upon wireless network envelope characteristics; and

indicating the presence of the detected signal if the detected signal is above a predetermined threshold.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein the floating threshold is predetermined, e.g. at approximately 3 dB above ambient noise.

25. A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising indicating a strength of the detected signal.

26. A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising indicating that no signal is detected if no signal is detected above a predetermined threshold.

27. A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein the signal strengths are determined by comparing the signal strength against discrete analog thresholds.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein there are at least two thresholds.

29. A method of determining the usable presence of a wireless network connection point, the method comprising:

searching for a signal;

upon detecting a signal, evaluating the detected signal based upon wireless network envelope characteristics;

indicating the presence of the detected signal if the detected signal is above a predetermined threshold; and

indicating a strength of the detected signal.

30. A method in accordance with claim 29 further comprising indicating that no signal is detected if no signal is detected above a predetermined threshold.

32. A method in accordance with claim 29 wherein the signal strengths are determined by comparing the signal strength against discrete analog thresholds.

32-2. A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein there are at least two thresholds.