Wireless device tracking system

• US 20060104245A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Narayanaswami, Chandrasekhar, Raghunath, Mandayam Thondanur
• Application Number:
  US10/986,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20060104245A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method of tracking a wireless device comprising a wireless interface, the method comprises locating a first access point providing a threshold signal strength; sending an association request to the first access point; recording a network address for the first access point; suspending normal operation of the wireless device for a length of time; resuming operation of the wireless device periodically to determine whether the access point still provides the threshold signal strength; and if it is determined that the first access point no longer provides the threshold signal strength and a second access point provides the threshold signal strength, sending a subsequent association signal to the second access point; receiving the network address of the second access point, recording a network address of the second access point, and suspending normal operation.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a wireless device comprising a wireless interface, the method comprising:

locating a first access point providing a threshold signal strength;

sending an association request to the first access point;

recording a network address for the first access point;

suspending normal operation of the wireless device for a length of time;

resuming operation of the wireless device periodically to determine whether the access point still provides the threshold signal strength; and

if it is determined that the first access point no longer provides the threshold signal strength and a second access point provides the threshold signal strength, sending a subsequent association signal to the second access point;

receiving the network address of the second access point, recording a network address of the second access point, and suspending normal operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold signal strength is the strongest signal strength received from among a plurality of access points.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein suspending normal operation comprises turning off the wireless interface of the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a wearable bracelet.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording a time stamp associated with receiving the network address of the second access point.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless interface is a WiFi interface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the network addresses of the first and second access points are MAC addresses.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device operates on a low duty cycle.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a temporary MAC address from the first access point before sending an association request and including the temporary MAC address in the association request to the first access point.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising using an encrypted channel to communicate with a trusted server in the network after associating with the first access point.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending location information of the wireless device to the trusted server, wherein the location information is revealed only to the trusted server.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the element of suspending comprises:

suspending normal operation of the wireless device for a length of time that is specified by the access point.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the element of suspending comprises:

suspending normal operation of the wireless device for a length of time that is specified via an interface by a user of the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the element of suspending comprises:

suspending normal operation of the wireless device for a length of time that is determined using motion information received from a motion detector coupled with the wireless device.

15. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor configured for;

locating a first access point providing a threshold signal strength;

sending an association request to the first access point;

recording a network address for the first access point;

suspending normal operation of the wireless device for a length of time;

resuming operation of the wireless device periodically to determine whether the access point still provides the threshold signal strength; and

if it is determined that the first access point no longer provides the threshold signal strength and a second access point provides the threshold signal strength, sending a subsequent association signal to the second access point;

receiving the network address of the second access point, recording a network address of the second access point, and suspending normal operation; and

a memory for storing the network addresses of each access point with which the wireless device is associated; and

a wireless interface for communicating with each access point.

16. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for locating a first access point providing a threshold signal strength, the program instructions including instructions for:

sending an association request to the first access point;

recording a network address for the first access point;

suspending normal operation of the wireless device for a length of time;

resuming operation of the wireless device periodically to determine whether the access point still provides the threshold signal strength; and

if it is determined that the first access point no longer provides the threshold signal strength and a second access point provides the threshold signal strength, sending a subsequent association signal to the second access point; and

receiving the network address of the second access point, recording a network address of the second access point, and suspending normal operation.