Access point with location application systems and methods

• US 20070015516A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: McRae, Matthew, Huotari, Allen
• Application Number:
  US11/180,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20070015516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide location determination capability and applications for an access point. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a network access point includes a processor adapted to control at least one function of the access point device and a memory coupled to the processor. A first interface transfers information between the access point device and a client device, while a second interface transfers information between the access point device and the network. The access point device further includes a receiver that processes global positioning system signals to determine an approximate location of the access point device.

Claims

1. An access point device for a network, the access point device comprising:

a processor adapted to control at least one function of the access point device;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a first interface for transferring information between the access point device and at least one client device;

a second interface for transferring information between the access point device and the network; and

a receiver for processing global positioning system signals used to determine an approximate location of the access point device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the access point device comprises at least one of a router and a gateway.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a modem for transferring information between the access point device and the network via the second interface.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an antenna, coupled to the access point device, adapted to receive the global positioning system signals for the receiver.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the antenna is located a first distance from the access point device to receive the global positioning system signals.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first interface further comprises an antenna for transferring wirelessly the information between the access point device and the at least one client device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the access point device determines its approximate location.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein information from the global positioning system signals is provided to a server via the second interface, the server determining the approximate location of the access point device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the approximate location of the access point device is provided to at least one of the client devices.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the approximate location is used by at least one of the client devices to compile locations of the access point devices.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the approximate location of the access point device is used by at least one of the access point device, a service provider, and a content provider to provide localized information.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the access point device provides the approximate location during an emergency services request by at least one of the client devices.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the access point device uses the approximate location to perform at least one of redirect a request by at least one of the client devices and search via the network for localized information.

14. A network access point device comprising:

means for controlling a function of the network access point device;

means for providing communication between at least one client device and a network; and

means for receiving positioning signals to determine an approximate location of the network access point device.

15. A method of determining and using location information for a network access point device, the method comprising:

providing communication between at least one client device and a network via the network access point device;

receiving positioning signals by the network access point device; and

determining an approximate location of the network access point device based on the positioning signals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing communication further comprises:

providing communication between the at least one client device and the network access point device via a first interface; and

providing communication between the network and the network access point device via a second interface.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the approximate location of the network access point device to at least one of the client devices.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the approximate location of the network access point device to at least one of a service provider and a content provider to provide localized information to at least one of the client devices.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the approximate location during an emergency services request by at least one of the client devices

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing localized information to at least one of the client devices based on the approximate location of the network access point device.