Method and apparatus for creating a fingerprint for a wireless network

• US 20070060130A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Nanda, Sanjiv, Gogic, Aleksandar, Jain, Nikhil, Deshpande, Manoj
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/440
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02524 Creating or updating the radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a wireless communication device and method for using the device. The wireless communications device may be used by accessing information in memory, the information relating to a first communications network. The information, along with one or more reference signals from a second communications network, is used to determine whether the wireless communications device is in the vicinity of the first communications network.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a processor configured to create information relating to the location of a first communications network based on one or more reference signals from a second communications network; and

memory configured to store the information.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a fingerprint of the first communications network.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 2 wherein the fingerprint comprises phase information for the one or more reference signals.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 3 wherein the fingerprint comprises phase deviation information for the one or more reference signals, the phase deviation information being related to a virtual size of the coverage region for an access point in the first communications network.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 2 wherein the fingerprint comprises signal strength information for the one or more reference signals.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 5 wherein the fingerprint comprises signal strength deviation information for the one or more reference signals, the signal strength deviation information being related to a virtual size of a coverage region for an access point in the first communications network.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 2 wherein the fingerprint comprises the operating frequency of an access point in the first communications network.

8. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to create the information in the memory by detecting the first communications network in response to a user initiated search, establishing a fingerprint for the first communications network using the one or more reference signals from the second communications network, and storing the fingerprint in the memory

9. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to create the information in the memory by detecting the first communications network during a search initiated by the processor, establishing a fingerprint for the first communications network using the one or more reference signals from the second communications network, and storing the fingerprint in the memory.

10. The wireless communications device of claim 9 wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the search when a call is placed by a user on the wireless communications device.

11. The wireless communications device of claim 9 wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the search.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to detect whether the wireless communications device is stationary or in motion, and initiate the search only after determining that the wireless communications device is stationary.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to detect whether the wireless communications device is stationary or in motion, and initiate the search only after determining that wireless communications device has moved since a previous unsuccessful search by the processor.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to delete the information from the memory after a time period has past since the processor last accessed the first communications network.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the first wireless communication network is a wireless LAN and the second wireless communication network is a WAN.

16. Computer readable media including instructions executable by one or more processors, the instructions comprising:

instructions for creating information relating to the location of a first communications network based on one or more reference signals from a second communications network; and

instructions for storing the information in memory.

17. A method of communications, comprising:

creating information relating to the location of a first communications network based on one or more reference signals from a second communications network; and

storing the information in memory.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein creating the information comprises creating a fingerprint of the first communications network.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein creating the fingerprint comprises creating phase information for the one or more reference signals.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein creating the fingerprint comprises creating phase deviation information for the one or more reference signals, the phase deviation information being related to a virtual size of the coverage region for an access point in the first communications network.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein creating the fingerprint comprises creating signal strength information for the one or more reference signals.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein creating the fingerprint comprises creating signal strength deviation information for the one or more reference signals, the signal strength deviation information being related to a virtual size of a coverage region for an access point in the first communications network.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising detecting the first communications network and establishing a fingerprint for the first communications network using the one or more reference signals from the second communications network.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising initiating a search to detect the first communications network when a call is placed by a user.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising detecting whether a wireless communications device is stationary or in motion, and wherein initiating the search comprises initiating the search after determining that the wireless communications device is stationary.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising detecting whether a wireless communications device is stationary or in motion, and wherein initiating the search comprises initiating the search after determining that the wireless communications device has been in motion since a previous unsuccessful search.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein the first wireless communication network is a wireless LAN and the second wireless communication network is a WAN.

28. An wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

means for creating information relating to the location of a first communications network based on one or more reference signals from a second communications network; and

a memory coupled with the means that stores the information.

29. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 28 wherein the means for creating the information comprises means for creating a fingerprint of the first communications network.

30. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 29 wherein the means for creating the fingerprint comprises means for creating phase information for the one or more reference signals.

31. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 30 wherein the means for creating the fingerprint comprises means for creating phase deviation information for the one or more reference signals, the phase deviation information being related to the virtual size of a coverage region for an access point in the first communications network.

32. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 29 wherein the means for creating the fingerprint comprises means for signal strength information for the one or more reference signals.

33. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 32 wherein the means for creating the fingerprint comprises means for creating signal strength deviation information for the one or more reference signals, the signal strength deviation information being related to a virtual size of a coverage region for an access point in the first communications network.

34. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 28 further comprising means for detecting the first communications network and means for establishing a fingerprint for the first communications network using the one or more reference signals from the second communications network.

35. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 34 wherein the means for detecting comprises means for initiating a search when a call is placed by a user.

36. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 28 wherein the first wireless communication network is a wireless LAN and the second wireless communication network is a WAN.