Device, system and method of locating a wireless communication device

• US 20070069884A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Waxman, Shai
• Granted Patent: US 7,495,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 Integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/00 Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Briefly, some embodiments of the invention provide devices, systems and methods for locating a wireless communication station. For example, a system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a wireless access point to transmit a low-power security query through a dedicated security channel; and a wireless communication station to transmit, in response to said security query, a low-power security response through said dedicated security channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver to receive a security query through a dedicated security channel; and

a transmitter to transmit, in response to said security query, a low-power security response through said dedicated security channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiver is to scan said dedicated security channel for an incoming security query at a scanning rate higher than a scanning rate used by said receiver to scan another wireless communication channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said security query and said low-power security response are transmitted at a power level lower than five milliwatts.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a power level of said security query and said low-power security response is lower than five percent of a power level used by said transmitter to transmit data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said security query comprises a data item indicating a power level at which said transmitter is requested to transmit said security response.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said security query comprises a data item identifying a wireless communication system.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a security query through a dedicated security channel; and

in response to said security query, transmitting a low-power security response through said dedicated security channel.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

scanning said dedicated security channel for an incoming security query at a scanning rate higher than a scanning rate used for scanning another wireless communication channel.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting said low-power security response comprises transmitting said low-power security response at less than one milliwatt.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting said low-power security response comprises transmitting said low-power security response at a power level smaller than five percent of another power level used for data transmission.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, based on said security response, a location of a wireless communication station.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, based on said security response, an entry of a wireless communication station into an area of interest covered by a wireless access point.

13. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless communication station comprising;

a dipole antenna to transmit and receive wireless communication signals;

a receiver to receive a security query through a dedicated security channel; and

a transmitter to transmit, in response to said security query, a low-power security response through said dedicated security channel.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 13, further comprising:

a wireless access point to transmit said security query at a low power level through said dedicated security channel.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication station is to scan said dedicated security channel for an incoming security query at a scanning rate higher than a scanning rate used by said wireless communication station to scan another wireless communication channel.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 14, wherein said security query is transmitted at less than one milliwatt, and wherein said low-power security response is transmitted at less than one milliwatt.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 14, wherein a power level of said security query and said low-power security response is lower than five percent of a power level used by said wireless access point to transmit data.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein said security query comprises a data item identifying said system.

19. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless access point comprising;

a transmitter to transmit a low-power security query through a dedicated security channel; and

a receiver to receive, in response to said security query, a security response through said dedicated security channel.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein said low-power security query comprises a data item indicating a power level at which said wireless communication station is requested to transmit said security response.

21. The wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein said wireless access point is to determine, based on said security response, a location of a wireless communication station.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein said wireless access point is to determine, based on said security response, an entry of a wireless communication station into an area of interest covered by said wireless access point.