System and method for locationing in a communications network

• US 20070104157A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Le, Vinh-Phuong, Kawaguchi, Dean
• Granted Patent: US 7,742,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Described is a method for locationing in a communications network. A wireless access point receives a signal corresponding to activity of a plurality of wireless devices on a predetermined bandwidth. The signal is processed to generate a plurality of subsignals using a predetermined signal processing procedure. An energy level of a particular subsignal of the plurality of subsignals is determined. A location of a corresponding wireless device is determined as a function of the energy level and a predetermined locationing procedure.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a wireless access point, a signal corresponding to activity of a plurality of wireless devices on a predetermined bandwidth;

processing the signal to generate a plurality of subsignals using a predetermined signal processing procedure;

determining an energy level of a particular subsignal of the plurality of subsignals; and

determining a location of a corresponding wireless device as a function of the energy level and a predetermined locationing procedure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location of the corresponding wireless device is determined only when the energy level is greater than a predetermined threshold level.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding wireless device includes one of a cell phone, a network interface card, an image-based scanner, a laser-based scanner, an RFID reader, a cordless phone, a wireless speaker, a microwave oven and a rogue access point.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bandwidth includes one of a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing technique includes a Fast Fourier Transform.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the following substep:

dividing the signal into a predetermined number of bins having a predetermined resolution, each bin including a portion of the signal corresponding to one subsignal of the plurality of subsignals.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the resolution is the bandwidth divided by the number.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first determining step includes the following substep:

determining an amplitude of the particular subsignal, the amplitude being indicative of the energy level of the particular subsignal.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a signal signature of the particular subsignal, the signal signature indicative of the corresponding wireless device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined locationing technique is a triangulation.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

disabling the corresponding wireless device.

12. A system, comprising:

a plurality of wireless devices transmitting signals on a predetermined bandwidth; and

an access point receiving the signals as an input signal and processing the input signal to generate a plurality of subsignals using a predetermined signal processing procedure, the access point determining an energy level of a particular subsignal of the plurality of subsignals,

wherein the access point determines a location of a corresponding wireless device as a function of the energy level and a predetermined locationing procedure.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the access point determines the location only when the energy level is greater than a predetermined energy level.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the corresponding wireless device includes one of a cell phone, a network interface card, an image-based scanner, a laser-based scanner, an RFID reader, a cordless phone, a wireless speaker, a microwave oven and a rogue access point.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the bandwidth includes one of a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the signal processing technique includes a Fast Fourier Transform.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the access point identifies a signal signature of the particular subsignal, the signal signature indicative of the corresponding wireless device.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined locationing technique is a triangulation.

19. An computing arrangement, comprising:

a communication arrangement receiving a signal corresponding to activity of a plurality of wireless devices on a predetermined bandwidth; and

a processor processing the signal to generate a plurality of subsignals using a predetermined signal processing procedure,

wherein, the processor determines an energy level of a particular subsignal of the plurality of subsignals, and

wherein, the processor determines a location of a corresponding wireless device as a function of the energy level and a predetermined locationing procedure.

20. The arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the process determines the location only when the energy level is greater than a predetermined energy level.

21. The arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the bandwidth includes one of a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band.

22. The arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the signal processing technique includes a Fast Fourier Transform.

23. The arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the processor identifies a signal signature of the particular subsignal, the signal signature indicative of the corresponding wireless device.