Determining the Location of a Device Having Two Communications Connections
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining a location of a first device comprising:
- establishing communications with said first device on a first communications network;
establishing communications with said first device on a second communications network with a second device, said second communications network being a wireless communications network, said second device being connected to said first communications network and having a first known location; and
determining an approximate physical location for said first device by the method comprising;
sending a signal between said first device and said second device; and
establishing that said first device is within a range of said second device.
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Abstract
Wireless devices connected to a network backbone may be physically located by establishing communications between an unknown device and one or more known devices. Through distance estimation and/or directional estimation, the physical location of a network device may be determined by triangulation. In some instances, the new device may passively receive signals by which the device location may be determined, while in other instances, the device may transmit a signal that is received by other network devices.
118 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining a location of a first device comprising:
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establishing communications with said first device on a first communications network;
establishing communications with said first device on a second communications network with a second device, said second communications network being a wireless communications network, said second device being connected to said first communications network and having a first known location; and
determining an approximate physical location for said first device by the method comprising;
sending a signal between said first device and said second device; and
establishing that said first device is within a range of said second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A first device comprising:
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a connection to a first communications network;
a connection to a second communications network, said second communications network being a wireless network; and
a controller adapted to perform a method comprising;
establishing communications with said first device on said first communications network;
establishing communications with said first device on said second communications network with a second device, said second device being connected to said first communications network and having a first known location; and
determining an approximate physical location for said first device by the method comprising sending a signal between said first device and said second device, and establishing that said first device is within a range of said second device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A network comprising:
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a first communications channel;
a second communications channel being a wireless communications channel;
a first device connected to said first communications channel and said second communications channel;
a second device connected to said first communications channel and said second communications channel, said second device having a first known location;
wherein said network is adapted to determine the approximate location for said first device by a method comprising;
establishing communications with said first device on said first communications network;
establishing communications with said first device on said second communications channel with a second device, said second device being connected to said first communications network and having a first known location; and
determining an approximate physical location for said first device by the method comprising sending a signal between said first device and said second device, and establishing that said first device is within a range of said second device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification