Wireless network that provides location information when queried by a client device

• US 20070294226A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tropos Networks Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tropos Networks Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Chari, Amalavoyal, Chahal, Gurinderjit
• Application Number:
  US11/452,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20070294226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

An apparatus and method of providing location information to a client device connected to a wireless access network are disclosed. The wireless access network includes a plurality of access nodes, and each access node has location information. A plurality of the access nodes receive a query from the client device, the query being directed to a common IP address, wherein the common IP address is shared amongst the plurality of access nodes. One of the access nodes responds to the query, by providing the location information to the client device.

Claims

1. A method of providing location information to a client device connected to a wireless access network, the wireless access network comprising access nodes, each access node having access to location information, the method comprising:

a plurality of the access nodes receiving a query from the client device, the query being directed to a common IP address, wherein the common IP address is share amongst the plurality of access nodes; and

one of the access nodes responding to the query by providing the location information to the client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the access nodes are within a wireless mesh network, and located at least one wireless hop away from a wireless mesh network gateway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the access nodes communicate with the client device according to an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the query from the client device is a request for location information in a format specified by the request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the access nodes are capable of responding to the query from a client device, wherein the query is directed at a common destination IP address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein any one of the plurality of access nodes that receive the query from the client device directed at the common IP address can respond to the query by providing location information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the access node the client device is associated with is the one of the plurality of access nodes that responds to the query.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing each access node with the common IP address and a unique IP address.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the query from the client device uses HTTP as a communication protocol.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the response from the access node uses HTTP as a communication protocol.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the response from the access node comprises at least one of an HTML and an XML file.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is encrypted.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is located in a neighborhood of the access node.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the neighborhood is defined as being within RF communication range of the access node.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein location information comprises at least one of the latitude, longitude, a street address, street intersection identifier, the zip code and the city in which the access node is located.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein location information comprises a description of a geographical area.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein access nodes are configured with their location information.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein access nodes obtain their location information through the use of geo-positioning technology.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is determined by triangulating signals transmitted between the client and multiple access nodes of a mesh network.

20. A wireless network comprising:

a plurality of access nodes, each access node comprising;

a common IP address and a unique IP address;

means for obtaining location information;

a plurality of the access nodes receiving a query from a client device, the query being directed to the common IP address; and

one of the access nodes responding to the query by providing the location information to the client device.