Mobile platform tracking in wireless networks

• US 20080207278A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Qi, Emily H., Tsai, Jr-Shian
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 by periodical registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile station in a wireless network provides a presence indication when in a power saving state. The presence indication is sent periodically, and the period is dependent on whether the mobile station is stationary or in motion. The period may also be dependent on an asset protection level of the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method comprising configuring a mobile computing device with a first power saving interval and a second power saving interval, wherein the first power saving interval corresponds to a time between presence indication transmissions by the mobile computing device when stationary, and wherein the second power saving interval corresponds to a time between presence indication transmissions by the mobile computing device when in motion.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a presence indication frame every first power saving interval when the mobile computing device is stationary.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting a presence indication frame every second power saving interval when the mobile computing device is in motion.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting a presence indication frame comprises transmitting a unicast frame to an access point when associated with the access point.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting a presence indication frame comprises transmitting a multicast frame when the mobile computing device is not associated with an access point.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein transmitting a presence indication frame comprises transmitting a multicast frame on a single 802.11 channel.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein transmitting a presence indication frame comprises transmitting a multicast frame on multiple 802.11 channels.

8. The method of claim I wherein configuring comprises receiving a maximum stationary power saving interval and a maximum in-motion power saving interval from an access point.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein configuring further comprises receiving a nominal stationary power saving interval and a nominal in-motion power saving interval from the access point.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein configuring further comprises selecting the first power saving interval between the maximum and nominal stationary power saving interval, and selecting the second power saving interval between the maximum and nominal in-motion power saving interval.

11. The method of claim I wherein configuring comprises determining the first interval based on a user setting.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein configuring comprises determining the second interval based on a user setting.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the user setting corresponds to an asset protection level.

14. An article having a machine readable medium with instructions stored thereon that when accessed result in a mobile computing device:

receiving, at the mobile computing device, power saving interval information from an access point;

determining a stationary power saving interval and an in-motion power saving interval based on the power saving interval information received from the access point and also based on user selectable info; and

transmitting a presence indication frame every stationary power saving interval when the mobile computing device is stationary, and transmitting a presence indication frame every in-motion power saving interval when the mobile computing device is in motion.

15. The article of claim 14 wherein receiving power saving interval information comprises receiving a maximum stationary power saving interval and a nominal stationary power saving interval.

16. The article of claim 14 wherein the user selectable info comprises an asset protection level.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processing component capable of a plurality of power states;

a radio interface capable of transmitting when the processing component is in a low power state; and

a presence indication component to command the radio interface to transmit a presence indication frame every power saving interval, wherein the power saving interval is a function of whether the apparatus is stationary or in motion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a power saving interval determination component to determine the power saving interval.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the power saving interval determination component includes a user selectable asset protection level.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a static random access memory communicably coupled to the processing component.