Wireless network-based location approximation
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of estimating the location of a wireless device, the method comprising:
- obtaining a packet of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device;
determining whether one of the first and second wireless devices is a wireless access point;
determining the data rate of the transmitted data packet;
if one of the first and second wireless devices is the wireless access point, then evaluating the determined data rate against a predetermined criterion; and
assigning an estimated location to the wireless access point based upon the evaluation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention pertains to location approximation of devices, e.g., wireless access points and client devices in a wireless network. Location estimates may be obtained by observation/analysis of packets transmitted or received by the access point. For instance, data rate information associated with a packet is used to approximate the distance between a client device and the access point. This may be coupled with known positioning information to arrive at an approximate location for the access point. Confidence information and metrics about whether a device is an access point and the location of that device may also be determined. Accuracy of the location determination may be affected by factors including propagation and environmental factors, transmit power, antenna gain and diversity, etc. A location information database of access points may employ measurements from various devices over time. Such information may identify the location of client devices and provide location-based services to them.
209 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of estimating the location of a wireless device, the method comprising:
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obtaining a packet of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; determining whether one of the first and second wireless devices is a wireless access point; determining the data rate of the transmitted data packet; if one of the first and second wireless devices is the wireless access point, then evaluating the determined data rate against a predetermined criterion; and assigning an estimated location to the wireless access point based upon the evaluation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method of estimating confidence in a status of a wireless device, the method comprising:
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obtaining one or more packets of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; evaluating the one or more transmitted data packets to identify a frame type for each respective data packet; identifying the first wireless device or the second wireless device as a wireless access point based upon the identified frame type for at least one of the data packets; and assigning a confidence value to the identification of the wireless access point. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method of estimating confidence in a location of a wireless device, the method comprising:
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obtaining one or more packets of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; determining that the first or second wireless device is a wireless access point based upon the transmitted packets; determining an estimated location of the wireless access point; and assigning a confidence value to the estimated location. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus including a processor operable to estimate the location of a wireless device, the processor executing a process to:
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obtain a packet of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; determine whether one of the first and second wireless devices is a wireless access point; determine the data rate of the transmitted data packet; if one of the first and second wireless devices is the wireless access point, then evaluate the determined data rate against a predetermined criterion; and assign an estimated location to the wireless access point based upon the evaluation.
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21. A computer-readable recording medium recorded with a computer program for use by a processor to perform a process of estimating the location of a wireless device, the process comprising:
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obtaining a packet of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; determining whether one of the first and second wireless devices is a wireless access point; determining the data rate of the transmitted data packet; if one of the first and second wireless devices is the wireless access point, then evaluating the determined data rate against a predetermined criterion; and assigning an estimated location to the wireless access point based upon the evaluation.
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22. An apparatus including a processor operable to estimate confidence in a status of a wireless device, the processor executing a process to:
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obtain one or more packets of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; evaluate the one or more transmitted data packets to identify a frame type for each respective data packet; identify the first wireless device or the second wireless device as a wireless access point based upon the identified frame type for at least one of the data packets; and assign a confidence value to the identification of the wireless access point.
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23. A computer-readable recording medium recorded with a computer program for use by a processor to perform a process of estimating confidence in a status of a wireless device, the process comprising:
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obtaining one or more packets of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; evaluating the one or more transmitted data packets to identify a frame type for each respective data packet; identifying the first wireless device or the second wireless device as a wireless access point based upon the identified frame type for at least one of the data packets; and assigning a confidence value to the identification of the wireless access point.
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24. An apparatus including a processor operable to estimate confidence in a location of a wireless device, the processor executing a process to:
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obtain one or more packets of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; determine that the first or second wireless device is a wireless access point based upon the transmitted packets; determine an estimated location of the wireless access point; and assign a confidence value to the estimated location.
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25. A computer-readable recording medium recorded with a computer program for use by a processor to perform a process of estimating confidence in a location of a wireless device, the process comprising:
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obtaining one or more packets of data transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device; determining that the first or second wireless device is a wireless access point based upon the transmitted packets; determining an estimated location of the wireless access point; and assigning a confidence value to the estimated location.
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26. An apparatus for use in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:
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memory for storing information associated with a plurality of devices in the wireless network; means for communicating with one or more of the plurality of devices in the wireless network; and a processor operable to estimate a location of an access point device in the wireless network based upon data packet information sent to or received from the access point device; wherein the processor is adapted to provide location based service information to one or more client devices associated with the access point device upon estimation of the location. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification