METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF A WIRELESS ACCESS POINT USING SINGLE DEVICE BASED POWER MEASUREMENTS

• US 20110199916A1
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, Garrett, David, Lundgren, David Albert, Murray, David, Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Buer, Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/729,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20110199916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0249 Determining position using measurements made by a non-stationary device other than the device whose position is being determined
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A mobile device measures power from different locations for an encountered wireless access point, a WiFi or Bluetooth access point, and communicates the power measurements to a remote location. The remote location server collects power measurements for the encountered wireless access point from a plurality of communication devices. The remote location server determines the location of the encountered wireless access point utilizing corresponding power measurements from a single communication device. The power measurements are performed at different locations and over a period of time. The power measurements are time stamped and transmitted to the remote location server. The single communication device is selected based on quality and/or availability of corresponding power measurements for the encountered wireless access point. The determined location of the encountered wireless access point is stored into a reference database so as to be shared among the plurality of communication devices.

Claims

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

performing by one or more processors and/or circuits in a mobile device;

measuring power from different locations for an encountered wireless access point; and

communicating said power measurements to a remote location server, wherein said remote location server collects power measurements for said encountered wireless access point from a plurality of communication devices, and said location server determines a location of said encountered wireless access point using power measurements provided by a single communication device of said plurality of communication devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wireless access point is a WiFi access point or a Bluetooth access point.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising measuring said power on said encountered access point at different locations over a period of time.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising time stamping said power measurements.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising transmitting said time stamped power measurements to said remote location server.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said remote location server selects said single communication device from said plurality of communication devices based on quality and/or availability of corresponding power measurements collected on said encountered wireless access point.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said remote location server receives a plurality of power measurements at different locations over a time period on said encountered wireless access point from said selected single communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said remote location server determines said location of said encountered wireless access point utilizing said received plurality of power measurements from said selected single communication device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said remote location server stores said determined location of said wireless access point into a reference database that is internally or externally coupled to said remote location server.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said reference database shares said stored location of said wireless access point among said plurality of communication devices.

11. A system for communication, the system comprising:

one or more processors and/or circuits in a mobile device;

measure power from different locations for an encountered wireless access point; and

communicate said power measurements to a remote location server, wherein said remote location server collects power measurements for said encountered wireless access point from a plurality of communication devices, and said location server determines a location of said encountered wireless access point using power measurements provided by a single communication device of said plurality of communication devices.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said wireless access point is a WiFi access point or a Bluetooth access point.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to measure said power for said encountered access point at different locations over a period of time.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to time stamp said power measurements.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to transmit said time stamped power measurements to said remote location server.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said remote location server selects said single communication device from said plurality of communication devices based on quality and/or availability of corresponding power measurements collected on said encountered wireless access point.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said remote location server receives a plurality of power measurements at different locations over a time period on said encountered wireless access point from said selected single communication device.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said remote location server determines said location of said encountered wireless access point utilizing said received plurality of power measurements from said selected single communication device.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said remote location server stores said determined location of said wireless access point into a reference database that is internally or externally coupled to said remote location server.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said reference database shares said stored location of said wireless access point among said plurality of communication devices.