Detecting Mobile Access Points

• US 20140206379A1
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mayor, Robert, Huang, Ronald Keryuan, Grosman, Yefim
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

In some implementations, a method includes receiving, from a server, location data identifying locations of access points and mobile access points. A mobile device may determine an identifier of an access point within a communication range. The identifier is compared with the location data to identify parameters for the access point. The access point is determined to be a mobile access point based on the identified parameters included in the location data. In response to identifying the mobile access point, operating parameters executed by the mobile device are updated.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device, locations of a mobile device interacting with an access point at different times;

determining distances between the locations at the different times associated with the access point;

determining the access point is a mobile access point based on one of the distances exceeding a predefined threshold; and

transmitting, to mobile devices, location data identifying locations of access points and the access point as a mobile access point.

2. The method of claim 1, updating, at a server, a location database identifying the access point as a mobile access point.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating an average speed of the access point based on the one of the distances and an associate time difference between location determinations; and

determining a vehicle type including the mobile access point based on comparing the average speed exceeding a predefined threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the location data includes information identifying the vehicle type.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the vehicle type comprises an airplane.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining type of facility associated with the mobile-device locations; and

determining whether the determined vehicle type matches the facility type.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, for each of a plurality of mobile devices, distances between locations at the different times associated with the access point; and

determining, for each of the plurality of the mobile devices, whether any of the distances exceed the predefined threshold.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a server, location data identifying locations of access points and mobile access points;

determining, by a mobile device, an identifier of an access point within a communication range;

comparing, by the mobile device, the identifier with the location data to identify parameters for the access point;

determining the access point is a mobile access point based on the identified parameters included in the location data; and

in response to identifying the mobile access point, updating operating parameters executed by the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein updating operating parameters of the mobile device comprises updating a frequency for time zone corrections.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the location data identifies a vehicle type including the mobile access point, the method further comprising updating an operating mode of the mobile device or Global Position System (GPS) operation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle type comprises an airplane, the method further comprising automatically updating the mobile device to an Airplane mode or generating a notification for a user to switch to Airplane mode.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein updating GPS operation comprises at least one of disregarding land-based user dynamics, increasing a search range, or modifying GPS tracking algorithms for user dynamics.

13. A computer program product encoded on non-transitory medium, the product comprising computer readable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device, locations of a mobile device interacting with an access point at different times;

determining distances between the locations at the different times associated with the access point;

determining the access point is a mobile access point based on one of the distances exceeding a predefined threshold; and

transmitting, to mobile devices, location data identifying locations of access points and the access point as a mobile access point.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, the instructions further comprising:

estimating an average speed of the access point based on the one of the distances and an associate time difference between location determinations; and

determining a vehicle type including the mobile access point based on comparing the average speed exceeding a predefined threshold.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, the instructions further comprising:

determining type of facility associated with the mobile-device locations; and

determining whether the determined vehicle type matches the facility type.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, the instructions further comprising:

determining, for each of a plurality of mobile devices, distances between locations at the different times associated with the access point; and

determining, for each of the plurality of the mobile devices, whether any of the distances exceed the predefined threshold.

17. A computer program product encoded on non-transitory medium, the product comprising computer readable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a server, location data identifying locations of access points and mobile access points;

determining, by a mobile device, an identifier of an access point within a communication range;

comparing, by the mobile device, the identifier with the location data to identify parameters for the access point;

determining the access point is a mobile access point based on the identified parameters included in the location data; and

in response to identifying the mobile access point, updating operating parameters executed by the mobile device.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein updating operating parameters of the mobile device comprises updating a frequency for time zone corrections or an operating mode.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the location data identifies a vehicle type including the mobile access point, the instructions further comprising updating an operating mode of the mobile device or Global Position System (GPS) operation.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein updating GPS operation comprises at least one of disregarding land-based user dynamics, increasing a search range, or modifying GPS tracking algorithms for user dynamics.