Method and apparatus for approximating location of node attached to a network
First Claim
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1. A method for determining an approximate location of a target node communicatively coupled to a plurality of reference nodes over a computer network configured to support an IP communications protocol, the method comprising:
- sending packets, formatted to support the IP communications protocol, between the reference nodes to determine reference latencies between each reference node and each of the other plurality of reference nodes, each reference latency including a measurement of communication latency between a specified reference node and another reference node from the plurality of reference nodes and excluding any measurement of communication latency between the target node and any one of the plurality of reference nodes;
updating a table of latency information on a periodically scheduled basis to maintain a record including a plurality of entries of the reference latencies between each reference node and each other reference node from the plurality of reference nodes, the entries being collected over a designated period of time;
measuring, from packets formatted to support the IP communications protocol and sent between the target node and the reference nodes, target latencies between the target node and a subset of the reference nodes, each target latency including a measurement of communication latency between the target node and a specified reference node; and
comparing the target latencies to identify at least three reference nodes having close proximity to the target node; and
triangulating reference latencies associated with the at least three reference nodes to approximate a geographic region within which the target node is located.
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Abstract
A plurality of reference nodes that are attached to the network are correlated with geographic location. Communication latency between the reference nodes are used to approximate the location of a target node once the communication latency from one of the reference nodes to the target node is determined.
147 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for determining an approximate location of a target node communicatively coupled to a plurality of reference nodes over a computer network configured to support an IP communications protocol, the method comprising:
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sending packets, formatted to support the IP communications protocol, between the reference nodes to determine reference latencies between each reference node and each of the other plurality of reference nodes, each reference latency including a measurement of communication latency between a specified reference node and another reference node from the plurality of reference nodes and excluding any measurement of communication latency between the target node and any one of the plurality of reference nodes; updating a table of latency information on a periodically scheduled basis to maintain a record including a plurality of entries of the reference latencies between each reference node and each other reference node from the plurality of reference nodes, the entries being collected over a designated period of time; measuring, from packets formatted to support the IP communications protocol and sent between the target node and the reference nodes, target latencies between the target node and a subset of the reference nodes, each target latency including a measurement of communication latency between the target node and a specified reference node; and comparing the target latencies to identify at least three reference nodes having close proximity to the target node; and triangulating reference latencies associated with the at least three reference nodes to approximate a geographic region within which the target node is located. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for determining an approximate location of a target node communicatively coupled to a plurality of reference nodes over a computer network configured to support an IP communications protocol, the system comprising:
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a referencing unit operably configured to cause the reference nodes to send packets, formatted to support the IP communications protocol, between the reference nodes to determine reference latencies between each reference node and each of the other plurality of reference nodes, wherein each reference latency includes a measurement of communication latency between a specified reference node and another reference node from the plurality of reference nodes and excludes any measurement of communication latency between the target node and any one of the plurality of reference nodes; a latency memory controller operably configured to update a latency storage medium including latency information on a periodically scheduled basis to maintain a record including a plurality of entries of the reference latencies between each reference node and each other reference node from the plurality of reference nodes, wherein the latency memory controller is further configured to collect the entries over a designated period of time; a targeting unit operably configured to determine, from packets formatted to support the IP communications protocol and sent between the target node and the reference nodes, target latencies between the target node and a subset of the reference nodes, wherein each target latency includes a measurement of communication latency between the target node and a specified reference node; and an approximation unit operably configured to triangulate reference latencies associated with at least three reference nodes to approximate a geographic region within which the target node is located, wherein the approximation unit comprises, a latency comparator operably configured to compare the target latencies to identify the at least three reference nodes based on close proximity to the target node. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification