Using signal characteristics to determine the physical location of devices in a data network
First Claim
1. A method of determining a physical location of a device connected to a data network infrastructure including a plurality of fixed connection points fixed at different physical locations, the method comprising:
- storing location information of the plurality of fixed connection points and one or more signal characteristics of one or more signals passing through at least a first fixed connection point of the plurality of fixed connection points in the data network infrastructure, wherein the at least the first fixed connection point is connected to a network entry device in the data network infrastructure using a cable-based transmission medium;
establishing a connection between the device and the network entry device in the data network infrastructure via the at least the first fixed connection point, wherein a communication signal passes through the cable-based transmission medium and the at least the first fixed connection point;
utilizing the established connection to determine a connection point identifier based, at least in part, upon the communication signal;
measuring at least a first signal characteristic of the communication signal;
determining a first physical location of the device based on the determined connection point identifier, including accessing the stored location information using the determined connection point identifier; and
determining a second physical location of the device based on the determined first physical location, the at least the first measured signal characteristic, and the one or more stored signal characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining a physical location of a device connected to a data network infrastructure including a plurality of connection points at different physical locations, the method including establishing a connection with the data network infrastructure via a cable-based transmission medium, wherein a communication signal passes via the cable-based transmission medium including at least one of the plurality of connection points. A connection point identifier is determined based, at least in part, upon the at least one of the plurality of connection points. A signal characteristic of the communication signal passing via the cable-based transmission medium between the device and the data network infrastructure through the at least one of the plurality of connection points is measured. A first physical location of the device is determined based on the determined connection point identifier, including accessing stored information associating the determined connection point identifier with location information. A second physical location of the device is determined based on the determined first physical location and the measured signal characteristic, including accessing stored information associating signal characteristics with location information.
134 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of determining a physical location of a device connected to a data network infrastructure including a plurality of fixed connection points fixed at different physical locations, the method comprising:
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storing location information of the plurality of fixed connection points and one or more signal characteristics of one or more signals passing through at least a first fixed connection point of the plurality of fixed connection points in the data network infrastructure, wherein the at least the first fixed connection point is connected to a network entry device in the data network infrastructure using a cable-based transmission medium; establishing a connection between the device and the network entry device in the data network infrastructure via the at least the first fixed connection point, wherein a communication signal passes through the cable-based transmission medium and the at least the first fixed connection point; utilizing the established connection to determine a connection point identifier based, at least in part, upon the communication signal; measuring at least a first signal characteristic of the communication signal; determining a first physical location of the device based on the determined connection point identifier, including accessing the stored location information using the determined connection point identifier; and determining a second physical location of the device based on the determined first physical location, the at least the first measured signal characteristic, and the one or more stored signal characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for surveying a data network infrastructure including a plurality of fixed connection points, the method comprising:
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for at least one of the plurality of fixed connection points, wherein each of the plurality of fixed connection points provides a cable-based communication path to the data network infrastructure, determining a signal characteristic on the cable-based communication path for the at least one of the plurality of fixed connection points, wherein the cable-based communication path is between a network entry device and the at least one of the plurality of fixed connection points, and storing an association between the at least one of the plurality of fixed connection points and the signal characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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a location database for storing location information of a plurality of fixed connection points and at least a first signal characteristic of one or more signals passing through at least one of the plurality of fixed connection points in a data network infrastructure; a network entry device configured to receive a communication signal passing via a cable-based transmission medium from a device communicating with the network entry device through the at least one of the plurality of fixed connection points, wherein the network entry device is further configured to measure one or more signal characteristics of the communication signal; and a location module, associated with the network entry device and the location database, configured to determine a first physical location of the device based on the at least one of the plurality of fixed connection points, including accessing the stored location information in the location database, and a second physical location of the device based on the determined first physical location and by comparing the one or more measured signal characteristics with at least the first signal characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification