Configurable zone-based location detection

• US 8,165,034 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jon Robert Buchwald
• Original Assignee: Jon Buchwald
• Inventors: Buchwald, Jon Robert, Sohn, Timothy Youngjin
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Marsha D Banks
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHU, BO HUI ALVIN
• Application Number:
  US12/044,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20080225810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 342/357.02
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

An improved technique provides location detection using wireless net-works such as Wi-Fi networks in a flexible, configurable manner that allows for variations in the environment and tracks target movement accurately in such an environment. Zones of different relative sizes and sensitivities can be defined, so as to vary the degree of resolution for different parts of the area being detected. Mechanisms are provided to take into account fluctuations in signal strength, and reduce the incidence of false positives resulting from incorrectly detecting zone or location changes due to fluctuations of signal strength. In addition, detection time can be configured for zone entry and/or exit. Self-adjustment based on heuristic analysis can also be implemented. Data can be sent or received based on the physical location as determined by the zone.

Claims

1. In a coverage area comprising a plurality of zones, each zone corresponding to a region within the coverage area and being associated with at least one access point, each access point transmitting a wireless signal, the signal strength of each access point determinable at the target, and a current zone list which is comprised of a set of zero or more zones in which the target resides, or is believed to reside, a method of determining a current physical location for a target, comprising:

a) initializing a threshold signal strength margin;

b) determining at least one winning access point, based on the determined signal strengths for each access point and a threshold signal strength margin;

c) determining, based on the determined at least one winning access point, a consecutive non-winner count, wherein the consecutive non-winner count is the consecutive number of times the access point has not been a winning access point, and a exit sample requirement, whether the target has exited any zones;

d) determining, based on the determined at least one winning access point, a consecutive winner count, wherein the consecutive winner count is the consecutive number of times the access point has been a winning access point, and a entry sample requirement, whether the target has entered any zones.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for each access point:

a.1) initializing a consecutive winner count and

a.2) initializing a consecutive non-winner count and

a.3) initializing an entry sample requirement and

a.4) initializing an exit sample requirement;

wherein e) comprises, for each access point that is not a winning access point;

e.1) setting the consecutive winner count for the access point to zero;

e.2) responsive to the zone associated with the access point being on the current zone list;

e.2.1) incrementing the consecutive non-winner count for the access point; and

e.2.2) responsive to the consecutive non-winner count exceeding an exit sample requirement, identifying the zone as being exited by the target;

and wherein g) comprises, for each access point that is a winning access point;

g.1) setting the consecutive non-winner count for the access point to zero;

g.2) responsive to the zone associated with the access point not being on the current zone list;

g.2.1) incrementing the consecutive winner count for the access point; and

g.2.2) responsive to the consecutive winner count exceeding an entry sample requirement, identifying the zone as being entered by the target.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each zone is associated with an exit sample requirement and a entry sample requirement, and wherein:

e.2.2) comprises, responsive to the consecutive non-winner count exceeding the exit sample requirement for the zone, identifying the zone as being exited by the target; and

g.2.2) comprises, responsive to the consecutive winner count exceeding the entry sample requirement for the zone, identifying the zone as being entered by the target.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically adjusting at least one of the exit sample requirement and the entry sample requirement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein automatically adjusting at least one of the exit sample requirement and the entry sample requirement comprises:

responsive to a count of the number of different winning access points in the last N exits from zones being at least 1 and no more than M, and the same zone having been exited at least P times, increasing the exit sample requirement for the zone; and

responsive to a count of the number of different winning access points in the last Q checks to enter a zone being at least 1 and no more than R, and no zone having been entered in the last Q checks to enter a zone, decreasing the entry sample requirement for each of the winning access points in the last Q checks;

wherein N, M, P, Q, and R are predetermined numeric settings.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein N=4, M=2, P=3, Q=4, and R =2.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising, responsive to detecting a degree of zone toggling exceeding a threshold, automatically adjusting at least one of the exit sample requirement and the entry sample requirement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least one winning access point comprises identifying an access point having a signal strength exceeding, by at least a threshold signal strength margin, the signal strengths of all access point signals detectable at the target.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least one winning access point comprises:

identifying a first access point having a strongest signal, as measured at the target, among signals detectable at the target; and

identifying at least one additional access point, each having a signal strength that is no less than the signal strength of the first access point minus a threshold signal strength margin.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least one winning access point comprises:

d.1) responsive to a multiple zone allowance setting being set to false, identifying a single winning access point; and

d.2) responsive to the multiple zone allowance setting being set to true, identifying any number of winning access points.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

identifying a single winning access point comprises identifying an access point having a signal strength exceeding, by at least a threshold signal strength margin, the signal strengths of all access point signals detectable at the target; and

identifying any number of winning access points comprises;

identifying a first access point having a strongest signal, as measured at the target, among signals detectable at the target; and

identifying at least one additional access point, each having a signal strength that is no less than the signal strength of the first access point minus a threshold signal strength margin.