Fine-grained location determination of networked computers
First Claim
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1. A method to be executed at least in part in a computing device for location determination in networked communication systems, the method comprising:
- determining whether a target computing device is mainly used locally;
if the target computing device is mainly used locally, determining whether the target computing device is a multi-user device;
if the target computing device is a multi-user device, determining whether a user of interest is a primary user of the target computing device;
if the user of interest is the primary user of the target computing device, retrieving physical location information for the user of interest;
determining a confidence metric based on one or more of a local use to remote use ratio, on a peak usage ratio for local users of the target computing device, and input from the user of interest;
assigning a low confidence value to the confidence metric if the confidence metric is determined based on the input from the user of interest; and
providing the physical location information and the confidence metric to a location-based service.
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Abstract
Location of a communication network subscriber is determined employing confidence metrics such as remote vs. local computer usage, primary user in a multi-user computing environment, likelihood of forgery, and comparable ones. A fine-grained location determination is then made based on the metric results and directory information for the particular subscriber such that services like emergency services can be provided with accurate location information.
10 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method to be executed at least in part in a computing device for location determination in networked communication systems, the method comprising:
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determining whether a target computing device is mainly used locally; if the target computing device is mainly used locally, determining whether the target computing device is a multi-user device; if the target computing device is a multi-user device, determining whether a user of interest is a primary user of the target computing device; if the user of interest is the primary user of the target computing device, retrieving physical location information for the user of interest; determining a confidence metric based on one or more of a local use to remote use ratio, on a peak usage ratio for local users of the target computing device, and input from the user of interest; assigning a low confidence value to the confidence metric if the confidence metric is determined based on the input from the user of interest; and providing the physical location information and the confidence metric to a location-based service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computing device for providing fine-grained location information in a networked communication system, the computing device comprising:
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a communication component for communication with a plurality of client devices; a memory; a processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing a location information service for performing actions including; determine a local use ratio (L/R) for a target client device; if the L/R is above a first threshold, determine a peak use ratio (P/M) for the target client device; if the P/M is below a second threshold determine a primary user for the target client device from one of;
a user input and an administrator input;compute a confidence metric based on the L/R and the P/M; retrieve physical location information for the primary user of the target client device from a directory service; provide the physical location information and the computed confidence metric to a location-based service; request a location testament from a trusted location certification server in response to receiving a request from the location-based service; and receive the location testament generated based on comparing the target client device'"'"'s location and identifier to the location and identifier of at least one other client device in the same witness set. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable memory device with instructions stored thereon for location determination in networked communication systems, the instructions comprising:
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selecting a predefined number of computing devices on a same subnet as a target computing device to form a witness set; determining a local vs. remote use ratio for a target computing device; determining a primary usage ratio for the target computing device; maintaining a mapping from the target computing device to least one from a set of;
a physical location, a network identifier, a machine identifier, a timestamp, and a confidence metric, wherein the confidence metric is determined based on one or more of the local vs. remote use ratio, on the primary usage ratio for the target computing device, and input from a user of interest;assigning a low confidence value to the confidence metric if the confidence metric is determined based on the input from the user of interest; verifying a location for the target computing device based on mapped information in response to a request from a location-based service; and providing the verified location and the mapped information for the target computing device in response to the request to the location-based service. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification