Apparatus and method for location-based access control in wireless networks
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving wireless signals from a device at a wireless access point associated with a wireless network;
estimating a location of the device;
determining whether the estimated location of the device is within a specified area; and
allowing the device to communicate over the wireless network in response to determining that the estimated location of the device is within the specified area;
wherein estimating the location of the device comprises;
estimating a direction of the device with respect to the wireless access point using a direction of arrival of at least one wireless message received at the wireless access point from the device; and
estimating a distance of the device from the wireless access point by transmitting multiple messages to the device at different power levels and receiving one or more responses from the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes receiving wireless signals from a device at a wireless access point associated with a wireless network. The method also includes estimating a location of the device and determining whether the estimated location is within a specified area. In addition, the method includes allowing the device to communicate over the wireless network in response to determining that the estimated location is within the specified area. Estimating the device'"'"'s location could include estimating a direction of the device with respect to the wireless access point and/or estimating a distance of the device from the wireless access point. Estimating the direction of the device could include using a direction of arrival of at least one wireless message received at the wireless access point from the device. Estimating the distance of the device could include transmitting multiple messages to the device at different power levels and receiving one or more responses from the device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving wireless signals from a device at a wireless access point associated with a wireless network; estimating a location of the device; determining whether the estimated location of the device is within a specified area; and allowing the device to communicate over the wireless network in response to determining that the estimated location of the device is within the specified area; wherein estimating the location of the device comprises; estimating a direction of the device with respect to the wireless access point using a direction of arrival of at least one wireless message received at the wireless access point from the device; and estimating a distance of the device from the wireless access point by transmitting multiple messages to the device at different power levels and receiving one or more responses from the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising:
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receiving wireless signals from a device at a wireless access point associated with a wireless network; estimating a location of the device; determining whether the estimated location of the device is within a specified area; and allowing the device to communicate over the wireless network in response to determining that the estimated location of the device is within the specified area; wherein allowing the device to communicate over the wireless network comprises; wirelessly transmitting configuration information to the device using directional beams; and configuring the device based on the configuration information.
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8. A method comprising:
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receiving wireless signals from a device at a wireless access point associated with a wireless network, wherein the device comprises a mobile device; estimating a location of the device; determining whether the estimated location of the device is within a specified area; allowing the device to communicate over the wireless network in response to determining that the estimated location of the device is within the specified area; continuously estimating the location of the mobile device; determining whether the estimated location of the mobile device is in a restricted area within the specified area; and when the estimated location of the mobile device is in the restricted area, at least one of; disabling the mobile device, powering down the mobile device, and notifying security personnel.
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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a wireless interface configured to receive wireless signals from a device attempting to communicate over a wireless network; and a controller configured to estimate a location of the device and to allow the device to join the wireless network based on a determination that the estimated location of the device is within a specified area; wherein the controller is configured to estimate the location of the device by; estimating a direction of the device with respect to the apparatus using a direction of arrival of at least one wireless message received at the apparatus from the device; and estimating a distance of the device from the apparatus by initiating transmission of multiple messages to the device at different power levels and analyzing one or more responses received from the device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a wireless interface configured to receive wireless signals from a device attempting to communicate over a wireless network; and a controller configured to estimate a location of the device and to allow the device to join the wireless network based on a determination that the estimated location of the device is within a specified area; wherein the controller is further configured to repeatedly estimate the location of the device, the device comprising an original device, and to allow a replacement device to access the wireless network in place of the original device only in response to user input indicating that the original device has failed.
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18. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:
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estimating, at a wireless access point associated with a wireless network, a location of a device attempting to access the wireless network; determining whether the estimated location of the device is within a specified area; and allowing the device to communicate over the wireless network in response to determining that the estimated location of the device is within the specified area; wherein the computer readable program code for estimating the location of the device comprises computer readable program code for; estimating a direction of the device with respect to the wireless access point using a direction of arrival of at least one wireless message from the device; and estimating a distance of the device from the wireless access point by initiating transmission of multiple messages to the device at different power levels and analyzing one or more responses received from the device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification