Systems and methods for providing location-aware Wi-Fi access for a portable device
First Claim
1. A method for providing location-aware WiFi access for a portable device, the method comprising:
- determining an initial location of the portable device;
transmitting the initial location of the portable device to a WiFi location provider, wherein the WiFi location provider comprises locations, WiFi parameters, and wireless ranges for a plurality of WiFi access points;
receiving, from the WiFi location provider, a respective location, a respective set of WiFi parameters, and a respective wireless range for each WiFi access point included in a set of WiFi access points, wherein the each WiFi access point included in the set of WiFi access points is within a radius of the initial location of the portable device;
determining a subset of WiFi access points of the set of WiFi access points, each WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points containing the portable device within the respective wireless range of the each WiFi access point;
scanning for at least one WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points; and
connecting to one of the at least one WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points, thereby forming a WiFi connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for providing location-aware WiFi access for a portable device include determining an initial location of the portable device and transmitting the initial location to a WiFi location provider, wherein the WiFi location provider comprises locations and WiFi parameters for a plurality of WiFi access points, wherein each WiFi access point has a corresponding wireless range. The locations and the WiFi parameters for a set of WiFi access points are then received from the WiFi location provider, wherein the set of WiFi access points are within a radius of the initial location of the portable device. At least one WiFi access point in the set of WiFi access points is scanned for that contains the portable device within its wireless range. The portable device then connects to the at least one WiFi access point, thereby forming a WiFi connection.
17 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for providing location-aware WiFi access for a portable device, the method comprising:
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determining an initial location of the portable device; transmitting the initial location of the portable device to a WiFi location provider, wherein the WiFi location provider comprises locations, WiFi parameters, and wireless ranges for a plurality of WiFi access points; receiving, from the WiFi location provider, a respective location, a respective set of WiFi parameters, and a respective wireless range for each WiFi access point included in a set of WiFi access points, wherein the each WiFi access point included in the set of WiFi access points is within a radius of the initial location of the portable device; determining a subset of WiFi access points of the set of WiFi access points, each WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points containing the portable device within the respective wireless range of the each WiFi access point; scanning for at least one WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points; and connecting to one of the at least one WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points, thereby forming a WiFi connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A portable device that provides location-aware WiFi access, the portable device comprising:
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a WiFi transceiver; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to; determine an initial location of the portable device; transmit the initial location of the portable device to a WiFi location provider, wherein the WiFi location provider comprises locations and WiFi parameters for a plurality of WiFi access points, wherein each WiFi access point has a respective wireless range; receive a respective location, a respective set of WiFi parameters, and the respective range for each WiFi access point included in a set of WiFi access points from the WiFi location provider, wherein the each WiFi access point included in the set of WiFi access points is within a radius of the initial location of the portable device; determine a subset of WiFi access points of the set of WiFi access points, each WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points containing the portable device within the respective wireless range of the each WiFi access point; scan for at least one WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points; and connect to one of the at least one WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points, thereby forming a WiFi connection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A memory for use in a portable device, the memory storing program instructions for providing location-aware WiFi access for the portable device, and the program instructions being executable by a processor to:
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determine an initial location of the portable device; transmit the initial location to a WiFi location provider, wherein the WiFi location provider comprises locations and WiFi parameters for a plurality of WiFi access points, wherein each WiFi access point has a respective wireless range; receive, from the WiFi location provider, a respective location, a respective set of WiFi parameters, and the respective range for each WiFi access point included in a set of WiFi access points, wherein the each WiFi access point included in the set of WiFi access points is within a radius of the initial location of the portable device; determine a subset of WiFi access points in the set of WiFi access points, each WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access points containing the portable device within the respective wireless range of the each WiFi access point; scan for at least one WiFi access point in the subset of WiFi access; and connect to one of the at least one WiFi access point in the subset, thereby forming a WiFi connection. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification