Driving hybrid location services from WLAN stations using access points
First Claim
1. In a wireless network having a plurality of access points (APs) associated with a server, a method of obtaining location attributes of a wireless client device, the method comprising:
- performing periodic scanning operations in the client device during which the client device receives a beacon frame broadcast from a selected AP, wherein the beacon frame includes information elements that identify the selected AP and that indicate a location request of the client device;
parsing the information elements in the client device to identify the selected AP and to determine the location request of the client device; and
sending a probe request from the client device to the selected AP upon determining the location request, wherein the probe request is to initiate ranging operations with the selected AP to determine the location attributes of the client device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless local area network (WLAN) positioning system is disclosed that allows the WLAN system to determine the location attributes of a client device operating in a power save mode, operating on a different channel than the WLAN'"'"'s access points, and/or operating in an ad-hoc mode. The client device periodically performs scanning operations during which beacon frames broadcast by a selected AP(s) can be received. The client device parses information embedded in the beacon frames, and in response thereto selectively initiates ranging operations to determine its location attributes. After determining its location attributes, the client devices sends the location attributes back to the selected AP(s).
16 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a wireless network having a plurality of access points (APs) associated with a server, a method of obtaining location attributes of a wireless client device, the method comprising:
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performing periodic scanning operations in the client device during which the client device receives a beacon frame broadcast from a selected AP, wherein the beacon frame includes information elements that identify the selected AP and that indicate a location request of the client device; parsing the information elements in the client device to identify the selected AP and to determine the location request of the client device; and sending a probe request from the client device to the selected AP upon determining the location request, wherein the probe request is to initiate ranging operations with the selected AP to determine the location attributes of the client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wireless network having a plurality of access points (APs) associated with a server to obtain location attributes of a wireless client device, the network comprising:
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means for performing periodic scanning operations in the client device during which the client device receives a beacon frame broadcast from a selected AP, wherein the beacon frame includes information elements that identify the selected AP and that indicate a location request of the client device; means for parsing the information elements in the client device to identify the selected AP and to determine the location request of the client device; and means for sending a probe request from the client device to the selected AP upon determining the location request, wherein the probe request is to initiate ranging operations with the selected AP to determine the location attributes of the client device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wireless network having a plurality of access points associated with a server to obtain location attributes of a wireless client device, the client device comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and having stored therein computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the client device to; perform periodic scanning operations during which the client device receives a beacon frame broadcast from a selected access point (AP), wherein the beacon frame is embedded with information elements identifying the selected AP and requesting the location attributes of the client device; parse the embedded information elements to identify the selected AP and the location request; and send a probe request to the selected AP, wherein the probe request is to initiate ranging operations with the selected AP to determine the location attributes of the client device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification