Location-based services that choose location algorithms based on number of detected access points within range of user device
First Claim
1. A method of locating a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, comprising:
- in response to a user application request to determine a location of a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, triggering the Wi-Fi radio to transmit a request to Wi-Fi access points within range of the Wi-Fi device;
receiving messages from the Wi-Fi access points within range of the Wi-Fi device, each message identifying the Wi-Fi access point sending the message;
calculating signal strength of the messages received from the Wi-Fi access points;
accessing a reference database of stored locations for Wi-Fi access points in a target area to obtain the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points;
based on the number of the identified Wi-Fi access points identified via received messages, choosing a corresponding location-determination algorithm from a plurality of location-determination algorithms;
using the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points, the signal strengths of the received messages and the chosen location-determination algorithm to determine the location of the user-device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, in response to a user application request to determine a location of a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, the Wi-Fi radio is triggered to transmit a request to Wi-Fi access points within range. Messages are received from the Wi-Fi access points, each message identifying the Wi-Fi access point sending the message. Signal strength of the messages received from the Wi-Fi access points is calculated. A reference database of stored locations for Wi-Fi access points in a target area is accessed to obtain the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points. Based on the number of the identified Wi-Fi access points identified via received messages, a corresponding location-determination algorithm is chosen from a plurality of location-determination algorithms. The location of the user-device is determined using the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points, the signal strengths of the received messages and the chosen location-determination algorithm.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of locating a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, comprising:
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in response to a user application request to determine a location of a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, triggering the Wi-Fi radio to transmit a request to Wi-Fi access points within range of the Wi-Fi device; receiving messages from the Wi-Fi access points within range of the Wi-Fi device, each message identifying the Wi-Fi access point sending the message; calculating signal strength of the messages received from the Wi-Fi access points; accessing a reference database of stored locations for Wi-Fi access points in a target area to obtain the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points; based on the number of the identified Wi-Fi access points identified via received messages, choosing a corresponding location-determination algorithm from a plurality of location-determination algorithms; using the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points, the signal strengths of the received messages and the chosen location-determination algorithm to determine the location of the user-device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of locating a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, comprising:
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in response to a user application request to determine a location of a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, receiving messages from Wi-Fi access points within range of the Wi-Fi device, each message identifying the Wi-Fi access point sending the message; determining attributes of the messages received by the Wi-Fi radio; accessing a reference database of information about Wi-Fi access points in a target area to obtain information about the identified Wi-Fi access points; based on the number of the identified Wi-Fi access points identified via received messages, choosing a corresponding location-determination algorithm from a plurality of location-determination algorithms; and using the information about the identified Wi-Fi access points, the determined attributes of the received messages and the chosen location-determination algorithm to determine the location of the user-device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of locating a user-device having a wireless signal receiver, comprising:
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receiving messages transmitted by wireless signal stations within range of the wireless signal receiver, each message identifying the wireless signal station sending the message; calculating signal strength of the messages received by the wireless signal receiver; accessing a reference database of locations of wireless signal stations in a target area to obtain the locations for the identified wireless signal stations; based on the number of the identified wireless signal stations identified via received messages, choosing a corresponding location-determination algorithm from a plurality of location-determination algorithms; and using the locations for the identified wireless signal stations, the signal strengths of said received messages, and the chosen location-determination algorithm to determine the location of the user-device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of locating a user-device having a wireless signal receiver, comprising:
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in response to a user application request to determine a location of a user-device having a wireless signal receiver, receiving messages from wireless signal stations within range of the wireless signal receiver, each message identifying the wireless signal station sending the message; determining attributes of the messages received by the wireless signal receiver; accessing the reference database of wireless signal station information about wireless signal stations in a target area to obtain information about the identified wireless signal stations; based on the number of the identified wireless signal stations identified via received messages, choosing a corresponding location-determination algorithm from a plurality of location-determination algorithms; and using the information about the identified wireless signal stations, the determined attributes of the received messages and the chosen location-determination algorithm to determine the location of the user-device. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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Specification