Method and system for locating a wireless access device in a wireless network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
- detecting a wireless access device using a plurality of nodes at known locations;
detecting, with a particular node of the plurality of nodes, a communications channel on which the wireless access device is operating by;
observing a plurality of communications channels; and
selecting the communications channel corresponding to a largest average received signal strength;
determining, with the particular node, a signal strength of the wireless access device with respect to the particular node;
determining, with the particular node, a distance to the wireless access device from the particular node based on the signal strength;
estimating an area using the distance, with the particular node, to determine possible locations of the wireless access device relative to the particular node; and
sending the area to a collector device for determination of a location of the wireless access device using information from at least two of the plurality of nodes.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless access device in a wireless network, whether a known or unknown entity, can be located using a geolocation system according to the present invention. A signal strength is determined by a wireless intrusion detection system (WIDS) node in a wireless network for each wireless access device that it detects. Based on the signal strength, an approximate distance from the node is determined, which, in one embodiment corresponds to a radius of a circle around the node. To account for error, an approximation band of the circle is calculated that will allow a user to determine the approximate location of the device within the wireless network.
171 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
-
detecting a wireless access device using a plurality of nodes at known locations; detecting, with a particular node of the plurality of nodes, a communications channel on which the wireless access device is operating by; observing a plurality of communications channels; and selecting the communications channel corresponding to a largest average received signal strength; determining, with the particular node, a signal strength of the wireless access device with respect to the particular node; determining, with the particular node, a distance to the wireless access device from the particular node based on the signal strength; estimating an area using the distance, with the particular node, to determine possible locations of the wireless access device relative to the particular node; and sending the area to a collector device for determination of a location of the wireless access device using information from at least two of the plurality of nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 11)
-
-
5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:
-
detecting a wireless access device using a plurality of nodes at known locations; determining a signal strength of the wireless access device with respect to individual ones of the plurality of nodes; determining a distance to the wireless access device from the individual ones of the plurality of nodes based on the signal strength to determine possible locations of the wireless access device; and estimating an area for the individual ones of the plurality of nodes corresponding to the possible locations of the wireless access device by detecting a band around the individual ones of the plurality of nodes within which the wireless access device could be located based on the determined distance from the individual ones of the plurality of nodes. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:
-
detecting a wireless access device using a plurality of nodes at known locations; detecting, with a particular node of the plurality of nodes, a communications channel on which the wireless access device is operating by; observing a plurality of communications channels; and selecting the communications channel corresponding to a largest average received signal strength; determining, with the particular node, a signal strength of the wireless access device with respect to the particular node; determining, with the particular node, a distance to the wireless access device from the particular node based on the signal strength; estimating an area using the distance, with the particular node, to determine possible locations of the wireless access device relative to the particular node; and sending the area to a collector device for determination of a location of the wireless access device using information from at least two of the plurality of nodes. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
12. An apparatus comprising:
-
a collector device; and a plurality of nodes at known locations in communication with the collector device; wherein individual ones of the plurality of nodes are configured to, from a point of view of a particular node of the individual ones of the plurality of nodes; detect an existence of a wireless access device; detect a communications channel on which the wireless access device is operating by; observing a plurality of communications channels; and selecting the communications channel corresponding to a largest average received signal strength; determine a signal strength of the wireless access device with respect to the particular node; and determine a distance to the wireless access device from the particular node based on the signal strength, and estimate an area using the distance corresponding to the possible locations of the wireless access device relative to the particular node; and send the area to the collector device for determination of a location of the wireless access device using information from at least two of the individual ones of the plurality of nodes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
-
-
19. An apparatus comprising:
-
a collector device; and a plurality of nodes at known locations in communication with the collector device; wherein the plurality of nodes are configured to detect an existence of a wireless access device and determine a signal strength of the wireless access device with respect to individual ones of the plurality of nodes; and wherein the collector device is configured to; determine a distance to the wireless access device from individual ones of the plurality of nodes based on the signal strength to determine possible locations of the wireless access device, and estimate an area for the individual ones of the plurality of nodes corresponding to the possible locations of the wireless access device by detecting a band around each of the plurality of nodes within which the wireless access device could be located based on the determined distance from each of the plurality of nodes. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification