Method and system for obtaining information about Wi-Fi enabled telecommunications devices
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining information about telecommunications devices that transmit signals seeking available Wi-Fi connectivity, comprising:
- configuring each of a plurality of Wi-Fi beacons to detect probing signals from any telecommunications device in its range, each of the probing signals containing an identifier of the telecommunications device that is sending the probing signal;
extracting at each Wi-Fi beacon from probing signals detected by the Wi-Fi beacon, an identifier of at least one telecommunications device whose probing signals have been detected by the Wi-Fi beacon;
associating each Wi-Fi beacon with the identifier of any telecommunications devices whose probing signals have been detected by that Wi-Fi beacon to thereby determine the presence of any telecommunications devices within the range of the Wi-Fi beacon;
determining, at at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons, a position of a telecommunications device whose probing signal has been detected by that Wi-Fi beacon; and
generating a map of an area within range of at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons on a display apart from any telecommunications devices whose probing signals have been detected by the at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons, and indicating the position of the telecommunications device on the map relative to the position of the at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons,whereby the telecommunications devices are not involved in the method other than providing in their usual manner of operation, probing signals containing identifiers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method, system and computer program for obtaining information about telecommunications devices that transmit signals seeking available Wi-Fi connectivity. One or more Wi-Fi beacons are configured to detect probing signals from any telecommunications device in its range, a processor at each Wi-Fi beacon extracts an identifier of each telecommunications device from detected probing signals and each Wi-Fi beacon is associated with the identifier of any telecommunications devices whose probing signals have been received by that Wi-Fi beacon to thereby determine the presence and optionally position of any telecommunications devices within the range of the Wi-Fi beacon. The telecommunications devices are not involved in the method other than providing in their usual manner of operation, probing signals containing identifiers.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining information about telecommunications devices that transmit signals seeking available Wi-Fi connectivity, comprising:
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configuring each of a plurality of Wi-Fi beacons to detect probing signals from any telecommunications device in its range, each of the probing signals containing an identifier of the telecommunications device that is sending the probing signal; extracting at each Wi-Fi beacon from probing signals detected by the Wi-Fi beacon, an identifier of at least one telecommunications device whose probing signals have been detected by the Wi-Fi beacon; associating each Wi-Fi beacon with the identifier of any telecommunications devices whose probing signals have been detected by that Wi-Fi beacon to thereby determine the presence of any telecommunications devices within the range of the Wi-Fi beacon; determining, at at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons, a position of a telecommunications device whose probing signal has been detected by that Wi-Fi beacon; and generating a map of an area within range of at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons on a display apart from any telecommunications devices whose probing signals have been detected by the at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons, and indicating the position of the telecommunications device on the map relative to the position of the at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons, whereby the telecommunications devices are not involved in the method other than providing in their usual manner of operation, probing signals containing identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for obtaining information about telecommunications devices that transmit signals seeking available Wi-Fi connectivity, comprising:
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a plurality of Wi-Fi beacons, each configured to detect probing signals from any telecommunications device in its range, each of the probing signals containing an identifier of the telecommunications device that is sending the probing signal; a processor associated with each Wi-Fi beacon and that is configured to extract from probing signals detected by the associated Wi-Fi beacon, an identifier of each telecommunications device whose probing signals have been detected by the associated Wi-Fi beacon and associate the identifier of any telecommunications devices whose probing signals have been detected by the associated Wi-Fi beacon to the Wi-Fi beacon to thereby determine the presence of any telecommunications devices within the range of the associated Wi-Fi beacon; a position determining system that determines a position of a telecommunications device whose probing signal has been detected by the associated Wi-Fi beacon; and a map generating system that generates a map of an area within range of at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons on a display apart from any telecommunications devices whose probing signals have been detected by the at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons and indicates the position of the telecommunications device, as determined by the position determining system, on the map relative to the position of the at least one of the Wi-Fi beacons. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification