Network device based proximity beacon locating

• US 9,992,619 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerohive Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Changming, Hoppin, William, Scheers, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): MAPA, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US14/465,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20160050526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 4554042, 4554142, 4554561-457
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A proximity beacon signal transmitted by a network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter is received at a network device. A RSSI reporting message is generated at the network device based on the proximity beacon signal. A position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter with respect to the network device is determined using the RSSI reporting message. A location of the network device within a region is determined using the RSSI reporting message and network device map data for the region. The location of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter in the region is determined based on the position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter with respect to the network device and the location of the network device within the region.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a proximity beacon signal from a network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter located on a floor of a building at a proximity beacon transmitter hub coupled through a wired connection to a first network device configured to transmit data to and from a backhaul of a network for a client device in providing the client device access to network services, wherein the proximity beacon signal is transmitted in accordance with an applicable lower power short range wireless communication unsuitable for use in transmitting data from the backhaul of the network to the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

upon receiving the proximity beacon signal, generating and sending proximity beacon signal data from the proximity beacon transmitter hub, the proximity beacon signal data including a received signal strength indication (RSSI) value of the proximity beacon signal, an identification of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter, and an identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub;

maintaining, separate from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter, proximity beacon transmitter operational parameters of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter including a transmit power at which the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter is configured to transmit proximity beacon signals;

receiving the proximity beacon signal data at the first network device, and upon receiving the proximity beacon signal data, generating at and sending from the first network device a first RSSI reporting message including the RSSI value of the proximity beacon signal received from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter over the applicable lower power short range wireless communication based on the proximity beacon signal data;

determining a position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building with respect to the proximity beacon transmitter hub using the first RSSI reporting message by comparing the transmit power at which the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter is configured to transmit proximity beacon signals with the RSSI value of the proximity beacon signal received from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter over the applicable lower power short range wireless communication, and using dimensions and characteristics of interior walls on the floor of the building;

determining a location of the proximity beacon transmitter hub using the first RSSI reporting message and network device map data for one or more floors of the building;

mapping a location, on the floor of the building, of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter based on the position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter with respect to the proximity beacon transmitter hub and the location of the proximity beacon transmitter hub on the floor of the building indicated by the network device map data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the proximity beacon signal at second and third network devices located on the floor of the building, and upon receiving the proximity beacon signal, generating at and sending from the second and third network devices, corresponding second and third RSSI reporting messages based on the proximity beacon signal, respectively;

determining a position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building with respect to the second network device using the second RSSI reporting message and the dimensions and characteristics of the interior walls on the floor of the building;

determining a location of the second network device using the second RSSI reporting message and the network device map data;

determining a position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building with respect to the third network device using the third RSSI reporting message and the dimensions and characteristics of the interior walls on the floor of the building;

determining a location of the third network device using the third RSSI reporting message and the network device map data, wherein the location, on the floor of the building, of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter is mapped also based on the positions of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter with respect to the second network device and the third network device and the locations of the second network device and the third network device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub;

matching the identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub with one of multiple position indicator coordinates, included as part of the network device map data, of network devices within the building, for determining the location of the proximity beacon transmitter hub.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining environment conditions of an environment surrounding the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter from the proximity beacon signal data, the environment conditions of the environment surrounding the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter obtained from at least one sensor coupled to the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

adding environment data indicating the environment conditions of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter to the first RSSI reporting message;

determining the environment conditions of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter from the environment data included as part of the first RSSI reporting message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first RSSI reporting message includes the identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub and the RSSI value of the proximity beacon signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an asset associated with the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

tracking a position of the asset on the floor of the building based on the location of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a temperature condition at a position on the floor of the building surrounding the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter using at least one sensor coupled to the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

adding temperature data indicating the temperature condition around the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter to the first RSSI reporting message;

determining the temperature condition around the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter from the temperature data included as part of the first RSSI reporting message.

8. A system comprising:

a proximity beacon transmitter hub configured to;

receive a proximity beacon signal from a network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter located on a floor of a building, wherein the proximity beacon signal is transmitted in accordance with an applicable lower power short range wireless communication unsuitable for use in transmitting data from a backhaul of a network to the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

generate and send proximity beacon signal data including a received signal strength indication (RSSI) value of the proximity beacon signal, an identification of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter, and an identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub;

a first network device configured to;

transmit data to and from the backhaul of the network for a client device in providing the client device access to network services;

receive, through the proximity beacon transmitter hub coupled to the first network device through a wired connection, the proximity beacon signal data;

generate and send a first RSSI reporting message including the RSSI value of the proximity beacon signal received from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter over the applicable lower power short range wireless communication based on the proximity beacon signal data;

a proximity beacon transmitter parameters determination engine configured to maintain, separate from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter, proximity beacon transmitter operational parameters of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter including a transmit power at which the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter is configured to transmit proximity beacon signals;

a proximity beacon location determination engine configured to;

determine a position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building with respect to the proximity beacon transmitter hub using the first RSSI reporting message by comparing the transmit power at which the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter is configured to transmit proximity beacon signals with the RSSI value of the proximity beacon signal received from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter over the applicable lower power short range wireless communication, and using dimensions and characteristics of interior walls on the floor of the building;

determine a location of the proximity beacon transmitter hub using the first RSSI reporting message and network device map data for one or more floors of the building;

map a location, on the floor of the building, of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter based on the position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter with respect to the proximity beacon transmitter hub and the location of the proximity beacon transmitter hub on the floor of the building indicated by the network device map data.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a second network device configured to;

receive the proximity beacon signal transmitted by the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

generate a second RSSI reporting message based on the proximity beacon signal;

a third network device configured to;

receive the proximity beacon signal transmitted by the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

generate a third RSSI reporting message based on the proximity beacon signal;

wherein the proximity beacon location determination engine is further configured to;

determine a position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building with respect to the second network device using the second RSSI reporting message and the dimensions and characteristics of the interior walls on the floor of the building;

determine a location of the second network device using the second RSSI reporting message and the network device map data;

determine a position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building with respect to the third network device using the third RSSI reporting message and the dimensions and characteristics of the interior walls on the floor of the building;

determine a location of the third network device using the third RSSI reporting message and the network device map data;

map the location, on the floor of the building, of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter also based on the positions of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter with respect to the second network device and the third network device and the locations of the second network device and the third network device.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a coupled network device identification determination engine configured to determine the identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub;

wherein the proximity based location determination engine is configured to determine the location of the proximity beacon transmitter hub by matching the identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub with one of multiple position indicator coordinates, included as part of the network device map data of network devices within the building.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein

the first network device is further configured to:

determine environment conditions of an environment surrounding the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter from the proximity beacon signal data, the environment conditions of the environment surrounding the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter obtained from at least one sensor coupled to the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

add environment data indicating the environment conditions of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter to the first RSSI reporting message, the system further comprising;

a proximity beacon environment determination engine configured to determine the environment conditions of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter from the environment data included as part of the first RSSI reporting message.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first RSSI reporting message includes the identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub and the RSSI value of the proximity beacon signal.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising an asset tracking engine configured to:

determine an asset associated with the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

track a position of the asset on the floor of the building based on the location of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein

the first network device is further configured to:

determine a temperature condition at a position on the floor of the building surrounding the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter using at least one sensor coupled to the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

add temperature data indicating the temperature condition around the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter to the first RSSI reporting message, the system further comprising;

a proximity beacon environment determination engine configured to determine the temperature condition around the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter from the temperature data included as part of the first RSSI reporting message.

15. A system comprising:

means for receiving a proximity beacon signal from a network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter located on a floor of a building at a proximity beacon transmitter hub coupled through a wired connection to a first network device configured to transmit data to and from a backhaul of a network for a client device in providing the client device access to network services, wherein the proximity beacon signal is transmitted in accordance with an applicable lower power short range wireless communication unsuitable for use in transmitting data from the backhaul of the network to the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter;

means for generating and sending proximity beacon signal data from the proximity beacon transmitter hub, the proximity beacon signal data including a received signal strength indication (RSSI) value of the proximity beacon signal, an identification of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter, and an identification of the proximity beacon transmitter hub, upon receiving the proximity beacon signal;

means for maintaining, separate from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter, proximity beacon transmitter operational parameters of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter including a transmit power at which the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter is configured to transmit proximity beacon signals;

means for receiving the proximity beacon signal data at the first network device;

means for generating at and sending from the first network device a first RSSI reporting message including the RSSI value of the proximity beacon signal received from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter over the applicable lower power short range wireless communication based on the proximity beacon signal data;

means for determining a position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter on the floor of the building with respect to the proximity beacon transmitter hub using the first RSSI reporting message by comparing the transmit power at which the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter is configured to transmit proximity beacon signals with the RSSI of the proximity beacon signal received from the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter over the applicable lower power short range wireless communication, and using dimensions and characteristics of interior walls on the floor of the building;

means for determining a location of the proximity beacon transmitter hub using the first RSSI reporting message and network device map data for one or more floors of the building;

means for mapping a location, on the floor of the building, of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter based on the position of the network device-coupled proximity beacon transmitter with respect to the proximity beacon transmitter hub and the location of the proximity beacon transmitter hub on the floor of the building indicated by the network device map data.