Self-directed access point location validation

• US 20050124355A1
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Locker, Howard J., Springfield, Randall S., Cromer, Daryl C., Jakes, Philip J.
• Application Number:
  US10/727,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124355A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.500
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Aspects for validating access point locations in a wireless network are described. The aspects include performing a scan in a validating access point for another access point in the wireless network. Location data of a detected access point is utilized in the validating access point to direct self-correction of current location data of the validating access point.

Claims

1. A method for validating access point locations in a wireless network, the method comprising:

performing a scan by a validating access point to detect and locate at least one access point in the wireless network; and

utilizing location data of at least one detected access point in the validating access point to direct self-correction of current location data of the validating access point.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein performing a scan further comprises detecting a beacon signal from at least one access point.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising reading physical location data from the detected beacon signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein when there is one detected access point, the method further comprises comparing the current location data with a determined distance and the location data of the one detected access point.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein when the current location data compares favorably, the current location data is retained, and when the current location data compares unfavorably, the method further comprises determining if the location data is valid and updating the current location data if the location data is valid.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining if the location data is valid further comprises checking a date of last update of the location data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein when there is more than one detected access point, the method further comprises eliminating a detected access point having invalid data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein when more than one detected access point remains, the method further comprises utilizing triangulation techniques with the location data of the remaining detected access points to calculate a current position.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein when the current location data matches the current position, the current location data is retained, and when the current location data does not match the current position, the current location data is updated to the current position.

10. A system for validating access point locations, the system comprising:

a wireless network, the wireless network including a validating access point for performing a scan to detect another access point in the wireless network, wherein location data of the detected access point in the validating access point directs self-correction of current location data of the validating access point.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the validating access point performs a scan to detect a beacon signal from another access point.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the validating access point further reads physical location data from the detected beacon signal.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein when there is one detected access point, the validating access point compares the current location data with a determined distance and the location data of the one detected access point.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein when the current location data compares favorably, the current location data is retained by the validating access point, and when the current location data compares unfavorably, the validating access point determines if the location data is valid and updates the current location data if the location data is valid.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein determining if the location data is valid further comprises checking a date of last update of the location data.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein when there is more than one detected access point, the validating access point further eliminates a detected access point having invalid data.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein when more than one detected access point remains, the validating access point further utilizes triangulation techniques with the physical location data of the remaining detected access points to calculate a current position.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein when the current location data matches the current position, the current location data is retained by the validating access point, and when the current location data does not match the current position, the current location data is updated to the current position.

19. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for validating access point locations in a wireless network, the program instructions comprising:

scanning in a validating access point for another access point in the wireless network; and

utilizing location data in the validating access point of one or more detected access points to direct self-correction of current location data of the validating access point.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising reading physical location data and determining a signal strength from a detected beacon signal of each detected access point.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 further comprising determining a distance of each detected access point based on the signal strength and physical location data.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein when there is one detected access point, the program instructions further comprise comparing the current location data with a determined distance and the location data of the one detected access point.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein when the current location data compares favorably, the current location data is retained, and when the current location data compares unfavorably, the program instructions further comprise determining if the location data is valid and updating the current location data if the location data is valid.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23 wherein determining if the location data is valid further comprises checking a date of last update of the location data.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein when there is more than one detected access point, the program instructions further comprise eliminating a detected access point having invalid data.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein when more than one detected access point remains, the program instructions further comprise utilizing triangulation techniques with the location data of the remaining detected access points to calculate a current position.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26 wherein when the current location data matches the current position, the current location data is retained, and when the current location data does not match the current position, the current location data is updated to the current position.