Probabilistic location prediction for a mobile station

• US 20060293064A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Nagy, Tom, Robertson, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A probabilistic prediction is made of the location of a wireless-enabled mobile station in a wireless local area network. The prediction includes calculating a vector representing movement of the mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of the network are located, and determining a region surrounding the vector in which the mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time.

Claims

1. A method for probabilistic prediction of a location of a wireless-enabled mobile station in a wireless local area network, the method comprising:

calculating a vector representing movement of said wireless-enabled mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of said network are located; and

determining a region surrounding said vector in which said mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying which of said access points are accessible by said mobile station from within said region.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

reserving resources for said mobile station at one or more of said access points that are accessible.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

pre-authenticating said mobile station with one or more of said access points that are accessible.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein pre-authenticating said mobile station includes at least:

pre-authentication at the Data Link layer of said network according to the Open Systems Interconnection communication model.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein pre-authenticating said mobile station includes at least:

pre-authentication at the Data Link layer and the Network layer of said network according to the Open Systems Interconnection communication model.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining another region surrounding said vector in which said mobile station has at least a different given probability to be located within said certain period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating said vector includes:

using global positioning system data for said mobile station.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating said vector includes:

using signal strength information regarding signals received at said mobile station and using the locations of one or more access points generating said signals.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating said vector includes:

using signal strength information regarding signals transmitted by said mobile station and using the locations of one or more access points receiving said signals.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating said vector includes:

using handoff information regarding said mobile station as it moves and using the locations of one or more access points.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating said vector includes:

calculating said vector based on any one or any combination of instantaneous, projected and historic information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating said vector includes:

calculating said vector based, at least in part, on information that is specific to said mobile station.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating said vector includes:

calculating said vector based, at least in part, on information that is specific to a group or class of users to which the user of said mobile station belongs.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating said vector includes:

calculating said vector based, at least in part, on global information that is applicable to all mobile stations.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said region includes:

determining said region based, at least in part, on information that is specific to said mobile station.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said region includes:

determining said region based, at least in part, on factors that are specific to a class or group of users to which the user of said mobile station belongs.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said region includes:

determining said region based, at least in part, on factors that are applicable to all mobile stations.

19. A wireless system implementing a wireless local area network, the system comprising:

two or more access points;

a wireless-enabled mobile station; and

a server able to calculate a vector representing movement of said mobile station through a space in which said two or more access points are located and to determine a region surrounding said vector in which said mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time.

20. The wireless system of claim 19, wherein said server is able to identify which of said access points are accessible by said mobile station from within said region.

21. The wireless system of claim 19, wherein said access points, said mobile station and said server are compatible with 802.11.

22. A wireless system implementing a wireless local area network, the system comprising:

two or more access points;

a wireless-enabled mobile station able to calculate a vector representing movement of said mobile station through a space in which said two or more access points are located; and

a server able to receive said vector from said mobile station in a wireless transmission over said network and able to determine a region surrounding said vector in which said mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time.

23. The wireless system of claim 22, wherein said server is able to identify which of said access points are accessible by said mobile station from within said region.

24. The wireless system of claim 23, wherein said access points, said mobile station and said server are compatible with 802.11.

25. A server comprising:

an antenna;

a radio coupled to said antenna;

a wireless local area network controller coupled to said radio through which said server is able to communicate over a wireless local area network;

a processor coupled to said wireless local area network controller; and

memory to store code which, when executed by said processor, calculates a vector representing movement of a wireless-enabled mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of said network are located and determines a region surrounding said vector in which said mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time.

26. The server of claim 25, wherein said code, when executed by said processor, identifies which of said access points are accessible by said mobile station from within said region.

27. The server of claim 25, wherein said wireless local area network controller is compatible with 802.11.

28. A mobile station comprising:

an antenna;

a radio coupled to said antenna;

a wireless local area network controller coupled to said radio through which said mobile station is able to communicate over a wireless local area network;

a processor coupled to said wireless local area network controller; and

memory to store code which, when executed by said processor, calculates a vector representing movement of said mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of said network are located.

29. The mobile station of claim 28, wherein said wireless local area network controller is compatible with 802.11.