Method and system for ascertaining presence of and/or determining location of mobile devices in a defined area

• US 8,670,381 B1
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mexens Intellectual Property Holding LLC
• Inventors: Houri, Cyril
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohebbi, Kouroush
• Application Number:
  US12/909,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• 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 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Method for determining location of a wireless computing device in a defined area includes arranging at least one WiFi beacon relative to the defined area such that a wireless computing device in the defined area is detectable, causing each beacon to generate information about detection of a wireless computing device in the defined area, providing the generated information to a processor, and at the processor, determining a location of the wireless computing device in the defined area by processing the information generated by the beacon(s). The wireless computing device is not configured to send information to the processor so that the determination of the presence and/or location of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at the processor using only information provided by the beacon(s).

Claims

1. A method for determining location of a wireless computing device in a defined area using at least one WiFi beacon fixed in a known position, the method comprising:

detecting at the at least one WiFi beacon, transmissions of wireless packets from a wireless computing device in the defined area and that is movable relative to the at least one WiFi beacon;

in response to detection of any transmissions to or from the wireless computing device in the defined area by the at least one beacon, generating information at the at least one beacon about the wireless computing device in the defined area, the information including an indication of detection of the wireless computing device in the defined area;

providing the generated information from the at least one beacon to a processor;

at the processor, determining a location of the wireless computing device in the defined area relative to a known position of the at least one beacon based on the information generated by the at least one beacon, identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected transmission, and information about the known position of each of the at least one beacon,

whereby the wireless computing device is not configured to send information to the processor so that the determination of the location of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at the processor not based on information received from the wireless computing device;

associating users of the computing devices to the wireless computing device identification information;

analyzing the users associated with identification information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area and location information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area relative to a list of people authorized to be in the defined area to determine whether any of the users of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area is not authorized to be in the defined area; and

generating an alarm when any of the users of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area is not authorized to be in the defined area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one WiFi beacon comprises a plurality of WiFi beacons arranged relative to the defined area such that the location of a wireless computing device anywhere in the defined area is detected by the at least one of the plurality of WiFi beacons.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one WiFi beacon is within the defined area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the defined area is an interior space and the at least one beacon is mounted into structure defining the interior space.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in a memory accessible to the processor, identification information about wireless computing devices;

accessing the memory to obtain an identification of a wireless computing device whose location in the defined area is sought to be determined; and

determining the location of the identified wireless computing device based on the information generated by the at least one beacon.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising directing commands from the processor to the at least one beacon to cause the at least one beacon to provide information about detection of the identified wireless computing device, if present in the defined area, to the processor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the association of the users of the computing devices with the wireless computing device identification information in a memory component, the memory component being coupled to the processor such that the analysis of the users associated with identification information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area and location information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area relative to the list of people authorized to be in the defined area is performed at the processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected transmission is also generated at the at least one beacon such that the determination of the location of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at the processor using only information generated at and provided to the processor by the at least one beacon and the information about the known position of each of the at least one beacon.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the processor with signal strength information, the signal strength information being provided from the at least one beacon and being information about strength of signals between the at least one beacon and the wireless computing device,

the step of determining the location of the wireless computing device in the defined area at the processor comprising determining the location of the wireless computing device in the defined area based on the information generated by the at least one beacon, the identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected transmission, the information about the known position of each of the at least one beacon, and the signal strength information provided by the at least one beacon.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information generated at the at least one beacon about the wireless computing device in response to detection of any transmissions from the wireless computing device by the at least one beacon includes strength of signals being transmitted to or from the wireless computing device in the defined area.

11. A system for determining location of a wireless computing device in a defined area, comprising:

at least one WiFi beacon arranged in a known position and such that transmissions of wireless packets from a wireless computing device in the defined area are detectable by said at least one beacon, the wireless computing device being movable relative to said at least one beacon when said at least one beacon is fixed at the known position, said at least one beacon being configured to generate, in response to detection of any transmissions to or from the wireless computing device in the defined area, information about the wireless computing device in the defined area, the information including an indication of detection of the wireless computing device in the defined area;

a processor, said at least one beacon being configured to provide the generated information to said processor, said processor being configured to determine a location of the wireless computing device in the defined area relative to the known position of the at least one beacon based on the information generated by said at least one beacon, identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected transmission, and information about known position of each of said at least one beacon,

whereby the wireless computing device is not configured to send information to said processor so that the determination of the location of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at said processor not based on information received from the wireless computing device; and

a memory component in which users of the computing devices are associated with the wireless computing device identification information;

said processor being configured to analyze the users associated with identification information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area and location information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area relative to a list of people authorized to be in the defined area obtained from said memory component to determine whether any of the users of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area is not authorized to be in the defined area,

whereby an alarm is generatable when any of the users of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area is not authorized to be in the defined area.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one WiFi beacon comprises a plurality of WiFi beacons.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one beacon is arranged within the defined area.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the defined area is an interior space defined by a structure, said at least one beacon being arranged in said structure defining the interior space.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to generate an indication that a particular wireless computing device whose presence in the defined area is sought to be determined is not in the defined area based on the information provided by said at least one beacon.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a memory accessible to said processor and storing identification information about wireless computing devices, said processor being further configured to access said memory to obtain an identification of a wireless computing device whose location in the defined area is sought to be determined and determine the location of the identified wireless computing device based on the information generated by said at least one beacon.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said processor is further configured to direct commands to said at least one beacon to cause said at least one beacon to provide information about detection of the identified wireless computing device, if present in the defined area, to said processor.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said processor is separate from said at least one beacon.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to determine the location of the wireless computing device by obtaining identification and location information about said at least one beacon that has detected the wireless computing device and apply the obtained identification and location information into an algorithm resident on computer-readable media that provides the location of the wireless computing device.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one beacon is also configured to generate the identification information of the detected wireless computing device that is derived from the detected transmission such that the determination of the location of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at said processor using only information generated at and provided to said processor by said at least one beacon and the information about the known position of each of said at least one beacon.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one beacon is configured to provide said processor with signal strength information, the signal strength information being information about strength of signals between said at least one beacon and the wireless computing device,

said processor being configured to determine the location of the wireless computing device in the defined area based on the information generated by said at least one beacon, the identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected transmission, the information about the known position of each of said at least one beacon, and the signal strength information provided by said at least one beacon.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the information generated at said at least one beacon about the wireless computing device in response to detection of any transmissions from the wireless computing device by said at least one beacon includes strength of signals being transmitted to or from the wireless computing device in the defined area.

23. A method for monitoring wireless computing devices in a defined area using at least one WiFi beacon each in a known position, the method comprising:

detecting at the at least one WiFi beacon, communications between a wireless computing device in the defined area and another communications device, the wireless computing device being movable relative to said at least one beacon when the at least one beacon is fixed at the known position;

in response to detection of any communications involving the wireless computing device in the defined area by the at least one beacon, generating information at the at least one beacon about the wireless computing device in the defined area, the information including an indication of detection of the wireless computing device in the defined area;

providing the generated information from the at least one beacon to a processor;

at the processor, monitoring any wireless computing devices in the defined area based on the information generated by the at least one beacon, identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected communication, and information about the known position of each of the at least one beacon in order to determine which wireless computing devices are present in the defined area,

whereby the wireless computing device is not configured to send information to the processor so that the determination of the presence of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at the processor not based on information received from the wireless computing device; and

associating users of the computing devices to the wireless computing device identification information;

analyzing, at the processor, the users associated with identification information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area and location information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area relative to a list of people authorized to be in the defined area to determine whether any of the users of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area is not authorized to be in the defined area; and

generating an alarm when any of the users of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area is not authorized to be in the defined area.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

storing in a memory accessible to the processor, identification information about wireless computing devices;

accessing the memory to obtain an identification of a wireless computing device whose presence in the defined area is sought to be determined; and

determining the presence of the identified wireless computing device based on the information generated by the at least one beacon.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

directing commands from the processor to the at least one beacon to provide information about a specific wireless computing device detectable by the at least one beacon; and

incorporating identification information about the specific wireless computing device into the commands being directed to the at least one beacon when the presence of the specific wireless computing device is sought;

analyzing the identification and location information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area to determine whether any of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area are not authorized to be in the defined area.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

storing the association of the users of the computing devices with the wireless computing device identification information in a memory component, the memory component being coupled to the processor such that the analysis of the users associated with identification information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area and location information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area relative to the list of people authorized to be in the defined area is performed at the processor.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected communication is also generated at the at least one beacon such that the determination of the presence of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at the processor using only information generated at and provided by the at least one beacon and the information about the known position of each of the at least one beacon.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing the processor with signal strength information, the signal strength information being provided from the at least one beacon and being information about strength of signals between the at least one beacon and the wireless computing device,

the step of monitoring any wireless computing devices in the defined area comprising monitoring any wireless computing devices in the defined area based on the information generated by the at least one beacon, the identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected communication, the information about the known position of each of the at least one beacon and the signal strength information provided by the at least one beacon.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the information generated at the at least one beacon about the wireless computing device in response to detection of any communications involving the wireless computing device by the at least one beacon includes strength of signals being transmitted to or from the wireless computing device in the defined area.

30. A system for monitoring wireless computing devices in a defined area using at least one WiFi beacon in a known position, the system comprising:

at least one WiFi beacon arranged in a known position and such that communications between a wireless computing device in the defined area and another communications device are detectable by said at least one beacon, the wireless computing device being movable relative to said at least one beacon when said at least one beacon is fixed at the known position, said at least one beacon being configured to generate, in response to detection of any communications involving the wireless computing device in the defined area, information about the wireless computing device in the defined area, the information including an indication of detection of the wireless computing device in the defined area;

a processor, said at least one beacon being configured to provide the generated information to said processor, said processor being configured to monitor any wireless computing devices in the defined area based on the information generated by said at least one beacon, identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected communication, and information about the known position of each of said at least one beacon in order to determine which wireless computing devices are present in the defined area,

whereby the wireless computing device is not configured to send information to said processor so that the determination of the presence of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at said processor using not based on information received from the wireless computing device; and

a memory component in which users of the computing devices are associated with the wireless computing device identification information;

said processor being configured to analyze the users associated with identification information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area and location information about active wireless computing devices in the defined area relative to a list of people authorized to be in the defined area obtained from said memory component to determine whether any of the users of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area is not authorized to be in the defined area,

whereby an alarm is generatable when any of the users of the identified wireless computing devices located in the defined area is not authorized to be in the defined area.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a memory accessible to said processor and storing identification information about wireless computing devices, said processor being configured to access said memory to obtain an identification of a wireless computing device whose presence in the defined area is sought to be determined and determining the presence of the identified wireless computing device based on the information generated by said at least one beacon.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein said processor is further configured to direct commands to said at least one beacon to provide information about a specific wireless computing device detectable by said at least one beacon and incorporate identification information about the specific wireless computing device into the commands being directed to said at least one beacon when the presence of the specific wireless computing device is sought.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein said at least one beacon is also configured to generate the identification information of the detected wireless computing device that is derived from the detected communication such that the determination of the presence of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at said processor using only information generated at and provided by said at least one beacon and the information about the known position of each of said at least one beacon.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein said at least one beacon is configured to provide said processor with signal strength information, the signal strength information being information about strength of signals between said at least one beacon and the wireless computing device,

said processor being configured to monitor any wireless computing devices in the defined area based on the information generated by said at least one beacon, the identification information of the detected wireless computing device derived from the detected communication, the information about the known position of each of said at least one beacon, and the signal strength information provided by said at least one beacon.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the information generated at said at least one beacon about the wireless computing device in response to detection of any communications involving the wireless computing device by said at least one beacon includes strength of signals being transmitted to or from the wireless computing device in the defined area.