Access Point Location Determination via Terminal Data Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multimedia IP core networks lack precise geographical location information for users accessing through local access networks like WiFi, as they only receive identifiers and MAC addresses, which do not provide location details and can be unreliable due to movable access points.
Innovation Solution
A method where a server at the input of the multimedia IP core network correlates location information inserted by terminals, such as GPS coordinates, with hardware identifiers of access points, using multiple location data points to estimate the access point's location, even if the access points are moved, and provides this information to the network for personalized services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If location information is extracted from terminals accessing via local access networks, then location precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for server-side aggregation and processing of multiple location data points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location determination process into multiple independent components: terminal location reporting, server data aggregation, and location estimation algorithms. This allows the system to handle complex processing by dividing it into manageable segments that can be processed independently and scaled as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component between terminals and the core network. This server aggregates location information from multiple terminals and performs the complex processing to determine access point locations, shielding the core network from complexity while enabling precise location determination.
2Reliability
If multiple location data points are aggregated to determine access point location, then location reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to the need to process and validate multiple data points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by continuously collecting and storing location data from terminals in advance. This allows the system to have pre-processed location information available when needed, reducing real-time processing time while maintaining reliability through the aggregation of multiple data points.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where location data from multiple terminals is continuously aggregated and used to refine access point location estimates. This iterative feedback process improves reliability over time while the system optimizes processing efficiency by leveraging previously collected data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If access point hardware identifiers are used for location correlation, then adaptability is improved to handle movable access points, but loss of information increases as MAC addresses alone do not provide location details
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple types of identification information (hardware identifiers, MAC addresses, and location data from multiple terminals) into a comprehensive location determination system. This combination allows the system to adapt to movable access points while recovering location information that would otherwise be lost in single-identifier approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional identification (hardware identifier and MAC address) to three-dimensional location determination by adding the spatial dimension through aggregation of multiple terminal location reports. This dimensional expansion enables the system to track movable access points while recovering lost location information.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining a geographical location of an access point in a wireless local access network allowing access to a multimedia IP network core, implemented by an input server of the network core and comprising, following receipt of a message from at least one terminal via the access point containing an item of information on the location of the terminal inserted by same into the message signal: the extraction, from said signal, of a material identifier of the access point and the storage of the item of location information with said material identifier. The method further comprises the determination of a geographical location of the access point using at least one item of location information stored with the material identifier of the access point. The invention also relates to a management method comprising, following receipt, by the server, of a message from a terminal via an access point in a local access network allowing access to the network core: the extraction of a material identifier of the access point from this message, the determination of a geographical location of the access point associated with the extracted material identifier, and the insertion into the message signal, as the geographical location of the terminal, of the geographical location of the access point prior to transmitting this message to another piece of equipment in the network core.