Access Point Location Tracking via Whitelist Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in accurately determining the location of wireless network access points and associated devices, especially in scenarios where GPS sensors are absent or wireless networks are not provisioned with location information, leading to issues in emergency call services and regulatory restrictions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves client devices reporting MAC addresses of nearby access points to a network infrastructure service, which maintains a whitelist of validated access points, allowing for location tracking and provisioning, enabling devices to associate with known locations and preventing rogue access point usage through coordinated network and client operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If VoIP services are used for emergency calls, then communication flexibility is improved, but location accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an access point as an intermediary entity that mediates between the VoIP client and the emergency service. The access point maintains location information and provides it to the emergency service, enabling location tracking without requiring GPS or modifying the VoIP protocol. This resolves the contradiction by preserving VoIP flexibility while achieving location accuracy through a intermediary component.
2Device complexity
If GPS sensors are not included in computing devices, then device complexity is reduced, but location tracking capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs self-service by maintaining its own location information and using it to track client devices. Instead of requiring GPS sensors in each device, the system uses the access point's known location and the client's association with that access point to determine the client's location. This transfers the location tracking function from the device to the network infrastructure.
3Ease of manufacture
If wireless networks are not provisioned with location information, then network configuration simplicity is improved, but emergency service reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs preliminary action by maintaining location information in advance and making it available when needed. The location information is pre-configured at the access point, so when an emergency call is made, the location is already available without requiring real-time provisioning or complex network configuration. This ensures emergency service reliability while maintaining configuration simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in various examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums used for identifying and tracking device and access point geographic locations of wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) networks. In an example, operations performed by an infrastructure system for provisioning location information include: receiving access point identification information (e.g., a MAC address) that identifies an access point of a wireless network; validating the access point identification information in a list of known wireless networks (e.g., a whitelist); determining an assigned location corresponding to the access point; communicating an indication of the assigned location to the device; and facilitating a communication session with the device, using the wireless network, as the communication session uses the indication of the assigned location by the device. Further operations involving administrator involvement and approval of the location, and client use of the whitelist and the assigned location information, are also disclosed.