Access Point Positioning Using Client Location Uncertainty
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless access points lack positioning modules, making it difficult to determine their geolocations, which is essential for managing radio frequency resources and ensuring minimal interference with licensed devices in congested communication bands.
Innovation Solution
A method and system to determine the location of an access point by receiving location information from a communication device with a known uncertainty, calculating the distance between the access point and the device, and estimating the access point's location with a higher confidence level based on the device's location uncertainty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional routers without positioning modules are used, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but location information of the access point becomes unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a communication device as an intermediary to provide location information for the access point. Instead of adding a positioning module to the AP, the system leverages the location data from a client device that communicates with the AP, thereby obtaining location information without increasing AP complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The access point determines its own location information using the location data from the communication device and the distance between them. The AP performs self-positioning by calculating its location based on the known position of the communication device and measured distance, eliminating the need for external positioning infrastructure
2Reliability
If location information with high confidence level is required for regulatory compliance, then reliability is improved, but the complexity of determining accurate location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the communication device's location information and the measured distance to continuously refine and determine the access point's location. By incorporating the location uncertainty and confidence level from the communication device, the system can calculate the AP's location with appropriate confidence levels required for regulatory compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the location determination problem by changing parameters from direct AP positioning to indirect positioning through communication device data. By using distance measurements and location uncertainty parameters from the communication device, the system derives AP location information with the required confidence level without complex direct positioning
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a method, an access point (AP) and a computer program product for determining location of the AP. A location information of a communication device wirelessly coupled to the AP may be received, the location information including a first location uncertainty with a first confidence level. A distance between the AP and the communication device may be determined based at least on a measured signal strength of a signal received from the communication device. Location information of the AP may be determined based at least on the distance and the location information of the communication device. A second location uncertainty with a second confidence level may be determined based on the distance and the first location uncertainty as at least a portion of the location information of the AP.