Client Location Determination via Network Transmission Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the physical location of network clients rely on IP addresses, which are unreliable due to potential concealment or alteration, making it difficult to prevent fraudulent activities.
Innovation Solution
A method involving communication with multiple servers of known physical locations to calculate bi-directional network transmission times and key parameters, which are then used in data processing models to determine the client's physical location, bypassing the reliance on IP addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If IP address mapping is used to determine client location, then the method is simple and easy to implement, but the location accuracy deteriorates due to IP address concealment or alteration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces server nodes as intermediaries between the client and the location determination system. Instead of directly using the client's IP address, the system uses the server's known location and measured network transmission time to indirectly determine the client's location, thereby resolving the unreliability of direct IP-based location identification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional IP address lookup mechanism with a network transmission time measurement mechanism. By measuring the time for data to travel between servers and clients through network infrastructure, the system substitutes the unreliable IP mapping approach with a physically-based time measurement approach that is harder to conceal
2Measurement precision
If multiple servers with known locations are used to determine client position, then location accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the server nodes serve multiple functions: they not only provide network services but also act as location reference points and measurement nodes. The same server infrastructure used for normal operations is leveraged for location determination, eliminating the need for separate dedicated location measurement devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the network infrastructure itself (servers and their known locations) to perform location determination without requiring external specialized equipment. The servers leverage their own known positions and the network transmission paths to enable location measurement, making the system self-sufficient
Data Source
AI summary
Determining a physical location of a client, including: determining a network transmission time associated with a first server and a network transmission time associated with a second server; determining a set of key parameters for the first server and a set of key parameters for the second server; determining a distance between the client and the first server and a distance between the client and the second server based at least in part on inputting the network transmission time associated with the first server, the network transmission time associated with the second server, the set of key parameters for the first server, and the set of key parameters for the second server into a data processing model; and determining the physical location associated with the client using the distance between the client and the first server and the distance between the client and the second server.