Distributed Access Point Location via Multilateration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless network deployments lack an efficient method for automatically determining the physical locations of access points, which is crucial for network coverage analysis and device positioning.

Innovation Solution

A distributed method where access points use peer-to-peer messaging to exchange information, with anchor access points providing known locations that unanchored access points can use to calculate their own positions through multilateration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a central server is used to determine access point locations, then location determination can be centralized and controlled, but system complexity increases and automation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic location determinationVSAvoidcentral server requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each access point autonomously determines its own location by receiving signals from neighboring access points and performing multilateration calculations locally, eliminating the need for a central server to perform location calculations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The location determination task is divided into independent units where each access point independently calculates its own position based on signals from neighbors, distributing the computational workload across multiple nodes rather than concentrating it in a single server

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If manual configuration of access point locations is used, then initial deployment is simple, but network coverage analysis and device positioning cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation information availabilityVSAvoidmanual configuration requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Access points automatically discover their locations through peer-to-peer signaling with neighboring access points, eliminating the need for manual configuration while ensuring accurate location information is available for network coverage analysis and device positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Extent of automation

If access points use peer-to-peer messaging to exchange location information, then automatic location determination is achieved, but communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic location determinationVSAvoidmessage exchange volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The peer-to-peer messaging mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it establishes wireless connectivity between access points, exchanges location information, and enables multilateration calculations, reducing the need for separate dedicated communication channels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12317220B2Distributed access point location determination in enterprise wireless networks

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

Systems and methods for determining a physical location of access points in a wireless network that include a plurality of access points, the plurality of access points in the wireless network including anchor access points with respective known locations and unanchored access points without respective known locations, may include: a first plurality of unanchored access points neighboring the anchor access points receiving known-location information from the anchor access points, performing range measurements to the anchor access points to determine their respective locations in the wireless network, thereby becoming pseudo-anchor access points; a second plurality of unanchored access points in communicative contact with a plurality of the pseudo-anchor points receiving the determined-location information from the pseudo-anchor access points, performing range measurements to the pseudo-anchor access points to determine their respective locations in the wireless network, thereby becoming pseudo-anchor access points.